I can really eat and it is SCARY!!!

[TimMcGrawFan]

Hey ya'll, it's been awhile since I have posted...I have had ALOT going on. My last posts were about the health problems I was having and as it turns out, I do indeed have MS. Fighting with the insurance company now as they will not cover the cost of the medication that the Dr. wants me to take....at any rate, I have been STUCK and I MEAN STUCK for months now. I can not lose any more weight and I am a number stalker. What I mean by that is the number on the scale has become my worse enemy. I weigh every day and the numbers refuse to budge. People keep telling me that maybe that is the ideal weight for me as I am 5 8 1/2 and big boned. Yes, I really am big boned..my bones are large..:-) and I am not using that as an excuse. I keep hearing "you don't need to lose any more weight" and they can't believe that I haven't met my goal weight yet. One of the scariest things to me right now is the fact that I am able to eat anything and the portion sizes are getting bigger :-( I am not even 1 year out from surgery yet...is anyone else having this problem? Some days I feel like all I do is eat and I am sooooo scared I am going to gain this weight back. My stomach would hurt when I ate too much before, but now it doesn't. I do stop eating when I am full, the problem is I am able to eat more. I have a friend who had the by pass and she was about 242-247 at surgery. We are the same height and she is now about 125 and in a sz. 4/6! Although I do not want to be that little, it just amazes me the difference in the amount of weight loss..she will be 2 yrs. post op this October. Is anyone else able to eat more that is about the same time frame as I am with post op?

[vickybeads]

Just from reading your post I see three things you should do:

1. Stop weighing every day. Only weigh once a week.
2. Break out the measuring tape and start taking your measurements once a month.
3. Start a food diary or journal online (Spark.com, MyFitnessPal.com, etc.) and track what/how much you're eating.

There's a great book I just found called "The Portion Teller Plan" by Lisa R. Young, Ph.D, R.D. It's specifically about portion sizes and how to keep to the right portions. Portion control is so important and I know, for me, it's one of my weaknesses. Fortunately, my new tummy is helping with that.

Anyway, #3 is probably going to be your eye opener. It will really help. Don't worry about anyone else's weight loss or size, just concentrate on YOU. Stress will not help you cope with everything that's going on with your health.

You are strong and can do this! Cheers. :hugs:

[TimMcGrawFan]

I know I shouldn't weigh every day, only once a week and I did try that, but got even more frustrated when the numbers still didn't move! I have been under a lot of stress and as we all know, stress is not our friend. I tend to eat more and more of what's not good for me when I am stressed..uuggghhhh, it's a constant battle!

Just from reading your post I see three things you should do:

1. Stop weighing every day. Only weigh once a week.
2. Break out the measuring tape and start taking your measurements once a month.
3. Start a food diary or journal online (Spark.com, MyFitnessPal.com, etc.) and track what/how much you're eating.

There's a great book I just found called "The Portion Teller Plan" by Lisa R. Young, Ph.D, R.D. It's specifically about portion sizes and how to keep to the right portions. Portion control is so important and I know, for me, it's one of my weaknesses. Fortunately, my new tummy is helping with that.

Anyway, #3 is probably going to be your eye opener. It will really help. Don't worry about anyone else's weight loss or size, just concentrate on YOU. Stress will not help you cope with everything that's going on with your health.

You are strong and can do this! Cheers. :hugs:

[Mbenson5]

I had my surgery 6/13 and have lost 81 lbs. so we are very close to being at the same place. I am finding that I can eat a lot - I ate a whole grilled cheese yesterday for heaven's sake!! I couldn't believe it. I rarely eat bread but yesterday I just wanted it so badly that I went ahead and had it - now I am satisfied. I have been stuck at 197-198 for about a month and I am getting frustrated too. I think you are at a lower weight and it's just going to come off slower. I won't tell you not to weigh every day because I do it too - I need and want to keep track of things and if I ignore it for a week, I'd become like WTH after a few days. I am very sorry to hear of your diagnosis- that is rough. I worked with several people who have MS (I am an OT) and it affects everyone differently. I hope you will be able to find someone who will help you retain all of the strength you have. Take care and hang in there - I am also afraid that I won't be able to lose more - I still have 62 to lose - some people start out at that... I just get the feeling some days I'll never make it to goal. Take care! Melissa

[carolynodien]

I am 1 year, 5 months out. In the first 3 months I had lost 60 lbs...that was heaven! Then things slowed down a lot. I didn't stress out about it. I weigh every day too, and as long as I wasn't gaining, I felt successful. I mean, 60 lbs off had done wonders for my body. I wasn't skinny minnie but I wasn't truly big any more. (size 16 then). I think my attitude worked for me. I managed to lose another 12 lbs. over the next few months. Like I said, as long as I didn't gain, I was totally happy...and this morning, after knowing I had lost a bit more in the past year but not really thinking about it...I pulled out my weight/measurements records and realized that over the past year, while sort of thinking I was just "maintaining" I had actually lost another 20 lbs! Breathe, try not to stress...I know I make it sound simple, but I do know that mind over matter works wonders. (Now if I could just apply this thinking to my lovelife I would find my soulmate...;-) )

[carolynodien]

And, oh, I forgot to add that yes, I can eat more than I did initially, and sometimes that scared me a little bit, but I also know that I don't eat nearly as much as I used to, and also, if I follow the "PROTEIN FIRST" philosophy I can't eat as much...it's the carbs that I can pack in!

