My scale refuses to move :(

I have been stuck at the same weight for about 2 weeks now. I've upped my exercise, lowered calories as I was directed to do by my Dr. and dietician, and made sure to get all my water in. I am so frustrated that I'm sitting here actually crying at the prospect of paying out of my own pocket for this surgery, only to lose 33 pounds. 

Am I doing something wrong? Did I pick the wrong surgery? Am I destined to be fat? WTH?

Any advice would be greatly appreciate....or any of your experiences that might me.

Thanks in advance,

(((hugs))) to you Sukie!!!  I know this is SO frustrating.  It sounds like you are doing everything and trying all different routes.  I had the same thing happen for almost 2 weeks and then I looked at my foods and my carbs were pretty high, even though I was still in my calorie range.  I am great at getting plenty of protein and plenty of carbs :(  So, I have really cut them back and the scale is moving again, bit by bit.  So, check all your individual things on your food log, your protein, carbs, sugars. etc.    I also started riding the bike and I think that helped too though, so who knows. 

Also, you could just be at a standstill.  You have lost 33 pounds, which is GREAT.  Just hang in there and keep at it.  You are so strong to have made it this far, I am sure the scale will start moving again.  YOU CAN DO IT and we'll be here to cheer you on!!!

Boo

I am a slow loser ...sigh  I would love to wake up one morning and TAH DAH!  But...not so much my luck.  i have found that my problem is that I was eating things that didn't really think were going to be that bad for me until I really started looking at  the labels, so now I try to remember to track everything and well this might sound silly...but for every thing that I eat ...even one bite of that isn't really good for me...I owe my body a glass of water....  I know it sounds strange, but it is forcing me to drink more water which is something I needed to work on.  Have a cup of coffee (even though its black except for protein added...I need an extra cup of water. We will see how it works for me but between
a. logging my food
b. increasing my water
c. FINALLY allowed by Dr to go to gym again (woot)
I am seeing the scale "think about moving"

I would watch your calories and carbs if you are eating many.  Up your exercise or change the type you are doing. 

Put your scale away for a week or so.  I did the same thing and it came off.  I was weighing daily at one time and it was my worst enemy. 

Can you tell us what you typically would eat in a day?  If I buy something I look at the carbs to protein ratio if the carbs are 31g and the protien is 4g I wouldn't buy it.  Now if it was 10g carb to 9 protein or even more protien I'll buy it.

2 weeks isn't that long at all.  Think of how long you have been overweight.  Don't put so much pressure on yourself.  

Jen,

U look grreat. How did you loose so much weight in 8 months? How large is your band? How full is it? PLEASE HELP US ALL JOING THE CENTURY CLUB.

I have a 10 cc band with almost 7.8ccs in it.  I just workout 4 days a week and really watch the carbs to protiens I eat.  That really is about it.  I don't call having certain foods cheating.  I eat chocolate every now and again, had piece of pizza tonight, etc.  I just think if you do the watching your calories, exercising (and changing it up when it gets easier), protiens to carbs, and just live without worrying about the weight coming off - it will.

Stalls are natural part of weight loss. It seems the body “catches on" to what we have been doing, and holds onto everything. After a while, the lost restarts and things go well.

 

However, stalls can also because by eating (a) too much (b) not enough. I know it sounds a little contradictory, and I will try to explain.

 

Too much: While we need to make sure we hit our protein requirements (60-80 grams, or whatever your Doctor told you), we need to make sure the carbs, calories, etc are “acceptable". Remember, you don’t want to make your 80 grams of protein by eating 4 gallons of ice cream or a starchy carb.

 

Not enough: Again, make sure you are meeting your daily protein requirements. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO WEIGHT LOSS. The body is a marvelous machine, and it will protect itself. If one doesn’t eat enough, the body’s metabolism will slow down - in order to keep itself functioning. If a person intake is less then what it expels, the body will start to “store" food.

 

Now a pet peeve .. DROP THE WORD ONLY !! I get very upset to read, or hear, “I’ve lost only X pounds". Why use the word ONLY !?!?!?! Be proud of those pounds you lost!!! This is a major accomplishment!!

