Weight Plateau SUCKS! I need a little motivation/advice

Hi :)  This is asking for advice, and also just a general complaint LOL

I had weight surgery 13 months ago, and have gone from 320 to 223.  I'm very happy with that BUT  have been this weight for 3 months!!  UGH!!

I will say, for the record, I know I am eating too many carbs.  I backslid a little, which also makes me really angry with myself.  It's emotional eating, I know, but I've done so well that I don't want to go backwards now!!

Soooo....#1 if I go back to the eating plan, will that kick start the weight loss again?

#2 I walk, but haven't had a set exercise routine.  I am planning that now.

Any suggestions for when this happens??  I feel somewhat like a failure :(

Thanks!

Christine

Yes. Eating less will start the weight loss back up.

Thank you, I have started logging food again today.

Excellent. I hope you are weighing or measuring your portions. We tend to forget what a serving looks like. You can do this!!

Hi Finallyme2014

You have already taken the hardest step by reaching out to your OH family and asking for help.  Here are some steps I hope will help you. They helped me...  Also, be sure and join the Back On Track Together group link in my signature area.  

Planning/Preparing

Remember when we were preparing for surgery?  How many meetings, classes and such did we attend?  We were told the more prepared we were the better our chances were for success.  And they were right. Go through the house, car and work place and get rid of trigger foods.  Stock up on foods that will keep you on track. I removed every carb/sugar temptation and replaced it with lots of protein, veggies and fruits.  

Journaling

Get back to journaling.  This will help you identify when you feel like eating, stress factors and any triggers in your life.  Once you identify these factors, this will help you put tools in place to keep you from eating.  It became clear I was not taking time for me anymore. I worked my day job and then spent the rest of my time caring for my husband.  It was easy to reach for fast, prepackaged food.  Since I purged my home I have to eat clean as there are no other options LOL

Use a tool to track you're eating and exercise like Getting Started with Health Tracker

Once I started to track ever bite and drink it became clear why I had gained.

Goals/Rewards

Make a list of goals for yourself.  Make them realistic and small.  Some of mine were move more, purge all junk from my home, eat more protein.

Food

In general, a long term post-weight loss surgery eating plan includes foods that are high in protein, and low in fat, fiber, calories, and sugar. Important vitamins and minerals are provided as supplements. (if you had a different surgery adjust this to your food plan)

Water

Water is our Best Friend. I have to say I never went back to pop or any bad drinks, however I was drinking tea like crazy. What is wrong with drinking tea?  I was either using sugar or 3 equals and 3 sweet n lows per 32 ounce glass.  So I was either pushing to be diabetic or get cancer.  I found once I started carrying a bottle of water around 24/7 (yes had one at my bedside) I lost the cravings for the sugar and I KNOW those artificial sweeteners are not good for me. Look I am old and if you add up all the artificial sweeteners I have consumed I am sure I am at the rat in the lab getting cancer threshold

MOVE!

I can't say enough about how key this was for me. The reason I kept my weight off for almost 10 years was no matter what I kept moving.  If I could not go to the gym I would walk. I loved Zumba, bootcamp workouts, lift weights. When I stopped, the weight came on.  So for me I am starting slow to avoid injury by walking and using some of the workouts on my Demand TV.  Find something you love to do and it won't feel like a pain in the *** to do daily.

Support

If it's an option "run" don't walk to a support group.

Keep me posted on how you are doing

Wow what an awesome response!!  :)  Thank you SO MUCH for all of the tips!!  I feel motivated now )  And your sense of humor is hilarious.  I don't know how to request a friend on here, but if you don't mind requesting me, I would like to be friends! 

These really helped me when I was facing stress eating regain.  Let me know if you need "anything"

To add a friend, put your cursor on the avatar and a box will appear with the option to click "add friend"  My request has been sent

Also, I did take your advice and joined the group!!

Approved

Yup, eating less should do the trick. Make sure you're logging EVERYTHING! That'll give you a good picture of where you're at now, and where you need to change.

Make sure to log your walking as well. You can try an app like MapMyRun to keep track of how far you go, and it's a great way to see your progress!