Am I done? A grad? I don't wanna be yet..

So i've been lurking on here for a couple months.  Couldn't bring myself to post because, in my mind, that would be saying I was done and my job would be to help others only. I am 16 months out roughly.  I have weighed between 152 and 157 for almost six months.  I have tried the 5 dpt, the 10 day pb, the ubber protein /zippo carb plan.. 70 minutes wall to wall cardio every day, you name it, I have done it.. and it's the same.   Here are my strikes against me: PCOS since birth No longer on Metformin for the PCOS I am a revision from a VBG in 1987 I was a lightweighter when I had my RNY at 244. I previously lost the first 100 pounds on my over 3 years, so I was once at 344. I have a large amount of extra skin - PCP seems to think about 12 to 14 pounds. here's the question: Am I done??? It would KILL me to think it's true.  All I want (I know I know i've read all the posts about this same thing), but all I want is to see 144 - making the Century mark. Dana, Cajungirl, knows my struggle.. She's my sweetie and we are regulars on the TMB.  We both have given up our scales for a week, and these two scale Ho's are hurtin big time.. but we will do it. If there is a way to do it, I will, well aside from plastics.. haven't found a Sugar Daddy for that yet. Do I seriously need to get over it and just accept that this is where I will be? Therapy is not out of the realm of possibilities.. I appreciate your feedback.  You gals have been there and I know you understand.

Hello~ You may very well be done with the losing aspect of things.  144 is a great weight and so much better that where you started!!  Congratulate yourself on your accomplishment before you mourn the possibility that you may not lose anymore weight.  Numbers on a scale don't define who we are as people....... If you are in fact not going to lose anymore weight, then seize the opportunity to learn how to maintain the weight that you have.  It is also possible that there is some other factor hindering any further lose.......too much exercise, not enough calories (puts the body into starvation mode so you hang on to all the weight you have)  not enough protein etc.  Why don't you take a look at those pieces and see if you can tweak something there?  Do you use a tracking program like Sparkpeople or The Daily Plate?  If you do and there isn't anything there, maybe make an appointment with a nutritionist or dietician for some meal planning advise.  Rest assured, your body will not let you down.....!!!! Have a great evening!! Anjanette

thanks Anjanette, I am constantly thinking about that as well. If I"m not going to lose and I want to stay this size, I can't get complacent and give up. I do use the fitday although I am not very consistent with it. Comes and goes in waves.  I do know that my appetite is back full force and pretty much constant, thanks to the PCOS.  It has been that way all my life.  I will be asking my PCP to get back on the Metformin at the end of the month, since that did help quite a bit with the appetite. I will be around, hopefully with a better attittude!

Becky, I know you want more and I think I understand the frustration you feel.  BUT, sweetie I've met you, you look great.  The darn mental games are tougher than anything.  If you are done losing, this is a weight your body is comfortable at.  It may be time to see where you came from and focus on the success of being where you at.  Learn to accept Becky for a good person she is.   You have lost more than 1/2 of your original weight, that is a major accomplishment.  We obsess over the darn scale too much and I realize it......I'm hanging in there not weighing but I tell you this is driving me crazy, I want to know where I am at.   Hang in there and know that are an amazing, beautiful woman.  Tell yourself "I love me" and continue to do that everyday until it's ingrained in your head because we, your friends know that; you need to realize it too. Hugs,

awww sweetie, I know you would be there to help me cheer up.  I wish I could see what others see and I just see that there is always MORE that can come off.  I do love my results and I realize that losing 190 pounds is pretty dang good. I guess my mind can't deal with the idea yet that plastics are not a possibility and this EXTRA is going to be here.   Maybe I can get some lipo instead.. that might help.  The other thing is that the dang scale that I know can register 140's and 130's.    Ultimately, I feel like it's just not fair that my body has to have all this muscle left from carrying 340 pounds and that is going to show heavier on the scale. You are a jewel and I just love you so much for your support and help.  And I can NOT wait to see you again in two weeks!

I am currently doing the 5dpt, what is the 10 day pb?

