Feeling so defeated :(

Ill start by saying that for almost a  year I have let my band do all of the work in my life and have done very little to actively participate in weightloss. I gained 11lbs over the year but have been very happy otherwise where I am. Of course I havent been able to eat much in the way of breads, and starchy foods and eat smaller portions but I know I am taking in calories in other ways. So when I had to be unfilled a month ago because of an ulcer I got really scared and went straight to Weigh****chers and started to do a LOT of exercise.

I have never exercised as much as I have the last month. I started at around 1.5 miles per day 5 days per week and am now walking 3.5 miles per day 5 days a week at a faster pace and at an incline. But I am not losing. I mean Ive lost a few lbs over the month but today at my weigh-in I was up .2lbs. I felt so retarded that I cried but I have been working so hard and it feels like its all for nothing. I dont know how to stay motivated I know I wont be able to start fills again for at least another month and then it will take probably another 2 more months beyond that to reach restriction. I feel like I did prior to getting my lapband all over again. To work work work and get nowhere is so defeating. Sure I'm glad to not be gaining, but this is so hard on me physically and mentally. Has anyone else gone through this? :(

With the exercise that you are doing, are you making sure that you are eating enough good food??

I feel like I am eating plenty. I am staying on plan with Weigh****chers, I am certainly not depriving myself just making smarter choices. They give me 29points per day (based on protein, fat, fiber & carbs) plus 49 extra rollover points for the week and the option to eat the points earned through exercise. Well I am only eating about 1/2 of my rollover points and none of my exercise points but  since fruit is Free (no points have to be counted here) I have been eating a lot of fruit to curb cravings and stay away from other carbs like bread and potatoes. Although I realize fruit is also high in carbs it isnt a problem for other members who stay on plan and I'm not abusing it or anything so I think I am good. I can't imagine I'm not eating enough but maybe that comes from having a lap band for so long and feeling like I am eating so much right now. I know I am taking in less calories then even when I had excellent restriction, but I am for sure eating well.

Hi Sarah!
Sarah, you are 169 pounds. 169 POUNDS!!
you are awesome and don't forget it! you've done great girl!!

Thank you! I am only 5'3  so I am still bordering on obese if you can believe it and won't be in the Normal BMI zone until I lose another 27lbs and that only just puts me in the normal :( I know I dont need to get to 120lbs because that would just never happen, but I cant help but want to make it to a "normal" bmi.

Besides eating enough you have to remember that muscle weighs more than fat and is more dense, so you may gain weight but you are also gaining muscle. Could also be fluid retention, that can fluctuate by several pounds a day. Be nicer to yourself and give your self credit for working hard. Think how well you should lose after you get restriction back AND have developed a good exercise habit. Hang in there this us just a bump in the road.

Thank you! I keep chanting in my head that I am doin and that really should be what matters, butg all this work to keep from gaining and for the most part I am doing that. I cant help but want more when I am working so hard. Oh and I know that today I was retaining water but the meetings are at 9am and I usually don't have the best results with weigh ins until mid day when I can pee some of it out, lol Still though I don't think the water rention did nothing more than skew my results by maybe a 1/2 lb which is still pathetic, but again, if I can just keep from gaining I should be happy, its just hard to stay motivated with results like these.

Oh boy, do I hear you! I had my band out over 5 years ago and have been working out since. Not only have I not LOST, I've regained almost all the weight I lost while banded.

I work out for hours, literally, to no avail. I still eat too much and my metabolism is screwed up from when I was banded. (I couldn't eat solid foods when I had my band and became malnourished.) I think my body just wants to hold on to every pound in case I starve it again or something.

I think you may be putting too much stock in what the scale reads, however. When you work out, you gain lean mass in the form of muscle. Your weight might not change that much (or even increase) but you're building muscle, so your body is changing.

I keep telling myself that at least I'm getting the health benefits of working out, even if I'm not losing pounds. Unfortunately, I have a hiatal hernia right now and can't even work out at the pace I'm used to. It kind of feels like I have all these things going against me and it's frustrating, so I understand what you're talking about!

I am trying to remind myself that each time I step on my treadmill might help reduce the flab on my thighs and tummy even if I dont lose. I think thats the only thing that kep me on my treadmill this week with such pathetic results last week. Thanks for the reminder and motivation I will keep chanting it this week too so that I wont just give up.