My weight loss has slowed down considerably, however, I'm still losing. There has not been a month that has gone by that I didn't at least lose a few pounds so for that, I'm grateful. Height: 5'4" Weight on the day of surgery: 292 Weight today: 164 Total loss: 128 lbs. I still want to lose about another 30 lbs. My anniversary is in a couple of weeks so I'm not gonna make it by then... but I hope to be at goal before I'm 18 months out.

My surgeon always tell everyone that most people with this surgery needs to finish with going to weigh****chers. That the surgery helps to lose 70 percent of your weight. On talking to most folks that is what they need to do. I think you have done a wonderful job! keep up the great work!

Congratulations... i know how it feels, i have lost 201 pounds and i found out on my 11 month anniversary... keep up the good work!! Tonya 414/213/goal will be 175

My weight loss has slowed dramatically the last few months with plateaus in there also. I have to lose 17 pounds to reach my first goal. But I have 35 pounds to lose to get to my ideal body weight (NORMAL on the BMI charts). I know everyone starts this journey at a different height and weight, but I am wondering if a majority of us see the slow losses and plateaus when we are within 30 to 50 pounds from our ideal body weights, regardless of starting weight. Please post how many pounds you have to lose to get to GOAL and if you have experienced plateaus or slow weight loss for the last few months. Thanks for your replies, Dorothy 325/197/162 (goal) -128 5'9"

The scale has always been a double edged sword, for me. On one hand, I like weighing in every day; it keeps me on top of the game. But, I realize that weight can fluctuate depending on so many variables, and even the after-you-pee-first-thing-in-the-morning weigh in is not always accurate, and can have the power to ruin my day. So, I weigh in twice a week. That is a compromise I can live with. Also, every scale says I weigh something different. The scale at work, my scale at home, the scale at the gym, my mother in law's scale, any scale in a doctor's office... they all weigh differently. Me and scales have a long history of not getting along I dont trust 'em! Now that I have made goal, and then some, I find that i still weigh in just as much.. The only difference is that now, I am making sure I am not gaining, with the same interest I had about losing and reaching goal. I have so many issues with this "lifestyle"; reading your angst about not losing weight fast enough is a good example of what i am talking about. I had surgery with several coworkers; we all had the operation within 6 to eight weeks of each other. Not everyone has reached goal yet, and we are all almost a year out. Some people try harder than others with food choices, exercise, and so on. Some of those that have worked the hardest have struggled for every pound, while some of the others just seem to lose weight without any effort at all. There is so much comparison, which is USELESS. Unless you started off at the EXACT same weight, and are EXACTLY the same height, a comparison is totally and completely useless. Also, our metabolic rates are all different. And, contrary to popular illusion, we can BOOST our rate with exercise, but exercise wont automatically end our metabolic worries. Throughout the last few months, I have seen some really bad stuff, too. Lots of negative remarks about those of us that have reached goal..including my personal favorites...anorexic, obsessed, sick, etc... Most of these remarks came from other post ops...can you believe it?!?!?! Instead of supporting one another, no matter where we are in the process, there are at least 2 people who spend their free time hurling insults. I guess it is easier to scrutinize someone else, rather than yourself. I have learned that no matter what side of the fence you are on, or where you are in your weight loss, there is always going to be some kind of emotional component to all of this. That is what I had to get used to, in order to remain positive, and not get my feelings stomped on. And, programs like Fitday are a wonderful way to objectively see your food choices, and what they all boil down to in the end...calorie and nutrition wise that is. I know a few people who were able to see where they were "zigging" instead of "zagging" with fitday's help. Personally, I don't do fitday. I make sensible choices most of the time, and some very insensible ones, too... (splenda brownies are cooling right now). The difference between 327 pound me and 117 pound me is that the bigger me would have eaten the ENTIRE tray. this me is satisfied with just a small piece. This is my life, and I don't want to live it as a prisoner of food....still. I enjoy a treat every now and then, guilt free. I exercise and do my best to stay healthy. Believe me, your time will come. Stay on track, and don't think about anything or anyone...just your journey. This is your surgery, and your tool. you get out of it what you put into it. Remember, Rome was not built in a day, and it took you more than one year to gain your excess weight. There is something to be said for slow and steady weight loss, too. Keep your head up. Look for support when you need it. And try to view the glass as half full, instead of half empty. Although it is often easier to focus on what is not right, remembering what is right is ESSENTIAL, to keep a positive attitude. Good luck. Andrea