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I know you brought this up Saturday and I've been thinking about it ever since. I honestly don't know. That sounds bad - to me. I've made a transition into more or less black and white thinking and this clearly falls into my gray zone - and I'm not comfortable with that.

My surgeon and I discussed a goal weight - he hasn't given me one. He says that he's gotten to know me well enough that he feels setting a gaol number will end up driving me bonkers (hmmmmm.....he may be on to something there). The reaasons I had my surgery are still the same. I wanted // needed my health back. I've gained that and then some ALREADY and I'm nearly 8 months out. So my surgery has already been successful using that particular measuring standard.

I have a quality of life now that I never imagined existed. If I look back over my life (from childhood til now) and take away the extremes (grief & elation) and look at what was normal for me - I really didn't have much in terms of quality. The obesity also was robbing me of any quantity of life as well.

So to answer your question - I already feel WONDERFUL and I think that spirit and joy that I'm radiating is just about contagious. I feel complete for the first time in my adult life. So what now?

My journey is in no way, shape or form close to finished. I'd like to weigh in between 170 and 150.  I cannot remember a time when the scale was that low. It would definetly be prior to Jr. High school. I also imagine that at that particular weight I'd be wearing probably a size 10 or 12 (?) here again - never bought those before.

I'm in uncharted territory here. As much as that should terrify me - it excites me. It's like a big adventure - I don't want it to end but without having plotted a course how will I know when I've arrived. Will I care? To me it's sorta like retiring with the intent of sailing around the world (which David & I both would love to do). You have a definite starting point and some sailors map out the entire course with a set schedule. When anything comes up (or the wind doesn't blow) your schedule needs to be altered - how flexible am I going to be to change course and enjoy the detours (stalls)?

hmmmmmmm........ OK now I'm thinking even more. Thanks - I think.....
- Iris

Hi Iris,

Thanks for the input. I think that you made a couple of great points. Using smaller plates and selecting smaller portions when out I think will be a long-term key to your success. I know that plate sizes in general, and especially those when we go out to eat are just enormous... Remember when we would eat all of it?! You are right when you say that it's important to set aside whatever you don't eat in the first 20 minutes or so, because  you can get the 'whole thing in' just by grazing through the meal. I think that is something that people don't quite realize earlier on, so I'm glad you brought it up.

Thanks Iris!

 

I think I understand what you're going for - simple interaction. Regardless of the stage a person is in with WLS - we're all seeking something. I read everything I could get my hands on prior to surgery (actually - I still do). I wanted to know what to expect. I guess I'm more of a controll person than I ever realized. Being on the forums and interacting with others - gives me that control over my situation. I still seek my doctor's guidance but I honestly put a higher value on the experiences of those who've been there and done it.

There are so many emotional aspects to this journey and our transformations - some I expected others have sorta blind sided me. We need to keep talking about those issues. The struggles and relationships that we had with food prior to surgery still exist. We had WLS surgery not lobotomies. Stress and exercise related issues are always going to exist - we need to develop a plan.

Not sure if you're doing this on here or not but what about using the Beck workbook as an ongoing challenge of sorts?

Barb -Thanks for all you do on here. I know you've got lots going on and it would be easy to get weighted down in everyday life BUT you've shown just how committed you are to your weightloss success as well as the success of others. You Rock!!!

- Iris

Congrats...those little victories that only we know can be so thrilling...little milestones along the path to health and better living that we are traveling.  My feet shrunk and I was able to get  in a fairly normal pair of shoes.  Thrilling