Worried that I'm failing myself...

I've been hesitant to even come on OH.com for a few reasons...one being that there are so many new people on the VSG main forum - I didn't realize most of the folks I was familiar with were "over here" in the maintenance group...but now I found you all!  Phew...glad for that!!! The other reason is that I have not lost much since December (2 lbs?) and am feeling down about it.  It's hard to read on the VSG main forum every day about how so and so has lost the same amount of weight as me (or more) and had surgery waaaay after me. I know what I need to do (journal, reduce carbs/cals, exercise, etc.)  I just need to get my head in the right place to get back on track. It's depressing me though because it feels like old times when I'd diet, lose a few pounds, get off track then struggle to get losing again only to give up because its so f*cking hard. Well, here I am again doing the same crap. Sucks. I'm hoping someone "gets" what I'm saying, has been there and can offer words of encouragement because I really need it right now.

I was getting a little bored with the main board, so here I am even though I am not at maintenance - nobody has run me off yet. I totally understand.  But it is normal for the weight loss to slow down at this stage.  My stomach can hold so much more now, so it takes more for me to feel satisfied.  This will be a lot of work for the rest of our lives (food log, exercise, etc).  Part of me says - I am happy with me now, but I know I should go ahead and get to goal.  WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!!! This is not another "diet".  This is the new healthy us!!
I would recommend some of the books Brandilynn has talked about and surround yourself with those books and positive/helpful friends and family.  Let them know you need their encouragement.
Kathy

Hi Kathy,

Thanks for putting the "we" in "we can do this"....it reminds me that I am not alone in this especially when there are times in my life now where I do feel like I am on my own. I can't really talk to any of my friends and family because they just don't get it. A very good reason why I need to come to folks here on OH - I really do need the support that I get here.

yeah i got off track for a bit, and then i read a blog of one of my friends on OH that has someone ask her a question.

It said, was she really happy to settle for this or did she want to get goal.... The words kind of hit me hard as i had always "settled" and never truely reached a goal i had set, something always came up or happended and i lost my way..

so with that i decided not this time i wasnt going to settle for 2nd best when i was what was stopping me from reaching goal..

what helped me was cindy and her sleevin & achecvin threads... it made me accountable and i set small goals and got not only down to my nuts goal but i kept changing my goal lower...

over christmas i put on a few lbs so im no longer at my lowest and working to try and get down again...

you can do this... sometimes its easy to lose the motivation we had at the start but maybe you can use cindys thread too and set small and achievable goals one at a time.

Thanks Linda...I appreciate the insight. It's good to know that I am not the only one who has gotten off track. At first I thought it was a stall but then after a while it became apparent that it was something other than that. I reined things in tight about a month ago but only lost a pound so I think that had me down. I think feeling down like that causes me to lose motivation. Well, its time I stop wallowing in self-pity. Time to put on my big girl panties and get on with it (not the fat girl panties though!!! ha!).

Welcome to the maintenance group. We are in it for the long haul. Lots of folks here are not at goal but feel like there is more useful communication from those who have been at this for awhile.

Your situation is not unique. Go through the prior posts and you will see lots of folks in your situation. Most of us slow down later in the process and get derailed a time or two. you know what to do. A good way to do it is to check in here on the daily weigh in and daily exercise report and daily goal that Cindy is kind enough to post. It helps keep you accountable. Another thing is to set some goals like by June 1, I will have lost 10 pounds or something reasonable. Then enter it in the goals section of your OH page so its up there. I have done this as a maintenance task to avoid regain.

Mainly just check in often to keep your head in the game and learn from all the others. You can get more weight off. Just pretend like you are about two months out from surgery and eat like that. Find some protein things that satisfy you and get rid of any junk.

Glad to have you here.

Diane

I know exactly what you mean. I got down to goal and had no trouble what so ever staying there for a year. Then during the last holiday season, I put on 8 lbs . Now I am doing exactly what you said. I am losing and gaining the same few lbs over and over. I can't seem to keep going down and stay there like I could before. s

It's a lot harder now than it was almost 2 years ago when I first had surgery. But as Diane says, we are in it for the long haul so I am happy to be working with that 8 lbs and not gaining more.

OMG this post is exactly me. I am at my year mark next week and havent lost any weight since december. Part of me says " I am happy where I am" but the other part wants me to get to goal. Part of the problem is people keep telling me to stop losing weight and thats messing with my head a bit. No excuses I am back on track, with tracking my food and cutting those nasty carbs down. I havent gained any weight, but I havent lost any since December...I loved to Run and have even let that slide...due to my hectic work/school schedule right now. Hugs to you, and keep on keeping on...I know I am going to try to refocus.

http://books.google.com/books?id=Nl2bfrlGW4AC&lpg=PR1&ots=Fr kuEEWBTi&dq=%22thin%20commandments%22&pg=PR4#v=onepage&q&f=f alse

A whole change in perspective can come from moving an inch to the left or the right girlie.  This is a link that blueskyday found of one of the books I cannot shut up about, 10 Thin Commandments.  It does not have the diet part, but I do not advocate that anyway.

I hope you can take some time to read it and find and implement structure that can be helpful to you.

*squeeze*

Thanks Brandilynn...I took a quick look at the link this morning and it looks like something that could be really helpful. I'll be delving into it some more this evening when I have more time!