Almost 10-months postop and doing great!

How is everyone else doing? I am officially down to 170-lbs as of this morning. I started at 324-lbs on April 3, 2006. I have about 10 more pounds until I hit my maximum ideal weight and 20 more pounds until I hit where I want to be. I can it, I know I can. Although, now I worry extensively that my pouch is going to stretch out back to where it was. I have been told numerous times, though, that this just will not happen. That as long as I am following the rules, I will be fine. Does anyone else have this fear? I guess the reason I worry so much about it is that I have noticed that I can eat alot more now (maybe it is all in my head since we could hardly hold anything for so long after surgery). Ok, maybe this will help me feel better. How much can you all eat now at a time so I can see if I am normal or not? Thank you all for your posts, I love reading them

I can eat a lean cuisine for a meal. On heavier stuff like steak, I can eat about 5-6oz. Congrats on an amazing loss. Those last 20 pounds will take the longest to lose, but you CAN do it!

Ok, I am doing ok then I can eat a descent salad at a time, soups I can usually do about 1-1/2 cups as long as it is not real chunky and then only about 3/4 of a cup. Breads and the like I still have a problem eating very much of (they expand and then make me miserable!). I can also eat a regular/small McD's hamburger I know, not what I should eat but I think only once a month is not so bad Since I cannot go see my doctor and dietician without my insurance I have been worried about my food intake. I am still losing, so I guess I am not doing too bad Thank you so much for your help... I know that last 20-lbs is going to drive me crazy but I also know that if I have come this far, I can go a little further. You keep up the good work too and thanks again! Suzanne

Suszanne, I would say you are doing great. I saw on your pictures you have lost 154 pounds in less than 10 months. WOW That is excellent!! Keep up the good work. Julia

Great job Suzanne! I can eat a large Wendy's chili with crackers, a whole can of soup, a tortilla with 3 slices of meat and 2 slices cheese. I understand completely - sometimes it seems like a lot but my nutritionist checked a sample day of food and said that my calories are good. Good luck with the next 10-20 pounds! sarah

Sarah, That is not all in one meal is it??!! I can eat a small Wendy's chilli now and worried that was too much. It is scary a little, as eating gets easier and can eat more volume. Julia

Yes, I agree! It is very scary that eating gets easier as we go on. That is what has me so frightened. I am scared that I will fall back into my old habits again. But, we have to keep our before pictures posted up on our wall, fridge in my case, to remind ourselves where we definitely do NOT want to be again! I think of it as a contract with myself that i will never again do that to myself, or my family, again . It is a bit scary though, isn't it? Suzanne

You're doing incredible! Wow! I know the last bit of weight is the hardest to get off since it slows down after awhile. I can eat more than before and yes it does make me nervous. I can eat 3/4 to 1 cup of food depending on what it is. Lizzie

Congratulations on such a fabulous weight loss. It sounds like you are on track. Depending on the food, I can eat about 1/2 a sandwich, or bowl of soup, meats about 3 oz at a time. Salads I can eat quite a bit more of plain lettuce. I talked with my dietician yesterday and I asked her about how many calories I should be taking in at this point and she said around 1000 cal a day. Have you made any type of journal keeping track and calculating the calories you take in each day? If you are interested there is a free web site that I enjoy using it is www.sparkpeople.com. You can track and calculate foods and exercise and get alot of information on general nutrition and exercise along with other educational info and motivational ideas. I wouldn't worry about the your increased capacity, as long as you are eating nutritious foods and following your doctors rules. You are normal, keep up the good work. Sher

I am going to check out that website right now. I never thought about keeping a journal though if I had been able to keep seeing Dr. Mailapur and the dietician they probably would have advised it. I am trying very hard to eat healthy foods. I think I do pretty darn good. The only thing I do that I am not supposed to do is eat a lot of soup. Because of all the liquid in it I remember being told in the beginning not to eat it. Thanks for your help!