My Concerns..... Its a long post!

Hi Everyone, I haven't been online very much lately.... it seems wrong to me to just post when I need something, but I really need some advice and I know you guys can help. Okay, I am 6 months out and I weighed 215 pounds at my 6 month mark. I'm feeling okay about my weight loss but still need to lose another 40-50 pounds. Several people have told me that you lose the most of your weight the 1st 6 months and once you hit the 6 month mark you are pretty much stuck at that weight. I know that I probably shouldn't believe this, but I have hardly lost any weight this month and I'm getting concerned. I know we stall and hit plateaus, etc, but I am honestly freaking out by this. Mostly becuase I've been a little lax about the no snacking between meals rule. I'm not trying to make excuses, but due to post op complications I was so limited in what I could eat that I couldn't get my protein in w/out snacks. I can now eat more, but I am still snacking. It is mainly high protein items like nectar tea, nuts, protein bars, etc. But lately I have been having a few sun chips, trail mix, little stuff like that between meals. This has been weighing heavy on my mind, it really scares me because I know that little things like this can cause me to gain my weight back. I'm so afraid of failing at this....I had a handful of people trying to talk me out of this surgery because they know someone who had it and gained all of their weight back. I've been bound and determined that this wont happen to me and I'll prove them wrong. But I weighed myself this morning and I weigh 6 pounds more than last week. It is time for my monthly but I weigh myself often and I have NEVER seen a gain of more than 3 pounds, even around my monthly. Do you think it is just a fluke or is my body trying to tell me something? Am I being paranoid? Why am I letting my scale dictate my happiness? I think part of it is that my weight is the one area of my life that I have never been able to control. I think I started to get a little control, but now I feel out of control. I'm sorry this is so long and I'm sorry if I sound like I am whining.... I'm just really bothered by this... I was bawling this morning when I saw the scale. Let me know your thoughts, be honest with me, I can take it. Jaimee

i never had a real weight gain, i have had not losing and been where i am now for 5 months, a bite of something should not make any diff one way or the other, i am gonna think water and pms for ya...

Thanks Angie!

Jaimee, I have lost a total of 134 lbs. At my 6 month mark, I was down to 206 lbs. That is a loss of 105 lbs. So, in the last 5 months, I have lost an additional almost 30 lbs. I would not say that you are done losing weight. I would say that it definately does slow down at your 6 month mark. In the last 30 days I have only lost about 8 lbs. I also saw a slight weight gain (approx 3-5lbs) around my period time as well. I will tell you that I do snack on some things that I feel are not the best choice for me, but then again, I'm not going to beat myself up about this. For several reasons... first off, I am only 8 pounds from goal. I feel that I have done a tremendous job and I'm not going to restrict myself from EVER having those little joys in life again. I do snack on MM's (Maybe 5) or some snack mix (about 1 oz or so) and then sometimes, I do have one bite of a cookie or something. But, remember when we were in the beginning... we would eat an entire bag of cookies. four packages of MM's and maybe 1/2 bag of Snack Mix. We have come a long way, baby... and you should feel very good about how well you have done. Do a chart.... a graph. You will see that you are still losing weight. I was very worried just like you about 60 days ago until I made my chart. I didn't realize that, yes, the scales had begun to slow down... but, I had still lost 10 pounds that month. That is a lot of weight. A LOT of weight. I think we all need to relax and not expect different. But, we need to realize that we are NOT going to lose weight like the first month. It's normal. We are going to be okay. You are, too! Do that graph... you will see that you are still losing. Going a week or longer without any lose is not bad. Heck, I think I have gone longer. I just bump up my protein intake, cut out my carbs and increase my milk for a few days. Seems to kick it back into gear again. Plus, I'm really bad about exercising. I know if I did it more often I would have lost all the excess weight by now. Good luck honey... we are all here for ya. Heather 301/167/160(Maybe 150!)

Thanks Heather! You have done incredibly well, your pictures are amazing! I am going to make that chart... I tend to get caught up in small things instead of looking at the big picture. Thanks for the advice! Jaimee

Jaimee, I have my monthly losses posted on my profile....as you can see from that...you still loose weight long after the 6 month mark...I have lost 30 since my one year mark However...I did gain 4 pounds a few weeks ago...so I am back to no snacks between meals and just eating meats and veggies now. I am back down 2 pounds to 150....the 152 was scary. Good luck on your journey

Thanks Deb~ I'm going to check out your profile! Jaimee

I've often said I sort of cringe when someone says how they can't wait to be 'normal' again after surgery. They usually mean it in the sense that they can't wait until they can eat whatever they want and the like. To me, it's just not like that--I'm 'normal' now. But there is one way we do become just as 'normal' as the average person without surgery. At some point, eventually, weight loss becomes a matter of food intake versus exercise. Our body eventually adapts to what we did to it which means that we have to take the bull by the horns and do what 'normally' fit people do. Is it over at six months? Generally not. I've heard about 'easy' loss for a year or more. Personally, it took me 14 months to get to my initial goal (now that I've balanced, I'm losing the last five pounds now). Except for two month long pauses, I lost consistently throughout the period. This isn't intended as a lecture, but even the little snacks add up. A quick handful of peanuts here, a couple of crackers there...it can really put a pause in the weight loss process. All the best, Eric C.

Thanks Eric! I know those little bits there add and I need to stop!! The thought of weighing 365 pounds again makes me feel sick to my stomach. Today I started journaling everything that I put into my mouth, that should be pretty telling. Jaimee

Your fine!!! Been there done that, boutght the Tee shirt :0) It took me 15 months to get it off, however my husband is at goal in only 1 year. I personaly think its a good idea to weigh every day and write it on a calander each day. Your not done loosing!!! You may not be getting enough calories and your body thinks its in starvation mode, and is conserving itself. If you dont eat enough you will plateau mor often and longer. Have you used www.fitday.com you may be supprised you not getting enough calories. My daughter is 1 yar out and thinks shes eating too much, when infact she's not eating enough. She finaly listended to my husband and I and tracked it and sure enough she was only getting under 1000 cal a day. She also gains 3 to 6 # at that time of month too, but it leaves as soon as it comes and goes. You may try eating small amounts every 2 hours, always protien first, then good carbs...veggies, and fruit. I am at goal and my body has stablized itself for the past year and a half. I would like to loose 5 # but my body is quit happy where it is, but I am going to up my protien, and water intake, and exercise more. I hope this has helped and if you have any further concerns were all here to help :0) Rosemary