I've noticed the 1st month can be slow for a lot of us. My starting bmi was 37.5. I was told that the lower your bmi the slower your weight loss will be. You should expect to be near your goal around 12-18 months. I've had numerous stalls. But I am still losing and can see my goal weight on the horizon.

Walking also helped get my scale moving. I went from being a couch potato to walking 4 miles within a few weeks. It also did wonders for me mentally too.

If you don't get on-track pronto, you will gain it all back plus more.

I have been a member of this community since 2007 and have seen that more times than I can count.

Listen to the others- give up the alcohol and start tracking every bite. Make healthy food choices.

You can do this, but you have to want to do it.

Good luck.

Well it may have taken me longer than anticipated, but I did it! I finally got under 200 lbs! I AM IN 'ONE-DERLAND!!

I haven't been on here much lately so here is a quick recap. 38 years old. Started WLS journey in February of 2018 at 320 lbs. Lost 50 lbs in the pre-op insurance requirement period (March-November 2018). On 11/26/18 I had VSG performed. Within the first 4 months post-op I lost another 50 lbs (100 lbs total). That brought me down to 220 lbs by April of 2019.

At that rate I figured I would blow under 200 lbs in no time and was even starting to think I would get down to 175 lbs by my 1 year anniversary. BOY WAS I WRONG!!! The last 20 lbs took me almost 10 months!!!! I continued to lose, but instead of 1-2 lbs every week, it was more like 1-2 lbs every MONTH. At some point I doubted if I would ever get to the elusive "one-derland", but I kept at it, fighting the urge to go back to my old eating habits while my sleeve's restriction seemed less and less every day. Don't get me wrong. I am very fortunate that I didn't have any complications, I didn't get sick (at all), that my restriction wasn't a severe as others, and I can eat "normally". But because I wasn't losing weight as fast, I wondered if I had gone far enough. I wondered that maybe I would just have to settle for 200-210 lbs. Maybe that I would never experience being under 200 lbs.

My 1 year anniversary came and went, and I was still 2-3 lbs away from "One-derland". Yes I was thrilled that I had lost 115-117 lbs, but I really wanted to get below 200. So after new years I refocused. I went back to my pre and post surgery habits and routines. And within 3 weeks I lost the 5 lbs and got down to 199.8.

So yes, I wont like and say the scale isn't important to me. I am very happy about my weight loss and will keep working on it. But the scale isn't the most important thing to me. Here are some of the NSVs (non-scale victories) that I have achieved:

• Shirt Size- Went from a XXXL to L
• Dress Shirt Size- Went from a size 20 neck to a 16.5
• Pants Size- Went from a size 44 to a size 34
• I can now wrap up in normal size towel.
• I finished my 1st 5K race (without any walking) and actually placed 3rd in my age division!!
• I am part of a weekly running club and regularly run up to 6 miles now.
• I can lift 120 lbs (bench press) and do 100 lb squats without much effort.
• I regularly take spin cycle classes now at the local YMCA
• Back and knee pain is almost completely gone (except after cycle classes or club runs..)
• My BP is back down and I am off of my metformin
• All my vitamin levels are in the normal range
• Sleep apnea was downgraded from Moderate to Mild
• I was able to go downhill skiing with much more control and ski all day before getting tired.
• Learned to ice skate!
• Walked around NYC for 3 days and never had any pain or felt overly exhausted.

Thank you to everyone who has provided me with support!!

Hi, your letter was very informative. i am investigating getting a VSG and found your letter very interesting . a lot of the things i guess i didn't really think of happening. i do know a friend that had surgery and was very unhappy that she started to drink heavily and needed an intervention ! it is quiet scary to think that you trade one habit for another. you seem to have a great plan started, i wish you the best on your journey. i also don't see the hair loss in your picture, you look lovely.

How are you drinking? Normal-size drinks? Or teeny sips? Smaller sips can help.

I'd also suggest trying different temperatures. Hot, cold, room temperature. Some people have better luck with warm water (or broth or tea) sitting in their stomach.