Need help and encouragement!

Hey y'all! I am struggling and not losing AGAIN this week. WHY??? My mind can not wrap itself around this whole starvation mode thing. I just don't see how I can NOT lose weight eating what I am (not) eating. So now, given that I don't know what else to do, I have determined to start increasing my caloric and protein intake. My daily averages are about 300 cals and a very unimpressive 20 gms of protein. Side note: I am exhausted all the time. I feel far more out of shape than I am. Example: I was scrubbing the counter tops yesterday and (really!) I found myself OUT of BREATH!! That, ladies and gentlemen, is ridiculous! My profound lack of energy leaves me breathless frequently. It's pathetic. I only manage to walk or exercise 3 times a week. I know I need to do more, but (really, really) I *don't* have it in me. Yesterday, I started by adding one protein shake - made with NF milk - to my diet. This added about 200 cals and upped my protein total to about 49 gms (do you hear the roar of the crowds??) My goal is 50+ gms a day. Reasonable? I am nervous that the extra calories will work against me. DrW told me stay between 300 and 500. Any input, advice, sample diets, and encouragement would be greatly appreciated. I'm not confident at all. I am disappointed with my WL this last week. I am disappointed with my exercise. I feel fairly unsure of myself. You all are great! Thanks muchly!!!!! Nan

Nan, you are doing fine girl! Everyone's bodies are different and everyone loses and gains at different rates. Maybe you do need more caloric intake, and it sounds like you are on the right track to do that. You are not eating junk, you are increasing it with "good" stuff. I wish I was further postop and had more advice, but, you are ahead of me in that realm. All I know is you are doing great, keep up the good work, and keep your chin up. The weight WILL come off...it all just takes time. Remember, it did not take you 2 months to become the weight you once were, and therefore, its going to take time to get the weight off. Now, save this little doo ditty I just wrote for when I am in a slump, and paste it back to me *grin* Always, Laura

Thank you sooo much, Laura! I will be sure to post a similar encouragement and reminder for you --- but I hope that you won't need it! How are you? How's your recovery and WL?? Nan

Nan, My recovery is going well. I have lost 16 pounds to date, so I think that is fairly "normal". I am having a HECK OF A TIME with the protein. It's not really that I do not like it, its that I seem to have a minor bout of "dumping" each time I drink it. It just literally makes me feel ill all over. I have cut clear down to taking about 14 grams at a time in 2 ounces of water. I am doing this twice a day now, and hopefully will be able to build up to more soon. It is a little scary knowing that this is the stuff that keeps you alive and you can't tolerate it. Hopefully I will get used to it, though. Other than that, life is good. I just want to be able to eat REAL FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's amazing how things I do not even like look good. LOL November 5 I get to go back to eating soft foods, so its not that much longer. I hope you have a great day!!!!!! Laura

You sound like you are doing great. Some protein's didn't sit well with me in the beginning. It's better now! Try things again in a week. I don't get regular foods again until the 11th of Nov! :| I push the term "liquid" to the very edge. (bad, I know.) I do listen closely to my body tho. Have a great day!!!!

Good Morning Nancy, Sometimes it gets hard but remember that you got the surgery for a reason and that was to make you feel better, and I know right now you don't, but please believe in yourself, maybe some extra vitamins??? I am unsure because I have not had my surgery, I am in hopes of getting one. Don't be too hard on yourself ok! SMILE!!! and know someone is thinking about you today! hey that's ME

Thanks sooooo much, Pomai!! Your encouragement really soea make me feel better. It's easy to get lost in the few days of the week and lose track of the big picture. How are things progressing for you? Have you gone to DrW's orietation yet?

Hi, Nancy, Of course, being pre-op, I can't answer with any authority. However, I've been reading a little lately on the post-op board, and there is some information that if you aren't eating enough, the weight loss slows down. Also, frequent scale checking is NOT recommended -- but I check my scale every morning, and I don't know why I would want to stop doing that -- especially when it starts going down. Also, you may want to check out the Nutrition forum, if you haven't already. Under protein powder and protein drinks, it has reviews of products that people have tried. One protein powder "Isopure" has many positive reviews -- it also is listed several times in various flavors, etc. Apparently it provides a significant amount of protein in one serving. Hope this helps! Take care, Susan

Thanks, soooo much, Susan! That's a good idea -- I didn't think about that board. I will look into new products. I think it'd be good to learn to deal with the scale... not let it get my goat, but let it direct my choices. It feels backward to eat more to lose, but this whole journey is weird in many ways! Thanks so much! Nan

Nancy, it kills me to see you discouraged. I looked at your profile to find your weight loss patern and think your doing great. (BTW, I wish my profile looked that good. I like the links to the interesting parts that you have at the top to make it easier. I wish you would tell me how to do that.) Some weeks are just going to be better than others. Don't let one or two slow weeks worry you so much. Have you looked at my weights? Pre-op_____256______________ Week 1_____248___(8 pound loss) Week 2_____239__(17 pound loss) Week 3_____230__(26 pound loss) Week 4_____227__(29 pound loss) Week 5_____225__(31 pound loss) Week 6_____217__(39 pound loss) Week 7_____212__(44 pound loss) Week 8_____208__(48 pound loss) Week 9_____204__(52 pound loss) Week 10____200__(56 pound loss) Week 11____196__(60 pound loss) Week 12____192__(64 pound loss) Early on I had two really bad weeks. Then things have been steady. Sure I would like to be burning up the scale, but I just remember that in the long run things are going to be right. But, I have to admit that week when I thought I was going to make it to the 100s and didn't almost drove me over the edge. I had no idea how many calories Dr. W wanted us to have in a day. But, he did tell me last week that at least with a stricture, I couldn't over eat when I told him that I was having trouble getting over 200 cals a day. Some guy was in there at the time complaining that he was shooting for 1000 a day but couldn't get over 500. I almost kicked him. If you want some advice, I think your doing great by increasing your calories and protein. One of the diets that I was on and did work had a free day once a week where we could eat anything we wanted. (I really miss that. ) The theory was that the free day shook up the system and your metabolism worked better for you. Eatting more will do that for you. The other thing that is commonly recommended is to increase or change your exercise program. If you have been doing the same things for exercise for the past 4 weeks, then it is probably time to try something else. Email me if you want to see me. I have a before and after photo that shows that even slow loss works. Please don't let the scale stress you out. Oh, and have you been taking measuements? I bet even is the scale doesn't show it, your body is still gettting smaller. Oh I wish I could give you a hug. How about a sisterly kiss. ~~Hat~~