Updated Pic and Progress update: A Slimmer 18

I'm on the slow and steady plan to loose 100lbs in 3 years' time. To date I have lost 65lbs and am approaching my 2 year anniversary in one month. After several months of fighting to have the magical 199 number stick on the scale I think I've finally broken that barrier! It was really a difficult hurdle to overcome mentally. For some reason I just could not handle getting below 200 -- it seemed so unachievable and real that I could ever weigh less than 200. It's been 12 years since I seen onderland.

Clothing Sizes:
 
I am still in a size 18 (pants, loose 2x shirt) which is what I dropped into this winter. But, all size 18's fit me well now, some are loose and I can squeeze into a 16 if I had to. I prefer my clothes be on the very comfortable side in the stomach area because I carry most of my weight there so it will probably be a while before I can get this belly into 16's comfortably. For the same reason I'm still wearing size 2x shirts. They are too loose everywhere but the stomach. Looking forward to the day when I move down to a 1x shirt! 

The Mind Game:

Sometimes it feels like the weight is coming off so slowly and on bad days I wonder why should I bother to continue to keep at it and just want to give up on this whole wls deal. And then I wonder "Give up what exactly?"  What exactly would I be giving up if I gave up?  I would be giving up my new found confidence, extra strength, energy and vitality, I would be giving up the smile that's on my face more often now than before surgery.  I would be giving up the "HEY I CAN REALLY DO THIS!!!!" feeling that makes me want to whoop and holler.

To be sure there are days when I feel fatter than before surgery -- like a big lazy unsuccessful slug that will never lose anymore weight. And I wish I had one of the surgeries that has a malabsorbsion component so the weight would drop off faster and at least some of the food I eat wouldn't "count" so to speak. Thankfully that's not very often!  I'm sharing this because it's part of what goes on in my head and hopefully will be an encouragement to someone. Not every day is easy, but many days are absolutely wonderful.  When I really sit down and think about it and why I elected to go with the band, and evaluate how far I have come towards meeting my goals, I am absolutely amazed and so very thankful.

My Plan

I am on a food plan that allows me to have treats sometimes as long as they fit into my 1400 calories per day allotment. Some days I go over by 100 - 200 calories, some days it's less. Very seldom do I find myself wanting to indulge too much or not exercise. I just keep plugging away and the scale continues to slowly edge downward. This is supposedly what maintenance will be like for me (except the scale won't be edging downward)  It's about me plugging away and not getting too hung up on having a special treat now and then or missing exercise for a week when I'm sick. It's all about me making good food and portion size choices most of the time and being active.

Yea you!  I'm a slow loser too, but I'm OK with it, because a lot of it is my choice of how I work the band.  I sure didn't put this weight on in 1 year, so i it takes me a year or more to get it off, that's OK with me.

Thank you for sharing this.  You look beautiful and happy.  I'm a slow loser too I guess.  I haven't lost any weight for the past few months but it amazes me to see the same clothes fit looser from month to month.  I was depressed because in two months it will be my 1 year band anniversary and I felt nervous...like..maybe I should've tried to get the sleeve...the woulda coulda shoulda's.
It's seeing you vets that are still losing very encouraging to me.   In the beginning I was hoping to lose 100 pds by the first year...to feel successful but I'm realizing I don't have to feel bad.  I'm not gaining, not PB'ng or getting stuck...and wearing pretty clothes again.  Its all good :)
Thanks again...your post was the lift I needed today.

Girl, look at you!  Keep up the good work!  You look mahvelous, dahling.. 

Great job!!!  I go in spurts.  Lots of loss over a certain period of time & then fighting to get past another barrier.  We're all so different in how our bodies respond.  I'm so happy for you.  Doesn't it feel great to see a number on the scale that doesn't start with a "2"?

 Great Job! I am about where you are and  I am happy! My 2nd anniversary is here and I have lost about 65 lbs. Slow and steady! The scale keeps going down and I have hit platues that the scale wont move for months! I increase my protien and try to keep moving! 
You are doing great! keep it up!

Hi guys!!!  I have been looking daily for someone to post what my feelings have been lately.  This post and its responses describes how I have been feeling since by bandiversary which was June 21, 2011.  I have loss 67 lbs!!! I'm proud, but to be honest initially I had a 100 lb goal, too. 

Thanks so much for sharing.  I realize I do have something to be grateful for.  I do look and feel better; although my mind whispers negative thoughts (i.e; its your hair, your clothes, your shoes, the inches, lack of exercise, antisocial for the holidays).  I just have to shake it and follow the advice you guys have given. 

Live, laugh, and love has been my newfound motto since WLS. Now I must truly embrace it!!!

Much love!!!!