aww, thank you!

LK, I had been thinking about getting a new name, coming on here and saying word for word what you have. I have had no problem with food, with sugar, with anything! I eat less than I did but doesnt seem a whole lot less. I have lost 70 pounds since March 15th with the past month nothing loss. I see nothing but kindness on these boards but I feel like such a failure and I just felt that others who have done so well would rightfully see me as less than compliant with what this surgery was about. I wish I had an answer for us and My hope is we will find what we need and find help with what I feel is this addiction to food. I decided to not change the name or hide because I imagine it must not of been easy for you to write about what your experiencing and I wanted you to know another out here is feeling the same. Thank You for writing what you did and allowing me to appreciate not feeling alone in this tonight.

For anyone interested in the continuing saga of my now almost 4 month long plataeu, here's the latest. I met with the bariatrician of my WLS program today. For anyone who might not know, a bariatrician is a physician who specializes in the treatment of obesity. This doctor is the one who screens us into the program for medical suitability. My hope in making an appt with him was that he could look at the big picture for me - exercise, nutrition, everything, and figure out where my problem is. He was terrific. Baffled, I think, but terrific. He understands completely my total frustration at the situation. He said based on my eating and the amount of exercise I get he would have expected me to be on the far leading edge of the weight loss bell curve, not mired in the middle. He wants time to review things and think about it, but he thinks the issue might be with my exercise, as have I for some time. I may be doing too much weight lifting to be losing weight. He also said that some people come upon a floor of weight loss that they simply can't get past. He doesn't think I'm at my floor yet, but I got the impression that he thinks I'm getting close to where my personal biology is not going to let me go any further. His goal for me is to lose another 25lbs, which would put me at a BMI of 30. This WLS program's goal is always BMI of 30. BMI of 30 would be 195lbs for me, which is just not anywhere I want to be. I could accept 180 given how muscular I am, but I'd really love to get to 170. I think that's realistic, but he seemed less optimistic. In any event, my 6 month follow up with the surgeon and nutritionist is on 9/22. They will be apprised of my situation before my appt. After I meet with them and they get whatever information they need from me, they're going to have a team meeting on the 27th with the exercise physiologist to talk about my case and come up with recommendations on how to get my loss started again. He's really baffled, says this long of a plateau so soon after surgery is quite atypical. He did also say that losing 56lbs in 10 weeks for someone starting at my size is also quite atypical, and that averaged over 6 months my loss is dead on where I should be. But, he knows that info doesn't change my frustration and depression over not having lost at least since May 31. Boy, am I glad I kept all that info on my profile! On the upside, he said he never would have recognized me from the picture they take when someone signs up for the program. They're big into the "before" picture stuff. LOL. He said I look like a completely different person. I really should post some pics on my profile. My body is so much more compact and muscular than it was, and I love all the muscles. I hope whatever changes they have me make in the gym don't make me lose this bulk and definition I've gotten. But I guess if it does, I can always go back to muscle building when I've stopped losing the weight. I should also add (like this post isn't long enough) that I realized today what a toll this plateau has taken on me emotionally. After the appt, I had what can only be described as a total adrenaline crash. I am completely, totally exhausted. So much so that I'm blowing off the gym tonight with absolutely no guilt or regrets. I'm so glad I had this appt and that someone with knowlege now is on board with the problem and is committed to helping me find a solution. So, thanks to all who have posted or emailed their support to me. You have no idea how much I've appreciated that. It's helped me hang on during what has been an excrutiatingly difficult time for me. I'll post again when something new happens. Mary Ellen p.s. - if this plateau ever breaks, I'm changing my screen name to something more positive, like Yippee Girl! LMAO

Hello Jean!! Nice to here that you had a great summer!! I had a grrrreat summer too! Walking taller and lighter on my feet has been a most awaited joy!!!! In regards to PMS!! I have always had the dreaded PMS before WLS. and 10 count them 10 days of my period!!! NOW I Have little PMS!! OH and no CHOCOLATE cravings (i was worried about how to handl that) YAAAA HOOOO!!!! BUUUT I notice that my appitite gets a little out of control!! I no longer eat bread,rice ,pasta starches and so on SOOOO i noticed that i started eating every 2 hours Its all pretty much good stuff but it so frequint. Well Jean now that i have talked your head off I will let your go!! Talking and to much energy is one of my new problems after WLS. I wish you peaceful and blessed days CHER 248/175/144

Hi, I agree with Jean that each of us is different and I'm not sure that there is a "normal". At my support group, several people have mentioned that they can eat so many chips because they go down so easy and don't take up that much room. Most of them say they just have to avoid them all together, you know the saying: "You can't eat just one". With the Subway sandwich, I couldn't eat one because the bread would be too much for me and I don't want to spend an hour to eat a sandwich. Maybe that is why you can eat it, because you take your time with it. All of us freak out about what we eat and how much and worry that we have ruined the surgery. And most of us haven't done a thing wrong. You probably haven't, either. When I am stressed out about food, I go for a walk. Maybe that would help you feel better, too. I hope all goes well with your doctor! Becky