F*$&ing Diet Plateau!

I'm pissed off and cranky.

I admit, part of my crankiness is the skyrocketing pain I've been experiencing the last few days.  I'm seeing a pain management specialist this afternoon - I'm hoping he'll be able to help me.  I'm in very bad shape right now pain-wise.  I find myself holding my breath because it hurts to breathe.  Yes, it is THAT bad.  I haven't had this severe of pain for awhile.  It's not fun - not fun at all.

The biggest contributing factor to my crankiness, however, is this damn diet I'm on.

I've now completed three full weeks on my diet (Lindora).  I'm a couple days into my fourth week.

The first ten days went better than expected.  I dropped eleven pounds and over five inches.

I was so (!) happy (!) and enthusiastic!

In the two-plus weeks since then?

Not one pound.

NOT ONE POUND!

I want to throw things in frustration.

I haven't varied off the diet by even one nibble.

Yes, I'm continuing to exercise.

And even stranger still, (to me anyway) - I'm still in ketosis which means my body is burning fat.  I'm shrinking, but I'm not losing weight.

WTF?

Lindora is a very low calorie, low fat, low carb diet.  I'm being monitored by a doctor which is something I chose due to my insulin resistance.

The folks at Lindora tell me weight loss plateaus are normal.  My brain might be able to grasp that fact on one level, but my frustration is mounting anyway.  

Also, how can my body be burning fat (which the ketosis sticks clearly show it's doing), but my actual weight isn't changing?

Lindora has a four day "plateau diet" for people with stubborn bodies like mine.

I thought I'd share it with you today so you can see how miserable these four days are.

Breakfast:

1 egg or egg beaters equivalent (boiled or poached)

1/2 grapefruit

Snack: 

Protein 1 serving (boiled egg or no-fat string cheese, as an example)

Lunch:  

3 1/2 oz white fish

1/2 cup cooked spinach

1/2 grapefruit

Snack:  

Protein 1 serving (same as above)

Dinner:

3 1/2 oz white fish

1/2 cup cooked spinach

1/2 grapefruit

Snack:

Protein 1 serving (same as above)

At Bedtime:

1 cup hot lemon water

The same menu is repeated for three days.  (I'm on Day #3 right now.)  I feel like I'm going to gag at the very thought of fish.

On the fourth day, you take away the grapefruit and spinach and have six protein servings throughout the day.

By day five, the plateau is supposed to be broken.

Or possibly, at that point you're in jail for committing violence on anyone in your vicinity?

I need encouragement.  I need help for my frustration.  

Have you ever successfully broken through a dieting plateau?

Have you ever gotten so frustrated by a plateau you threw something?

Just wondering, because I'm *almost* to that point .....

© Twenty Four At Heart

Comments

[Mo "Mad Dog" Stoneskin]

I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help. I've never dieted or plateaued. I do, however, now crave fish. And I really hope this week gets better than it has started.

[Jan]

Hmmm, well, yes I've dieted and plateaued. Oftentimes when you're not losing weight, but losing inches or dropping a size, it's because you're gaining muscle - muscle is more dense than fat, you know.

EVERYone who diets plateaus eventually. However, if what they're having you do doesn't work, you might want to consider adding a bit more fat into your diet to shake things up a bit. Once you've started losing again, go back to the diet as stated.

[Maureen@IslandRoar]

Yes, I've definitely had plateaus! Usually after an initial loss like you. I've gone weeks w/o dropping a pound and eating, like you , soo freaking little. Then it moves, really I promise! Hang in there. I'm so sorry about your pain; that has to make all the rest of it so much worse. xoxo

[Liz Tee]

When I was doing the low carb thing I noticed the same thing. A few weeks of weight loss followed by a few weeks of 'shrinkage' with little to no weight loss. It's like my body was catching up. It is very frustrating. I hope it works for you - I lost lots of weight but found the extreme low carb lifestyle unsustainable over the long term. I got to the point where I couldn't even think of eggs, and that was a problem.

