I'M STRUGGLING SO BAD WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS....

I am now 18 months post op and I have lost a total of 146 pounds. Even though I'm really happy with my progress, I still haven't hit my goal. I have stopped losing weight the last couple of months and I'm starting to get so frustrated and depressed about it. I know why I'm not....it;s because I haven't been eating right. I need to really get back on track but I'm struggling so bad. In November I had lost my job, and 2 weeks later, I stopped getting my child support. So for about 6 weeks, I had no income at all, and I couldn't afford my good healthy foods. I had to apply for food assistance and I even had to get food from our local food cupboard, I was eating horribly because I had to eat what I could afford to feed my kids and myself.....hot dogs, hamburger helper, grilled cheese...the list goes on. I'm so thankful to a great friend of mine that invited me out to lunch, and she gave me some protein powders that she didn't care for. That helped me some with getting my protein in.

Anyway, I now have a new job that I love, and I'm slowly getting my life back on track financially and I couldn't be happier...But, I can't seem to get my eating and weight loss back on track. I'm feeling like I'm failing myself and I'm so frustrated. I really want to get to my goal. I'm actually only 1 pound away from my next goal, and only 14 pounds away from my main goal, and I know if I can only get back on track...I can do this!

Any suggestions on how I can get myself back on track????

Lisa,

I am glad that your life is getting back on track. You look terrific. Sometimes we put too much emphasis on a weight loss goal. I look at it this way. It is only a number. You have lost a tremendous amount of weight and I am sure are much healthier. There is a reality that those 14 pounds may never go away. There is also the possibility that they will. Don't let 14 pounds define your success or failure. List the good things that have happened in 18 months. They are worth well more than 14 pounds.

At 18 months, people do tend to struggle with diet. It's that time when the big loss slows or ends. After 18 months people tend to be less vigilant on their diet. You have to now take responsibility to keep on track. It's sort of tough love. You have been through a lot and cared for your family through it. Now it's time for some "me" time. That means that you should not not feel guilty on taking time to get yourself on track and following the correct diet. Easier said than done. Pre-plan and watch what you eat. Think of that end goal of 14 pounds. It will motivate you to get back on track.

Tom

Thank you so much Tom. I read your reply yesterday and it really got me thinking about how far I have come, and about all the things I can do now that I had trouble doing or couldn't do 18 months ago. I started writing everything down and before I knew it, I had a list of 30 things....That really opened my eyes and actually really inspired me! I may not be at my goal, and I may never....But I am still a winner!!!!

It was so nice to see you and Brett at the meeting. It had been so long!

Lisa, Keep up the good work. You may not see it yourself but I see it at support group meetings - You are a much happier person. 30 things is no small list. I also need to tell you that I think you are quite lucky to have Jim come with you as support to the meetings. Things sound like they have turned for you and just keep moving forward. -- Tom

Thank you so much Tom. I am happier. My life has been wonderful lately. Even with the setbacks I have struggled with, I still feel like I have come so far and I'm really happy! Jim has been my biggest supporter. Him and I have had our share of ups and downs, but he has always been by my side supporting me through everything I have gone through. This surgery scared him quite a bit, but after talking to Dr. Dan and going to the support group meetings, he felt more at ease with my choice to have the surgery. I couldn't have made it this far without him....

Great advice from Tom. Getting back into habits that have worked fro you is a great idea. We have  success script that we have to get reacquainted with when we hit the wall. Finding the motivation ids always the challenge.

I think you have been amazing in the face of all of the incredible stress you were under. What a resilient woman you are. I hope you can let yourself off the shame hook, congratulate yourself for the fierce way you attacked this series of challenges and overcame them and recognize your very human stress response. If you are anything like me, I often have a very delayed emotional response to stress. It tends to be after something is handled that  start to fall back into bad habits. You took the first step in interrupting it by reaching out to your WLS family so you are already using the tools that work for you! Nice job chick. Go get 'em!!

Thank you Jill...you are such a sweetheart!

I echo what Tom and Jill said. Great posts.

One thing I've started using recently is MyFitnessPal www.myfitnesspal.com/. Great way for me to track what I'm eating and what I need to eat to reach my daily goals. In the short time I've been using it, I realized I wasn't getting as much protein as I needed. It also pointed out that my hydration level was slowly dropping. So, I made sure to increase that in-take.

Congrats on getting the new job. That's going to go a long way in helping out your financial situation. But, on the food issue, I realize it's hard to get when you're getting stuff from the local food bank. However, I would hope that they do offer the vegetables and salads that would still support your health goals. I'm finding now that I'm eating more salads and less meats. And, beans and nuts are great sources of protein, too.

You're so close to your goal weight and I have no doubt you're going to make it.

Thank you for the idea for tracking my progress and intake of my daily food! My Fitness Pal sounds like it may be very helpful!! *hugs*

HI Lisa, your looking great sweetie.
You went thru a diffcult time in you life and now yours headed back, both finacially and mentally.

With less stress, you should be getting back on track of losing.

 

You looking great.