Almost Stalled... Advice needed

[emel]

6/10 of a pound lost this week.
I can't think of what else to do. I won't give up, but I am baffled as to what is holding me back. I acknowledge that the booze was a poor idea, but that was 6 days ago.

Cheats: I drank 1.5 oz bourbon Sun Jan 23. I drank 2.25 oz bourbon Mon Jan 24. I was using walden farms dressing, no more than a Tbl per day. I cut these out. I will not eat red meat, cottage cheese, or eggs for a while.
I drink black half-caf coffee, perrier, and herbal tea and green tea but I don't count it as water. 66 to 99 oz plain water daily.

I save part of my apple (up to a third of it) to eat if I get wiggy at night. I go to bed around 11 pm, wake a few times a night and up by 3 or 4 am.
Prior to hcg, insomnia, but I could sleep til 7 or 8 am once I got to sleep at 1 am or so. I am toward the end of menopause. 50 years old.

I use up to 2 Tbl lemon juice a day and have cut out spices and 0 cal products since VLCD 17. The spice on VLCD 18 was rinsed off but was originally about 1/4 tsp garlic powder (cooked at home).

VLCD15... tilapia/cooked spinach
2 1/4 oz bourbon
VLCD16...cot cheese/strawb/romaine/1 Tbl WF/melba
hamburg/cabbage/apple
VLCD17...hamburg/cabbage/.5 gf
chicken/spin/1 cup broth@5 cal/apple
VLCD 18...tilapia/tomato/.5 Tbl WF/.5 gf
flounder/lemon/garlic powder/asparagus/apple
VLCD 19...tilapia/cuke/.5 gf/melba
shrimp/romaine/lemon/melba
VLCD 20 egg portion/romaine/lemon/melba/.5 gf
2 med shrimp at party... 1.6 oz raw weight
55 g cooked chicken/apple later.
VLCD 20 was off plan due to mixing proteins. over on protein at dinner, under on protein for lunch. (it was 3.64 oz, or 103 grams for dinner, but I didn't finish my eggs from lunch. Discarded about 2 Tbl of chopped egg from the 3 whites plus 1 whole egg, hardboiled.

ETA... i eat eggs or cot cheese only if I literally can't force myself to get meat protein down. Next time I can't eat meat, I may skip the protein altogether. Not a vegetarian.

[Kiley2801]

I think it's just a natural stall. You don't have much to lose, and it's bound to happen. Maybe try an apple day or an all protein day (protein and veggies)?

Or try an ACV cocktail -- 2 TB acv plus water, 2-3x/day.

[emel]

Thanks kiley. Took your advice and did 2 Tbl acv, grocery store kind. Will purchase Braggs with mother next time I'm at the health store. I'm out of it, and so was the HFS when I went last week.

[hay]

are you against doing an apple day? i wonder if it just got the scale moving a bit if it would rev your body back up to continue losing...though the thought of an apple day makes me , as much as i love apples.

also, i know that last summer when i was one hcg for a bit, when i didn't sleep enough i didn't lose well.

sorry to hear you're still dealing with this, emel!

[emel]

I shall advise myself.

It's either the eggs, cottage cheese, or walden farms.
Or it is #2 from below. I am at a weight I had in college for a couple years before I got ahold of my weight issue. My excess weight is realatively small, but persistent.

P&I synopsis:
Interruptions of Weight Loss
1) weight stays stationary for a day or two, and this occurs, particularly towards the end of a course, in almost every case.

2)A plateau lasts 4-6 days and frequently occurs during the second half of a full course, particularly in patients that have been doing well and whose overall average of nearly a pound per effective dose has been maintained.
(Simeons recommends apple day or a specific diuretic, but with caveats and only for psychological purposes)

3)Reaching a former level:may last much longer – ten days to two weeks. Fortunately, it is rare and only occurs in very advanced cases, and then hardly ever during the first course of treatment. It is seen only in those patients who during some period of their lives have maintained a certain fixed degree of obesity for ten years or more and have then at some time rapidly increased beyond that weight. When then in the course of treatment the former level is reached, it may take two weeks of no loss, in spite of HCG and diet, before further reduction is normally resumed.

4)Menstrual interruption

If none of these applies, the stall is due to dietary errors.

[emel]

Originally Posted by hay

are you against doing an apple day? i wonder if it just got the scale moving a bit if it would rev your body back up to continue losing...though the thought of an apple day makes me , as much as i love apples.

also, i know that last summer when i was one hcg for a bit, when i didn't sleep enough i didn't lose well.

sorry to hear you're still dealing with this, emel!

My resolve is still there. Just curious.
Can't do apple day today because I have had coffee and ACV. I'll think about it.
Might take my advils again. Been doing without them since Wednesday, but it isn't worth the potential loss. Unlikely but possible that 'almost stall' is due to swelling/inflammation, which I always have.

[kimberlybimberly]

Hi Emel,

Just wanted to share some info about my round. I am/was also about 10 lbs from goal.

I lost 10 lbs my first 11 VLCDs. This is very fast for me and I think it was due to stabilizing so high above my LDW for my second round because of a medical situation. My experience after that goes like this: Oh, I have an old analog scale, so I don't see any tenths of a pound differences.

