Those stubborn last 10 pounds!

Hello. I did not know this page even existed until now. Glad to know others that are at my current stage. I could really use all the help, support and advice I can get! I am 17 months post op. I started at my heaviest at 250# (5'4"), size 24, 2x-3x. Had the surgery Thursday, December 29, 2004. To date I am 150#, size 8, small to medium and feeling great. I spoke to my Physician's Assistant the other day and told her that 135# (ideal weight for my height and frame) was too small and she agreed. I'd like to maintain at 140 to 150 pounds so that if I do gain weight, it's well within my acceptable limit. I do not want to get above 150#. She did give me some good reminders on what I'm supposed to be doing. I would like advice from actual patients who have experienced plateau's; jumpstarted their weight loss again; and maintained their weight goal. I don't want to become obsessive about my weight. I just want to stay as far away from 200# as I can! Here's a funny question you can answer too - Did anyone ever NOT realize how skinny they were or how much weight you actually lost until you saw a picture of yourself? I know I've lost weight; my clothes and body are smaller, but I don't even see it in the mirror - only in my photos! LOL. I guess that's a good thing!! Here's to lots of pictures!

Charlotte, You are similar to me in that my starting weight was 265, and my goal weight is 140. I am 5'2" and I cannot get down to that elusive 140 no matter what I do. I work out like I am supposed to, I eat reasonably. I go between 143 and 146 pretty regularly. I have NEVER made it to 140 or below. When I look down, all I see is FAT. When I look in the mirror, I barely recognize the woman I see. I look really decent. The girl that does my hair said, "Damn, you don't realize just how petite you really are". But like I said, when I look down, all I see is FAT. Here is what I think is my problem and may be yours too. Perhpas 140 is my realistic goal weight. But I think what is keeping me from reaching it is this stinking pannus. And when i look down and see fat, I am seeing pannus. So, my theory is that once I have this removed (end of Sept), I will be more proportionate and when I look down, I will see my crotch and not my gut. I am positive I have at least 3 lbs worth of pannus that will be removed. So, once I am healed and recovered, I am sure I will be down to my 140 that I am looking for, plus I won't have this skin hanging down there and will look more normal for someone of this weight. Do you have a big pannus that is fooling you into thinking you are still fat? If so, see about getting that removed and I bet you will feel like a whole new person. jean

I was very fortunate not to have loose hanging skin. I do have a bit of a pannus (like you probably about 3#s worth). I call it my mommy bulge. It doesn't look bad at all. However, I do (by heredity) have the big hips and thighs. I think it's where I carry the most weight. I wish I could afford a butt and thigh lift. I'm afraid too much exercise will turn this fat into muscle which weighs more and increase my weight; which would only depress me more. I look great in my clothes and in my pictures, but naked on the scale doesn't make me very happy. Getting back to basics but having those days where I just want to pig out! Occassionally do well w/ resisting the temptation. Good luck w/ your panniculectomy.

I know I'm not fat but I still feel fat and I hide my body when I go out in public. I'm scared of social events as I think people will look at my fat. I don't have a lot of baggy skin but enough on my arms and legs that I notice it but everyone round me tells me I'm fine, stop worrying but in my head I'm not fine. Surgeon called it body image issues. The changes we go through with dealing with WLS. 85 degrees out and I'm in short and short sleeves in the house but if I go out it's long pants and along sleeves. Soemone looks at me I think they are looking at my fat. I have always had these feelings but lately I have been really depressed over it all. I see I have a problem and I'm addressing them Donna