I feel like a complete failure

Okay guys!! I'm having some issues here. I am 8 months post op now, and I'm down 125. I've been pretty much stuck within the past 10 pounds for about 4 months now. I can't seem to get anywhere, I fluctuate. I started at 305 and I'm now down to 185. I wanted to get down to 150 before my one year post op anniversary. I know that it sounds like I've lost a lot, and some of you are probably thinking she should be happy. but I'm not happy, and granit I may never be 100% happy, but the problem I am having, is that I am not really losing anymore. I know everyone hits plateaus, but do they normally last this long??? I feel like I'm a failure!! I feel like I'm not eating well enough, I feel like I'm not getting enough excercise. I have got to be doing something wrong!!! I was losing TONS of weight, REALLY quickly, then I had to have my gall bladder taken out, and since then I haven't been able to really lose anything at all!! Could this be related to that?? I just don't know anymore!! All I know is that I feel like a complete failure, and I wish I could just see the scale move!! I knew it was going to start slowing down, but this is ridiculous. Is there any good diets to help me move over this hump? Any advice would be wonderful at this point. Also, Does anyone ever just have pains in there abdominal area? This is kind of an embarrasing question, but we are all adults here and this is part of nature. Whenever I have to have a bowel movement I have horrible pains in my abdomen, I am talking HORRIBLE, like brings me to tears, can't hardly move, want to pass out pain. And I'm not constipated. I could have a Bowel movement every other day and still have these pains, even every day, I still have these pains, I have them any time I have to have a bowel movement. Can any body relate?? I know that we are all going through similar things ,but does anyone ever feel alone? I feel like no one really understands me!! If I talk to anybody that hasn't had GBS, and I say that I am unhappy that I am not losing any more weight, and I feel like a failure, they all just tell me that I'm full of it and that i've lost so much already that I shouldn't be comlaining and things like that! well I know I've lost a lot, and I am very very thankful that I had the surgery! but I just don't want to be a failure!!! I don't want to be one of those people that wasn't a "successful surgery" I don't know, please help!! Please share some advice!!

You already are a sucess story, you have lost 125 pounds!!!!  Have you talked to your doctor?  I am sure that they would be able to give you advice,  Stop being so hard on yourself.  You have accomplished a lot in 8 months!

I think you look and are doing fabulous! I think what helped me get over my last stall was upping my protein, and not eatting as many carbs. Damn those tasty things! I already drink about 80ounces of water a day and go to the gym 4-5 times a week! SO i think as long as you are doing these things you will be fine!  I've always heard the last 20 pounds are the hardest to get off, i can't wait to be 20 pounds from goal!

Have you ever seen the show that is aired on VH1 called the Celebrity Fit club? The doctor that helps the celebrities has a book out called the Fat Smash Diet. He was on the Tyra Banks show a couple of months back and has helped RNY patients shed there last few pounds. Look into it that can be an option for you.. Also try decreasing your carbs and eating protein only with lots and lots of water I heard that is another way. By the way you look great! You are an inspiration to me. You will get to your goal I can tell! Have a good weekend ~Diana~

I hear you!  I am almost 2 years out and I fluctuate 5 pounds but haven't really "lost" anything for a long long time.  I know how frustrating it can be.  So though I have to tell you 125 pounds down in less than a year is AWESOME - I know it doesn't always feel awesome when you feel like you still have a ways to go.  So here are some thoughts... What are you eating?  How many calories / grams of protien / grams of carbs and how many ounces of water are you getting in each day?  There are a couple things that could be inhibiting your loss - you might be getting too FEW calories (yes, it is possible to have too few calories to lose weight), you might be getting the wrong calories (the wrong calories in our case are empty simple carbs - like white bread, cereal sweets. -, liquid calories - things like coffee drinks, alcohol, soda, sports drinks - or fatty calories - like fried foods, full fat cheeses/milks/yogurt) or you just might have too many calories.  Here is how you figure out if any of those 3 cases are your problem, for a week write down every bite and every sip of everything you eat and drink and keep track of when you eat and drink it.  Then go on a website like fitday.com and plug in what you ate to get a good idea of how many calories and grams of fat / protien / carbs you are getting in a day.  Then call your surgeon's office to get an appointment with your nutritionist if you have one, if not see about getting in to see a nutritionist who is familar with WLS, and talk to them about your food log.  Be completely honest or they can't really help you.  Ask for specific amount of calories, carbs and protien you should be getting and then adjust your diet accordingly.   Do you have an eating schedule?  If not it is really easy to just eat a little bit here, a little bit there all day (this is called grazing and it is a thorn in my flesh some days).  With grazing the calories rack up quickly without you even realizing it.  I have a "feeding" every 3 hours and that helps me to have structure so I don't end up grazing.  Every 3 hours I get my meal (protien rich most of the time, other times I have some fruit or other complex carbs) and eat slowly for 20-25 minutes or until I am satisfied and then I STOP - eating after 20-25 minutes starts to be grazing because after that amount of time food starts to empty out of your pouch so you are able to eat more per sitting.  If you don't have an eating schedule, see about trying one until you figure out a rythm that works for you. Do you drink with your meals?  It does make a difference - especially for those of us who are past "honeymoon" phases.  Drinking with meals washes food out of your pouch sooner so you are able to eat more and then you are hungrier again sooner - which is working against how your tool is supposed to work for you.  I have a couple swallows of water every now and then with meals but I try not to make it a habbit.  Drinking with meals is one of the top common traits among post-ops who gain weight back.  I saw the statistic but have since forgotten, but I think it was one of the top 3 (grazing and drinking soda were the other top common traits).   Now let's talk about carbs.  You might very well know all this but just in case you don't - there are two kinds of carbs and neither one of them is 100% evil or 100% good.  There are simple carbs (white bread, pasta, sweets, chips, and cereal) and complex carbs (veggies, fruit and whole grains).  Simple carbs should be enjoyed in extreme moderation because your body cannot process them and use them for energy as effeciently as it can use complex carbs, fats and protien.  When you eat simple carbs they are easily broken down so they are quickly absorbed - which causes your blood sugar to spike.  When your blood sugar rises rapidly your body over-reacts by releasing too much insulin, which causes your blood sugar levels to bottom out.  This means you are going to be hungrier sooner and it is going to leave you craving more simple carbs (it is a vicious cycle from here until it is broken).  Protien is the food that breaks down the slowest so it causes your blood sugar to steadily rise and level off, leaving your body plenty of time to react with appropriate levels of insulin so you remain satisfied longer.  In between you find complex carbs (these are good because they have much needed fiber) and fats (yes, fats can be a good thing). That is it for now...I have some more ideas that might help you (they serve me pretty well) but I feel I have gone on long enough for now.  I hope some of this helps you - take it or leave it as needed.  I look forward to hearing about when you hit that goal!  You can do it.