OMG!! I haven't lost a single pound in 3 months!! What tha..!?!?!?

I am 8 months out and have lost 85 pounds BUT I haven't lost an ounce since September! I keep seeing people posting saying they lost a million pounds in their first year and it's soooo frustrating!! Is this normal? I know we all hit plateaus but this is RIDICULOUS!! I'm ready to do something drastic like just do straight liquids to shrink my stomach back to it's original post-op golf ball size. Any body have any suggestions? Before you ask: Yes I've taking all my vitamins, Yes I'm getting all my protein, No I'm not exercising regularly. I do to water aerobics twice a week but not every week. One good thing is that I haven't GAINED any weight either so I know that all is not lost!! HELP!! SimplyGawjus

Simply Gawjus, We all go thru plateaus. Don't get discussed. You may need to add protein or water. I had to go back to the liquids to start losing again after a 13 lb gain. As you lose weight your body burns less calories and starts obsorbing more so you have to work harder. Good luck. See you lighter. Joanne

Its tougher to lose further out. We can eat more and I don't think there is a way to shrink the stomach again. But you can exercise to compensate for the extra calories you are doing with the eating. Your loss does start to go to nothing around the 9-12 month timeframe. Your body is adjusting and because it is adjusting you have to do things differently to boost it along. I wish I could lose a million pounds...A size 5 would be fitting! But that is just a wish and not all wishes come true. I will work what I can and adjust my eating as much as I can to get to a healthier me. I started back to my journal perhaps you could do that and see what you can change to help kick start the loss again. Just don't expect it to be lots of pounds like in the beginning with the surgery. Not happening...in other words the honeymoon is over. Sorry. Debbie

Hey girl... Call me and we'll workout at work! I'm down 101 LBS and I'll tell you... I have to fight for every pound now. I don't like to exercise but I do it. Go to the gym with me. I could use a partner in crime. You can do it!!! Jen

Have you taken your measurements? I found that during those times when I was STALLED big time, was when I lost the most in the inches department. You ask is it normal?? What is normal anyway??? While I am far from normal, yes, I did go through those horrid plataues as well. Talk about frustrating. My biggest advice to you to get through them is to stay off the scales at this point. Great advice that I had a hard time following and I almost drove myself batty sometimes. Anyway, if you can stay off the scales, journal your food (www.fitday.com), record your measurements (www.thinnerself.com), get a good idea of what your resting metabolism is (again, thinnerself.com) keep your calories just under that amount (don't drop them too low), up the intensity of the exercise, UP your pure water intake and most importantly don't stress (SO HARD) and most importantly, give it time, its own time. Or bodies sometimes have to take time to play catch-up. At any rate, this is the best formula I have found to get through a plataue. Remember, that your loss does slow down (on the scales) the futher out you get - it has to ... you may still be losing the same percentage but obviously it is going to show up as smaller numbers on the scale. There is someone (DX) on the main board who posts on this periodically, and it is an EXCELLENT post that helps put it all in perspecitve ... I will try to find it for you. Sure do wish you the best ... Hang in there, and BTW - congratulations on your loss already. Spend your "lull" time getting comfortable in your new body.

You might have to shake things up a *****eck on the calories you're comsuming. You might not be eating enough! Confuse your body a little. Journal for a week without changing your habits & check your calorie intake. You might be surprised at what you find. Then change your habits and calorie intake. Sometimes your body gets into a rut (just like your mind) and you have to switch it up in order to kick start your losing again.