Seriously about to break down

I've been seriously strong all this time -- even in the weakest of my moments (which were still pretty strong) I made it through -- toughed it out -- and came through shining.... And then there was today..... I have seriously stayed the same weight now for two dang weeks.  I don't understand how I can be eating NOTHING bad for me and be more active than ever and NOT LOSE anything!  Next Wed. will be 3 weeks so even if I lose say 1 pound that means I will have lost 1 pound in 3 weeks!  At that rate I am still going to look like a big poofy marshmallow in my wedding dress.  It's very disheartening.  I've lost 18 pounds since Jan 2nd -- I hit the 20 pound mark for ONE day and then the next day the 2 pounds came back on for no apparent reason -- now since I go back and forth between them I haven't claimed it.... I find myself asking, "why are you trying so hard for nothing?"  I mean, what am I doing wrong?  I am eating enough -- and I am NOT eating too much.  I'm not eating a bunch of sugar, nor am I eating a bunch of refined carbs -- a few, yes, but for the most part I cut them out where possible.  I'm trying to mostly eat fresh stuff. I'm so irritated.  I just want to go out to eat tonight and get a steak....and a baked potato....and something cheesey.... but I know I'll feel like crap tomorrow if I do.... What is my problem....?  I hate whining....but at least y'all have been there....

If it helps to know others have experienced this... I felt this way before low carb and my insulin resistant diagnosis helped it all make sense.  I will say, the diagnosis in a sense came out of hte blue, but explains what I went through. have you ruled that out?

No I haven't actually....what is the easiest way to determine whether one might be dealing with insulin resistance?

Awwwe Jen, it breaks my heart that you are going though this.  Scales are little creeps if there ever were any.  But what you are going through is something that we all go through.  It ain't easy, but to keep going like you are doing is key.  So yeah, you can tell yourself you are going to eat everything in sight, just make sure that you were lying when you said it! Maybe you could try cutting down on your fruit if you are trying to eat fresh.  Even though something is natural, doesn't mean it's not full of sugar.  The worst offenders are watermelon, bananas, beets, and corn.  So try to limit those as much as possible. That's why I like a structured diet that let's me know what I can and can't eat.  It takes the guess work out of things and I know if I'm in control or not. Keep rowing Sister, you'll get there eventually, Mary

I do know everyone goes through this.....and I know I'll get through it -- just it's really hard for me right now....uugh....  I appreciate your advice... As for the fruits/veggies.....  I typically stick with my naval oranges and pears for fruits and veggies are usually not the starchy stuff.  If I do have anything starchy it's a very small portion.

I know that a structured 'diet' would make things easier on one hand, but on the other I am not sure that I would stick with something like that for the long haul.  I like being able to change things up and have more options.  Maybe I am misunderstanding what you are saying though....so please correct me if I am wrong!

There's a couple of things I've learned in the last 80 lbs.  This may answer some of those questions... it might not make you feel better, but you might get some understanding which could help. The first one is "the adjustment".  I can't say that I buy this one completely, but from what I understand.......officially, you're not at a plateau unless you haven't lost pounds or inches for six weeks.  When we begin to deprive the fat cells, we lose fairly quickly, then the body takes some time to adjust to the new weight.  If you haven't lost pounds.. check the inches! The one I hate the most is the "setpoint".  IE:  I was at 265 for a few years.. when I got down to 265 again from 310, my body "remembered" that weight and got comfortable there for a couple of weeks.  I just kept on doing what I was doing and in a couple of weeks, the loss continued. The one that messes with my mind the most is the fluid retention.  Fat cells never go away.. they just get smaller.  As soon as the fat gets burned, fluid rushes into the cells to fill the "void"... eventually the water drains and we see the loss we worked for, but in the interim... it drives us nuts! The point is.. if you're doing all the right things.. try to stay off the scale and keep doing what you're doing.  If you suspect there could be something in your diet that's holding you back, look back at your fitday or dailyplate logs.. see if there's something new you added.   So far I've been through all of the above, and it's frustrating... but one thing is for CERTAIN....  if we keep on keepin' on we DO get past it!!

Thank you! Regarding the adjustment.....or 'plateau'.... In the past, when I lost  a lot of weight, I went from around 299 down to about 205.  I remember....god do I remember...a LONG stall around 240....and again at 225 -- WEEKS -- probably 3-4.... but it seems like I JUST started.....I think that's why this is so frustrating.  I've only been doing this for 7 weeks and 18 pounds.  It just seems crazy to me to be stopping now ya know?  As for inches -- I wish I had measured when I started!  I mean yes, my body is changing because my clothes are fitting better.....but I don't think my body has changed much since the 'stall' has kicked in....

ugh....I know you're right about staying off the scale...it would save my sanity if nothing else!

Hey Jenny, you didn't mention WATER. How are you doing with water???? When I track my intake and I see no WL, I can look over my daily logs and can almost ALWAYS see a correlation between my NOT loosing AND my NOT drinking enough water. Get in your full 64 ounces per day! Don't skimp!   Now if you are getting in all your water daily... are you eating SALT? If not.... I'd be willing to bet you'll drop a FEW by next week.  Hang in there. If you are working it Jenny, it WILL happen! It just might take a bit to show ON the rotten scale! (I hate those things!)

I sip on liquids (generic crystal lite actually) all day long, but I may not be getting that much in per day.  I should pay more attention to that.  Good advice -- I will keep an eye on that and see if it helps!  Thank you!

My Sig Ot has been eating under 1700 cals a day since October and working out (cardio) an hour a day (sweating his brains out) and has literally lost not a pound.  I imagine it's got to be hell afire. The flip side is, at least you are not gaining. I've heard that some people become highly efficient, especially those who've gained and lost often, and their bodies don't budge so easily. It will likely move though-- you're on a protracted stall. Give it time.