Not losing as fast as you'd like?

On not losing as fast as you’d like:
1. Do you use a really reliable food scale to weigh your proteins? Don’t try to eyeball anything!

2. Are you using ground chicken or turkey? If it does not say ground turkey (or chicken) breast or white meat, it contains all those dark meats ground up in it, too, and those we cannot have.

3. What spices/herbs are you using. Stay away from most blends, even chili powders, as they usually contain salt. Become Mrs. Dash's best friend. She has lots of options. Also, do not use salt-substitutes. They contain potassium chloride which makes you retain the water we need to expel.

4. Don't try to measure your water. Just drink 6 1/2-liter bottles (one with each meal/snack) and you're done.

5. Too much exercise will also cause you to not lose weight-wise and if you're doing weights, may even cause you to increase inch-wise. MODERATION, MODERATION, MODERATION.

6. Measure, measure, measure all foods before they hit your plate. Don't "think" you know what 2 oz. of chicken looks like or 1/2 cup of potato or rice.

7. Are you taking any medications? Even an aspirin can throw off your weight loss.

8. Are you eating enough or too much (back to the weighing and measuring, again).

9. Do you eat breakfast within 45 min. of arising? Waiting longer than that can stop your metabolism in its tracks.

10. Are you drinking carbonated drinks? They will also make you retain your weight.

11. Are you eating everything cooked from scratch? No packaged foods allowed here.

12. Are you eating out? If so, be aware you cannot get an unadulterated piece of meat in any restaurant.....they all come marinated and full of salt. Even the lettuce is sprayed with a preservative to make it last longer!!

Hopefully, something here will trigger a thought for you!! Hope this is helpful, Liz

Be sure to read as many profiles as you can. Many of them have some of the same problems we have all faced. Read the manual at least once a week from cover to cover. Each time you read it, you'll find something you weren't aware of, or it will sink in better!! Don't wait till you know something about it, just get started. It's a wonderful program and I cannot tell you enough how it has changed my life. I am no longer on medications for diabetes and have been taken off all my cholesterol meds.

As for eating off plan, I would not suggest even thinking about it for the first 12 weeks. After that, I gave myself permission to have ONE meal off program for the six weeks. I try to make that one meal coincide with major holidays or with other celebrations, and I stick to it religiously. Do not think that you can go back to eating what you used to eat when you reach goal. If you do that, you will not be successful. This is a life change. Now after 73 weeks, I don't even LIKE those other foods....they're too greasy, too salty and too sweet. I really don't even LIKE eating off program any more.

If you MUST eat what's at a dinner party, I'd suggest that before you go, speak to the hostess and tell her that you are working on some health issues and that you are on a very restrictive diet. That you will either eat before you come and just visit (which I have done!!!) or you could bring your foods for your plate and just not make a big to-do about having something different. I have told any and everybody what I'm doing, and I've asked them for their support. I also prayed before I started this program, and it is not in my hands any longer. I have no will power or determination, but I do have God in the driver's seat. Whatever success I've had, has not been through my efforts alone. (First published 5/3/05)