Question:
What will prevent me from getting to goal?

I'm 40 pounds from my goal weight, and needless to say the weight is coming off slower. I'm OK with that because it is coming off. My question is this, as long as I'm keeping my calories to a minimum, eating my protein and exersizing, shouldn't I get to goal? I think my goal is realistic, I'm 5'6 1/2, 46 years old, and would be happy at 150 (would be extatic at 140, but don't want to set myself up for failure or dissapointment). So, what do you think? I guess I'm starting to get paranoid because the weight is coming off slower and honestly to be 150 just seems like a dream to awesome to even imagine, in other words to good to be true.    — Stacy L. (posted on January 8, 2003)

January 8, 2003
Hello...Just want you to know, I am in the same boat as you (20-30 lbs. to goal) and I don't like it at all. I find myself getting super paranoid that it won't come off, that I have totally wrecked my metabolism thru WLS, etc. etc. And I find that I am definitely back in the diet mentality, feeling bad about myself for my food choices, eg, the entire Pizza Hut Personal Pan Pizza (and Cheetos and sunflower seeds) I ate yesterday. Funny, I thought the WLS had helped conquer this fear of "bad" foods thing I had going on. I want to go back to several months ago where food was just food, take it or leave it, and the weight came off easily. I am very scared. Good luck!
   — rebeccamayhew

January 8, 2003
I am in the same boat at nearly 3 years post-op, AND I fluctuate up and down 10 pounds! I'm so frustrated. My new year's resolution was to get back to eating and exercise. I've eaten right RELIGIOUSLY since the 2nd, and haven't lost anything. Today I'm going to bring back exercise. I, too, miss the days of forced food restriction and rapid loss! The days when I'm up I get really scared, because that's what happened with my VBG. I started gaining slowly, and never stopped. This time, if exercise and the proper plan don't work, I'm headed back to my surgeon. I'm not going through all that pain and misery again. This process is definitely lifelong, mental and physical, and we have to realize that!<br><BR>PS, for some reason I couldn't post with my 3rd and most recent profile even though I have been able to before...
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 8, 2003
Your goal is not unrealistic, but as many of us realize, we get this close to where we want to be, then the weight loss crawls or stops. The surgery is considered successful if you have lost 65-75% of your excess weight, so the vast majority of us achieve that. Its that last 25% that we want to achieve that can be tough and for many of us we have to revert back to "dieting". I'm there now- 10 to 15 pounds from goal and almost at the 1 year post-op mark. But what I have discovered is that even though I have to "watch it", its much easier to diet this time around then it was pre-op. And the rules post-op dieting are not much different than pre-op dieting, upping the protein and water and exercise, and cutting down or out the carbs and sugars. Its just easier now as we are satisfied with smaller amounts of food, we can eat more frequently, and exercise is surely easier being so many pounds lighter than we were pre-op. I think you can achieve whatever you set your mind to. Good luck.
   — Cindy R.

January 8, 2003
Hi,it's me the poster. I probably should have said also that I'm only 10 weeks post op. I've lost 50 pounds so far. Thanks!!
   — Stacy L.

January 8, 2003
hi there :) im 30 lbs away from where id like to be but would be extatic at 150lbs. its still coming off just slower now. i agree with cindy, we can get to where we want to be. we just need to remember the good habits, water intake, activity and all that good stuff! :) best of luck to you! :)
   — carrie M.