Sometimes I feel discouraged

Toni, I'm going to be a year out in one week and I haven't made goal and I know I won't do it in a week. But that is no reason to be discouraged. You have come amazingly far. Who cares on the time frame as long as you get there in the end. I have 13lbs to surgeon goal and around 30lbs to my goal. I am so happy that I have lost the weight that I have and I don't think neither you or myself are slow losers. Be so happy with your accomplishments!! Kerri

Thanks Kerri - I am happy with who far I've come. I just need to stop comparing myself to how others have done. I know we're each individual and will lose at different rates, etc... Thank you for your encouragement. Toni

Toni, I know how you feel. It's hard to not compare yourself to others even as you are happy for their success. My weight loss seemed to stop about 2 1/2 months ago. If I'm honest, I know that I don't exercise enough or drink enough water. I started emailing another Marcher recently to try and keep each other motivated. If anyone wants to be email buddies - feel free to email me at [email protected]. A quick note each day discussing struggles and how the eating and exercise is going is a big help. corgimom

corgimom - thanks for the encouragement. Faith (see her post above) and I have agreed to email daily with a kind of "what did/will you eat today" and "what are we doing for exercise today" note. I would be more than happy to put together a distribution list and email a whole group of people with the same thing. On the "OH Singles" board, we post the "what did you eat" thread everyday. It's just one of those things that help keep us all motivated.

Toni, I too can relate. The day of surgery I weighed 276. I weigh between 190 and 195 now, and tomorrow is my anniversary. I haven't even lost 100lbs! At the start of the WLS process, the bariatrician at my program said I'd be a success to them if I got to 195 as I would have lost 75% of my excess weight. I told him that wasn't good enough for me. I wasn't going to mutilate my body for 195. And yet here I am a year later weighing almost exactly that. My eating is great and I'm an exercise freak so I have no idea why I haven't lost more. It's really baffling, and not only to me but to all of the professionals associated with my program (nutritionist, nurse practitioner, exercise physiologist, bariatrician...). The way I look at it, this has really been the way it has been for me losing weight my whole life. I have always been able to get so far and then I stop. And that's when I revert to bad habits. So far I have not reverted, so I'm giving myself all kinds of points for that. And I have battled plateau after plateau after plateau, with the first one starting just 10 weeks out of surgery and lasting 4 whole months. I have not currently lost a pound since Christmas, even though I've lost a full clothing size in that time. I would love to see posts on the March board once a week or so that allows us to all check in with each other and encourage each other. It's hard to feel like a "slow" loser when others (some of whom don't seem to have worked so hard) are at or past goal already. I personally can use all the support and encouragement I can get. I just want to get to 170. I don't think I'm asking for the world. I think that's a healthy weight for me that I should be able to maintain with good eating and my exercise habits. I wish us all good luck and good health, and lots of support as we all try to cross the finish line on this unbelievable journey. Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen, See my response to Faith (posted above). I would be happy to put together a distribution list and get a group going with a daily "what did/will you eat today" and "what is your exercise plan today" email. Or since several of us seem to be in the same boat, I could start that thread everyday if people would respond to it. Thank you for your encouragement and continued success with your journey. Toni

I would definitely respond! I keep track of what I eat on Fitday and keep general track of my exercise, but I'd love to share it and hear what other people are doing, so that's agreat idea! Thanks Mary Ellen

Toni, You have done amazingly well! But I truly understand. In January I hit the 100 lb mark and haven't lost more than 3 pounds more since then. I now weigh 133 and would like to weigh about 120-125. But, I know I'm going to get there. I sometimes think the slower you go, the less likely you are to gain weight quickly. I'm going to try to have dinner soon with an OH friend in Hermitage. Do you want to join us? We can keep it going!! Susie 235/133 and I year 3/15

I would love to join you both for dinner. Just let me know when & where. Toni

Toni & everyone else who has responded. THANK YOU for your post! For about 2 months now I have litterally been down in the dumps about my weight loss....or lack there of. I really thought I was a failure. And now, by reading these posts, I've realized that I've made an unrealistic goal. I wanted to be down to goal about 135-140 by 1 year. My anniversary is March 28th and quite frankly I am 172-175 (fighting the same 3 pounds as well). I started at my highest at 289, with my surgery day wieght being 275. I've lost my 100 pounds, and this should be exciting! But I realized that I made a bad goal. 18 month goal is more realistic. THANKS! I think I am going to start using this site ALOT more often. The support seems genuine and helpful. Serena [email protected] (Calgary Alberta Canada)