Just feel like giving up.

[HeatherRayne]

I am 40 years old and had a hysterectomy this past March. Still have ovaries/hormones. Due to some nasty complications post op, I gained 30 lbs in a very short time. I worked VERY hard to lose those 30 lbs a few years back. I was and am devastated.

I spent years after giving birth to my daughter trying to lose weight. No matter what, it wouldn't budge. Finally, I realized it may be the cymbalta I was on (and it was no longer working) so I weaned off. The lbs finally melted away within 3 months.

I have been on a pretty strict diet and exercising as much as my body will allow (about 50 mins a day). And once again, I cannot lose anything. It has been nearly 2 weeks and NOTHING. I cannot go through that constant disappointment again.

If anyone could take a look at my info and let me know what I may be doing wrong, I would really appreciate it.

I am very distraught over this.

Thanks for listening.

[HeatherRayne]

I also haven't been sleeping well at all. Dr. is calling in a script for trazodone. I will use it sparingly because I do fear it will impede my weightloss. I wonder if lack of sleep is playing a role even though I am not actually eating more??

[Zot]

So sorry you are feeling down. Don't give up! Plateaus in weight loss happen all the time. I hit a certain weight and suddenyl nothing I was doing would shift me over that point and allow me to continue towards my goal. I opted to alter my already strict diet a little and it worked a treat. Instead of very limited breads I removed all breads and stuck to a no cream coloured foods sort of diet. If your diet is already quite restrictive maybe change your workouts to a different style like if you do a lot of cardio maybe change to zumba. 

Currently I am Paleolithic which I love and have to say will be a change for life because I just feel amazing (added bonus is my allergies seem under control for once).

Best wishes,

Zoë

[SunsetRunner]

Hi Heather
I fully sympathize.. was in a really bad car accident last july and develop horrible sleep problems, depression on top of my many physical injuries.

After 4 months of no sleep, I visted a neurologist and was placed on amirtriphlyne 50mg. I take one a day before bed. Its been a miracle pill for me. It helped with my sleep disorder and headaches. It works with the serotonin levels in your brain and helps shut off the brain when needed.

It also helped me lose weight. Mind u some people actually gain weight on it but not much.

The average is 5lbs.

U may want to visit a neurologist.

Goos luck and dont quit!!!!

U can beat this

[HeatherRayne]

Thank you both so much. I really appreciate it. I hate feeling this way. I really hope getting some sleep finally will help. 

[Zot]

There's quite an interesting podcast (underground wellness) about sleep and the things it can do to the body. I'm trying very hard currently to get better sleep (having young children doesn't help)

[Honeybearcat]

Hi Heather,

I wasn't able to look at your profile, however, there could be a lot of things affecting your weight loss situation. 

+ Stress - can be a HUGE factor when you're trying to lose weight (stressed about not losing weight, work stress, family stress, etc.) the important thing is to stay positive and remember that it will take some time for you to lose weight.

+ Sleep - you mentioned you haven't really been sleeping, try taking some tea before bed. Nothing that has caffeine. I would recommend the Madagascar Vanilla Rooibos by Celestial Seasonings, it always helps me.

+ Exercise - since you aren't able to do more than 50 min of activity, try doing exercises that burn more calories instead of pure cardio. Example, you need to burn 3500 calories to lose one pound. Solution, squats! Why? Because your body is able to burn more calories doing this type of exercise. Look at http://www.livestrong.com/article/441562-the-number-of-squats-it-takes-to-burn-3500-calories/

Also, try HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), for me it's doing push-ups in between my lat pulls or single leg deadlifts in between my tricep extensions. Regardless of what it is, it's some activity in between your normal activity. Try also building up on those 50 min your body doest allow you, maybe an evening walk will be helpful on top of your normal 50 min; it doesn't have to be a mile long walk - maybe a 10-15 min walk. 

+ Food -  For me it's hard to give up chocolate and a caramel macchiatto, so I treat myself once a week. This can serve as a motavational tool too. I tell myself if I'm really good and stick with it I'll be able to get my treat. I also tried cutting carbs out and increased my protein intake and that worked for me. But as I'm getting older my body requires (or wants) more carbs, so I reduce my portions in order to eat what I like. Obviously, I'm not eating out everyday but following a strict diet my become overwhelming. Finding a happy medium will help you stay motivated.

+ Self Esteem - It's super important not to beat yourself up about not losing weight fast enough or whatever the case may be. You can't lose 15 pounds in two weeks (I'm not saying that's what your doing or thinking, I'm just saying). Give yourself a realistic goal and see what happens. Maybe start small, losing 5 pounds in one month and if at the end you lose 7 well hey! you are that much closer. Don't put added pressure on yourself, yes I know its frustrating, yes I know its dissappointing, and YES I know its tiring; but stick with it! You can do it! But start believing you can because it's not going to work if we tell you. 

