4 years out...Can't seem to lose those extra pounds. (LONG)
I had RNY in May of 2007. I started out at 369 lbs. I ended up losing about 179 lbs...making my lowest weight right around 190 lbs. Nowhere close to my goal of 155. I worked out 5 days a week, followed all the rules. I lost it all in about 14-15 months...and then just slowly stopped losing. I was totally happy where I was, considering I'd been obese since I was in elementary school. I felt better than I'd ever felt...even at 190 lbs.
Well, 4 years later...I still never got to that 155. I followed all the rules pretty well (with the exception of drinking with meals). Unfortunately I NEVER broke that habit. Eventually as I stopped losing weight, I slowly started allowing things to creep back in to my diet...and now 4 years later I found myself at 208 lbs. Granted, it's not a HORRIBLE amount of regain, but its 18 lbs over a period of about 2 1/2 years. Ugh! I'm so frustrated with myself. But, to be honest, I got really frustrated at the fact that I was just stagnant at 190. I changed my diet up...changed up my workout routines, but the scale stayed the same. I have a lot of excess skin (I started out at a size 30 jeans....but its not enough to account for not losing anymore weight!). Anyway, once I realized I could eat some of the "good" (bad) stuff and virtually stay the same weight, i allowed bad habits to resurface. (Grazing, Breads, Pastas, chips, etc)
Well, I'm still the same size 16 I was at my lowest weight--but the jeans just don't fit quite as perfect as they used to. I haven't made it to an 18 yet (and I don't want to!!). I'm getting married in 3 months and I started eating the RIGHT way again 3 weeks ago. I've only had 2 days in those 3 weeks where I went over my 1200 calories/day limit. I'm logging every single thing I put into my mouth--trying to get lots of protein, veggies, and some fruits. Staying away from breads and grains almost entirely...........but I've only lost 3.8 lbs in 3 weeks! I'm not exercising as much as I'd like to---but I AM exercising. It's just not coming off!!! I KNOW I'm not going over 1200 cal/day. Even though I have a pretty good eye for portion sizes...I even went back to measuring to make SURE I knew what I was consuming. At 1200 calories a day, I should be losing more than a pound a week!
This is SO discouraging. It makes me remember EXACTLY why I stopped following the rules in the first place and makes me want to give up again. I refuse to stop fighting this battle...but It's very frustrating to do everything you're supposed to do and not see any progress. I wanted to lose 2 lbs/week to get me to about 30 lbs lost by my wedding on Sept 18th. But I'm 3 weeks in with a 3.8 lb loss and it doesn't seem likely.
Someone please give me some insight/motivation/encouragement!! (I'd even be willing to share my food diary for the last 3 weeks to see if someone can figure out what on earth I could do differently!!) H E L P!
Well, 4 years later...I still never got to that 155. I followed all the rules pretty well (with the exception of drinking with meals). Unfortunately I NEVER broke that habit. Eventually as I stopped losing weight, I slowly started allowing things to creep back in to my diet...and now 4 years later I found myself at 208 lbs. Granted, it's not a HORRIBLE amount of regain, but its 18 lbs over a period of about 2 1/2 years. Ugh! I'm so frustrated with myself. But, to be honest, I got really frustrated at the fact that I was just stagnant at 190. I changed my diet up...changed up my workout routines, but the scale stayed the same. I have a lot of excess skin (I started out at a size 30 jeans....but its not enough to account for not losing anymore weight!). Anyway, once I realized I could eat some of the "good" (bad) stuff and virtually stay the same weight, i allowed bad habits to resurface. (Grazing, Breads, Pastas, chips, etc)
Well, I'm still the same size 16 I was at my lowest weight--but the jeans just don't fit quite as perfect as they used to. I haven't made it to an 18 yet (and I don't want to!!). I'm getting married in 3 months and I started eating the RIGHT way again 3 weeks ago. I've only had 2 days in those 3 weeks where I went over my 1200 calories/day limit. I'm logging every single thing I put into my mouth--trying to get lots of protein, veggies, and some fruits. Staying away from breads and grains almost entirely...........but I've only lost 3.8 lbs in 3 weeks! I'm not exercising as much as I'd like to---but I AM exercising. It's just not coming off!!! I KNOW I'm not going over 1200 cal/day. Even though I have a pretty good eye for portion sizes...I even went back to measuring to make SURE I knew what I was consuming. At 1200 calories a day, I should be losing more than a pound a week!
