One year ago...

Congratulations on your weight loss, continue doing what you are doing. Remember it is one day at a time. I will pray for you that you reach the goal that you want to reach.
Tomygirl

What wonderful progress you have made.  BRAVO!

Karen, I certainly hear your frustration ...

Here are some statistics from:
http://www.thinnerself.com/files/surgery_page.htm#effectiveRoux

Typically, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients will lose weight rapidly after surgery. Weight loss for the first 6 months can be as much as six pounds per week.  The weight loss usually tapers off to 1 to 3 pounds per week and will continue to do so for 18 to 24 months. At that time, the patient's weight will begin to level out, most likely stabilizing at about 20 to 40 percent above his or her ideal body weight.  

Statistics show that 95% of patients Roux-en-Y patients lose more than half their excess weight and maintain this benefit.  Better that 85% lose greater that 75% of their excess weight, and 20% of patients achieve their "ideal weight."

Okay, so let's break this down to something tangible.  For simplicity's sake, let's say you are 100 pounds overweight, meaning your weight is 100 pounds above what it would take to get your BMI below 25.

According to the above stats, there is a 95% chance you would lose 50 or more pounds.  There is an 85% chance you would lose 75 pounds. There is only a 20% chance you would lose the full 100 pounds.

As for keeping it off, Anna said in a meeting at UVa that all the patients she is seeing 5 yrs out are re-gaining their weight.  I haven't found any hard numbers on that yet, and I don't want to upset you -- because I HAVE seen folks who HAVE lost all/most of their EW, and KEPT it off.  They have several things in common:
1. protein, protein, protein -- 150gms a day, or more
2. water, water, water
3. following the diet to a tee
4. more protein -- water -- and exercise

Karen, I don't mean to upset you with this.  Quite the contrary: I mean to encourage you to continue with your program, to do your protein, your water, your exercise.  Work the program, and be content with YOU.  Accept yourself right where you are.  You are a BEAUTIFUL woman, inside and out.  If you lose more weight, you won't be any more lovely than you were the day you went into surgery.  Okay, your body will be different, but that isn't YOU.

I hope you take this all the right way, Karen.  I DO care about you, and hate to see you so frustrated ...

Ample hugs