My Bad!! Beat me up please!!!! I need it!

Hello All, I have been so bad this past 1-2 months. I only lost 4 pounds last month (7 mo. since surgery) and this month a big FAT 0.....!!!!! I have NOT been working out like I was 3 days a week so I know that is part of it. But I took a temp job right now and I work weird hours 11:30-8:00PM so I do things around the house then go to work then come home tired go to bed! At this job even though it's a health concious company they have a vending machine and I am snacking on candy "yes" I said candy!!! Also chips and other goodies. I KNOW IT'S BAD .....but I'm stressed at this job and am looking for another.......I hope I can get back on track and I am totally not done loosing weight????????? On the other hand if I never lost another pound I AM SO GRATEFUL.....where I am but I still have 20-30 more pounds to goal. Have I stopped loosing or is it just my new bad habits???? Someone please kick my butt!!! Hopeless in Vancouver.......!!! Nadine 7/19/04 213/138/115??

Consider your butt kicked~now I'll turn around so you can have a go at mine! lol I wonder if it's a 7-month slump or something...'cuz I've hit a wall as well. And I've been snacking a bit as well....and I only did this once before in January. I stopped once I saw what I was doing to myself and started to lose again. I'm fighting my snack demons even as we speak...a bag of white cheddar organic cheetos is calling my name. Of course, it could be that, like you, I'm highly stressed right now. Just know that you're not alone in this. I've got 39 lbs to get to goal and I'll be damned if I'm going to give up now! If it helps and if you can....call me when you feel the urge. We'll take a deep breath together and take a few brief minutes to figure out what's going on, as in why do you feel the need to eat that stuff....are you upset, bored, stressed, all of the above? I'm here for ya! I'd also like to consider an excercise group. I don't care if it's only once every 2 weeks or something...just get me out and going! With the weather getting nicer, it's a shame to not get out in it. I had another group but it turned into such a big social "outing". To be honest, with 3 teens, I just don't have time to devote every Saturday to my workout buddies. An hour or two is fine, but they always planned other stuff after the activity was completed (and it was generally food focused) and it ended up being all day. I know, I should have been able to do the activity and then just leave, but I felt like they were expecting me to do everything else as well. Most of the women in the other group were single and looking for a social outlet as well as excercise. I'm thinking a group who has family obligations (hubby, kids) would be more inclined to do the activity and then be on their way. I'm thinking things like walking in the Springwater Corridor near downtown Portland. Anyone interested could meet, take the walk and then go home. I'm rambling, but anyone *****ads this....let me know what you think! Nadine, sweetie....you're not alone in your struggle. I believe I'm safe in saying we've all been there...or will be there at some point. Don't give up! Michele 503-936-4352 cell 443/315/209/170

Nadine: Sorry you're having it so rough right now. I hope things get better for you. Are you going to the meeting on the 30th or are you going to be working? Are you still at Nautilus? Is that only a temp job? If there's anything I can do, please let me know. Pam

I am just across the bridge. Anytime you want to talk while we walk, just give me a holler. tee

Thank you girlfriends.....I just wanted to have a pity party for myself and have a few of you kick my butt.... THAT WAS FUN! Now I have to get myself into gear and get back on the program.......don't know yet if I am going to the support meeting again this month Pamela....but we'll see. Gotta run, talk to you and maybe see you all soon hopefully!!! Nadine

Sorry Nadine, I can't kick your butt when I have Dorrito breath! I am just glad for your honesty, because it helps us all know that some of what we are experiencing is normal. I started to take bites of things that hadn't even existed in my post-op world. I now have to fight a lot harder to stay away from those kind of things, and it hasn't helped to find out I didn't have any bad reactions to them. Some of it is an awakening of my appetite, and sometimes it does have to do with stress. I have found it part of the post-op learning process. IMO it is normal and O.K. to allow some treats into my life. I have learned post-op, that it is no longer all or nothing. If I have a few days where I have snacked or gone to an event that brought a piece of birthday cake onto my plate, I put forth effort to get back on track. I try to get lots of "good" days in, so that when I get PMS or find myself on the wrong end of a cookie, it is only a small part of the big picture. I always get in my water, supplements, and protein requirements. I don't let that ever vary. I also am not at my goal. I really want to get there! I feel encouraged that even when I slip, that I understand in my heart and mind that it is not over. A slip up is not an excuse to give up. My weight loss has slowed to a crawl, but I do continue to see a pound here, 2-3 pounds there. Those losses add up too, and while not as fabulous as when the numbers are dropping daily, they still take me into new number categories and clothes sizes. I hope things get back on track for you. Michele - I am up for any get together to exercise. I like your keep it simple idea. Patty