Not going very well...

Uphillstruggle

Full Member
This is my 4th week on SW and so far I've been really disappointed. I had m weigh in last night and I just wonder if anyone has any words of wisdom as I am really close to giving up!

I lost 4 stone with Lighterlife 3 years ago, getting to my target of 10 stone. Then I got pregnant, got pre-eclampsia and ended up in October last year at 17.5 stone again (after he was born 2 months early). I did two 4 week "blasts" on Lighterlife (restart)and lost 21 lbs and then about 15lbs so I was down to 12stone 8 in August but then I got pregnant again which turned out to be ectopic and had to have emergency surgery and lost my fallopian tubes (both as it was twins which had lodged in both sides) and one ovary - not sure if this is hormonally affecting my weight. COnsequently with the recovery and stress and emotion (in addition to finding out my now 1 year old has a severe form of dwarfism) I managed to regain and got to 14stone 2.

I decided that LL is not working for me any more in terms of the psychology and so I joind SW with the hope of "doing it the slow but healthy way". I also started with a Personal Trainer last week so have been exercising every other day for 20 minutes (all new to me!!! - normally sedentary!). I am really trying to make this the start of a new healthy life now I have two kids and won't be having any more.

I stick to plan every day. THere was only one day where I went over 10 syns (christmas meal with work) and I have made up for it since by reducing to 5 syns. I lost 7lbs the first week (13st9) then 2lbs the second (13st7) then stayed the same the third. Now this week I have gained 2lbs and backup to 13st9. I just don't get it when my meal plan is basically the same every day (I do green days and one day a week on red). I am eating VERY healthily (I think), having my HEXs, my 5-10syns, measuring out etc. The only thing I did wrong was in the 3rd week I ate fresh pasta a few times which I hadn't realised was not free, but that was 10 days ago now. I do eat A LOT of pasta, but on a typical day my diet is:

Breakfast: Banana, nectarine, Alpen Light bar (half a HEX) and Muller Light

Snack: Ryvita Minis (HEX)

Lunch: Plain rice or SW Chips with quorn sausages. Other Alpen Light.

Snack: Muller light, satsuma and kiwi/grapes

Dinner: Spaghetti or pasta with Quorn bolognaise (or fat free fromage frais and pesto) with Low fat cheddar on top.

Throughout the day I also have my milk (measured in a jug) in coffee/tea and if any is left an options...

The syns are either the pesto, a slice of nimble wholemeal with flora or sometimes a biscuit at work.

I cook only with Frylight.

It was also my star week this week... (for 2 days)...

Any advice will be gratefully received (be as harsh as you want!!). I am determined to stick to this and lose it steadily, but not losing at all (or gaining!!!) is really not what I want!! Bizarrely I feel healthier and maybe even a bit thinner...my partner says he thinks I look like I am losing weight...

:)
Beth
 
Hello Beth

Sorry to hear your story. You are obviousy have such strong inner strength :grouphugg:

I think it could be all the changes you have made recently, new eating plan, excercisng and cooking healthly and your body hasnt got used to it and its not reflecting on the scales.

I was told that sometimes our weight loss can show a week after our Weigh In.

It is also possible that you are slimming down but it is not showing on the scales, especially as you are exercising which means you are builiding muscle.

As much as it is hard,I would say keep on going as you are, doing so well!

Well done for sticking to the plan even with the disappointment x
 
I can only echo Cheekys comments regarding your personal strength of mind/character

I do red days on SW, partly as I couldnt get my head round EE as I know the plan from years back and partly cos I know that carbs put weight on me, so green days are always a no no.

I hovered around the same few pounds when i first started but after about 3 weeks the weight has come off steadily. It may just be that your body is adapting.

Drink plenty of water too as it def helps. I increased my water intake this week and lost 3lb when the last few weeks have been just 1lb
 
Hey,

Are you drinking enough water? I found when i wasn't i didn't lose as much weight as quickly now that i drink up to 2 litres a day iv started to lose again. Also im not losing it quickly just 12.5lbs in 14 weeks (12 weigh in's) but i seem to look like iv lost more and normally what happens with me is you can see iv lost weight but scales remain the same then it drops off so don't be too disheartened!
Keep up the good work!
xx
 
If it is your time of the month then that could well account for the unexplained gain. Lots of people find they retain water and see a gain that week but then it goes afterwards. So don'y worry too much - you should look at your losses over a 4/5 week period rather than weekly so that you take into account hormonal changes.

As said make sure your water intake is sufficient for your increased activity level - I have been told you need an additional glass for every half hour of exercise. And don't muscle weight as women don't generally have the hormonal make up to build lots of muscle, and as what muscle you will build burns more calories per hour than the same amount of fat, it will help your losses.

And you say that you pretty much have the same meal plan every day - not good! Variety in all things is key! So different HEs, different foods and different meals.

And by no means should you be disappointed in how things are going - you have still lost 7lbs in four weeks so that is pretty much in line with the recommended 1-2lbs average a week.
 
I'd echo what others have said, drinking 2+ litres of water per day makes a big difference to my losses, which is really noticable when I don't manage to fit it in.

* week can cause random and undeserved gains due to the water retention. It normally comes straight back off again the following week though.

Also, lots of people report that they retain water when they start exercising too - due to your muscles needing it to repair and grow. Keeping hydrated everyday stops your body doing that to some extent, as it starts to know that there isn't a water shortage, and you'll be giving it enough throughout the day, iyswim.
Gaining muscle is a good thing, it requires more calories to maintain muscle, so you burn more calories even when you're not trying.
Muscle also weighs more than fat, so if you look like you are loosing weight, but the scales aren't showing a loss, that could be why!
 
Your loss so far is fab and after all you're going, and have been through, you should be immensely proud of yourself.

