anyone do liquid diet to end plateau?

Ok....those of you like me..1 year or more post-op...I've been reading how we can jumpstart our weightloss by doing a liquid diet. I'm not sure how many days..but that it possibly helps us get back to basics etc. I'm considering this...so I can end my cravings for carbs etc. So, has anyone tried this? For how long? I'm just considering doing it for 2 days..since thats what we did pre-op..and that was difficult itself! I've increased my exercise..but my scale will not budge..but I also know I have grazed so much more and I'm more hungry. Ok....I don't want to start any controversary..I just want to see if it has been done, if its truly worth it? I'm in no way suggesting that anyone else do this..much like when we decided on surgery. I just think I may need to do this..to find my inner strength again..and to get back to the basics. Everything else I have tried lately hasn't been successful. I look forward to hearing your responses! Hugs and stay warm! Kimberly

Kimberly, Oh boy, do I feel your pain. Been there, done that. I tried the back to basics liquids ... and they helped and they didn't. I was able to lose several pounds quickly (in a matter of a few days), and I lost any cravings for carbs, but I also lost my appetite once again. It was hard to eat anything decent after that. BUT when I did start pushing the "good" foods once again, I put all the weight right back on. From what I can tell, the principle of this is for us to purge ourselves of carbs, sweets, etc. and this will cause water weight loss but not permanent "fat" loss, unless you can remain on it long term, and I am not sure how healthy that would be for us??? We need some carbs for brain function and etc, and besides the good carbs are some of the best low calorie fillers out there, plus they have excellent antioxidants that we can not get elsewhere. And with a high protein diet, I believe that we really need those antioxidants. But just like you, I have been desperate and would do almost anything to get the rest of this weight off. Something you may want to think about Kimberly, have you had a fat % test done on your body lately? You may have far less fat than you realize. Don't let some magical number on the scale be the only factor that plays a part. I know how hard that is ... I am living it. It is easier to give advice than to follow it! Anyway, here is something else ... when I went to the site where I keep my stats and etc the other day, I suddenly realized that I had hit "goal" weight. No wonder I am struggling with every single pound eh? Now mind you, I think goal is too high, and I want to lose at least another 10 pounds ... I still have hit surgical goal weight. Perhaps you are further along than you realize. If you have not been there before, check out the site that Mama Mama posted yesterday. Now if you want exercise to help you out, I just had a trainer tell me that the best way to lose "fat" is to do Cardio Spurts ... by that I mean Warm up for 5 to 10 minutes The give it all you have for 30-60 seconds Then go at a medium pace for a few minutes until you recover Then give it all you have again for another 30-60 seconds Repeat for as long as you can and work up to 15 - 20 minutes, longer if you are able. I can run at a steady pace on the treadmill, but have started doing this as instructed. Have not been doing it long enough to give you much feed back on it yet, but can tell you that it takes more out of me to do this than to simply run at 4.5 to 5 mph for 30 minutes. Anyway, hang in there ... you are not alone sweetie!!! Oh one more thing ... I ran across a post earlier today on the main board that you may find interesting that shows that most of us are not perfect ... Not that I recommend that any of us do any of that ... just good to know that we are all in this together and it is sometimes a real struggle. I know sometimes it feels like I am the only one who is struggling and that makes me wonder what in the world am I doing wrong. So when I shake back into reality, and take myself out of the center of the universe, I realize that we all go through our struggles, may be different for each of us, but struggles none the less. After all ... would any of us have needed the surgery had we not had food issues pre-op? http://www3.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/messageboard/postdetail/1095726.html?vc=0 Hugs and kisses Sweetie, my heart goes out to you ... it must be especially hard being so far from "home" and our "physical" support group ... BTW - have you connected with a group in your area yet??? Of course we all here for you, and will be here as best we can, but you still need to get connected with a local physical support group ... truly it helps out a lot. But to actually answer your question ... yes I have done it, and yes it helped with the cravings, and yes I lost weight, but no I was not able to keep it off and it did mess with my eating and threw me off track with my vitamins and etc. Took me quite a while to get back with it. Best wishes with whatever you decide. If you need the actual "back to basics diet" or the plataue buster "diet", let me know, I have it!!! Love ya, Tammy

Kimberly, Haven't tried the liquid diet yet, but I did have to do the flush last month to have my colonospomy. I lost seven pounds overnight and felt great, but gained back five within a week. I think as long as you get your necessary vitamins and protein in, it wouldn't hurt to do two or three days of liquids. Let me know how it works. The carbs are always tough to avoid. And grazing certainly a bad thing. So tryng something to get yourself motivated again is a good thing. But remember even when your not losing, at least your not gaining. Send some sunshine for spring our way. Rob

Tammy and Rob, You are both so dear!!!!!! Thanks so much for your responses! I think I'm going to start my liquid diet tomorrow.and try for 2-3 days..pray for me! Its worth it to me to get back to the basics.. I'll let ya'll know if it was worthwhile. Tammy...that link was great!!! Really made me feel normal!!! Hugs to you both!! Kimberly

How's it going Kimberly??? I just got a delivery from the FedEx guy and you woulda thought it was my birthday or something. I was so daggone excited to see my protein and calcium get here ... I am sipping on some new luscious find as I type!!! Boy how a few months can change us eh??? Hugs, Tammy

Hi Kimberly. At the Healthy Beginning's meeting last week, I learned a new theory on water. We should be consuming 1/2 of our body weight in ounces of water. Plain water. So on your liquid diet over the next couple days. Try to strive for these amounts. Let me know how you do. Don't be too hard on yourself. You are doing great. Example: 200 lbs = 100 oz of water. 180 lbs = 90 oz of water. Elissa