VLCD 12 - 15 136 lbs
VLCD 16 - 18 135 lbs
VLCD 19 - 24 134 lbs
VLCD 25 133 lbs
VLCD 26 132 lbs

So, 2 lbs in 2 weeks. It's just the way it goes, IMO. I didn't change anything.

By the way, I understand the reason, but I find it so funny to see bourbon listed on your menu!

[Maureen in Italy]

I have a friend who figured out that she was better off eating oranges because apples stall her. She loved her apples too. Maybe it's worth giving them up for a few days to see if that changes anything.

[emel]

Originally Posted by kimberlybimberly

Hi Emel,

VLCD 12 - 15 136 lbs
VLCD 16 - 18 135 lbs
VLCD 19 - 24 134 lbs
VLCD 25 133 lbs
VLCD 26 132 lbs

So, 2 lbs in 2 weeks.
By the way, I understand the reason, but I find it so funny to see bourbon listed on your menu!

I see the similarity.

My loss is 4.6 for 2 weeks. Just trying to examine all possibilities, and your post helped.
Thank you for the perspective.

I'd share my bourbon recipe, but it isn't protocol


VLCD 7-8 141.8
VLCD 9 141.6
VLCD 10 140.8
VLCD 11-12 139.6
VLCD 13 138.8
VLCD 14-19 137.8
VLCD 20 136.6
VLCD 21 137.2

[jabbok]

Emel when this happened to me I had steak and a tomato for both my meals that day I lost over 2 pounds the next day, it did help break the stall.

[hay]

Originally Posted by jabbok

Emel when this happened to me I had steak and a tomato for both my meals that day I lost over 2 pounds the next day, it did help break the stall.

interesting. no fruit/grains?

[jabbok]

Originally Posted by hay

interesting. no fruit/grains?

Not on that day just the steak, tomato, water and tea.

[emel]

Originally Posted by Maureen in Italy

I have a friend who figured out that she was better off eating oranges because apples stall her. She loved her apples too. Maybe it's worth giving them up for a few days to see if that changes anything.

Interesting, because orange is the highest GI fruit on the list and is lower in fiber than apple or strawberry. Conveniently, I had one with lunch. Perhaps I'll have strawberries tonight instead of my evening apple.

Originally Posted by jabbok

Emel when this happened to me I had steak and a tomato for both my meals that day I lost over 2 pounds the next day, it did help break the stall.

Sounds better than an apple day, that's for sure! Not sure I can do anything requiring skipping coffee. I am worthless without caffeine. Do you choose a fatty steak for that? I'm aware that it is actually a P3 technique, but I could consider it.

[jabbok]

Originally Posted by emel

Interesting, because orange is the highest GI fruit on the list and is lower in fiber than apple or strawberry. Conveniently, I had one with lunch. Perhaps I'll have strawberries tonight instead of my evening apple.



Sounds better than an apple day, that's for sure! Not sure I can do anything requiring skipping coffee. I am worthless without caffeine. Do you choose a fatty steak for that? I'm aware that it is actually a P3 technique, but I could consider it.

I couldn't do an apple day because it is too cold here so that is why I did the steak. It had some fat in it, I cut off all the visable fat, it was a strip loin.

[emel]

Thanks Cindy. Your results were great with the steak day, so it is definitely worth considering.

[minimonkey]

Nothing, NOTHING, would break my stall until it was ready to break -- I did all protein days, mini steak days, an apple day... and nothing. So I decided to quit weighing for a bit, concentrate on the fact that I was losing a lot of inches, and just stick to protocol.

Your body can't stall forever -- just keep fighting the good fight! I lost A LOT of inches during the stall, so I think it is the body reshaping and repairing itself. I read another board sometimes, and found that it is really common to stall for as much as two weeks at a time -- losses generally pick back up after the stall breaks. I found that reassuring.

Also, be sure to pay attention to what your body is doing -- measure, look at yourself -- stall periods seem to be when the biggest physical changes become evident. This was true for me, and it seems to be true for a lot of others as well.

[C'Marie]

I've had an 8-day stall before - just keep up what you know to do. It sounds like you're being careful, methodical, and scientific about it. Don't give up!

And later, I would love your bourbon recipe

[dawnyama]

emel

If you want to try the steak day for your stall, this is how you do it. It is called a mini correction day because it is for P2. You skip breakfast and lunch and then for dinner, you have a 7 oz steak---trimmed of fat like you are supposed to on P2, and have a raw tomato with it. You should experience a nice whoosh after doing this if you are stalled. Good luck. I have not done one personally, but on my steak days in P3 I would have my normal 3 cups of coffee.

And the apple day is fantastic!!! I drink coffee up until lunch the day I do one and resume my coffee at lunch the very next day. It really works and is not that bad!!

[emel]

Thanks. No loss today, but will continue, if only for the sake of science.

I was hungry yesterday. I usually have to make myself finish the food.
I took ACV twice. 99 oz water. Veggies were raw. I chose non-apple fruits and did not allow a partial portion to eat after dinner.

