Struggling to stay motivated with such small losses!

[Uphillstruggle]

Hi,
I am just going into Week 5 of LL and now starting to really struggle. I hate all of the shakes and can now only tolerate the Thai Chilli Soup and the Nut Crunch Bar.

I have stuck religiously to the programme - 4 packs, 4 litres every day without cheating.

The past two weeks my losses have been 1.98 lbs and 2lbs. I know this means I have lost 16lbs in total on LL in a month, but I just can't work out why th losses are so small the past two weeks. In our group of 12, there are only two of us who have not "cheated" and yet some people have lost almost double what I have lost. We all started at approximately 14-15 stone, so it's not even that they have more to lose!

I really need the big losses (I'd be happy with 3lbs a week) to keep motivated and I just have my chatterbox (and indeed my best friend and husband) in my ear saying "You were losing more than that on WW".

I am trying to keep focused and positive - thinking about my mini goals and visualising myself thin (something I haven't been since I was 9) but at the moment, gagging on my vanilla shake this morning just didn't seem "worth it" and I'm worried that I will not keep to the programme at this rate.

Any advice? Is there a way I can boost my weight loss? I am upping my exercise and also breastfeed twice a day (which I thought would help)...

Thanks,

 

[sonkie]

Has you LLC given you any ideas why your weight loss is slower...? Have you tried having your drinks diluted more to make them less strong....mine is advised to be mixed with 8floz but I use 14 as I find the drinks easier to swallow. Do you chill your water.....? I have a 2 litre bottle in the fridge to make up my drinks then occasionally put ice in.

Just a thought ......if you`re still breast feeding and only drinking 4 litres maybe you should try upping your fluid intake, as when you breast feed you need extra fluids, and withh ssing you need extra too. So try to up your water by a couple of extra litres or more and see if this helps. Ithink your body is taking the water needed for your breast milk and your body maybe storing whats left as its thinking "drought "......this is my thoughts though.....but worth a try.

 

[DQ]

Hiya mate

First off, congrats on your weight loss so far. You're not gonna like what I'm gonna say, but here goes. You are losing around a stone a month, which is what the programme is designed to do. And you know as long as you stick to it, you will contine to lose a stone a month. Let other people add things, and drift astray - stop comparing yourself to them. Your body is unique, is doing what it needs to do, and you WILL get to your goal.

Rejoice in your success, and look forward to more and stop worrying!

 

[DQ]

Just re-read that - should you be doing LL if you are still breastfeeding?

 

[WannaBeSlim]

That is exactly what I was going to ask DQ .. you beat me to it ..I know it's one of the things on CD that you can't do CD while breastfeeding ... is it different with LL ??

 

[mags1x]

Yeah, I'm thinking you are not supposed to do this whilst breastfeeding although I can't say for sure.

the nutrients provided in the packs are designed for one healthy person, probably not enough to be supplying a hungry baby as well. I wonder if your body is rebelling and going into starvation mode due to the extra demand on it.


Ordinarily I would say to ignore a couple of slow weeks as this diet is quirky like that, and often a few slow weeks are followed by a few weeks of higher losses, but in your case I think you really need to chat to your counsellor regarding the breastfeeding.

Mags
xxx

 

[littleblue]

Yes, I was worried about the breast feeding bit. I am sure your body is trying to compensate.
Also if you are breast feeding you are going to be retaining weight in your boobs, this can be several pounds worth.

 

[mags1x]

I've just scoured the lighterlife website but can't find anything to say one way or another as regards breast feeding. Unless you have already discussed the breast feeding with your counsellor, I think its important that you do now.

Please understand that we are not all ganging up on you! We try to support each other on here, part of that is also trying to look after each others health too.

If it turns out that you are not allowed to continue LL unless you stop breast feeding, it maybe that some of the step up plans on cambridge MAY be allowed so you could try that but I'm no expert. You could post a thread on the cambridge website asking advice from a CDC and they will be happy to advise. As far as I know LLC are not allowed to post on here.

Mags
xxx

 

[Uphillstruggle]

Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the replies - this forum is GREAT!
I have checked about breastfeeding and (without sounding like a freak here) I am breastfeeding my daughter who is 18 months old. So it is not her main source of nutrition (more for comfort at bed-time really) and the LL cousellor and GP say it should make no difference to the diet at all.

I have talked to the LL lady about the slow losses and she is (to put it bluntly) useless (this was on top of telling us all in week one that she was only an LL Counsellor for the cash!). The first thing she did was to say "You must not be sticking to the plan" and basically acuse me of cheating. That drove me mad because I have been so determined and as I said I have stuck to it religiously.

Then she said it may be because it was my TOTM in week 3. Maybe that is it. Anyway - I have had a great day in the garden today playing with my toddler and digging - feel energetic and more motivated now so I will just see how I get onthis week.

THanks again for all the support and concern - it is great to have this forum on hand in moments of weakness

 

[mags1x]

I'm so glad you've discussed the feeding!

Well, now we know thats ok I would suggest forgetting about the slower weeks. Only ever count your losses over a 4 week period so you get an average over a reasonable amount of time. Lots and lost of us have erratic losses, but when sticking to the programme, the 3 pounds per week average usually does work out.

Best of luck to you, don't let one or 2 slow weeks stop you from moving on!

Mags
xxx

 

[Pixie]

Uphill,
Breastfeeding should actually help you burn more energy!
I know how you feel I've been having slow losses too

 

[DQ]

Mags is right - look at your losses over the 4 weeks and you'll see that you're doing fine

 

[In search of me]

Hang in there! I'm surprised that they say you can breastfeed when it uses nutrients & you're getting tha basic basic on the packs! Umm...if your LLC is less than helpful do wonder whether it may be worth you phoning HO? I totally understand you feeling demoralsed (and Pixie too) but look at the whole weight loss rather than the fluctuations as we all go up & down. Dont let a couple of weeks with no massive weight loss scupper the journey! When people dscourage you & say you could loose the same on WW remember whether you did or not..suspect that the fact that like me you're here & didnt last that long on WW but have done fabulously on this! Look at the positives and how you've lasted so long & done so well - just look at the loss & the reduction in BMI!! Fab! Possibly, gently remind your OH and others that whe you moan and say you cant do it they need to love you & remind you that you can rather than encourage you to give up & they will reap the benefits in the long ter, even if its tough for all of you! Big hugs!