I can imagine it's difficult being on SW after having done LL, as you tend to lose so much more per week, so even if you don't mean to be, you might be comparing the losses you've had before, and feeling disappointed (I'm not saying you are but it's a possibility).

Your diary looks good so far - but making sure you're drinking at least 2 litres of water a day always helps. I also think that eating as many of your syns as possible helps. I know it seems really strange but the weeks where I have eaten all my syns (average 15 a day), I have had much better losses.

Don't let one gain make you think you're not doing this properly - try looking at it as a monthly, rather than weekly picture and you'll see how well you're really doing.

xx
 
I think you have to look at the bigger picture and not focus on the weekly losses as much - weight over the month can fluctuate remarkably - time of the month especially can make you retain water!!

You have done so well already - just keep going on plan and i am sure you will soon be losing reguarly.....you have to remember what your body has been through with large losses, pregnancy etc....your metabolism is bound to be wondering whats going on - but as soon as it adjusts to your new healthy eating, it will enable you to lose the weight slower and healthier than before.

The final bit of advice is you said you are having a LOT of pasta - make sure you are eating enough to satisfy you, but not STUFF you - otherwise those extra pasta portions could affect your losses. I am sure its fine, but just a tip - i have overcarbed in the past!!!

Wishing you all the luck whilst you are on SW! xxx
 
Wonderful advice so far, i can't really add any more, just wanted to send some ((((hugs)))) and tell you what an amazing lady you are...stay strong xxx
 
I know exactly what you mean as i havent been loosing or gaining either and its hard isnt it. I think all the advice on here is wonderful and im going to drink more as barely drink 4 drinks in a day... ive only had two drinks all day!!!!!! Maybe that will help!! Good luck...... xxx
 
Hi uphillstruggle, I echo what the others have said and can't imagine what you have been through but you should be so proud of yourself for giving it a go and having a dream.

Breakfast: Banana, nectarine, Alpen Light bar (half a HEX) and Muller Light


Snack: Ryvita Minis (HEX)


Lunch: Plain rice or SW Chips with quorn sausages. Other Alpen Light.


Snack: Muller light, satsuma and kiwi/grapes


Dinner: Spaghetti or pasta with Quorn bolognaise (or fat free fromage frais and pesto) with Low fat cheddar on top.


One thing I did notice is, no
VEGGIES? I found eating more veg sped up my weight loss. Try to go for veg rated SS in the book - Super Speed foods, fill you up too!

Good luck and keep going girl! x
 
Just wanted to say Keep going, u are doing well and good luck xxxx
 
hey uphillstruggle, well done so far you are doing great...it's easy to compare SW to LL loss wise but SW (I feel) can be more maintainable and will be successful and sustainable in the long term. WellDone :) :) xx
 
Hi, just wanted to say well done for sticking with it and something that I found useful is taking measurements because if you are exercising you may be losing inches. I measure myself (arms, thighs, waist, chest and hips) maybe once a month and if the scales are not motivating you to keep going, watching the inches decrease definitely will. Good luck :-D
 
Hey. I'm so sorry for all you've been through and so amazed at how strong you sound.

I think you need to have some perspective with your weight loss. Firstly your losses for the month are normal. Most of us sts or "gain" during * week, this is physiologically normal for a woman.

Also your body sounds like it's been through a lot. I'm a midwife and I can tell you pre eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy and abdominal surgery to both fallopian tubes is a HUGE trauma for your body to overcome and also huge hormonal events. Hormones DEFINITELY affect weight. TBH LL has probably stressed out your metabolism too, particularly when you add it to all the other stress your body has been under. Although LL has nutritional balance, you are still basically losing weight by starving, which will slow metabolism down. As a professional in the obstetrics area I would say give yourself time and patience. It takes at least 6 months to fully recover from obstetric events and that is just the normal ones. Your body needs time to adjust, so let it. Also check out other peoples losses. You'll see that even those that stick rigidly to plan 100%, have weeks when they gain a little or sts. This is physiologically normal and is part of your body adjusting to its new weight.

What might help is, as others have said, more water and vegetables. Also have you tried adjusting your portions to include more superfree than free foods? That can lift you out of a weight loss rut as well.

Good luck!
 
Thank you so much for all your replies. My personal trainer took measurements and is also measuring my body fat percentage so maybe I'll see a change there. I've STS again this week (on my scales - weigh in is on THursday) which is a bit gutting but I am still sticking to it. It's helped to join the website and do a food/exercise diary. I suppose getting fit is as important as the weight loss.

Jael - thanks for your reply. The past year has gone by in a hospital haze really and the consultant surgeon who very coincidentally had to perform my emergency C-sec with Zak in October 2009 followed by emergency double salpingectomy in August said I was "an obstetric nightmare!". So maybe hormones are to blame a little and I have to give my body time to repair. Shame the fallopian tubes didn't weigh more!! I'm also on the pill now (apparently as I have an ovary left pregnancy is still a possibility as the eggs can "float"!!!) which I think is not helping the weight.

Thank you for everyone's kind words. If you all met me you'd see I'm not a particularly stong person (especially when faced with a tray of chocolate cupcakes!). But the past year has hopefully spurred me on to do this the "right" way for my own health. They caught my ectopic pregnancy quite late (9weeks) and I think fate played her hand in making me get myself checked out so I guess I owe it to fate to sort out my weight issues now before I hit 31!!

xx
 
Good god woman! That's a hell of a lot to go through in the space of a year! You really need to allow your body to adjust. At the moment your body will be prioritising getting fit again.Unfortunately, yes eggs do 'float' so you can still get pregnant. This might make you laugh though...we sent a health care assistant to stores the other day to ask for a box of fallopian tubes...she went! And came back saying we were out of stock! Hilarious!
 
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