Hello Everyone!!! (update)

I feel like I have been away forever. It's good to get back on and see how everyone is doing... especially that I am not the only one who's been having trysts with the carb monster! I am still making my Dr's goal of 10 lbs a month, but boy am I scared that I am not going to get these last 55 lbs off. It feels like I can eat so much, and some days I just want to eat ALL DAY! Where I am off track: I drink when I eat, I always have since the beginning and it doesn't seem to make me any more or less hungry either way cause I have tried, but I know I'm not supposed to. I eat too many snack foods, I usually have about a bag or box of one snack or another over a weeks period. This last week I managed a whole big bag of pretzels over 7 days (yikes). I have been choosing more pasta dishes. I still get them with meat and eat the meat first, but I sure feel like I am allowing a lot of carbs. I also have added low carb bread, but I have about one slice with a source of protein a week (say a half grilled cheese, or a hot dog on the low carb bread instead of a bun. okay... so did I say CARBS!!!!!! I haven't been taking my calcium and have only been getting in enough water about 70% of the time. Where I am on track: I am still going to the gym- only 2 times a wee****il my summer classes are over, but better than not at all. I will add back the 3rd (maybe 4th) day in the fall. I still do not have any sweet foods in the house. I have had b-day cake 2 times since surgery and wedding cake 2 times, but in small portions. I got sick from a few too many bites of the b-day cake so at the last wedding it was two small bites. I save it for special occasions. I have not had any candy- sugar free or not, any real ice cream, and keep it all away from the house. I do take my prenatal vitamin and I try to get my protein in from food and not supplements, although lately all this carb eating has curbed my protein intake. So I'm still in the game, but a little afraid the carbs are gonna strike me out. Im now at 244 (don't remember what I was at when I was around before) and so down a total of 116 at 7 mos out. I still have the pain when I eat (usually denser foods cause it which doesnt help me to eat more protein and less carbs) but it is getting better and I am so done getting tested so it better work itself out!!! Aside from that just insanely busy with the kids and their classes and my summer schedule at schoo- who's idea was it to take anatomy and physiology in a shortened semester on top of two other classes? oy ya MINE ... BAD IDEA, but I'm trying. I hope to have a social life agin by the end of August. So good to see how you all are doing and what fun summers everyone seems to be having!!!!! Shawna 360/244/190

Hello Shawna, Glad to see you back! You are still losing more weight/faster than I am 10 pounds a month has been history for me since about month 4! I try to keep away from the carbs as much as possible because they cause me to crave. When that happens, I get those eat everything in sight days and NEED food all the time! If you can just break one day of carbs, you can break your cycle of eating. Take a day and plan out your meals for the day. Make them the night before so they will not take alot of preparation as that tends to make us grab something easier to eat and usually loaded in carbs. Have everything ready, like cottage cheese, that usually fills me up for a while and I don't crave afterwards even though I crunch up a couple of fat free pringles sour cream and onion chips into it for texture. You know what you like and what is good for you to eat. So plan out a day and see if that does not break the cycle. I'd be thrilled with your weight loss! Maybe I should start eating more junk! Might help me lose more! Watermelon is a great snack for me...I keep a bowl of seedless in the fridge cut up so I can just grab a chunk if I need something during the day, plus you get in your water!!! Hang in there, you are doing GREAT!!!! You will lose the weight!!!! Tracy

I love watermelon too, but I eat it literally all day when I have it around. Guess thats better than eating pretzels all day lol. Im going to try and go carb free for at least a day- that's a good idea. I also started fit day again today just to see where I am at. I am done eating for today cause I am already at 1300 calories

i totally gave in to the carb monster..... and i don't care! I manage to get in my protein most of the time but not my water....yes bad me but I don't feel guilty about eating my carbs considering how much less of them i eat now! i am making better choices overall.....so I not going to punish myself. I feel NORMAL It sounds like your calories might be too high though.....so even if you are eating carbs....keep the calories down. maybe try to stay at or under 1000 calories UNLESS your doctor has higher limits at this point in the weight loss process. DO you eat items that make you feel full for a while? I know that keeps me from having my afternoon snack! My soy (boca burger crumbles) hamburger helper makes me feel full for HOURS on end. YES it has carbs and lots of sodium....but high in protein! so I am happy -- I get the pasta I crave and a healthy protein at the same time and I can't eat much more than 1/2C- 3/4C. I switched to BAKED Cool Ranch Doritos to save on calories. I still snack but I portion out the exact amount and when it is gone--NO more. I count out the # of chips or pretzels and then close the bag and put it away. THEN that is all I am allowed. SO I don't deny myself the snack but I limit the amt and therefore the calories...usually by then I am satisfied. I know you say you don't feel any different whether you drink with your meals or not BUT from what i have read it keeps your body from getting the maximum absorption of nutrients....SO for that reason you should avoid it. I sometimes take a few sips IF I get too dry feeling but try to avoid large amounts. AND you should feel fuller longer by not washing out your pouch sooner. GOOD luck and congrats no your success so far!!! I know how hard it is with school and everything....I finish Summer School JULY 26th...then start FULL TIME clinicals August 23. I hope the hospital rotations (on my feet and moving around) help my WEIGHT LOSS instead of this DESK JOB.