 

How many times were you NOT able to lose that amount of weight???? Or when you did, you gained it back?? If you lost weight, and haven’t gained it back, then aren’t you really winning?!?!?

 

 

Remember, this isn’t a race. “Slow and steady wins the race".  We are a generation of instantaneous results, however remember we didn’t put all the weight on at once, it took years. So don’t you think losing it would take just as long? This isn't one of those miracle instantaneous weight loss programs. We all know types of programs always fail. This is a way of life

 

Nowhere does any of the literate state you will lose x amount of weight in x days. Think LONG TERM. If it takes you 2 – 3 -5 years to lose all the weight, WHO CARES!!! How long did it take you to put all those pounds on? Try to remind yourself that even if I lost only 1 pound per week, in year’s time I’d be 52 pounds lighter. Many doctors believe the slower you lose weight, the better chance you have of keeping it off. 

 

Many folks are hung up on the number. It’s not the number of pounds that someone loses in a specified period of time that is important. It’s how you feel. Don’t forget, if you are toning up muscle – your weight loss may seem to have slowed (or stopped), when in fact you are replacing fat with muscle. Muscle is heavier then fat. Someone weighting 200 pounds with a body fat percentage of 25 is carrying around 50 pounds of extra fat. That same person weighting 200 pounds with 10 percent body fat would be carrying 20 pounds of fat. So it’s not the number that is important.

 

The amount of weight lost is affected by many factors. Everyone loses weight at different rates. It has to do with age, gender, one’s weight, exercise, etc.. A 10 pound lost to one person could be as affected as a 40 pound lost to another. Think of it this way: If a 400-pound person loses 40 pounds; a 300-pound person loses 30 pounds, a 200-pound person loses 20 pounds, and a 100-pound person loses 10 pounds – the 400-pound person didn’t necessarily lose more weight than the others. All three lost 10% of their body weight. 

 

 

Also there are other “scales" you can use to monitor your success: your constant hunger reduction (eliminated); reduced clothing size; increase energy; re-familiarizing yourself to body-parts unseen for years (errr… toes) ; “common" activity becoming easier (walking, climbing steps), just feeling good about yourself; sleeping better (reduced snoring); the mirror; better medical exam results (lower cholesterol and/or blood pressure); etc.

                    

 

Be proud of your lost. No matter how small it may seem. Remember, it’s better to lose not a pound than to GAIN a pound.

 

So starting today – let’s officially start a movement to ban the word ONLY, and take pride in your lost

Tom is totally correct!!! He's a wealth of information and an amazing support person!!

Plus measure yourself...the scale wasn't moving on me and I've lost 24 inches!!!! So even if the scale doesn't move your body maybe shifting.

Also, to lose 33lbs since August is amazing!!!! You're doing a great job....don't stress over it, that will get you nowhere!!!!

Enjoy the ride and do your best each day!!!

Good luck!

Hey guys I know what you guys mean. I have to say am quilty of feeling the same way sometimes. The oh man why am I not losing this darn fat fast!!! or why is this person losing faster then I. I dont look at my own progress to be good. I was banded in April 09 and have so far lost  55 lbs and somtimes it goes up and down. 1 or 2 lbs. I do cry when this happens I guess I am afraid of staying fat forever. I say to myself at times I am meant to be fat. But then other times am like wait am wearing a freaking 8/9 jeans for the first time in my life. lol....  I need to be reminded also of this often. You guys are great to share ur struggles lets me know its ok. Even if I still be mad one day and happy the other. Hopefully one day I will be happy forever but not because am skinny but because I did with the band what I was never able to do alone.

Lots of people might want to throw something at me, but when I plateau, I eat something fattening...not a lot, but some.  That lets my body know that I'm not starving and I find that I will likely drop a couple of pounds the next day.  Also, I do find that I don't drop during the week before and the week of my TOM.  Quit crying...keep doing what you are doing...give yourself some time...and you will find that it just melts off!