I know you all understand...........

Hello to my favorite LOSERS I want to say I LOVE this board....the main board is still great but as I get farther out on my journey and discover more and more how much harder I have to work to stay away from temptation...coming here brings me so much comfort...It reallly is wonderful to be among those that understand completely what one is going through.... This is not a confession of any sort...I guess I have just been doing some evaluation (AGAIN) of myself and this whole weightloss thing....Its interesting how we go through cycles...in the beginning I was so so so careful what went into my mouth....for the LONGEST time I would read what other people would eat daily and be amazed because I thought that I could NEVER EVER eat like that....time passes and then temptations sneak in ever so slowly....old habits TRY to resurface....I remember being SHOCKED when I tried a bite of a toasted bagel with cream cheese and it didnt make me sick so I had another bite and then before I knew it I can eat half a bagel....amazing to me.....of course in the OLD DAYS I could literally eat 4 YES I said 4 toasted bagels in one sitting and an entire little tub of whipped cream cheese.....I am sitting here remembering those days and I actually just shuddered....anyway it seems that atleast once or twice a week I see that I can eat something from my past...not the same quantity but I can eat it....the funny thing is...I dont get the pleasure out of it that I used too....I guess that is part of the recovery process of food addiction....Anyway I had this interesting wake up call the other day...I got the "Flu" for the first time in my life (I am 46 years young) I have had food poisening many times BUT not the actual flu.....I was with fever and pain and major major runs and dry heaves for 6 loooooooooooooooong days...during this time all I really wanted was to drink vegetable broth,water,propel and an occational protein drink.......if that....when I was all healed again and my appetite was back I decided to go back to the beginning of my journey and to just not even reach for the pretzels or crackers that go down waaaay too easy.....I have lost a few pounds and I think...yes I said I "THINK" I can be motivated to drop a tad bit more weight...I have pretty much stayed steady with my weightloss and I avoid the scales and just go by how my jeans fit me...which for me is a really terrific guide.....anyway I just feel better knowing that I do have control and that the pouch does work ...Geeeez its gonna be 3 years in August and time really flies.....it doesnt get easier thats for sure but its really a good feeling not to be obese again and I will do all thats in me ..PLUS some help from my higher power to stay on track and to not go back to where I used to be Good luck to each and every one of you....May God Bless you and keep you strong and healthy with love,peace,hope and thankfullness stacey 258/135 on a good day/would love to be about 120 if my body will allow it!!

Hi, Stacey. I've been hanging out on this board for a couple weeks now, too. I have enjoyed it and feel it's a good support for me. Thank you for the nice post today. I struggle too with food cravings and eating some of the wrong things, and I guess a lot of us do. And coming here is a help, isn't it? We can get some support and see how others are doing, and just kind of stay connected to others who have been where we are and are trying to maintain our weight losses. Like you, I would dearly love to get about 10 pounds off. I am up to about 178 from my low of 160, and I really felt much better at 170. But somehow I let that weight creep up a bit, and I need to find a strategy to at least make it stay where it is right now. I have been trying to get more protein in, and am being a little more careful with salty/sugary snacks. But it's tough. I still want to eat "bad" stuff that I know isn't good for my body. I always feel like I'm performing a "balancing act" and wish I had the strength to just totally let go of all the stuff that does me no good. Anyway, it was nice to read your post today. Best wishes. Carlita

Carlita Thank you for your response......We are all in this together arent we : ) Hang in there and Blessings to you Be strong!!! Stacey

Thank you so much for posting. I just stated coming to this board yesterday. I had surgery in Jan '05 and am down around 90 pounds. I really appreciate you sharing as it helps me. keep up the wonderful work, sheila

Sheila I am happy to know that something I posted may have helped someone else out a bit...Thank You Congratulations on your success...keep up the hard/good work Blessings to you stacey

STACEY!!! I have missed you my friend!! The brats and low carb beer are still waiting for you and your hubby to make it up to Cheesehead Land...just let me know when to expect you all!! Seriously though...I can TOTALLY relate to what you are saying...except for the flu part. I don't think I have ever had the true flu either. I get this respiratory flu stuff at least once a year, but not the stomach variety...it sounds MISERABLE!! Anywho...I hope you are feeling better now and I am so glad to see you. I have been going in spurts of being on the boards and replying and then to just lurking. Had some weird stuff going on emotionally and am starting to wonder if my meds are still working like they should be or not. I see my psyche. dr. on Tuesday and hopefully, we'll get a handle on things. But enough about that...I am hoping to see more of you on the boards in the days, weeks, and months to come. You take care of yourself and have a TERRIFIC weekend!!...Your bud...Cap'n K-Man

Hi Stacey I can totally relate . . . I am 2.5 years out and somtimes I feel like I'm back where I started (as far as appetite). The first year or so was heaven - no appetite, no problems. Now it's HARD again - I was so good for 2 years and now all the junk food is calling my name! I knew this would happen before I had the surgery, but still, the reality is difficult. I think that after being obese my entire life it's easier to gain weight back again, even with the bypass. These message boards really help.

Sheri All I can say is that we are ALL in the same boat...You can do this you just cant give up...It is no doubt difficult to maintain the weightloss...You just have to keep thinking back to when you were obese....Do you really want to be that girl again.....I know my answer is NO...I was so unhappy with myself.....Stick with us on the board where you will see that you are not alone on this journey Gods Blessings to you stacey

Thanks Stacey - just need to vent sometimes. I was so good the first 2 years but since then it just all been down hill. I never did reach my goal weight and have been fighting with my insurance co about all the reconstructive surgery I need. Of course, they won't cover it. I still look and feel fat so that is part of the problem. I guess I will be self paying for all my surgery now. I'm hoping I'll feel better after I get all this excess skin and tissue removed. Just really tired of waiting - been fighting with the insurance co for 8 months - I've run out of patience.