This is SO discouraging. It makes me remember EXACTLY why I stopped following the rules in the first place and makes me want to give up again. I refuse to stop fighting this battle...but It's very frustrating to do everything you're supposed to do and not see any progress. I wanted to lose 2 lbs/week to get me to about 30 lbs lost by my wedding on Sept 18th. But I'm 3 weeks in with a 3.8 lb loss and it doesn't seem likely.
Someone please give me some insight/motivation/encouragement!! (I'd even be willing to share my food diary for the last 3 weeks to see if someone can figure out what on earth I could do differently!!) H E L P!
Courtney 
Oh Miss Courtney! You need to change the way you are looking at this. You are not on a diet--when you signed on to have this surgery it was with the intent that you would change your lifestyle for ever. There is no "giving up" young lady!! Now, reach around, smack your hiney and get into gear.
First thing you need to do is continue to track your food and 1,200 calories should be the MINIMUM you get---you could go closer to 1,500 and even 1,800 if you will work out every day. Make sure at least 35% of your daily calories is coming from lean protein and drink tha****er!! (BUT NOT WITH MEALS OR FOR 30 MINS AFTER!).
Now, about exercise. We will always be obese, just in remission. Our bodies still have lots of shrunken fat cells just waiting to get plumped up again. The only way to permanently change your metabolism is to change your physical being.....by creating lots of lean muscle. How do you do that? Strength (resistance) and weight training. Mixed with cardio, once you build some muscle, you'll literally be able to eat/drink whatever you want (in reason of course) in maintenance and you'll actually be able to maintain your weight loss.
You need to work out at least 6 days a week, preferably for an hour each time. Isn't a new, well functioning body worth 6 hours of your week? Find exercises you like and mix them up--always keep your body guessing what is coming next.
Here's a sample of my week:
Sat-jogging 4 miles
Sun-P90X upper body weight workout and ab workout
Mon-jogging 4 miles
Tues-yoga
Wed-power walk-hills
Thurs-P90X back/arm weight workout, abs
Friday-rest
I promise that if you build some muscle, you wont believe how well your metabolism works. You are losing weight, and it will be slower now. Most of the malabsorbtion of calories is over, so now it really is up to you. Don't set deadlines for losses....just work for a loss each week--and with the exercise, you'll be amazed at how much you will look better faster.
You did this before, and you can do it now. The issue is in the past you really didn't permanently change your lifestyle. Commit to doing that now and you WILL be able to live as a healthy thin person!
I wish you the best!
Kim
First thing you need to do is continue to track your food and 1,200 calories should be the MINIMUM you get---you could go closer to 1,500 and even 1,800 if you will work out every day. Make sure at least 35% of your daily calories is coming from lean protein and drink tha****er!! (BUT NOT WITH MEALS OR FOR 30 MINS AFTER!).
Now, about exercise. We will always be obese, just in remission. Our bodies still have lots of shrunken fat cells just waiting to get plumped up again. The only way to permanently change your metabolism is to change your physical being.....by creating lots of lean muscle. How do you do that? Strength (resistance) and weight training. Mixed with cardio, once you build some muscle, you'll literally be able to eat/drink whatever you want (in reason of course) in maintenance and you'll actually be able to maintain your weight loss.
You need to work out at least 6 days a week, preferably for an hour each time. Isn't a new, well functioning body worth 6 hours of your week? Find exercises you like and mix them up--always keep your body guessing what is coming next.
Here's a sample of my week:
Sat-jogging 4 miles
Sun-P90X upper body weight workout and ab workout
Mon-jogging 4 miles
Tues-yoga
Wed-power walk-hills
Thurs-P90X back/arm weight workout, abs
Friday-rest
I promise that if you build some muscle, you wont believe how well your metabolism works. You are losing weight, and it will be slower now. Most of the malabsorbtion of calories is over, so now it really is up to you. Don't set deadlines for losses....just work for a loss each week--and with the exercise, you'll be amazed at how much you will look better faster.
You did this before, and you can do it now. The issue is in the past you really didn't permanently change your lifestyle. Commit to doing that now and you WILL be able to live as a healthy thin person!
I wish you the best!
Kim
Dear Courtney,
You are doing everything right except for you admitted to yourself you have fallen back into some bad habits. I can't have chips in the house or cookies. Look at what you have in your house and "detox" your house today. Throw the crap away, if it ain't in the house you can eat it.
