Fantastic job. We're kinna right there together and it makes me feel good to see that Im doing it right! Great job girl!

Yeah, you're so right - I can't believe it's been almost a year for me, too.  I'll hit 11 months on Sept 26th.  I've lost 159 since my highest weight and 124 since my surgery date.  I am so happy with how great I feel, it's hard to believe still sometimes.  I got to do things this spring and summer that I always wanted to do, but couldn't handle it physically.  I got to go halibut fishing for the first time (and went a few more times) with my sister and brother-in-law in their boat and could reel in my own line!!  I went crabbing with them and pulled up ALL the crab pots all day long because I was so excited that I could do it that I didn't want them to help me at all.  They didn't mind - it's hard work - but I made them pick up the crabs, I kept grabbing them too close to the pinchers!  I've gone on a couple really long walks with hills and rocks to climb over and everything and did it without getting out of breath.  I went out to three wildland fires with my interagency team this summer and could work the 16 hour days, get some sleep and keep going without being totally exhausted.  At two fires, our sleeping area was about two blocks down the road.  I made the treks quite often during the day to go to my camper to make a protein shake or grab something to eat, just to get the walk in.  I felt so proud that I could do it.  Just last year I was one of the group of people who couldn't walk that far and had to drive from our "offices" to the camping area and got all hot and out of breath just trekking back and forth to take a shower - even when it was at 5 AM when the sun wasn't up and most mornings were lower than 60degrees!  Not this year!  It felt so AWESOME!!!!!  And since last year was my first year on this team, lots of them didn't even recognize me this year - they thought they got another new ordering manager on their team.  I had to be re-introduced at our first team meeting at the first fire because so many people were asking my boss who I was.

And the same as you - I can cross my legs, tuck in my shirts, paint my own toenails (heck, just being able to SEE them now is so exciting).   I'm still monitoring my protein, veggies and fluid intake and doing well with that.  Nut had to tell me to up my carbs and fats because I kept losing past where they want me.  But I gained back a few pounds and have been holding steady there for a couple weeks now.  I have noticed that I, too, have to stay on my toes because a few times I've taken "just one more bite" of something that was yummy (juicy steak or yummy broccoli are my two biggest one more bite foods), only to find that "one more bite" was one bite too many. 
I'm in a size 6 jeans, medium to large tops  (depending on the cut and store) and bought myself two new winter coats in medium yesterday.  Also a few sweaters - I realized it was getting colder at night and I didn't have any winter clothing at all that fit anymore!!  Most days I'm happy with how I look (in clothes!!), but I still have some days like today where I just feel fat.  My DH caught me staring in the mirror and not looking happy.  He asked what was wrong and I told him I just felt and looked so fat today.  He reassured me that I don't - heck for some reason, my body's shifted this last week and now my size 6's are starting to be a little baggy.  But in my eyes, it looked fat today.  I know the image thing takes awhile to get pounded into the brain, so I'll deal with it.  I guess all women, no matter what size they are get that "I feel fat today" feeling once in a while.  All in all, I'd do this again in a heartbeat and am thrilled with my new much more active life!

Okay, I've rattled on long enough - let's hear some more from everyone!!!

You're not a failure...not at all!  You've been incredibly successful so far, and life just got in the way.  Fine.  Accept that it happenned & move on.  You know what you need to do - follow the rules.  Focus on your protein and especially your fluids.  I really belive that the one thing that keeps me on track food-wise is journalling everything I eat.  (Even if I put a dab of butter on my veggies.)  My favorite journalling is on mydailyplate.com.  If you know you're going to have to write it down and have a record of it, it really makes you think before deciding to eat something.  :)

Oh, and if you're looking for breakfast suggestions, I usually have Sugar Free Carnation Instant Breakfast with 1% milk or Special K Protein Plus Cereal (again with 1% milk.)  Those are my standards.  Then on weekends, or if out and about, I'll have an egg and some bacon (I don't dump on a piece of bacon.)

Do what you need to do.  Your tool is there and it will still work for you if you work with it - Good luck!

You are not alone.  My highest weight was 258 and I am now 200.5 but I got down as low as 195.  Well much like yourself my family had our vacation this summer starting on May 15-31st and I haven't lost but gained since then.  I was very discouraged too. I went from 195 to 204 in about three months.  But lets exam all of the facts here before we raise the white flag and surrender to defeat.  I am 5"8.5, how tall are you?  How tall are some of these other people who have successfully lost so much (and congrats to you all good job!!!).  Did they have more to lose because they are shorter?? Also I very rarely dump not to mention that I can eat everything that I ate before but just at a smaller portion.  Do the others have the same ability, do you?  Perhaps we have to work harder to lose and maintain our weight loss but our vitamin and nutrient levels are bettter.  My point is that we have to stop falling on our own swords and realize that we are and have all that we need to be successful.  If only we would recognize it.  But you asked me how to get on track so here is how I dropped three pounds in a week and began the weight loss again.  I started planning exercise and meals back into my life.  My goal is five days a week at the gym but three days a week is mandatory.  I make conscious decisions when I eat.  If I am going to eat the wrong thing...fine, but I will hold myself accountable and not play that game of "I just don't know what I am doing wrong?"  BULL, I know it was that ice cream or those cookies etc... so I am not allowed to be sad at the scales because I am accountable.  As a result I eat better so that I get the results I want.  And last but not least I weigh myself and track it again.  I get excited about this choice I made to have surgery.  And I congratulate myself on how far I have come.  Whether I am one pound down or one hundred I made a decision that changed my life.  I was courageous and chose to fight 10 months ago.  AND I CHOOSE THAT SAME FIGHT TODAY!!!!!

Im Late.......whats new, lol!

10 month mark on the 24th.

Highest:  247
Sugery:   226
10 month mark:  135
Goal:  130  ( doctors goal )
My goal: 120  ( hey I am only 5 foot tall )


I recommend using the daily plate for EVERY thing that goes in your mouth.  I too had hit a major stall and the scale hardly moved for 2 months.  Wasnt till I logged every morsel that I realized I was eating way over my calorie needs to lose weight.  Just because it is baratric friendly, doesnt mean its carb and calorie free ( cheese stick - 100 calories , Kashi bar - 140 calories, etc. )   Once I got back to my recommended calories and contined with the exercise the scale started moving again.  Good luck and I hope this helps