Over the last week I've invited processed foods back into my diet and I've noticed that with them came depression, lack of motivation and when I start a run or other workout I don't make it long until I quit.

I do NOT want to go back to eggs and more meat and cheese. I know I have to and that I sound like a whiner. I'm so un creative in the kitchen. I already have to make my family's meals 3x a day and then I just kinda eat whatever the heck is around.

So my food choices are sub par and my love of exercise is gone. I stopped my DVD halfway through today. I can't seem to see clearly. I think it's definitely time for anti-depressants.

Help!!? Ill ask for meal ideas in the food forum too.

Sounds like youre in a serious funk. im sorry to hear that. How much do you still have to lose to get to goal ( just curious)

I need to hear what others have to say about this too.

HI Amy:

I can imagine it is a challenge to stay the course and feed a family. I know that if I don't plan out my meals at least a little it can get challenging. I've been working at altering my favorite recipes a bit so I don't fall into just grabbing whatever is convenient (which is what I was doing a year ago) I use Saturday or Sunday morning and prepare a few things and store them pre-portioned for me. Some I'll take to work for lunch and others are ready for dinner. This weekend was a mocked up Turkey pot pie, no potatos, lots of turkey. I baked them in 4oz ramekins and only put a square of "crust" on the top (my favorite part) No crust on the bottom and it totally satisfies me. It has got to be hard to find the time to take care of you. But if you need an hour a weekend to give you time to plan and keep you on track, try and grab it. I also give props to the websites emilybites and theworldaccordingtoeggface great , easy to do recipes that should keep anyone interested.

Before deciding on surgery I thought long and hard about what it was that derailed me. It is almost always getting bored with the food. Once I start feeling seriously deprived, I'm done. I decided to do what I can to change that . The built in portion control is and will be fundamental to my success, but damn it, I'm gonna enjoy what I eat!

Good luck Amy, I'm sure this is just a bump in the road.

I'm 166 lbs now at 4 1/2 months out and my goal is around 140. So 26 pounds to go until goal!

I was JUST thinking about TWATEF and checked her latest. LOVED the one about Protein packed breakfasts and saved it to my home page on my phone. After the kids go to bed I'm gonna get a notebook and make lists of things I want to make one day this weekend from that site to keep my diet fresh. Thanks so much for the tips. Making stuff on Sunday is brilliant! I'm so on it!!

On second thought, i think i will share on this subject. thanks for your honesty.

I dont know that you're feeling this way or not. maybe its just me?

im an at 6 months out,. i have about 40 lbs to get to goal. im at a size 12/14. my weight loss has been minimal over the past month.

I mean, wow!, i havent been in a 12/14 in forever, i get hit on all the time. my hubs is much more interested in me in general. i feel like im looking more "normal". All in all, i think i'm looking really good. And the non-scale victories (NSVs) -- too numerous to count. I feel great

The problem? i am feeling WAY to comfortable with myself at this point. I truly feel at this point that if i never lost another pound, i'd be relatively content.

BUT... my goal is to be at 150. maybe be in a size 6.

No problems with the sleeve at all now. I know exactly what to expect from it, lol. it's happier when i stay on plan, and acts up if i eat to close to bed or eat really spicy foods. other than that, it's easy now.

Kinda too easy. Since i'm feeling so comfy right where im at, it's really hard to find that ,motivation to do those workouts. Since the sleeve is doing so good, its hard to make the best foods choices all the time (for example, beer is my current hangup {I know, bad, huh?}).

I guess my point is- maybe its normal to have these feelings of loss of motiviation and disinterest at this point. Maybe its a "coming to terms" with the sleeve. if it is a normal part of the process, then its bound to change again soon, and we'll enter into the next phase of the sleeved. Everything in its own time.

As for me, i'm gonna stay on program, do my workout, and try to help other people here-- just for today. (and no beer. lol) Today i need to keep my eye on the prize. After all, i could really rock a size 6!!

