normal loss?

Hello everyone, My surgery was April 16, 2003. The morning of my surgery, I weighed 418. As of today, (01/19/04) I am at 268. So down 150 pounds. I guess this should be great and I should be happy, however, it seems I am not losing as fast as I would like anymore. After reading some people's weight loss on here for the same time frame and they weighed less than me and have lost the same, I am concerned I am not on track. My surgeon wants me to be at 200 by my one year anniversary, but I don't see that happening. Originally after surgery, my goal had been to be at 250 by Christmas, but that didn't happen. My younger little brother (23...little to me) passed away Labor Day weekend and admittedly, I did things I shouldn't have. Ate stuff I shouldn't and drank stuff I shouldn't have. I got back on track about 6 weeks after that but I have only lost 5 pounds since middle of November. What am I doing wrong? I can't really workout right now, I am going to school full-time. I know that sounds dumb and I need to make the time, but I am taking nine 3-hour courses a week right now, so 27 credit hours. Needless to say, I am almost always studying and don't have time to workout. i know that is part of the problem, but it still seems extreme to be so slow now. The day of my surgery, i was wearing size 34 pants (if they had elastic waist and had stretchy material in them) and 5x shirt if I could find one to fit my chest and arms. I am now wearing size 20 jeans (sometimes 22 depending on brand) and 2x shirts. BUT, I still feel heavy at almost 270. Both my surgeon and PCP say my ideal weight for height, size etc is 150-160. Anyway, I've gone on and on but I want to hear advice from others.... Thanks, Shay

Hi Shay I give you a big hand for loosing 150 pounds, WOW that is GREAT! not everyone will loose at the same rate and it does slow down, and you will have plateaus. All you can do is keep up the good work, and maybe as it gets warmer outside you will be able to get out and get more exercise then. Do you get enough calories and protien a day along with water? Keep up the good work and "enjoy the ride!" Rosemary open RNY4/24/03 >100

Shay, I think that we have to step back and remember before the surgery. We all had our "Emotional" eating habits. And it is great that you recognized through the loss of your brother you started to sway towards those habits. I think the biggest thing is our body just doesn't want to let go of that weight! I commonly look at plateaus as a way for us to emotionally say "Hey, look how far we have come!" The weight will come off, but get back into the mode of feeling great about your accomplishments, you will find that you want to get a little motivated about some form of excercise. Remember, it really only takes 20 minutes 3 days a week to get a good regimen going. I know you are busy with school, but ya' know I say "It's All About ME!" and I do make time, I hate it... I start off the workout with a huge growl, but I end with a huge sigh of relief because I feel so great. And the weight started coming off again! And I sleep INCREDIBLE! Keep up your hard work.... you are an individual and try not to compare to others... EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW WE STILL DO.... this only adds to the depressed state!