NEED WORDS OF GUIDANCE

I'm now 8 months post-op and have lost 80+lbs!!! I'm not doing well with my diet lately. I'm one of those where most foods don't bother me. The only thing I don't eat is any bread. I tolerate sodas (which was my pre-op downfall AND still crave) and light sweats. I've developed new cravings for chocolate (which I never had cravings before) and snacking between meals...which is a no-no. Oh...and I'm off my schedule for water intake. Most days, I do pretty well. Eat & drink my protein, take my vitamins, and exercise 4-5x week...focusing mostly on cardio with alternate days of weight training (trying to tighten up those saggy areas) But I've hit a plateau for weight loss. I was a slow loser anyway...but it WAS coming off. I KNOW I've got to increase my water intake, get off the sodas, and stay away from those between-meal-snacking. I know...I know!! Any words of guidance to help me with the plateau regarding my exercise routine?

Cindy, Sometime we do get off track but the good thing is we can always get back on. I can tell that you know exactly what to do because I just read it in your post. You can do it, you are courageous and smart. I know this because it takes courage and intelligence to decide to take charge and responsibility for your own health and go after wls. That same person is in there today, you just have to allow her to continue now to make smart choices about your health. Decide that you will not be defeated. You are in charge. It's all about choices and you get to make the choices. You did not come this far, having gone through a re-arranging of your anatomy to still do damage to your health and be fat. I find that the fewer carbs I eat the fewer cravings I have and the opposite is true when eating more carbs. Find a support group meeting and go, if one is not available find a good OA meeting, come to the boards everyday and read and talk, so that you stay encouraged, reach out to those that might give you support, keep a journal, go to a therapist. Start doing all the things you mentioned in your post to ensure that you win the fight against obesity. Go back to the basics if you have to. Get all the junk food out of your reach. Do whatever you have to do to be successful. We know that wls is NOT the easy way out it takes real work and compliance. Best wishes my wls sis. Meso

Cindy, I am pre-op so I don't yet know all you are going through. However, my nutritionist reqiures that I keep a food diary. It is surprising to me how much that one little thing alters my eating. I hate having to write down that I have eaten something I shouldn't have or not being able to write down something I should have eaten (enough protein and water, vitamins, fiber). Maybe this would help you (if you're not already doing it). I think you show an amazing amount of courage and willingness to change. You wouldn't have written so candidly about your struggles otherwise. You sound like a winner to me. Cris

A few things to remember - this surgery did NOT alter your thoughts. It only altered your stomach. How you use the "tool" is up to you. With your exercise - what types of cardio are you doing? how long are you staying in you THR zone? (Target heart rate). What type of muscle resistance are you doing? There are plenty of things you can do to shake you body back into loosing weight - but without knowing specifics I can't really offer suggestions. (I am a certified group fitness trainer - but can only offe my "thoughts" on your workout regiment. Heck - I still need assistance is what I do for the workouts I do for me!) I am also one of those people who carbs and sugars don't make me dump. I have to mentally fight the battle every day - sometimes I win - sometimes they win! The one thing I can ask is that you remember that the choice is really yours. Don't beat yourself up for one bad thing....think about the actions and don't let it win each time and eventually it will never win! Let me know if you want further information on your rexercise routine! I can't make us a schedule for you - but I may can offer some suggestions that you can talk to a personal trainer about! Thanks and good luck to you! Dee Dee

All these thoughts and words of encouragement have been great!! Dee Dee...I would love some work-out guidance. I currently do about 50-60 minutes on the ellipitical machine, making sure to alternate programs of endurance and resistance from day-to-day, so my body doesn't get used to one routine. Twice a week, I add machine weight training (2 separate days for upper body and 2 separate days for lower body--alternating days) with the remaining days for just cardio...with a goal of working out 5-6 days a week. Right now, I'm spending time with the exercise ball with stretching after the ellipitical machine and doing working on abs (when not working on upper/lower body). I thought of working with a personal trainer...do you think this would help?