Great post! I'm going to be sleeved in about a month and am in a very similar position to the one you were in when you started (early to mid 20s, 400 lbs). My doctor tells me that he thinks I will only get down to around 250lbs. I am determined to beat that and get down to under 200lbs if I can.

How did you eat while you were losing all that weight? I would imagine eating that way but adding in exercise immediately would be the way to go.

I'm so glad to hear someone else preaching from the exercise pulpit!  Sometimes I feel like an over eager born-againer with my call to exercise, but I'm with ya 110%.  Not only is it important for weight loss, but for long term maintenance of that hard won weight loss, and also for your overall health and well being.  I honestly don't know why people resist it so much.  I know when I was bigger it was harder, and admittedly I didn't really start kicking it until I was a few months down the line (energy issues - thanks B12!), but it really does make all the difference.

You've already got it goin' on...keep up the GREAT work!

What a beautiful post, your weight loss achievement is huge!  Thank you for sharing.  It is so true how different we all are.  I was a lightweight to begin with BMI under 35 so I assumed I would get to goal very quickly and easily.  It has not happened, it's taking me much longer than I expected.  I am almost 7 months out and have 20lbs to go to my ideal goal.

I did start exercising vigorously about 3 months out from surgery and I must say that my body did tone up quickly.  I look pretty darn good for a 45 yr old so I do agree with you that exercise is a very good thing.  It also keeps me out of depression, but it must be vigorous, really getting a good sweat going.

What is so confusing to me is how little I eat now compared to what I used to eat, how much more I work out now and yet how slow the weight is coming off.  It would seem I should have been 400lbs before surgery but I wasn't.  I sometimes wonder if this surgery really messes with our metabolisms.  I admit that I do things they don't advise like drink some wine on the weekends and social occasions and I eat some carbs.  I will also have some sweets every now and then, but I am far from awful.  I do see that the people that get to goal quickly are very strict with their diet and/or are a lot younger than me.  It’s just that strict dieting never worked for me long term and I thought the restriction and everything in moderation would work.  But, I guess we still have to be on a diet (low carb and really restricted calories) and that has been very disappointing to me.

All in all I am happy with the surgery and the restriction it provides, it certainly does make dieting easier.  Everyone says I look fantastic and I feel pretty darn good.  I believe I will ultimately get to goal but I will have to continue to really diet to get there and will have to really watch what I eat for the rest of my life in order to maintain.

Lauren, I just read your post and had to join all the others in telling you how inspirational you are. You shared everything with such honesty and insight. I'm one of those people who believes everything happens the way it's supposed to, so, never consider the past year a waste. It took 12 months of self-examination to get you to the state of enlightenment that you're in now.
You've given your kids such a wonderful gift.

Here's to the next 12 months!
Margo

Bless you, Lauren!  Posts from old-timers with wisdom are the main reason I keep reading here.  There are plenty of us who can give advice to the newbies, but not that many like you who can continue to guide us middle-timers.  Your advice is invaluable to me!  Thank you so much.  You are a true inspiration :-)
--Dorothy

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. You are very inspirational.

Wow Celticfaery!!!!! I want to start by saying that I think you are amazing and I am in tears reading your post. I am glad to have read your post, I needed to read this and I will be using you as my inspiration as you are one. I am about 8.5 months out and down 100 big ones I am already seeing that the rest is up to us. I have about 30-40lbs til goal and I am going to be working hard to get there. I am now exercising at leat 4 days a week and at first it was dreadful...but I hate to admit that I am  actually starting to enjoy it?? I was 300+ before surgery and hated life...on a daily basis. I have an 8 year old son who I live for and decided I couldn't take it any longer. I started my weight loss journey in 10-07 and had surgery 9-08. I was scared as HELL. The day of surgery  in the pre-op holding I almost flaked out and said forget...I was that terrified...I stayed...glad I did...but I promised myself and the Lord that I would help myself  and not just let the sleeve do it for me. HE(GOD) got me through this with not 1 problem so I feel it is only fair that I hold to my end of the bargain...after all it is for MY health.

You will get to your goal...look how far you've come...and I bet your babies are so proud of you..so continue to make them prouder.... All the luck and love...best wishes...Jessi26

You are my hero!  What a wonderful (and well-told) story.
Thanks,
Donna 

I relate to everything you said Lauren.  This is a learning journey, some of it tough.  Like you, I have learnt how to maintain, now to lose again!  Mind you, like you, I am healthier and more able than I have been in years.

We will get there girl, I know that for sure!

Anne