Stall.. a long one.. help me out of my rut!!

I have had mini stalls for like a week.. but I'm on a 3 1/2 week (almost 4) stall now and I'm going crazy!!! I'm just over 4 mons out...What tips ideas do you have for me to get out of this rut? I'm getting at least 80g of protein in a daytaking all the supps I'm supposed toWalking at least 15 mins on my lunch breaks at work.. I can't afford a gym but I have been doing my pilates video at home in the evenings.. 30 or 45mins depending on which of 2 disks I use...Just grin and bare it and deal or is there something I can do to jump start the journey again??  Stacy

My guess is you're rut is probably going to end soon anyway, but my method of getting out of one was to really limit carbs.  Basically, the only carbs I'd allow myself were milk, fruit or veggies.  That seemed to do the trick.  It's easy to say, but it's really not worth stressing about unless you know you haven't been following your program plan.  If you have been following it, you'll naturally get out of the stall on your body's timetable.  You're probably noticing your clothes are loose, etc. so you're still losing, but sometimes it takes the scale some time to catch up.  Best of luck to you!

Stacy:

My surgery was almost exactly a year before yours (6/18/08) and I remember thinking that October, not November, was the cruelest month and my stall was only about 2-1/2 weeks long.  I am guessing that your stall will end on its own soon, anyway, but you might try walking for 30 minutes instead of 15 or pushing your pace until you are just about out of breath for 5 minutes, slow down for 5 minutes, then go back up again.  So-called interval training is supposed to give you the best results for the amount of time spent.  Also, i agree with the previous poster on limiting carbs as much as you can, especailly any simple carbs like sugar, white rice, plain bread, pasta or potatoes.

Good luck,

RP

Change something in your routine.   Normally eat yogurt for breakfast?  Try cheese - or eggs, or some deli meat.  Eat a "lot" of chicken?  Try beef, or tuna, or seafood.  Doing the same walk every day?  Try biking it instead.  Doing the same pilates video every evening?  Try dancing to some music!

Break the pattern, and you just might break the stall.  Take a look at the calories you're taking in - if it seems right, try adding a protein-based snack in the afternoon.  Believe it or not, sometimes we need to INCREASE our calories to get that loss jump-started! 

If you're doing more exercise than you used to, but you haven't increased your intake, your body is thinking - 'hey, wait a doggone minute here... she's burning more calories, but not GIVING me any more?  I think I'll hang on to what I've got!'  It's a helluva hard mindset to get past, that whole diet/less-is-more mentality.  But try it.  Worked for me when I was "stuck"!!

Oh Stacy,

I wish had some sage and seasoned advice for you, but since I'm just pre-op still I can only say HANG IN THERE! Feed on the immense progress you've made so far. Perhaps get back to the basics of the eating/drinking plan and then switch up your exercise routine a little so your body has to adjust to something new as a physical challenge. YOU CAN DO IT! Patience and perseverance.... a good mantra.... I'll have to remember it for myself soon :o)

Best of luck,
Shannon

Thanks everyone for your advice.. I'm sure I'll break thru soon..

I barely eat any carbs.. if any.. I'm thinking maybe I need to increase my cals.. how many should we be eating at 4mons out? I guess I should probably ask my NUT that...

I'm working on getting extra water in.. I usually get all 8 in, so I added an extra today.. and I'm going to switch up my breakfast.. I usually eat cottage cheese or yogurt.. I'm going to see if I can work an egg in before i leave for work.. or grab some lunch meat and cheese.. I definately have been in a rut with what i'm eating for breakfast..

and I'm going to try and take a 10 min walk in the hospital in the am and pm, and still get my lunch walk in...

i know i need to exercise more its just hard not being able to afford a gym
 

I'm in the same boat, I had my surgery about 9 days before you. I have not lost a single LB yet this month. I'm a good 3+weeks.I also am very frustrated, however, people say I look like I'm still losing. I have a mere 5.6 lbs away from Onderland and I just cant stand it. Let me know if you are able to change things.

Congrats virtual surgery bud! Keep me posted how you're doing. Glad I'm not the only one in the plateau rut.. hopefully soon we'll be  going down down down again!

My NUT reassured me today via email I'm doing everything I am supposed to aside from getting in a gym.. so I guess i'll be walking more during the day at work to get more steps in..

Ok... no advice on the diet here... as I have no idea about that... but I do have a suggestion for the excersise part......

Buy a Jillian Michaels Workout..... any one of the lot that she has out there.... One workout and you will think that you are dying (or at least I do) but if you can stick with it, your body will start to change in less than a week!  She is a butt kicker but knows her stuff!  Switching it out from just the pilates and walking I think will help you out drasticly!!!  

That's just my 2 cents... but still... worth a try!
Dharma