I feel like a complete failure!

Okay guys!! I'm having some issues here. I am 8 months post op now, and I'm down 125. I've been pretty much stuck within the past 10 pounds for about 4 months now. I can't seem to get anywhere, I fluctuate. I started at 305 and I'm now down to 185. I wanted to get down to 150 before my one year post op anniversary. I know that it sounds like I've lost a lot, and some of you are probably thinking she should be happy. but I'm not happy, and granit I may never be 100% happy, but the problem I am having, is that I am not really losing anymore. I know everyone hits plateaus, but do they normally last this long??? I feel like I'm a failure!! I feel like I'm not eating well enough, I feel like I'm not getting enough excercise. I have got to be doing something wrong!!! I was losing TONS of weight, REALLY quickly, then I had to have my gall bladder taken out, and since then I haven't been able to really lose anything at all!! Could this be related to that?? I just don't know anymore!! All I know is that I feel like a complete failure, and I wish I could just see the scale move!! I knew it was going to start slowing down, but this is ridiculous. Is there any good diets to help me move over this hump? Any advice would be wonderful at this point. Also, Does anyone ever just have pains in there abdominal area? This is kind of an embarrasing question, but we are all adults here and this is part of nature. Whenever I have to have a bowel movement I have horrible pains in my abdomen, I am talking HORRIBLE, like brings me to tears, can't hardly move, want to pass out pain. And I'm not constipated. I could have a Bowel movement every other day and still have these pains, even every day, I still have these pains, I have them any time I have to have a bowel movement. Can any body relate?? I know that we are all going through similar things ,but does anyone ever feel alone? I feel like no one really understands me!! If I talk to anybody that hasn't had GBS, and I say that I am unhappy that I am not losing any more weight, and I feel like a failure, they all just tell me that I'm full of it and that i've lost so much already that I shouldn't be comlaining and things like that! well I know I've lost a lot, and I am very very thankful that I had the surgery! but I just don't want to be a failure!!! I don't want to be one of those people that wasn't a "successful surgery" I don't know, please help!! Please share some advice!!

Hi Melanie!!! YOU my dear are NOT a failure by any means. THINK ABOUT IT ...8 months ago you weighed 305 pounds and now you are in ONEderland weighing 185!!! That is an amazing 125 pounds!!!! Plateaus stink - I agree and so will the many - many others that have 'be there'! You have said ... " I feel like I'm not eating well enough, I feel like I'm not getting enough excercise." I think YOU answered your own question about how to get over this hump. Thik about what you want - HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT? Go for it! get back on track - eat right and exercise!!!! In the begining its 90 % the surgery and 10% us ... then 'reality' sets in and WE have to work to get to goal and stay there!!! YOU CAN DO IT~ Refocus and know that you are NOT a failure!!!! hugs, Britt

Melanie, I know how you feel... I feel kind of the same way.. I have been stuck for so long that I feel like I am not going to lose anymore.... I am stuck at 189 - 192 and just not happy with that. I have to put on the happy face for my mom and sister though because they seem to think I have lost enough and should stop losing. You are right about them not understanding... I do however think Britt answered your question very well and it really got to me as well..... I know I don't eat like I should and I don't exercise at all except for my daily activities with my kids.... We both need to do the same thing here.... Many people think we should be happy at being in onederland and at losing over 100 pounds, but I know how you feel. I just won't be happy until I get to at least 160.... Then it will be time to start planning plastics... LOL.... We will get though this and be better for it.... Your honesty is what will get you though... I wish I could be as honest as you were here today... (although I am with my hubby). Good luck with breaking this plateau.... I hope we both can do it.... It sure does such after seeing the scale move so quickly to have it stuck for so long... Keep your chin up and you will get there! HUGS, Shawn M.

Melanie, I know exactly how you feel. Well maybe not exactly...but you know ;) I went from 264 the day of surgery to 160 in the first almost 6 months. Now here is my problem. I hit 163 and then not only did I stall....I gained 5 pounds in 3 weeks. Everyone thout I was crazy but I freaked out, big time. I no longer cared how far I had come (I started my journey at 278), all I cared about was that the scale was moving in the wrong direction. I had to take out almost all carbs again and drop my calories back down to under 800 a day before I started losing again. The in a week I got down to 160. What happened then? I started gaining again....this time after the first 2 pounds I put my plan into action, instead of waiting until I was going crazy again. I'm finally back down to 160 again, but I can only hope that I will go lower and not gain. I am so close to my goal (15 lbs.) that I'm afraid of stopping here, even though I thought I would be thrilled to be this low. I'm not though, I want to hit the single digit clothes, even an 8 would be amazing...and I'm almost there. I know I can do it, but there are days when I feel like I am failing. This will pass for you and hopefully one day for me too, lol. Keep you head up go back to basics if you need to, measure everything count the calories, carbs, and sodium. The sodium has a big effect on me personally, if I get too much then the weight stays on instead of coming off. And make sure you are getting your protein in also. Raven

Ummm...do not wait another day in getting the "wanting to pass out in pain during a bowel movement" thing checked out. There is no way that could be normal! I'm not a doctor or a nurse but I immediately think of perforated bowel. As far as your other issues, I echo what the others have said. You can do this. You've done really well so far and you will succeed. I'm wishing you well. Keep us informed.

I just wanted to pop in and let you know that you could have a proble, with your bowel twisting. Then the pressure of the stool moving through pushes it open and causes pain. Do not wait, Check this out with your doctor. I had a partial obstruction years ago after my hysterectomy. The pain would come and go, but when it hit it was baaaad. It was also hard for them to diagnois because buy the time I arrived and was seen in ER the pain had gone away. Nancy