Tell me about your Stalls
 

I've been on a stall for about a month, I've lost an inch during this time. I have confidence this too shall pass ;)
Anyone out there who wants to talk about this?
Don't be shy ;)

Stalls STINK!

Seems most of the past few months has been a stall. I lose so very SLOWLY -- one or two pounds, then stall for a month or more! It does get very depressing -- especially when you read posts where someone lost 15 pounds in two weeks, or some such thing! I've tried giving up all of the things that can cause a stall: cured meats, dairy, artificial sweetners, etc., but it does get awfully boring after a while. Tried to increase exercise. Also, most people ask about ketosis and are upset when the sticks change to pink or trace -- I would be thrilled if mine ever showed even a trace -- it only happened once after 3 days on the fat fast.

Oh well, it feels good to vent -- and I know the drill "At least I'm not gaining. It took years to gain it, so don't expect to lose it overnight, etc., etc., etc.".


Any tips you've found that really work?

Why I posted this thread
 

This is a thread to vent on. I too have see people losing weight left and right. I thought it would be nice for those on Stalls to stand up and say "Hey, I'm Lcing and I'm on a Stall but I'm alright!"
It seems to me this LCing weight loss is stop and start, stop and start... kind of like walking down stairs.. no gliding.. :p
Thanks for sharing your story!!

stall, stall!!!
 

hi, i am so glad to hear i am not the only one to be at a stand still....my h. lost 40 lbs, and i waver between 159-162 and i started at 167. i am hoping it is because i was at 162 for 5 years and its where my body wants to stay :thdown: i, on the other hand, want the scale to go down-down-down. :confused:

My longest stall lasted 5 months.

I started graphing my weight soon after that, in detail.

When you graph it, you can often see minute losses that you don't see otherwise. Well into my *stall* I went back through my day book and graphed all my weight during that time. I discovered there was a downward *trend* in my graph. That is to say my fluctuations were fluctuating downward :)

Oh yeah and I also lost inches.

With my stall, I didn't lose any inches for a month at least.
I, at this point, am just trying to lose the weight from my last TOM :p

Excruciatingly Slow
 

My weight (oops, I mean fat) loss, that is.

I have about 9-10 more lbs to lose but it seems to be taking forever.

Of course, I know the mantra: at least I'm not gaining, your body didn't gain weight at a constant pace, etc.

I really appreciate LC Sponge's comments because I too have found that by keeping careful track of my weight (morning and evening every day) I can see minute changes in my weight and it IS fluctuating downward albiet it is soooo much slower that I would like.

Not seeing a lot of changes in inches but I think that is because I am so close to goal. Most of the excess fat that I would like to see disappear is right on my belly. I don't think it will completely disappear because I have read that women who've been pregnant will often deposit fat on their abdomen which is notoriously hard to get rid of afterwards. Well, I guess I have had four little fat deposits and I never had a flat stomach to begin with! I don't expect to end up with a flat stomach I never had, I just want to get back into my old clothes again. The pants fit in the bum and legs (with room to spare) and even the waist, it's just that little ol' pot belly getting in the way. GRRRRR!

Still, like LC, I am sticking with the program because I know that eventually my body just have to give in and let some more of that fat go :D

Homegirl - having babies isn't a prerequisite for being heavy in the belly area (i.e. apple shaped).

I'm 43 and never had kids, and that's STILL where the last of my *fat* lays. :)

In order to get a flat belly, I think I'd have to be underweight :( - oh well, hey! if it makes you feel better here's what my dh has to say about *bellies* on women (he's a sweetie):

"A mature woman shouldn't look like a colt. She should show the rounded curves that says she has been a mother and a woman. That is attractive to a mature man. Young girls, with flat bellies and no hips, look like what they are: children. They are attractive to other children."

So there's something to be said for a rounded tummy :)

Curves
 

I get so many compliments about my curves. I never would have known if I didn't read MODE magazine. Its great! I started dressing better and not being afraid of form fitting clothing.
I wear leggings and long shirts as well as dresses now and I get such nice and caring compliments at work. I don't hide in my clothes any more. My counsillor says that's good because many people who have been over weight most of their lives have trouble with their body image. :cool:

A colt?
 

