In need of support and advise

[PartyofSix]

I'm ready to move on and get this off my plate so to speak. I need your help. I have never had a stall like this and i need some advise and motivation to get going again. I was at 154 when i left for my Labor Day weekend the end of Aug. Well when i came home i was up 11 lbs. So i got right back on my plan and eating style and within 10 days i saw 154 again. So that made me very happy. My problem is since then i have struggled and it's been up and down floating for the last three weeks it seems. I have lingered between 154-156 since. I really want 10 more pounds to shed away i'm in no hurry but i need to see something some result. I have been moving but not exercising but i've always floated with my exercise on a month off a month and so on. My food has stayed the same for the most part. The only thing i can think of if lowering my sugar intake and being careful with the carbs. I usually don't have a problem with either but i am guess that cutting back a little more may show some results? Any suggests to bump my loss off and get me moving again? I thought at first maybe my body just needed a rest from lossing that 11 lbs of vacation weight so quickly but dang how much time does it need? Am I stuck here forever? Does my body not want to get smaller than this? My fear is my body refuses to go anylower than 150's! OMG i think 145 is gonna be goal for me and i really want it BADLY. I am just getting so discouraged i've come so far to stop short of my idea goal so close. Can somebody please take the time to kick me in the pants maybe that would help? I don't even want to eat my lunch today which i normally look forward to. My husband takes the kids out for the morning and i treat myself to a healthy choice pizza. (normally i do not eat prepackaged food but this is a treat day for me). I have been drinking my water more than 120 oz's a day i even thought i was drinking too much and slacked off for a day and no movement happed. Well thanks for letting me whine and vent at the same time. I just need to hear this is not it for me that with patience and some adjustsments the scales will move again for me. Thanks for being here for me guys.

 

[WDWLVR]

Tammy,

With an 80 lb. loss under your belt it seems like you have things under control. I'm just starting the journey and people like you are an inspiration to me.

I would say that the best way to jump start your loss for those last 10 lbs. is to do the things you are suggestion. A little more exercise, a slight change in daily intake. You can do it!

I think that one of the great things about WISH is that it is a place where we can all come when we need encouragement.
Hope mine helps you!

Before you know it you'll trade in that 80 lb. clippie for the GOAL one!

 

[disboo]

I, too have been stalled (after a 70 pound loss - many more to go) since mid to late Aug, and I am starting to get a little frustrated, too. I tried bumping up the carbs slightly to jumpstart my body (ate one tortilla!) - didn't work. I skipped lunch one day (not hungry then anyway) - didn't work. The only thing I can think that I am doing differently than the last seven months is that I am eating less fat than usual. I just haven't wanted/needed that little bit of cream or whatever. I even like my salads dry now!

I am afraid my body "likes" being 205, and I say NO WAY. I know that if I stick with the plan the weight will drop off again, bUT I am feeling frustrated anyway!

Good luck! (to both of us!)

 

[DoeWDW]

Tammy {{ hugs }} for you!!! I can "hear" the frustration and sadness in your post and after reading your story, I can totally understand why. To be so close to goal and have it seem impossible to reach must be really testing you now!

Now, take a deep breath......and try to relax, as hard as that is at the moment. You're on track and doing just fine. You need to celebrate how successful you've been in giving your body healthy foods. You are truly loving yourself and taking such good care of yourself and I admire you for that!!

We low-carb people sometimes resort to a "fat fast" to break a stall but if you're not low-carbing, it might REALLY mess up your body! My best advice is to try something different to shock your metabolism. I think your idea of cutting back on the sugar and carbs for a little while might work. Sometimes, eating a little extra food can actually help.

What really concerns me though, is how you're feeling about food and water right now. Please don't cut back on your food so much that you force your body into starvation mode. It's very easy to start skipping meals and get really turned off by food when you want to lose but this WILL backfire and cause your body to hang onto every last ounce.

Tammy, you WILL get to goal. I just know it. Hang in there and try one new thing a week until you can convince your body that those extra pounds are not needed. We're here with you and cheering you on!! Keep us posted!!

 

[DoeWDW]

Disboo, cutting back too far on your fat is a no-no on low-carb and may be responsible for your stall. Please check your calorie ratios. I do best when I'm eating 70% fat, 20% protein and 10% carbs. I don't think fats should be less than 50% - 60% of your calories when you low-carb.

If you put your foods into www.fitday.com it will calculate the percentages for you.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Tammy,

Great job on your weight loss! I imagine that along with your frustration you have excitement in being so close to your goal.

I am like some others on here.....just starting this journey, really. But I do know what it is like to be so close to goal. I was once 126 lbs. on WW and my goal was 120. Never made it. I did everything wrong. I lost it by eating hardly any fat and mostly carbs and exercising like fiend!! It was craziness.

Since then I've done a lot of reading and experimenting. I am lo-carb, but one thing I do try to do is eat small meals throughout the day. Like say you are eating a sandwich at lunch. Eat half at about 10:30 then the other half at 12:30. By constantly giving your body food, it increases you metabolism. And I need all of the help I can get.