Calories in and calories out. Move to lose. Okay you are exercising, change it a little and see if that helps. Remember you are not a failure and you are more than a number on the scale.
You will always have to fight your weight. Forever. That is not going to change unless you....
Change the way you think.
If you know you aren't going over 1200 calories a day, you should be losing weight. So my advice to you is staying off the scale and just measure yourself. Really the weight will come off if you are being honest with yourself about your calories and eating. It just may take a few more weeks for the scale to show it. Again, the scale is not the only way to measure your success. Right now I would call you a success, look how far you have come. Go girl. Be proud of yourself.
Maybe you need to journal, write down the amounts of food you are eating. I'm concerned that you are drinking with your meals. Maybe make that one of your challenges. You drink with meals is not good. Try to make that rule back into your lifestyle change. I don't say dieting either. Diets don't work. Stop feeling like a failure.
PM me if you want to talk more. I'd like to more about your exercise work outs.
How exciting that you are getting married! Congrats. Now be kind to yourself. Hugs Debbie
You are doing everything right except for you admitted to yourself you have fallen back into some bad habits. I can't have chips in the house or cookies. Look at what you have in your house and "detox" your house today. Throw the crap away, if it ain't in the house you can eat it.
Calories in and calories out. Move to lose. Okay you are exercising, change it a little and see if that helps. Remember you are not a failure and you are more than a number on the scale.
You will always have to fight your weight. Forever. That is not going to change unless you....
Change the way you think.
If you know you aren't going over 1200 calories a day, you should be losing weight. So my advice to you is staying off the scale and just measure yourself. Really the weight will come off if you are being honest with yourself about your calories and eating. It just may take a few more weeks for the scale to show it. Again, the scale is not the only way to measure your success. Right now I would call you a success, look how far you have come. Go girl. Be proud of yourself.
Maybe you need to journal, write down the amounts of food you are eating. I'm concerned that you are drinking with your meals. Maybe make that one of your challenges. You drink with meals is not good. Try to make that rule back into your lifestyle change. I don't say dieting either. Diets don't work. Stop feeling like a failure.
PM me if you want to talk more. I'd like to more about your exercise work outs.
How exciting that you are getting married! Congrats. Now be kind to yourself. Hugs Debbie
Dear Courtney:
I just HAVE to write to let you know that you are NOT alone. Your story sounds very similar to mine, only I STILL don't drink with meals (and never did) and not for AT LEAST 45 minutes, but usually an hour to an hour and a half afterwards.
I stopped losing at 10 months out and, just like before surgery, NOTHING I did mattered. I tried everything......more protein, less protein, more calories, less calories, more exercise, less exercise, no carbs, good carbs, tracking food and exercise........you name it, I tried it with NO RESULTS.
I lost an initial 90 pounds in that first 10 months then tried my nutritionist's advice of the "plate method"....i.e. half a plate of veggies, 1/4 plate of protein and 1/4 plate of starch. Gained 7 pounds in less than 2 weeks and they NEVER left, even though I stopped taking the nut's advice.
Just like you, I got discouraged and quit trying. I thought that maybe I would rest from exercising for a couple of weeks then go back at it and see if THAT jolted anything loose........NOPE! I came here and begged for help and got all the same advice. NOTHING WORKED!
A couple of years ago, I had some other major surgery and had to stop exercising al together. I never did get back into the routine and am now 22 pounds heavier. I watch what I eat, but am not religious about it. I am TRYING to get back to exercising and it is a day-by-day thing. The depression that goes along with feeling like a failure every day is also taking its toll.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND your statement, "It's very frustrating to do everything you're supposed to do and not see any progress".
As you can see, I have no words of wisdom, just extreme empathy.
My doctors have no words of wisdom either and keep reminding me that I am a "huge success" in their eyes since I lost 70% of the excess weight and have kept most of it off. Yeah.........like THAT makes me feel better.
What I CAN also agree with is that I DO feel better than I did at my highest weight......yippee! I just feel a bit ripped off and short-changed, especially when I see "others" who lost to goal or below.
Here's hoping that we can BOTH get back to following the rules religiously and maybe, just maybe..........lose some weight also.
Congrats on the wedding!
I just HAVE to write to let you know that you are NOT alone. Your story sounds very similar to mine, only I STILL don't drink with meals (and never did) and not for AT LEAST 45 minutes, but usually an hour to an hour and a half afterwards.
