How did you break your stall?

Hey everyone! For those of you out there that have hit stalls (and it seems there are a lot of us that have), how long have you been on yours? I have been on mine for 3 weeks now and I am going nuts.... If you have gotten past your stall, how have you done it? Did you change anything? Also, on the vitamin topic... most know I have had a heck of a time finding vitamins that work for me, but I have now bought and successfully used "Viactiv" chocolate chews. These are a multi-vitamin with the same vitamin contents as Flintstone Complete chewables. Nice perk is that it also helps with the sweet tooth. Thanks everyone for being such a huge help and support for me. I have learned so much from everyone here and it also helps me from freaking out when I don't understand something or I think something is wrong... it's great that we have our own board here! Best wishes for a bright day -- ~amber~

Hi I had my surgery on 1/20/06 at Macgee Hospital in Pittsburgh. I really do not have an answer for you because I am so new at this. I have had little stalls but my scale isn't very accurate. I have heard that when you have weight stalls you are probably losing inches. Where do you live and Who did your surgery. Dr. Anita Corcoulas from UPMC Shadyside did mine.

Hi Rosemary! I had my surgery 1/11/06 at Allegheny General Hospital. My surgeon is Dr. Joseph Colella.... I know I am losing inches here and there, but wow I really have bounced up and down with no big movement down for about 3 weeks and it's frustrating.... oh well.... keep on doing the good stuff! Best wishes! ~amber~

I don't know if there is really anthing we can do special at this point. I have been in a moving stall for 3 weeks now. Down a little, up a little. All I can figure is to make sure we get the usual 3 things, water, protein and exercise. Also make sure you are taking measurements, they change when the scale doesn't. That is what has helped with my stall. I know there are plateu breakers, but that is said to only be for 6 weeks or more of a stall. One other thought, as I have tried it too. Play with the foods you are eating. I was eating alot of cheese, not alot in fat and calories, just as my main food because it was the only thing that really didn't bother me. When other food started to be ok, I cut back on the cheese. I haven't tried adding in a cup of milk yet, hadn't done well with a glass of milk before surgery, but that could help also. Try changing the foods, maybe another food will let you start dropping the pounds. We all have our own triggers for our bodies. That is why some can loose weight on Atkins and some can't. I am still working on it. Changing from the cheese helped for a week by the way, then I stalled again. Who knows. I need to end this, think I am using reading this board to keep from going to the gym. I go everyday, but can't seem to get going this morning.

Thank you very much Kristi!! I will definitely give that a try!! ~amber~

I had a 4 week stall, just recently got over it... At week 3 I called my surgeons office. The nutritionist insisted that it was my protien intake (or lack of). She said we NEED at least 70g a day. I did that for an entire week with out result and then went in and saw my surgeon. He reveiwed my food log and said that so long as I was eating with in the right amount of calories, carbs, and protein AND was consistantly exercising then the only cure is time. My stall finally broke after about another week of high protein intake and exersice (30-40 min walking daily). Now that it is over I am losing rapidly again.

I am so glad to hear you are losing again!! Thank you very very much for your advice. I am not getting anywhere near 70g a day of protein in. My dr does not want us to use shakes or powders. He said to get the protein from food. I am not able to eat that much to get it in. This will help me very very much!! Thanks again~~ ~amber~

My experiences are in line with Kristie and Mary, I upped my protein, started moving more and decreased the amount of cheese to break my stall. I ate a lot of cheese in the past weeks and as Kristie said, I am trying to shake it up a bit. I am including more veggies (that are on my approved list) and ensuring I get my protein in with a shake or isopure. Hitting 70g of protein thru just food is too hard for me right now; however, once I pushed myself to definately have that amount, I started losing again. Water makes a difference, too. There are days when I swear I will puke if I have to drink one more sip of water. So I am 'shaking it up' with some more heavily diluted juice, diet snapple, lemon juice and caffeine free teas. Years ago I learned that lemon juice in water kills any sweet cravings. I have also changed my vitamins, got off those nasty chewables and found a capsule by Twinlab for my multi and a calcuim tablet that is 600mg in one capsule instead of tums or the Caltrate chewable. That one is by Winmill. I think vitamins help as your body's getting the nutrients it needs to keep up with all this weight loss and healing action. Those are my experiences and thoughts, HTH. Oh, I also enjoy our board and all the wonderful people who participate. The main board is filled with so many mean spirited people who have no respect for the other. Tiffany

Heya Tiffany! Thanks for your response! What shakes are you using? I need to up the protein. There is no way I am getting close to 70g in what little I am eating. My dr wants us to get the protein from food, but I cannot get that amount of food in either. As for water, I know I need to up that too. I have also mixed it up and am so happy to have found SF Grape Kool-Aid!! Hooray!! I also grabbed some Crystal Light to-go packets in Fruit Punch flavor to take to work and put in my desk when I go back tomorrow. We have Diet Snapple at work as well and may be a great change of pace for me. I use lemon juice as well in my water. I finally found Viactiv chocolate chewable multi-vitamins. I compared the box to the flintstones complete box (since that is what my dr said to use, but I can no longer keep down) and they are the same. I have done quite well with those so far. Thank you very much for your help!! Oh, have you tried the Slim-a-bear ice cream sandwiches yet? How did you like them? Have a great one and thanks!! ~amber~

Hey Amber, I have not tried the sandwiches yet, the experience with the slimabear SF klondike left me not wanting ice cream. Are they working for you? Fear not, they are not completely off my radar. For my protein I have two favorites: The Isopure drink, favorite flavors are apple melon, orange/pineapple and blue punch. A bottle is 40g. I work it thru the day...some on the drive to work, some late morning, some in the afternoon. My other is a protein powder called Joe Robb Whey protein drink which I get at GNC or Whole Foods. You'll be surprised to hear that chocolate is my favorite. I often mix in a bit of banana or raspberry extract. A scoop is 25g protein and I add in soy milk (vanilla flavor) for a total of 32g protein. There's no artificial sweetners in either. I feel best when I get these in earlier in the day. I am working to get more food into my diet. I just was not making it so I am using shakes (half or a whole one) to ensure I continually hit that mark. HTH and have a good one, T