What Do I Need To Do?

Ok, my surgery was 12 weeks ago and I am not even down 40lbs. I walk at least 4 times a week (3 mile walking dvd). Up until last week, I was drinking 3 protein drinks per day (80gms of protein), drinking at 70 oz of fluids. I do light weights (when I walk). I might eat some tuna or corned beef (not hash) or a buger or something but most of my protein came from my drinks . . the total calories from the drinks is about 550 per day (using low carb dairy product). I might also have some wheat crackers with cheese or something. But these extras might not always be everyday . . I thought I was doing well but I have only lost 36lbs I feel like a failure . . Now, I have cut my drinks back to 1 or 2 a day and I am able to eat more foods. . . Am I heading in the right direction. Today I had: B:Protein drink S:3/4 of a big slim jim (mild) L:3/4 of a dbl cheese burger (no bread) and a few fries D:3 slices of bacon & 2 chicken tenders w/ 2 broccoli florets I have had abt 76 oz of water - I should have had another protein drink but I didn't . .now this is not 50gms of protein. (But it would have been if I had that second drink) Is this enough? Should I lean towards this daily menu . . does eating food actually make a difference. I thought I would be melting by now. Help me Phenom 322/286/160

Phenom Please DON'T don't don't feel like a failure cause you're not. You have done so well to loose 36lbs. I have lost 40lbs so am about the same as you. All I know is that we will never put these lbs back on. It doesn't matter how 'slow' or fast they come off, just as long as the scale is going down. It also doesnt' matter how we compare to other people. We are all different and loose at different rates. I know that's easy to say, but it's true. A lot depends on your starting weight. Apparently I'm classed as a light weight (the first time in my life!!) at 266lbs and height 5'6". I read on another board that on average we loose about 20% of our excess weight each month. So that figure will decrease each month as we have less to loose if you get me. I also think that when I'm loosing lbs my body doesn't loose inches. The inches come off when my body stops loosing lbs. For me it works like a see-saw - first one then the other. Have you noticed your clothes getting looser, or have you gone down a size? I can't say that I've gone down a size yet, but am getting into clothes from my closet that haven't fit for months/years!! I've also noticed that my face looks thinner. We need to find other ways to measure success/failure other than the number on a scale. I have been ruled all my life by the scales and I'm determined that I am not going to live like that any more. I had this operation to be free from all that. Sorry to have gone on a bit. Hope your plateau doesn't last too long. Don't get down on yourself - be kind to yourself Ruth 'To live without risk is to risk not living'

I recently found out that I am considered a light-weight. I started out at 229 lbs and I am now down to 188 lbs. My personal goal is 129 lbs, but my dr's is 135 for me. I think of myself as a slow loser, but you know, bottom line, I"M LOSING!!!! I was thinking, if i only lost an average of 5 lbs over the next year, I would be under my personal goal. That's amazing! And I exercise 5 days a week. I can eat most anything and I don't feel like I'm starving. I feel the best I've felt in years! I have gone from taking about 6 meds a day (diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol) to 0, none, nada meds a day!! So, yeah, I may be slow, but isn't it great to be going down instead of up??? And I'm not too flabby either, and I'm not losing hair. And I've lost 41% of the weight I want to lose! I'm so grateful! You are doing great! Go check out the light weight forum! Have a great day and Congratulations!

Well I hardly thing 322lbs is classified as "light weigh" . I am getting ready to do my work out dvd (3 mi walking tape) and I have had my protein drink. After I work out I will have a boiled egg (1st time since I up the eggs 3 weeks after surgery). I have pre-measured some ground turkey, so I will have that for a late lunch. I will have my water and fluids (at least 70 oz) and I am cooking some Black eyed peas later today as well. I am going to try to squeeze in a small salad or some kind of vegetable. I have some sf lemon pudding for a snack and I will have another protein drink. This is the way that I am going to try and eat so we will see how things go for the next couple of weeks. Currently I am 286lbs 5'5", my BMI is going down, and I am able to wear 18/20 stretch pants (real loose) I have lost a lot of inches. My size 24's are getting loose (from a 26/28) Last Sunday I wore a 22/24 black wrap dress (my favorite dress will hate when it is too big) with no girdle. I can wear my black suit (size 24) Met my goal for the 13th . .WooHoo. So I am going down in size just not in weight. I am hoping that it is muscle so I am cutting back my workout . . I start school next week anyway. Not net to sabotoge(sp) myself. So I will workout at least 3 times a week and continue to actually eat food not just drinks. Have a great weekend Phenom 322/286/160

