Everyone ready for our 18 month check-up?

Can you believe it's been almost 18 months? Seems like such a short time ago that we were "newbies"!! I am a little nervous about my visit next month. I am trying to get off this last 15lbs and it's not going anywhere. I am sitting at 155. I got down to 149 for a day or two. I find myself grazing too much. And not getting in enough protein. Foods that made me sick before, don't anymore (unless I eat too much of it). I still can't eat more than one slice of bread (1/2 sandwich). I can eat minimal amounts of sugar with no reaction (1-2 cookies). If I eat more than that, I do feel a bit nauseaus. I know what I need to do to get off this last bit of weight. I have started this week having a protein shake for breakfast and lunch and then eating dinner. My biggest problem is getting munchies at night. I try to pick the best things for me to graze on like popcorn or cheese and meat rollups. But sometimes it's a cookie or a handful of chips.. I don't drink nearly enough water either. I try and drink some form of water like tea but don't always do it. I guess if I want to lose this 15lbs, I better buckle down and DO IT! I need to get back to exercising too. I haven't done anything all winter! With the weather being bad, I don't want to walk outside. We have had several snow days here and are trying to thaw out again from this most recent one. I am so sick of snow!!! I want SPRING! So I guess this was kinda like confession time for me. I tend to stay away from the boards when I am being bad.. And this winter weather gets me down. I am trying to stay positive and just get through it but it's hard sometimes. How are you all doing? My new year's resolution is to take time for ME! I am trying really hard to keep that promise to myself. Take care and lots of love to you all! Lori 281/155/140

My confession is in my profile under Jan. 1, 2007. I really screwed up my optimal weight loss time. I really screwed myself up. However, I've done a complete turn around since Dec. 29 and have lost 14 lbs since that day. I have a ways to go (13lbs to my surgeon's goal STILL, and 26 to my original goal I set for myself) but I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing and working hard to get where I could have been MONTHS ago if I'd stayed on track. I can almost taste the century club again, and I can't wait! I only saw 100lb loss for a couple of days last year, and that was my all time low weight in my entire adult life. I'll be back there, and lower, no matter how much work it takes or how long it takes. I'm done allowing anything but ME control me or my life. I'm back to enjoying the right foods when I eat and excersising daily. I've even started using our Bowflex, which I never did before, in addition to walking/jogging 2 or more miles a day. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to come to this board and admit I was our August failure, the one that threw it all away. But now I hope to continue down the right track and be a success too. Lori, you've done so well, I know you'll get that last 15 lbs off. It sounds like you're doing really well, I'm sure some warmer weather and being able to go on walks again would make the difference you need. Water intake is a problem for me too, I'm living on Crystal Lite these days. That and decaf coffee to try to warm my bones every now and then! Thank you for posting this. I've been stressing that '18 month' honeymoon period coming to a close, but this past couple of weeks has shown me that there is no magic time frame for us. We can still lose the extra pounds, we just have to work harder than we did in the beginning. But we can do it! I wasn't sure originally about posting in my journal about my problems, but I hope that eventually my story might be able to help someone else. Love and Hugs to you all here on the August board ~ Connie 269/176/163 Surgeon's goal/150 My goal

Connie, I am glad I am not the only one! Not that I want anyone else to fall off the wagon like me, but it makes me feel better knowing that I am not the exception. I hope we can get others on here to confess too. We are all in this together and just knowing we have each other is a big help to me to get back on track! Thanks for joining me! Lori

I'm having a pity party for our 18th months out. I was feeling so good at a year out, then WHAM. I've got severe anemia and my Thyroid went whacky. I'd love to loose another 30 lbs, but haven't been eating the best since I've been feeling so crappy. I've stayed between 178 and 175 for the last few months. Except when I did my prep for my colonoscopy; I went down to 172 lb. A four lb drop in one day. Scary. Torrey (281/177/160)

Thanks for joining our "pity party" Torrey! I am sure we aren't the only ones struggling with this. We ALL know what to do to remedy the situation and need to help each other through it. Sorry you are having health issues. That sucks! I wish you well on your journey. How's the plastics coming? Lori 281/153/140

Hi Everybody!! I dont post much here but i lurk here everyday. Iguess i must be the only SMO here here on the August 2005 board but anyway i have about 30 pounds to go to meet my surgeons goal and only about 19 to meet my goal, but i am sure that once i got under 200 pounds i would want to lose more weight. I started at 362 i am now at between 215-218 so i have lost a lot but i want to be under 200 pounds. So i guess it is time for my confession, i work in the OR at a hospital and we have alot of food and junk food all the time and i cannot control myself i wish i could but i cant. The holidays this year were bad for me and i am not exercising so it is time to buck up and be accountable for my actions and do something about it. Somedays are good and somedays are not so good. But i have to say they are not like they were at all. So thank you all for being there for me and listening to me babble and whine. Because i have really needed to do it. Nanette

Hi Nanette! The holidays were a little bad for me too. I found that I could eat a couple of cookies here and there and be ok with it. Bad Lori! My goal is to just try and get back on track. It shouldn't be too hard because we all still have our TOOL! Seems to be working for me. I have lost 3 lbs this week already so I am happy. Let's just keep supporting each other and not hiding out anymore. I tend to do that when I am feeling guilty or down on myself about my eating habits, etc. Keep up the good work! Lori

Hi Lori You look great in your pic. I am not to thrilled with 18 months out either. I have been hovering at 180.5 to 183 for the past few weeks. I lost quite a bit for me at the beginning of Dec/Jan, but since my period hit, I'm struggling. I have been excerising everyday at the gym...which I am loving. And afterward, I feel so hungry, I can almost eat a whole hamburger from McDonald's on the bun (bad for me) but end up throwing about 1/4 of it out. I eat all the meat and toss the bread. I don't do this everyday like I use to (1/4 pounder w/cheese was my fav.) but I do it more than I should and want to. The best place to go for me for a quick lunch is Taco Bell because one taco is still too much for me. Don't know what it is about Taco Bell. Anyway, this month has been fast at times and slow at others. I am excited to see the 18 month mark come because I'll be celebrating it in Hawaii with my sis and folks for their 50th anniversary. We are cruising the Norwegian Pride of Aloha and I can't wait. On Sat, 2/3 I'll be Maui and that is my favorite island of all. I plan to celebrate by snorkeling and I even bought a batingsuit in a size 14...I can't believe it! Well, enough for now. Take care, Lori 293/180.5/150

Thank you Sweet Lori! You are so kind and giving of yourself. You better have LOTS of fun in Hawaii!!! Can I go too??? Yeah, I wish. We are all still in this together even though most of us don't post daily anymore. I still read every single day and try and post when I have time. I refuse to let this get the best of me! Take care and have a BLAST in Hawaii!!! Aloha! Lori

ok girls i know what you all mean! this must be pretty normal then, since were all feeling it....i was down to 152 and through the holidays i ate myself to 158 and it seems like i cant quit putting food in my mouth!! i graze all day and eat cookies and chocolate....i just started going to the gym the last week, ive gone 3 times so far so i guess im trying to hop back on the wagon, but the WORST thing is that i wanted to lose 20lbs before my plastic surgery and it doesnt look like thats gonna happen......thanks for posting this, now i know im not alone. i love u all and WE CAN DO IT! we just need each other right now. look how far weve come and how happy we were to lose it..we CANT slip back to where we were, and we all know it CAN happen......i dont ever want to go back to being the size again......now that we know weight loss is possible, we need to straighten our LITTLE behinds up!! What do ya say??? Love u! Kim