WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Where Do We Go From Here.... 298 and going DOWN! Is it just me, or are you also feeling a bit lost these days? Well, I am 298# today, and I am feeling ok. However, I feel a bit 'lost' for some reason. All this time, I have had this goal of 299... and all this 'pushing' myself for my 8 weeks. Now that both the 8 weeks and the 299# goal has been accomplished, I find myself now having to set a new goal(s). Well, I am here today to do just that. I return to work on 3/16/05, which is about 3 weeks from now. What about you? Now that I have some attention, this Post is about setting goals AGAIN. Now that we are past our 8week check up, how many of us have SLOWED OUR ROLES DOWN a bit? I can admit it to myself, that I have 'slacked' a bit... now that I am felling better, and sometimes, WE ALL NEED A BIT OF ENCOURAGEMENT to JUMP START our routine again! My new goal is to be 280#, size 20, by the time I return to work on 3/18. Yes, I too my full 3 months, FOR MYSELF! This means I have to loos 7# in 3 weeks. I know I can do it, and will, because I would like my return to work weight to be 275, (down from 343), but I won't push myself because I know once I go back... it is like 'hitting the ground running', and more will drop off fast, anyway. Also, my b-day is on 3/11, and my goal was set on 2/11, and I decided then 280# would do the trick for #40! That's right, and I know... I hear it all the time, I don't look like it... even more so now, than before, right? Well, so far, I have slowed down a bit on my exercise, and I am able to eat just about anything, but in small portions, which is great! To combat that, I will increase my water, protein and exercise, again, because I have slowed down a bit. I know, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO KEEP GOING, but I hope that someone out there can admit that once they reached their 8 weeks, they also slowed down. Keep it real, ok? I feel fine, sometimes a bit stiff in my lower back, but it is because the weight is coming off, and muscles I have 'OVER USED' in the past, now are becoming a bit relaxed! That is good news, hugh! Well, I am in a size 20/22, and I am sure by the time I go back to work, I will be in that size 20, SOLIDLY! What about you guys? Any new goals? I had set mines in increments, because they are easier to REALIZE than the 100# goal, overall! I'll be there soon at this rate... so will each of you, if we JUST STICK TOGETHER, KEEP EACH OTHER INSPIRED AND ENCOUARGED, and POST OUR RESULTS OFTEN! Now that I had your attention... you can go now, but as you do INSPIRE THE NEXT DECEMBER CREW MEMBER BY LEAVING A POST! Thanks for listening! Always, Vera 12/20/04 LAP RNY Proximal 343/298/? -45# (week 9)

I admit, I have slowed down. My lower back is killing me. I have also noticed and admitted that I am not superwoman and have committed to a more realistic goal of working out every other day. Because if I say everyday and I can not do then I will not feel like a failure. I was also sick for two weeks and only lost a pound. so as sooon as I got my butt back on the treadmill I lost more. Be good DECEMBER FOLKS ROCK!!!!!

Hey Lucy.. morning luv! Sorry about your back and being ill... it is flu season, so take care of yourself. My lower back hurt too, and as Posted, it is because we have had so much weight on our lower back, all these years, and now that we are 'loosing', our muscles are becoming relaxed! Ahhhhhhh... I bet our damn backs are screaming YEAHHHHHH! I am in Physical Therapy at this time, for 4 weeks, to strengthen my back muscles... so check it out! Good luck and God bless! Vera, Crew Encourager 12/20/04 343/298/? LAP RNY Proximal -#45 week 9

Vera, this is the first time I have been on this forum.... Although I think setting goals is great, I haven't considered it. I am 9 weeks post surgery and have lost 45#. The last 2 weeks I haven't lost any. I have increased my exercise, but to say that I can make a goal...I don't know how I can realistically do that. I'm doing exactely what the dieticians and surgeon suggest...what else can I do? I think my body has reached a point that it wants to hold on to all nutrients and calories, because it doesn't know when it will be fed next! My surgeon says this is all typical...that my body has finally realized what I did to it, and it will retain all that it can. I have to be patient...which is hard, but it will start to come back off...and hopefully soon! thanks for your words of encouragement! jamie

Vera, this is the first time I have been on this forum.... Although I think setting goals is great, I haven't considered it. I am 9 weeks post surgery and have lost 45#. The last 2 weeks I haven't lost any. I have increased my exercise, but to say that I can make a goal...I don't know how I can realistically do that. I'm doing exactely what the dieticians and surgeon suggest...what else can I do? I think my body has reached a point that it wants to hold on to all nutrients and calories, because it doesn't know when it will be fed next! My surgeon says this is all typical...that my body has finally realized what I did to it, and it will retain all that it can. I have to be patient...which is hard, but it will start to come back off...and hopefully soon! thanks for your words of encouragement! jamie

Hi Vera, I haven't hit my first goal yet. grrr My first goal was to be under 200. I am so close that I can taste it! (weigh in is Monday night - Can't wait) I have gone from a size 18/20 top to a size 12 top, and have gone from a size 18/20 jeans to a size 14. So not bad there.. Weight from 242 down to 201. TONS of inches gone as well. I need to remeasure though.. After I hit the under 200 mark.. my next goal will be to get down to 180 (20 pound increments for mini goals) Long term goal - to weigh 120 pounds. Kathy Lap RNY 12/16/04 242/201/120

