Need some help!!

I feel more comfortable talking to my fellow Iowan's about this. I have been stuck at the same weight for 1 month now. Just can not get under the 190 for good. I am bouncing between 188-191. I started logging my food intake and have been very surprised as to how many carbs and cal I have been getting in. So need to revamp my eatting habits a bit. But have a really hard time with protein. I have had this since day one. I don't do protein drinks at all. Have been trying the atkins advantage with about 18gm of protein, but don't get one in everyday. I usually get a McDonalds burrito for breakfast because my little pouch is just not good in the am and that seems like the only thing that I can handle. Burritos of any kind sit really good with me, but has alot of carbs and cal. So don't know what to do. Eggs by themselves are not a good thing. The only thing that I really enjoy eatting are, shrimp in somekind of chinese and crab legs. Kind of expensive taste, but that is what sits really good. So this is my typical day: Breakfast: McDonals burrito or some kinds of burrito snack: sunflower seeds (eat these alot all day long!!) Lunch: Wendys chili, chinese or nothing Dinner: Maybe a little meat of somekind I drink about 60 oz of crystal light sunrise and about 23 oz of propel a day. So I think I am getting enough water in. But the protein thing is not happening. Cold lunchen meat doesn't sit well, so can't have a sandwich, which I really miss. Bread doesn't sit well somedays, but then somedays it is ok. Just depressed about this stall and don't know what to do. If I could go all day without eatting, I would have it made!!!! Thanks for listening and any advice would be great!! Jen 275/190/150?

Hey we sound like twins.....I have said this a million times....wouldn't it be nice if chicken, tuna, fish went down as good as burritos and chips...Makes me so mad sometimes. Eggs are tricky....real eggs still get me, but eggbeaters go down great. Or now I have a new trick....I spray a bowl with pam.....crack open an egg, whisk it with a little milk, nuke it for like 45seconds....open it up and throw a little cheese on top....nuke it for like 10-15 more seconds.....and it is done.....for some reason eggs cooked this way are way light and fluffy and go down a lot better. If you need it on the go, put the egg thingy on a piece of whole wheat toast on your way out the door. I too had been struggling and was also shocked at the carbs and calories I could consume. Try to go back to basics for a few days.....mainly protein....you will be shocked at how little it takes to fill you up when your eating just protein and veggies. The trouble is sticking to it If actual chicken and stuff gets to you....make it shrimp, it isn't that expensive when you buy the frozen bags/or even the seafood counter, and take it to work with you......or boca burger thingys go down pretty good, and they have some great flavors these days. Or pack a big ole' salad for lunch....just make sure it has some sorts of protein, couple peices of chicken, cheese, taco salad, tuna, whatever. I too would try a lower calorie snack....I ate BAGS of seeds early out, because it was good for you fats, and they kept me busy, and from wanting to graze.....but when you get farther out....the calories add up to alot.....ever checked out the info on the back of a bag If you need to snack....take some baby carrots with you, or even 99% fat free butter popcorn. It is hard....I am over two years out and it is a struggle EVERY single day!!! I had got off track and gained a little over 10lbs....It sucked and I am working ten times harder to lose it all (almost there thank goodness) My BIGGEST problem is snacking....it seems I am constantly looking to eat something, not hungry, head hunger! I am workin on it tho.....I got a lot of s/f popsicles again and they are helping at nighttime....I am also drinking hot tea, protein shakes, I am nibbling on the baby carrots too.....whatever it takes.....s/f hard candies are a good one too.....You can do it!!! It so sucks limiting carbs.....but after a couple days, you feel 10times better, you'll lose a couple pounds, eat less, all of it.......but like I said it is hard to stick with it......Wishing you the best Take Care jesi

Hey, Jen! How are you? I'm sorry that you are having so much trouble with protein. I am just barely figuring this all out and I have not really found what works best, but I keep trying different things. I have had nothing but stalls since my second week out. I bounce on two pounds for about a week, and then I inch down a few pounds and I am stuck again for a week. About the burritos, maybe open it up and stuff all of the filling into half of the tortilla, and toss the other half. It will lessen the carbs and the cals a little. Also, Kraft has come out with a South Beach burrito(frozen section) there are a couple different flavors. They are quick, I don't eat all of that tortilla, either, but at least it is whole grain... a little better for you. If you are eating Chinese, are you eating much of the noodles or rice? Those and the sauces are loaded with sugar and cornstarch, which are all carbs... and calories. Have you tried toasting the bread? That might make it sit better? We were warned against regular bread, the spongey texture can mess with your tummy. Also, there are some unflavored protein powders that you could add to the chili, or any other soup. They are really not so bad, and they could really boost your protein. The one I have is Unjury, but there are others. Even if you only add a little, it will be more than you are getting. Hope that you are doing well otherwise. I hope that you can break through this little wall that you've come to, and start losing again! {{{hugs}}} Angela B

Do you not drink the protein because you don't like the taste of it? Have you gotten samples of different ones so you aren't having large containers sitting around of stuff you can't stomach? I finally found a protein that is plain and I can stand to put that in my food, like pudding, yogurt, soups. I also put fresh or frozen fruit with my Nectar proteins and that helps the taste a bunch. Can you try eatting cheese for a snack instead of the sunflower seeds. Or at least alternate between the 2. I didn't even know McDonalds had a breakfast burrito, what all is in it? I don't do meat very good. Its not that I can't do meat I just don't like the taste of it any more. I don't even like Chinese very much any more and that used to be my favorite food. I hate how my tastes have changed, I am hoping they will change again and soon. My Dr. told me to try the thin sliced meat with some mayo or miricle whip on it. You could use lite mayo since you are watching your fat intake, he was trying to get me to gain a couple of pounds again and also to get it so I would or could eat meat. I don't particularly like mayo either so that didn't go well for me. But he said it helps the pouch to digest the meat for some reason. I don't know if he is right or not but just a suggestion. Also with the bread if you toast it it may help some. I can't eat bread either unless it is toasted. I was a sandwich person and really miss that part also. But then I wanted this healthy life so I am willing to pay the price I guess. I hope you get some good advice and some that will help you. Basically just go back to the beginning and get that protein, vit. and water in. You will break this stall. Good luck and remember we are all pulling for you and are happy to help when we can.

String cheese is a great carry along snack. You could also snack on an apple with peanut butter. I really like the Pria Chocolate Mint energy bars. Tastes like a Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie. If you don't like protein drinks, how about milk? If you drink milk, take a cup of skim, add 1/3C non-fat dry milk, SF Nestle Quick (I like chocolate) and few frozen strawberries (no sugar added) and whir it up in the blender. Yummy and twice the protein of a glass of milk. I eat a lot of cottage cheese with chives and black pepper. Once the tomatoes are available from my garden, I do cottage cheese with grape tomatoes. I can't wait. Refried beans with cheese is good also. From what it sounds, you are stalled because your protein is too low and your carbs are too high. I would really stay away from McDonalds and Chinese food. Lots of calories, fat, and sugar. If you stay as close to the way food is grown, it's better for you. The more it's processed the worse it is. I also will make a huge pot of chili and divide it up into small Glad ware cups and freeze it. Then I just grab one and throw it into my lunch bag. Have you tried oatmeal? Quaker makes a wt control one with cinnamon that is just wonderfu. I have that, add a few walnuts for more protein and some brown sugar twin. I crave it and it usually sticks to me for quite a few hours. I think it has 7 gms of protein by itself.