Happy Holidays Everyone!

Hi Everyone, I have just been lurking lately, I can't seem to catch up! I'm still stuck on another plateau, but still loosing inches. I'm I the only one that is such a slow looser? I'm 11 mo. out and am still at a 80 lb. loss. I'm not complaining because I'm still loosing inches but now I'm starting to stress about my one year anniversary coming up. I need to excersise more and watch my carbs. I'm having trouble with my hubby bringing stuff into the house that I can't resist. Although I don't gorge myself on it, my trigger time 3pm, I find myself in there have a bite or two. Any advise for me? Thanks, Catherine

Well, I hate hate HATE it when people say this to me but you just look so good! But I know you don't want to hear that, so I'll try not to focus on the "don't worry about it" that I always end up hearing. I did just FINALLY hit 100 lbs loss 2 days ago, but I also started out 50 lbs heavier than you, so if you consider the ratio, you're ahead of my game...probably by the exact amount of time you had your surgery before me. So yes, there are others like you who are slow losers out there. Most people who started out my size lost 100 lbs between 4 and 6 months out. For me it ends up being more like 9 (minus a week). I too have a ton of temptation in this house, but thankfully I dump, so it's not as tempting as it used to be. That and I allow myself things I didn't allow myself when I did Atkins, so I don't feel as deprived. Apples have become my favorite food lately. I can make some suggestions that help work for me when I'm feeling weak if it helps. First, I do allow myself an inbetween meal snack and that would be apples. I tend to eat less when I have my meals that way. Second, I keep the Dannon low-carb yogurt smoothies on hand and will drink one of those when I am feeling weak. They are 70 calories, can't remember the protein but the carbs are low. They are much better than the Carb Countdown ones. I like the berry and strawberry - the peach wasn't my favorite. Anyway, they are heavy and help fill you up. I have a hard time water loading, but I will get the same benefit if I drink one of these or a V8. Problem is they have calories, but at least it's not too much. I also experiment making things that are good substitutes for some of the treats I like, or at least something I can enjoy instead of the cookies my DH brings home. Some are a bust like the sugar free custard pie I made for Thanksgiving that tasted like Eggnog. I just couldn't get it sweet enough with the Splenda. Others are REALLY yummy, like when I mix a tablespoon or two of peanut butter in with a tub of fat free Philly cream cheese and add Splenda. I spread it on thin corn cakes (like rice cakes but half the thickness) and WOW what a treat. It's like peanut butter cheesecake. I think the key is looking for alternatives to the goodies, and to fill up on stuff before your weak time hits. The other thought I just had was that maybe you should plan to run an errand or take a drive in the afternoon when you know your weak time is. Keeping occupied sometimes is the best way to avoid bad things. Good luck - let us know how it goes! Dina

Hi Catherine, Eighty pounds is terrific - you are looking wonderful! I understand that a plateau, slow rate of loss, and stressing about progess at that one year milestone are frustrating feelings, not a lack of grattitude for the huge progress you have made. This is the place to come with those feelings, because believe me...we can relate! I get scared at the slowing down of loss, and worrying that maybe I am done!?! I try to think of how doable the remaining pounds are, compared to if I had to try to pull off a hundred plus pound loss on my own. We may not get the help we did in those early months, when we could hardly do any wrong, but the surgery is still there, pulling us toward success. At least at your new weight you CAN exercise, and have some experience in successful eating to draw on. I am finding the best defense is a good offense. I started getting all freaked out about how much I could comfortably eat at a meal. I have noticed that if I allow myself to eat what in my mind is "too much" at my meal, I am WAY more immune to that carb snack when Dr. Phil comes on at 3:00. Also, after my high protein meal, if I allow myself a small treat like maybe two oreos (150 calories) I think it goes a long ways towards keeping me from suddenly making a bigger transgression, because I was feeling deprived. I try to keep a bit of allowed treats in my planned eating, and keep myself really full of the "good" foods that prevent the grazing. On days that I don't eat that full meal, I find myself feeling true hunger between meals, with less than perfect decisions to answer the tummy growl. I have three kids, and am constantly exposed to all of the things one shouldn't eat. Not that my kids should eat them either, but with an active family it is part of it. A stop at McDonalds, fresh cooked donuts at the X-mas tree farm, baking cookies, etc. I do not always make the right choices, but I do a heck of a lot of the time! Slow and steady, we will win the race. Patty

Catherine, You look terrific! If 3pm is your "trigger" time....do what the others suggested. Find a healthier alternative than what hubby has around. Something that you like, that fills you up and that you can consider a treat. I like to just have some yogurt or cottage cheese w/fruit stirred into it. Good luck and hang in there! Michele