VSG Maintenance Group
So..this is goal...huh
I hit my weight loss goal about 2 weeks ago and since then I've been sitting on the news. I really thought that when I hit goal I'd post one of those "GGGOOOOOAAAAALLLLL" messages and detail all of my lessons learned and gleefully itemize all of the changes I've made in my life.
Instead I've just been sort of, "Oh. Well now. Looky." and kind of moving on. It's not that I'm not thrilled - hello, of course I am. And I went into this whole thing thinking about being at goal and transitioning into maintenance. But now that I'm here I'm feeling a little bit at a loose end.
Some of it is about not trying to lose weight for the first time in 30+ years. Some of it is freaking a bit that I'll end up regaining. I also think some of it is I can't quite wrap my head around the whole thing and the changes I've made. Every so often my husband tells me how he's so proud of all of the changes I've made and every time I ask him to detail those changes - what? What has changed? Because I feel exactly the same!
When he lists everything, and others have done the same thing for me, I kind of see it - I mean, I would not be running and spinning and skiing and circuit training and in-line skating and etc without making changes. And I plan my food pretty carefully and I avoid just grabbing treats like the chocolates at work.
I suppose some of this is also that I am still living with some old impulses, like getting obsessive food thoughts when I'm particularly stressed, or sometimes I'm snacking in the evening and it feels a little compulsive. So since I still have that going on it doesn't feel like things have changed whole cloth.
That said...it's much nicer to be continuing to learn how to manage my challenges at goal weight...!
Anyway, just wanted to put it all out there. And hope that I keep lurking and maybe surfacing around here now and again to keep me focussed...!
Instead I've just been sort of, "Oh. Well now. Looky." and kind of moving on. It's not that I'm not thrilled - hello, of course I am. And I went into this whole thing thinking about being at goal and transitioning into maintenance. But now that I'm here I'm feeling a little bit at a loose end.
Some of it is about not trying to lose weight for the first time in 30+ years. Some of it is freaking a bit that I'll end up regaining. I also think some of it is I can't quite wrap my head around the whole thing and the changes I've made. Every so often my husband tells me how he's so proud of all of the changes I've made and every time I ask him to detail those changes - what? What has changed? Because I feel exactly the same!
When he lists everything, and others have done the same thing for me, I kind of see it - I mean, I would not be running and spinning and skiing and circuit training and in-line skating and etc without making changes. And I plan my food pretty carefully and I avoid just grabbing treats like the chocolates at work.
I suppose some of this is also that I am still living with some old impulses, like getting obsessive food thoughts when I'm particularly stressed, or sometimes I'm snacking in the evening and it feels a little compulsive. So since I still have that going on it doesn't feel like things have changed whole cloth.
That said...it's much nicer to be continuing to learn how to manage my challenges at goal weight...!
Anyway, just wanted to put it all out there. And hope that I keep lurking and maybe surfacing around here now and again to keep me focussed...!
Congrats on reaching your goal. feels pretty good doesn't it. Be proud and celebrate with new clothes.
And your mixture of emotions about it is very typical. If you read through older threads on this group you will find similar thoughts from many. The whole reason this group was started was that a number of us had acheived our weight goal and were wondering "now what?" Surgeon's guidance is limited on maintaining and probably for good reason as once you graduate you gotta learn to make it on your own.
This group is all about the journey of the rest of our lives and how to make it work. You can read in my blog on setting maintenance goals and continuting to journal and weigh and other techniques that some of us use. Evening snacks are not always bad so long as they are decent choices and you really are hungry.
The more you read here the more you will get comfortable with developing your new routine. For me its not that much different than the weight loss phase but i eat about twice as many calories and carbs are maybe 50% more. Protein the same.
Anyway, stick with this group and whatever other support you can get. YOu lost the weight and you can keep it off. Its doable. Diane
And your mixture of emotions about it is very typical. If you read through older threads on this group you will find similar thoughts from many. The whole reason this group was started was that a number of us had acheived our weight goal and were wondering "now what?" Surgeon's guidance is limited on maintaining and probably for good reason as once you graduate you gotta learn to make it on your own.
This group is all about the journey of the rest of our lives and how to make it work. You can read in my blog on setting maintenance goals and continuting to journal and weigh and other techniques that some of us use. Evening snacks are not always bad so long as they are decent choices and you really are hungry.
The more you read here the more you will get comfortable with developing your new routine. For me its not that much different than the weight loss phase but i eat about twice as many calories and carbs are maybe 50% more. Protein the same.
Anyway, stick with this group and whatever other support you can get. YOu lost the weight and you can keep it off. Its doable. Diane
Join US On The VSG Maintenance Group Forum!!
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/VSGM/discussion/
Yahhhhhhhh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goooooooal !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very cool !!!
Congrats !!!!
frisco
SW 338lbs. GW 175lbs. Goal in 11 months. CW 148lbs. WL 190lbs.
" To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art "
VSG Maintenance Group Forum
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/VSGM/discussion/
CAFE FRISCO at LapSF.com
Dr. Paul Cirangle
Welcome to the maintenance board. Stick around! There are challenges in maintenance and we all have our ups and downs. I am sure you have a lot to offer to the board. Running, skiing, spinning, WTG!
