Head Games

OK,...I think I am becoming a nut case but maybe others have had or are going throught this too? I am at 226 lbs this morning.  12 month followup next Thursday.  Down from 408 and quite happy about that but not at goal I really wanted to be at in 12 months.  This 230 plateau thing has been at a stuck point since July 9 (232) and my weight  bounces from a low of 224 to a high of 232 and anywhere in between.  I am tickled to be in a 40 pants from a 60 and a loose large to exceptably snug medium shirt, but i don't accept being done at 12 months. Am I being impatient or is this it? I am abiding by diet guidelines and exercising regualry, getting ready for a 10K Oct 13 where I hope to improve my March 06 time of 1hr 38 min to 1:10 or better.  I think I should be content but I am more frustrated with the lack of progress.  Maybe I just liked the weight loss so much I want more even though this would be a healthy spot to level off at; at least according to family and friends.  Its not a 36 pants and its not 200 or my goal of 180.   Maybe I'm just nuts?  Maybe more loss is upcoming in the next 6 months and I just want too much too fast??  Maybe 6 months from now I'll be whining about having lost too much weight and needing to gain some back to look healthy.  Maybe I need a hobby or just some cheese with that whine!!! Editorial comments, free counseling requested; a voice of experience would be something to tie a knot into and hold on too OR a kick in the pants,... whichever seems more appropriate.

I guess losing weight just becomes a part of life and when it stops or slows down we some how feel cheated. I asked my surgeons PA why they had not set a weight loss goal for me when I had surgery and she said that goals are good but there are too many factors, such as age, extra skin weight, etc., to make a hard and fast goal decision. They said that when you get to where you are doing everything right and your weight levels off, that is probably where you should be. You sound like you are physically comfortable with your success, but maybe not mentally comfortable. I wonder if losing weight can become another addiction in that we don't want to give it up once we no longer need it. Maybe it's time for another goal to take over. Just my rambling thoughts, to keep or throw away as you see fit.

I fear your rambling and assessment is probably correct. But its not what I am ready to accept at this point, so here I am. This too shall pass...... Thanks for the perspective and wisdom. 

First of all you can't become a nut case when you were already a nut case to begin with.    Of course you "think" you should feel content but don't.  It is an issure everyone has, people who have had surgery, those who haven't, thick, skinny, yellow, green whatever, just about every single person has body issues.  You have done a tremendous job so far.  Remember, the experts do say it can take us up to two years before our brains catch up to our bodies.  Personally I don't think you are done yet.  A long stall is happening here for a reason, your body needs the break, not enough calories, etc..  There are a few things you can try, change your exercise routine, go back to basics, cut carbs, add protein, add water, etc.  I would talk to your nutritionist & make sure you are actually eating enough.  Since you are training for the marathon, etc.  you may not be eating enough to keep your metabolism going against the calories you are burning.  I have heard of this happening with others, they would go 2 - 3 months with out losing and then start losing again.  At 1 year out I was disappointed too because I wasn't where I thought I should be, that was pretty much my story at every appointment.  I was such a slow loser but the best part about it was, I was a steady loser and sure enough right before 18 months out I finally hit goal.  Try and be patient, check what you are doing to make sure you are doing what is right for your body.  Keep working at it.  :)

Ahhhhh yes, Dearest Courtney.  Thanks for helping me understand where I am on the insanity scale.  I guess the real problem I have is trying to appear normal.  I gotta love ya!!

My loosing has been stair-step, start-and-stop since 3 months out.  The up side has been the dimensions shrinking while te scale doesn't move.  Neither seems to be happening at present.

Seems a theme between here and the men's Board is a need to have a diet shakeup and an exercise routine alteration to rattle the body abit.

Thanks for sharing about your 12 month mark slow-down.  Maybe it is just a phase and the body is adjusting.  I stopped at 230 for 2-3 years on my 25 year journey up from 200 to 408 (1981 to 2006).  Maybe its a barrier weight for me or something.  

Hope to see you at the Jan Conf in Richmond Natalie and David are doing.  I am at Radford with my oldest daughter Oct 6 for family weekend festivities or I'd be at the NOVA OH conf.  You guys sure sound like you have a lot of fun.

And thanks for the support and suggestions.  

Now I have heard that when losing after surgery your body will follow a similar pattern as the gain, if you had a 2-3 year stall going up, a 2-3 month stall could happen coming down.  Not sure how relatively true this is but I have heard it. As for the January conference, I am not sure as of yet but hoping I can get things figured out.

Man it really helps to have the perspective of a longer term post-op like Courtney!  Thank you for your post.

Your wlecome.  Glad to help when I can. 

Courtney hit it on the money .  When you get a year or more out , the weight does slow down . Understand that your body has become accustomed to one routine . To jump start it again . My words here are BACK TO BASICS .. Protein - Water and Exercise . But when doing the exercise , you must change up your routine . If you are walking or running . Stop .. and start riding a bike or try swimming . If you are doing these long runs , try short fast runs . If you are not weight training , you should be . Our bodies , even a mans body needs weight baring exersise . As a bariatric patient now , you must take care of your bones .   Your window of opportunity is not closed by no means . 18 months is normally the cut off . But I have seen people as far out as I , begin to loose again .  No Kick in the pants needed , other than take a look at what you are doing now , see if there is room for change and just do it . I was fortunate that I never stalled out . I had continuous weightloss for 18 months .  When it stopped , I was actually happy .  Trust in how you feel about your goals . Go for all you can now while you can . The door will close one day and will be harder to open .  Take care , Talk soon .  Nat

Joe, Just to let you know....I am 2.5 years out and STILL losing.  Basics...water, protein, exercise and vitamins and you can do it also.  I am past every goal set by Dr. H and myself and happier than ever.  Try changing up your exercise routine a bit and see if it helps!

 

Tammy