Officially frustrated and stuck!

Aloha my WLS friends. This morning when I got on the scale and yet again saw the same number I have seen for the past 3.5 weeks, I officially blew my top! I have been so diligent in getting in my protein, water and vitamins every day, and have even added exercise in the pool three times a week, and nadda! I don't get more than 800 calories a day and no sugar, no bread, no pasta....just protein shakes, salads with chicken, yogurt, fish, beans, etc. I don't know what to do. A friend has suggested I go back on full liquid diet for a week or two, and I'm seriously considering that to break this plateau. I would deeply appreciate hearing any suggestions, similar concerns or information that might help me get through this hurdle. KarenS P.S. I'm 5'11" tall, started out at surgery at 319, and am down to 285....34 lbs. and that has been the same for 3 weeks. This seems way too early to be stuck!

Hey, Karen I've been in the same boat. The weight is not coming off anywhere as quickly as I would like, and I get frustrated at seeing all the people talking about how much weight they are losing, or how fast their sizes are changing. I've even had to make myself avoid the boards for days at a time because it gets too depressing. I had a three week stall, and when it started moving again, it started moving SLOWLY - not the drop in pounds I had hoped for. But the reality is that we really HAVE lost a reasonable amount for this amount of time. It is just that it all happened in the beginning instead of a little bit at a time. It is discouraging to see the scale not move, but if you average out your weight loss by week, it is not really all that bad. Of course, if things were on MY schedule, it would have been: Surgery July 11th Goal August 11th Plastics Sept 11th Perfect energy/health/recovery: September 12th But somehow that does not seem to be the way it is going! I've had a different kind of surgery than you so this may not be good advice to follow, but maybe you are eating TOO little? How about your liquid intake, how much are you drinking? Try to focus on doing things that make you feel good and healthy, and try to stay away from the scale as much as possible. The weight WILL move. Jezia

Thank you so much for your good words and thoughts. It really does help to know that someone else is going through what I am at the same time. I know exactly what you are saying when you needed to stay away from forums because everyone was doing so much better and it was hard to compare results. I am going to call my nut today and see what she has to say. I'm guessing that she'll say I'm doing fine and to maybe UP my calories which goes so against my gut level feeling, but maybe it's a lesson I need to learn. Your support is greatly appreciated. Aloha nui loa, KarenS

Jezia, I love your timeline. If u figure out how to make that goal u could be rich. I'd sure pay to be done with all this in 3 months. Ive had a really hard time with depression. I think how much I changed and how much Ive lost...and Im still a fat 300 lb woman. Its like how can this be. I dont know where my head is sometimes. I think I was just in such denile about how huge I had gotten. I still have 150 lbs to go...just to reach my goal...not what would be normal for me. Mariah

Hi Mariah! I knew ahead of time that I would go through a period of time after the surgery where I had been through ALL that pain and distress, was not feeling fully recovered, and was STILL FAT. I spent SO much time and attention on getting ready for the surgery, learning about it, reading stuff, going to meetings, talking to people . . . The couple of months after surgery, when the initial "recovery" stage is past, HAD to be tough. But even though I expected it to happen, it has still been a B**CH to go through! This week is the first time in a while I have felt better, I sure hope it continues! Things WILL get better for us; unfortunately, we have to wait while that happens . . . Jezia

Jezia, I know how u feel. Its just a waiting game at this point... That is the one thing I really stress now to pre and newly post ops. That u think the waiting is over when u get your insurance approval but its just the first of many stages of waiting. Waiting for the wt to come off, waiting for the ps approval...healing from that. just the list can go on and one I had a great day today. I got a really edggy hair cut. I got to see 2 ppl today that I hadnt seen since my surgery and they were totally blow away.... Of course I had to end up telling them that I had surgery but they were still very happy for me and kept congradulating me...I told them made me feel like I was having a baby or something with all the well wishes and hugs I was getting. That really did alot for my mood today. Feels like Im floating on air. Mariah

HIJACKED Mariah do you take anti-dep? I had a tough time with dep aftr surgery too. Hugs Linda

Linda, My surgeon offers it to everyone when they are discharged from the hospital. Stupid me ofcourse thought I wouldnt need it so I didnt take it. Two weeks later I was calling her and begging for it...LOL Figured I would try it for 6 months. I will try this spring to wean off of it. So Yes I take Lexapro and swear by the stuff. It keeps me from crying all the time. Mariah

if that was really your schedule,,,everyone would want to know who your dr was,,lol,,, we didnt gain it in a month,,,we are not going to lose it in a month,,,would be nice,,,,but,,,,,we have to work at it,,,,, friends with a pouch, sandy

hello again karen, i think i answered another one of your posts just a few days ago,, i lost 45 as of last tues this tues i gained 2 what do you think of that,,,,so im just doing protine shake all today,,,maybe for a week,,,i have protine shakes 15 protine,,,protine jello 15 protine,,,tomato soup,,15 pro,,,chicken broth 15 pro,,hot ****o,,,,so im going to drink 5 or 6 a day for a while,,,this keeps it not so boring,,,look at the bottom of the board,,,i-shophere.biz....15 pro puddings,,,i like more all of them,,,,good luck talk to you again soon, your friend w/a pouch sandy