Scale has stopped moving and I still have 40 pounds to lose, are we allowed to take those pills that speed up your metabolism??

I'd love to keep in touch. Please email me. Before I had the surgery, I got several messages from the universe that this was the thing to do. I had been against it before. One of the messages was pretty direct. My orthopedic surgeon refused to do an knee replacement until I lost weight and he encouraged WLS. I now have a wonderful new knee and don't take Bextra or anything else for pain. My only Rx is Avandia for precaution. I don't exercise quite like I should though I did ride my bike for a short distance today. I am glad to hear your doc expects weight loss up to 2 years. I finally found a protein concoction that I like. I mix unflavored Whey, Unjury and Matrix 5. Unjury was too expensive by itself. I also add some sugar free flavoring such as Hazelnut or French Vanilla. Sometimes I mix in just a little instant coffee. To this mismash, I add Hood Carb Countdown milk, 1/2 choc. and 1/2 Fat free along with crushed ice and my liquid calcium. I mix it with a stick blender. Sounds like a lot of trouble but it really isn't and it does taste good. Lets keep on comparing notes down the line.

WOW! We are close in weight and age. I have knee problems so exercise is STILL difficult (notice you took Bextra in the past from your profile - me too). I have to be REALLY careful - the badly damaged knees can flare up for no reason at all. (knees meet replacement criteria - but am NOT going to do that unless it gets excruciately bad). They have improved with weight loss - but had to get a wheelchair at one point to simply get around the house before having WLS. I'm hoping that exercise will be key to further weight loss progress. Found out that a recumbant bike allows painless exercise - but don't have one yet. The surgeon told me earlier that if I ate the 'easy to eat' foods and didn't work the exercise program I would be dissappointed in the long term results of the WLS. I am very glad you posted and hope to see how we both do - keep in touch, if that's ok with you??? I could improve 3 ways, more fluids, more exercise and less carbs/more protein. Can't stand the protein drinks either. I am at a set point weight - so that explains some - one (not mine) surgeon said we hit set-points on the way down that we hit on the way up the scale. However, - think there is more to this than that. I'm hoping that once I get more vigorous about an exercise plan - the scale will cooperate. The surgeon said that I'd probably need plastic surgery on the stomach and to do it at the lowest weight which would be at about 2 years - so apparently there will be more weight loss expected by the 2 year mark. That is hopeful. I had about 200 cm bypassed with RNY. Do you know about how much you had bypassed? And, have/are you able to exercise?

I am so glad to see your post. We are so much alike. I am 53, I had surgery 9/29/04. I started at 370 and now weigh 226 (give or take 2 lbs the last 2 weeks). I hope our weight loss is not over. Lately I have been craving food, not necessarily because I am hungry but just because. Kinda scary. I have been trying to keep the protein up and the carbs low but the holidays have been difficult. My doc was not too encouraging about losing 50 more lbs but said I could lose to or just below 200 if I worked at it. He gave me the "older people lose slower and not usually as much" line. I am going to try and go on the protein busting diet for a week. That worked well before for losing weight but made me grumpy as all get out. Are you exercising very much?

So do YOU!!! Thanks!!!! And, yes, it has been an AMAZING year! Susan