Hi, I'm (sort of) new here, with questions! Not at goal yet.

I joined this group before I had my VSG because I had an important question--whether to get it before or after our trip to Hawaii for my son's wedding. Every single person told me to get it done before, that by the time we took the trip I'd be fine.  (8 weeks post surgery)  You were all correct and I can't thank you enough!

So I'm here now with a sort of "state of Louisa" and am curious about your feedback.  I decided to come here with it because even though I'm not on maintenance yet, I'm kind of on maintenance (as you'll see) and I'm trying NOT to be a bad influence on others.  I've had a handful of people tell me that I'm an inspiration for them, and that rather horrifies me, because I am NOT a good example.of anything except what seems to be working for me.

I've used those of you who have had phenomenal success to pattern myself after--but not rigidly. And if anybody patterns theirself after me, they risk not succeeding.  Or that's the way I see it. 

My original goal was 155 pounds.  I'm 5' 7".  My all-time high was 250, but I was at 235 when I started, so I was a lightweight. I'm now 3.5 pounds away from that original goal, but I shifted it down ten pounds.

I could have been at goal--145 pounds--several months ago, if I'd stuck more closely/rigidly to plan.  I've had three significant periods when I did not, by choice, and by calculation maintained the weight I was at until I was ready to start losing again.  First, the aformentioned trip to Hawaii when I had a scale and weighed daily to make sure I wasn't gaining, but also ate regular food in small quantities without fretting over it at one or two meals a day. (Stuck to greek yogurt and such the other meals.)  Next was an extended period when our house was under major reconstruction and access to the kitchen was limited or nonexistant, and again, I ate strict Greek yogurt snacks/meals part of the time, but once or twice a day was eating at restaurants and simply eyeballing and choosing wisely but not strictly. I weighed daily and just monitored to make sure I wasn't gaining. 

And now, that is pretty much my lifestyle.  Weighing daily, usually (not always) logging on MFP, watching to make sure I'm not gaining, sometimes sticking closely to plan and sometimes not, but never going crazy or anything.  I've watched my weight take a very slow slide down.

VERY SLOW SIDE DOWN.

A few weeks ago my weight was fluctuating two to four pounds but never lower than 162. The past week or two it continues to fluctuate the same two to four pounds but now the new low is 158.5. 

For now, I'm happy with this. I like the way I look and feel, like the way I eat, and like that I'm still losing, if slowly. It's a comfortable way to live, especially during the holidays.  Will I continue to be happy or will I decide to go old school and get the last few pounds off? I don't know.

I'm thinking of setting my new goal to 135, but want to get to 145 first.

At my six month visit my doctor noted that I'd lost ten pounds in the previous two months, which was fine with him, but he also noted that if I continued that way for the next six months... well, that would be emaciation. I laughed, told him that would not be an issue, that I didn't know when I'd reach my goal, but that I just knew it would be by the time I saw him at one year.

So this is where I'm at. I am sort of in maintenance with a slow loss continuing but not calling it that because I don't consider it that. My body may, but I don't.  I may,  because of my casual, comfortable approach, start sliding back up and then whine and you all can kick my butt and get me back in line.

But right now, this feels good.

Congratulations on your success.  For me, I would go under my goal by 10-15 lbs for the dreaded bounce back that many of us get, trying to adjust to maintenance.  I am three years out and at an inch taller than you, I'm around 168.  I was happiest right at my goal of 153 and hope to get back there, but haven't been trying very hard.  Don't let others comments change your plans.

All the best!