DFW area, sleeved 5/31/11, struggling???

[jdilla]

Hi, I was sleeve back in May this year and did great. I have lost a total of 50 pounds! I should be ecstatic. I haven't lost any weight since Sept. Many changes have happened in my life (including moving) that have affected my progress. (but the blame is just laziness) Has anyone fallen off the wagon? How do you get back on? I don't want this incredible gift of having a life without high blood pressure, having more energy, and feeling and looking better about my myself be wasted. How do I get off this bad cycle?

[laniesmom]

Not sure why you are having such a long stall, but they do happen. My longest stall was about 4-5 weeks. BTW sometimes you stall because you are not eating enough and your body has slipped into starvation mode. Really just focus on protein and watch carbs.

[Secrettolife]

I purchased a bodybugg to help me see both sides of the equation. Calories in vs calories out. I've had it a month and believes it helps keep me motivated. It also forces me to track my food, which I wasn't doing before. Another very comparable tool is fitbit. Costs much less than bodybugg. See comparison below and be sure to read comments to article. Best of wishes.

Fitbit vs Bodybugg SP Side-by-Side Review

[FlowerGalTX]

Hi Jennifer,
I think acknowledging where you are at is a huge step to getting back on track.

If I were in your shoes here is literally what I would do for me.

I would do a restart. I would do a week long liquid diet - much like what you and I experienced either pre-op or week 2/3 of Dr. Kim's post-op plan. I would work on getting rid of bad foods (if any) and getting back to the basic fuel my body needs. This will work in two ways - it will somewhat shrink the stomach and fasting will also help with clarity of thought.

I would additionally walk 20 minutes a day at first and work my way up to an hour. I would literally MAKE myself get dressed, get out of the house, turn on a timer walk 10 minutes out and then walk 10 minutes back. I wouldn't focus on miles I would simply focus on moving. I would also add additional exercise by signing up for something fun like Zumba or doing some geocaching.

I would also schedule a session with a life coach or a counselor. Weight loss changes are dramatic inside and out. Talking with someone about all the emotions involved with the weight loss surgery as well as the move is important.

I would start being accountable to someone about eating and exercise. I could make sure they could see my LoseIt! logs and I would also intentionally post and contribute to the Gastric Sleeve board and be accountable about where I am in the journey.

I would also schedule an appointment for blood work. Sometimes a stall, or feeling tired or "blue" can be the result of a deficit in a vitamin, nutrient or hormone (i.e. thyroid).


Jennifer, you are so brave for sharing this with us and your post will encourage others to be accountable in their journeys as well.

I hope that you have the best success and start making steady process to reaching your goal. Really, with 50 pounds lost in 5 months you are on target for this procedure. A 10 pound loss per month is the average weight loss. Beat this physical/emotional stall and you will be on your way to reaching goal. Look forward to hearing of your success! =)

[alibrat72]

Yes, that happened to me. I stalled for 3 months. I had lost 50 lbs up to that point. I had to really count my calories and stick to staying under 800. When I stay under that it comes off without even thinking about it....but when I start to not pay attention, I find myself eating mindlessly. Another good thing to do is keep a journal....that keeps you honest with yourself. I have lost about 10 lbs since doing this and am happy with my weightloss. My surgery was on 1.11.11.

I see others who have lost way more than me, but I am happy and not gaining and slowly loosing weight.

[lynnden]

Hi Jennifer and congratulations on your 50 lb loss. That is really good.
You really aren't saying in your post what you consider to be the problem...you mention laziness and falling off the wagon so I assume you have stopped or slowed your exercise. Are you tracking your food, protein, carbs etc? I am sitting here on the computer trying not to think about my air dyne bicycle that is calling my name. I don't want to exercise...I really don't like it but I am going to do it anyway. I,too, used Dr Kim and I remember well his lecture about exercising regularly after the surg. Like you I want to make this work while I have the chance. Changes, like moving, can really add stress which can affect how well we follow our food intake. We can eat too much and eat the wrong things. Time is not on our side on this one. I have heard several different averages as to how long we can expect to lose weight and none of them has been over a year.
Jennifer, please commit to yourself to get back on track. You CAN do this. We are here to support your efforts. Exercise early....get it out of the way and track what you are eating. Try myfitnesspal.com. I have started using it and it has really helped me see where my strengths and weaknesses are in my eating patterns.
Good luck to you. I think most of us have all been, or will be, right where you are in this weight loss journey. Go,Jennifer, go - you can do this.

