Question:
I am so bummed.....please cheer me up!
Hi all. I have been so bummed out the last couple of weeks. I had surgery July 1 this year. I started at 5'2, 265#, BMI 48, age 38. My monthly losses were -27, -10, -15, -10 bringing me to 203#. I have been stuck here for almost a month. I am drinking 2 or 3 protein shakes a day (scoop and a half=30 grams protein) in water. Calories are from 800-1000 a day. I drink at least 48 oz. of water a day. I walk/run 1 mile 5 days a week and swim 40 olympic laps every other day. Why am I stuck here? It seems like as soon as I started the protein shakes the losses stopped completely. Should I cut them out? I feel like I have just stopped losing completely and will never reach anywhere near goal of 150#. Heck, i wonder if I will ever be 199#. Anyone got any ideas? Because I hafe run out of them. — lindadougherty (posted on November 20, 2003)
November 20, 2003
Sounds like you're doing everything right. I ran into a plateau around
month 5, but persisted with my exercise and healthy eating routine and it
finally broke. Our bodies seem to adapt fairly easily, so it's good to
shake thing sup every now and then. You might try changing your workout for
a few days. Also, are you doing any strenght building (ie weights)? That
will help too! If you don't belong to a gym, get some dumbells and do it a
home. Here's a link to a workout you can do at home:
http://www.quadrafit.com/fullapartment
— Barbara C.
November 20, 2003
a doctor once told me that when we lose weight that we normally plateau at
weights we stayed at for long while. but don't worry....with all that you
are doing the scale will start moving again.
— franbvan
November 20, 2003
I found adding more aerobic exercise daily helps break the stalemate-Good
Luck
— Lisa D.
November 20, 2003
I will probably be bashed for saying this, but I have never really believed
in the protein shake thing.... I was told that getting protein out of food
was definately a lot better than the shakes, and I have (knock wood) never
had any problems with plateus. It also sounds like to me that since you
are doing so much exercise that you are probably gaining a lot of muscle,
replacing the fat, and we know that muscle weighs more than fat, so
probably when the scales start moving they will really start moving. You
are probably seeing some inches go even though you are not losing the
pounds..
— sheri H.
November 20, 2003
Try doubling your water, too. You need 64 oz with NO exercise.
— Chris T.
November 20, 2003
One word WOW!!!!!!!!!!!YOu are doing great. Your progress is incrediable.I
would continue to do everything but look at those protein shakes..Look for
those hidden sugars and carbs. Keep your chin up/
Sarah
— sarah C.
November 20, 2003
Don't despair - just keep in mind that as long as you are burning more
calories than you consume the weight will HAVE TO COME OFF! That being
said, soy products make me retain fluid and will halt my weight loss in a
hurry. Do your protein shakes have soy in them? And if it's not soy it
could be some other food sensitivity. Change what your eating for a week
or so - keep the calories about the same but get them from different foods.
And keep up the great work!!
— Etta M.
November 20, 2003
Gotta agree with the more water comment. Even without exercise we need a
min. of 64 oz. Add exercise to the mix and you proabaly need more. Don't
worry about the protein shakes as long as carbs and sugar are low, they
shouldn't be hindering your loss and will actually help prevent protein
deficiency. If your overall calorie intake is 800-1000 per day, including
the shakes, they aren't the cause of your plateau. I would try upping the
water way up and see where you go.
— Ali M
November 21, 2003
Linda, The same thing happened to me around month 4/5. It seemed that I
was not going to lose another pound then, bam! I lost about 5 lbs. in a
single week and then it started coming off again. Don't worry, it will
happen. Just hang in there and don't get discouraged.
— [Deactivated Member]
November 21, 2003
Hi Linda- Sounds like you're doing great! Ditto to most of the previous
posters. From your height and weight, you might be considered a
"lightweight" and therefore lose a bit slower than someone
heavier. IMHO, keep the shakes. I would definitely increase the water
intake as much as possible (I drink a quart before each meal and more on
days that I exercise)-- yes, you will spend a lot of time peeing LOL. You
could also try changing your exercise routine around: add weight training
and maybe walk more miles per day and swim less per day. For me, I now do
less cardio and more weight training (about an hour a day). I change the
routine every 6- 8 weeks or so just to keep my body from getting too comfy
with what it's doing. Keep in mind that plateaus are a normal part of
losing weight. Your body might be staying at 203 to get ready for even more
of a loss. You may be losing inches instead of pounds-- the scale does not
tell the whole story-- BTW, try not to weigh yourself too often (it will
drive you crazy). I'm sure that you have not stopped losing since you only
had surgery in July. Keep up the great work!
— lizinPA
November 21, 2003
More agua por favor. Also, take measurements. I am sure you are losing
inches. I lost slowly last month but man did those inches fly! I stepped
on the scale this morning and bam! Down 5.5 pounds in one day. More than
the last 3 weeks combined! Don't freak just yet. Also, try getting 1200
cals in. You are doing a lot of exercise on too little calories.
— mrsmyranow
November 24, 2003
My surgery was July 10, similar to your date. I don't have a scale so
don't know my current weight. Pre op weight was 275, 10 lbs above you. If
I am at 213 you will see me JUMP OVER THIS BUILDING with joy. If you are
doing the right things, and you seem to be, you will get the right result.
Just in time. Give it time.
— Margaret G.
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