Hope this helps! 🙂

[HeatherRayne]

Thank you so very much - I really appreciate your help. 

Yes, I do need to get control over my sleep and stress. This has been one of the most difficult years of my life. 

Due to my post op complication - I have a lot of soft tissue damage and am very prone to easy injury right now. Squats KILL my knees. All I can really do is cardio (and I am on a beta blocker...so I have to work even harder or longer) and some light yoga-ish stuff. I do see a chiro once a week and am getting better. So hopefully this won't be permanent. 

Here is a picture of me a year and one half ago. As you can imagine, the sudden change (especially after working so hard to get there) has been more than depressing. Not that I was even happy with myself here...but still. I'd kill to get back there. 30 lbs in a matter of months is devestating. 

[HeatherRayne]

Oh and here is my weekly review from last week. Just by these numbers I should have lost at least one pound, no?? Isnt a 3500 cal deficit = to one lb?

TOTAL STEPS 54,783	DAILY AVERAGE 7,826 steps BEST DAY 10,579 steps
	TOTAL DISTANCE 23.63 miles	DAILY AVERAGE 3.38 miles BEST DAY 4.56 miles
	TOTAL CALS BURNED 14,715	DAILY AVERAGE 2,102 cals BEST DAY 2,221 cals
	CALORIES IN VS OUT -3967	WEEKLY TOTAL 14718 cals burned 5501 cals eaten -5250 plan deficit

[Honeybearcat]

Wow! You looked amazing (but I'm sure you still do). Yeah, I know its devestating but you have to take into consideration what your body CAN do right now. Idk about meds or medicine in general but I'm sure that may have something to do with why you can't lose any weight. Maybe trying a holistic approach would be better suited for you, again, I do not know anything about medicine, it's just my opinion.

But I still think you shouldn't be so hard on yourself, I can only dream of ever looking like you once did and that's a reality I've come to accept. It's not because I don't want to work hard for it, it's genetics, and I would need A LOT of plastic surgery to get to where you were lol. My point is everybody wants to look like someone else but I think we just need to accept ourselves for what we are. I'm sure I sound super corny. But if your're not happy with yourself, it becomes stressful to accept yourself for what you are.  

[SunsetRunner]

U look great heather and u still do.
Just keep at it and kick lbs in the ass

[HeatherRayne]

Thank you so  much for the kind words and support. I really do appreciate it. 

[celticlass69]

Hello Heather,

While no two people are the same I have been down that road you are travelling. At 28 I had a partial hysterectomy (still have ovaries - polycystic). I am now 52 and going through menopause (oh joy!). It's never too late to get into a healthier lifestyle.

I am trying to take it one day at a time and trying not to compare myself to anyone else. Rather look at others as encouragement. Don't get too caught up in the numbers. As you get fitter and your body tones up the weight you measure may not be accurate. Muscle weighs more than fat. 

Stay Strong,

SSM

[chels81]

Hey Heather,

Facing that mountain of work again is a huge mindf*%$, especially being that the gain was due to circumstances completely beyond your control.  Hormones are so mysterious and as others have pointed out, stress impedes weight loss and messes up metabolism.  But I'm sure you know all that.  

You are not alone in feeling despondent about doing this all over again, and I think the low points are necessary places to visit as we make sense of our experiences. They're just rest stops on the way to new understanding and empowerment.  I swore I would *never* go through this again. But here I am, also after a sudden weight gain in my third trimester that hasn't melted off with nursing.  I don't want to do it again, it feels completely unfair, but it's gotta be done.  You can do this, and it's also good to vent when you hit those emotional potholes.

[Nestory]

Heather I can relate to your experience.  I had an appendectomy go wrong and woke up from what I thought would be a routine surgery with a colostomy!  Then sepsis and more surgeries.  At first I lost weight but then gained 30 pounds.  I also deconditioned and lost strength and endurance.  As I've slowly regained muscles mass and endurace I'm able to do more fat burning exercise.  But it has been a slow process.  I lifted soup cans for a couple months.  Now I'm up to 5 pound weights and proud of the progress.  My advice is to hang in there and increase the demand on yourself slowly and incrementally.  Best of luck.  

[Rebel67]

Hang in there adn don't give up!  I'm 47 trying to lose about 50 lbs.  I may be facing the same surgery in the near future so I'm trying to get the weight off first. 

I haven't read the entire thread but are you sure you are getting enough to eat and are you eating often enough?