I put a pound on. I am on week 3 and following the program to the tee. I am exercising 5 days a week for 40 minutes and it is a combination of aerobics, yoga, pilates, weights, and my treadmill. I am drinking my water and eating so much lettuce that my ears are going to start looking like a rabbit...this is so discouraging.

According to your ticker, you've lost 8 lbs. in those three weeks??? NOTHING to be discouraged about. That's HUGE success. Not every week is going to show a loss, and some weeks (TOM), you may weigh more. Concentrate on how you look and how you feel, how your clothes are fitting.... things like that. You're doing everything right - your exercise program sounds terrific - a great mix of cardio, strength training, etc. Are you okay with things if, say, you lost a pound of fat, but gained 2 lbs. of muscle? I know I'd be. Remember, the more muscle mass you have, the higher your resting metabolism will be... meaning, you'll burn more calories during the day (not counting exercise calories burned).

If, IF you don't lose again this week, discuss with your JCC about possibly bumping up your calories to 1500, if you're currently at 1200. It may be worth a try for a week, at least. With all the exercise you're doing, your body may be needing more calories to function well, without slipping into "starvation mode". Too soon to tell if this is the case, but if you do go a few weeks without losing, it may be something to consider.

But, PLEASE don't be discouraged. You've lost a whole bunch of weight in a very short time. That's something to be very, very proud of. Feel good about that.

Is this your TOM, or close to it? I used to gain 3-5 pounds during that time.

The scale isn't the most accurate measure of your success. It can fluctuate, especially for women, quite frequently, especially at TOM and sometimes mid-cycle. During those times, it is by sticking with the food and exercise plan, that we can measure success. If we are doing everything we are supposed to be doing on a consistent basis, the scale can't help but eventually follow.

I do have a question. Are you basing this on the WI at the center, or on your home scale? Home scales are notoriously inaccurate. The only one I have ever found that is consistently close to the one at the center is the one JC sells. If you are basing your results on the WI at the center, did you wear the same clothing as you wore last week? Some pants weigh a half pound or a pound, while jeans can weigh three pounds or more. A blouse can weigh a half pound, while a sweater can weigh a pound or more. Make sure that this result is not simply a difference in the clothing you wore. Weigh the outfit you wore last week, and weigh the one you wore this week, to see if there is a difference.

Also, if you just started exercising this much, and have not had it as a habit for at least six weeks before you started JC, you may be experiencing what is called an "exercise-induced plateau." Though it results in frustration at the scale because of the physiological things that are taking place, you will notice a change in your measurements and the way your clothes fit, and you will be losing fat if not weight.

Here is a link to an article about why the scale is often inaccurate:

http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/li...eight/scale.htm

You are doing everything right, so the scale can't help but eventually follow. Keep up the good work!

I had a hysterectomy years ago. As far my exercise I have been doing this regularly for years. I change it up and sometimes do turbojam cds or some kathy smith cds for something different. I am on JD and my scale is a Tanita, so I weight first thing in the morning. I am hoping you all are right. I just feel like I am eating so much as before I ate once a day along with a slimfast in the morning and that was it. So when I see the scale going the wrong way makes me want to stop eating and revert to my old habits. Thank you for the nice words.

Keep going with all of your good behaviors and wait for next week's weigh-in. You will lose... sometimes it just clumps up into the second week. Also watch any salting or buttering or anything like that that I was doing to make the JC food a little more palatable. Those can trip up your losses.

I agree with the previous posting: 8 pounds in 3 weeks is phenominal. I've lost 5 in 5 weeks. Slow but sure...

Thanks Ellen for including this link! Great to learn the about body chemistry that goes with the weigh ins.
Angie

Flgirl13, I feel your pain. I gained 4/10 of a lb in week 4. I exercise also, and I too had a hysterectomy. I still have ovaries, and am sure I am right in the middle of memopause. I have only lost 6.6 lbs. Hubby joined with me and has lost 11 lbs. He tends to stray a little, but I tend to stay right on program. UGH!!!! But I am thrilled for him. I also feel so much better and the closes fit better, I hope that is the same for you. Stick with it, it is a good program that I feel is going to teach portion control, and how eating balanced diets are good for you. I think between the exercise and salt retention (had more than my share of some popcorn at the movies) is why I gained. I hope you don't give up, next week should be really good to you if you stick to it. You have a good loss going, keep up the good work.

dieter4ever, I am thinking I am also in the middle of menopause. I kid my husband that he is probably losing more weight than me. He is not dieting with me I am still cooking something for him everynite, but just seems the way things go. I think I gained because I have a husband that is very picky and only eats 2 vegetables and no fruit unless it is apple pie and I just hate cooking two different things every night for two people and it is just easier to eat what I fix for him. So I guess I just have to deal with cooking two meals if I want to keep my husband and try to stay in my small jeans, once I get there that is.

