Challenges... What are yours and how are you handling them?

I think it might help us and those who follow to list our biggest challenges and how we have coped with them. So please share

Where you are in your journey

Your biggest challenge(s)

Coping mechanisms for the challenge(s)

I'm 2 years, 3 months post op.

My biggest challenge is coping with stress and not using food to do it.

If find that when I make myself accountable, I take better care of myself. For me, this means logging my intake and weighing on a daily basis. 

     My biggest challenge is mindful eating. For example, I recieved a late phone call from my youngest daughter last night about 11:30 pm. Sometime during my comforting, preaching and consoling I had gotten out of bed and ended up in the kitchen. I had eaten a 1/2 cup of protein pudding and a handful of tortilla chips before I had realized what I was doing.  Same goes if a dinner conversation gets a little tense, I start power eating and don't even know what I've done until I get that lethargic, sick feeling. It is so easy to slip back into old habits, even after 9 months.
     I try to recognize my triggers and avoid food at that time. The rule at the dinner table is only pleasant conversation,  Our children's challenges, our jobs, money, and politics are not to be discussed at the table.
    I'm 9 months post-op and 106 lbs. down.  

I think mine is finding my place socially and in the world in general. I still see myself as less than acceptable at times and I know better. This of course can lead to alot of eating issues but I need to work on the self worth part of this. Staying in support groups and getting the positive feedback is really valuable and learning to give back is important too. Eventually I will when its possible get some therapy; but for now this is my therapy.

Mine is fear of failure and coping with the fact that I will never be 135 lbs. And probably never even make it to my goal of 150.  I am very happy with my weight loss. My biggest challege is to get off 20 more lbs.  I wish I had the extra stuff what ever it is....to make it to my goal and stay there. I will be 2 years out as of Dec 13.  I am proud of the 150 lbs I have lost. Happy at what I look like. It is all in the numbers. Maybe numbers is my challege.
Myrtis

I have never felt so good all my adult life.  I have been thinner in my younger yrs but I was not working out like I am now.  I feel strong and healthy.  I love my new muscles. 
My biggest challenge is mindless eating.  I will eat when I am bored at work.  I have noticed that this happens around 10am.  I also noticed that I am a bit hungry then too so the two can really cause me trouble if I let it.  I will  have a small snack like a piece of cheese or a few grapes etc and then get out of my office for a bit.  I still fight the carb monster too.  I am 9 months out and have lost 140 lbs.  Life is good.

I'm nearly 14 months out. I'm ecstatic that I've lost nearly 100 lbs. but my biggest challenge comes in that regard - I haven't hit Onderland yet and that would truly mark the 100 lbs lost since surgery. It's so frustrating because the scales haven't moved (even though I've gone down 2 more sizes)

My goal was my overall Health and I can say that I've accomplished that. No more high cholesterol. No more high blood sugar. No more high blood pressure. No more aching and stiff joints. No more swollen ankles. No more struggling to catch my breath when walking or feeling like I'd die before I could climb a set of stairs. No more depression.

To cope with the scale frustration - I've quit stepping on the scales on a daily basis. Now I weigh in on Tuesday and Friday mornings. I've also hung a pair of "Tiny" pants on the outside of my closet door to remind me of where I want to go on my journey. Occassionally I try them on. I can now get them on and pull them up - they don't button yet but give me another month or two.

I've always been a stress eater. I know that. I'm still dealing with that on a daily basis. Coming here helps- it's hard to type and eat at the same time. So I'd say that finding coping mechanisms is an ongoing battle.

- Iris

After seeing the PS today I told Lee I would just love to stuff my face.
I know I can think that but when it gets right down to it that isnt going to happen.
We got home and I cooked some Nathans Hot Dogs on the grill ate about half a hot dog and then watched my favorite show Hell's Kitchen.
That feeling of wanting to cram all I could did go away.
                                            Annie

My challenges change constantly because some I meet head on and conquer and some linger on and am constantly battling. But my current challenege is my baggy, saggy skin especially my deflated balloons for those of you who don't know...what were my breasts {lol} It's tough because I've always had large breast, nothing crazy but large. Now I have what I call my 4 deflated boobs two under my arms {below my arm pits} and two about 4 to 5 inches below where they should be in front :::sigh::: I'm all for plastic surgery but after a $100 consult I found out it's going to be appx $25,000 {yes, that's 3 zeros behind that 25} So my challenge is realistic... I don't need to LOVE or LIKE what I see but I am working on accepting what I see.