1 year later - where do I go from here?

Hello Everyone, It has been months since I posted to this site. Isn't it amazing how busy your life gets after having surgery and now have a more active life. I have just passed my 1 year mark - lost 80 lbs. I now wear a size 12 pants vs. 22. My shirts are Large vs 2x. I am recovering from a hesterctomy sp?. So I have nothing buy time on my hands - waiting to recover. Just wanted to jump on and say Hi - and find out what sort of challenges everyone is facing just after the 1 year mark. I haven't lost any weight in months - not sure if I will. Good luck to everyone! Miranda

Miranda-Congratulations on your tremendous success. Hope your recovery from your hysterectomy continues to go well. I found the one year mark to be pretty care free. My problems developed around two years when bad habits-grazing started popping back into my life. We have all discussed on this board that the key to long term success is working on our mind and body and learning to live long term with good-healthy habits.

You might be surprised to lose some weight after your hesterectomy. I've had a loss of appetite all 3 times I had surgery for a period of time. I just had an abdominaplasty and find that I'm having to force myself to eat. The doctors talk about an 18 month window of opportunity to lose weight, but my observations are that it gets harder every month out from surgery. Many people don't lose beyond the 6-8 month period but some are at goal by that time. I think how long we lose depends on how much we weighed at the beginning and how dedicated we are to diet/exercise. I think the time comes too when our bodies refuse to give up another pound. Sometimes we have to settle for good enough. It sounds like you've done a wonderful job of losing. You may never be a size 4, but depending on your frame a size 12 may be perfect for you. Congratulations on a successful wls journey. Remember the basic rules and you won't ever have to suffer through the weight loss phase again. Best of luck!

My plateaus have lasted months before. When least you expect, pounds will disappear little by little again, long as you don't start old bad eating habits. Where do you go from here? NOT to the all you can eat buffet! I was so afraid after I had gone for my approval for the tummy tuck that I wasn't going to lose more weight before my surgery date, which was four months down the road, but I did..... it just sneaked off! Good luck and God bless!