Fell off the wagon???

k I have no clue how i did this or what caused me to do it but i have fallen off the wagon... i havent had a protein shake in a month i havent been doing hardly any protein first i have been eating with my meals... i feel horrible... i feel like i have let so many people down in my process. I try to get back on the wagon and then i choose to not eat which isnt good either... i guess what i am looking for is someone to help me get back on... i am not looking for flames but some serious help. I am not gainin any wt back but i am not lossin either... the only thing that i have done tight is i still do all my meds like i am suppose to.... so i guess that is one yah for me... but seriously i need a push back on the wagon.... manda ~103 lbs 09-09-04

Consider yourself gently helped back into the wagon! You are doing GREAT with your weight loss. You know what to do to help your tool do it's job. If I were you, I would start with fitday. You may not be blowing it as bad as you think when you see all the numbers. If it is, you will know just what to do to fix things. Stop the drinking with the meals. If you drink enough an hour before, this will be much easier. Don't worry about needing protein shakes unless you see you are unable to eat enough protein grams in a day. Do eat your protein first! This is so important. It will fill you up so well that you will be good to go for a few hours. Don't think of carbs as evil, just make good choices, keeping protein first. Don't worry about letting other people down. Just take are of yourself. Your man is in the military, you have a lot on your mind, you are caring for a toddler, YOU've LOST A LOT of WEIGHT in a SHORT time! Go easy on yourself Manda! ((((HUG))))) for you and sending you "BACK ON THE WAGON" vibes }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} Don't worry, you are fine! Oh, and almost forgot, get moving in some form of exercise, even if it's only walking or housework or getting on the floor to play with your toddler. Fitday allows you to log your daily activity and it helps you have a sense of accomplishment. Don't stress! You are doing fine! ~Sue

Amanda! You are not alone!! The GREATEST and most important thing you have done is identified what it is that you want to change! Bravo! You have experienced such successful weight loss and it's easy to think this procedure is the cure---but we all know it's not. I find myself not always following the perfect food plan...and my excercise is nonexistent. BUT, there a LOTS of things I'm doing that are GOOD (protein, vitamins, supplements, water) that I didn't do before. What I do when I need some inspiration is to set a little "mini" goals. A number (maybe 2-3lbs) I would like to drop too. Then start thinking of what you can change that will help you get there--perhaps one weak area to strengthen. When the weight drops, you willl be inspired!! Hang in there. Forgive yourself and know it's a bump in the road to lifetime health. Beth -75

Honey, you are being WAY too hard on yourself. Absolutely no flaming here. I seriously don't think you actually fell off the wagon - maybe you hit a little speedbump in the road. But, the fact that you're HERE looking for advice tells me you're on the right track, and not laying in some muddy ditch somewhere! Think of it this way. In our past we've suceeded and failed at 'diets' over and over. Falling off the wagon back then was going back to eating 5000 calories a day, SuperSize meals, fats, sweets etc... comparing that to drinking with your meals a little here and there is nothing. Physically you can't push yourself all the way off the edge at this point - your little pouch won't let you. Now is the time to get back on the wagon trail!!! You're doing so wonderfully this far Manda - I think it's just a little bump. Katie

Flames!! Are you kidding? The Bible says "let he who is without sin cast the first stone". I hardly think ANY of us are "without sin"!! Bless your heart. I know that you are concerned (and that is healthy), but try not to stress over it too much. That only makes the problem seem bigger than it is. We have all failed so many diet attempts that "one little mistake" seems like doom. But, that is NOT the case this time. You are going to be fine. If you think that you need "extra" support, you might consider talking to the psychologist/psychiatrist at your doctor's office. Ours told us that "a slip is different than a slide" and that if we felt like we were beginning to slide to come in and talk to him. I haven't needed to do that yet, but I wouldn't hesitate to if I thought I needed to. (Even though he is not my "favorite" doctor in the clinic!) OOOMMMPPPHHH. Consider yourself "pushed"!! Love and hugs, Pam

((((((((Manda)))))))) I think we all fall off now and again. The thing to remember is how far you have come. You are doing great! It's okay to mess up every now and then, you know what you need to change , just work on one thing at a time if that's what it takes. You can do this! Have faith in yourself and let yourself make the right choices. God Bless! Jo

