Frustrated Still

Yesterday was my four year anniversary of RNY.  I still have not gotten down to my goal weight.  Day of surgery was 242 yesterday weighed in 181.2.  The lightest I have gotten was 170.  I wanted to get down to 155 dr's initially said 147-155.  I heard over the years I was a lite weight which is something I never was before..... I have heard we lose weight slower, dont worry it will come off..... Well it still hasnt.  I have a friend wo had surgery the same month I did and is 127 and dr told her to gain 10 pds.   She is even 2 inches taller than me.   Yes I know I am healthier but I still compare myself to others, I still do not eat bread, rice, pastas chips I am using the tools I have learned but going no where.   I am getting my protein in still and cant do the pouch test, by 2nd day Im starving.......  I never have dumped, cant vomit since surgery and needless to say have lack of potty issues.  Maybe Im venting maybe Im crying out for help  I feel I am always hungry wanted to munch especially at night.   My downfall now has become rice cakes and sf cool whip.  But this is not why I havent lost weigh I havent in a year and half......  I feel like I didnt have surgery sometimes...     ANYONE HAVE ANY SECRET WEAPONS THAT WORK?????  HELP!!!! PLEASE........

I don't think I have any secret weapons that work.  I have only the plan that my Dr started before surgery and continued for years.  I have deviated some but basically it is the same.  120+ protein, 30 net carbs or less a day, 100 oz of fluid, exercise, get your vits/mins.  I have 20 oz of fluid before/between each meal, 4 meals a day, about 1300 calories a day which with walking and muscle pump, keeps me pretty even, not losing.  It doesn't include rice cakes or SF cool whip but I do treat myself from time to time with desert or a piece of chocolate. 

Surgery was for your tummy, not your head.  Maybe you need to check into some counciling or support groups to help with those issues.  Post your menus on Miles and menus for a while and see if there are suggestions. Go back to tracking every bite you put in your mouth.  Maybe you will find the answer to your issues.

for me,it IS rice cakes and sugar free cool whip or something equally carby.  May I ask why you think they are not the problem for  you? Have you looked at the carbs in those items? 

Every time we eat carbs our body has to hold water to process them. About the time the body releases tha****er,we eat more carbs and the process starts all over again or continues. 

Maybe you don't eat bread rice pasta and chips but you ARE eating carbs and not using your tool,even though you think you are. 

I feel like I can say this to you cause I am right there in The same boat with you. 4 years out and not reached goal. I have to be honest with myself and admit that I do Eat off plan and even though I try really hard to be on plan,I often am not. 

Carbs are going to make you hungry for more carbs and also hungry for and able to eat more of everything. You will be shocked at your restriction if you are ever able to wean off carbs. 

Maybe it is time for you to honest with yourself too?

GL

I know the rice cakes and over doing the SF whip is a portion but I havent lost for over a year and I just started this past month.   I also drink now alot of coffee.  Not making excuses I stopped losing way before these items.....

I get you. Were there some other foods that had your attention prior to what you are eating now? I would just about bet the farm.....

Stacy,

I am so sorry you are feeling so frustrated. I too did not hit my goal. I wanted to get to 120, saw 131 briefly, regained to 157.

Some days I say I can almost forget I had surgery, except that I still will dump on too much sugar or fat. I still cant eat much at a sitting but can graze through out the day. Never have thrown up since surgery either.

I dont have any secret weapons, but I realized for myself I really need to stay away from refined carbs. White flour or sugar seems to make me hungrier. Even too much coffee can trigger me to want to eat something sweet. And now its so much more about my head hunger and stress triggers.

When I saw 157 on the scale, I started to log the food I was eating. I was eating too many calories and too many pretzels, saltines or graham crackers. They went down very easy! I just used a little spiral note book and a pencil. I was avoiding the scale and hating that my pants and clothes were getting way too tight.

So it was back to basics for me. The first few days are the worst, giving up the carbs, but then I started to feel better and that constant hungry feeling seemed to diminished. But let my son get suspended like today and all of the sudden I find my head in the frig! Old habits die hard!

The weight is definitely coming off slower now, but thats ok.

Taking all my vitamins, iron and calcium

I dont drink 30 minutes before or after a meal. or snack.

I found I am not drinking enough, still working on that, trying to get atleast 64 ounces or more

Dense proteins then some veggies or a very small salad for meals.

I still hate breakfast first thing, so I always start off with a protein coffee every morning.

Snacks have to be planned

I even have to be careful with fruit, fruit can get me wanting more and more. So its fruit with cheese or nuts or greek yogurt.

When was the last time you say your surgeon or nutritionist? Maybe they can help you.

It really helped me see my nutritionist again and reviewing things. I even brought out my food scale again to measure out my protein to make sure I am getting 3 to 4 ounces of cooked meat. Which I usually cant finish any more.

I am grateful I still have my tool, and it still works when I follow the rules. But am I perfect, heck no! But everyday I try and most days I am successful.

Keep posting and getting support. I found that I was avoiding the OH, not going to yoga as much and not even walking the dog like I used too. Now I am trying to take care of myself and move more. 

Hang in there! 

{{{Big Hugs}}}

Maria- thank you so much for the kind words.... sounds like me ....... Except I have to not just put my mind but also my body into motion...... I stopped going to support meetings cause I left them so upset that so many people lost alot of weight fast even more than me being years out in the first 6 months....  Thank you for being encouraging!!!

I think your post is helpful. Not everyone is going to lose to a "goal" weight and obesity is a life long struggle.  Some of us may have other health issues that may contribute to re-gain and carbs dont help nor does emotional eating.  I like what Maria had to add......start looking at what may be NOT helping even with maintenance and what emotionally can help you feel better about your life.  Without WLS you would be way higher than your starting weight and that to me, is success.  Think of ways you can self care including exercise and I bet you may see some weight loss again.  Biggest thing to remember, you are NOT alone and you need to be kind to yourself.  This board should be about support and helping with the struggles NOT just successes.  This weekend I am going to a  class for WL post ops that helps deal with some of these post op struggles (see NAWLS site).  Again, you are not alone.

Good luck and keep posting.

~~Jennifer

p.s. I like cool whip WAY too much too.  On my protein ice cream. 

Oh my gosh. Thank you. Thank you thank you....

Stacy,

I hope you are feeling less frustrated.

I was thinking after seeing Jennifer's post, NAWLS has a good website for some information.

I know you mentioned the 5 day pouch test, which is so hard to do, but Kaye Bailey has some good videos that helped me realize why I doing some of the things I was doing, especially about dry carbs, like pretzels. I found them on You tube.

There is also one (on you tube) of Katie Jay from NAWLS where she discusses her journey and regain issues. It was good too.

Meltingmama.net, she has a very honest blog about her 9.5 year journey and her struggles. Her last entry talks about being able to maintain for the last 6 months after being able to lose her regain. (Her name is Beth, cant remember the last name but she posted this video)

I hope this helps, and to know you are not alone.

I know some days, I focus on my gratitude list, like my mom and brother are diabetic on meds, and now my diabetes is in remission.

I can tie my shoes without having charlie horses under my ribs and paint my toenails.

For a couple of examples. No matter how small it is, it still is a victory.

~Maria