Question:
9 months out and looking for others that had surgery about the same time.

I am frustrated with myself. Nothing makes me sick. I am afraid of failing and I feel out of control. HELP! I have lost 81 pounds, I had my surgery on Aug. 15, 2002. I have not lost anything in about 6 weeks. Is there anyone that has been as bad as I have? Nothing makes me sick. I'm bad with my vitamins. I have been snacking on junk. I'm not exercising. Have I screwed everything up? No support groups close to home. HELP!!! Does anyone cheat?    — Rosemarie D. (posted on May 5, 2003)

May 5, 2003
Hi there. I had surgery 4 days after you. I am not going to lie, sometimes I do sneak in a chip here and there, things I know I shouldnt be eating. But I do not make a habit of it. Start taking your vitamins, exercising, even if its walking, and get yourself back on track. I know that it gets frustrating. I haven't had a plateau yet *knock on wood*, but the weight has slowed down coming off. So keep your head up and use this as the tool that was given to you. Any questions, feel free to email me. -152 lbs.
   — Shavonne P.

May 5, 2003
Hi. I had surgery 15 days before you. For the past two months or so I seem to swing w/my eating habits -- out of control then back to the basics. It definitely seems to get worse when I am ovulating and PMSing. I have had the same fears -- "Oh my god, right back where I started!!" But I am not. I weigh 150 instead of 265. I am healthy and strong. I do exercise -- though I slacked out of boredom over the past week. I am going to join a gym, I just feel better when I am active. So anyway ... here's what's working for me to get back on track. I cannot stick to a diet, so I don't. I get in 70 - 90 grams protein/day. No more than 100 of carbs. Some will say that's horrible. But my blood work is great and I still lose 1-2 lbs/week. I get in no less than 80 oz water/day. Once a week I go out to dinner and order what I want to eat. The good news is, our small pouches make it pretty hard to overeat. I get in trouble with grazing, so I make my new healthy eating fit into that tendency. 3 meals, 3 snacks keeps me pretty happy. I think we will always have these food demons -- now we get to add fear to the package. Fear of "going back". I know that will not happen for me. I get on the scale everyday and I track every morsel, good or very very bad, on Fitday. It keeps me honest. Wanna hear a cool thing. On my most out of control, eat whatever I can get in days (these are vvvvveeeeerrrrryyyy few and far between) I have never gone over 2000 calories. Normally I am around 1200-1300/day. That used to be breakfast!! Hang in, get back to the basics, and find what works FOR YOU. Good luck, sweets.
   — Jennifer W.

May 5, 2003
PS -- Get your vitamins in!!! I have a small earring box I keep in my purse. I fill it each night with the next day's supps. That lets me know I've remembered to take them all.
   — Jennifer W.

May 5, 2003
I had surgery Sept. 19th, 2003 and this past month I have been struggling with alot of the same issues. Although I have actually lost pretty fast up until the 6th mo. I am now losing very slow(which I know happens), but I feel I would make my goal weight quicker if I did'nt eat so many chips and now im eating breads and even keep testing pieces of candy. I do TRY to exercise, but im not doing it as often as I should. The vitamins....really bad! My husband has to remind me all the time, but I hate taking them and they all taste so gross to me! This is a surgery that everyone is calling a tool, so I guess we are still normal lol it has not changed our thinking and habbits. I'm going to start trying harder to be like I was the first 6mo. Good luck to you!
   — Sandy M.

May 5, 2003
Ooops, I meant Sept. 19, 2002!
   — Sandy M.

May 5, 2003
I was August 5 and lost fast for 5 months, then essentially stopped. The last 4 months, I've only lost when I've gone back to liquids. It doesn't seem to matter at all if I'm "perfect" or "horrible" with food choices, so I admit I've been fairly horrible. At least I don't gain. I am good about vitamins and starting to be good about exercise. It's VERY frustrating though to not be losing anymore. -154 with 90 to go!
   — jen41766

May 5, 2003
Not a whole lot makes me sick. Sugar sometimes, if I eat a lot of it. I have hit plateaus here and there. I had surgery July 18, 2002. When I hit a plateau I go back to protein and salads. I too am not good with the vitamins. BAD BAD BAD. I have lost 117 lbs. and want to lose at least 30 more. That would put me at about 150. I'm 5'8". My advice would be to stay away from the carbohydrates. No matter how LITTLE I eat if I eat carbs I lose NOTHING. For 3 or 4 days try eating salads, protein, and stay away from the carbs. See if that works. You've come this far I know you won't go back. : )
   — Sherri_H

May 5, 2003
I was reading your profile and you sound more than slightly depressed. The fact that you're sabatoging yourself (diet-wise) and have no local support leads me to suggest that you seek out professional support. Hate to sound like Dear Abby, but sometimes we need someone to help us deal with emotional issues. Good luck and congrats on all you've acheived!
   — [Deactivated Member]