Okay I have been thinking a lot about my progress since I have been banded and I have decided that I really need to get serious about my weight loss.

I am almost a year out and I my stats are:

July 21

235/191/140-135?

Well I guess I am struggling with the fact that I should be at my goal weight by now.

First, I need help/suggestions on breaking a plateau. (I know there is a post or twon on this subject, but I couldn't find it.)

I need to drink more Water. My Fluid intake is pretty much non exsistant. It's not just water it's everything! I really have no desire to drink. Just a couple sips here and there.

Exercise...ha ha.... I am so tired all the time know. I have good intentions, but I never go threw with them.

Just wondering for you all that are so close to goal.....what are you doing, eating, etc. I am just trying to come up with a game plan to be successful!

Thanks for listening to me WHINE

Birdee

Hey Birdee -

I am not close to goal, but I think CoffeeWench's advice is the very best of all - try to add in positive things. Instead of focusing on what you DON'T want to do, focus on what you DO want to do, and then there is less room for the undesireable behaviours.

So, focus on what you want, but choose only one thing. Make it your priority. Let's say your priority this month is to increase your Water intake.

Set a schedule for yourself of

1. how much water you want to get in each day

2. what is your plan to get it in

Remember, it's progress, not perfection. If your first week still doesn't see you meeting your water goals, re-evaluate what is keeping you from doing so, and tweak your plan.

Once you've been getting your water in for a month, and it is now second nature to you, focus on the next thing you want to add. Exercise? Again, think about what you want to accomplish, and then set up your plan.

One of our biggest problems is trying to do everything at one time. It is very difficult to change a behaviour, so trying to change more than one at one time is really asking too much.

When you start making your exercise goals, start out small! Make a plan that you think you really can do, so you can be successful. Say, a 15 minute walk ONCE each week. Once you are able to successfully meet that goal, try increasing it. Remember, just because we set our goal small doesn't mean we can't EXCEED it if we want! The point is to not RESTRICT yourself to one 15 minute walk a week, but to commit to one 15 minute walk a week, and successfully meet that commitment. If you do a 15 minute walk 7 times a week, great! But meeting the ONCE commitment means that you are successful with your goal.

We don't think starting so small can make a difference, so we either don't start, or we start too big and then can't follow through.

BABYSTEPS!!

And congrats on your success so far! :cool:

Donali-

I just want to say thank you so very much, and what you said makes so much sense. I don't know why I put such tough goals in place and then feel miserable about myself when I don't accomplish them. I'll start with my Water and then move forward. I guess the funny thing about all of this is, when I was trying to loose weight with diet and exercise I always said that if I were never hungry I could do it no problem. Wel-l-l needless to say I am never really hungry and have lost my motivation for exercising and eating properly. I say properly, because most days I just say "forget it" especially if I am really restricted.

Thanks again for the advice! You're the best!!!!

Birdee

On 5/05/04, I became a bander. I haven't lost anymore weight except for the 16 lbs I lost 1 wk post-op. The lady that had it the same day as me has lost 38 lbs. She was about 50-60 lbs heavier. It's sickening and I know everyone is different. I'm proud of myself, though. It just kinda made me want to drink more and walk more..

Sometimes drinking water gets really old and boring, so I buy a new drinking glass or bottle. Funny, but drinking water out of something new and fun makes it easier. I'll use one glass a few weeks, but then I'll switch to an Aqua Fina bottle. When that loses it's appeal, I'll switch to a pretty glass, then a plastic tumbler. Sounds weird, but it helps get the stuff down.