Break the INSANITY!

Hi Everyone I am wondering if any of you are experiencing what I am now going through-- I am at a TOTAL STANDSTILL now since June 1. I started out on my WL Journey a lightweight weighing in at surgery at 265 lbs at a height of 5'7. I am very frustrated now because I fluctuate between 155 and 153. I am at Dr.'s goal now at 155 and Dr. is comfortable with me staying where I am but I still want to lose about 10 to 15 pounds more. I notice now that some of my old cravings are resurfasing their ugly heads and I try not to give in, but just as before, my vulnerable time is the between 2 and 6 pm. Lately I have been craving dark chocolate and salt. I weigh myself daily only because I do not want to go beyond the 155. I now wear between a size 12 and 14. I am noticing though that even at 155 the size 14 is feeling a bit loose. I thought this was odd because I am not losing any weight. I know I must try to drink more water but at times is very hard. People at work still tell me I look so skinny, even without losing anymore weight. I figured I would ask you all what I can do to break this long plateau of almost 3 months, since alot of you have been there done that. I am going away this weekend for a family wedding out of state so I am hoping that maybe with a change in routine it may be what I need to break the insanity. I even thought of just doing my protein shakes as breakfast and lunch, eating a regular dinner and nothing bu****er in between. What are your thoughts on all this? Thanks for your help! Marianne

First off, fat does NOT weigh much. You can lose inches without losing pounds. Sounds dumb, but it is true. My plateaus last 3 months or more all the time and then *bam* some will disappear. Fasting may or may not help. Your body might think it is starving and fight to hold on to the fat cells, so be careful there. Good luck! You will do just fine!

Hey Marianne, I am 20 months post op and have 'similar' issues. Last year at this time I weighed 145-147, for the majority of the past year I weighed 147-150, well ... for the past month I have been weighing in around the 155 mark. It (the numbers) have triggered all that old eating/food thinking. I too crave dark chocolate & salt, after reading your post I'm wondering if maybe it is a specific vitamin we are lacking. I'm going to look into that. Anyway, I have good eating days (when I make good protein choices and get more water in) and then some days (especially since I vacation alot in the summer) when I am just drinking frozen adult beverages and snacking. Also, I have been 'off' with my exercise routine. I share this with you to let you know that you are not alone and that we do have choices. How we 'behave' has a direct effect on our food/weight issues. I have been experimenting with different behavior changes. Instead of turning to food, looking for other ways of dealing with emotions. (For me, so much of my weight had to do with stuffing down bad feelings). So, I am working on it. I try (I use that word loosely) not to focus on the numbers but in all reality if I don't pay attention to a 5 pound weight gain, 5 will turn into 10 and so on! Surround yourself with support. I have a GREAT group of people around me that keep me in check with what is REALLY going on! Family,friends, physicians, OH messageboards, and OF COURSE my support group girlfriends! They can be my life line! It's all about support you are worth it! Hugs*Kisses, Mary

Me Me ME!!! Ever since my daughter ended school on 6/22. I haven't gone below 206.5 for more than two days. I don't know what to do.

Hi Marianne! I, too, had Dr. Adaniel as my surgeon (I was inspired by a co-worker who had used him the year before for her WLS) and I, too, am pretty much at a stand-still although people keep telling me that I look like I'm melting away... and some of my clothes do feel looser! At 165, I have lost approximately 130 lbs since starting the WLS process, but - except for losing 6 lbs while away on OH's Convention cruise to Alaska - I still haven't been able to get to my personal goal (Judy/Dr. Adaniel thought that I was fine at my last appointment, when I weighed 6 or 7 lbs more than I do now). Sometimes we can just reach a point where our body is either happy at that weight or just waiting (maybe rearranging it's shape, rather than dropping pounds). In the first case we have to up our activity and/or nutrition efforts (but NOT by cutting out protein - which is SO important for pre-ops to take in - so we need those healthy between meal snacks) by being careful of what and how much we're eating. In the second, we may just have to be patient. Our body will budge when it's ready. I don't know about you, but I know I am at least partially to blame for my lack of progress. I know I should exercise (I attribute my 6-lb weight loss while on the cruise to being much more active than I usually am - definitely not to eating less, since that didn't happen), but I don't really. I did join Curves, but haven't really gone much. I also haven't been totally careful about my eating. I should eat more protein. I should drink more water. I should eat less sweets/carbs. But I don't. I know that I would start losing again if I would exercise and get the proper nutrition my body needs. I am trying now to re-confirm my commitment to health. That's why I intend to attend some WLS support groups and become a regular attendee. I can't do it alone. I may also see about going to Dr. Garber's office in New Hyde Park (I live in Nassau County - in Massapequa) since his practice has an in-office nutritionist, a psychologist, and a fitness trainer. I will still go to Dr. Adaniel for my check-ups, etc. But I realize I need more comprehensive after-care, too. I hope we both succeed in breaking our barrier - whatever the cause! Good luck! Oh - I, too, was in the teaching profession. I was a nursery school teacher (of 2-year-olds... including those still in diapers****il June 2001, when I switched to being an administrative assistant for a health care company. ~~Ilene Rachel Lap RNY 06/22/04 296.5/165.0/140-130