I'm feeling extremely discouraged...

Here I am at 8 months today and down 110 pounds. I know it sounds like alot to alot of people but I have been at 205 for about a month and it's driving me crazy. I'm eating mostly protein and getting in most of my water but I've stopped losing. I will admit I have had the sometimes more then occasional slip I actually had a cupcake the other day and have had a few handfuls of m&m's. I'm so afraid of going back to my old ways I'm really upset. I have been exercising pretty regularly and feel that it is going well. I also feel extremely depressed, sad, anxiety ridden and feel like my hormones are seriously out of whack. I'm going on the pill this month to hopeully level things out. So I guess my questions is has anyone else been feeling this way, am I normal to be at such a stall, will I lose more weight? Thanks for reading and for any replies, it feels good go get it out!

Dear Keri, I think you are doing an awesome job! I have only lost 65 pounds and have also been on a stall for several weeks. I think it is pretty normal for our bodies to try and stabalize. Anyway, I would be completely thrilled to lose 105 pounds like you! You are my hero, girl! Don't give up. Think of how far you have come. It sounds like you are doing all the right things. Let's both focus on the positives and hopefully, we will continue losing. Hang in there! Sher Lo

I too am at a stall...but am doing OK with it. I really need to up my exercise, but am having a terrible time with my arthritis. As far as cheating a bit - I know I do, but am really working on how I cheat and how often. My hormones get out of whack about a week prior to "my friend" each month - and extend for that week and into the first day or so...DEEP, DEEP depression... Good luck girl. You are doing great - just keep it up.

It sounds to me like you have done a wonderful job. You need to look at it from the other way around. You have lost 110lbs. OMG!!!!! What a great accomplishment. You know that there are going to be stalls so just ride them out and look at all your success from before. I know being close to being under 200lbs is exciting. I have been close for over a month now too. Have you seen your Dr. about the depression? Maybe there is something that can help you. Hang in there. You have come so far. Michelle

Keri hon chins up!!! You have SO MUCH to be proud of!!I am so proud of you!!!! Your weight loss is fantastic!!I want you to think about where you were 9 months ago,did you ever think that you would be down 110 pounds in such a short amount of time? pull out a old "fat" picture and take a good look at yourself "then" and look at you now...need I say more? Stalls are completely normal and are to be expected,frustrating? you bet your tush they are!!! but we need to accept it as hard as it is, as part of the journey,there are hills and there are valleys all along the way. Just keep on doing what you are doing,do not punish yourself for having a "cheat day or two" you are only human and not perfect,just pick yourself up,brush yourself off and start the next day off as a new day and get back on track. By reading what you said it seems like you are doing it all the right way,you may want to talk your menu over with your Nut to be sure if you are in doubt. As far as the hormones....well ,I hear ya there!! I think we all get to that dark place at one time or another,I am going through exactly what Cyndi said,it is just us being "women"...... I wish you the Very best and we are all here for you! PLEASE let us know how things are going! again congrats on the great weight loss!!!! (((hugs))) Nancy

Keri - hang in there. Your body is just catching up. I have been stalling through the holidays. I finally lost 2 pounds this week but hadn't lost any since before Christmas. Of course, I hadn't been eating that great. I find that when I do slip in some of my old habits, I'm much better about it. I might have a cookie or a few M&Ms and then get back on track. I used to have that bag of cookies or M&Ms. Rather than looking at it as you've been so bad, look at it as life. It would be extremely difficult to totally never ever have anything on that forbidden list for the rest of your life. You need to work a way where it's okay to have a treat now and then as long as you are watching your weight and make sure you are not gaining. You'll get to goal quicker if you have less of those treats, but if having a treat now and again helps you make it through the day, the week, the month -- what difference does it make if you make goal weight in April or in June? You still make it right. The trick is to limit those. I've personally needed the break to feel "normal" through the holidays. I had my treats and my "bad food" but made sure I didn't gain anything. Now I'm emotionally ready to be more focused and get back on the losing track. Good luck, honey! Don't be so hard on your self. And if you want to get back to losing, pump up the exercise. Your body gets used to the amount of exercise you are doing and needs to be pushed to go to the next level. JMHO.

Thank you all so much for reading and posting for me. I guess you're all right and I really need to look it as how far I have come and learn to deal with the stalls and slipups. I really appreciate each of you and I feel so much better about things now. It sure is nice to have people to talk to about this no one else IRL really understands what we go through. Thank you all and I'm gonna get my but in gear to onederland!!!

Congrats on your weight loss so far!!! Its very normal to experience stalls... also after you hit 6 months the weight loss is typically different because of the "honeymoon period" being over. I am a lightweight... for the first 6 months I was told to expect 10-15lbs loss... I did 9.5 average. Now I am to expect 5lbs... last month I lost 9... its all just a mystery. Have you checked how many carbs you are eating? I had a stall back in month 5 and found I was eating WAY too many carbs... well over 100. I dropped down to 30-60g... when I saw my NUT last month she said to go for 80g a day. I found that carbs are key for me. Ive also cut out processed foods and eat only natural, whole grain products. I feel its fine to eat a cupcake... or some m&ms... I dont think thats going back to old ways unless you make it a daily habit or you are eating numerous cupcakes or bags of m&ms. This surgery gives us a tool we can use... some people choose to make foods off limits the rest of their life. This is not something I do. If I no longer choose to eat something, thats because I dont like it any more or dont like the way I feel after I eat it. I still eat candy... I now eat a hershey kiss or 2 instead of a bag or so. Its a matter of learning how to eat properly and in moderation. If you can have a handful of m&ms and feel satisifed then go for it! If you eat a handful and want more more more and want to binge... then stay away! Have you had a f/u with your NUT? Mine said if I do not lose pounds OR inches for 4 weeks to call her so we can see what is going on. The pill... I found its helped me a lot. I was on depo pre-op and decided not to get the shots any longer. I had surgery and was due for one in July... I didnt get on oral B****il November and noticed a difference in my hormones. The pill should help you a lot! You will definately lose more weight... if you arnt already - try going back to basics for a week. Write down what you are eating... are you eating enough? too much? enough protein?? enough water?? Sometimes by seeing it written you can see what you need to change. Try changing up your exercise routine - my NUT says every 6 weeks you should switch up... try a new class, weight training etc... bodies get use to doing the same old thing. Good luck to you!

Hi Keri ! I think you are doing an AWESOME job! To me that is a good bit of weight...I am a lot slower than you....I have only lost-on a good day 85 lbs..and Im not a lightweight either....I have too-been at a standstill since Christmas time...but onthe otherhand---have you ever lost 110 pounds in less than a year? It is amazing you are doing fantastic!!!!! I get discouraged ALLLLLL the time and I want to ball my eyes out.....but you just have to think...there are sooooooo many ppl out there who cannot afford this surgery or there insurances wont approve them..... then count your blessings our weightloss will pick back up----we just gotta hang in there and look at the positive...I know its much easier said than done Brooke !

Thanks again ladies I feel so good reading your encouragement. I've decided to do a few new things. I'm going to write down my food intake and make sure I'm not getting to many carbs, maybe that's my problem and will switch up my exercising plan. I also started my period so I get to start the pill on Sunday and hope I feel even better in the next few weeks.