HI Gang,

I need advice. I have not lost any weight for the past 1.5 weeks. Indeed, I have been 247 for what seems like forever.

Here is an example of my menu

Breakfast- 1/4 cup scrambled egg beaters

Lunch: 1/4-1/3 cup tuna salad (i.e. tuna, FF mayo, dill relish)

Dinner: Either 1/4 cup 1% Cottage cheese OR 1/4-1/3 cup FF refried beans with adobo seasoning and salsa.

30-40 oz water/decaf tea/crystal light.  Yes. I know that 60 oz optimal. Trying.

Exercise:

1) MOnday-30 minute walk at lunch (didnt break a sweat)

2) Tuesday-ellipitcal/treadmill-65 minutes (light sweat)

3) Wednesday- Gentle yoga (90 minutes)-light sweat.

So...what gives?

I had a 2 week stall - lost 1 pound in 14 days, then it passed.  Looks like your following your plan perfectly, so give it some time and the scale will move.

Ok.  THanks!  It is just scary.  Previously, I followed WW and sometimes the scale would go up!  I am afraid of reliving that nightmare again!

Skinny, you have to drink more liquids.  60 oz would be the bare minimum.  Are you sure you are eating enough?  Your plan doesn't allow for any protein snacks?  Can you add a protein shake (that counts as liquid and protein).  SF Jello counts as liquid too.  Carry a water bottle of whatever your favorite sf liquid is everywhere you go.  My first few months I drank a couple of glasses of milk a day to add in some liquid and protein.  

Protein shakes are now off the plan (they were the first 1-2 weeks).

I am eating the amounts of food the doctor has in his plan.  THe plan does not allow for snacking.

I DO Have a ton of SF jello around the house so I will cook some up!  I will do the water bottle trick too!

Thanks so much Sonja!

Hopefully after upping the liquids, things will start to move again.

SF Popsicles help with liquid intake also. 

I think they put crack in SF popsicles. They are addictive.

I agree with Sonja about the liquids. I drink 10-13 glasses of water a day. Since I spend the majority of my talking, I had to figure out how I could still work with people and do what I need for myself. I have a 24 oz cold cup from Starbucks (it's clear with the green straw) and once I transition to water in the morning, I fill that up with lots of ice, water, and a packet of SF whatever (my go to is SF Hawaiian punch or grape, but I do like the SF Arizona Tea Arnold Palmer packets once in awhile, but they have 1 carb that I am not too worried about) and start sipping on that, then I fill it up after lunch and repeat. YES, I DO use a straw. I understand how anatomy works and I am not worried about "extra air" going into my pouch, but that is just *me*.

Ok, so why is it important to drink a ton of liquid when losing weight? Well, I am sure you already know this, but your liver needs fluids in order to metabolize fat. If your body doesn't have enough water, your liver starts doing the job of your kidneys and you stop burning fat. So, drink up, sistah! Here's a great article that explains the need for water, granted, it IS a fitness article, but I am sure you know how to research the scientific journals if you want something with data. http://www.fitness.com/articles/118/the_importance_of_water_ consumption.php

Finally, take a deep breath. Didn't you recently have surgery? Did you truly expect to lose a pound or more every single day? You've been on diets before and you know how weight loss works...it is NOT an even steady decline in weight, it is a stair step. It would behoove you to keep this in mind as you go forward, lest you drive yourself crazy and depressed. FWIW, in January I didn't lose for 9 days. I am not calling that a stall, rather, it was a "hesitation" or a catch-up that my body needed. I didn't get depressed or freak out because I expected to see this happen. Was I surprised, yes of course. Was it frustrating, of course! Did it pass, absolutely. The way I look at it is this...my body weight will fluctuate and I just have to deal with that. I am in this for the long haul. This isn't ANOTHER diet, this is my life...the rest of my life. In 5 years with a few days here and there without losing weight really mean anything? Nope. So, might I suggest looking at the big picture, the long haul and try to break away from the dieting mentality, I know it is hard, but this is not typical dieting anymore.

Best wishes!

What gives is that this is how weight loss works.  1.5 weeks is not forever, not even close.  My advice is to stay off the scale for a while.

Ok. 

I just wi**** would get moving.  I mean, "What is it saving to maintain this weight!?!?!"

Do you think I should up the exercise?  ITs intensity!?!?  I just got cleared last week to exercise.  I dont feel up to tae bo yet...