I go back and read this when I need a pick-me-up. Its a post from someone on the main board. I think its great! Good luck, you've done great so far! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "There's noooooooooooooo crying in baseball.....!!!!!!" That's the sentiment (scenario) that comes to mind sometimes when I hear some of the comments from people who've already had the surgery. In case you haven't made the connection, that's a line Tom Hanks made famous in the movie "A League Of Their Own." Resorting to tears or just giving up every time the going gets tough is NOT going to make you successful or keep you healthy. I see so much whining sometimes that it's hard to decipher the kids from the adults. ENOUGH already, it's time to get "TOUGH" on YOURSELF!!! First and foremost, you have to keep it POSITIVE. As with everything in life, if you think you can't - you WON'T! Simple enough? I have to wonder when "we" (as adults) finally take ownership for our actions, our life and our health? We have been given a gift, a second chance to actually LIVE life again instead of merely exiting in it. It's up to each of us to do that as healthy and productively as possible. We're ALL statistics waiting to happen and the insurance companies are chomping at the bit. The bean counters are eager to drop Weight Loss Surgery ("WLS") from the policies; some already have. Don't you know that any negative feedback thrown into the mix only strengthens their cause? I may not be able to control every thing that happens to my body after WLS, but most things I can. I CHOOSE to take control and I will be a positive statistic when the numbers get counted. We live in a spoiled society, expecting everything in life to come with a buncha really cool choices. Well, guess what? When it comes to your health, you're not always going to get a choice. You either DO IT and stay healthy, or you DON'T and your body pays the price. The way I saw it, I had a 90 day healing and adjusting period after surgery. My 'super morbidly obese' body had more then enough stores to survive the learning curve. In turn, it gave me plenty of time to heal, adjust and learn. For those of you OVER 90 day's Post-Op, the probation period is over - its time to get serious and LIVE what you've learned. ~*~ You say you can't get in enough liquids through out the day, don't like the taste of water, or just keep forgetting? -- TOUGH! It's not an option anymore. Find a way to do it, get suggestions and tips from others in support groups, message boards, etc. Read, learn and then JUST DO IT!! Why do you think there is a choice here? ~*~ You say you don't like the big horse pill type vitamins, or the tart chalky chewables? ...it's, just too many to bother with? Or maybe you just can't remember to take them? ...it's just too many to bother with? -- TOUGH! You gave up the option NOT to take vitamins when you agreed to have your insides rerouted. FIND a way to get them in; crushed, minced, chopped, liquified, in a shake, etc. No exceptions, your health depends on it. ~*~ Protein is a must. So you can't get it all in via foods and you don't like the way the shakes taste? -- TOUGH! Either get it through your meals (and there are a gazillion food choices out there) or supplement it with protein shakes and bars. Trust me, I don't drink my protein shake every morning because I think it tastes like a chocolate blizzard from Dairy Queen. Ive tried many varieties over the last 2 years. I'd even venture to say 25 of the top sellers/flavors have crossed my lips. For the record? I've yet to find one that is as 'delicious' as boasted by the distributor. So what!!!! I still drink one every morning. My HEALTH dictates that I need "X" grams of protein per day. If I'm not getting enough from my meals then I supplement a shake. 'Nuff said!!! I've actually walked the walk and reached my goal. Yep, I've stumbled a few times with my food choices and you know what? I'll trip a few more times. BUT, some things I will never fail at -- Vitamins, H20 and Protein. This surgery is a gift, I owe it to me and everyone else fighting the approval process, to do it right! I will continue to choke down my vitamins, my water and my protein every single day, for the REST OF MY LIFE. Some days will be easier then others, regardless, no days will be missed. It's all about discipline. Create a routine, set a timer, develop a pattern, tie a string around your finger, glue a note to your forehead, whatever it takes. You're an adult - take responsibility! If this surgery doesn't slap a back bone into you, not much will. Leilani ~*~ [revised 1/6/05]

Thanks! I needed that boost! I continue to try and do the things I am supposed to do....I take my vits, drink my protein, exercise every day and from now on I will try to remember why I do this every day.....no more whining!

Umm..I must be the odd man out...my doc said to "lay off the protein shakes" even though I wasn't doing much of it. Why - well cause protein comes in all forms of chicken, lean ham, fish, and tuna..so you many more options. But if you feel you need to do the shakes then get back on board. We're right there with you - pushing you back in!!!