Erica Hi! I am now one year out and I find that I want to get back to my old habits and eat all the time even though I don't feel hungry. Its all in our minds and I find myself going to the refrigator and always looking in or grabing someout out to munch on even if I'm not hungry. Its habit not hunger and its hard to fight. Most of the time I try to eat fruit I keep it on hand when I do get this way. I don't have the answers but I have been told go back to the basic when you started this journey. Start out with extremely small meals, write it down & keep track of what you eat and how often this will tell if its just habit or nervous eating. I started out at 310lbs now down to 159 and have not lost any more weight to date but I'm not worried about losing more just hope I don't gain it back. Make sure you're getting your protein & vitamins in as well as drink lots of water. The water helps you lose and remember you will stall from time to time then for no reason your body starts losing again. It takes about 2 years out for your body to adjust and stay normal. Hope this helps take care in my thoughts & prayers!

Hi Gina! Well for one thing congrats on your weight loss. Remember don't always rely on what your scales say. When you exercise you gain muscle and muscle shows as weight its your clothes size that shows you are still loosing. I will be one year out lost a total of 159lbs did weigh 310 now down to 159, from a size 26/28 to an 8. Look at all the factors weight loss, clothes size and muscle tone where you can get it. To try to get you out of the slump you're in go back to the basics. Eat smaller portions, drink lots of water, yogurt & skim milk these things will get you jumped started again. I try to eat off a child or saucer when I eat, if not I seem to eat too much. I too can't believe how much weight I have lost and when I look in the mirror I see the weight loss but I don't see it. Go back and look as to why you had the surgery. You did not do it to get skinny but you did it to get healthy and you're there now. Just be patient look at where you were and now where you are! You have acheived the unthinkable to most people so give yourself a hug & pat on the back for you've come a long way baby! Love yourself first for only you can make you happy & life is just too short for 15 to 20 lbs. Take care in my thoughts and prayers.

Hi October Babies You all are doing so great! I'm happy for you all, but I haven't been on the boards for a long while becaue I get so depressed and jealous of those *****ached their goal and I feel like I've been left behind. I have been fighting with a 5 lbs loss for nearly 5 months! I am disapointed in my weight loss. I can actually say that I only had a span of 4 months (Dec, Jan, Feb and March) that I lost the bulk of my weight. I didn't start losing any significant weight until 2 1/2 months post op(late Dec), and it tappered off in March, April. I feel cheated. Surg Date: 10/20/04 Highest weight: 260 Pre-Surg weight: 244 Current weight: 165 (down 79 lbs) Goal: 145ish I am not overeating, drinking about 48 oz a day, do not drink carbonated or caffeine drinks, avoid processed sugar. I eat peanuts, (and low-fat peanutbutter on a reduced calorie rice cake, 2% lowfat cheese, low fat cottage cheese, fresh fruits and vegies. I can take in about 1 cup of food at a meal, and have a snack 2 x a day (usually 1T peanut butter on a small rice cake or cracker). The only thing I don't do is exercise regularly. I did by a bicycle and when the weather gets a bit cooler (I live in Florida), I will ride it as much as possible. When I ask the bariatric center for help, they say I am doing everything right (except increase my exercise), and am on target. Looking at the posts I don't feel I am even close to target! I'm feeling good except my labs are showing elevated liver functions tests and my PCP is investigating that. I had an UGI and am going for a nuclear scan next week. I go to my surgeon for my 1 year checkup in October and I remember him saying if I didn't lose 100 lbs or reach 150 he would be wondering what he and I did wrong. Well, I didn't reach that goal and I am disapointed. I know I feel better, look better and I would do it again, but I want to reach my goal! And I know I am not alone. Again, congratulations to all of you. Pray for me! Joann

I too am amazed that it has been almost a year. I love the new me, and my only regret is that I didn't have surgery sooner. Congrats to everyone. Surgery day weight 232 (10/14/04) My current weight is 127 (9/14/05) Total loss 105 3 pounds past goal Went from a size 22 pants and 1X shirts to size 4/6 pants and size S shirts. I was small in high school but never this small. Bobbi

Dear Nancy, As a devout Catholic, I have been dedicating MANY "Rosary's" these past few weeks, for all the sad times that have befallen our nation. However, Today, it will be my pleasure to dedicate my first "Holy Rosary" (of the day) to the repose of the soul of your beloved husband..! I will also pray that you and yours will realize the peace you deserve, and the confidence in knowing.. "you are NEVER ALONE!" God Bless You and Yours, Pete