What is "Normal?"

Hi all, I have not visited the boards in a while and just wanted to drop in for some of your wonderful advice.
As you can see I am over 1 year out and have only lost 100 lbs, is this OK?  I mean I look and feel sooooo much better, and no one I tell can believe I am still over 200 lbs.  However, I look at other members posts and think "dang what is wrong with me!"  I see so many people who loose 100 lbs in 6 or 8 months and I am not one of them.  Does this mean I am a failure?  I try to follow each and every pouch rule, the only one I really struggle with is the drinking while eating I tend to do that at 1 or 2 meals a day, could this be the problem?  Yhanks for your time any advice would be appreciated.
Rebecca

It took me 1.4 years to reach 100lbs lost from surgery, it took me 1.8 years to reach my current weight. My best friend had surgery 6 years ago - she started at 390... it took her 4 years to reach a normal BMI. Honestly, there is no normal - there are so many factors that go into how quickly, or slowly, somebody loses. My surgeon does proximal bypass only bypassing around 80cm, his patients, on average, lost 10-15lbs a month the first 6, 5lbs thereafter - I saw people who had the same amount to lose as me there in 6 months... for me it didnt matter when I reached goal, just that I reached the goals I set.
If you are drinking with eating I suggest really working on stopping that. If you must then allow yourself only 1-2 SMALL sips during a meal... drinking while eating causes you to be able to eat more, pushes the food out of the pouch quicker (which makes you ready to eat sooner) and can lead to the stoma stretching. If you are drinking a lot during a meal you should notice a difference in how much and how often you are eating if you seriously cut back/cut out that habit.

I am 21 months out and still haven't reached my goal. I still have 10 lbs to go and this is after a tummy tuck. I really do think it has a lot to do with the fact that I am BAD about eating with and right after meals. I am breaking this habit right now and really hoping that I will be at my goal weight soon. From all the research I have done, it does make a huge difference!
Good luck,
Shanon

Rebecca, you are in NO WAY a failure~you've lost 100lbs~you're a SUCCESS!!! Although it might not be as much weight as you wanted to lose, you still have plenty of time and will continue losing as long as you follow the rules. I agree with the above poster that recommends not drinking while eating~this will slow things down and its just not worth it. I know its hard, but set a timer and don't drin****il at least 30min after each meal. Also, are you exercising? If so maybe its time to change up your workout routine, increase intensity or add something more to your routine. It sounds like you've doing really well to me~keep up the good work and you will make it to your goal!!!!

What are you doing for excercise?

Haven't you heard Erma Bombeck? "NORMAL is just a setting on the dryer."

There is no normal.

You are NOT a failure, and drinking with your meals IS what's doing it. Stop it.

Now, there is no 'normal'. I have been questioning what is normal for a while now. Normal is whatever you think it is.

Sweetie, you are doing just fine! Your body is responding to what you are doing and you are looking and feeling great for it! Celebrate that! Keep it up!