Hi Missy Vera. Yes I have mimi goals to, but I am not setting time limits or dates for the goals. I have dropped 50 pounds. I feel so much better it boggles my mind. My bad knees are still with me, however there are days when they do not hurt as much as other days. I am going to the gym and can walk 30 minutes on the treadmill, slow speed yes, but the endurance is what I like. My surgeon is pleased that I can walk the walk and he said speed does not matter now, just that I am moving. I can now begin using the nautilis equipment and I have called my trainer to set that up. I brought myself some silver and pink New Balance sneakers from Zappos.com and these are fabulous. I glitter and glow while I walk. They are very comfy and inspire me to move my feet. I have not seen 280 lbs in at least 4 years. I am amazed at how I am slipping out of clothes. Unfortunately I do not have a stash of clothes to melt into. So I will have to get some intermediate things to see me through to the end. I have a super huge Salvation Army store nearby and will shop there. Need to find a good bra that fits both around and in the cups. Even socks are too big now. One of my goals this weekend is to clear out closets and drawers and bring the too big, never going to be getting into those clothes every again, outfits to the Salvation Army store. I have kept one pair of jeans to remind myself of where I was. (Really I don't need a reminder, I have cemmented memories of my unlife as a morbidly obese human being, the looks, the airplane rides, the turnstiles, the watching of life go by, oh yeah I will remember) My next goal is to strenghten my leg muscles to help offset the knee pain. I hope to not have to use my cane in the future and to be able to flyfish and walk a river. Flyfishing has been a passion that my hubby and I have shared for 34 years. I have not fished in 4 years. I have missed this so. We always had this special time together and our vacations centered around going to or favorite places to fish. I will fish again. Another goal is to reach 250, 30 pounds away. For many of my adult years 250 is the weight I lived at. I delivered babies (3 c-sections), did my mother thing, ran the PTO, ran the local ski program, loved my hubby, fished the rivers, land lived my life at this weight. My loss has been consistent and steady. I am still in awe that I could have lost 50 lbs in almost 3 months. Yes I must plan what I will eat. I must track my vitamins, and proteins, and water, and food...but so what. I got here by eating with abandon, (not really for the last year since I followed Weigh****chers), have multiple medical problems, and not exercising. I now have to make all the behavorial modifications I can to make this new tool work for me in the very long run. One December member said she had lost 50 lbs and was going to go to a resturant to celebrate. I say hurrah for her, but why use food to celebrate your weight loss. We all need to change our tunes and get away from those things that made us fat to begin with. Food is delicious and so very necessary, but I will no longer be the slave to it I once was. There are other ways to celebrate our achievements and I for one will not make food the reward. So Missy Vera and December crew I have shared my goals and thoughts. I am a happy women and I am thankful every day for taking back my life. I made a great choice to have the surgery and the journey so far have been super fine. Hurrh for me and all of thee. Monica 12/06/04 330280/??? 32/30 to 22/24

Hey Vera, Well my goal was to get under 200 and I was able to make that. Now my new goal is to be 164 pounds and I would like to be there by March 23, that is my check up with the Dr. and that would be 20 pounds a month, which I've been doing. For some reason I have slowed down a bit with weight loss and every day is a challenge to get my workout done. I to am having muscle pains that I've never felt. My motto for my weightloss journey is "Failure is not an option" and I have that on the frig and the treadmill and also on a shirt and I plan on living by that motto. Finally today my weightloss is starting to move again, it had been stalled for the last week and driving me crazy. Eating for me isn't as easy for me as yours is for you. I absolutely can't eat any surgar at all or any kind of fat and that is a good thing. I've also noticed that for some reason I'm feeling a little down lately and not sure why. Well I hope that everyone is doing well with they're weightloss and meeting they're own goals. I think it's really important that we do encourage each other as much as possible. So here we go December crew lets make our goal. Loni Open RNY 12/16/04 224/183/110 -41#

My goal is to stay healthy and just lose at a graceful pace. I'll tell you something. Once you go back to work you'll have so much more energy and that you'll get motivated. I was out of work for 6 weeks and I was ready to go back to work because the last 2 weeks I was off I found myself eating all the time. Not stuffing myself to the pointing of getting sick but just eating out of boredom. Now I'm on my treadmill at 7am at least 3 times a week and because I'm so busy at work I don't even think of food. Donna

My first goal flew past me so fast I almost missed it! I'm now lighter then I was when I got pregnant with my daughter 6 1/2 years ago. My next goal is to get below 200 (I'm at 232 right now), then it'll be to 175, then 150, then 125... I went through my closet today...that was quite amusing for my husband. I could tell by how hard he was laughing as to just how big the clothes were on me! I've already donated 2 bags of clothes to Goodwill, now I'm down to bits and pieces for clothes. 3/4 of my wardrobe is now gone and I'm not ready to buy more. Thank goodness I don't need to dress up and can wear sweats and leggings until I get desperate enough to have to buy new clothes. I don't feel like I've slacked off yet. I'm still walking twice a day and will start getting back on my treadmill as soon as my step-daughter moves out in 1 week. I've also just now gotten total clearance to work out unrestricted, so I'll be adjusting my sleep pattern to get up at 5am to hit the gym before everyone in the house gets up... It's amazing how good I'm feeling these days! I love it! Jen 277/232/125