Frustrated with stalled weight loss.

[KT71]

I've been following the WD for about 15 weeks and I love it.  I've lost between 28-30 pounds, but I've stalled and have not lost anything the past 3 weeks.  I'm around 202lbs. and still have a minimum of 20 pounds to go.  I'm a 36 year old female with fibromyalgia, but I'm on no medications and have no other health issues.  I currently do a combination of kettlebells and crossfit type workouts 3-4 days a week, so I don't believe it's the activity level that's causing the problem.  My typical day of eating:

Morning- water with IntraMax (muli vitamin with lots of ingredients), probiotics, CLA, colustrum combo, quercitin, milk thistle/sylmarin, magnesium.

Mid morning (or when I feel hungry)-orange or piece of fruit, maybe a handful of raw almonds.

Lunch-mixed greens salad, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, flax powder, light honey mustard dressing (which does have a small amount of distilled vinegar).  Maybe a piece of fruit if I'm still hungry. Milk thistle, quercitin, magnesium.

Afternoon-piece of fruit or part of a whey protein shake before working out, which I finish on the way home after working out.

Dinner-salad same as lunch (most nights), either homemade soup (beef barley, chicken tortilla) lean meat, cooked veggies, maybe some rice, or beans, or an organic egg omelet.

Some nights I may consume a small amount of chocolate or maybe a glass of organic whole milk or juice.

I think that is pretty close to a normal day/week.  The weekends I stick pretty close all day, but may eat out for dinner and have pizza or a hamburger.  I purchase as much organic as possible and drink at least 2 quarts of water daily.  I'm just not sure if it's normal to stall out for this many weeks or if I'm eating something that is causing me to maintain the weight.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  I tried to start the AE diet, but after 2 days, felt very deprived and went back to the WD style of eating. 

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.

[SteveFreides]

Congratulations on your progress.  There's nothing wrong with stopping weight loss at this point for you.  You've accomplished a lot already.

That said, when one's size goes down significantly, so does the amount of food one needs to maintain weight.

Personally, I have not found fruit before mid-afternoon compatible with losing weight unless you're really exercising a lot.  You might consider cutting back on your portion size during the day and/or changing your food choices then.

Just my opinion.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

[KT71]

Thanks for the quick response Steve.  I see your name pop up everywhere regarding this program.  I hadn't been eating citrus in the morning at the beginning, but changed things around a bit since I was feeling hungry earlier in the day.  Maybe I'll go back to not eating it so early and see if it helps.  I found that organic yogurt, even at lunch, was putting weight back on me, so I cut that out and dropped 2 pounds that I had gained back.  It's frustrating to come to a halt after success, especially after years of trying to lose weight, I was hoping it would continue to fall off as quickly (it was wishful thinking).  I have really ramped up my workouts, I actually completed the "sissy test" with my husband yesterday from a dragon door post, which was a total of 325 kb swings and 325 burpees....it wasn't pretty, but I finished it.  I'm seeing great gains in strength and feeling tremendously better, I just know I have a ways to go.  I figure if I stall this week again, I may try the AE phase 1 next week.  Thanks for the advice.

[Hunter]

If you wake up feeling pretty hungry and had a good workout the day before I would actually suggest eating some light fresh protein in the morning with some good low glycemic fruit.  This has helped me (I am an active person weighing in around 194 right now) to keep from overeating, maintaining a good weight, and supporting lean muscle.  Ori's new Warrior Milk Sugarless would be really good for this.

[KT71]

Just wanted to post a quick update.  In the past week, I've started dropping again. I've lost a total of 32 pounds in just under 16 weeks.  I stopped eating yogurt and oranges since those were the last additions to my diet and thought maybe one was stalling the progress.  I had read the blood type diet a few years back and citrus and dairy are "contrary" to my type, but not sure how much weight to place on that.  I may try to re-introduce one at a time to see which seems to be the problem, guess I'll see how it goes.  I still have a ways to go, but I feel so much better and think I'm on the right track.   

[SteveFreides]

Thank you for the update, and keep up the good work!

