Hello all!!!!  I had my surgery on 12/22/08 and was wondering how everyone was coming along, eating patterns, exercising, are you meeting your weight loss goals.  I've lost 70 lbs so far, although, if I would stay consistant with exercising daily, I'd probably lose more quicker, but I'm satisfied with my success thus far; however, I'm going to ramp it up notch in the coming weeks so I can be closer to Onederland by my bandiversary!

Watch the sugar and carbs. Get in proteins, proteins proteins!

Congratulations on your 106 weight loss since 12/22. I have loss that much too! I have also been able to eat more and that scared me a bit at first because I thought it might cause me to gain weight.

I don't weight myself but once a week or every two weeks and I don't consider that weight the "official weight" until I go to the surgeon for my weigh-ins. I was going every month since I had surgery but now I am up to every two months so I will see what I will do for the next two months. I also learned that you need to take your vitatmins and supplements especially your proteins. You need to get them.

The hair loss is one symptoms of not getting enough of your vitamins and protein supplements. If you keep slacking on those things, you will eventually have more problems that do not usually show up as fast as the hair loss.

I had a stall, sort of, but I made it up later so I have been averaging 10-12 pounds a month. Remember the weight loss comes off quickly but it did not come on as quick so it will all take time. The surgery is only a tool and if you use it correctly it will work for you. You get out what you put in to it.

I think you are progressing fine, remember the closer you get to your goal weight the harder it will be to lose. Keep on pushing and get those vitamins and proteins in daily. Exercise helps as well. You go Girl. I will be right with you!

Don't be jealous.  It is a useless feeling. Besides, we all have our own problems.  I am 61 yrs old and although I have been fairly lucky with my facial wrinkles, my body has not been so lucky.  I sag and bag and fear it will get no better because of my age.  I feel hideous naked.  I look like I am 75 yrs old.  I know because that is my mother;s age.  I worked in a nursing home when I was young and I remember seeing 85 yr old women with better skin tone than mine.  It is disheartening.
I do work hard for all of the lbs I lose.  I go to the gym 5 days a week and mostly twice a day.  I do cardio in the am before work and go back later to do weight training.  I have been doing this for months and months.  I can't say that I am able to run marathons like some do.  But, I do try to increase my distance and speed while on the machines as well as increase reps and weights while lifting. 
You are doing fine.  A 14 is a good size.  You may be a bit bigger boned than I am.  I am 5'3" and have a fairly sm frame.  I have 6 lbs to go before I am in the overweight category.  My BMI still says I am obese.  I wear a size 10/12 and they say I am obese.  Weird, huh?  I have far to go yet still.  Don't compare because I know we are different.  don't make yourself nuts.  Just rejoice in what you have done and how good you feel.  You have done a great thing for yourself.

I lost 5 lbs over the holiday weekend.  How odd is that?  I drove 10 hrs to PA and visited with friends and family.  I was not home to eat what I normally eat.  I had bread etc.  I had an alcoholic drink and some delicious dip.  Over that 5 day time period, I lost 5 lbs.  Hmmm.  Makes me wonder why I try to do things correctly....  Maybe my body just needed to be shook up.  I didn't even go to the gym.  It was hard getting back into it this week.  But I went.  yay for me.  heh heh