I've been doing this since December and could very well have become discouraged by only losing 20 pounds while so many others are speeding by me. But I don't feel that way. I was noticing yesterday that I don't really feel like I'm losing weight anymore, even though I'm losing at about the same rate I always was--a pound or less a week. But it's not something I'm worrying about--I think I'm just used to eating this way. That's not a bad thing. It's just how I eat now. If I don't have to think about it and still eat right, I feel that I've made it a lifelong habit.

I'm not saying I wouldn't mind losing faster, but that's not going to happen, so I'll just keep on doing the same stuff and keep losing a little at a time. Meanwhile, life goes on.

Wow MaryKay, I never thought of that. For me month 4 started on Dec 20th, and I did not have any psychological/motivational problems with the woe. In fact, just the opposite. That is when I visited my family for Christmas. They were all amazed at my weight loss. I didn't cheat at all during the holliday. Psychologically, I began to realize that I was on this woe for life; my commitment and discipline had been as strong as ever. BTW that was also about the time that I found this forum.

Physically however is a different story. During that time, I experienced my first stall/slowdown. From Sept 20th to Dec 1st, I had consistantly lost 5 pounds a week about 3 times a month. After that, I would be lucky if I would loose 1 or two pounds a week. About six weeks after that I entered a stall that I am still fighting off.

You are really on to something with your 4 month slump. In my case it was the transition from loosing like there is no tomorrow (weekly woosh fairy visits) to the stalls that everyone had been warning me about.

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Started Atkins on 9/20/03
235-->190; 150 goal

It sounds like a lot of different reactions. I never had what would be considered wooshes, and went weeks with nothing. But I was doing okay - knew I was doing the right thing and could deal with it. Even at the snail pace.

It was just in April that I was losing what I considered the control. Not with high-carb foods, but depending more on the shortcuts (breakfast bars, LC treats, LC ice cream, etc.). and found my self developing a serious dislike for veggies - mostly salads. Never have been a salad person, but I was doing okay with it. Then I couldn't seem to stomach it anymore.

Plus I work from home. I'm not getting a lot of feedback or comments. Its a solitary lifestyle. The only real outing I have is going to Curves these days. So, I wasn't getting the weight-loss motivation (after a while you figure why not have the LC treats - not like they stalled me, I was in a perpetual stall) - or seeing anyone who really would notice a difference. Family is around me too much to really comment. I know clothes were getting smaller, but I don't see it in the mirror.

But I think this Curves challenge may be just what I needed. Still very much low-carb, but a little different approach and also a 'real-life' support group for several weeks. Not suggesting changing plans to anyone else - but I needed to try something different before I lost it altogether. I'm again enthusiastic about low-carbing, and have found a focus on myself again.

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Mary Kay 1/1/04 - 232
5/19/08 (5/23/08) - sw226/(cw222)/mg210/fg160

Sticking to the woe (or a similar one) is the important thing; as long as your plan is working for you.

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Started Atkins on 9/20/03
235-->190; 150 goal

WOW, reading these replies really hits home!! I haven't ever lost significant amounts of weight at a time, infact I'm like a 5 lb month averager... I have also started feeling the SLUMP the Oh well, I'll miss the gym today, go back tomorrow...where as if I did that I'd feel this large feeling of guilt, I want that guilt back because it keeps me focused... I haven't wanted to cheat but I haven't cared if I have more or less somedays and think it's just blah for me right now... I'm not giving up nor do I want to, I still have 30 lbs. to go, it's just that I don't feel like I'm trying as hard as I was or should.... but I'm not really doing anything different that would make me feel that way, maybe it's just that when it's new you go go go and now it's like a actually your WOE?!

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185/157/130

I want a normal BP, healthy weight and good Cholesterol

as i have posted before... i dont weigh myself.. only at drs and even that is sporatic..(i dont ask.. they dont do..) anywho... i too was getting a bit dicey now that its been about 4 months... (started jan 12) i FREAKED a couple of days ago when i put on a pair of jeans that had been really loose.. then they WERENT.. oh man.. i brow beat myself all day long over it... then when i grabbed some jeans the next day... they were FALLIN off loose... *LOL*.. turns out that i hadnt noticed that the ones i felt werent loose enough were my TIGHT pair..*L*.. i felt soooooooooooo much better... however.. that little scare has me back cuttin out some of the "iffy" stuff i had begun to gravitate to... i had cut back on the eggs.. spinich and salmon.. i had upped the nuts.. (huge mistake).. i had gotten reADDICTED to coffee again.. was finishing every cup instead of ditching any i had for water after just a taste or two...
i have been VERY sceptical about any woe working without yo-yoing... and it seems that this one is no exception.. but yanno what? i would rather yo-yo feeling GREAT.. than yo - yo with crap...
so i continue with this woe.... its getting second nature... when i think of too many macademia nuts and an adkins bar a HUGE CHEAT instead of a bag of doritos and a can of refried beans.. or instead of a bag of jalapeno chips and several regular cokes... well then ... i am doing pretty (insert one of goddesses words..heh heh) GOOD!
that being said... do what ya gotta do marykay... just do SOMETHING for yourself... ;-)

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

Wow! cgilson just told me about this thread after I had posted virtually the same thing here:

http://www.lowcarbeating.com/bb/showthread.php?t=8867

I am so glad (just as I was at the 3 week stall, which I survived thanks to all of you!) that there are others who are going through the same thing! Thanks!