I am following the program to a tee and didn't lose anything my second week into the program. I've only lost 3 pounds so far so I'm pretty skeptical about this whole process. I'm told that if I stick with it, things will happen so I'm taking JC's word, however, I'm still not sure about this. I too work out swimming 5x a week with a rigorous workout. I've seen a few changes, but nothing spectacular. Good luck.

Even after menopause, our bodies still go through cycles. That was a big surprise to me after I joined JC. And I don't even have ovaries! My body still goes through a monthly cycle of water retention every month.

This is not one of those fantasy fad diets that promises an unrealistic 10 pounds per week—it's a lifestyle change. As long as you are reducing calories and effectively implementing the lifestyle change, the scale can't help but follow. As I have found, it will go through times of stubbornness, but if you just keep it up, you'll get there and stay there.

Y'all that aren't losing and are exercising 5 or more days a week, I'll throw out this. Early on I had 3 weeks where I completely stalled out, zero weight loss. In thinking through everything I'd really upped the intensity and distance of my exercise. At the same time I was also having difficulty getting through my workouts without hitting "the wall." My consultant re-evaluated my calories, upped it by 200 and weight started coming off again.

The three weeks of zeros annoyed me, but truth be told my clothes were also fitting noticeably different by the third week.

So check your calories and check the tape measure. Although I have some pounds to lose, I'm fit and active, getting the right calories or the right foods that will get me through my workouts has been a work in progress with my consultant. It comes together over time though, honest!

hi everyone!

first off congrats to everyone's losses ( or shall we say wins??) i'm a newbie to JC and thought i'd seek some support from ur lovely forum here. i am on week 3 at this time, and also share in this frustration early on. during my first 4 days i lost 9 lbs. my JCC said that was more than fabulous and not typical. but here i am on week three and i've only lost 9.4 total now. i know my body has slowed down wondering whats going on, but the frustration remains. i think its hard to wait for it all to come off!

just wanted to say hello...another girl from s.florida. good luck to everyone and their success! with such a supportive community, its nice to know we're all in this together!!

I needed to read this today, I am going to weigh in #6 this morning, I always weigh at home before going to JC weigh in, this morning I got on feeling so excited to see my loss and I HAVE GAINED ... how can this be, I have exercised, began running again and following the program letter perfect...... After reading all the posts I feel better. My biggest fear is I will go to JC, at peace that I have done all I can and my JCC will say something that will discourage me. THAT COULD SEND ME OVER THE EDGE. This is a fragile ledge I am on - I have made an effort to say I won't judge my success by the # on the scale but I am afraid my JCC won't agree. I will try to keep my positive thoughts - I am off to JCC to weigh in!

I see you have lost 10.2 lbs so far? My JCC told me that at the 10 lb mark most of her clients have a week of no WL or a slight gain. She also said its basically the bodies way of 'catching up' with the WL.
I know the week after my 10.4 lb mark I had a 0 WL.
Good luck on your WI ....let us know how it goes.
If it goes up a little don't get discouraged. Just remember all the stuff that DID happen...you followed planned, you starting excercising...etc..the scale WILL follow. Just maybe not at the rate we all want :/

Beth

UPDATE!!! I just got home from weigh in at JC, first of all, my lovely JCC was so sweet, I explained my worries - concern no loss or possibly a gain - she said all the right things! Then I got on the scale and lost 1.2lbs!!!!!!!!!! I was so delighted. Thanks for all the support
By the way...... my scale is gone, I have asked my husband to hide it, getting on it every day is not a positive thing for me. My JCC agreed that my success is not determined by the # on the scale but by my efforts and attitude! Love that girl!

Congrats to everyone!! My strong suit is not patience. I know it took a long time to put on the excess weight and it will take some time to take it off the right way.