TWO-MONTH SPRINT

Like all of you, in a little over 2 months, I will celebrate my year post-op anniversary. I am commiting to a personal goal of getting to 170 lbs. (I am currently at 185 lbs.), which will translate to a surgery anniversary total weight loss of 162 lbs. and a total weight loss of 182 lbs. This is my goal and, God willing, I will not be detered! I invite everyone to make their own personal commitment to this milestone event, which is our surgery anniversaries. All the best, Maureen

Maureen, What an accomplishment! You are doing sooo awesome! I can't wait until I am under 200! I still have 27 pounds to go...well 28 to be under 200 It is definitely the best to be able to go through this surgery journey with all the marchers on here! We have the greatest bunch of people there is! I read your other post. Our emotions make us think crazy things! Please dont ever feel ashamed or shy about the mistakes you make. We are all on the same journey and everyone makes mistakes I know, easier said...I feel ashamed when I make the wrong choices but then I think to myself...you know, Im just human and to go without sugar or carbs forever would be just... well... strange. I mean if you think about it...totally avoiding the problem wont help me to overcome it. I need to eat something bad and learn how to deal with it and learn control! I am all about needing to learn control. I know I haven't conquered it yet but I am certainly learning. Whereas if I totally avoided and one day at one year or more out I finally did try sugar I wouldnt know how to control it and it would be sooo much harder to learn that control that long out and would regret not dealing with the issue sooner. So our mistakes are making us stronger! Sunday will be a big test for me since I am going to revert to the basics and do the liquid/protein drinks. You are doing soooo great Maureen! and you are very inspiring to all of us. You are such a sweet and kind person and I am so happy for you becuase you deserve the best! We all do! Elizabeth M

Well, right back atcha, girlfriend! Listen, I have really pumped up the liquids over the last 2 days and, boy, the cravings have all but disappeared! It's absolutely true that if we (or at least if I) get the carbs and sugars out of my system, the cravings go away. So, when you start up on Sunday, Elizabeth, just commit to doing it for the day, that's all. And take good care of yourself, pamper yourself, take a bubble bath It wasn't so long ago we couldn't do that!!! Be good and kind to yourself and just get past the day without giving in. For the past 2 days, I started the morning with a high-impact protein shake; then lots of water; for lunch I had a steaming cup of tomato soup; for dinner I had a small cup of chili (not exactly liquid but sure hit the spot!) Otherwise, jus****er, water, water. And I rested. No pressure for anything else, just a commitment to get the crap out of my system. I feel much better right now than I did 3 days ago! Good luck, Elizabeth and keep us posted! Maureen

Hi Maureen; I had already made an anniversary pledge to myself, so I might as well reveal it to everyone here. Maybe the public commitment will help keep me focused a little better. I am now at 218 lbs.. I am aiming to get to 200 lbs. by my 1 year anniversary. This will amount to a post-surgical loss of 115 lbs. and a total loss of 154 lbs. since my first visit to Dr. Aranow. I'm glad that you are back on the "Marcher's" board, Maureen. It's a better place when you are here. I did not respond to your other recent posts because I thought that the responses from others were outstanding and that I could think of nothing else to add to them. I would like to remind you, however, that when you are having a rough time is the worst possible time to stay away. Share your troubles...you are not alone!! Mike

Thanks, Mike. You have been such a rock of support for me! Maureen

The same is true for me, Maureen.... This is a two way street that we travel on!!!! I hope that we all have a happy and healthy 2005! Mike

OK-- I will go for this too. I am at 137 and would consider 130 being at goal. (My doc did not set a goal for me). So, 7 lbs in 2 months for me. That is a pound a week, with a bit of margin for error. I will have to maintain focus, but I know it is possible. Being at goal on my anniversary is well worth the redoubled effort. As a part of this, I want to issue an exercise challenge: Lets move these great bodies of ours at least 5 days out of 7, and be accountable for reporting in and telling what we did. Tomorrow is the first day of a new year. Lets make the most of it! Joy

Great idea, Joy! I'm in! My exercise program has really lapsed of late; I will give this some thought and make a commitment tomorrow, want to make the right choices so I can stick to it! Maureen

Joy, Yeah its a good thing to be thinking about that 1 year anniversary I just want to be below the 200 mark. I am fighting with the 220, so that wouldmeen 20 lbs in two months, I guess if I get back on track * stop eationg the junk, I will probably lose that much. I also haven't been exercising very much ( I really should be) I am hovering between 125 & 130 lbs since the holiday**** us. Oh well the candy is over & so are the sweets. back to the basics for me too! I will try what you did & see if that works. Happy New Year Marilyn, the Bearlady

I'm signing up for the sprint. With the holidays, I've only been able to get to the gym 3 or 4 times a week. I've still been good about working my abs and doing leg lifts at home, but I need to be in the gym doing aerobics at least 5 days a week. I'll be there first thing tomorrow morning. I could be doing better food wise. I haven't been horrible, but I haven't been great. I need more protein. My doctor gave me a goal weight of 125. Her nurse thought she was smoking something and raised it to 140. I want to be at 150 and then I'll start looking at plastics. I guess I don't really have a goal weight, but more of a goal size. I'll be happy wearing a size 10. I'll be ecstatic at an 8. I don't mean a snug 10 or 8, but a true 10 or 8. That's probably another 20 pounds. Connie