First WLS goal reached...

When I first started out on this journey, I had not idea of what my goal weight would be and I still don't, I had no expectations about how much I would or should lose. When I started the process I weighed in at 397. After talking with the psychologist for my psych eval, she gave me a goal. She had asked me what my goal was and I said "all I want is to be under 300 pounds" and she said that is a good realistic goal. Being under 300 pounds was something I knew nothing about. Prior ro surgery, the lowest weight I ever got to was 313 so being under 300 seemed realistic.

So as of last Friday, 5 months out, I did it...My scale read 299.4!!! I haven't seen a 2 in my weight since I was maybe 12. I was so excited I almost fell off of the scale.

I have lost 98 pounds! I went from wearing a size 30/32 to now being able to wear 22/24's comfortable and have even bought some 22 size pants. It is unreal to me. My energy level is so much higher then is was before. I am so much more active and I love being able to be an active parent and not just sit on the bench and watch.

Now the negative side of things. Extra skin is making me very self conscious and I HATE it. I have always been big, but my flab never really bothered me before, but now that it is more flabbing it is really noticable to me.

I am also having issues with losing too much. I obviously haven't at this point, lost too much, but it is a big concern for me. I didn't have surgery to be skin, it "fit" in, to be normal, to blend. I alwasys loved that about myself, I didn't look like every one else. Even big I wore bright, bold, loud colors, I liked being noticed and was never the "invisible" friend. I have always been noticed and seen and the thought of just blending in because I am losing so much scares me. I know being a 22/24 isn't small to some, but it is to me and honestly I am happy right where I am. i know I am going to probably lose more, but what do you do when you don't want to be a skinny person? How to do you deal as your body is changing?

~ Rose
Lap RNY 04/02/08
397/373/299.4/???

(((Rose)))
CONGRATULATIONS on your first goal being met - that is a wonderful accomplishment!

This is a GREAT post! Thank you so much for sharing. I find your post very interesting. To be honest, I've never thought about losing too much or wanting to stop ahead of where my body is going to take me. I think you have a very valid question. I look forward to hearing what some of the other members have to offer.

How has your journey so far been? Do you dump from any specific foods? Have you taken pictures of your journey?

Best to you!

I think what someone else posted below is very true. I think it does take time for our mind to catch up to our bodies. Just a few minutes ago I was going through some clothes that my friend gave me, a lot of it was size 18/20 and in my mind I was thinking "why would she give me these, I am never going to get to that size" then I instantly stopped that train of thinking and thought "you know I just might get into these at some point". It was very interesting to me that I stopped that negative self talk and thought positively.

I have to say losing too much is a big concern to me and not just because of extra skin or anything like that. I don't want to be skinny and I am sure I won't be, but at the same time I guess I should say 18/20 is skinny to me. It is taking my mind a lot longer to catch up with what is happening to my body. Even after 5 months, I still think about things that I couldn't do prior to surgery and still instantly think I still can't do them without even trying, but I am working on it. Now I will try and see what happens.

It is a very interesting journey. SO far it has been really good. I have my good days and I have my bad days, but good out weigh the bad that is for sure. Dumping for me kind of depends on the day as well. One day a chocolate chip cookie will be just fine and another day I will get so sick. So far the only think that I know every time I eat it makes me sick is ketchup. I thought I had an issue with hamburger, but then once I stopped using ketchup with it, the hamburger was fine. Other than that there isn't much else that I have had any issues with, I have taken pictures. I will post them on my profile.

Rose

Rose, what a great accomplishment, both in dropping sizes and your near 100lb loss. Congtratulations!!

First off, congratulations on hitting your goal.  I had man goals when I was losing. Mine were to be under 200 lbs, lose more than1 00 lbs, and then finally to hit my goal weight of 150.  Oh, and I can't forget the goal I set to wear a size 12 pair of pants.

It is an amazing journey!  Not only did I get below 200 lbs, not onl did I lose more than 100 lbs, not only did i hit my goal weight of 150, I also went from a size 22/24 to a size 6.  Yes, six.  My current weight is betwen 146-148.  I look and feel healthy as can be.

