Trying to be thankful - hitting a roadblock

I hate the way my mind is working these days - seeing the glass as half empty instead of half full. Instead of saying hey I am 111 lbs down and closer to normal then I have been since high school, I keep thinking about how I have been stalled on weight loss for 2 months, how I am still morbidly obese, how I weigh as much now as some people did before their surgery, and how I feel like I am failing at this. I keep reading about y'alls successes, and I have been lurking for a long time now because I feel ashamed at how I am doing. I have gone from a 34 to an 18-20 but my mom keeps telling me I should have been in a 14 by now, my grandmother sent me a box of size 14-16 clothes, and my friend that was my size when we got surgery within a week of each other is in a 14 now. Am I being rediculous feeling like a failure? I really wanted to wow my in laws when I went there for thanksgiving tomorrow as they havent seen me since May - I feel like they wont even see a difference. Logically I know thats not true since I am significantly smaller, but I cant come to terms with that as I dont feel any different. I will quit whining now. I just wanted to get some feedback on rather or not anyone else is feeling failure syndrome, anyone else has had a 2 month plateau, and rather or not anyone else is still in the morbidly obese classification and if so how you are dealing with it? -Sherrie

Sherrie, Let me say what you already know: You have come a tremendous way, and you are still a work in progress! You are many times healthier than you were this time last year. You have more energy and are much more able to participate in life. You look great. You can buy clothing in regular stores. And, regardless of the stall, YOU ARE NOT DONE YET! Your body is in shock from the loss you have experienced and is temporarily hanging on to every ounce. It is on holiday from losing. OK--so you go on holiday too. Enjoy your family and friends and when the holidays are over, your body and you will both be ready to watch more pounds fall off. You will get into those clothes, and probably pass them off to someone else when you shrink out of them! If your family is critical, just tell them that your body is on holiday right now. Your smile (make it a big one) will put them at ease and they will back off. This journey is not to impress people--it is for ourselves. That is so hard for most of us to remember. Have a great Turkey Day! Joy

Listen to your body with both mind and heart, it's gonna tell you what YOU need and where YOU need to be. So your friend is smaller. That means two things.... first, she has some experience that you can benefit from, she can tell you what being size 14 is like. The other thing is that she'll soon have clothes that you will fit in and she won't. People lose at different rates because we are all original, no carbon copies. You have progressed wonderfully and will continue to progress when your body and mind are back off of thier holiday. Until then, just keep your chin up, your protien up, and your water intake up. Oh yeah, smile too because you are beautiful no matter what the image monster is telling you! L&H Gayle

Sherrie, The thing I ask myself is - if I didn't lose another ounce, would this have been worth it. Heck yeah. From a 34 to an 18/20 is an incredible loss. You have NOTHING to be ashamed of. You're going to get into those clothes that your grandmother sent. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but you'll get there. There's probably not a day that goes by when I don't think that if I had started this when I weighed 246 instead of 286 I would be at goal by now. I mentally beat myself on a regular basis for ever letting myself get so big. Then I stop and remember that if I could have stopped myself, I would have. Sherrie, you've done wonderfully. Give yourself a hug and be good to you. And one more thing.... ignore your mother. Hugs, Connie

thank yall for your feedback - I really appreciate it! I feel so much better knowing I have a support system. Sometimes I really feel like the lone ranger and knowing that there are people out there rooting for me to succeed but not judging me if I don't do perfectly is really important to me. Thanks! -Sherrie

Hey Sherrie I was wondering how you were doing. I hit so many stalls its getting me down too. I have lost just at 120 now but im stuck. Like others if i stopped losing now i would still be happy. I looked at your profile, your son is so cute. I would like to see pics of all the family. Talk to ya soon LaRhonda

Alot of us are starting to stall. I only lost 3 pounds this month. I started at 334 and am now at 225 and it is just going soooo slow. I am in a size 18 jeans maybe 16 now not sure. But yeah... it is hard to see how alot of people are in smaller sizes but they started at a lower weight its going to take us a bit longer but we will get there You are doing really well! I know personally I need to get back to the basics. I am choosing BAD BAD foods and falling into bad habits so I know what I need to do to get back to loosing. BUT even when I am doing well its still slower going. We will get there!!! Chin up Elizabeth M