Encouragement Needed

I'm about 4 months post op and been feeling down about my weight loss. I've lost 60lbs which is huge, and I want to lose 40 more. However, I find myself slipping back into bad habits, grazing is the worse one. I just feel lost, is this normal? I am seeing a health care provider for this, but I'm having trouble getting back on track. I really would like to avoid protein drinks if possible, since they make me feel very deprived from eating. Any suggestions or encouragement is appreciated.

Hi Jennifer! If you feel like you are not losing weight or inches anymore, you may want to consider following the following diet to give your body a jump start, and the good thing about it is that there is no liquid protein, however, it is important that you follow all the directions to make it work, this is called a Plateau Buster diet: How to break a plateau #1 - Do this for 10 days to break a plateau #2 - Drink 2 quarts of water a day #3 - You must have 45 grams of protein supplement and all your vitamins/minerals supplements each day #4 - You may consume up to 3 oz of the following high protein foods, 5x a day beef pork chicken turkey lamb fish eggs low fat cheese cottage cheese plain yogurt or artificially sweetened (?) peanut butter beans/legumes You may also have: sugar free popsicles tea or coffee sugar free soda sugar free jello broths/bullion (sp?) crystal light drinks #5 - If it's not on the list, you can't have it for 10 days!!!! Also, I know you have emailed back and forth with me and not been able to come to any support meetings. If you can really try to work this out for the future, if your hubby is at school, maybe you have a neighbor or friend who can watch your daughter...you won't be gone more than 2 hours. Support is very critical and makes you more aware of slipping back into bad habits. Good luck! Nancy

Hey Jennifer!!! Sixty pounds lost is nothing to sneeze at You are doing a great job and if you are like me you have a lifetime of eating habits to change and unfortunately it won't happen in a few months. I think this is like a roller coaster ride and you just have to pick yourself up (seems like you've started to do that already), dust yourself off and get a renewed sense of starting over. Remember the courage you've had to take this step in the first place. There is nothing you can't do! What type of healthcare professional are you seeing for this? nut? surgeon? counselor? Personally, I attend support groups, gain support on this site (there are other message boards you may want to check out for support), and I go see a counselor every other week to talk about "issues" that make me want to eat and how to deal with them in other ways. Last but not least I was really slack with starting with the exercise plan but I think it is helping me the most - I don't go crazy but work out (cardio) at least 4 days per week. On everything I read this seems to be the most important than even what you are eating at this point (don't get me wrong - they are ALL important - vits, water, protein, etc) I also subscribe to WLS magazine for support. Good luck - YOU CAN DO IT Denise

on what you have accomplished so far!! Also on realizing that you are slipping and you want to do something about it!! Of course it is normal - you are trying to change years of "bad" eating habits - its going to take time and there may be slipups now and then. To get back on track you may want to go "back to the basics". Start a food journal - write down what you are eating each meal each day. Set meal and snack times and stick to them. Get your required protein in daily!! Its very doable to avoid protein drinks and get in all your required protein. There are quite a few high protein foods out there that can help you meet each day! I find it easier to measure everything out and put into small containers so during the week I just have to grab them out of the fridge to put together my breakfast snack lunch and snack for work. I know the protein amount in each container so it makes it easy for me to keep track and bring enough protein with me for the day! If you arnt already, find a support group in your area! I am only a few weeks out but have heard over and over from "veterans" that anytime they feel they are getting off track going to meetings helps them! Hope this helps you out some

Thank you very much for those *****sponded. I am going to start the plateau diet this weekend. Yes Nancy, I have my daughter on Monday nights while my husband is at school, however, that will end soon. I do wish I had been more proactive about meetings, instead of waiting for this point i'm at now. Thanks, Jennifer

Jennifer, I am so glad you wrote this because the exact same thing is happening with me. I swear the scales haven't moved in a month or more and I am stuck at having lost between 80 and 85. It seems no matter what I do, it won't budge. I am so frustrating. I to need to attend the support groups and go see my nutritionist. I am still in so much pain when I get off of work that its all I can do to get home, much less exercise even though I know I have to. My hips and lower back hurt so much and being in a freezer half the time stiffs me up. Its just so aggervating to lose that much weight and still be in so much pain. Guess I will give this a try to. Good Luck! Can someone tell me what the vitamin is for your hair? Is it biotien? I have lost enough to make myself a wig with my own hair!!!! Lisa