Peeking in from the oct. boards Up for ?'s

Hi Everyone I had surgery on 10/5/04 and OMG are things differant now. I still can't eat much at one time but I am constantly wanting to chew. I buy gum to chew on but it is disappointing at first I didn't want anything in my mouth I guess it is catching up. I don't eat bread I can eat a few crackers like maybe 6 with cheese and ham. or something of the like. For the last few months I have been loosing slower which I expected, This month so far nothing and if this isn'****er I have gained 3 pounds. I am not eating nowhere near like before surgery, but nothing like after surgery either. I have 45 pounds till goal and starting to get scared that this is it, I know this is normal but for some it is true. I don't want it to be true for me. So I got the idea to come here and see What Ya'll were going through mentally at my stage and How it turned out in retrospect did You worry for nothing. I will be 6 months out in 2 weeks. Thanks for taking the time to read this appreciate any insight. 5' 5 1/2" 287/198/150 Shell

Hi Shell Welcome to our group! I've done the same as you and visited the August group (one month ahead of us) many times. First of all, you must know that you are doing incredibly well! 89lbs in just over five months is fantastic! We can tell you that it does seem to be slowing down for most, if not all of us. But, the good news is that it isn't stopping! We are still losing, but the pace does change and I think in a way, it is almost harder for those of you that lost so fast at first. People like me who have been slow pokes all along have gotten more used to the slow going I think. You are right that some stop losing before making it to goal, but most continue to lose some weight each month for at least the first year to 18 months. Also when you've lost a lot, the body does seem to go through a "correction" a bit and stall out or even gain a few before the loss gets started again. Hope that helps you a bit and stop by and post here anytime! ~Sue

Thanks for the response. I sure hope I keep losing. I keep wavering between 195 and 198 drives me batty I know I shouldn't weigh daily but I do. You look great by the way You are a really pretty Lady. Congratulations on Your sucess. Thanks for the welcoming words. Shell

To be totally honest with you I am still in your frame of mind. I eat like you, sometimes a little more one day sometimes not much at all another day. I have 36.5 pounds until I reach 170. That is my goal. The charts say I should weight about 155 so that would make it 51.5 pounds to get there. I really am not sure what I will look like at 170 so I am going to stop there and reassess it all. If I continue to lose after I get to 170 then that's fine but if I mantain that's fine too. I still get scared I am not going to make goal. I've never gotten this close but in the past when i've gotten anywhere it's always stopped and the weight has always returned. One thing I am happy with is that I no longer obsess over the scale. I no longer freak out if I don't lose for a week or 2. I don't care if I weigh 206.5 one morning and later on in hte afternoon I weight 208. I would get so scared I was gaining in the past, but I know now that drinking 24 ounces of water 3 times in a day is going to add some pounds until I pee it all out. Your doing great and wish you added success in the future. Thanks for stopping by.. Shannon

Boy I tell ya I hate the scales One day I am 195 the next 198 the next 196 the next 198 the next 195. I know I shouldn't weigh that much but I am guilty. I refuse to weigh more than once a day I can't imagine what they would go between. Ugh. Owell Thanks for the reply and The warm welcome. Congratulations on your sucess. Shell

Hello Shell G I am right there with you... I weigh daily and I have been stuck between 185 and 188 for WEEKS!!! I don't dump and I have cheated and sometimes even gone overboard... reverting back to old habits...feel bad about not losing a pound... eat a cookie or two or three!!! Thank God my pouch is still fairly small or I'd eat more cookies than I do!!! I have to have chocolate daily!!! But in reading many many posts... we are right on track with the general masses. Glad someone else is out there that can feel the frustrations like me... there are days that I am so scared that this is it. I made today my new day to get back on track. And I have done GREAT! Scales on the low end... at 186... so hopefully tomorrow will show something positive. Good luck and keep up the good work! Hugs Wanda

Hi Honey!! Welcome aboard!! You are doing SUPER DUPER!! I started at 285 and down to 201 since surgery, so I haven't quite reached Onederland yet, but am hoping to this week. I have been "hungry" since day one, but I try to stick to a very regimented eating schedule. I eat six mini-meals daily and that is working well for me. I eat breakfast at 7, hi-pro. hot chocolate at 10, lunch at 12, hi-pro. shake at 3, dinner at 6 and a hi-pro drink or snack at 8-9. Eating every 2-3 hours keeps my sugar levels regulated and I KNOW that I am not going to "die" from hunger within 2-3 hours!!! Mentally, it is still pretty hard. Much harder than I thought it would be. I can still eat sugar without dumping, so that has been hard for me. I try to limit my consumption to just a bite or two of something chocolate every day. I just be sure that I count that bite or two in my daily calorie consumption and don't go over 1200 calories daily. Keep hanging in!! You are going to make it just fine!!! Hugs, Pam

Thanks for the sweet response. I try to stick to a schedule with everything but I have two small children and it seems everyday is differant. It is close though. I used to keep track of everything on fitday and was getting under 1000 daily I am almost afraid to check it now. I know I should I don't think it would be much over 1000 though. I feel a lot better since surgery so no complaints just want to reach goal, I know don't we all. Congrats on Your success and thanks again for the hopeful response. Shell