9 months

9 month report weight: 139 BMI: 24.6  loss: 89 lbs (dam that 1 pound!) just amazing!!! i still feel wonderful! no problems! no complaints! just amazing!!!  for all the Pre-Ops --don't ever give up!! if you have to wait and you get setbacks just use it to educate yourself some more -- the week before surgery you shouldn't have any questions at all -- between your Surgeon, PCP, Research and OH you should be very comfortable and know what you can eat, what vitamins to take, what to take to the hospital, what to have at home after surgery, how long you will have stitches, when you should be released from the hospsital, everything --  take care all Roberta

Hi Roberta, I don't if you remember my message board message,about the scale not moving, and you replied that I have along way to go that the weight will come off.  Well as i see you lost 89lbs Congratulations!!!  Can you give me a little insight on what your diet consists of and do you excercize everyday?  I see that you do lose a considerable amount of weight in the first month but then it is depends on your diet in order to lose the rest.  I understand that the surgery alone is not the key to losing the weight it's what you eat.  I have been watching what I eat for 6 weeks now and I sometimes don't know what to eat because i seem to eat the same things all the time and it has to be something that i can make smaller portions of so i don't waiste it.  If you can help me, i would appreciate it. Melissa

hi melissa i'm really not sure what i eat -- i start my day with a "50 gram slam" can of protein drink from GNC -- i am not a breakfast person and never ever was -- and today i haven't had anything since -- just iced tea -- for dinner tonight it is meatloaf -- but i have to buy a jar of gravy first -- i try to moisten all my food in some form -- i try to have a cup of yogurt (walmart brand light vanilla) and i mix it with fruit -- either fresh (because i'm more than 6 months out) or walmart brand fruit cups made with splenda --these are very very low in sugar -- then tonight while i'm watching the ball game i'll have a cup of wheat thins -- probably too many of them -- i don't make rice, pasta or potatoes anymore -- i haven't had a sandwich since...i don't know when -- i don't buy bread -- i might have a couple of fudgcicles during the day -- no sugar added -- and that's about it -- always always have meat for dinner -- always -- i walk the dogs for exercise -- sometimes just around the apartment complex which is a half hour walk to 45 minutes -- ori go to west deptford to riverwinds to walk the dogs -- cooper river park is nice too -- but i love to walk :) and i can walk fast now too!! i walk faster than ross now!! he doesn't have to drag me anymore (caveman style of course) -- i'm big into portion control -- i eat real slow  -- i chew chew chew -- i do NOT want to get sick!! i do not drink when i eat -- i do wait the half hour to drink -- somethings i'm real anal about --exercise is not one of them -- oh i eat cheese sticks too -- probably 2 a day  -- i like the frozen Jimmy Dean omlettes -- just throw them in the microwave -- i'll make a whole crock pot of meatballs or sausage with sauce and then put it into little plastic dollar store bowls and freeze it -- and that will be a dinner for me -- no pasta -- just the meat and sauce -- i find that cooking pork chops and chicken with shake n bake is good because it holds in the moisture if i do not want to eat something then i simply don't buy it -- that way it's not in the house -- we dont' have sugar in the house -- no cookies -- but i eat the wheat thins and ross likes cheeze its -- and we dont' sit with the box anymore -- we will pour some into a small bowl -- i mean a SMALL bowl -- like a bowl you will get in a chinese restaurant -- maybe twice the size of one a chinese tea cup -- or i use the small juice glasses that come with a set of glasses --  if we are out travelling around and have to stop at wa-wa -- i'll get their chicken salad in the small cup and grab one of the free salad forks -- high in protein and i can't finish the whole thing -- or i'll grab a couple of cheese sticks and a small packet of pepperoni -- just somethng to hold me over -- or we will stop at a super walmart and get a yogurt and some crackers -- and we can p at walmart too :) we dont' have to stop at burger king anymore --  use smaller dishes -- don't get seconds -- be satisfied -- wait -- eat slow -- learn to read the nutritional labels on food -- most times that is a HUGE turn off for me!!! i'll read the calories, protein, sugar in that order -- i don't justify that the protein is high -- if the calories and/or sugar is high i will not buy it -- i will never be fat again!! i will not do it!!  i'll have walmart sugar free oatmeal and mix it with quaker lower sugar apple/cinn oatmeal and make it wth milk -- that will be a whole meal for me -- i use 2% milk  keep this up front in your mind at all times -- never forget why you did this -- remind yourself every day that you had surgery for a purpose -- you will enjoy walking without getting tired -- you will like that you don't have to unbutton your pants because you ate too much -- these things you will start to enjoy -- and smile -- always smile -- i was a success story when i lost 20lbs -- i never lost 20lbs before and kept it off for so long -- i can not fail, i already succeeded  and no i don't like the sagging hanging down skin or the roll up boobs -- but it's all part of it :)  this is a package deal -- surgery, sagging skin, life is better :) can't ask for anything else  hope some where in there i answered your question -- and remember, this is just what i do -- just for me  -- ross is different lol  take care hugs to you roberta

Hi Roberta, The reason why I asked you about your diet is to see if am doing this right, and everyhting you told me, I do myself.  I have a yogurt smoothie no sugar added (dannon light and fit) in the morning, I never was a breakfast eater myself.  I go to work and I bring with me some chicken soup, or tuna with crackers for lunch, or a small salad.  For dinner I eat chicken or fish no carbs either.  I do have for desert my sugar free Ice pops.  I also drink water through out the day too.  I haven't started excersizing yet, It will be 6 weeks on Monday. Do you think it's time for me to start excercizing?  I don't feel like I have the energy yet. Is it too soon?  At least I do know now that I am eating the right things.  I sometimes have Ice Milk , it's like Ice Cream but it has no sugar or fat.  They sell it up the street from me.  I realize now that what I need to do is just be patient. Melissa

hi melissa i didn't eat salad until about 6 weeks ago i think -- i'll get a chicken ceasar salad from quizno's -- you do realize that there is no protein in salad -- fruit and veggies have no protein -- only fiber -- which is good too :)  once you start to exercise you will see your energy level go up!! i was out shopping -- it was really walking but shopping sounds like more fun -- 5 days after surgery -- i wa****ting all the malls and stores -- and i HATE malls!! but i knew i had to walk and it gave me something to look at -- and it was the christmas season -- i had a great time shopping :)  soooooo get your butt out of the house -- get walking -- and don't make excuses!! is that harsh enough??? get moving -- you are wasting time -- go to the shore and walk that boardwalk -- park a little further away when you go shopping -- i assure you that you will feel better  dannon light & fit is good :) low in sugar -- read the backs of yogurts --you will be amazed at all the sugars in some of them -- no wonder ppl don't lose weight eating them haha they buy the high sugar stuff -- and don't realize it  no caffiene -- caffiene will make you feel hungry  do you like chili?? that is high in protein also -- personally i don't like chili -- ross eats it tho -- and he eats Lean Pockets alot -- try them for work also  good luck :)  roberta but get moving :)

Hi Roberta,  Thanks for all your suggestions.  I am going to start excercizing today after work. Melissa

Congratulations on 89!    Just think - last year you were worried about 89 pounds - now you are worried about 1!  What a difference. thanks for all your helpful advice too!

thanks vic i'm just anal -- i like even numbers :)  take care roberta

That is so awesome. I hope I do as well as you. You are such an inspiration.

you will do fine :) don't stress over it -- just do what you are supposed to do and everything will work :)  Roberta