Wow, I'm s hocked you're able to eat 3/4 of a double cheeseburger AND some fries at t his point. That seems like a lot of food to me. I hope that dosen't sound rude. Also, you sound like you're eating a lot of fried bad foods. Have you tried things like tuna, chicken breast, chicken thighs, turkey or NSA pb? Sometimes it's not the calories but the fat intake. 3 protien drinnks a day = 500+ calories is too much also. I hope you don't thnk I'm being rude. I do think you've done a great job thus far with the water and working out. Way to go!! Also, you could be losing inches and not lbs.

I'm still just on the basics of Pure Protein and no carbs. I see a big difference when I have had just a little carbs in the weight loss as it throws off the balance. Carbs make you crave more carbs. And I still limit myself to 2 ounces when eatting, three times a day. Plus only 1 protein shake but with two scoops. Plus at least 1 gallon but hope for close to 2 gallons of zero calorie drinks beyond the shake. Besides watching your calorie intake watch the Sodium levels on the foods too such as that Slim Jim. Your probably retaining too much water even if your flushing alot. Get back to your beginning basics. Mike

I do not think you all are reading my post correctly. Okay Mike, I was doing the basics up until last week and I ONLY lost 35lbs. I was drinking water, and 3 protein drinks a day for a TOTAL of a little over 500calories a day. 500 calories is not a lot in one day plus I work out 1 hour a day. Last week I moved to more solid foods NO Fried foods. cheeseburger - grilled, bacon (low fat) drained and washed 1 maybe 2x a week. . . I can't eat a home made burger at but I can eat the very very flat burgers from burger king. The slim jim is only once in a while when I am out because my blood sugar levels have to be maintained. I happened to be out yesterday. Oh and the chicken tenders were baked in the oven. So I don't see where all of this fried food is . . .a few fries means a few fries meaning 3. Guys I asked for help not to be dissected. I mean I have looked over what some of you are eating and I don't see the different. I am diabetic so I can't eat a lot of dairy because of the sugar and I will dump. So what am I supposed to eat? For 11 weeks I did about (well not for the 1st 4 weeks of course) 600 calories max some days(most days it was all I could do to drink the water and the drinks) . . carbs expand a lot so when I say a few I am not talking about a handful of crackers I am saying 3 or 4 tops as a snack that was no more than 600 calories - with that and 1 hour of walking and weight lifting I ONLY lost 35 lbs. This last week I began to eat more meat and less protein drinks and I lost 1 lbs. Food is not being fried. If I warm it up I only use Pam.

Hi!...i know how you feel cos i'm in the same boat...i've only lost 40 pounds since my surgery on May 1st....(i lost 50 before surgery from Dec. til May)....i went for my 3 month checkup yesterday and my doc said i'm looking great but was a little dissapointed that i hadn't lost more....i was very depressed....i haven't lost any pounds in over 5 weeks....but, i did find out that the protein i'm using (GNC Muscle Milk) has WAY too many calories....640 with 2% milk; 350 with water.....doc told me to get a protein shake with only 150 calories MAX...i hope and pray that this will help me to get back losing....it sounds to me like you're really eating healthy and all that exercising is fantastic.....maybe we're just slow losers....let's keep our fingers crossed that it will get better soon......

Lets not forget that muscle weighs far more than fat so it may be that you are actually gaining muscle and that is the reason you are not loosing lbs especially as you are loosing inches. Great news about dropping the dress sizes. Keep it up - you go girl (ALso, I think it's less of a shock to the body to not loose too fast.) Hugs and support Ruth

Thanks, I will be dancing in my black suit, when I wear it on Sunday