The Final Stretch

It has been an exciting year. However experiencing the plateu that I am now can be somewhat discouraging. I really would like to lose down to the goal that I set for myself, however will be more satisfied if I can just reach the size that I wanted. When I was in my twenties I had lost weight following Weigh****chers. I had reached my goal then of about 160 pounds and was 29 inches around the waist. That was then over 20 years have gone by. I am older and my bones are larger.. The last time that I wore the size that I am now I weighed 180 pounds, I am slightly heavier than that. I will be glad to get rid of the lose skin. At anyrate. I know that with this plateu it can be very discouraging. I tried cutting my caloric intake down to about 500 calories, only for a short time. I am hoping that by March I will have lost at least Ten More pounds, but I haven't lost that much in the last two months. I am also finding it easier to eat food without that heavy feeling, and I am afraid if I don't concentrate I will start gaining. I still have no hunger. So now I am facing the mental challenge of watching what I eat. All I can say is this. I hope that no one ever gives up and gets to discouraged. No matter what the end result is I am a lot better off now than I was before, and if I don't reach the exact goal that I set,. I am close to it. Either way this surgery has been a success for me, I also want to say to others keep your chin up this has been an amazing experience.

Its easier to keep my chin up now that I don't have two of them I didn't make my goal eather, but I'm not done trying. I've been up and down the same 5lbs. for months now. Believe me I get very discourged. I agree with you about being a lot better off than 15 months ago. Its made a big change in my life. Brokenwing

WOW!!! It is good to hear that others are struggling with the same thing. I was afraid I was alone out here. I have been at the same weight for about 2 months now and I can't get it to budge. I know I need to do more exercize and I will. Just comforting to hear others are at the same place. 15 months ago I could hardly move so I am happy where I am but would like to lose about 30 more and then have plastics. Good luck to everyone, Melanie

Thanks Melanie: Plateaus have never been fun. It is quite exciting losing the weight after the battles that have been faced to try and lose it to no avail. It always seems that the last journey of this battle is the hardest to break. 27 years ago I had lost down to my goal weight by following along with someone on "Weigh****chers." The plateaus were there then, and I am glad that I had that experience it has made me able cope with this plateau. My consulatation is in March for the skin removal, I believe that I will be able to get to the weight that I will be satisfied with prior to this next surgery. The one thing that would be easy for me to do is to let my mind convince me just to stop eating and force the weight loss, but that is not a healthy thing to do. I have decided to do my best to get in 1000-1200 calories per day and I know that things will level out. This site is a God send. I live in North Eastern Arkansas, and so far have not seen any support groups to attend here. The Closest city to where I live is in Jonesboro Arkansas, and There are Dr's in Jonesboro that perform this surgery. I am considering starting Support meetings here in my area, not only for those of us that have had this surgery, but also for others that are still struggling with whether or not to have this surgery, or need encouragement to help them stay focussed on dieting, and need a support system. My family's eating habits are so different then mine, and it has been a tremendous adjustment for them to get used to the way that I eat now. After the fifteen months I am finding it easier to eat, and was becoming afraid that I was eating to much. This is why I have decided to watch my caloric intake and get on a more stable diet plan that I can focus in on instead of just not eating. No matter how long the plateau lasts, don't give it, It will eventually end and weight lose should kick in again untill the body reaches it's core weight....

Thanks for the reply: Plateaus are a normal part of any weight loss, and even though losing the weight so fast with WLS it does leave us with excess skin. But I want to encourage all who have lost weight, and even though I feel fat when I see the skin hanging in the mirror, I am so glad that I have had the surgery. Over twenty years ago I had lost down to my Goal weight by dieting, I was also young, and following a popular diet program. I found out that there is more to how we see ourselves than just our weight. And it is taxing on the mind with hoping to look a certain way and then when it's near the end, it seems that it is not what we expected. I need to go to the Gym and tone up before the skin removal. It is never good to let the little things that this surgery has experienced to make us mad or hate ourselves. I am so happy with the results of this surgery, and I feel so much better than I did before. I know myself I have to focus in on the positive aspects and outcomes from having this surgery, and deal with the negative outcomes, But to me the positve far outweigh the negative. I have also learned that In order for me to be successful with this weight loss, or any thing concerning well being that I have to like myself for who I am. No matter what has happened plateaus can be depressing if I would let them. I look at my pictures of what I looked like before surgery, I still have all the old clothes that I wore when I wore my 6x shirt, and when I look at these pictures I see me. Heavy or thin I am still the same person, and I want to remember what I looked like at nearly 400 pounds. I never want to forget. I also realized that when I realized that it was alright to like myself, the rest falls in line. I do hate the excess skin, but this is just a temporary obstacle that will be taken care of. I want to applaud everyone for losing the weight, and finding the courage to have this surgery. And Queenbeejo. From what I see of your picture on this post you look great. Don't let these little obstacles make you feel depressed our mad at yourself. It is all a part of dealing with the mental aspects of obesity that keep us looking in the mirror from time to time and seeing ourselves as still fat. It is a nightmare that we have been awakened from. But it can be a memory that also can be beneficial to us, so that we do what it takes in a healthy fashion to not return to being the size we were when we started out on the WLS journey. Keep up the good work, Keep your chin up, be encouraged that you have came this far.

Hi! My bariatric dr. told me to expect to lose for 12-14 months post op. As with nearly everything else, he hit it right on the head. He tells me that I will attain my goal weight, and since he's been right so far, I guess I have no reason to doubt him now. It's just so hard to imagine weighing what I did in high school! The difference, of course, is that even if it does happen, it won't be the same --the awful excess skin. It took me 18 months to get approval for WLS, I dread the thought of how long it may take for plastic surgery! But, I've got medical documentation from February 2005 regarding prescriptions for rashes and oozing under the flap, so that will my biggest defense. But as far as the plateau is concerned, he surprised me when I was prescribed Phentermine again at my appointment last week. He said that the difference this time is that WLS patients using diet pills, keep it off once it's lost (well that WILL be a first!) and he was right, in just a week, I'm already down 5 pounds. So that seems to be the jump start that I need. Just thought I'd share. Julaine