I constantly hear that I'm losing too much weight.  I'm constantly hearing people calling me skinny. Uh, I'm not skinny at 146 lbs.  That is AVERAGE! I don't care about the skin issues.  Though I do have to be honest and say that I'm larger around my waist because of the skin. And I probably shouldn't wear some clothing because it reveals a litlte muffin top. You know, I just don't care.  I figure I've had a baby and it was obvious that my skin stretched after giving birth - 12 years ago.  Its about feeling healthy.  And it shouldn't matter how much you lose; what size clothing you wear.  I'm constantly reminded of the saying "throw the damn scale away"!  Or check it only once a week or once a month. 

My doctor said that when by body stops losing weight, it will simply stop. You'll maintain your weight by the foods you eat.  The skin has been pulled so tight and its just something i'll have to live with.  Spanx are the best invention ever.

Again, congrats!  As long as you are feeling better that ever before, just remember to kick these thoughts in the back of your head.    You are doing a fabulous job.

Kel

Congratulations on your achievement!!!  Getting below 300!!!  Enjoy it.

If you are concerned that you will lose more weight than you want to lose, call the nut and ask her how to slow it down.  However, I think you will regret doing that.  the first 6-9 months are the honeymoon stage where weight loss is easiest and fastest.  After that it gets harder to lose and slower.  I say go with it while it's going.  See a therapist regarding body image - it takes a while for our minds to catch up with our bodies.  You won't go too low.  At 299 I don't think you would need to worry about being too thin, just yet.  You still have time to lose some more and get used to the new you before you'd really have to worry about being boney. Most people's bodies just stop losing after a while and then they start to maintain.

I think your fears/worries are more due to the quickness of the loss and your mind needing to catch up.  Give it time, you'll adjust to the new you.  It's scary when you look in the mirror and realize you don't recognize the person looking back at you.  And I don't know about you, but my fat layer was like a wall around me that protected me.  It was scary losing my wall of protection too.

Hang in there...call the nut, they're great and always willing to help.
Debi

Wow what a great post! First off congrats on meeting your first goal! That in itself is a great acheivement! 

In the past when I had lost weight my mom would encourage me but at the same time she would say Oh you are too thin you need to put some weight back on. I wonder if that has happened to you. I totally agree with the above comments that our mind needs to catch up to our bodies. We just talked this morning at coffee about when you walk past a window or mirror and see your reflection, we wonder who that person is.

In my opinoun, this WLS really isn't about getting thin or skinny, it is about getting healthy. It's about growing old with the one I love and being there when my grandchildren get married.

You can still be the one to wear bold colors and be noticed. Be noticed for the confidence that you are carrying!!

Good luck, Lorri K

Hi Rose~

Congratulations on meeting your first goal! How awesome is that?!
 
I totally agree with the folks who answered before me. Enjoy the ride!The 'honeymoon period' where the weight just drops off does not last a real long time. And yes--it does take a while for the mind to catch up with the body. Sometimes it helps to talk with a professional on this matter.  And you will encounter 'friends' who tell you you're getting too thin. You will know when that happens! 
And remember that everybody's journey is different!  

Keep up the great job--and please come to this board more often! 

((HUGS))
**SUE**

Congrats on meeting your first goal. I bet you are bouncing off the walls. I am about 9 months out and have slowed down quite a bit. I would double check with your NUT or doc if you are worried about losing too much. I am reminded that I will gain back some weight.

I LOVED reading your post, because it reminded me of a very frightening moment I had the day before my WLS.  I don't know where it came from, but I wondered - 'once I lose the weight, when I look in a mirror - who will I see???"

Sounds cheesy, but dang, that messed me up for a spell! 

I'm guessing you're a tall one like me.  I have been called "skinny" by some, but I'm still considered obese.  It's just that no one has EVER seen me at a weight that would be considered anywhere NEAR normal, so I suppose I DO look skinny!  Although I don't see me that way.   

Enjoy the loss, and all the amazing discoveries that come along with it.  Bones, energy, pants you forgot to try on and shrunk out of before you ever wore them, stuff like that!  Now is not the time to worry about getting too small.  Your weight loss WILL slow down, and then THAT will probably frustrate you, too!  Just do the right thing by your program, and enjoy the ride.  Your body will stop when it gets where it's going.  That's when your REAL work starts!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!