The six months blues ...

I am two weeks away from my 6-month anniversary. And while I am happy with my progress, down 135 lbs, I still have another hundred to go to get to my target. Through this adventure, I have learned to appreciate the higher levels of mobility I have now, and I am good about avoid bad foods, i.e. sugars, chocolate, sodas, fried foods, etc., but I am still dealing with portion control, my true long standing problem.

I am fine with eating a balanced meal, and getting enough of my protein and water in, but when it come to the point where I should focus on having 5 daily 250-calorie meals, I still find it hard to eat only half a can of the chunky beef vegetable soup, or only half of a toasted a bagel, or half an apple.

I know it’s a problem, and I know I should try to avoid making those bad choices, by not putting myself in the position to repeatedly have the opportunity over size my portions, but I have this personal issue with throwing away a half of a bagel or apple, or splitting the can of soup between my bowl and a storage container for later.

I fell like I should internally chant a mantra to myself, “half is better than being full sized again” or some other mental exercise. But I struggle with this issue multiple times a day, occasionally winning, but based on my recent 3-week plateau in loosing weight, not as often as I should. I have a great tool if only I could focus on using it each day.  Perhaps feeling more “normal” in size and mobility, I am forgetting that I still have issues to deal with mentally and physically for the long run. Thanks for listening, Herb

135 pounds down in 6 months!  You are obviously doing something right, Herb!  Your plateau may be no fault of your own, it may just be that your body is adjusting.  Don't let yourself get off track because of it.  I haven't hit one yet, and I'm hoping that everyone will tell me the same thing when I do! Portion control is a problem for everyone in this country right now, fat or thin or in between.  I think you need to completely get over the idea of wasting food.  It's a much bigger waste with much worse consequences to eat what you don't really need than to throw it away.   I  also suggest eating only while sitting down, no TV, no books, focusing on the way the food tastes, chewing every bit throroughly, stopping for a few minutes BEFORE you feel full to give your pouch a chance to tell you it's full. Just keep reminding yourself that these are the necessary paybacks for enjoying your new body and better health.  It's your first springtime being thinner, so get out there and do some things that remind you how nice it is not to carry that extra 135 around!!! Good luck and keep us posted on how it's going. Ken

Hey Herb - congrats on the awesome weight loss.   I am only 4 weeks out, but I live alone, and have already had issues with throwing food away. I'm starting on more foods this week (ground beef/turkey, fish, chicken), and I am planning on doing some cooking this weekend, and freezing everything in individual portion sized containers.  That way, when I need a meal, I can microwave the container, and stop eating when it's done.   Portion control has always been an issue for me too - and, I still hear my mother telling me to finish everything on my plate!!!!!!  So, I figure if I have everything in small containers, then it might be easier to stop when I need to. Bagles also Freeze well.   You could put half a bagel in individual freezer bags, so when you pull one out, you can toss the half in the toaster and you're good to go. Continued success on your amazing weight loss - and, best of luck in tackling that damn portion issue.  Chuck

Hello My southern brother... seems like you are doing great...I think now is the time to kick the cardio into high gear....start off slow, if you have not already, and work it....now that you are down 100, you would be supried at what you can do....you know that downward spiral to obesity....the spiral goes up too...and the cardio really helps... keep in touch Russ

Herb, You've already done amazingly well, so keep that in mind as best you can. It tells you that you've got the tools needed to do well. As fr the frustration with eating small portions, see if your doc or nutritionist will okay switching to 3 or 4 slightly larger meals for a few weeks. Also, they tell us up here in Nor. Cal. that a plateau is 4 full weeks with zero weight loss. I'm not sure that makes a 3 week stall any easier to bear, but it might. The other thing they tell us to use our "weapon" = WEPN = Water; Exercise 5 days a week at least; Protein; No snacking. Our nurse tells us that upping the water can often trigger weight loss during a stall. Hope your spirits catch up with your body soon.

Hey guys,  I'm 6 months out too and been through the throwing food out issue. Guess what, those darn plastic containers allow us to keep the uneaten portion for another meal. It is incredible but it works.  I don't meant to sound sarcastic, I'm not trying to be, but it was a personal hurdle for me to not eat the whole thing too.  The real deal is not matter where I am in my portion.  If the stomach says full,...I'd better stop. Close the container and wait a while.  I can finish the rest at the next meal or tommorrow. Now if I'm at work or otherwise away from home, there is the issue of tossing the leftovers or getting a carry-out container, depending on if there is anywahere to take the carry-out container too.  Otherwise, its trash and yes,..that still kills my soul but better in the trash than the ole head in the toilet.  Selective ordering and kids or senior meals sizes help.  My WLS office issued us Forever Thin business cards that expalin we are WLS patients and cannot eat average portions and would apprecaite approval for kids/seniors portion sized menu items.  It helps,...when I use it. Off my soap box now.  Hope it helps.  I'm stuck on my thrid plateau in 4 months and been here 4 weeks.  I understand six month blues but I've been assured from the WLS offce CNP that this happens and if I stay w/the program, another rapid loss phase is coming.  It doesn't really stabilize until 12-18 months out for RNY patients. Thanks for the post, seems 6 months out is a milestone in various ways for many of us. United we lose, Divided we're depressed???

Herb, congrats on the success so far.  Keep in mind that as charter members of the "Clean Plate Club", our membership is a major part of the reason that we are on this board and had surgery.   If it's wasted on you it is still wasted.  And if it is wasted on you, all your efforts are a waste.   No one likes to waste food, for sure.  This is one of those decisions where the choice is between better and best.  And better is always the worst enemy of the best thing for you. One thing to suggest that might help is moving to a 3 meal a day program rather than 5 meals a day.  I know people are all over the map on that one but the 3 meals a day would help with the portion control issue and create less waste since you are now spreading 500 calories more across the three meals. Congrats once again.  6 months and 135 down is fantastic. Greg

I am just on the back end of that 6 month quandry- weight loss slows and you feel like you can eat more.  I know I felt like I was stopped still 70 pounds from goal.   Three meals definitely helps.  Other tips I found that helped are edamame either with meals or between if necessary, and things like artichokes that while they are not great protein sources, and supplement a meal and stop that post-meal hunger.  I also use almonds or nuts to help. The biggest thing for me is increased exercise.  I have been running daily and starting to feel the benefits- it also curbs my hunger.  We are going to have to fight the urges the rest of our lives, but realize you have lost the equivalent of another human being and it will only get better. Good luck- to all of us!

Hey Herb -  This all sounds like pretty normal stuff (at least from my perspective).  I'm just beyond the 6-month mark, down a total of 145 and stuck there for about a month now - and, I, too have about 70 pounds to go.  I think that's just part of the process - our bodies taking a break from what my PCP refers to a serious medical process (losing all that weight) but I can certainly get into some crazy questioning of everything I'm doing when things slow down - am I eating too much? too little? not exercising enough? - to the point where I can obsess about it too much!  I think the reality is that I just need to stick to what I'm doing.  Sounds like you're on the right track and going through what, from my experience, is normal head stuff.  Congratulations on what you've accomplished and just hang in there. Steve 

Herb, It is not easy throwing food away.  But it is better than overeating. Fortunately, I have a teenaged son that will eat what I don't.  And, he is thin. Keep up the good work.