Need a butt chewin and some ideas

Good evening all, Sorry that I haven't been on lately, life is busy. I've been doing better this week than before, but I think that I need you all for some support, advice and maybe a lecture or two (be kind, please). You see, I have not lost much weight lately. I am down to about 194 now, but have been just inching down the scales for the last 2 months. I think that I've only lost about 6 pounds in almost 2 months. Dang - that feels horrible! Don't want to quit losing now - I'm not at goal yet. During the day, I do fine with my eating and getting in supplements and fluids - especially during the week at work. Yesterday, I even managed to stay out of all of the pot-luck food in the teacher's lounge. I even said "no" to the chex mix two days in a row - and that's my favorite! After school, I run to the gym for 30-40 minutes cardio daily and then lifting every other day. I usually get there 4-6 times a week. Then, when I get home, I have dinner - which is also controlled. The problem times are in the evenings. I eat and eat and eat, it seems. I haven't even been drinking many fluids in the evenings because I am always snacking. I haven't done too badly the past two nights, but still have had a little too much for my comfort. (Not overeating to where I fill my little tummy to the point of throwing up, just grazing all night.) What especially feels bad is that I feel out of control at those times and I really DON'T like That feeling! Please, please, please give me some advice. I need to get back on track and feel like I have better control. Thanks in advance and God bless, Andrea

Andrea Hi You are doing great don't be so hard on yourself. Maybe your weightloss isn't really slowing down instead you are getting more muscle. Do you measure? I have found that to be encouraging due to when the scale isn't moving getting the old tape measure out helps to lift my spirits again. I don't know what your snacking on but as long as your choices are like soy nuts or vegetables or meat you are still in a healthy mode. It is when we snack on the old potato chips etc is where we get into trouble. I have found that I can tolerate popcorn now and I have it every now and then as a special treat. I drink my amplify protein drink from GNC which is filling. I guess I feel your doing great and just keep your head held high and remember your doing it for you! Take care Kim

Kim, Thanks for the encouragement. I certainly hope that the stall in loss is because of gaining muscle, but still the out of control feeling scares me. I am afraid of the old habits coming back. My choices of snacks are somewhat like this - s/f ice cream bar, 1/2 piece s/f fruit tart (kinda like a s/f cheesecake in a pie crust), several oz of "fried cheese" and then a s/f bomb pop - all in one night. I know that those are healthy alternatives, but doesn't it sound like just way too much??? Can't have the chips in the house and stay away from popcorn most of the time because it's also a red light food. Other snacks include 2 cheese sticks and some f/f pretzals or reduced fat wheat thins or ritz crackers, a banana with low carb peanut butter, a part of a protein bar (some of those make me dump), etc. I didn't measure before surgery, but my trainer did measure in the middle of August. I'll have to have her take measurements again. Thanks again for being there and God bless, Andrea

Morning Andrea, No butt chewing from me! Hear it from my dad all the time, he thinks I eat constantly! NOT! Have you gone on the BMI calculator & checked out the scale they have? I use this all the time, it's my bible! I put in my starting weight & go from there. I find myself getting upset but according to the table they have I'm on target in fact about a month ahead of target. If you haven't used it give it a try. It also shows what your weight loss should be by the month. Mine has really slowed down & I get so frustrated then I look at that & see I'm ok yet. Oh, emailed my surgeon about the carbs & he says for me that's unimportant, he's more interested in me getting in my proteins. Every doc is different that's for sure. Have a good weekend! Oh one more thing, I will be with Janet the day of surgery so will post for her when I get home. I know she has to be at the hospital at 7:30 & I'm not sure what time surgery is but will hang out with David. Talk to you later. AND QUIT BEING SO HARD ON YOURSELF!!!!! Big hugs Carolyn

Carolyn, Hey, thanks for the response. I just have been playing around with the BMI calculator. What percentage do you use? If I use 65% as they suggest, I am ahead of the game - even below goal. But, if I use 82%, it gets me to my goal weight for myself - which is 175 pounds. Using that percentage, I am still pretty close to target. I just am so afraid of screwing this up!!! Do you know how long Janet's hospital stay is supposed to be? If it's short, I won't bother sending a card to the hospital, but will try to send something to her home instead. Is the surgery lap or open? Thanks for posting for us. Do you still have my cell phone number? You can always call me on that as well. Thanks for the hugs and uplifting reply. God bless, Andrea

