200 down, 138 to go!
Congratulations on a great job and best wishes for your continued success. I would like to caution you not to invest too heavily on reaching 138. I weighed 410 at my initial consult and my surgeon told me I'd never fit the insurance tables, but he could promise I'd be healthier and look better when the weight stopped dropping. He said you could not have eaten enough to get this large, there is a metabolic problem that has added to the weight problem.
I was a very compliant patient, followed all the rules, stayed around 30 gms of carbs, exercised twice a day for 45 minutes each time and some days did other exercise. I really worked at it. The weight loss stopped at 210 lbs for months and would not move. I tried changing exercise routines, lowering calories, raising calories, etc. Nothing made the scale move. My PCP and surgeon agreed this is where the journey ends and suggested I do my tummy tuck. That took off another 22 lbs leaving me at 188. It took me a while to make the mental adjustment that I'd end my journey still obese. Mentally it didn't seem to matter that I was wearing a size 10 pants and size large to X-Large (due to bustline) blouses. That I'd gone from 5 prescriptions a day with horrible blood work to -0- prescriptions and perfect blood work. All I could think about was the # on the scale and I felt like a failure. Eventually I made the mental adjustment that this really is good enough, that I am a success even if I don't wear a size 6.
I hope you don't have the same experience I had with the weight loss stopping, but I'm just cautioning you not to put too much stock in a specific goal weight and then feel like a failure if you don't make it. Remember to celebrate the success you've earned. We're not all designed to be a size 6.
Pat, your journey has inspired me. I have watched your progress from the time I first came here. Your words are wise and I take them in the spirit I think you gave them. My goal is 150, which would be "normal" for me. I completely understand that I may not get there and won't (hopefully) take that as a failure. My life has changed so much already that if I don't lose another pound, I will still recognize how much my quality of life has improved!! I want to keep going and just see how close I can come to the goal, but truly feel that each day is a gift and will not be overly disappointed if I never get exactly there. My abdomen is huge and I have always carried significant weight there. All I really want is to get to a point that I can have it removed and move on wherever this journey takes me. I already feel successful. Thanks so much for sharing your insight with me. It is really helpful and meaningful to me. Hugs, Vicki
hi vicki, my name is lydia i had my surgery a day after you and i'm struggling with how to get back on tract i weighed 330, i now weigh 250 i want to get rid of all the excess by next year jan 20 it will be 2yrs post op for me and what better way than to celebrate but by having reached my goal can you offer me some tips on how you went about getting and stayin on tract or what were you ups and downs to success. i need all the help i can get if you don't mind helping a wls buddy out
Lydia, I am more than happy to offer any advice that I can, but don't have any "magic" recipe for success. I have found this to be the easiest weight I have ever lost. I love my pouch. It has truly put me in control of my eating for the first time in my life. I no longer feel controlled by my appetite or love of food. Oh, I still love food, and still feel called by it, but just feel I now have the ability to make wiser choices. I am lucky in that my surgery completely took away my hunger. I can honestly say that I have not felt real hunger even once since my surgery. I came home from the hospital with a plan to eat every two or three hours and I am still doing that (although I have modified it some). Knowing that I am going to be eating soon has helped me not to do too much grazing, which was one of my biggest problems pre op; I just ate all day long. I also choose to make protein the largest part of my diet. Thankfully, I have always loved protein. I don't miss pasta at all, but kinda miss bread. I have reached a point now where I can eat a small amount of those things without being sick or in pain, but I have just broken the habit of needing them on a regular basis.
Another thing I do, which I think is part of my success: I don't deprive myself of anything. If I really want it, I figure out a way to have it in a healthy manner, such as making desserts with Splenda, etc., or I just have a bite or two of the "real" thing. It helps me to know that nothing is off limits to me, if I really want it. Because of giving myself this permission, I don't obsess about so many of the no-nos. I have also learned to love some of the substitutes for the "real" things, such as sugar-free cookies, chocolates, etc. Who knew I would like eating healthy?
This is my #1 tip: I read a post of DxE's, a very successful wls grad, where he said something like, "It is much easier to make a good food choice while at the grocery store than it is to make one while staring into the pantry or fridge." This really spoke to me and I think about it every time I shop. I just try not to bring foods home that I don't/shouldn't eat. I try to make those healthy decisions at the grocery store because I KNOW that if the food is in the pantry or fridge, it will call my name LOUDLY.
As for getting "back on track," I just have tried not to get off the track. I have struggled with a plateau in the past few months where I would lose 5 and gain 5 constantly. It was discouraging, but it didn't push me off the track. I still took my vits, drank my water, supplemented my protein, and ate as well as I thought I could. Of course there were days or even weeks where I thought I could have made better choices, but at no time have I allowed myself to get completely out of control. That would be a slippery slope for me. Also (and I know many will disagree), I weigh every day. I don't let it rule my mood or discourage me, but I think for me, it is motivating. I am completely addicted to my scale and am even thinking about taking it with me on vacation next month because I can't imagine of going even one day without weighing; a week would make me lose my mind!! But, that's just me. And, like I said, a negative result doesn't really discourage me, it just reminds me to be more vigilant. I am pretty reactive to carbs, so when I see even a tiny gain, I can usually relate it to the carbs and jus****ch them harder the next day.
This is my journey and every one of us is on a different path, all leading to the same place. Some will go fast, some will go slow, some will go far, some will have shorter distances, and some will get lost and not reach the destination. You just have to decide which of those routes you want to take and do whatever you can to get there. It sounds to me like you might need some counseling to exorcise the food demons, or perhaps all you need is a few appts with a nutritionist who can help get you on a plan which will encourage the wt loss to start up again. It is doable, your tool is still available to you, you probably already know what you need to do, so get started--take the first step, and the rest will follow. You have, in fact, made a good beginning--you came here for support. I come to OH every single day and "fellowship" with others just like myself. I think that has done more for keeping me "on track" than anything else I have done.
Good luck, Lydia. Please feel free to email me any time you need someone to talk to about your unique journey. Hugs, Vicki
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