I am more in the "old gray mare" catagory and she ain't what she used to be :D .

Just kidding.

Like I said, I never did have a flat belly even when I was very tiny before having kids. I have that "gynoid" shape which is curvy. And I am not complaining. This old bod has been healthy and strong, grown four babies and is still keeping me going. Just think I should do my best by it.

And I would appreciate it, if it would help be out so that I am a little less noticable in the belly region otherwise I might have to have a temper tantrum :)

P.S. I think a LC & Bill show would be great :p

I don't like stalls.....
 

any more than the rest of you. Of course, a true stall is 6 weeks with no weight loss while following the program to the letter, no cheating. Based on that criteria, I have not had a stall, however I sure felt like the body was stalled *LOL*

During periods of 'mini' stalls I tell myself that my body is just getting used to the new weight & getting over the trauma and shock of losing so many fat cells & excess water. :rolleyes: Right now I'm stuck at 241, a weight that I probably spent a lot of time at on my way up the scale. I'm beginning to believe the theory that says if you were at a certain weight for a long time during your 'growth' phase, you'll spend a lot of time there while 'shrinking'. I'm not really sure about this theory, but I'll try to track this phenomenon as I lose weight.:D

The other way I console myself: Losing sloowwly will reduce the amount of baggy, sagging skin I'll have when I reach goal weight. On the one hand, I can't wait to be 145 or 140, but on the other, I'm not sure I'll like it if I'm sagging & need lots of lycra to hold all the flesh in place without jiggling.

Anybody else out in cyberland that can relate to what I've shared?

Ruth

Ruth I can relate to everything except for the >>>I'm not sure I'll like it if I'm sagging & need lots of lycra to hold all the flesh in place without jiggling. <<<
I understand what your saying, but I'd rather be saggy and have lost the weight. Afterall, isn't that what spandex and lycra is for? :p
I finally lost another pound today!! Dang, my scale hadn't moved in so long, I was really getting frustrated. I figure that I'm losing so slowly because I've yo=yo dieted for years...and years, lost and gained the same pounds so many times. :rolleyes: And I'm taking anti-depressants which slows the process down as well.
:(
Your theory on stalling at the weight we spent time being before makes some sense. Isn't it true that the body really resists losing weight because of a built-in survival mechanism? If so, then your idea makes sense. It certainly has been the experience of many people, myself included.

Still stuck
 

I've been stuck going into 5 months. However, I got a nice surprise. The other day I was getting ready for a festival that I was displaying at (I make jewelry) and I was in a real hurry. I grabbed my black jeans and a blouse, put them on and ran out the door. It was only later that I realized that the jeans were the SMALL ones that I hadn't been able to button. Before there had been a good 3 inches between the button and the button hole! I don't feel hungry and I have just resigned myself to the fact that I'm eating well, and healthy, and I figure that eventually the stall will let go and I'll start to lose again. In the meantime I can wear a pair of jeans that I haven't been able to get on for almost 10 years!

Way to Go Deegarzain
 

Wow! That had to be such a great feeling to be able to get into those black jeans!! :thup: Wa'il has a post somewhere, (I don't remember where) about keeping track of our measurements because sometimes the scale doesn't move, but we can lose several inches. I started measuring myself since then. It sounds like you're having the same thing happen to you.
Do you exercise a lot?
I live in New Mexico and there are so many jewlery makers here. I love it! :) I just bought a pair of silver earrings made by a Hopi woman last week. Do you work with gold and silver? Do you ever go to Arizona to the big jewlery and gemstone show they have every year?

We went to the Tucson gem shows in 1990 and I will never be able to take my husband there again - he literally spend a "house" on rocks and minerals. I had a good time and met some very nice people. I work with 14 KGF and sterling silver wire to make settings for faceted and cabachoned stones, and natural crystals. I have also taken a jeweler's course and someday hope to be able to set up a studio where I can work with my microtorch and enameling kiln to fabricate gold and silver pieces. That part of the country is really beautiful, and it is the farthest west I've been.

