Being Freakin' ReaL

OH MY GOD!!!  I'm just being real and honest here.  I'll be 4 months out on Sat. and I KNOW that I've done a good job so far.  I've lost 40 pounds.  But I am so upset right now.  I feel as if I'm in a slump, I hope that it's just a phase but I honestly don't feel anything.  I've been busting my ass LITERALLY and I'm getting so burnt out.  I work out every morning for 30 min. (except on Sundays) but lately I've been doing like 10 or 15 cause I'm so over it.  I am OBSESSED with the scale.  I weigh myself everyday, naked and then with clothes on b/c you know I have to know the difference.  I'VE BEEN FREAKIN' STARVING ALL WEEK AND I JUST HAD A FILL LAST MONDAY.  I don't know if I am self sabatoging, perhaps I just can't see the end of the tunnel....For you LAP/REALIZE BAND VETS....HOW THE HELL DID YOU DO IT?

BROKEN RECORD ALERT !!!

We are a generation of instantaneous results, however remember we didn’t put all the weight on at once, it took years. So don’t you think losing it would take just as long? This isn't one of those miracle instantaneous weight loss programs. Those types of programs always fail. This is a way of life. Plus in all my years of losing weight I’ve come too realized with instantaneous weight lost comes instantaneous weight gain.

 

Nowhere does any of the literate state you will lose x amount of weight in x days. Think LONG TERM. That’s what I am doing. My new outlook is  “Slow and steady wins the race".  Even if it take me over 5 years to lose all the weight I want to, I know in the long run I will be happy and healthier. My doctor firmly believes the slower you lose weight, the better chance you have of keeping it off. My doctor reminded me that each pound I gained took time to put on, and it’s going to take some time to lose those same pounds. Try to remind yourself that even if I lost only 1 pound per week, in year’s time I’d be 52 pounds lighter.

 

Be proud of your lost. No matter how small it may seem. Remember, it’s better to lose not a pound than to GAIN a pound.

 

Some of us (me include) believe scales should be used only for fish or piano ... However, many others like to weight themselves regularly. They feel it helps keep them on track. Remember there are other “scales" you can use to monitor your success: your constant hunger reduction (eliminated); reduced clothing size; increase energy; re-familiarizing yourself to body-parts unseen for years (errr… toes) ; “common" activity becoming easier (walking, climbing steps), just feeling good about yourself; sleeping better (reduced snoring); the mirror; better medical exam results (lower cholesterol and/or blood pressure); etc.

 

Many compare their lost to someone else’s, and get discouraged. The amount of weight lost is affected by many factors. Everyone loses weight at different rates. It has to do with age, gender, one’s weight, exercise, etc.. A 10 pound lost to one person could be as affected as a 40 pound lost to another. Think of it this way: If a 400-pound person loses 40 pounds; a 300-pound person loses 30 pounds, a 200-pound person loses 20 pounds, and a 100-pound person loses 10 pounds – the 400-pound person didn’t necessarily lose more weight than the others. All three lost 10% of their body weight. 

 

And sometimes it is not the number of pounds that someone loses in a specified period of time that is important. Remember, if you are toning up muscle – your weight loss may seem to have slowed (or stopped), when in fact you are replacing fat with muscle. Muscle is heavier then fat. Someone weighing 200 pounds with a body fat percentage of 25 is carrying around 50 pounds of extra fat. That same person weighing 200 pounds with 10 percent body fat would be carrying only 20 pounds of fat. So it’s not the number that is important.

 

(02)

 

Make sure you ARE EATING and not starving. A close friend, who is a Certified Fitness Trainer, told me this about losing weight.

 

The first thing he said is “You have to EAT in order to lose weight". He further explained, this does not mean to OVEREAT, but eat sensible portions.

 

He explained the body is a marvelous machine, and it will protect itself. If one doesn’t eat enough, the body’s metabolism will slow down - in order to keep itself functioning. If a person intake is less then what it expels, the body will start to “store" food. If a person stay on this type of eating regiment over a prolonged period, the body starts to “eat itself" - which is extremely unhealthy and could be fatal.

 

According to my friend, the first thing the body will first start to “eat away" at is all the stored sugars in the body. After that has been depleted, the body then attacks all the (both good and bad) carbohydrates and fats. Finally the body starts to “digest" the proteins in the body. The proteins are mostly stored in muscle. One of the most important muscles our body has is the HEART. That’s why many anorexia patients die of heart problems - basically the body ate it away. 

 

He said don’t worry if you’re losing right away. He said as long as we follow the guidelines our Doctors/Nutritionist has set for us, we will lose weight. The body sometimes takes a while before it “resets" itself.

 

 

(03)

 

Make sure you’re getting in the right amount of protein. In the beginning don’t be too concerned/worry about “calories, fats, sugars, carbs, etc". Make sure you are getting your 60 to 80 grams of protein. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO WEIGHT LOSS. In the future you can worry about all those other things, but for now - WORRY ABOUT THE PROTEIN. Now don’t get me wrong - I don’t want you to eat a bag of chips, or whole cake or drink tons of ice cream shakes in order to get protein in. You need to use some common sense :) !!


Some Rhetorical questions:

Have you used the Realize My Success webpage to monitor your food intake? Recently I had a stall, and it wasn't until I monitored what I was eating that I realized (no pun intended) why.

While I know you're still new to this (only 4 months) - one suggestion. Don't worry about it. It's normal for the body to do this. Sooner or later the body realizes (again no pun intended) what we are doing, and it compensates for it.

Are your adjustments done under fluoroscope or "blind"? Unless done under fluoroscope, most adjustments are hit and miss. So it make take another 1-2-3-4 (or more****il you find that special area.

Talk to your Doctor and/or see your Nutritionists. Most insurance companies will allow you to see a nutritionist 3 times a year.

However, if you're really really really upset - then go back to the basics. Do liquids for a few days, soft foods, semi-solids, etc.

 

Thank you so much Tom, I really needed the encouragement as well as all the great info.

Not sure about great info, but I will give you all the encouragement you need.

Tom has given you EXCELLENT advice....I only have one thing to add......

Measure yourself. Even if the scale isn't moving, inches can fall off!!!!

Keep your chin up.....

Well, I think you have done great! I am only one week behind you with surgery and I am only down about 15 pounds. So be PROUD of yourself and your awesome 40 pounds!!!! :) You are on the right track and just keep it up! It's been a real struggle for me to not have any restriction yet, but just know that when you are exercising and eating well it is ALL for your health and you can be happy about that! Hope you have a great day!

measure... dont weigh...  I try to stay away from the scale i only weigh 1 time a week... I measure the same day.  I can say including preop diet to now is 34 pounds but Ive lost 10 inches in my hips, 5 inches in my thighs, 6.25 inches in my waist and 5 inched in the bust.  Measure is a much more satisfying result.

D.