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

[KT71]

Just wanted to give an update.  I've lost 36 pounds in about 5 months.  This has been a truly amazing journey for me so far.  I had not been able to lose 1 pound in the 6 years I had been working out.  I'm still wanting to see the number on the scale about 15-20 pounds less, but I've dropped 2 sizes and can fit into a dress I haven't worn in over 10 years (when I 20 pounds lighter, man I love kettlebells and the WD!).  The mental part of losing weight is hard since I still picture myself as I was before.  I've started getting a lot of comments from friends, family, and co-workers though, so I know I look different.  My workouts have greatly benefitted and I can do the insane workouts my husband does.  I'm now looked at as one of the "crazy" people at the boxing gym we go to.  My fibromyalgia is so much better and I feel this is just the start of a great healthy life.  Thanks to all who post.  The updates and suggestions are great and I look forward to eveyone having continued success and health.

[bigturns]

Thanks for the quick response Steve.  I see your name pop up everywhere regarding this program.  I hadn't been eating citrus in the morning at the beginning, but changed things around a bit since I was feeling hungry earlier in the day.  Maybe I'll go back to not eating it so early and see if it helps.  I found that organic yogurt, even at lunch, was putting weight back on me, so I cut that out and dropped 2 pounds that I had gained back.  It's frustrating to come to a halt after success, especially after years of trying to lose weight, I was hoping it would continue to fall off as quickly (it was wishful thinking).  I have really ramped up my workouts, I actually completed the "sissy test" with my husband yesterday from a dragon door post, which was a total of 325 kb swings and 325 burpees....it wasn't pretty, but I finished it.  I'm seeing great gains in strength and feeling tremendously better, I just know I have a ways to go.  I figure if I stall this week again, I may try the AE phase 1 next week.  Thanks for the advice.

  Going back to AE phase 1 may be a good idea.  I notice that dieting is much like lifting, your body can get use to the diet you are doing and you might need to switch it up.  In the same way if you keep switching it up your body wont adjust and it will be tricked into always working and seeing new things based on what your eating/doing with your workouts. Keep up the good and this is a process in which you will be able to really know what your body needs and when it needs it as Ori talks about.

[KT71]

I have read AE, but my husband and I were only able to complete 2 days before switching back to the Warrior Diet.  Neither of us felt well doing even 2 days, but I'm willing to give it another try if I don't start to see more weight loss.  I was recently on vacation and gained 5 pounds, which isn't too bad considering we ate a ton of food and I gave my body a much needed break from working out.  I am sure that I will drop that in no time though.  I still have not been able to break past the 37 pound mark.  My husband continues to tell me to quit looking at the number on the scale and judge by the size I've lost.  I can't wear any of my old clothes and I can wear things that I was able to wear years ago when I was at least 15 pounds lighter, so I know I've gained muscle and lost fat.  I'm sticking to it, I feel much better, my fibromyalgia is pretty under control, and I'm able to do some really intense workouts.  I really want to lose at least another 15 pounds, so I'm trying to stay focused.  Thanks for all the encouragement and suggestions.

[DN Moderator]

If you're feeling bad by switching to the AEDiet, it probably has much to do with your body's need to detoxify.  It's very common for those who switch to the AEDiet to have a few days, sometimes even a week of headaches, rashes, or general malaise due simply to the fact that the body's fat stores are releasing toxins.  That's probably a promising sign.  Once you break through that particular point, your body will then begin to break down more fat tissue.  I wouldn't give up on the AEDiet so easily, especially given how healthy it really is.

Regards,

Rick (http://rickosborn.com)

[KT71]

I found it easy to switch to the WD way of eating, knowing that I could consume "normal" food at night.  The restrictions for the first phase of the AE diet seemed very difficult for me.  I've suffered with fibromyalgia for 9 years, so I'm not sure if that had something to do with it being so hard.  I try not to do things that cause an increase in pain and fatigue and the AE diet seemed to cause both quickly.  I'm considering trying it again, I just need to be in the proper mindset and I need to re-read the book.  Maybe I missed something the first time around.  Thanks for the help.