Weight loss thus far...

I started at *gulp* 470 and I had my surgery Aug 3rd today is my 9 month anniversary. At christmas I was down 108 lbs and right now I am down 145 so I have lost only 37 lbs since christmas. I am currently 325, but several weeks ago the scale said I was 315 however the number was jumping around on the digital scale and took a while to settle on 315 so maybe it was inaccurate. I have been extremely depressed lately, feeling like I am failing, I feel like I am not doing near as well as I should and I feel like I am not going to lose anymore weight. My doctor said I should end up around 240 but if I am at 325 now and barely losing I do not see how I could ever get to that point. Do not get me wrong I was bursting out of a size 32 and now 26 is big on me, so that makes me quite happy, however I really wanted to eventually see a size in the teens and I am very depressed about it. Has anyone experienced this same type of thing? I drink about 6- 16 oz waters a day and I do not eat very much at all. However lately I have began to experience actual hunger, which I never had before. My stomach will actually grumble with an empty feeling and I know most say they never experience hunger again. I feel like my stomach might be stretching or something. I do not know why I feel so upset about this I should be so happy. Does anyone have any insight into this? Also, I know that most people say they love shopping and seeing what they can now fit into, but I HATE it with a passion. I feel like I want to cry when I try on things, especially things with short sleeves. My bat wings are AWFUL, and they look disgusting... every short sleeved shirt that I have tried on just looks so bad. My sagging skin is really getting horrible. I put on my bathing suit from last year and sobbed. I feel like I need a whole body reconstruction and my insurance will only cover tummy tuck. Maybe I will win the lottery so I can eventually look human again. Anyone with any similar issues, or comments about this please comment back here or email me [email protected]. Thanks! Julie

Julie...try upping your protien and your food intake...eating more is normal at 9 months out...you are doing great in the fluids area...are you exercising??? 145 lbs. lighter is absolutely terrific!!! I too have saggy skin and I LOVE MYSELF regardless. Lots of hugs...jenna

Julie, try taking things one step at a time. Do you exercise??? If not, I highly (highly!) recommend that you begin b/c that has made all the difference for me. Focus on your weight loss and try not to get ahead of yourself about the plastic surgery. Be proud of your accomplishments, b/c you have lost a lot of weight!!! Focus on your achievements rather than what you still want to change. This is a process, and you are doing great! Annette

Julie - You sound like you are just where I am emotionally. I HATE shopping. Nothing looks good. It doesn't matter that I am the size I am, because any of the things I think look cute on the hanger look crappy on me. The bat wings keep me from buying anything but tops with at least short sleeves - and there are so many dresses for the summer that are tank top style or spaghetti strap style - I wouldn't be caught dead in those. And bottoms aren't much better. I have a big hanging apron that keeps the cute skirts from looking cute, and it keeps me from buying the size pants I probably really should fit into. My surgeon says there's about 15 pounds of excess skin hanging You need to eat - protein, protein, protein! I know it seems counter productive to keep putting food in when you are trying to lose weight - that seems to be how many of us are conditioned. You have to eat to keep your body from going into starvation mode. And do you exercise? Even a 20 minute walk per day will help boost your metabolism, help you burn calories, and show you a difference on the scale. Good luck, honey! I know it's rough right now, but we're going to get where we need to go!

Eat dear! Make sure you are getting the protein in. I have foud that if i fall below about 1000 cals a day I will NOT lose at all, even gain some. Now that is depressing! I have been suffering with a major stall for about a month, but I believe I am doing it to myself. I am eating more veggies and fruit because of the warmer weather but they don't have protein in them. I started adding my protein shakes again today, hopefull they will make the difference again and get me losing..