Is your plan WW?? I would think this would work with any plan. And it doesn't take much for a meal. A piece of cheese and a few crackers can constitute a meal.

I don't know. I can't think of anything else other than what you are doing. Maybe if you just keep on keeping on, the whoosh fairy will pay you a visit eventually!!

I am SO PROUD of you anyhow! Best wishes with whatever you decide.

 

[mowsie dreamer]

{{{Hugs}}} Tammy. I know how frustrating a plateau can be, but it sounds like you are doing everything right. After all, you have lost 80 pounds, so what you are doing does work.

You know, don't you, that as you get nearer to your goal it will take longer to lose the weight? Lighten up on yourself a bit. You don't need a kick in the pants, your body just needs a little more time to rest before going on to goal. And you WILL get there!! So don't deprive yourself of your Sunday treat now. In fact, cutting back too far may sabotage your efforts instead of helping.

Increasing your exercise might help shake your metabolism up a bit. Also, varying the amount you eat each day may help some. I've heard many on WW say that varying the amount you eat from day to day can help.

In the end, I think you just need to trust yourself. You have been doing a wonderful job and what you have been doing works well or you couldn't have been so successful!! Just keep on keeping on and you soon we will be congratulating you on a red goal clippie!

 

[PartyofSix]

Thank you all for such wonderful support and suggestion. I'm not on WW or any other "plan" my husband calls our style the "Woodard Plan".LOL It's just me and him and trying to eat heatlhier and move more that's our motto anyways. To eat everyday like we could eat like this the rest of our lives. Sometimes through this journey, like now for instance, it would be nice to have book to follow or a "leader" but you know i don't really need that when i have this kind of support here on WISH. I really appreciate you all sticking this out with me and offering all this encouragement and advice. It really does help me out and sike me up to try new things and just hang in there no matter what comes or how long it may take it to come. Thank you all so much each of your post means so much to me.

 

[tiggerlover]

Originally posted by mowsie dreamer

You know, don't you, that as you get nearer to your goal it will take longer to lose the weight? Lighten up on yourself a bit. You don't need a kick in the pants, your body just needs a little more time to rest before going on to goal. And you WILL get there!! So don't deprive yourself of your Sunday treat now. In fact, cutting back too far may sabotage your efforts instead of helping.

Increasing your exercise might help shake your metabolism up a bit. Also, varying the amount you eat each day may help some. I've heard many on WW say that varying the amount you eat from day to day can help.

Tammy, this is pretty much what I was going to say. I know it is true because I have read a lot about it and I know two people who have suffered through. My sister just reached her goal and the last ten pounds was the hardest for her to lose. You have done a fantastic job so far, you just have to relax and be patient, as hard as that is, the weight will come off. {{{ HUGS }}} I am so proud of your results, you look fabulous and I am sure you feel wonderful.

 

[nativetxn]

Tammy, I didn't read all of the replies so forgive me if I duplicate what anyone else has already said.

I have a couple of questions. How did you decide on your goal weight? Did your doctor tell you that you should weigh 145? Did you look at a chart with "ideal" weight ranges and choose this number or is this a just number that you <i>want</i>?

Another question: have you changed your eating habits for life? This is something very important for <i>all</i> of us to consider seriously. If you are planning to eat sensibly for the rest of your life then there's no sense getting impatient. The weight will come off eventually, if you eat sensibly and exercise everyday. Don't let impatience get you side tracked.

I have a suggestion, why don't you change your focus about getting healthy? Don't worry about how much you weigh and focus, instead, on reducing your body mass index. Reduce your percentage of body fat and you will get smaller and perhaps even lighter.

I have a nosy question, now. How tall are you? Aren't I curious and nosy?

Hang in there sweetie. Step up your workouts and try to focus on your success. There is more than one way to skin a cat, they say. There is more than one way to reach goal, too. Don't get in a hurry. You are changing your eating habits for life. Nothing is going to change there once you begin to maintain forever, right?

I'm so glad you posted this, here. {{{HUGS}}} gorgeous, you are an inspiration to me.

Katholyn

 

[KathyTX]

Hey, you big loser!!!

Tammy, you ARE going to get there.

I think one problem is that you have been losing so dramatically and successfully all year, you're just not willing to accept that temporary plateaus happen. Your progress has been nothing short of AMAZING, even more so because you've followed your own unique plan! You shed that vacation weight SO FAST!!!

I would try to give yourself a week to just maintain. Eat the way you're planning to eat *for life*. Drink a sensible amount of water. Get a moderate amount of exercise. DO NOT get near the scales.

Then, next week, maybe bump the exercise up a notch. Eat sensibly, maybe cut back *a bit* on the sugar and carbs and bump up a bit on the proteins, but nothing too dramatic. Try that for one week and see how your body responds.

I really think that doing this, taking a two-week approach instead of trying to see the changes daily, helps when we're close to goal and hitting plateaus.

It is true that it's not as easy to lose when we get so close to our goal weight. There's just not as much there to work with!

