Frustrated about Plateau

Okay...I know; I know. Plateaus are normal and I've had a few along the way to USUALLY not worry. But it seems like I can NOT get beyond the 60 - 61 pound mark. My surgery was 8/17, so I'm a little over my 3 month anni. I've been playing around with the same 2 to 4 pounds for about a month now. My fear is that I will not lose much more! We were given a 'timeframe' of expected wieght loss and (according to this handout) the first 3 months are supposed to be the greatest loss before slowing down the pace. If this is true, then I will never reach my goal of 180, as I am hovering around 262-266. I've examined my eating habits and I know that the culprits are three-fold. Not enough protein, not enough water...and GRAZING. I need your help here, folks (with the grazing issue). I find myself all of a sudden obsessing over food! Partly because I'm having alot of problems with solids and I never feel satisfied with puree or extremely small portions. My calorie intake hovers at 500-700 and I try to do cardio at least 3 times a week. I do see a relapse prevention therapist, but I think I may need to make those visits more frequent. Any advice? Has anyone experienced this? Any grazers out there? I feel like an addict who is looking for a fix... which I guess I am! Toni stuck in the 260's

I'm no help, I graze in the evenings after I get home from work. I don't excersise enough. My weight's stalled yet again right now - for the upteenth time since surgery. I'm happy with my total weight loss thus far, but so frustrated with the stalls. For 2 or more weeks I've gained and lost the same 3 lbs repeatedly. I feel like I'll never get anywhere near my goal weight. Today's a new day, so I think we both need to try to start working towards what we know we should do - protein, water, excersise, and no snacking or grazing!! Good luck Toni, I feel your pain.

We are at right about the same place. I am down 60 with another 90-100 to go. My surgery was a week before yours. I notice that I graze out of boredom and habit. I haven't found a way to control it other than to do SOMETHING. Anything. Take an extra walk, take up knitting, chew gum, drink water or better yet, protein drinks! The cravings dissipate some when I have a protein drink. Mostly though, all I seem to do is think about food which in turn, makes me "hungry"! I noticed that on days when I am suffering through hard labor in the yard or other intense stuff, that I simply and not hungry. I think mostly because my mind is otherwise occupied, as are my hands. The best defense is a good offense! Make a plan. Plan your meals and just say no to everything in between. Once I give in to the first bite, it is over and I graze all the time! I enjoy fruit a lot, and it seems to stay with me a while (plus all that fiber is REALLY good for me!) If we don't learn to control it now, I fear what it will do to our futures. You aren't done losing yet so don't give up. But you also can't expect the weight to fall off at a high rate indefinitely. Now is when it slows down and makes us work for it. We can do this, we have the control back!

Our grazing habits seem to be for the same reasons...and that's what scares me. It has absolutely nothing to do with hunger as I haven't been hungry since I walked out of the hospital. Habit, boredom and 'food thoughts' invading my head throughout the day can only be a recipe for disaster. I will definitely take your advice to form a plan and keep busy. Right now I'm not working (on disability for non WLS related illness) but with the holidays upon us, I really want to throw myself into volunteering. I volunteer alot as it is, but it seems like there are alot more opportunities around this time of year. For now, I'm reading...I tell myself not to think about food until the end of the chapter...then the next, and so on. It does help get me over the craving hump. I also am trying my best to increase my water intake. Not an easy task! Thanks~~

I know what you mean! I seem to be stalling more frequently. I too graze, especially around that time of the month. It seems like I lose weight for about a week then I stall for 3 or 4. Makes me think that I'll never lose enough weight in 14-18 months. I have alot of trouble with protien and water too... atleast yesterday I grazed enough protien in! Agh! Trust me - I feel your pain.