To lose more or not to lose???

Hi everyone, A little background first--Surgery date:  November 28, 2006.  Beginning weight 228lbs.  Current weight 158 lbs. I am very happy with my weight loss.  I feel absolutely great!!  It was so wonderful to start the new year and not think "this year will be different...I WILL lose weight...I will be thinner by summer..."  I know you all can relate.  Always living life looking forward to how it will be when I lose weight.  Well, that time is now!! But as I face the new year I do find myself thinking...I would really like to lose another 15lbs. or so.  The only thing stopping me is thinking.."do I really want to do what it will take to lose that weight!!" I sooooo done with dieting.  Being very honest too, I do not exercise.  I know, I know...it would be great for my health and maintaining my weight loss.  I guess I just lived my life soooo looking forward to the future when I would be thin that I can hardly stomach the idea of diet/exercise!! I must come to peace with the situation one way or another.  I REFUSE to live my life now thinking....maybe just 5..10..15 more lbs.  There is certainly nothing wrong with wanting to lose more weight/exercising/dieting/or anything else that will help you achieve you goal.  I just need to decide (for now) if I am going to try to make the scales go lower or be happy maintaining. I would love feedback from anyone facing this.  I know some of you started a lot heavier than I did but are a lot thinner than me now.  Did you get to a place where you had to "decide" you were going to be smaller or have some of you decided you are just fine where you are (even though you could do more)?   Thank you all so much for your encouraging words to each other.  Just reading the posts give me enouragment every day!! Have a great day!! Robin

Robin - you have done a terrific job!  I was/am in a similar situation - started at 244 and now weigh about 160, which I have maintained for about 16 months.  I am pretty certain that is where I will stay and now I eat to maintain. HOWEVER - your surgery was just a couple of months ago, right (according to what you said in your post).  You are FAR from the end of your honeymoon period, and if you continue to eat as you have been and should, you most likely will naturally shed the last 10 or 15.

If you are asking for "permission" to start eating some things you shouldn't, etc., I am not a good one for advice.  I go through periods where I eat well and other times when grazing is the norm.  But I keep my eyes open and know that I never want to be fat again.

I did not exercise either.  Right after surgery I broke my foot and had a lot of complications, resulting in surgery on my foot and a lot of sitting around.  Once everything got healed enough to start a walking program, I did not have the motivation, really, because I had already lost so much weight.  But I do regret it, and am contemplating starting a walking program with some friends.  I don't really think I want to do it as much for my physical health as for my mental health.

Whatever you decide, you have done great so far, and remember that you don't want to go "THERE" again.

Cheers!

Barb

I started my journey at 218lb and I am 5'4".  My goal was to hit 139.  I hit 139 and just kept losing.  I decided to go to where my body was comfortable.  I tend to be around 119-122, usually closer to 119.  Just last week I gained 5lbs but lost it in 4 days.   I would say continue doing what you do and see where your body takes you.  I really think my body is happy around the 120's...oh and I don't excercise like I should...wish I could or would but always find excuses. 

Thanks so much for the replies. The weight loss would be great but I honestly can't live with being so wrapped up in losing 15 lbs. that it consumes my life.  You see, I have always been one to beat myself up if I "failed" on my diet plan.  Even one little mistake would beat me up--I had this "all or nothing" mentality.  While I don't see things like I did then, I know that if I decide to work toward further weight loss it will have to involve small changes and low expectations!! Thanks again, Robin

I agree with you about being "psychotic" about the last 15#.  From what I've seen, the last 15# is often associated with the extra skin.  Once that is removed, the extra weight often just goes away, because the fat cells and associated flesh needed to maintain the fat cells are gone.   Are you planning to do P/S??  If not, don't worry about it! If you feel comfortable at this weight, then be kind to yourself and focus on maintaining your weight rather than losing more. I'd really like to recommend working out with weights;  I find that just spending an hour in the gym 3X weekly, with an overall workout to keep myself toned, really helps me to stay healthy and happy. Working out is great for your mental outlook, too! Have fun and enjoy your new life!

Robin, My starting weight was 479 and I now weigh 216 ish.  I am very happy with my weight and most folks have no idea what I weigh (I'm 5'7" and must have "compact" fat because even my Dr. wanted to weigh me again.)  I would like the number on the scale to be 199 BUT I am not going on another diet EVER...I do do protein first, etc. and I do an anniv ersary 10 day "Liquid" diet to delebrate my surgery date....my liquid diet then was ceam soups, yogurt, jello, etc.)  It's kind of fun and sort of empowering but I know it's only going to last 10 days. I do exercise and find I really enjoy it and feel a little strange if I miss my workout.   I went to a PS seminar where the surgeon said that folks who weighed a lot have more skin, blood vessels, fat cells, bone density, etc. and probably would alway**** the "overweight" line on the weight charts.  He actually said that not all but some WLS patients who hit low weights on the chart are actually malnorished and have many of the classic problems (hair loss, vitamin deficiencies, bone density issues, etc.)  Just something to think about.   My NUT and I have discussions about weight loss/diets...her take is drop the carbs (net carbs---carbs minus fiber and sugar alcohols) to 45-60 grams.  IF I decide to drop the last 17 or so pounds, that is all I plan to do.   Starting a walking program might be all you need to do to drop the last few, if you really want to. No matter what you decide to do, be happy!!!!!!

I got down to goal and went up 30 pounds.  Am back down 15 pounds.  Goal was way to thin for me.  I didn't look good.  Now I would love to drop maybe five more pounds and get some PS.  I am starting an excercise program.  I am one of those that have procrastinated.  I am just now into exerciseing.  What I want to do is to start walking and doing some weights and sit-ups for the old abs.  I too have decided that my body needs to decide where it really wants to be.  I don't feel a lot of pressure to lose, lose, lose.  I am at the live, live, live point.  Hazel