Year out! Pls Help! Confuse and Scared!!!

Hi Everyone. I'm a yr out and have not lost any weight in about 3 months or so. I have lost about 75 pounds to date. I started at 370. I started changing my diet to include more protein. I have joined the gym and got a trainer in the last month. Does anyone have any other suggestions on how to get my weight loss going again. I'm not eating alot, eating heathly. No fast food. Still have night time eating. Any suggestions on how to break this habit. My doctor has given me sleeping pills, but I find myself eating and not knowing it till the next day, when I have crumbs in my bed. I'm also feeling like a failure. Does anyone else feel like this????? Thanks

Hi Stephanie, First off..do NOT beat yourself up. You said it all in your second sentence when you said you had lost 75lbs! Yeah for you, that's terrific! At around the 9-10 month mark my weight loss slowed dramatically and I lost a little between months 11-12. The scale has not moved since the beginning of July for me. I've always been fanatical about getting my protein/supplements/fluid in. The place where I fell somewhat short is I was not consistent with working out. I joined a gym about 7 weeks ago and I've been going regularly. I have been lamenting that the scale hasn't been moving at all. Look at my post from earlier today to see about my NSV/WOW moment from this morning. My advice for you is just to encourage you and to ask you not to be so hard on yourself. You didn't say, but I got the impression that maybe you have not been hitting your daily protein grams. Okay, so you mentioned getting back on track with protein and you mentioned the gym/trainer. These are all good things. I also suggest that you get back to basics with a food journal. Keep track of your daily caloric/protein/carb counts. It may surprise you, but the weight loss may have slowed because you're not eating enough. Or not eating enough protein/eating too many carbs. I don't know what to say about the eating in bed, I gather from what you said this is an unconscious habit. I would take the time to do the food journal (a few weeks of honest journaling) and then you should see your Nutritionist. You may be eating in your sleep due to a deficiency. Have you seen your Dr. and had bloodwork? Is everything okay on that front? Once you see the Nutritionist and Dr to make sure that everything is okay on those two fronts, if you're still struggling, I would suggest seeing a therapist/counselor. We all know as morbidly obese (formerly morbidly obese) individuals that we have a food disorder that requires the same attention that anorexia does. You didn't mention it, but is it possible that the sleeping pill you mentioned has a side affect of hunger? Above all, please don't feel like a failure, you can and will succeed in your fight with obesity! Keep posting and remember we're all in this together. Let us know how you're doing Take Care, Terry

I talked to my doctor a month ago, about the the weight loss. She told me the same thing. I have tried to increase my protein. But I don't think I'm still getting it all in. I do need to keep a journel, this is were I fall short. I have always had a hard time keeping one. Can you give me some suggestions on what you eat to get your protein in?????? I also talked to her about the night eating and not sleeping. She put me on sleeping pills. Which has helped, but now I'm doing it without even knowing it. Thanks for all your kind words. I really needed that today. I guess we all have our up and down days. My clothes are getting bigger and I can feel muscle, just the scale hasn't moved either. I guess it will one day. I just need to keep moving forward. Thanks again for all your kind words and support. I will keep in touch.

Stephanie, I eat protein first and foremost. I know that some have the philosophy that they're not going to do protein shakes or bars, etc...but I feel that I can't eat enough to get the protein in if I just relied on food. My doctor original said I needed to eat at least 50 grams of protein a day (for a woman). There was no special calculation done for specific women. After having the surgery I did some research and found out that your protein grams should be based on your height and your desired goal weight (not your current weight). When I calculated that I found out my protein intake should be at least 90grams a day. I have a protein drink most mornings (every other morning I have kashi hot cereal 9 gr protein with 10 oz milk (10 gr protein) with 4 Tbsp of ground flaxseed (at least 4 gr protein). I usually will finish out my day by drinking a protein drink too. I found one that I really like (it tastes just like instant iced tea) and doesn't have the funky protein smell or taste. It's called Tealicious by Nectar Naturals. It has 23grams of protein per scoop. I add a scoop to 18 or 20 oz of water (otherwise it's strong and sweet) and top it off with ice. Sometimes I have a protein bar (I love the power crunch and I recently discovered the Myoplex bars). The power crunch bars are low in carbs and have 14 or 15 grams protein. Other foods that I eat alot of are: refried beans, other kinds of beans (navy, pinto, great northern, kidney), taco salad made with lean ground beef, low carb wraps with turkey and lettuce, cheese, quesadillas made with cheese and taco meat, crab cakes (broiled), orange roughy (broiled or baked). I have had some trouble with chicken in the past, but lately I haven't had any problems. I try to have a good balance with all my meals. I eat protein first and foremost. Then I'll have a few bites of veggies (simple carbs) and then fruits and white carbs last. Sure, every once in awhile I'll eat something I really shouldn't (like that 1/2 of a small brownie for lunch yesterday), but that's the exception not the rule. Just focus on the protein and the things the doctor told you to do at the beginning and get out there and move and the weight will begin to come off again. One other thing to remember (which I thought of after I posted earlier today) is that we lose weight in stair steps...it's not necessarily a continual thing that is constant. Think about all the changes you've put your body through in this past year. It is just regrouping and catching up. The scale has not moved for me since early July yet I am smaller. Just be patient and diligent and disciplined and you will persevere! Hugs to you Terry

Stephanie. I've found that fitday.com is a fantastic and easy way for me to keep track of what I eat. It's free and online. -Daniel

Did you have the lapband ? Your profile states surgery is pending so i am not sure what to say. I have heard weight loss is slower with the lapband. If you had the RNY- i would also suggest tracking your food and beverage intake religiously for a few weeks---fitday is a good site for it. Your weight loss amount seems lower than average if you had RNY. Some surgeons make the pouch larger and bypass less of the intestine so that may be a contributing factor. Good Luck Karen