CRYING HARD

I had RNY on November 30 2006 and only lost 30 pounds so far. I had lapband in April of 2000 and lost real good then I went through a state of depression and in the last 2 years I gained 200 pounds so I had the RNY done and now I can't seem to lose weight at all. I went to my primary doctor and asked him for a script for phentermine 30mg. And he gave it to me so that's where I am at. I am starving my self because I refuse to entertain this weight anymore. If anyone out there has any advise for me I am open I don't want to hurt myself to lose the weight but I am tired of being in all this body. And feeling like I failed.

I know this is hard to hear but I think you just have to relax. I had gastric bypass in November also ive lost but I think I could have lost even more, but I know I'm headed in the right direction and I feel alot better. If you ever wanna chat you can email me at [email protected].

Thank you so much I will e-mail you maybe my problem is that I have no one that understands where I am coming from so watch out for the e-mails again thankyou you are a angel

Jena, You cannot allow yourself to feel like a failure. I'm only 5 days out from surgery, but I'm learning so much from people on this message board and I'm wondering if you attend any support group on a regular basis to help reinforce all the great stuff we all learn in the beginning, or your surgeon offers other support like regular meetings with a nutritionist etc. You are only a few months post-op from your RNY and I would hope that your surgeon isn't done with you just because he reworked your plumbing! I've read at least 100 profiles of people who have done really well and those that have been disappointed with their progress and a few things stand out for me. Followup with the same counselors (nutritionist, metabolic specialist etc.), exercising (I know I hate it too), and being connected to other patients (either through live support group meetings where so much practical information is shared, or via things like these message boards.) all seem to improve outcomes for people. Doing this in isolation is so so hard! Having your primary care doc prescribe weightloss meds doesn't sound like you are getting enough medical support let alone psychological and social support that is so important for things to go well. Have you seen the surgeon who did your surgery for followup? Don't lose heart. Take advantage of the message boards. Post about what you eat, how you eat etc. and let the many wonderful people here give you their perspective on how they overcame the struggle we all share. Susan

Thankyou so much susan I think that I should call a nut I don't know I feel so type of way I am in the forum all the time and that is what hurts me seeing the weight that everyone lose today I had 2 boiled eggs and a slice of wheat bread nothing for lunch because I wasn't hungry and for dinner I had 1 cup of rice and a cup ofcabbage 1 piece of turkey wingthat I only had to bites of coffee was 3 cups with sweet and low and creamer water I am up to 6 bottles today but the day isn't over I go back to my gastric doctor on the 19 but when I was in there last month I told him that I wasn't losing any weight and he told me to exercise more. And I am but I can't lose any weight and it is hurting me bad.

Since I'm only a few days post-op I am not in a position to offer you my own experience, but reading that you skipped a meal is a red flag according to the nutritionist that I'm working with. She emphasized how important it is, particularly in the first year post-op to eat more frequent small meals, concentrate first and foremost on protein, and avoid carbs (as well as drink your water which you mentioned). From my prior experience with dieting (lots of different methods) the universal biology is that your body slows your metabolism to protect itself from perceived starvation and frequent fueling of high protein meals in very important to keeping your metabolism kicking. Exercise is the other. There are a lot of people here very experienced with how to manage slowed weightloss so keep posting and let them help. Good luck.

I was freaking out at 3 mos. when the scale froze and I asked everyone what the problem was, and I was told not to worry because plateau's happen. I kept explaining that I was losing valuable tool time. They didn't seem concerned but I was. When 13 weeks had gone by and still nothing, I was ready for a feeding tube just to make the scale move. Finally someone took the time to review what I was eating. I had been keeping a food log the entire time. I was told to keep my calories at 1,000, my protein was what it was prescribed at, but my carbs were too high. It was also suggested to get my protein from natural sources not from shakes or bars. Well at first I thought this would be an impossible task, but now that I actually tried it, I have no problem meeting my protein goal. If you log onto fitday.com and enter your menu you will see how many carbs and the percentages of your daily diet. Once I introduced Frigo Light Cheese Heads (9 gr. per stick) and Low Fat Cottage Cheese (11 gr. in 4 oz), and Lean Cuisine (15-20 gr.) without rice, pasta, or potato the scale started to move. During week 14 the scale dropped 15#, by the end of that month I had dropped another 15, I recently learned of the plateau buster diet and dropped 10# the first 2 days. The important thing to remember is to always get in ALL your fluids, ALL your protein, ALL your exercise, and to keep switching up your foods. Your body falls into a pattern and learns how to stall out to maintain. You want to keep your fat burning furnace going. So always change around your menus. Your carbs should be natural ones, IE, fruits and veggies. If you look on the Pennsylvania Board, there is a post from Mike asking for a reality check cause the scale is frozen, one of the replies lists the Plateau Buster Diet.

PLATEAU BUSTER Do this for 10 days to break a plateau Drink 2 quarts of water a day 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 beans/legumes You may also have: sugar free popsicles tea or coffee sugar free soda - if allowed by your doctor sugar free jello broths/boullion crystal light drinks *If it's not on the list, you can't have it for 10 days!!!! *Keep a food diary and get up to 30 mins of exercise daily

hey jena sorry ,u are having such a rough time. honey u need to talk to a nut. firstly you are not a failure. this is a journey for all of us. secondly,, a nut can help u work out an eating plan to move u along. im no doctor, but personally from what i have learned, u will need to up your protein intake, and cut your carbs , at least for a few months. please dont be so down on yourself, its destructive, and im sure u know that. if ya need a shoulder, im here for you. hugs, jacki

Jena, I am feeling really bad for you. I also suffer from depression, actually clinical depression since I was 10. Do not use your scale as a measure of your sucess. How are your clothes fitting? How are you feeling? Are you as out of breath as you might have been in the past? Look at the things that have changed since November. I am 51 years old and had an open RNY in June 06. I retain a lot of fluid so my first 2 months Ilost 96 lbs. and then the scale stopped for 1 month. I went for my 3 month post-op and cried unbelievably. The nutrionist and the surgeon finally got me calmed down and the surgeon explained that about not using the scale and as long as I was followig the program the weight would come off. A few weeks later he was right. My weight can fluctuate up to 15 lbs. in one day. I also have lymphodema and my one leg can hold up to 20 lbs of excess fluid. You didn't fail, in order to get the surgery you had to jump through a lot of hoops, no failure could do that. You lost 30 lbs. Celebrate that, it is not gaining 30 lbs. Follow the program, watch your carbs, increase your water and protein. Exercise, you will see the numbers go down. Make a promise that you will only weigh yourself once a month. I also would check the surgeon to see if Phen is good for you. You had several different gastro operations in the past 5 years. I don't know if that can hurt you. No disrespect meant to your PCP but does he know enough about your new "plumbing" . Mine does't and he will always tell me to check with the surgeon before he will prescribe anything. Your starving yourself might be the problem. You might not be eating enough to lose weight. Get in touch with the surgeon and also your nutrionist. You can and you will do this. You just have to push harder, which I know when you are depressed is so hard. Much luck and feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Jeanne