Need some encouragement-HELP

I have tried to talk to my husband and friends, but unless you've been there, you can't understand or relate to what we are going through. I know that I haven't been around much lately, I haven't really had much to update. I had surgery on April 11. The day before surgery I was 331 - the day after 338 due to fluid gain from surgery. I have a really sucky scale and it plays head games with me all the time. I have had it go as low as 277, but usually sits around 285, but changes from one second to the next. I realize that the first thing I need to do is get a new scale, but really even with the slight differences, I really haven't lost that much. I read all of your posts and am truly happy for all of you!!!!! But I am slightly discouraged as well. I know that I could exercise more, and drink more water, but with 5 kids on the go and all their activities, there isn't enough hours in the day. I was just hoping that I am not the only one, lol how awful of me eh?? Trying to share in someone else's misery. I am grateful for the weight I have lost, but I am still sooooooo far from goal. Any advise or kind words would be greatly appreciated!! Dawnya

thats still 45 lbs!!!! that damn good!!! I am down 48.8 from surgery. 57.8 total! You seem right on track to me.

I'm guessing you are weighing yourself too often--STOP! Do it once a week, at the same time. I weigh myself each Thursday morning (that's the day of the week my 4/6/06 surgery was), right after I wake up and use the bathroom, and I do it without any clothes on. But yes, go get yourself a new scale first! You and I share some similar feelings. Right after the surgery I was diligent about getting in all my water and my 60 minutes of walking each and every day...My eating is going well, but my water intake and my exercise has been down. Not sure why I don't push myself. But then I think about how much money I spent on the surgery (not covered by my insurance) and how I better not waste my window of weight loss and get back on track. I have 2 young kids who keep me running, I can't imagine finding time for myself with 5. Somehow we just have to do it (do I sound like a Nike commercial?!). My spouse calls me an excuse maker, which I suppose I can be. I'm now down 60 lbs. and can finally start seeing it in myself when I look in the mirror. Hopefully that will be my motivator! Good luck and keep up the good work you have done--focus on the positive!

Dawnya, I am 45.5 lbs and had surgery on 4/18. It is hard to see others at 70 lbs but 45 is super, sure better then you lost before the surgery. I am exercising usually twice a day in the pool and really watch what I am eating. My doctor is 3 meals 4 oz each nothing else but your liquid water, crystal light, sugar free drinks absolutely no soda. Protein first then green veggies and if you still are hungry you can take a few bites of a starchy veggie. I am been pretty faithful to it but had had a few days here and there where I have snacked. I expected to be a lot more weight loss then I am. However, I do know that certain meds can effect you and one of them is a beta blocker, it slows your heart rate down and to do that it slows your metabolism down also. Are you on any medications? Female hormone replacement will do the same thing. Ask your doctor if you take meds if that could be part of it. Are you making the right choices and not over filling your pouch? Water or fluid drinking is important as it helps the bowels. You do not want a bowel obstruction and most people who get them is mainly because they didn't do their fluid. Maybe it is time to sit down and renew your contract with yourself. You went and had surgery and altered your insides to be a tool to help you have a better quality of life and hopefully a longer life. If you didn't have medical problems associated with obesity you had it done to hopefully prevent those things in your future. We all made excuses for why we ate wrong and didn't do our bodies right before. Now is the time to break those old habits and say I matter, and this is important to me. You have to do this for yourself not anyone else. We all fall down but what you do when you realize you are hurting yourself is up to you. Pick yourself up, get back in that frame of mind you were in before the surgery and renew the contract with yourself. You can do this, make a committment and just renew it daily. I wrote this as much for you as I did for myself. I was journaling everyday and now if I write once a week I am doing good. I need to be aware of what I am doing with myself daily and not let things go as I did before. I need to take the time for myself and the preparation of my meals so that they are the right choices for me. It is a life time change and if I start breaking it at 2-3 months out what will I be in a year. Your whole of thinking of food and yourself has to change. So take the time you need for you to get back on track and feel good about yourself again. You can do this, we all can do this. I can, I can, I will. God Bless. Wendy

You are doing wonderful....GET RID OF THE SCALE and STOP weighing all the time. Do it first thing in the morning after you go to the bathroom and not again....try once or twice a week instead of all the time. I have lost a lot but my son is 25 and takes care of himself and my husband is extremely supportive so that helps. I exericise by walking and swimming....find water aerobics twice a week is great.....tell your family you need this time!

Dawnya, I had my surgery the day after you and I am down 46 lbs. I admit that sometimes I am a little jealous when I read about some of our other April buddies who have lost more but then I remind myself that we are all different. 46 lbs in 3 months is awesome. I am hoping that the slower pace will give my body time to catch up and result in less loose skin! I have already noticed my thighs getting firmer since I started exercising. Hang in there and do not be discouraged, we have all been blessed with a wonderful gift!

I had surgery on 4/25 and I'm only down about 35lbs since then, 51 total (I lost 16 while on the pre-op diet). I do feel where you're coming from and I too get discouraged when I see other who've lost so much more already. But as someone else said, we are all different and in the end if we all do what our doctor's say we will all lose about the same percentage of our excess weight....some slower than others of course. I know it's hard not to compare ourselves to others but it's a bad habit to get into (and then break). Sadly it starts when we're very young so it's so ingrained in us that we can't help it. And remember...when was the last time you lost 46lbs FOREVER and did it ever happen in 3 months? Be proud of that! I agree that you need a new scale ASAP! LOL I try to only weigh once a week and I think that is normal and healthy. But, I find when I am approaching a new milestone, like 50lbs down or weighing less than Xlbs (currently waiting for it to roll below 230), I weigh everyday so I know exactly when I reached that point. But even then it's just once a day and if one day the scale is up a little from the previous day I don't worry about it. As for not having enough hours in the day I can understand that and I only have 1 kid who only has swim class once a week (he's only 20mos) so I can't imagine how hectic it would be with 5. All I can suggest there is making sure you make time for yourself...if someone is a little late to soccer practice because you had 5 more minutes on the treadmill then so be it...or if your hubby has to wait an extra 30 minutes to snuggle in bed because you were doing your aerobics DVD he'll cope (if he doesn't then beat him with a hand weight and weight training LOL).

You have lost over 45 pounds in 3 months, that is incrediable. Congratulate yourself! I had RNY Surgery April 21, 2006 and as of today I'm only down 32.4 pounds. I will trade with you. However I have lost over 32 percent of my excess weight, so that could be another way to look at it. Starting Weight: 210 Present Weight: 177.6 Goal Weight: 118

You have lost over 45 pounds in 3 months, that is incrediable. Congratulate yourself! I had RNY Surgery April 21, 2006 and as of today I'm only down 32.4 pounds. I will trade with you. However I have lost over 35 percent of my excess weight, so that could be another way to look at it. Starting Weight: 210 Present Weight: 177.6 Goal Weight: 118

You're doing great! Everyone loses at different rates, some lose it super fast, and others struggle with it a little more. How old are your kids? I have 5 kids too...ranging in age from 15 down to 7. I make my older kids take care of the little ones for a little bit each evening so I can walk. Maybe you could get the kids on bikes while you walk, you could all get out and get some exercise? (just an idea, that's going to depend on their ages and your location!) Please don't be discouraged, I know we all get that way sometimes, but that's why we have this terrific forum! We ALL know what you are going thru, because we've either already been there, or are going thru it ourselves. Hang in there. We're here for you.