I am wondering who the target audience for this forum is?

Hi All, is this a forum for folks who've met their weight  loss goals?

Thanks,

Andrea

This the "Graduates Forum". Its for anyone thats 1 year post op and over.

It doesn't matter if you met goal, over goal, under goal, wanna loose regained weight or just maintaining.

I find that many of the people on this forum have met their goal--or close to it--but many have also gained a few of the "bounce back" pounds and want the support and encouragement to get those pesky pounds back off.  Some never met their goal and want support and encouragement to get there.  So it really is for a variety of people--whether wanting help maintaning or help losing. 

I've been hanging out here for over 2 years...many are lurking who have become lost, they believe...some have met their goal and are struggling to maintain. Some have met their goal and then slipped back into the darkness (they lurk most, because I think they think they aren't worthy to step out to where they can be seen) and some have food addictions and are really struggling like my friend Amy who hasn't been on in a while. She's gone the other direction and is struggling to keep her weight up. We're all just here.

Goals are subjective and some goals are just not realistic.. We're all here to help anyone who is anywhere on the journey but mostly those a year or so out when it gets much harder, mentally and physically.

 Hi, I really appreciate your reply and your insights into how this forum is helpful. I hang around on a few of them and post on those. I will keep checking in here and offering and seeking help as needed. I wish everyone could be comfortable for help. That to me is essential to recovery.

You know, I honestly believe that helping other people and listening to their concerns and struggles, helps me more than it helps THEM...It's really all about helping where you can. We have vitamin experts (vitalady and others) and all sorts of areas of knowledge here..most lur****il something strikes near home.

Here to help, while helping myself. LOL>

 I couldn't agree with you more. I noticed your stats are very similar to mine. Where I am starting and where I want to go in terms of weight loss. How long did it take you? Any advice you want to share. You look great by the way. Very healthy which to me is the goal.

I was told my goal was 125 about the time I thought I was done at 145..At my one year appointment I was 122 and the surgeon told me to stop losing. i dipped down to 117 for a little while about 15 months out but I'm pretty comfortable about 126-128..

Yes, the whole point is healthy. All my health issues have disappeared and that's what I was hoping for. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol...all gone.

Thanks for sharing your story. You've done really well. I hope to be as successful. Care to share what I know now that I wish I knew then with me. Any tips?
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I think the thing that I know now that I didn't know then was that it's very much a mental journey.. I mean because I feel I have a carb/food addiction I have to honestly speak to myself and stay away from sugar at all times..and it's really hard. Sugar is like crack to an addict.

I highly recommend the book "It aint over till the Thin Lady Sings." because it's very much about the mental journey.. I have to be totally honest with myself when I deal with temptations. and honest with my hubby too. I was getting irritated because he would park on the south side of our Mexican Market...why? Because that entrance walks me RIGHT through the bakery. Nothing I want more than something from the Mexican Bakery! Much less tempting to walk by the oranges and apples on the OTHER side...

I can totally ignore the sugary treats as long as I don't give in to temptation at all...If I so much as slip alittle, I'm totally screwed until I can pull myself up by the boot straps and start over. You know, like crack or alcohol...