[Susan Y]

I was sleeved in April and have lost a total of 45 pounds. That would be great if I started at 200, but I started at 290. I haven't lost anything since September 22. Still going into this I wasn't sure if I would lose anything. I was already eating @400-700 calories a day for the 2 years prior to my surgery and still managed to gain weight. Plus I swim and hour a day. So I am very happy with the weight I've lost. Even if I never lose another pound I have still lost 45. I never worry about it. I've always been happy with myself regardless of the weight I am. Hang in there!

[Rubyslippers1]

congratulations on your 50 lb. weight loss. but what ru eating?

[sally321]

Hi there. I was in a very very similiar situation to you. I was sleeved on the 30th of May 2011 and I lost an incredible amount of weight without excercise etc... then in Sep I hit a stall... no matter what I did I couldnt lise the weight. I must admit that I wasnt eating to great either so I knew it was my fault. then I started reading these blogs...I was actually surprise when I saw all the post about people excercising because I was told I was not aloud to exercise for the first 6 months. anyway I spoke to my doc and he said he still doesnt suggest strenuous exercise until at least 6 months but I could start walking for 20 min a day. so 2 weeks ago I started walking 20 min every second day just to get myself use to it, increased my water intake and went back to high protein intake with almost no carbs and if I had to have something sweet I had a sugar free sweet.... needless to say I am another 6 pounds down

[lizbeth]

I totally understand, I as I am doing the very same thing. I seem to eat mindlessly, sometimes constantly. I know when I am putting something into my mouth that I don't need to like a candy bar, cookies, ice cream, chips, blah, blah, blah...or eating too much, and that I shouldn't be doing this, but still, I keep on doing it... Although I do not weigh myself constantly, I know I'm not dropping the weight as I should. I worked hard to lose what I have and am very happy with the loss, but I still am not at goal and darn it I wanted to be there before Thanksgiving. I only have 20-25lbs to go and I know how to lose it...but I don't know, maybe I'm sabbotaging myself because of past failures. My body is changing because I am now into a size 10 jeans and am very happy about that, but it's not enough. I should be at goal by now.

I so very much wish there was a support group nearby where I live, we just moved to the Grapevine/Flower Mound area. When I was in weight watchers, and went weekly to my meetings, I was held accountable, so I was accountable. There are some support groups in the Dallas area, but I am not going into Dallas (traffic sucks) for a support group. Maybe I should start one, hmmmm. Maybe I will...

I know I need to exercise, AND I HATE EXERCISING!! But it is necessary...And I have decided to stop buying the things that I don't need to put into my mouth, cause if they are not here, I won't eat them! Sorry for rambling on, but I just wanted you to know that you are not alone. There are others out here that still struggle.

[buddyd11]

Thank you for your post, it takes alot of courage to come on here and talk about what is going on in your life on this journey. Sounds to me like you have the drive and the guilt to succeed. Let the Guilt of doing bad things or not doing things like exercise Drive you. Guilt is a very powerful thing when used properly. When I dont walk on the treadmill and workout I feel guilty much like a person who is real religeous feels guilty about missing church. I dont like the guilt and appologize to myself for it. Keep your chin up and dont be afraid to feel guilty..

[jdilla]

I chuckled reading your reply...You sound like me! I haven't lost any on a couple of months, but I haven't gained any either. I have beeneating all the wrong stuff. Granted, I can't eat very much of the bad stuff, but I am sabotaging myself. I haven't made a consious effort to exercise either. I think that would help my depression as well. You know it really sucks that you KNOW what will make you better, but you DONT do it. I dont live near a support group either. Part of me says that I dont need it, but in truthfully- I do. I need accountability. Thank you for your truthfulness and your....just you! I hope that you will make those last few pounds, but if not before Thanksgiving- when it is right. Thanks again.

[jdilla]

When I started, I was as gung ho as you! I also had Dr. Kim and I was a stickler. I lost 18 pounds before surgery on that 2 week diet. I lost weight very quickly, but stress, depression, and my old ways have messed me up. U r right about starting over. I have thought about that many times. It is so hard. I'm so bad that I have started drinking soda again!!! Today was a new day....no SODA! Exercising is starting again today. I'm going to do this. It is hard to stay motivated wihtout a support system. My husband is awful! Being a stay-at-home mom has also aided in the bad food intake. Excuses....Thank you for your encouragement. I will try to stay on the website to seek encouragement and tips for better results. Good luck to you on your journey. Just remember 6 months down the road....ME! It happens quickly. Thanks again.

[lizbeth]

Yippee!!! I found a support group here in Grapevine that is thru the Baylor system and it meets the second tuesday of the month from 6:30p-8:30p, so I am going tomorrow night. It is just a little over 3 miles from me!! I am so glad I looked this morning.
I keyed in WLS support groups near grapevine/flower mound and this one came up, so they are out there and I don't have drive to Dallas, whew!!!!