I'm not scolding either, Andrea as I am also in the same boat. Same problem with those scales also. Maybe it's that 11 month stall, what do you think? Since I work evenings, I am limited to what I snack on so the week isn't too bad but weekends kill me. I am trying a new tactic. If I think I'm hungry I drink 8 oz of water first. Oh, darn, now I have to wait a half our or so. Still hungry? Drink again & wait. Now, I figure if I'm hungry the third time, well, maybe it's time to eat something. Popcorn, fruit, or protein & that's all. It's Saturday again, I'll let you know how the weekend goes. Keep your chin up. Stay away from the nasty snacks. By the way, I talked to Barb yesterday. Less than 2 weeks out & what an inspiration! She's cleaning closets, raking, visiting sick friends, and is probably the happiest I have ever heard her. Dixie

Dixie - 11 month stall is right!! And I'm about tired of it! Have you measured yourself? Do you see a change in size? Since I don't see how I am changin anyway, I certainly don't notice inches now. The only way that I know clothes are too big is when someone points it out to me. Anyway, about the snacking - I don't normally eat because I am hungry. I eat just because my head tells me to. I think that I am just now starting to experience some hunger - but it feels different than before surgery. Hope that your weekend goes well. I sat around bored all day today when I really wanted to go shopping, so I grazed instead. Well, not really ALl day, I went to the gym for a 35-40 min. cardio workout and then lifting and abs. Then came home and ate lunch and then started snacking. Later in the evening, I was snacking some more. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I gotta stop!! Glad to hear that Barb is doing so well. I should call her again soon and will probably see her at the support group meeting next week. Thanks for the reply. We will have to struggle through this together! God bless, Andrea

Chew on that cute little butt of yours -- NO WAY!!! I find the evenings to be really hard also. I even had a big snack at midnight last nite -- BAD ME. It's hard to break old habits... I try and at least eat healthy when I'm snacking -- try some cheese or an apple. This week I peeled & chunked up some apples and baked them with Splenda and cinnamon. Warmed up they're satisfying also. I also put a little cool whip free on top to melt in.. Yum. I think we beat ourselves up too badly. I'm 7 mo out and have slowed down soooo much. I weigh within a lbs or two for 3 weeks and then lose 2 lbs. And then the cycle starts over again. I was doing weightlifting and I came to a real standstill. I haven't done any in a couple of weeks and I lost again. You're gaining muscle. I know my pants size keeps going down (especially how they fit in the butt and legs), but are tight in the waist always. That's a problem spot for me. Try and find healthy snacks -- or drink something warm. I got some sugar free cider in packets that not too bad. Having your tummy warm is a satisfying feeling before you go to bed. I like popcorn too, but sometimes it makes me hungrier (I think it's the carbs). I also will brush my teeth because you don't want to dirty them up with food again. Have you tried the Carbwell High Protein Cereal bars from Post? The peanut butter or the cranberry almond are both good and help with the sweet tooth. You're doing great -- just keep plugging along and thanks for being such an inspiration for us all. Janie Lap RNY 4/14/04 272/170/140?

Janie, Hey - have you been talking to my hubby? That's what he says about my butt! I think that I eat at night to try to keep myself awake. There just are not enough hours in my day. However, now I look forward to an evening snack, or two, or........ The snacks are generally healthy and protein first. I'm going to try drinking water or a s/f drink againwhen I think I am hungry, or just get up and go to bed. Haven't really tried brushing my teeth, going to have to give that one a shot as well. Like I told Kim, I am going to request that the trainer measure me again and see if there actually is a difference. If so, I can live with it. My fear is that there won't be much of a difference. We'll see. I know that after today's work-out, I feel like I should have about 10 more pounds of muscle in my upper and lower abs and obliques (?sp? side muscles). The trainer gave me some new exercises that just tore me up!! I'm sure that I will be sore tomorrow. As for being an inspiration - I feel so bad that I have not been around lately enough to greet all of our newcomers and those that are having surgery soon, or are new post ops. I hope that I will be on more often this next few weeks. Thanks again for the reply and encouragement, God bless, Andrea

Andrea, Sorry, all you get from me is a BIG hug of support and applause for doing SO WELL and for being such positive support for us!! No chewing from me, I don't need any more calories! Glad to see you posting, just wi**** was a more positive post! Chin up, hon. Sheila