I stopped losing at 10 months out and, just like before surgery, NOTHING I did mattered. I tried everything......more protein, less protein, more calories, less calories, more exercise, less exercise, no carbs, good carbs, tracking food and exercise........you name it, I tried it with NO RESULTS.
I lost an initial 90 pounds in that first 10 months then tried my nutritionist's advice of the "plate method"....i.e. half a plate of veggies, 1/4 plate of protein and 1/4 plate of starch. Gained 7 pounds in less than 2 weeks and they NEVER left, even though I stopped taking the nut's advice.
Just like you, I got discouraged and quit trying. I thought that maybe I would rest from exercising for a couple of weeks then go back at it and see if THAT jolted anything loose........NOPE! I came here and begged for help and got all the same advice. NOTHING WORKED!
A couple of years ago, I had some other major surgery and had to stop exercising al together. I never did get back into the routine and am now 22 pounds heavier. I watch what I eat, but am not religious about it. I am TRYING to get back to exercising and it is a day-by-day thing. The depression that goes along with feeling like a failure every day is also taking its toll.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND your statement, "It's very frustrating to do everything you're supposed to do and not see any progress".
As you can see, I have no words of wisdom, just extreme empathy.
My doctors have no words of wisdom either and keep reminding me that I am a "huge success" in their eyes since I lost 70% of the excess weight and have kept most of it off. Yeah.........like THAT makes me feel better.
What I CAN also agree with is that I DO feel better than I did at my highest weight......yippee! I just feel a bit ripped off and short-changed, especially when I see "others" who lost to goal or below.
Here's hoping that we can BOTH get back to following the rules religiously and maybe, just maybe..........lose some weight also.
Congrats on the wedding!
Tell someone that you love them!
Dawn
253/223/167/127
HW/SW/CW/GW
Thanks for all the replies...encouragement...and advice. I really don't feel like a total failure. I love my life, my fiance, my church, my friends, my job........I'm really HAPPY with where I'm at. I love myself. I just really want to get to my goal weight and be as healthy as I can be. That's what's proving so difficult here.
I'm still tracking my food each day and still not going over 1200. I'm down 4.8 lbs now...but its taken me 3 weeks to get there! I feel like I should be losing more/faster...but I guess not.
I probably do need to do some strength training. Most of the exercise I do is mostly cardio. Zumba, kickboxing, etc.......... We'll see what I can do about changing that up. I just moved to a pretty rural area and there isn't a gym by me anymore. It seems difficult to come up with home exercises i can do for strength training. Any ideas?
Again, I will not give up.....even when I'm frustrated because it is worth it. I AM worth it!
PS--I will attempt to stop drinking with my meals and see if that helps!
Love & Blessings to all of you *****sponded!
I'm still tracking my food each day and still not going over 1200. I'm down 4.8 lbs now...but its taken me 3 weeks to get there! I feel like I should be losing more/faster...but I guess not.
I probably do need to do some strength training. Most of the exercise I do is mostly cardio. Zumba, kickboxing, etc.......... We'll see what I can do about changing that up. I just moved to a pretty rural area and there isn't a gym by me anymore. It seems difficult to come up with home exercises i can do for strength training. Any ideas?
Again, I will not give up.....even when I'm frustrated because it is worth it. I AM worth it!
PS--I will attempt to stop drinking with my meals and see if that helps!
Love & Blessings to all of you *****sponded!
Courtney
Oh Courtney, your story sounds like mine and so many others out there. And it's especially frustrating when others have found what works for them and are able to keep their weight off. I applaud them. I wasn't one of them. I posted on another thread about how I lost 25 pounds in the last 6 weeks of the 60 pounds I need to lose by taking Hcg drops and following the prescribed diet. It might not be for everyone but it worked for me. Something about the drops makes my hunger disappear and I no longer feel the need for the crappy stuff I've been allowing in my mouth. I hope to follow the program and lose the remaining 35 pounds before the summer is over. I made it once down to 125 lbs and I plan to do it again.
Betsy
Betsy
Lap RNY 5/7/03
I lost 50+ pounds of regained weight with hCG drops.
Hello I am Pam. I had rny in december 2006 lost 135.......was pretty excited to be under 200....however have gained back 55 pounds. I would like input and just plain ole encouragement. I feel like a big failure. I have been doing five day pouch test....I dont feel so hungry as I just want something in my mouth to chew all of the time. Any input is appreciated. Pam
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