What Keeps You Going?

I am having a hard day today.  I don't have these days very often but every now and then one of them creeps in and knocks me off my feet.  I have good friends who are going through the weight loss surgery process with me who all had around 100 pounds to lose and they are either hitting or approaching their goal weights very soon. 

Today I feel so discouraged...like the reality and possibility of ever having a healthy bmi is impossible.   I am nearing my 150 pounds lost and at that point I still have 80 pounds to lose to reach the top of a healthy BMI....I've lost almost 150 pounds and I'm still obese and will be until I hit 196 pounds when I will finally just be overweight. 

The social worker at my clinic reminds me that it's a marathon not a 100 yard dash and I believe that but somedays when I see a bunch of people hitting goal and being thrilled it's hard for me to imagine that I still have quite possibly 1-2 years of weight loss to go.

What keeps you motivated?  How do you keep positive and focused on your goals when you have so much to lose like me?

We're all allowed to have those tough days. I think it's the length of time it takes us to make this journey that really gets to us. But you've done so well and you will snap out of it and continue on.
But here's my thing---actually a couple of things---at 2 years + out..

First---sometimes I just have to take a little break from the VSG board. Love it but when I see the lower weight folks and they start to whine, I get frustrated. It's my problem---not theirs. I respect their journey and issues. But let's face it---we have different issues .Can't worry too much about them.

More importantly---I really don't look at this is a journey to a goal anymore. It's just life ---now and in the future.  What happens when you reach a goal? Foremost---we will have accomplished something important. Then what?  You'll add in a few more cals a day. Other than that---will you stop tracking and planning? stop drinking your fluids? stop eating protein first? eat lots of carbs?  etc.  I don't think so. Goal / BMI is not someplace magical anymore.  Weight loss = maintenance - about 300 cals.   Weight loss is the start line to maintenance for me.

Actually, this motivates me to just get on with life---doing what I want ---new things as size permits. It keeps me focused daily on my new lifelong food plan, fitness goals and enjoying my new found freedom.

excellent words of wisdom. It's kinda like having a baby. you get all excited about the pregnancy and birth for 9 months, but after it's born starts the really long haul for the rest of your life. It is a lifetime commitment. The early years are the toughest or maybe the teen years. Its all unique. WLS is a life-long commitment.

 Great way to put it... I will tuck that under my hat and pull it out when I get frustrated at lack of movement.

I'm sorry that you are having one of those days.  I'm kind of in a funk myself.  I totally relate. I think that one of the reasons that I don't tell everyone my exact weight loss is because I am still obese after losing more than 150 pounds. I just say "a lot" or "over 100". 

One of the things that help me is coming on here seeing people on this 50+BMI forum reach certain milestones - like acbbrown breaking the 200 threshold. 

One day at a time.  We can get there.  But I do wonder about those numbers.  I still have those nagging questions. Where will I end up?  Will I be ok with still being overweight when I'm done? Can I get to a normal bmi?  Do I care about the bmi?  I kind of believe body fat percent and waist measurement is more important, but I still check the bmi chart.

Our minds are messing with us.  Just keep going. One foot in front of the other.

According to the BMI charts I'm still "overweight" but my life is also freaking fantastic! I can do all the activities that I want, I've found an athletic sport that I excel in (seriously people call me fast-it's pretty rad) I can sit in any chair I like- including airplane seats, I can shop in regular stores.....

I could go on an on about the awesome things in my life that were not there when my BMI was 59, and I'm sure you can too. Whenever I get down, I focus on those things and then go out for a walk up some stairs and stand there amazed that I'm not out of breathe!

Hang in there, it gets better.
:Danni

I know how you are feeling. When I think about how much I still have to lose,  I sometimes get frustrated. Then there are days when i think about how far I have come and get giddy. I guess it comes down to how we look at things and ourselves. Yep, I still have more than 100 pounds to lose, but i can do so much more than I could 6 months ago. I can cross my legs!I can wear my seatbelt without holding my breath.  I can fit in any restaurant booth! I can walk without feeling like I am going to pass out! I can see my waist and feel curvy again! That is what keeps me motivated. Knowing those things will continue to happen if I stay on point.

I am trying to live in the moment and enjoy each days' weight loss journey.  There are days this is easy and there are days it doesn't happen.

Today is an ok day so far.

Best on your journey,

Sharon

I have lost 178 pounds in a year down from 390 pounds. and I am still no closer to my goal weight. I still have 62 pounds to lose make it to my goal weight of 150 pounds. But, I have stalled at 212 pounds for three months.and I have lost no more weight. I can,t even get under two hundred pounds. Let alone get down to goal weight my doctor suggested of 150 pounds. I am so afraid. I live in constant fear of regaining the weight. I have lost. It,s getting harder to lose because, My hunger has come back. and , I can eat more than before. So I really have to pay attention to what I eat and how much.

Okay. Wait. I'm going to call you out here.

You have lost ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-EIGHT pounds in a year. You have NOT lost. You weigh 212 pounds! My goodness, think abou tthat for a minute.

You have not lost. You are in a pause right now. Sometimes I have to get away from the scale and tracking and all the madness for a few days and then come back and regroup. Do what works for you. BUT ...

You have to stop the negative self talk. You need to learn to forgive yourself and love yourself. I started counseling a few months before surgery and one of the things I've learned is that I totally beat myself up. Constantly. I've had to learn to have conversations with myself and make myself come to real terms about what I HAVE accomplished.

178 pounds in a year is absolutely wonderful. You are MUCH closer to your goal. You're like 75% there! I want you to think back how your life was a year ago. I want you to look at photos. Feel that pain for a while and think about how far you have come. THINK about how much you have "gained" from "losing".

It always makes me sad to hear people say this. Think about the things you can DO now! You are amazing. You have done a beautiful amazing thing for yourself.

Sorry to hijack, I just had to respond to this today. Know you are loved and that at least one girl fighting the good fight in Austin thinks you're rockin' it!