trying not to panic!!!

Have reached a plateau and am extremely frustrated!! The scale isn't moveing and I find myself hungry!!!! a lot!!! I am afraid of stretching my pouch and know all those things I am suppose to do but have fallen back on old, negative habits! I need a kick in the pants - even if they are smaller and I am only 20 lbs away from my goal weight! I do not want to regain any more weight and want so very hard to lose the rest! I know its a continuing battle - I need some support!

i to am feeling the same frustration. its so so hard. I really thought I would never feel like this again. the hunger is driving me nuts. I have been thinking about taking something to curve the hunger, if we could be help to one another e mail me any time stay srong

thanks for the response!!! I think writing it out last eve helped me a little - the being honest theme and owning it. I would like the e-mail connection. That would be helpful I am sure. I will be going to North Carolina for a family wedding this next week but when I return - will reconnect. I may have use of a computer there but not sure. Thanks!! If I am honest in saying my fears - I hope in turn to help others - sooo lets try it out!! iI know today lots and lots of water helped!!! - and I gotta get back into exercising - my work sccchedule isn't permitting me much time for that - maybe the time away for the wedding will get me jump strarted - keep in touch... Valerie (Cote)

Me too! You know at my support group they say that the WLS was a tool to help us get to our goal, that WLS itself will NOT get us to our goal but only serve as a tool to help us get there. That being said, I did hope like mad that simply WLS itself and the rules that come with it would get me where I wanted to be. Every day is a HUGE struggle for me to stay out of the kitchen, especially at night. I find old habits creeping back. I think of myslef now as a "normal" person who has the urge to eat and snack and gain weight. I think so this is what it feels like to be "normal" ie: struggling like the rest of the world to maintain and/or lose weight. I gained 5 lbs back after reaching my goal weight and boy was that a wake up call! So I am slowily trying to be better behaved. A few tricks that help me are: 1- stick to a schedule of when to eat, allow for 3 square meals and 3 snacks 2- drink a lot throughout the day (I got bored with water so I have a variety of crystal light as well as mixing cranberry juice with my water 3- exercise EVERY day! (I do jazzercise for 1 hour each day) and my final trick: Stay busy! (Hence why I am on the computer now Hope this helps- I find the struggles so hard too! Celeste 303/155

and I'm right there with you all. I have gained 5 to 8 lbs back. The scale keeps floating. I hate it. I find myself snacking especially at night. I eat; I feel full; but not satisfied. Then I find myself in the kitchen looking for something satisfing. A friend is planning to have surgery next month. She is stuggling with a lot of the pre-surgery questions. I find that talking to her helps me. Talking about the eating do's and don'ts; drinking water; (or crystal lite); helps remind me that as mentioned above this is just a tool. Diet and exercise are critical to success. Coming to this site is also a help. Trouble is we all seem to be busy with our new lives and we don't post very often. Old habits die hard; but we all did this to get healthy. Look at where we are now compared to a couple of years ago. Are we more healthy? Are we in better shape? We can do it. We can all pull together and help one another; and change our eating habits. Hang in there. We can maintain. We all want to stay healthy. all the best. mark g.

Hi Valerie You still have the tool.!!! You have lost a lot of weight and I am sure that by upping your protien and lowering your carbs, that you can reach your goal. Maybe you can do what I did. I got a very physically demanding job, and now I have trouble keeping the weight on. I feel like I hardly have time to eat at work, and you should see how nice my arms look!!! I am getting BUFF!!!!! ((((((HUGS)))))) Dawn