good for you!!!!!!!!!!!! karie

Chris - I don't really know what to say except you are not alone and there are many others who are slower losers as well. Just think you are 78 pounds closer to your goal. Just to ask a few questions (if you don't mind): 1. What are you eating (what's a typical food day)? How many calories per day? How many fats and carbs? Are you snacking or grazing? 2. What are you drinking? Soda? Water? 3. Are you careful not to eat and drink at the same time and wait at least 45 minutes after you eat to drink? My advice is to go back to the basics. Stick to under 800-900 calories a day, low fats and low carbs. Drink at least 100 oz of water a day and NO SNACKING AND ABSOLUTELY NO GRAZING. Stick to 3 meals a day. This should really kick start your weight loss. Swimming is great exercise. I understand the back pain but whatever you can do for walking would be an added benefit for your weight loss. However if swimming is all you can do, do it 7 days a week - start burning those calories. Perhaps after the hernia repair and breast reduction you will be able to kick start your weight loss. Regarding the tummy tuck, don't be surprised if you need a revision after you lose another 75-100 pounds! Good luck to you, and I sure hope that weight starts coming off again. Also, best of luck on Dec 7th! Kim 347/174.5/???

Well I just got reading the post of "Where are you now?" and I am just bit worried that I am doing something terribly wrong. When I had surgery, I weighed 354. I know why anywhere from 276 and 281 depending on the day. I have been at this since August. I keep losing and gaining the same 5 lbs. So my total weight loss is only 78 lbs. My doctor says that I am losing on the slow side, but up until August I was losing the same amount consistantly. He thinks that my new development of my hernia may be part of the problem. I started developing this hernia probably around 3-4 months post op and never knew what it was. It is about the size of a softball and is hard as a rock and it sits in my upper abdomin (sp?). I just assumed it was part of my weight that I just haven't lost yet. At my 9 mth post op appointment, I ask my dr when I was going to start losing in that area. He looks at it and said "when I repair it". Surprise to me, I wasn't even in any pain until he started poking me. When I questioned about my weight loss, he told me that part of the problem maybe where my hernia is sitting that it is pushing on my pouch. I have been able to eat quite a bit of food that I do not feel is normal and I do not feel the full feeling anymore. He also said that was due to my hernia pushing on my pouch. It doesn't help that I have not been able to excerise much beyond my swimming, due to discomfort and pain. Walking causes me back pain, which will end after surgery (breast reduction ya know?) I am having surgery on Dec. 7 for my hernia repair, Tummy tuck, and breast reduction. Just thought if someone has had similar experiences or if I could get some advice about what I may be doing wrong. I know my weight loss slowed way down after my excerise routine had to be modified. Advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hi there Diane, MY sister thinks I am nuts when I talk about angels. Do you think this is a great quote for her? I do think she holds back from alot in life. Somehow she thinks that believing in angels makes her do something against her religion. Well not going there with her on that one. There is 2 things you don't argue with someone over and that is one of them.. Diane let the be with you girl.....Lorraine

Thanks Diane. You're very kind. GOOD LUCK with the no sugar in the coffee thing. YOU CAN DO IT!! Just think...199. Keep saying it to yourself!! 199. 199. 199. 199. Then soon you'll be saying 189. 189. 189., etc., etc. Have a great week too!