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Renee
1/19/04
261/220/160
41 lbs off
60 lbs to goal



Race to 199 Challenge
Labor Day Challenge: Focusing on the Journey
Personal Goal: 199 by 12/31/05

Well, for me, it was more like 6 months that I started to stall. But, this is when I started to add exercise and some carbs back into my diet, and I immediately gained 4lbs!! I am back to where I was when I started exercising, plus I haven't exercised in about 2 weeks. I know that in the long run, doing weights and exercising is good for me, but it is hard to see the scale climb.

I know I could do more things to speed things up, such as drinking more water and not eating out as much, which I am working on

Robin

lol kim...one of my words, huh? you bet! :eyes:

i know what you mean about your idea of "cheating" is different. i get frustrated with myself when i eat a bit much of "allowed" foods, 'cause i feel icky for a while when i overeat even a little...weird how much differences following different habits makes after even a little while...

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Fat Baggage- Is Yours Packed?

Yep, my loss of motivation and discipline came at around month 4. I'm lucky that I haven't gained too much--3 lbs.--but I'm still not back to where I was psychologically in January. I was so excited to have energy and weight-loss of about 2.5 lbs. per week. Now, I'm back to coffee for breakfast, sandwich and salad for lunch, and KFC or Smokey's BBQ and salad for dinner. No exercize since April. I'm still here though, reading your posts, posting my own and being honest with myself and you guys. This is a journey, I know that. My ship is just in stormy seas at the moment, but I'll hang on tight until the sky clears!

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Cherub
304/302/170
5'9"
Started Atkins 01/04/04

Gosh, I think I hit a stall that lasted a good 3 months right around the 4 month mark. It kind of made me lose my enthusiasm, mentally. But I keep keepin' on. When I lose my enthusiasm, what I find helps me to re-invigorate my mental state, is to read another book on LCing. The reading helps to reinforce what I already know about this WOL, reminds me of things I've forgotten and revs me up again. I also have found that if I have some OFF-plan stuff once in awhile (say every 2 months or so) it is followed by a "whooooosh." I wouldn't say that off-plan eating is something we should do all the time to jump start things.............it could get us in trouble. But an occasional "treat" is not going to derail you if you are firmly established in your mental attitude about how this WOL works. The off-plan eating is reserved for special occasions when I am at a party, social gathering or at some kind of celebration. So I don't do it at home AT ALL. My home is my safe sanctuary where off-plan eating is not allowed. I also find that using NEW recipes gets my mind enthused again. (I am in a "same old, same old" mode right now. I know I have to do some new recipe searching..............easy enough to do, I have lots of LC cookbooks now.)

I forget who compared this journey to the stages of maturation, early on in this thread, but I like that. I guess I have entered the "adult" stage of this WOL with myself. I am content with my food choices now, feel confident that I have control over my eating, actually enjoy exercise now, and don't sweat the stalls. My enthusiasm has entered a quiet contentment stage now. BUT, when I run into someone who is a naysayer about this WOL, I have my enthusiasm tucked in my back pocket, pull it out and explain the benefits.

I now am at a stage where I know what I DON'T eat, and can politely say, "I don't eat that (sugar)." It's becoming second nature to me. The struggle with forbidden foods is no longer a struggle. I am going to eat this way the rest of my life. So I have found my favorite sweet treats to have, which always satisfy.

All I can say to those of you who have been on this journey for a shorter period than I, HANG IN THERE. You know you are doing the right thing!!!!!

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Well, I haven't been posting cose I have been ashamed to admit that since going on vacation in March I am having a terrible time getting back to eating clean. It's like two or tree good days then I will go to a party and eat low carb till dessert then the sugar demons hit me and I can't resist.
Today I am back on the wagon, for on more time, and so far the day has been good.
if anyone has any ideas on how to supress and resist the sugar demons let me know.
Rainbow

When I'm feeling weak and am going to a gathering or something, I try to make a dessert to bring with. That really helps me to not indulge in the sugary garbage they usually have. Although lately, I have been indulging in some of the goodies (just a little taste). There haven't been that many gatherings lately, so I feel okay with it. It hasn't derailed me yet. I also do MORE physical stuff when that happens. It helps use up the glycogen that the junk will build up in my muscles and liver. Just make sure you eat as clean as you possible can, don't feel guilty about eating off-plan, unless you are doing it on a daily basis. Then, remember this website and if we were there with you we would kick your behind. Picture us sitting on your shoulder!!!! LOL

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wow... just read marykays post about this thread...
what a strange thing to RE-read my post from back then..
it sure is a good REMINDER for me, as i get back on the wagon after a three day vacation carbfest..

thanks for the mention of this thread marykay!!

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

So one of my co-workers just came over and offered me a Toblerone bar - Milk Chocolate with almonds and nougat. It looked so good. But the will is still strong (and I'm at that 4 month point too) I did not yield. I guess b/c I'm going to visit my family in NH at the end of the month that I have a little incentive to "Stay on Target"

But I completely understand what MaryKay is talking about. Three months is a long time. It's a significant milestone. Motivation afterwards become a little more problematic.

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Sven
305/218/200
Start Date: 1/1/06

Welcome to low-carb eating.
The food's not bad here.