Frustrated and unsure

Hey all you May people! I just thought I'd come and ask a little advice. I'm about 8 weeks out, and I haven't lost any weight in the last 2 weeks. I know it could just be a plateau, but I'm wondering if the routine I've fallen into is more to blame. In fact, I've gained two pounds over the last couple of days, so I'm getting that little voice in my head telling me that 30 pounds is all I'm going to lose! I was 269 the day of surgery, and weighed in this morning at 239. I was stuck at 237 all week last week, but those two pounds have found their way back home! I thought I lost em! Here's how a typical day works out for me, since I have nothing on my profile. In the morning, I either have one string cheese or a carb countdown yogurt smoothie, along with my 2 Flintstones Complete vitamins. Around 10 or so I'll have another string cheese. Lunch is a Lean Cuisine or a Smart Ones frozen meal, which provide on average 20g protein. I always choose the low carb meals, that are just meat and veggies. In the afternoon I'll have a package of South Beach Diet cookies (2 in the pack, 100 cals, low carb, 4g protein). Dinner is usually chicken and veggies, maybe a bite or two of a starch. Later in the evening is some soy chips or a 100 calorie bag of popcorn (the popcorn thing is over now.. I just discovered the soy chips last night!) I'm just worried.. my doctor has recommended 3 meals and 3 snacks a day. I can eat a whole lean cuisine meal... and it seems like too much. I find myself thinking about food again.. convincing myself that I'm hungry, when I know I'm not. I get in all of my fluid, average around 60+ grams of protein a day, and take my supplements. I bought two exercise DVDs that I plan to start this weekend (I haven't been exercising because of the heat, and I know how bad of an excuse that is.) Any ideas? Is this just a plateau and I should just wait it out? Do I change something? I know I need to add exercise.. I want the scale to MOVE!!!! Thanks for any ideas, and I hope you all are doing wonderfully! -Jasmina 269/239/150

My advice would be to stop weighing yourself. I threw my scale out, and I'm only weighing myself every 6 weeks at my Drs office. I have no idea how much I have lost, but I do know my clothes are loose, and I am working hard at it every day. It's too frustrating to watch that scale!

Hi, Jasmina - we've all been there! It is normal for out body to have to adjust to the new weight loss and changes happening. Just keep doing what you know to be right, eat protein, drink water, exercise, and the weight loss will eventually start up again! Michelle

Michelle...??? Is that you???

It's meeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!! Michelle

Since you said you're not exercising much, that might be part of the problem. I'm doing it all though and my weight is coming off very slow, only 1.4 lbs last week, 2 lbs a week the two weeks before that. So, it may just be that our bodies are trying to catch up with the rapid weight loss from earlier.

I would say you are doing great on the eating. I wish I could eat that much. I have a stricture and I dont get in ENOUGH. I have had a couple stalls also and I just joined a gym to get the maximum exercise in. I think you are doing great and as long as you make good food choices with lotsa protein you are going to lose. Chylene 290/235/150

Dear Jasmina, I have also had losing issues, but I looked on the web sight calorie counter thing and I realized that one or two real pounds of fat are all we can loose. So I figure if I get on the scale 7 days a week I will be disappointed 6 of them with no loss. So I put the scale up and am going to weigh once a week therefore allowing myself to at least see a pound or two difference when I get on and hopefully not feel discouraged. The only unfortunate part of my plan is that seeing as how I am a girl, once a month my plan will be foiled with water weight but what are ya gonna do? Take care, Jane

Dear Jasmina, I have also had losing issues, but I looked on the web sight calorie counter thing and I realized that one or two real pounds of fat are all we can loose. So I figure if I get on the scale 7 days a week I will be disappointed 6 of them with no loss. So I put the scale up and am going to weigh once a week therefore allowing myself to at least see a pound or two difference when I get on and hopefully not feel discouraged. The only unfortunate part of my plan is that seeing as how I am a girl, once a month my plan will be foiled with water weight but what are ya gonna do? Take care, Jane

Jasmina, Not to sound like a broken record, but as I was told at my support group meeting, put the scale away! I get weighed once a month when I go to the doc's and thats it (ok I admit I cheated last Sunday and checked) but looking on a regular basis gets discouraging, when you go in for your check up and there is a big loss its a great feeling! Also, I took my measurements. I only check those once a month but they continue to go down even in areas where I am convinced there is not change. Good Luck and know your not alone! Cary