Discouraged again....

So, the board is picking up a bit.. I saw everyone contributing to the rolling total of weight loss - I've read it many times... What do I notice? That I've lost the least (considering how heavy I was when I started this journey). I haven't lost a pound in over a month... At my six month check up I was down about 85 lbs... six weeks later.... I'm still there! I think I need a personal trainer, or to go to fat camp... something. I've definitely slacked off on exercise. I am going once or twice a week to the gym, but I am still walking a few miles a couple times a week. I'm also getting more lax with my water and protein intake. I need to take more responsibility. But, at the same time, I keep thinking how other people are having such an easy time with this and I'm disappointed in myself... Blah. Anyone else feeling disappointed and overwhelmed?

My nut said that a good rate of weight loss is 5 to 15 pounds per month. Do the math. That's about 12 to 14 pounds a month, so you're doing great. In any event, you shouldn't compare yourself to others. Everyone loses at a different rate. You say that you're not exercising like you should. That's a huge part of making your tool work for you. Not only does it burn calories/fat and increase your metabolism, but (at least for me) it will make you want to eat right so that you don't "ruin" all the hard work you did with your exercising. I do take exception to your comment about other people having such an easy time. I know that I've been successful by working very hard each and every day. I am exercising as much as possible and following my diet to the "T." So please don't assume that the weight loss has come easy for others. We may just be doing everything we're supposed to do. And please don't be discouraged or disappointed. Just step up to the plate and do what you know you should do. Everything will start to fall into place (or off ) when you do. Good luck!

Hmm, I've tried to ignore it but feel the need to elaborate (why, I don't know since I don't know you...) I am a bit offended by the comment re: "We may just be doing everything we're supposed to do." Doing everything we're supposed to... I don't think anyone is perfect with this, nor could they be. We could always do more, but this can't consume my life - I'm so much more than my BMI. If you're sick, you probably won't get all your protein in. If you have an emergency, you may skip working out for a day... If I work out for an hour a day, you work out for two, and someone else just incorporates more activity into their lifestyle, who is doing what they are supposed to be? It could be all of us or none of us depending on where we started from.. I exercise. I don't eat junk. But then again, these are things I did even before surgery. I've had (and used) my gym membership for the past six years.... I've always been active, I have an abnormally efficient body - it doesn't take many calories to sustain me. So, when compared to someone who sat home all day eating junk food - yes, I think they are having an easier time losing weight. Do I think that's the case for everyone or even the majority of people who needed this surgery? Of course not! But, for those of us who were active and made relatively healthy food choices prior to surgery, this post-op "honeymoon" is less of a honeymoon for us. It may be a bigger challenge for the previously inactive or self-confessed emotional eaters to adapt to the new way of living, but the weight will come off more quickly and easily for them. Again, even if don't lose another pound, I will have been successful - no more meds, I'm more active and engaged, I've increased my likely lifespan... But, I would like to continue the downward trend with my weight!

I never intended to insult you, and I'm sorry if you saw it that way. You were the one who said you needed to exercise more. You were the one who said you had gotten lax with your protein and water intake. And then you commented about everyone else having an easy time. It's not easy for any of us. You said yourself that you needed to take more responsibility, not me. By the way, I was also one who was active and didn't eat so bad prior to the surgery. I truly feel for you that the scale hasn't moved for you lately. There's nothing more discouraging than that. But if you're following all the rules, and its sounds like you are, I'm willing to bet that you're not done losing yet. I lose really well for about 2 weeks, then nothing for 2 weeks. And during those 2 weeks when I'm not losing, I get discouraged, which is ridiculous, but I do. I have a friend who went over 2 months without losing at all -- she had her surgery the same time as we did. Her stall happened from December to February, which is really soon after the surgery. She was afraid that her losing was over too, but it wasn't. Everyone loses differently. I'm sure it will start to happen again for you. In the meantime, you have to relish in the fact that your clothes are feeling better, which means that your body is just taking some time to catch up to the already great weight loss that you've experienced.

whenever I get a bit down, I try to think of the alternative...where would I be now if I hadn't had the surgery...it gets me motivated to "get back on program" with exercising and the protein shakes...now that the weather is turning warm, try some different exercising...yard work is a great workout.

ah, if i only had a yard... i do have a fire escape with a plant on my sixth floor walkup apartment. : )

ok a couple of thing for you sometimes its just changin what you do for execersie your body is use to going to the gym to days a week so mayme going three our for might just be the change it needs and you have to rembere that we are eating more then we where right after surgery so we have more calories to burn and just because the scale is not moving does not mean that you are not loosing inches for me its seems that people around me notice more they always make commets about how they can tall that I am loosing again I had someone a church who did not no that I had weight loss sugery ask me for the first time last week if I have lost weight you have done great so far don't be so hard on your self I know that it is hard trust me I was so made that I wasn't where i wanted to be so I canceld my six month follow up and i did go this month still not down a hundred pounds that i wanted but when he gave me a picture of me at preop and then a six months that is when i could realy see the diffrence and said who cares if I didn't loose a hundred pounds by six months look at where I am today the things that I can do know I know I would not be able to do 7months ago with out suergery you have come a long way be proud of what you have done what ever you do pleae don't give up feel free to meeage me anytime I am here for you Nicki

Hey, I've lost appx. 55 lbs. Slow loser. So what? I've also had stoppages. I picked up with the water, increased my food intake, & increased the exercise. No easy time here. I still have to be vigilant, I just don't have the constant hunger (usually). You could also consider trying a nutritionist or work out an exercise program that suits you with a trainer. I figure that it's a heckuva lot more than I would have lost previously. It's also easier on my skin! Were your vitamin levels checked then? Lower levels could also cause the problem. Good luck!

Hi everyone, Thanks for the support... a week later, still no loss - but my clothes are fitting better. I tried switching it up at the gym, taking different classes - adding a mile onto my usual two mile walk. Physically, I feel great. I can do more, I have energy, I can climb six flights of stairs without stopping... I'm just nervous that the weight loss has totally stopped and i still would qualify for surgery today! I am low in B-12 and Vitamin D, but have been taking supplements regularly. I'm going to try to give up coffee (the only calories I drink) and see if that helps any.. wth such limited foods and intake, its harder to figure out how to make a change. I can't give up chips, candy, ice cream, etc because i can't eat them anyways! I'm trying to eat more protein (adding in a can of tuna a day) and will hope for the best. Honestly, even if i never lose another pound, I would still have had the surgery and am grateful for it - but is it so wrong to still want more? (or even just some assurance that the weight will continue to decrease) I want to be able to buy something that isn't lotion or perfurme from Victoria Secret!