If you are struggling, what are you struggling with?

I have been struggling for a couple of months with food and lifestyle choices. I make food choices for emotional reasons, as if food is the answer to my emotions. From there I have been less likely to be physically active.

I did find a good therapist to work with, and am seeing her weekly to really get to the core beliefs and thoughts that lead to self-sabotaging choices. As part of that process, I am keeping track of the times that I eat mindlessly and documenting my activities, thoughts and feelings around those times.

I used to get in some sort of exercies at least six days a week. I pre-planned all of my food intake the day before and stuck to it. I have completely gotten out of the habit of doing that.

As the new year starts, I did have thoughts of "ok, get back on track; pre-plan everything; limit you calories; exercise every day; start all of this tomorrow." I then quickly realized that I didn't go off track overnight, and I'm not going to get back on track overnight. So this is where I am starting:

1)  maintain a journal of thoughts/feelings around poor food choices (my therapist calls this the "research" phase, and she's right!)
2) write down what I eat; I'm not noting volume or nutritional value, but I'm starting by simply getting back into the habit of writing down something every day about my food. I will eventually work my way back into food planning
3) do some physical movement every day, even if only for 10 minutes. Because 10 minutes every day is still more activity over the course of the week than the 20min "express" workouts that I've been doing once or twice a week.

So I'm trying to be gentle, and embrace this process. The good news is that despite my struggles, my weight has stayed within the same 4lb range, a normal fluctuation. While I haven't lost any more, I haven't gained either.

I had a conversation today with a very close friend who has decided to have WLS. I really impressed upon her the adage that "surgery doesn't fix your head." How great would it be if a free lobotomy was included with every WLS?!!! Ok, not really, but you all know what I mean!

So yes, let's all be Fine in '09! Thanks for starting this thread, and to everyone *****sponded.

Wendy

Wow - there are a lot of nuggets of information in that Wendy!!! wow!

I think you have got one heck of a good grasp on your gameplan and your realization of not doing everything overnight is so right on!

I'm excited to see you keep posting!

Amy- what a thoughtful thread you have started here.

I think everyone who has had WLS struggles, whether they choose to admit it or not.  It is a daily struggle to make good food choices, take care of ourselves physically and emotionally, move our bodies daily, and to just live in general.

Right now my biggest struggle is not kicking myself for making "not great" food choices.  One of the ways I am planning on working on this issue is to take Wendy's suggestion and do a daily journal of some type of what I am eating.  I also like the idea of pre-planning meals for the next day.  It is easier to plan during the week when I have a have a structure to my days and not a huge amount of variation.  It is the weekends that are very difficult for me.

On the positive note, I have begun to enjoy exercising and the "rush" I get when I am done with my daily workout.  This will help me move to be a healthier person!!

Reenie

I find that I cant take all the pills I'm supposed to be taking.  between the anti depressiants and the vitiamins liqid chewable and swallow.. I feel like I'm always taking something.  I have always had a hard time taking pills just because I have the worlds worst gag reflex.  Also, I never feel hungrey nor do I ever feel stuffed.  So if I'm no****ching a clock I forget to eat untill I only eat one meal in the whole day which I think is kinda messing everything up.

I know these are things I just need to train myself to do...

Also, did any of you ever think "This isnt going to work, just like everything else I have tried."  "Sure I'll lose some but it will stop and then all come back in a month or two."

I am struggling... and I have to be honest that it's sometimes that's hard to share because.. being a LapBand patient... I feel like people are judging me more... watching for me to fail, etc, etc. I know it's in my head, but it's a hard battle sometimes.

I am struggling because I have been plateaued for almost 3 months. I am so incredibly frustrated. 230...231.....228....226....229.....230....231... it fluctuates every day within that range... and just won't budge. I recently added exercise every day and thought that would help. I also fixed my eating problems and am just hoping to God the scale will move.

On the plus side.. I am very patient. I was overweight for years so I am willing to wait for weight loss. I knew this coming into the LapBand. But what scares me is that I feel like 230 is where my body wants to be. It's the weight I always get stuck at. It's so incredibly frustrating!! Errgh... stupid body!! Anyway...lol... I just needed to vent. I know this too shall pass and if I wait it out, things will get better.  I am also going to go get my insulin checked to see if I should go back on Metformin for PCOS. Jennifer G advised me to do it and I think it's a good idea.

Anyway... sorry so long! Thanks for letting us vent. You really are making this forum worthwhile for a lot of people.

it's sometimes that's hard to share because.. being a LapBand patient... I feel like people are judging me more... watching for me to fail, etc, etc. I know it's in my head, but it's a hard battle sometimes.

I hear what you are saying and being a revision patient I have those feelings too...mostly with the people I work with and family but people online too.

Just wanted to tell you, you aren't alone!

Elena, it is very common for us to get "stuck" at a weight our bodies had spent a good deal of time at earlier in our lives.  It's as if it feels a certain familiarity with that number range, and figures it ought to stay there.  I don't remember how long that plateau lasted for me, but I remember feeling !!

Don't give up.  Change something about your routine to shake up your metabolism a bit!  If anything about your eating/meals/exercise seems monotonous, CHANGE IT!  You'll move down again...  

Thank you Darla! I hope my trip to Austria will  maybe move it... down, hopefully not up!!

I too am  having trouble getting in my calcium because I reduced the number of protein shakes I'm doing because I've been ok protein wise. I bought something called UpCalD online that is a powdered calcium that you can add to foods (works great in shakes) so I'd recommend that. But my chewable calcium is just near intolerable. I'm going to try just regular calcium pills and see if that helps.

I'm struggling with stopping eating just before I get full. I just always want to take that one more bite. And then I pay for it. I've been doing well with not snacking or emotional eating but this is one thing I have not been able to break. I'm hoping to start a new group this week, hopefully that will help.

I am also struggling with working through my exhaustion. I've never been so tired in my life. I know it will end and am trying to be gentle with myself but it gets so frustrating to be too tired to get my housework done. I will nap when I need to nap and if I need to go to bed at 7 and my laundry still isn't done, well, heck, I"ll just be wearing some interesting outfits to work!

I'm also struggling with friends thinking I've changed and thus distancing themselves from me. In some ways, yes I've changed. I've lost 52 lbs. I have a new hairstyle. I look different. I have different priorities, like getting to the gym, or just taking care of me when I'm so tired or vomiting. But I'm still there for them. And I'm basically the same. I'm just less willing to have people take advantage of me anymore. And if that's a problem for them, then they weren't that great of friends anyway.

OK, that's a lot I'm struggling with. LOL. But I've got plans to work with them all which is a good thing. In the past, I might have just thrown my hands up in the air and hid in my bed rather than dealing with my issues and struggles.

Thanks for this thread, Amy. It was good to see that others struggle and also have found solutions.

Anna

Amy,

Great post.......

Exercise......I need to motivate myself but not sure how........

If I don't exercise, I don't loose.....You think that would motivate me.....????

I'm looking forward to everyone going back to school, back to work, so I can get back to my routine.......And get that scale moving again.......

2009 I'm hoping to work on my body.......And Exercise.....Define my arms more, etc....

Kelly