Some help please.

I am really stepping out on a limb here, but I need some help and support. I have been wanting to post this for the last couple of weeks, but always ended up not doing it out of fear of being judged. I have spoken to some very supportive people the last couple of days and I feel strong enough to go ahead and post.
I had my surgery on July 31st. I was doing great in the begining. But in the last couple of months I have hit a stall. I look at others that have had surgery during the same month as me, and they are just melting. Not me. At my highest I was 307 pds. I went into surgery at 262.5, when I weighed today I am at 230. Seriously? Only 32.5 pds lost in 4 months? I did lose inches. I went from a 26/28 to a 16/18. I have gone from a 3x blouse to xl. As of today, even though it is a Wednesday, I have gone back to basics. I am trying to up my protein, but that is hard for me. I am drinking my water. I am getting my vitamins in. I am going to try to cut most of the carbs. I just found out there are carbs in milk, fruits and veggies! I know I should have knew this. I am upping my exercise, as much as possible. My 3 month blood tests came back all normal. I am off all medications, per my pcp. I don't know what can be stopping my losing. I am quite frustrated and I feel like a failure. I feel quite alone, like I am the only one this has experenced this.
I am open to all helpful suggestions and word of support and encouragement. If any of the "old-timers" have experienced this same stall, so early, could you please share how you got through this? I just feel like I am hitting my head against a steel wall. I have gone through my binder from Kaiser Options and talked to some people, but now I want to hear from you, my friends and support system. Thank you in advance.
Huge hugs to all,
Michelle

Michelle,

No judgement here and I think going back to basics is a good start.  If I remember correctly I hit a stall at about 3 months or maybe 4.  Stalls are normal and they are going to happen.  Also, remember that you need carbs for your brain to function properly.  So here are some tips I would give you!;

1. Protein. Protein. Protein.  (Focus on your protein and acheiving your protein goal daily.  When I don't reach my protein goal daily I start to stall.  The denser the protein the longer you will feel full.)
2. Water
3. Exercise
4. Prepare and Plan

This is all I can think of for now.  I am glad you are reaching out and please don't EVER feel like you can't come to the boards for support!  ;-) 
L

Thank you so much for all your help. I greatly appreciate it.  I am working on my protein! My goal was 82 right? Geez, I would lose my head if it wasn't attached.

I would shoot for 85 to 100. 

I am still to new to give out advice on that, but please don't give up.  I have read other post of people going through the same thing.  Call your doctor's office and see what advice they can give you.  Hang in there!

Thank you Elizabeth!

No judgements Michelle, just some questions/suggestions.  First you need to be 100% honest with yourself about exactly what you are eating.  Carbs from Veggies and Fruit are ok.  Carbs from breads, rice, pasta, sugar are not ok.  Fats are not ok.  However, that being said, your body still needs a certain amount of carbs and fat to function properly.  However, if your carb/fat intake is greater then your protein intake, while you will lose weight in the first year after WLS, you will not lose quickly and you will stall for longer periods of time.  Then once that first year is over, you will start to gain weight again. Dense proteins from beef, chicken, pork, fish will fill you up quicker and you will feel them in your pouch.  Carbs will go right through your pouch.  You won't feel full and you'll eat more food.  Drinking with meals, will push the food through your pouch, hence you eat more.  Exercise.  If you don't excercise and that means working up a sweat and raising your heart rate, you won't lose weight.

So after all that.  Eat protein 80 grams a day.  Cut the bad carbs out.  Eat some veggies and Fruit.  Drink LOTS of water and start to exercise.  WLS does not mean you don't have to diet.  It just means you have a tool to help in the process and it will only help if you use it properly.

I can tell you all this because, I for one, don't follow what I preach and I am paying the price for it. Weight gain and let me tell you it sucks.  So do it right now and maybe you'll have greater success when you are 5 years out.

Stephanie

Thank you, Steph! Your reply helped me out a lot. You really put it in perspective for me.

That going down in clothes size sounds awesome to me! Envious here. Plus, off meds and blood work good? You certainly sound like you are finding the miracle. I am out just 3 months and down a couple of sizes but only show 50 lbs gone. I feel like everyone else is lightyears ahead of me. I went to a support group on Monday night and one of the men 6 months out has lost over 100 lbs.

If I could ony stop comparing... I always come up under-tall.

Linda

I know what you mean about comparing, Linda. I am guilty of doing the same thing. I just feel bad because my surgeon had actually wanted me below 200 by last month an it just hasn't happened. But thank you for giving me a new perspective on which to view my weight loss.