Oh Honey!! I've heard of PLENTY of "slow losers" getting to goal! Just go over and read some of the success stories. MANY of them considered themselves "slow losers". I think that 72 lbs. in 6 months is TERRIFIC!!! I don't think that you would have lost that much any other way. I know I would not have!!! Half way in 6 months is GREAT! Just think in another 6 months. Maybe not quite the other half, but at least "most" of it. And PLENTY of people continue to lose for 18 months or more. So, don't be discouraged!! Concentrate on where you've come from and not so much on how much farther you have to go. You can do it!! We ALL can. Hugs, Pam

I'm going through the same thing Sandy. I am still losing pretty steadily (about 2 lbs. per week) but yesterday I ate an entire bag of M&M's!!! That is the first time I have done that, and it scares the heck out of me!! I soooooooooo don't want to fall back into old habits, but I can see myself slipping a little. It REALLY bothers me, because this surgery is my LAST hope!! If I can't do it with this, I'll never be able to do it!! I think I need to make an appointment to talk with the Psych doctor to find out why I am sabotaging myself this way. I really haven't been toooo impressed with the Psych doctor so far, but... I think I do need some help! Probably the only reason I am NOT depressed is that I was already on anti-depressants when I had surgery. I wouldn't give those up for anything!! lol I hope that we both find some answers before it is too late!!! Thanks for being honest. Pam

Wow, can you believe it has been 6 months? I can't. I went to the doctor yesterday and all is well. Everything is on track. Last month's slow down was just as she said, my body taking a little time to readjust. This month I was down another 12 pounds. Not quite where I wanted to get for the 6 month mark, but still in the range I should be, so I am trying not to obsess. This brings my totals to a loss of 95 pounds since my surgery and 125 pounds since I started this journey in late June last year. I obsess about the numbers, but I need to look at the things I can do now. I can excercise for more than an hour, heck, I can walk across a mall without getting winded. I don't dread walking across the skywalk at work to cash a check. I have my life back, and it can only get better. The doctor warned me that now is when the loss slows down. It goes from averaging 10-15 pounds a month to 5-7 pounds a month, however she feels with me excercising like I am (at least 2 water aerobics classes a week, 2 personal training sessions a week and walking) I can keep the higher loss window open a little longer and stay in the 10 pound/month range....here's hoping. I still have a long way to go. My appointments are now less frequent, which is good in that I have reached the point that I am doing well, my body is healed and I don't have to be monitored so closely. I do worry a little because I did like having to be accountable once a month to the doctor and her scale. I am still going to stop in there once per month to weigh in just to keep that accountablity up, but also because I don't want a scale in my house for me to freak out over every day. I also got more good news, I can try steak now! That was the last thing that I was really restricted from that I wanted to be able to have. I am not a huge steak eater, but I occasionally get the craving, and of course I've had a craving since I haven't been able to have any. So we'll be testing those waters soon. Thanks to everyone here who has been so supportive. It really helps to get words of encouragement from the people who "get it". I promise I will be more diligent about posting myself. Bring on the next 6 months! Marie

Had my 6-month check up on Tuesday and I was on such a high. The doctor was so pleased and full of compliments, what a boost. Sometime between then and now my mood has sunk though. I have had such great success, 93 pounds in 6 months, and most importantly I have felt GREAT, and have a wonderful support system from friends, family and co-workers. Up til now, I could "cheat" a little (we're talking a pretzel or two) and still lose! Not anymore. I have been stuck at 175 for several weeks now. I wish I could say it's a plateau but it's not. I have eaten way too many girl scout cookies and other poor choices. I don't want to sink into my former bad habits and I am scaring myself! I only have 39 more pounds to reach the "normal" BMI range, what is wrong with me? Six months ago I would've killed to only have 39 pounds to lose! This tool is a gift and I am taking it for granted and wasting time. I know my appetite will come back and I desperately want to have lost all my excess weight by then. Why do we sabotage ourselves this way? The reality is that my doctor wants me on 800 calories a day til I lose the rest of my weight. I need to buckle down and really make this happen. I am worth it! But I am feeling a little depression sink in. I have really lost the comfort of my fickle friend: food! I'm not concerned about not being able to lose all my weight, rather, I'm concerned about my self-discipline. On the upside, I am exercising hard 5-6 days a week and this should help my little depression. It is just finally sinking in I guess that this is not a "diet" this is the rest of my life. And I'm thinking about what happens when we all reach our goals. We can't return to our former habits because we are "done" dieting. I'm concerned about maintenance but I'll go back to the nutritionist for help. Well, thanks for listening, just needed to whine a little. I'm usually such a happy person and I'm having a low week. Hugs, Sandy

Beautiful pic, Jo! You look like a swan with that long neck and thin face! I need to get a photo up on my profile, I'm going to ask hubby to help me do it tomorrow. Thanks for sharing! Hugs, Sandy