Considered eating some of Posie's kitty treats when she woke me up at 1 am, but it wasn't protocol.

I take epsom baths 2-3 times a month (always have), and will make it a point to take an extra one this week.

Dawn/Cindy, I appreciate the info about steak day. I think I will carry on with standard P2 for at least a couple more days and will consider steak day for mid-week.

I honestly don't think I can do the caffeine restricition of an apple day, whether it be the day of the fast or the day after.

[fembomb]

Originally Posted by emel

Considered eating some of Posie's kitty treats when she woke me up at 1 am, but it wasn't protocol. .

that sounds soooo good...
i wish i had some..
MEOW

[jabbok]

Originally Posted by emel

Thanks. No loss today, but will continue, if only for the sake of science.

I was hungry yesterday. I usually have to make myself finish the food.
I took ACV twice. 99 oz water. Veggies were raw. I chose non-apple fruits and did not allow a partial portion to eat after dinner.

Considered eating some of Posie's kitty treats when she woke me up at 1 am, but it wasn't protocol.

I take epsom baths 2-3 times a month (always have), and will make it a point to take an extra one this week.

Dawn/Cindy, I appreciate the info about steak day. I think I will carry on with standard P2 for at least a couple more days and will consider steak day for mid-week.

I honestly don't think I can do the caffeine restricition of an apple day, whether it be the day of the fast or the day after.

My so called steak day wasn't really a steak day as I ate at lunch and supper, I also had a probably 200 grams of steak at each meal but it did work for me.

[minimonkey]

Seriously -- hang in there! I am SO glad I did! Ignore the scale for a few days if that would help -- it helped me.

[minimonkey]

oops...posted to wrong thread....

[emel]

Didn't want to jam up the alternative plans thread.

When I asked how to do an up day for JUDDD style eating during my travels Wed/Thu, one poster said just eat what I want to make up 1576 cal.

One person said to stay on protocol because the stall was bound to break.

One poster said to up calories but avoid fat. I dinked around with ****** and could hit my 1576 if I triple protein and veg, add 3 sweet potatoes to my melbas, and keep fruit the same. There is no way I could eat all that.

[jabbok]

Originally Posted by emel

Didn't want to jam up the alternative plans thread.

When I asked how to do an up day for JUDDD style eating during my travels Wed/Thu, one poster said just eat what I want to make up 1576 cal.

One person said to stay on protocol because the stall was bound to break.

One poster said to up calories but avoid fat. I dinked around with ****** and could hit my 1576 if I triple protein and veg, add 3 sweet potatoes to my melbas, and keep fruit the same. There is no way I could eat all that.

If you are going to be off plan during your travel I would eat low carb but I wouldn't stuff myself. I would try to avoid sugar and starches.

Sometimes when you are on the road you don't have alot of choices on what to eat to be able to stay on strict protocol, do what is best for you and don't stress over it.

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by emel

Didn't want to jam up the alternative plans thread.

When I asked how to do an up day for JUDDD style eating during my travels Wed/Thu, one poster said just eat what I want to make up 1576 cal.

One person said to stay on protocol because the stall was bound to break.

One poster said to up calories but avoid fat. I dinked around with ****** and could hit my 1576 if I triple protein and veg, add 3 sweet potatoes to my melbas, and keep fruit the same. There is no way I could eat all that.

So you will have to come back and let us know what you decide to do Pick one, pick any one LOL.

[emel]

After 7+ years on OWL, I can do low carb in my sleep!

B-2 eggs, 1/2 c cottage cheese, V8 or tomato juice
L- salad, 4 oz protein, berries, nuts or olive oil
s-flax oil, 1/2 oz nuts
D- green veg, 5-6 oz protein, sweet potato, nuts or olive oil or cheese
dessert- sf chocolate, skim milk or yogurt

Boom. 1580 cal.

ETA Dawn, a'int it the truth! I think I'll add fats and go with what makes me feel good and energetic when I eat it, such as what I wrote above.

[emel]

Guinea Pig time.
hHCG. Yesterday was VLCD23.

I will attempt an up day/down day strategy while on hHCG.
Today will be an up day with 1570 calories from low to moderate carbs. I will avoid processed foods.

I plan to continue hHCG through VLCD38 +2 days VLCD no hHCG.
I will try JUDDD for a week or so and will finish the round with one week VLC and protocol P3/P4.

My down days can be 315 to 472 cal. I'll shoot for 390.

[jabbok]

Originally Posted by emel

Guinea Pig time.
hHCG. Yesterday was VLCD23.

I will attempt an up day/down day strategy while on hHCG.
Today will be an up day with 1570 calories from low to moderate carbs. I will avoid processed foods.

I plan to continue hHCG through VLCD38 +2 days VLCD no hHCG.
I will try JUDDD for a week or so and will finish the round with one week VLC and protocol P3/P4.

My down days can be 315 to 472 cal. I'll shoot for 390.

Good luck on your up and down days I think you will be fine. Enjoy your visit with your sister.

[hay]

good luck emel! i'm anxious to hear how it works for you.