Hi Amy,

I checked and you're about 4 months out. I think the antidepressants might be a good idea. Hormones can go crazy during weight loss.

As far as eating goes, changes need to be for life, so you should be cooking things for the family that you can eat to instead of making two meals. As you begin to be able to eat more or get to goal and go into maintenance, you can eat more of what you cook for them. Things like Stir fry, Soups, roast meats, grilled meats, BBQ should work for the whole family.

Another poster mentioned pot pie. I made pot pie and during early months, mostly ate the meat with a bite of veggies. Now in maintenance, I eat a slice including crust.

Modeling healthy eating habits will help your children learn to eat healthy too.

You might consider Leeanne Elly's menu mailers. It's $15 fore three months. She includes paleo and low carb menus: http://savingdinnershop.com/menu-mailer-3/regular-menu-mailer-membership/3-month-membership/

I'm thinking of you!

Lynda

I'm 166 lbs now at 4 1/2 months out and my goal is around 140. So 26 pounds to go until goal!

I was JUST thinking about TWATEF and checked her latest. LOVED the one about Protein packed breakfasts and saved it to my home page on my phone. After the kids go to bed I'm gonna get a notebook and make lists of things I want to make one day this weekend from that site to keep my diet fresh. Thanks so much for the tips. Making stuff on Sunday is brilliant! I'm so on it!!

Hi Amy,

I'm not a cook in the least & I'm not very creative! Eggface has a ton of easy & yummy recipes....her site has been extremely helpful to me!

Good luck Sweet Amy & keep your chin up!

On second thought' date=' i think i will share on this subject. thanks for your honesty.

I dont know that you're feeling this way or not. maybe its just me?

im an at 6 months out,. i have about 40 lbs to get to goal. im at a size 12/14. my weight loss has been minimal over the past month.

I mean, wow!, i havent been in a 12/14 in forever, i get hit on all the time. my hubs is much more interested in me in general. i feel like im looking more "normal". All in all, i think i'm looking really good. And the non-scale victories (NSVs) -- too numerous to count. I feel great

The problem? i am feeling WAY to comfortable with myself at this point. I truly feel at this point that if i never lost another pound, i'd be relatively content.

BUT... my goal is to be at 150. maybe be in a size 6.

No problems with the sleeve at all now. I know exactly what to expect from it, lol. it's happier when i stay on plan, and acts up if i eat to close to bed or eat really spicy foods. other than that, it's easy now.

Kinda too easy. Since i'm feeling so comfy right where im at, it's really hard to find that ,motivation to do those workouts. Since the sleeve is doing so good, its hard to make the best foods choices all the time (for example, beer is my current hangup {I know, bad, huh?}).

I guess my point is- maybe its normal to have these feelings of loss of motiviation and disinterest at this point. Maybe its a "coming to terms" with the sleeve. if it is a normal part of the process, then its bound to change again soon, and we'll enter into the next phase of the sleeved. Everything in its own time.

As for me, i'm gonna stay on program, do my workout, and try to help other people here-- just for today. (and no beer. lol) Today i need to keep my eye on the prize. After all, i could really rock a size 6!! [/quote']

Tink... Yes!

Motivation and comfort level!

Sometimes I feel the same way.. I've bought a few outfits I really like also and it doesn't help when I think about losing more and not having them any more...

I want to get to goal! I think all of us have moments that we lose focus.

So Amy lets take some deep breaths and find our focus again.

And kick the processed crap! You know the trouble and funk I was in after vacation (from my whiny PMs to you) it was food! Bad crap food that got me there! And it's taken all this time to crawl out.

Think I think you're right. I'm not happy where I am but I'm a lot happier than I was 56 lbs ago, so it's a lot easier to relax now.

Isereno- ill work on making stuff that can eat too. Thanks for reminding me.