Dee,
I can only imagine how easy it would be to buy a 'house' of stones. Everytime I go to Mt Ida, Arkansas I bring home lots of crystals. I have them everywhere now! I bought several large amathyst geodes in Parsborough (spelling?), Nova Scotia. Maybe it was the rate of exchange or something, but the prices were better than Arkansas or New Mexico. Have you been to ARK for gems? I've found and dug out several of them myself.

Your jewlery sounds wonderful. It's the only artform that you can wear. What do you think of buying stones over E-bay?

BTW-if your losing in inches, you're losing weight. You're probably replacing fat with muscle now. :thup:

Fat Vs. Muscle
 

The thing about losing inches without seeming to lose weight is that a pound of fat is a LOT bulkier than a pound of muscle. SO if you're using your fat stores, you're taking off bulk.

If you're into exercising--I mean resistance and weight training--you will tone the muscle you have and build new muscle. The new muscle will burn more calories and take up less space at the same time! Also, when the fat's burned off, you'll have nice, toned muscles showing, rather than flabby ones.

Now, if only I could practice what I preach! :rolleyes:

Seriously though, there was a conversation earlier in this thread about tummy flab. If you work your ab muscles hard, it'll seem like your pooch is smaller because the muscles are tighter. Does that make sense to anyone?

This WOL is all about being healthier. I truly believe that burning off my fat stores is the way to go. I know I'll still have plenty of fat left even when I'm close to my goal, so I'm not worried about making myself sick!

The second part of the equation, though, is working the muscles. I'm not there yet, but I'm thinking about it :p.

:wave:

Buying stones on E-Bay is buyer beware. There is some nice material there, and there is some junk, so you have to know what you are buying. I got on the scale today and still no change. I'm ok with that as long as it is not a gain. I have added more caloried and carbs (using how I feel as a guide) and I use fitday.com to make sure I'm covering all bases. The only thing that I need to have checked this fall is my throid level. Years ago I was told that it was low-normal. I don't remember ever having it checked since then, so it is on my "list" of things to do. I got on the about.com site about low throid and the site is VERY informative. I'm also going to explore it more in regard to how certain foods affect throid function. I have just been a little too busy to spend as much time on it as I want right now. I love jewelry, and it's funny that only recently have I started to wear it myself again. I just never felt comfortable wearing it, but I loved to make it for other people to wear. We had a beautiful Halloween here. It was in the 70's and high 60's at night and a few little goblins came by. I didn't give out candy this year. I made red, white and blue friendship bracelets strung on embroidery floss and gave them out instead. They are my lo-carb alternative

Dee
 

thanks for the word of caution about e-bay and stones. the prices are so tempting, I wasn't sure if it was safe or not, or if you knew any companies that were good.

Dee-I'm there, too. THe scales aren't going up any more. :p

Twenty pounds is a lot. How long have you been doing this WOE? Your bracelets are lots better for them too. And hand made halloween gifts! Well I thought those days were long gone. I hope that the kids appreciate the labor involved and enjoy them all the more because of it.

Here's a link to the forum on about thyroid. http://forum.lowcarber.org/forumdis...p?forumid=76&s=



Information in this article on thyroid testing may help you and your doc when you decide to test your levels.

Laboratory Tests for Thyroid Function
By Elaine A. Moore

Normally, the thyroid gland pumps enough thyroid hormone into the blood to cover all of the body’s needs. Thyroid hormones include T4 (tetraiodothyronine, thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). T4 and T3 circulate in the blood primarily bound or linked to protein molecules. Thyroid carrier proteins include thyroxine binding globulin (TBG), albumin, or transthyretin (TTR). Linked to these proteins, thyroid hormone isn’t available to the body’s cells. Measurement of this protein bound thyroid hormone is referred to as a "total" level. Total T4 and to a lesser extent total T3 levels are affected by the concentrations of protein in the blood. Certain medications, hormones such as estrogen, other non-thyroidal illnesses and liver problems can cause alterations in protein concentration. Influenced by protein alterations, the total T4 and T3 measurements may not accurately represent thyroid function.

The free or unbound portion (free T4 or FT4 and free T3 or FT3) more accurately represents what the body’s true thyroid hormone levels are. Levels of free hormone represent the active hormone available to react with cell receptors in the body.