You're what- 5'7 or 5'8? 145 sounds like a good, healthy goal. You're so very close already. Take a deep breath, stick those scales in a closet for a week, and you'll be there before we know it.

 

[kayeandjim00]

Hi Tammy - I want to first add my {{{Hugs}}} to you - I know you must be so anxious to get to your goal! Everyone has given fabulous advice and I don't have much to add to it other than maybe trying a different exercise? I have read that sometimes your body gets used to certain exercises - walking, etc. And all it takes is a little variance to get things moving again. I know that you WILL get there. You are such an inspiration to me, you have helped me so much and your progress is so impressive! Keep doing what you're doing and your scale will start moving down again - I know it!!

 

[Debbie]

What they said!
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Now, seriously, once upon a time-13 years ago, I lost weight and stalled at @ 158/160. I looked good, I felt good, but I stalled. Then I got pregnant and I haven't seen that number since. I can't weight to get back there again. If I stall, I'll be okay, because I'll know that I am eating healthy, and exercising (who me??) too.

You've done well, Tammy. It may be the time for s-l-o-w weight loss as you reach your goal. But, STOP. You have reached ONE of your goals. You are healthy, you have energy, you will live your life day by day as you have-no DIE IT for you! You are living the life that God gave you to live, an inspiration and leader for your children and your friends. Patience, my friend, is a virtue. And, patience, when you want something so badly, is painful, but you will make it. I have faith in you. It will come. Take care, hun!

 

[PartyofSix]

Have i told you all in the last 24hrs how great you ALL are! I'm trying to be patient but i'm really bad at it. Kath i'm 5'8 and i know from fitday since i hit 160 i was in a normal range for my height and being at 155 i'm okay with myself and my looks for the most part and i just "think" that 10 more lbs would really "thin" me out just a tick more and i would be really happy with my body. I've come this far i want to be happy when i call it a day. It may take more than 10 lbs but right now i want those 10 and i'll reevaluate how i feel about my look at that weight. I first thought i'd go for 135 but i think that maybe be too skinny for me and my frame. I'm happy being the size i am now i can wear a size 8 jeans and meduim tops again so i'm happy if i end up here forever but on the other hand i really want those other 10lbs to go away i think that'll give me the best me i could want.

As for exercise well don't bash me but i don't do it often enough and i'm not real consist with it either. But i try to do move moving no matter how i fit it in. Shopping, walking in the yard, walking at work just anything where i'm not sitting or just breathing in at work during the day. I have had a decent day today and it's usually my reward day but i don't think i over did it today not in a rewarding mood.LOL I did have a chocolate chip cookie and some milk but that was all the reward i got today.

I really appreiciate all of you coming to help my feelings about this slow moving scale situation and as far is sticking them in the closet i can't i have dr's scales that are big and have to stay level so there in the laudry room and i see them first thing every morning.LOL Thanks for all the great advice and suggestions everyone i really appreiciate each one of you who came here to motivate and encourage me.

 

[MelanieC]

Tammy,

First.......you are amazing. 80lbs! That is just truly amazing and inspiring. Everytime I read your posts and see your beautiful blue 80lb clippie I get inspired!

I really hope that you don't let the last 10 lbs get you so down that you loose sight of what you are trying to do. Look how healthy you have become!

Take those last 10lbs slow. Those 10lbs will be the toughest. I know it feels like.......if I just get to my goal, I will be happy. Since this is a lifestyle change, try to relax and enjoy these last two pounds. I bet that by adding exercise to your routine. Exercise that you stick to and do religiously, like watching your weight.......you will loose that 10lbs. At first it will seem like you are gaining, but then it will come off. I know that I seem to go through a few slow or non existent losses, but then I have a couple of good weeks. I started exercising 6 days a week religiously about a month ago. At first I didn't loose, then all the sudden I did. This week, the BF is visiting me and I do not think I will loose this week. I really want to, but I am ok with this. I have to start understanding that I will not loose as quickly now, but I am getting used to how my body is reacting.

You will loose it.......you have had the strength to loose 80 lbs. Your body is starting to get used to where it knows it should be, so it will take longer to loose the last ten. You will be healthier for it too!

Keep up the great work.

Melanie

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Tammy, you know how little skinny people have a harder time losing than people with lots to lose? Well guess what...you are a little skinny person now and it's going to take some extra time.

I am so impressed by your accomplishment...you are awesome. The last bit of weight is always tough to get off, but if you take it slowly (and I agree, cut back the carbs a tad) you will definitely make it.

You can and will do it!!!!

 

[nativetxn]

I thought about you all evening and couldn't go to sleep for thinking about you last night. I need to get a real life, don't I?

I think I've finally figured something out, though.

As for exercise well don't bash me but i don't do it often enough and i'm not real consist with it either

You can do anything you <i>want</i> to do and you will <b>succeed</b>. You have to want it badly enough to do what it takes though. When you want to lose this last 10 pounds badly enough you will start working out on a regular basis. Then, while you will still lose slowly because you are so close to goal, you will begin seeing progress again.

I am terrible about doing my WATP tapes regularly. I'll encourage you if you encourage me