Hi--Sorry to Intrude!

Hello Everyone I know I am a month shy of being able to post on this board but I was wondering if any of you might be able to offer me any advice since you are all over one year out. Here is my dilemma-- I am wondering if any of you are or have experiencedwhat I am now going through-- I am at a TOTAL STANDSTILL now since June 1. I started out on my WL Journey a lightweight weighing in at surgery at 265 lbs at a height of 5'7. I am very frustrated now because I fluctuate between 155 and 153. I am at Dr.'s goal now at 155 and Dr. is comfortable with me staying where I am but I still want to lose about 10 to 15 pounds more. I notice now that some of my old cravings are resurfasing their ugly heads and I try not to give in, but just as before, my vulnerable time is the between 2 and 6 pm. Lately I have been craving dark chocolate and salt. I weigh myself daily only because I do not want to go beyond the 155. I now wear between a size 12 and 14. I am noticing though that even at 155 the size 14 is feeling a bit loose. I thought this was odd because I am not losing any weight. I know I must try to drink more water but at times is very hard. People at work still tell me I look so skinny, even without losing anymore weight. I figured I would ask you all what I can do to break this long plateau of almost 3 months, since alot of you have been there done that. I am going away this weekend for a family wedding out of state so I am hoping that maybe with a change in routine it may be what I need to break the insanity. I even thought of just doing my protein shakes as breakfast and lunch, eating a regular dinner and nothing bu****er in between. What are your thoughts on all this? Thanks for your help, and I look forward to joining all of you on September 21 as a graduate member! Hugs Marianne

Come anytime. The members here welcomed me before I was officially one year. They have a lot of good advice and support, and they're a real inspiration to me at 2...3...4 and 5 years out and still looking great! If you look at my profile, you'll notice that I too had a several month struggle with a plateau. In my case, I wasn't being quite as diligent in my choices and getting my water and protein in. In addition to my regular food, I started drinking two protein shakes a day, morning and night, which really helped to jump start my weight loss again. I also got back on track and have tried to do a better job limiting the carbs. I still struggle with my water, but I'm better than I was. I also kicked up my exercising, which has seemed to help. I've come to the conclusion that the last few pounds are just going to come off slowly. I would like to weigh 155 as my goal, which is 13 pounds away. It looks like it will take considerable work and effort to get to that goal, but slowly and surely, I plan to make it with the help of this wonderful board. Joni 295/168/155

Hi Joni, Thank you for the warm welcome and very sound advice. I think part of the problem is just like young people think they will live forever so do we think now that we are thin(ner), we will never again be fat--so we tend to go off the wagon and be careless. Everyday I get up and say that today I am going to be totally compliant to the WL way of thinking but then I cheat a little. Not much, just a little but enough to get me frustrated and annoyed with myself. I know I need to drink more water and up my protein and I am hoping that this is all I need to get the battery started again. I already feel comfortable here and all of you have made me feel welcome. I was hoping that I could stay and not have to wait until the end of September to be official at this board. Thanks again! Hugs Marianne

Hi Marianne, I was looking over your profile, the pics are great, I gotta tell ya I love those shoes on the after pic. The tan sandels.

Marianne--Congrats on your tremendous success. You have done a great job. I really have no advice for you as I am in the same boat. Just wondering--is your goal 135? I checked your profile and that seems like what you may be thinking. Are you 50 or so? I guess my thought is maybe 135 is an unreasonable goal. I know that when I was young that was about where my weight was--but we are older now. I know that I am the same height and my goal has always been 150. One thing I do know for a fact--is that about a year out it basically comes down to dieting. Simply we have to burn more than we put in. Not great advice--but that is my thoughts on it. Good luck to you on meeting your goal.

Hi Lynda I must say that you too have brought up a good point. I am thinking the 135 which is the weight I was when I was married at 24. Why is it that when we were younger to weigh what we do now we would have been considered heavy but now we are considered to be at a "normal" weight. Since it has been difficult to lose the last few pounds I have come to the conclusion that I would even settle for 140-145. If 155 is to be my normal weight I could accept it as long as this is the highest I will go. I have heard so many horror stories of how WL patients have gained back the pounds that surgery has helped them shed. It happened to a co-worker of mine. After WLS she gained back 30 lbs and is now going to Weigh****chers. I do not want to do this. I refuse to go to WW ever again. I did it so many times that now I do not want to have to seek out other assistance other than all of you on these WL boards. I am not trying to cop out on my goals but rather trying to use my refusal for WW as a tool to keep me focused and on track. Thanks for your help. Any other suggestions feel free to send them my way! Hugs Marianne

No one here is going to quibble about a few weeks! If you feel you have grown into this board then this is where you should be. A couple of things to reinforce what others have said. I am a proponent of using the protein drinks as a supplement and boosting your protein intake. I have continued with them all throughout my 15 months and have yet to have more than two week stall. I tend to agree with Linda about goal weight and age. Although my surgeon didn't want to set any goal weight he conservatively said 170# was realistic for my age and height (56 and 5'5"). He tolerates my wish to get to 160# (knowing that PS will take off another 10#) with an eye roll. Regarding weight loss after one year his consise words were, "It isn't rocket science, burn more calories than you take in!" Good Luck and Welcome!

Hi Mary Thank you too for your response to my dilemma. Each response back has been informative yet different points touched as to things I am not thinking of. With your point taken, if in fact I have as much as 10#s of extra skin then in reality the 155 is not 155 but rather 145. I never bothered to think of the extra skin our bodies refuse to shed after WLS. Thank you for sharing and caring as well as for the lovely welcome! Hugs Marianne

Just wanted to let you know that I replied back on the main board. Linn

Hi Linn Thanks for the response and help. I am heading back that way after I leave this board. I will respond back there. Hugs Marianne