WEIGHT STABALIZED, BUT WANT TO LOSE MORE

It has been about a year in a half since my surgery. I have lost pretty much 100 lbs. exactly and now I can't seem to get off anymore. Right after surgery I didn't exercise because I had complication but after I got well I still didn't exercise. I finally started about 3 months ago and have been faithful to it ever since, at least 3 times a week but I usually exercise Mon-Fri. I know I get too many carbs in and I can go a entire day without drinking anything so I don't get my water in. I do drink water after I exercise, that's about the only time I drink a day. I knew before the surgery drinking water would be a problem because I'm not a big drinker. I haven't gained any weight back but I have heard that people could eat instead of drink because they cannot tell the difference. I think I'm one of those people. Should I just make myself drink at certain times? I don't mind eating healthy food but when I give my kids snack (cheetos, cookies, etc.) I tend to munch a bit with them which makes me not eat my healthy meal I have prepared because I'm full already. Should I see a psychologist? I actually like exercising now that I do it regularlly but my eating habits have fell way off. I want to still lose another 100 lbs but if I'm stuck here how can I go further. If I increase my water will that jump start me again? Should I just get strict with the entire family and not buy junk food for the husband and kids since my hand eventually ends up in the bag as well? Give me some advise, I am very grateful with the 100 lbs I've lost but I'm still far from goal. I know if I could get my extra skin removed I would probably be at least 20 lbs lighter but I want to wait and prove to myself I can keep off the weight before having another surgery, also me and my hubby are thinking about having another child so I don't need to get nipped/tucked until after that. Sidebar question: Has anyone had any trouble with conceiving after surgery? We haven't been trying long but I just wanted to know. Thanks.

When I sense that my fluid intake is waning, I bargain with myself. For example, at work, I may really need to go pick something up in another office, but I make myself drink a few swallows before I go. Or, right before I walk down to the cafeteria for lunch, I'll drink a few ounces. If I get the munchies, I force myself to drink a good 8-10 ounces BEFORE I start snacking. Usually, that serves 3 purposes - I get in more water, I often forget that I want to snack and if I do still snack, it's not as much. As for the exercise - I can't say much there, I've been horrible about it, too.

Thanks Becky, I will start drinking before I eat. I really think that will help me to get in my fluids.

As for drinking, here's what I used to do until it became a habit. Use a small glass, like 6-8 oz. When you fill it up, drink it right then and there. Then fill it up again and drink it over the next half hour and make sure you've drank it before you go to the bathroom. Believe me, I made sure I drank it down cuz I really had to go to the bathroom and I told myself I couldn't until I drank the water. Then fill your glass again and repeat the procedure. That way you can usually get 12-16 oz of water in every hour or hour and 1/2. By the way, I started drinking the diet Lipton Green Tea with Citrus and I'm hooked on that stuff and can easily drink 5-7 bottles a day! Snacking. Be sure to keep some healthy snacks on hand that you can eat. If there is something that you buy for the "family" but you find that you really want it, then I say don't buy it. It's a trigger food for you and is best left out of your house. If you have to have chips on hand, buy the baked chips (baked doritos don't taste bad and are better than the regular if you must have them). Same way with cookies, get the SF kind. Better yet, keep fresh fruit on hand, or cheese, or peanuts. I make one peanut last four bites, I find that I eat far less than popping a small handful into my mouth and I'm satisfied after about 1 oz. Buy SF popsicles or fudgesicles, SF jello, etc. There is quite a few things you can keep around for snacks that aren't that bad in the fat/sugar dept. It'll be better for your family too. I also talk to myself and question myself if I really want that. I tell myself that I've done such a great job of losing weight and I feel so good, that do I really want to blow it for a few minutes of satisfaction? That has helped me many times from snacking. Exercise. It's good that you get some exercise in but why not try adding 15-30 minutes of walking in too. Just try to keep challenging yourself to walk farther and faster as you progress. I made myself commit to walkathons, races, etc. to motivate myself. I really hate to disappoint someone else so I joined with a buddy and what started out very hard to walk 1 or 2 miles, I can now walk a half marathon (13.1 miles) and can jog a little bit of that. I just started walking at the end of March and by July, I did my first 13+ mile walk in rolling hills. It doesn't have to be walking if you don't enjoy that, it could be bicycling, swimming, aerobics or any number of things. Some of my WLS buddies in our support group also make up a "lunch box" of everything they can eat the next day. It has the correct amount of calories, carbs, fat, etc. in it. Whenever they want a snack, they get it out of the box. Their meals come out of the box. Once that box is empty, they are done for the day. This may take a little while to get into the habit and might be confusing at first, but you can get the hang of it soon and find that some days you don't eat everything in your box. They fill the box very soon after they've eaten their dinner so they aren't hungry and tempted to snack when filling it. They (whoever they are) said that it takes 21 days to make a habit and only 3 to break them (although smokers may disagree with that). But, whatever you want to try, then try to make sure you do it everyday for awhile to get into the habit. HTH Linda

Congratulations on your 100 pounds, Leona. That's excellent and you should feel proud of yourself. As for water, want to hear something weird? I GAIN weight when I do not drink enough. Through the week, I am diligent and disciplened abou****er and easily get in well over 100 oz of water and tea. On weekends, however, I am lucky to get in more than 20 ounces per day and it never fails that I will be five or more pounds heavier on Monday morning thatnI was on Friday night. Once, I start my drinking program again, I pee every couple of hours and the weight all falls off in a few days. So, I definitely say drink up! I think of it as flushing out of my system all of the crap I eat! Good luck! Hugs, Tracy

I am in a similar boat then you.. I have been a slow loser the whole time, and I learned to accept that.. I am happy with the weight I have lost, from 389 to 232 but I want to lose anbother 35-40 to reach my goal of 189 (making a total loss of 200 lbs).I eat good, and make sure I get my protein and water, if I get dehydrated I know it instantly, I get really dizzy.. I still dump if I eat something with more then 4 g of sugar, so sweets are not much of a problem, I leep the SF candies out of the house most of the time I work out sometimes, b ut not as often as I should, I never have, partly due to health reason, partly because I have always hated exercise.. ... Over the last few months , my weight stabilized too, and I had resolved myself that I was done, and I was happy, I went from a size 34 to a size 18.. and that is pretty good, I don't get winded when I walk up the driveway, I fit on roller coasters, I feel better! and look better (dressed anyway) Then I met a new guy , he is a big guy and he started walking over the summer to lose weight, and it is working for him.. so we walk ALOT.. the first 2 weeks we were together I lost 9 lbs, just from the added walking! we would walk 3-6 miles twice a week... The loss can start again, exercise is KEY, I have always known that, but motivation is hard for me.. butif I can do it, you can do it.. I really hope you are able to get theose numbers moving again!!! NEVER GIVE UP!!!