A lot of times I don't want what here having. Tacos and burritos are a favorite of theirs and I haven't wanted that in forever. Meatloaf has too much carbs, not sure how to make it without bread and I don't much like meatloaf either. Spaghetti is out. Tuna noodle casserole is out. Cheeseburgers is in but I don't make those too often. What else!?

Tortilla pizzas? Everyone can have fun making their own!?

Sent from my iPhone using VST

Do you like the taco meat wrapped in lettuce? I do. I like shredded chicken with seasonings a little hot sauce, topped with chopped tomatoes, wrapped in a big lettuce leaf.

When cooking spaghetti, use a low fat ground beef and add some zuchhini. Eat the sauce without the noodles.

When making tuna noodle casserole, make a little dish for you with just tuna, a low cal sauce and a little cheese.

Here's my recipe for chicken pot pie: http://www.puffpastry.com/recipe/24055/chicken-pot-pie-in-a-shell. I don't use puff paste shell. I pour it into a pie pan and top with a single crust. Eat your serving without the crust and make it with the lowfat cream of chicken Soup and lowfat milk. You can also cut most of the oil used for the onions if you cook them slowly in a nonstick pan.

I also like this recipe for garlic lime chicken: http://savingdinner.com/garliclimechicken/. I use less oil than the recipe calls for.

Crockpot BBQ meat is good. You have yours without bread and they eat theirs on buns. Goes great with coleslaw.

Lynda

I just tossed some bell peppers, zucchini, and yellow squash in Italian dressing. Put them into my grill basket and grilled them on the grill.

They were so yummy I did it again the next day and have yummy grilled veggies and grilled BBQ chicken breast for lunch today and tomorrow at work.

I just tossed some bell peppers, zucchini, and yellow squash in Italian dressing. Put them into my grill basket and grilled them on the grill.

They were so yummy I did it again the next day and have yummy grilled veggies and grilled BBQ chicken breast for lunch today and tomorrow at work.

YUM, I can't wait to eat FRESH veggies again!

All great ideas, making a list!

Thank you so much for helping me!

No meal ideas - they're everywhere and you'll get lots of suggestions. I still dig the eggs and meat so I'm not much help.

I petered out (and had a nine week stall) around six months. I lost my biggest chunk of weight in the first five months. I had slowed at that point and that was upsetting. I wanted bigger returns on my investment, and now, thank you. I also introduced more normal foods - kinda went off the rails because I had been so incredibly strict prior to that point.

It took me a few weeks but I picked up and kept chugging.

Same thing happened around a year out, too. I was almost a year out, not really close to goal but wearing a size eight and feeling like maybe it was enough and I could just stop. Again, nine week stall as the result but I picked up and kept on.

Depression is more common post op than most people realize. There's a lot going on here and we're changing our bodies but the effect that has on our hormones, our emotions and our mental baggage cannot be underestimated.

Fact? I find dieting boring. I don't want to eat the same thing every day. I hate exercise. I don't care if it's good for me, I don't like it.

For me, the solution came in moderation but it's different for everyone. Those foods you've introduced are probably not the best choices for you. So many processed foods are addictive and they do affect our moods! I'm not saying go raw. I'm saying find a different way to branch out from a strict Protein, protein, protein diet that keeps you losing weight but also makes you feel satisfied while not having the desire to go off the rails and binge on junk.

It's a narrow path but it's not impossible to walk. And do take the ideas here and on the food board and run with them. Make the right foods interesting again. It's normal to lose motivation when loss is slow and we're not having any enjoyment out of the process.

Good luck -

~Cheri

Do you have a crockpot? One thing I make now that I know will work post-op is pork roast with potatoes and carrots. You can make it in the oven too. Throw pork roast in with 5 chicken bouillon cubes. Peel and cube potatoes and peel and cut carrots into chunks. cover with water. Put lid on. Cook 4-6 hours in crockpot or probably 1.5-2 hours in oven. Sprinkle your serving with onion powder and pepper. Easy and yummy!