Certain circumstances, including stress, trauma, medications, infections, and temperature fluctuations change the amount of thyroid hormone required by the body. The hypothalamus in the brain ensures that normal levels are maintained via a negative feedback mechanism. The hypothalamus releases a hormone known as thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) when it detects low levels of thyroid hormone in the blood. TRH, in turn, causes the pituitary to release a hormone known as thyrotropin or thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). As its name implies, TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to produce and release more thyroid hormone into the blood circulation.

When blood levels of thyroid hormone are low (in hypothyroidism), the pituitary produces and releases excess TSH, and blood levels of TSH rise above the normal range. In hyperthyroidism, a condition of excess blood thyroid hormone, the hypothalamus orders the pituitary to stop releasing TSH, and blood TSH levels are low, often suppressed to levels < 0.01 mIU/L.

Although TSH is considered a valuable indicator of thyroid function, its results can be misleading. TSH levels as a measurement of thyroid function were originally designed to detect chronic cases of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. However, it generally takes 6 weeks for TSH levels to reflect the status of thyroid hormone in the blood. This is because TSH in normally released in a pulsatile fashion, peaking during the night, and the changes in response are subtle, with TSH gradually responding to excess or diminished thyroid hormone. In patients undergoing medication changes or who are undergoing treatment for hyperthyroidism, TSH levels may take many weeks to many months to reflect thyroid hormone changes.

Thus, patients with abnormal thyroid function or abnormal thyroid hormone levels may have normal TSH levels in the early stages of thyroid dysfunction and after medication and treatment changes. For this reason, a FT4 and/or FT3 determination is also recommended.

The thyroid gland produces primarily T4 with only scant amounts of T3. The majority of T3 present in the blood is produced by conversion of T4 to T3 in peripheral (away from the thyroid) tissue, primarily the liver. Selenium deficiency, certain medical disorders, and certain medications suppress the conversion of T4 to T3, and it is important that levels of FT3 be measured in patients exhibiting symptoms of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism and normal T4 results.

Reference ranges for laboratory tests are established by testing a segment of the normal population, generally hospital workers, and averaging their results. For thyroid patients undergoing treatment, there are flaws in comparing patient results to this reference range.

There is a recent trend to discount TSH results and treat patients on the basis of their actual free thyroid hormone levels or their symptoms.

The following reference ranges represent commonly used thyroid function reference ranges. However, ranges and units of measurement may vary from one laboratory to another. Patient results must be compared to the reference range of the appropriate testing facility.

Adult Reference Ranges:

T4 = 5.6-13.7 ug/dl (mcg/dl)

FT4 = 0.8-1.5 ng/dl

T3= 87-180 ng/dl

FT3 = 230-420 pg/d;

TSH = 0.4-4.5 mIU/L (mU/L)

Copyright, Elaine A. Moore, July, 2000.

HTH,
Katherine

Ruth, I hope your right about your body wanting to stay at a weight that you once stayed at for a long time. I was at 170 for a couple of years after my son was born (gained 40lbs during my pregnancy) and then I fluctuated between 170 and 140 for several years after that. Maybe If I can hold out till I hit 160 it will start to come off faster. :daze: I guess all I can do is hope, and keep off the carbs. :)

I hate stalls too. I seemed to lose quickly at first, then snail down slowly although everything says that losing it slowly is the way to go, but I hate just sitting at the same weight day after day and not moving. I also agree with one of the entries that it gets boring when you don't eat all those foods listed as the "possible reasons for the stalls"; there just don't seem to be enough interesting, good tasting foods to eat while being extra careful. It is on sheer determination that I am on this diet, although I have experienced a few cheating times, but no gorging times as in the past, Praise the Lord! I am encouraged that others experience these stalls, so thank you for sharing with everyone.
God bless you!

Would someone tell me what you CAN eat when you are in a stall as I am reading that caffeine, sodas, peanuts, cheese, etc are all contributors to stalls. What can one eat? It is very difficult to remain in a stall, practically starve yourself (not really) but to keep wondering, "Is this or that going to contribute more to my stall?" I welcome any suggestions as to what I should eat. Thanks and God bless you