plateau follow up

Question
hi again laurie,

here are my stats on what you wanted:

ive lost 40 pounds in 4 weeks but i think its just water retention
my height is 6'
weight 340 pounds
age is 40
ive had a plateau for 2 months
i try to walk 2-3 times per week
ive been trying to lose weight for months
ive been trying different diets to see which one works best

Answer
Hi Christopher,
So it sounds like you lost 40 pounds in one month, and then nothing for the next 2?  Did the 40 pounds happen 3 months ago. (You say you've been trying for months, but it appears your were quite successful one month!)

Ten pounds a week is extreme. So I would surmise that, as you say, much of that was fluid.
In which case, if you didn't gain 20 of it back ( and it sounds like you've kept it all off) then you may actually have been losing a few pounds a week continuing over the past 8 weeks....it just didn't show up on the scale as your body became rehydrated.

So, what other evidence is there that you're doing well on your diet? Are your clothes getting looser? Are you developing better eating habits?

You should not expect any diet to yield results like 40 pound weight loss in a month! So I hope you aren't searching for that.

Look for 1-2 pound weight loss per week, and enough food during the day so you aren't faint, hungry (I mean light-headed, stomach growling hungry--not I-wish-I-could-have-cookies hungry) and miserable.

One of the best weight loss plans I use with my clients is The Beck Weight Loss Solution (www.mycoachlaurie.com on the LifeChanging diet link).
Most of what needs to change is mindset.  You may be becoming too preoccupied with dieting, and that's not good for your mental health.

Aim for a balance, for moderation, and for a lifetime plan instead of how to lose weight week by week.

Let me know how I can help!

Laurie

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