Congratulations on hitting your goal!
Congratulations on hitting your goal!
band 12-29-06 revision to sleeve Alberto Aceves 4-29-09
I love my sleeve!!
Lost 107 lbs and maintaining
WoooHooo! Goal! I think we can all echo your feelings. It's hard for the head to catch up. Congratulations!
Congrats on making goal!!
I was in the same boat as you! I was really excited however really depressed as well. I was lost because I had focused so much on the losing and then all the sudden I didnt have that to look forward to. It took me a while to finally realize it's ok not to see that new low number on the scale and to focus on other things (like exercise!).
That said, I do still weigh daily but I'm more focused on seeing the same number (within a few lbs) because I'm playing with my food and I dont want let it affect me too much. I think secretly I would still love to see a new low number but that is not my focus now. In fact if I accidentally lost another 3 lbs I would be so excited because I could say I had lost 100 lbs but I really am perfectly happy right where I'm at.
Like they say, they operated on our stomachs not our brains!! We all still have the same old food demons as we had before and some of us will never be able to get past them. Try to plan your evening snacks so it doesnt feel compulsive. I have one before bedtime (string cheese and almonds) as a part of my planned food intake. I think it helps me not to feel "guilty" because I know it's planned.
Hang in there!! It will get better, you just have to give yourself time to adjust. If you are having an issue, please post!! There are a lot of wonderful/supportive people on here who will gladly share their thoughts!!
Debby
I was in the same boat as you! I was really excited however really depressed as well. I was lost because I had focused so much on the losing and then all the sudden I didnt have that to look forward to. It took me a while to finally realize it's ok not to see that new low number on the scale and to focus on other things (like exercise!).
That said, I do still weigh daily but I'm more focused on seeing the same number (within a few lbs) because I'm playing with my food and I dont want let it affect me too much. I think secretly I would still love to see a new low number but that is not my focus now. In fact if I accidentally lost another 3 lbs I would be so excited because I could say I had lost 100 lbs but I really am perfectly happy right where I'm at.
Like they say, they operated on our stomachs not our brains!! We all still have the same old food demons as we had before and some of us will never be able to get past them. Try to plan your evening snacks so it doesnt feel compulsive. I have one before bedtime (string cheese and almonds) as a part of my planned food intake. I think it helps me not to feel "guilty" because I know it's planned.
Hang in there!! It will get better, you just have to give yourself time to adjust. If you are having an issue, please post!! There are a lot of wonderful/supportive people on here who will gladly share their thoughts!!
Debby
HW: 228/GW: 140/CW: 134
I can relate to what you say even though I'm not at goal. Especially the feelings of still feeling not quite right with food, and feeling like you aren't really successful yet, no matter what the scale says. I'm still working on that myself. Nevertheless, congrats on your achievements thus far!
Start weight: 388, Current Weight: 185, Goal Weight: 180, Weight Lost: 203 lbs
Certified Nutritionist ♥ VSG FAQ♥ sublimate: To elevate or uplift.
3/2012 Plastics: LBL, 3 Hernias Fixed, BL/BA, Rhinoplasty & Septum Fix. 6/2013 Plastics: Arm and thigh lift
Congratulations!
I can really relate to your post! I grapple with the same feelings -- at the very same time, I feel like EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT for me, and yet EVERYTHING IS EXACTLY THE SAME. Both of those two things exist 100% in my life, completely, at exactly the same time. It's crazy, man...
I can really relate to your post! I grapple with the same feelings -- at the very same time, I feel like EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT for me, and yet EVERYTHING IS EXACTLY THE SAME. Both of those two things exist 100% in my life, completely, at exactly the same time. It's crazy, man...
I'm 5'2" and 55 years old. VSG 3/17/10
Ha ha ha - I love that we can all live with, and be perfectly okay with, total opposites at the same time! This is exactly how it is.
Word to the emotional and mental side of the food thing - I know that isn't everybody's issue but it is a big one for me. I've found the surgery has given me time to sort through things when I have the worst cravings to eat. It's really helped me make links between why I'm obsessed about XYZ food and the stressful situation creating that obsession. Easier to eat and then feel guilty about that then deal with what is really at the heart of the issue is what I used to live with. Not always perfect at turning it around but getting better and better at it.
BTW, I've posted photos of my changes in my profile if you want to check them out. As a lurker I'm a big photo checker-outter so I thought I'd better play fair.
Word to the emotional and mental side of the food thing - I know that isn't everybody's issue but it is a big one for me. I've found the surgery has given me time to sort through things when I have the worst cravings to eat. It's really helped me make links between why I'm obsessed about XYZ food and the stressful situation creating that obsession. Easier to eat and then feel guilty about that then deal with what is really at the heart of the issue is what I used to live with. Not always perfect at turning it around but getting better and better at it.
BTW, I've posted photos of my changes in my profile if you want to check them out. As a lurker I'm a big photo checker-outter so I thought I'd better play fair.
