Had a meltdown

[Sunny_0ne]

Won't repeat all the gory details here, but you can see them on my food log.

I'm just tired and discouraged. My scale has been stuck between 158 and 157 since Feb. 9. And there has been only the slightest loss in inches since then.

Also the bike riding exhausts me. I can't seem to get used to it.

I know plateaus are normal.... and rationally I know that I'm just up against a setpoint, and if I just stick to my plan it will work... in time.

But irrationally, I feel like kicking and screaming and pitching a temper tantrum!

[Georgiana]

Now if you had signed your post with "Sunny", I would have said it's quite ironic. Just kidding... Did you try a different exercise? Maybe something else agrees better with your body. Stability ball exercises are great by the way. So are pilates and yoga. Or you could exercise less or less often. Try to find what works for you. Anything is better than nothing and you have to choose whatever you can stick to.

As to the weight/inches, think beyond them a little. You should feel better when eating this way than when you were sugars (from your pictures, that's what I would say). That's a plus in itself, with or without losing weight... It's like choosing to be 158 and feel good or be 158 and feel blah.

I am speculating here, but one reason why you might not lose weight is exactly because you are tired. It definitely happens quite often to me. Try get more rest or even increase your calories/carbs a little.

Kicking and screaming... that's a good cardio exercise.

[hopejoy]

awww! Sunny! hang in there! You'll lose again... just be patient. Kicking and screaming is a good cardio exercise. Maybe I'll try it. Sounds fun.
liz

[Sunny_0ne]

Georgiana, I do think I have been pushing the bike riding too hard. I was sedentary for decades and am forcing myself to do one hour on the bike a day. I think I would do better with a nice walk each day instead.

I'll give it a try. Tomorrow is supposed to be nice.

I do feel better without the sugars. I have even thought if this was as good as the weight got that it would be worth it to continue eating this way. Things like skin tags disappearing are really nice.

I am very tired. So that could be part of it, too.

Got to tell you and Liz a story about temper tantrums. When I was a little girl, I used to sneak down to grandpa's house every chance I got. He would always make me fried cornbread.

One day I found a flashlight in the road on the way to his house. I realized that it didn't work because it didn't have batteries. So I asked Grandpa if I could have some batteries.

He said, no, because if he gave me his batteries, his flashlight wouldn't work.

So I lay down on the floor and kicked and screamed.

Grandpa looked at me, lay down on the floor, and kicked and screamed.

I was so stunned. I don't think I pitched a temper tantrum with him ever again!

Maybe I won't pitch another one with Atkins, either!

[Georgiana]

Lol!

[Desertthorn]

Gee's I wonder how many calories kicking and screaming will burn. We might have a new exercise.
Sorry about the plateau, I know how you feel as I can't seem to get below 238 and when I do, I pop right back up.
You might want to think about doing some other form of exercise. I do water aerobics which includes some weight lifting and stretching. I don't think it will help with the weight loss, but it might add some spice to your workout.
I wonder if it's time for a physical. Tired all the time has got to have some roots someplace?

[EverLosing]

Sunny!!! You are SOOOO NOT ALONE!!! I'm right there with you. I have lost inches but I'm not exactly running out of things to wear! I wore some fat jeans today (need to do laundry) in a way just to make myself feel better. They were falling down a bit all day at work. The waist was loose. The legs are really loose and I remember in December when they were so tight the waist would leave those awful red marks on my skin!

I'm really having to reach to find things to be grateful for. I keep following the plan and it's not currently paying me back. I get serious exercise...walking long distances, floor exercises, lifting weights and the rowing machine. I'm the redheaded stepchild of Atkins right now. It sucks. I'm counting on some serious whooshes. I wanted to move up in the berry rung today...looked at the price of strawberries and said...um, I'll wait for the next sale!! The little grocery store had only one little container of blueberries and the strawberries were way too high! I'm scared to keep moving along but something's gotta give. Keep trudging along...I'll trudge with you! I know if I carb load for a day or two, I'd gain 5 pounds and I can't bear that!!! So, sometimes I just remind myself...even if I'm not losing, I'm sure as h*ll not going to gain a bunch of pounds!!!

Sunny, you're not on that road all alone!!! I'm right here with you, girl. Besides, you're not allowed to feel this down for too long. I read your posts daily and they're informative, inspirational and uplifting.

[misplaced southerner]

(((((sunny))))).....hugs friend. you are allowed one temper tantrum a month. ha ha, your grandpa must have been related to my mom. that is the kind of stuff she'd do. and sadly enough....i am like that too! EEK!

ok, you had a down day. now i want you to sit down and make a list of ALL the GOOD things you are gaining from this WOE besides weight loss and lost inches. (those WILL come.) are you sleeping better? how is your skin? do you have more energy? remember, it is all those wonderful benefits that we can't all see that sometimes keep us going when the scale is being EVIL.

are you drinking enough water? i bet you are. hey, why stick with the bike if you hate it. how about power walking? or a yoga dvd. mix it up and find something you really like. how about dance or kickboxing? is there somewhere you can play a little tennis or bowl? as long as you are moving. i hate the treadmill. i tried and tried and tried....when i found the elliptical. it was my cardio. just pay around. you'll find it.

remember how healthy you are becoming minute by minute. remember that as hard as it is, focus on your attitude of gratitude. tomorrow is a new (and sunny!) day!!! put the scale and tape away for a while. it is too stressful. just focus on how you feel and keep moving.

mama always said things look better in the morning.

[Sunny_0ne]

Thanks all who replied. It really helps!

As I sit here, nose dripping, I realize that I was still not over my bug... was just trying too hard too fast and still need a few days to get back to normal.

Desertthorn, I think you are right. I do use my little inexpensive torso developer, which works my upper body. But I am really burned out on the bike. I'll look for some alternatives. Right now yoga stretches sound good. And walking. And maybe break my resistance bands out of storage.

I smoked for decades and simply don't have the lung capacity for some things.

Everlosing, I loved your analogy of the red headed stepchild of Atkins! It fits me, too!!! It's kind of nice to have a trudging partner. I like the idea!!!

I also appreciate your focus on gratitude. I will work on that. Usually I do pretty well at it and do keep a sunny outlook. I guess that's why this was such a double whammy... it also put some chinks in my attitude!

But I can fix that!!!

MS, (Betsy, right? I am so bad with names.) Yep, Grandpa was the coolest person on earth. Really knew how to deal with me when he wasn't spoiling me rotten.

Okay, since one temper tantrum a month is allowed, I can check that block off and move on!

Yes, I am sleeping a LOT better. Also, the difference in my skin is amazing. I have eczema and my skin has always been painfully dry, especially in winter. The difference is amazing. Sometimes I forget to use lotion and I still don't have that cracking and flaking that I used to consider normal!

Yes, I'm drinking plenty of water. I know the ketones must be flushed out to keep my kidneys healthy, so don't skimp in that area.

And it's so good to hear "hate the bike" in the context of it being okay.... Will look for other enjoyable ways to be active! I like the idea of power walking and dancing!

I DID put the scale away again... and it's such a relief to have it out of sight. I will have to measure Sunday for the new 6 weeks challenge I signed up for, but will not measure again until that is over.

Will just focus on eating right and keeping active... and I know I'll be a lot less stressed.

Again, thanks everyone.

Major crisis averted!

[sallyseachange]

Sunny, I can't improve on anything that's been said here... just adding my big to the others!