Hi there guys....

Had surgery 2/6/04 - down 74 pounds as of today. I am scared to death these days that I am going to gain the weight back. I am proud of what I have accomplished, but I want to loose another 70 pounds. I noticed I have started eating so much more lately. I use to be able to eat 2 or 3 shrimp, now I can eat 10-12. Scary! I love fruit and I have been lots of watermelon and peaches. Are you guys scared? How are you handling the fear...?

I'm very scared. I feel like I am on a honeymoon, no matter what I eat, drink, or don't, I continue to loose weight like crazy. I have never been on a successful diet. I've probably spent about $5,000 (lifetime) for dieting programs, only to fail and get a quarter pounder value meal to ease my wounds. I'm very scared but try very hard to see the bright side. I try to visualize myself having to get off a roller coaster because I did not fit in the seat, in front of all my friends. I then visualize myself in my wedding gown, that is now swimming on me. I am eating more than I did about 1 month ago. I just don't think about what could be and I focus on what is! Good luck.

There are times I go back to the old Mary thinking and feeling like I'm going to fail. Most of the time tho, I hang on to the positives that this surgery has given me ... tools to lose and maintain the loss. I really try to focus on positive thinking ... I will succeed, I am a success. When we focus on negative thinking, it causes us to question what we have accomplished and what we will do in the future. Yes, I can eat more than as could a month ago, but still not anywhere near what I ate before. I try to watch quantity of food and only eat until satisfied. I try not to graze throughout the day too. I allow myself 3 meals and 2 snacks each day. Some days I eat them all, other days only the 3. Don't you find too that altho today you could eat 8 shrimp that tomorrow you might only be able to eat 4??? I find a huge difference each day on the quantity of what I can eat. Today I might be able to eat a whole chicken taco, tomorrow 1/3 or 1/2 of one. Some days I can eat salad, other days just a bite or two. Being afraid is pretty normal. WE have years of experience at failing. This time tho we shouldn't fail as long as we follow the rules of protein first, fluids, and exercise. Mary

SCARED???????? Very few things in life scare me. But failing this sure does!!!!! Welcome to the family. As for handling the fear...when you figure it out, let me know!!!!!!! Joanne

Thanks for your responses, I am happy to know others feel the same way. I am going to take your advise and focus on the positive stuff that the surgery has given me.

I too, feel that fear, and as someone once told me, fear can be a good thing...it tells you what is important to you. I think having this fear is healthy, (kind of like the fear of fire...if you stick your hand in, you're gonna get burned, so you learn not to do that) because if we go back to our old habits, we CAN fail and gain the weight back. I notice I get scared when I catch muself grazing or when the scale doesn't move. It tells me I need to get my butt back on track!!