Call me crazy but.......

Okay, Call me crazy...but....I feel LOST!! I have never seen a nutritionist, and now reading all of these posts, I feel left out!!! Also, I've never been told to drink protein shakes, I've read about it, and i've tried a few ,but I get the protein in other ways, but I'm just confused.....that i've never been told to do those things or see a nutritionist, I feel really really left out!!! Should I be doing those things??? I'm like a chicken with it's head cut off right now, because I was consistently losing weight, and now i'm to a plataue, and I feel soooooo lost!! I know I know, it won't last forever, and it should start back up again, but i'm approaching my 7 month mark, and I haven't really seen the scale move in about 1-2 months. I feel like I'm just done, like it's just going to quit, and that's going to be that!! I know most of you have been there ,so I know that I'm over reacting, but somtimes it just can't be helped. I am about to just throw the scale out the window, that is for sure, I wish I didn't own one! I should have never made that purchase!!! I upped my activity level, and I'm working on upping my water intake, I know I need more then what I'm getting. Any other suggestions??? I really want to break through this plataue!!! Even to see the scale move 2 or 3 lbs would excite me at this point. I started at 305 and am now at 190. so I know that I have done really well thus far, so I should be happy, but I will be happier if the damn scale would move!!!! okay, thanks for letting me get that off of my chest!!! !!

Melanie, First CONGRATS on your 115 pound weigh loss. It does sound like you are at a true plateau if your scale has not moved in 1-2 months! I feel for you. I would talk to your surgeon and ask for some advice ... guidance to get over this hump. I saw a NUT (required by my surgeon) prior to surgery, 3 months, 6 months and again i'll see her at 9 months. YOU are doing great ... your body might be trying to catch up right now. Increase your water - My nut has me up to 140 ounces. I just spoke with her yesterday becauser I feel like my scalke is SLOWING and she upped my water and told me to HANG in there. Are you exercising??? If you aren't - I would suggest that you add that and increase you water intake. I hope you break through soon! There are also plateau Buster diets out there if you think that may help??? Plateau Buster Diet #1 - Do this for 10 days to break a plateau #2 - Drink 2 quarts of water a day #3 - You must have 45 grams of protein supplement and all your vitamins/minerals supplements each day (some suggest at least 60 and up to 80 gr) #4 - You may consume up to 3 oz of the following high protein foods, 5x a day beef pork chicken turkey lamb fish eggs low fat cheese cottage cheese plain yogurt or artificially sweetened (?) peanut butter beans/legumes You may also have: sugar free popsicles tea or coffee sugar free soda sugar free jello broths/bullion crystal light drinks #5 - If it's not on the list, you can't have it for 10 days!!!! #6 - Keep a food diary and try to get up to 30 mins of exercise daily Hang in there and STEP AWAY FROM YOUR SCALE! hugs, Britt

Melanie, I hear the panic in your message and I feel for you. Take a deep breath and let's talk about some simple steps. 1. Track your intake (maybe Fitday.com). Try eating 1000 calories a day. There is no way that you can not lose weight in the long term, especially since we malabsorb some of those calories. 2. Exercise four days a week. I like Britt's plan with 30 minutes of cardio each day, and alternate days for upper body and lower body exercises. 3. Make sure you drink at least 64 ounces of water. 4. Make sure you consume enough protein. My NUT (at time of surgery) said 60 grams per day. The doctor told me to increase it to 100. I totally believe in protein supplements. It's too hard to eat that much protein and if you chose the right ones--they taste great. 5. Log your weight loss. I feel like I am always at a stall but when I charted my loss by taking my weight the first day of every month, I realized that I lost every month. Last month I only lost 4 pounds, but this month I lost 7. Remember that the tortoise wins the race! 6. Read some profiles of people that got to goal weight. There is an underlying thread. In the early days they felt like they stopped losing weight, stalled, or lost too slowly. It's motivating to me to see that they made it even though they felt the same way I do during the early stages. Good luck and keep posting. We will all make it--together. Don't give in to panic and desperation.

Great Advice Wanda! I especially like "5. Log your weight loss. I feel like I am always at a stall but when I charted my loss by taking my weight the first day of every month, I realized that I lost every month. Last month I only lost 4 pounds, but this month I lost" sooooooooo TRUE! hugs, Britt

Melanie, I think we can all relate to what you are feeling. I was a "heavy weight" at time of surgery and I truly expected to lose weight fast and furiously. Well, it didn't happen that way. I am losing but much slower than I expected. I am still at 253 and I feel like I will never get to onederland. Of course I have to remind myself that 78 lbs is 6 months is great. Anyway, I can also feel you on the NUT situation. I had an initial consult with one before my insurance would agree to the surgery but have not spoken to her since then. I say this often but it is true. The diffences in surgeon's protocol are amazing. There is not just one way that works. My surgeon doesn't believe in protein supplements either, some do, some don't. I look at the success stories of people who are at goal and I modify my surgeon's instructions to what has worked for them and what is working for me. If you haven't been using supplements, then add one or two into your daily routine for 10 days and see what happens. You can get a good whey protein powder from Wal Mart and add it to yogurt, milk, soy milk or whatever you like. It doesn't have to be expensive or hard to prepare. Stick to low carb, low fat. Get at least 1000 calories per day and Move to lose at least 30 minutes per day. I suggest staying off of the scale till you are at day 11. Maybe (hopefully) you will be pleasantly surprised at the number on day 11. Good Luck Valorie