I hope the pain management doc can help you get a break in the pain. It must be impossible to be calm and patient when you can't freakin' breathe!

[Kelly]

My body DEFINITELY gets stuck in plateaus. I think I could only handle your plateau diet for about 24 hours. Yeck! Be patient! Easier said then done. Especially, I think, when you're in so much pain. I sure hope the doc today can help you.

[missy]

Good luck. My girlfriend who completed Lindora a few years ago experienced the same thing. I couldn't believe what she was eating on the plateau diet. YUCK. But it worked so hang in there. They know what they are doing. My doctor also recommends Lindora as a good plan FYI.

[Karl]

I've certainly hit the plateaus myself. Been a long time since I've dieted and that menu looks brutal...especially since I hate fish.

Not sure if this is applicable, but muscle weighs more than fat, so if you're exercising and building muscle, that might explain why you're not losing. Course, I'm pretty ignorant to most things health-related, and I lost 35 pounds in a year from stress (which I don't recommend).

Hope you're doing well, aside from wanting to stab someone in the head. I'm also glad I live on the opposite end of the country, so I won't be the stabee. :)

[di]

Don't be so damned hard on yourself!! Your body needs time. Besides, if you lose it too fast it will all just come back. Chill.

Di

[Tami]

There is NOTHING as frustrating as hitting a plateau. It is temporary though. Remind yourself of that every five seconds if necessary. You're doing great. Eleven pounds in three weeks!!

[NeCole Scott]

I wouldn't have made it past one day on that plateau breaker diet and I even love fish. You must have resolve of steel. You've only got one more day, I believe you can do it. And if you must throw something--throw the scale someplace out of sight for a few days and concentrate on how great your clothes are fitting.

[Sandi]

Clearly Di has never hit the wall before. Telling 24 to chill is NOT what she needs to hear.
I hope you don't live near her.

anyway-

Suzanne, I deal with this shit on the other end. Trying to work out and gain weight where I want it is a BITCH! I hate exercise worse than anything. I hate eating healthy. I want to eat my twinkies and grow an ass just sitting here.

Damn our stupid bodies for not doing what we want, when we want.

Let do lunch. We can meet somewhere that you can bring your own food and I can bring my own food. Come over here. I still think you need to meet my man.

[Jack]

I don't do diets. I should do it as I have got a couple pounds catching a free ride. But, it is not my thing. In part because I look at the menus such as the one you listed and think that I would go nuts.

In college I tore the doors off of a truck. I am serious, I did it. All it took was one broken heart, a few drinks and one broken down truck. That is the short version of a really good true story.

A few decades have passed and though I am far more mature and calm, that menu makes me grumpy too. Sorry that things are rough now.

[Kim @ Beautiful Wreck]

I don't know what to tell you. I am sick of dieting. I've about given it up.

[Joanne]

may I suggest this....; go floaty in the pool on a nice float and look for could animals,OK? eleven pounds is the evivalent of what you should lose in a few months, so bear that in mind, and let your body come to terms with it's change,
Now be a good girl and go look for some cloud bunnies... or dragons....pool boys.mmmm

[Joanne]

does everyone know I meant CLOUD animals?? you do, right??

[Jane]

I'm no health professional but I do know pain. At that level of pain, your body is doing nothing but trying to fight it. You may not be able to lose anymore until you find a way to reduce the pain level. Then, your body can let go of the pain and maybe the weight also. Glad you're seeing a pain management specialist. Tell him/her you're insulin resistant too. It might make a difference in how they choose to help you manage it. Good luck!

[Jason]

I know you want encouragement, but I must be honest. I would be f-ing crabby, too, if THIS is what I had to EAT!!!

But you can do it! You are one of the most determined people I know.

And? From the photos I have seen of you, I don't think you even need to lose weight. You're beautiful!

May I join you and Sandi for lunch?