Standing still

I posted on March 14 that I had lost 91 pounds.  Today, April 24, I have lost 98 pounds.  That's only 7 pounds in over a month.  I was so excited about getting to that 100 mark and here I am pretty much standing still in the 90's.  I know that is still good.  I have lost a lot of weight in a short period of time.  My body has changed significantly.  I know that your weight will plateau at times during weight loss.  I have heard fellow weight loss friends speak of this.  It's almost like your body needs to take an occasional break.  I know this, but I'm not happy about it.  It is frustrating when the scales don't move.  I think I told you about a woman in my support group who does not weight herself.  She said she didn't want to be controlled by a number.  Her reason for having the surgery was to get healthy and the number does not matter.  I wish I could be more like her, but I get encouraged by seeing that number drop every week.  I'm sure I put too much emphasis on that number.  If I didn't weight weekly, I would not be so conscience of a plateau.  Maybe I should only weigh every 2 weeks or even once a month.  I would have to remove the scales from my house because I would be tempted to jump on them if they were there.  I will consider doing this.

I have some idea of why I am not losing as fast.  It could just be a plateau like I said, but it could be more than that.  I think I have said that I am not really physically hungry.  That is still the case.  According to my surgeon, I am supposed to eat 3 meals a day, and one of those meals should be a protein drink.  There is supposed to be no snacking in between meals.  I am supposed to eat 70-80 grams of protein a day.  This is just about impossible when you only have 3 meals a day and not eating in between meals.  If I drink or eat only protein supplements, I would get around 60-70 grams.  I am also supposed to get at least 64 ounces of fluids in.  Some days are better than others with the fluids.  Drinking fluids fills be up and I am not hungry.  This is why you do not drink 30 minutes before or after a meal.  Still, my stomach feels full when I drink and I don't want to eat a meal.  I've become lazy about eating to nourish my body and instead listening to my body tell me I don't need to eat.  Also, instead of preparing a meal, I will snack on almonds or something simple and handy.  This does not count as a meal.  In the beginning, and until most recently, I ate those 3 meals whether I was hungry or not.  I was persistant about getting in as much protein as I could.  Now that I have no restrictions on what I eat (like not eating raw vegetables or beef for 6 months), I will have a salad or a vegetable for a meal.  The number one rule is to eat your protein part of the meal first.  If there is room in your stomach to eat more, you can have a vegetable or low carb.  I've not been doing that.  That salad or vegetable is so good that I will eat it first and then have no room for the protein.  This is not good.  I am certainly not overeating. I am more likely not eating enough of the right thing.  I need to get back on track and be disciplined to eating what my body needs.  Protein.  I sometimes even skip a meal because I am not hungry.  I know that not eating will slow down weight loss.  Shape up, Bonnie!  You know what to do and how to eat - so, do it.  I need to remember that I need to nourish my body and not starve it

I will start again eating those 3 meals of high protein foods. I will not snack for a meal, but prepare what I need to be eating.  I will be diligent about getting in all of my water/fluids and work to get as much protein as I can in a day.  I will do the work and not listen to my brain telling me not to eat or worse yet, to snack instead of a meal.  I've done so well.  I will continue to follow the plan and lose the rest of the weight to make me a healthier person.  Last of all, I will not be driven by what the scale says.  If I am eating like I should, the weight will come off.  Tomorrow is a new day.  I also will not beat up on myself because my weight loss has slowed down. Not eating is not the answer.

Thanks for listening.  As I've said before, this journey is not easy.

This one is just from me.   (The furry part of my family can't help me with this, except to just love me - and they do.)