You still have a chance at losing weight.  I had RNY on May 10, 2006. I was 345 prior to RNY.  I lost about 25 pounds prior to surgery. 7 months after surgery I was 222, and I attended support groups each and every month. I thought I was done losing, as my "mental target weight" was 225, a weight I had been comfortable at for several years--for my 6' 3" height.   I stopped going to support meetings, and guess what? 2 months later I weighed 242. I lost the weight back down to 222 again by getting "back on track", part of which was attending support group meetings.  Attending support group meetings may be of benefit to you too. I follow my lab work to see how I'm doing with vitamins for maximum health.  My doctor initially noted my D levels were at 8, where the normal range is 30-100. Recent report indicate that over half of the US population is below the normal levels in D, so I'm not alone in this respect. My doc put me on a course of prescription D--50K IU capsules once per week for 8 weeks, and then retested. This was done 3 times, and after the 3rd time, the results were a 14 in my D levels.   Then I did some Internet research, noting that liquid vitamins are absorbed quicker and better than normal pilled vitamins. I found one that sounded very good, and began taking it. My D levels were tested at 2 years post op, and a level of 33 was the result.  I also noted that I began to lose weight again, while taking the liquid instead of a pilled vitamin. My weight dropped--217, 214, 204, 199, 195, settling at 189 at 2 years post op.  Due to recent studies that show a host of issues from low D levels--cancers (colonrectal, breast, prostrate, etc.), MS, auto immune diseases, rickets, poor calcium absorptions, and MORE--I now augment my diet with 2 of the 5000 IU dry D capsules. Your lab results are the only indicator of how your vitamins are actually absorbed by your body.  My lab results are posted on my profile page for viewing.  So don't give up hope.  I don't eat perfectly every day--but I do walk 11/4 to 2 1/2 miles each day, try to get in 48 oz or more fluids, and I do take my vitamins and calcium citrate.  Good luck, DAVE

We all get obsessed with the numbers on the scale - however what I feel is most important is getting to a weight you can *comfortably* maintain. Im sure I could lose more weight if I wanted but I know I would struggle to maintain it - I am happy keeping this current weight and not having to watch every little bite or being scared of even looking at a 'bad' food because just looking will make me gain a pound ya know? When it comes to excess skin its hard not to want to lose more thinking it will improve - I definately feel you there - I struggle with wanting to lose more weight but I *know* that I am at the point that I need plastic surgery to get rid of the excess, losing 5 more pounds is not going to make my hanging belly magically disappear. I say to congratulations to you - you lost a large amount of weight and have maintained that loss for the past 6 months.... it really doesnt matter how much you lose if you cant keep it off.

Hi Becky: Thanks for posting.  I can not really answer the question, but I CAN let you know that you are NOT alone. I too, stopped losing at 10 months out.  My highest weight before surgery was 253 (at 5' 1").  By the day of surgery, I weighed 223.  I now vary between 160 and 162 religiously not matter WHAT I do. I, like you, have tried everything and nothing matters.  I am still "obese" by the BMI chart and it really makes me upset some days.  I am ohsoclose to being only "overweight", but I can't even get THAT far.  My goal was to be "normal" at about 130, but I have totally lost hope that I will ever see that.  My surgeons just say, "well, that happens somethimes......." and have no help other than suggesting everything I have already tried. At this point, I try very hard to have a positive outlook and be happy with how far I have come.  I NEVER could have lost the additional 60 pounds without surgery.  I am more active and able to do so many more things that I could before.  I even climbed a small mountain the other day!  My husband thinks I'm "Hot", and sometimes, I almost agree with him.  It is a bit disappointing to know that I may never reach my goal, and now have malnutrition to watch out for besides, but.......I would do it again, and it is too late to change anything.  I spend most days trying to think positive and just HOPE and PRAY that I do not re-gain. Hopefully, your loss will start again, but if not.......please look at the bright side-----you have come a LONGGGGGG way and you are beautiful, inside and out!

You may be able to lose a little more weight, but it may be that you're where God intended you to be. I agree with Jennifer. You may be able to lose some more, but it might be almost impossible to maintain it. Most of us just sort of level off after a while, at different times and weights. I wonder if you have a little dysmorphia going on and don't realize just how small you are now.