I know a few of the girls who had surgery when I did got to their goal weight within the first year, and I felt a bit jealous at first, but I also rejoiced for them. I never thought to myself that it wouldn't happen for me. I am now in a size 10...when I get to my ideal weight I might be a size 8, and I will look super skinny...don't worry, not everyone CAN be a size 2/4/6...it won't happen for me, but I can be the best I can be!!!

[Truffles]

I can definitely eat more now but I try not to.

You know in your brain how much you are supposed to eat, so try and portion that amount out onto a small plate/bowl.

I would start by doing the 5-Day Pouch Test to reset myself. During that time, I would write out a realistic meal plan for the following week. At a time when you are full and feeling satisfied, make up the next day's meals/snacks into the appropriate-sized containers/plates/bowls. By doing this, you will not only reset your stomach, but you will reset your eyes/brain.

By the end of the second week, I think you will be back on track.

The Golden Rules:

- 2 litres of fluids (I can't drink water anymore so I drink herb tea)
- Protein first
- Veggies/fruit second
- Carbs last
- No fluids 30 minutes before/after meals
- 6 small meals per day

Oh, and I would go through my pantry and toss out any crap food. If it's not there, you won't be tempted.

[TimMcGrawFan]

I really need to step back and look at how far I have come and focus more on that and less on how far I still have to go!! Thank you for reminding me of that....I am going to start saying this to myself every day when I wake and try not to focus so much on the weight that's not coming off but more on the weight that has

I am 1 year, 5 months out. In the first 3 months I had lost 60 lbs...that was heaven! Then things slowed down a lot. I didn't stress out about it. I weigh every day too, and as long as I wasn't gaining, I felt successful. I mean, 60 lbs off had done wonders for my body. I wasn't skinny minnie but I wasn't truly big any more. (size 16 then). I think my attitude worked for me. I managed to lose another 12 lbs. over the next few months. Like I said, as long as I didn't gain, I was totally happy...and this morning, after knowing I had lost a bit more in the past year but not really thinking about it...I pulled out my weight/measurements records and realized that over the past year, while sort of thinking I was just "maintaining" I had actually lost another 20 lbs! Breathe, try not to stress...I know I make it sound simple, but I do know that mind over matter works wonders. (Now if I could just apply this thinking to my lovelife I would find my soulmate...;-) )

[dlknigh]

I lost weight really fast in the start but now it's like the scale hasn't moved in months! I have lupus and on my bad days it's really easy to use food as a feel better. I'm sure that was one of the reasons I was so big! They don't call it comfort food for nothing! And yes, I too have noticed that I can eat so much more than before.... I've got the big bones too and while everyone (including my PCP) says I don't need to loose any more weight I REALLY would like to get smaller and loose another 30 pounds. But here's the kicker... I haven't gained ANY. I eat what I want. So since we are all here for support and advice mine to you is this... Enjoy your food and your life. Celebrate your success! Eat healthy - drink plenty of water! Congrats on your loss and good luck to you.

[curvymummy]

truffles thats fab advice... once my baby is born i will have to go back to basics as iv slipped and allowed crap bak into my house.

[littlebits]

Carolyn, please do another video update!!!

Regarding this post, I haven't lost (or gained) a pound since December...ugh!!! Now, I only weigh once a month (& tmi--was on my cycle during my February weigh-in) but I try not to stress. I currently wear a size 8 or 10, depending on the cut, in bottoms & a M/L in tops.

[carolynodien]

Carolyn, please do another video update!!!

I am planning to do another bikini video when I hit 170. I can't believe I am only 12 lbs. to goal!!! I am vamping up my exercise and cutting carbs!

[littlebits]

Congrats! I am so proud of you!!! My weight loss has stalled. Hopefully, I will start losing again soon!

[Lucy61]

I do weigh everyday... I did before surgery for a year and stopped my gaining weight. If I stall I dont' get frustrated, but I will continue to weigh daily to keep the weight from ever creeping back up

[Zetagirl66]

I was sleeved in August and I have lost 60 lbs. I gained 5 back and I was just appalled at that. I had a very stressful couple of months and I was eating all the wrong things. When I saw that weight gain I immediately started upping my workouts. I expect to gain some weight back but I know that I have to keep a reign in on what I eat. Cause I am a terrible emotional eater and I am a junk food addict. So I know that I have to watch what I eat. I eat more some days than others. Which at first freaked me out cause I thought I would not be able to eat a lot forever. My doctor did say that the pouch would stretch and I try to keep that in mind. Tracking what I eat in My fitness pal has been a great help cause as we know protein must be the mainstay of our diets. So I track to ensure that I make right choices for the protein intake. Some days are better than others and when I have a low protein day I try to ensure that I make it up the next day by doing more protein drinks or eating more protein. You just have to find that right balance for you and your life. Don't stress so much and as long as you know you are following the basics you will be OK. Everyone looses weight differently some folks loose more at first but as long as you are loosing you will be fine. I used to weigh everyday and I had to stop because I was getting too emotional about the scale I only weigh on Friday's now. Also take some pictures and compare them to your previous pictures so that you can see the difference. You may not see it on the scale but pictures don't lie!! Good luck !