introduction

Hi, I've been reading this board for a while, but thought maybe it was time, so I joined today.
I am a month shy of one year post-surgery.  I have lost 133 lbs.  My doctor's goal for me was 180, which seemed like an ambitious goal when I started.  However, I hit that at about nine months out :)

I then lowered my goal to 170 ... and the scale stopped moving.

My body seems very happy here and I'm maintaining fairly easily.  I see the doc for my one-year followup next month and will talk to them about if I'm at goal.

I like how I look and feel.  But I'm still overweight by BMI standards.  And I really wanted to hit "normal."  I thought if I kept doing what I'm doing, the weight would continue to come off, albeit more slowly.  But I've upped the exercise and protein and haven't been losing.  I could cut some calories.  I am at about 1000-1100/day and happy with the amount I eat.  I don't *want* to cut back!  But I could, of course, and maybe that's what I need to do.

Anyway, wanted to say hi, and I enjoy reading all your helpful, informative posts!

 Welcome! This is a great group...Im in a similar weight situation..

I hit a point (weight was 165) where I realized I was happy and wasnt willing to white knuckle my way to *goal* just for the sake of hitting a magic number I had picked..and while we have the same doctor they never gave me a specific goal to reach for...

I have gradually lost another 10 pounds over the past 9 months and want to continue to work on toning what I have...

This really is a journey that goes so far beyond the scale that you really have to figure out what works for you. 

This is a great place to seek opinions etc and  ultimately you will figure out what is best for you!

Good luck and again, welcome to maintenace, its pretty much forever so you'll have plenty of time to work out the details! ;)

Elizabeth

Sounds like you've hit your Happy Weight. 

As for losing more weight, I bet you could. BUT would doing so make you healthier, look better, etc? That would depend. If you did it by losing muscle, then No, it would not.

Once we get to a certain point, the number on the scale stops telling us the whole story. At that point body composition is what counts. You can get smaller while your weight goes UP if you build muscles. Yes, you are a bigger number on the scale, but you'll look awesome. And that's what counts!

welcome to our fun group. you have done really well and should be proud. only you can decide if you want a few more pounds off. But now is the best time to do it as you are less than a year out from surgery. its the easiest time. and its good to have a few extra off. but you know what that means. cut back 100 cal or so and increase protein. if you could do that for a few more months you would be there.  but again, only you can decide if its worth it.

i am able to eat more volume now than even six months ago. so i make it veggies since i was kind of short on those. maybe you could do that too and get where you want to be.

regardless, you have done well and have come to the right place for maintenance support.

diane

Thanks for your responses :)
And you're right, it's not actually a decision I have to make right now.  If I keep doing the "right stuff," my body will end up where it ends up :)

Have a good Friday, everyone :)