Question:
For People who Didn't make Goal in 1 yr ?
What do you do if you don't make Goal? How do you come to terms with what is enough? Also, if you are far from Goal, what do you do to get there. I am only interested in hearing from those WHO DID NOT MAKE GOAL IN 1 YR'S TIME! If you haven't made goal, what are you now doing to get yourself there and if you did make goal after 1yr, what did you change about yourself or habits to get you to goal? Thanks. — heathercross (posted on July 7, 2003)
July 7, 2003
I didnt make goal in my first year and didnt change anything to make it
either and now have made it I am a year and half out i just continue doing
what im doing that works for me and am happy with my progress either way. i
do not obsess with protiens water and excersise however feel all those are
important values to learn. I try to follow the "rules" but as i
said i dont obsess over it. I want to be as normal as possible and live a
"normal" life. I am truely happy and feel blessed with my
success!
— Deanna Wise
July 7, 2003
Hi Heather - I won't make goal in a year, but didn't expect to because I
needed to lose 240. It has, however, gotten hard and to compensate for
losing all the advantages of the "tool", I'm having to do things
like "normal" people - I've tried to increase exercise since my
body seems to be adapting to actually doing something and I joined Weight
Watchers - the structure of the points is hard to get to used to, but I
think it will help. I also started seeing an eating disorders specialist
to help me break some of those old, bad habits I'm falling back into. I'm
not ready to be done!!! By the way, I've been watching you all year and
you look marvelous!!! Good Luck!!!
— jen41766
July 7, 2003
It took me exactly 18 months to get to goal. Just keep on keeping on,
don't give up and keep doing what has worked for you to lose the weight.
Down 170 pounds in 25 months.
— Kimberly L.
July 7, 2003
I am just short of one year and am still about 33 pounds away from my goal,
but my goal was to lose 214 pounds from my pre-op weight of 427, so I am
more than happy with my progress so far. I had hoped to be at my goal of
213 by my anniversary date of 7/17, but that's not going to happen, so my
new date is by this coming Christmas and I think that is achievable. I'm
trying to increase my exercise level - I have an exercise bike that I'm
riding every day and I have also joined the local "Y". I'm out
there cutting the grass yesterday in 90 plus degree heat that would have
killed me last year at this time. I'll get to goal - or even below it -
but that last 30 pounds is going to be tougher than the first 180...JR
— John Rushton
July 7, 2003
who said we're supposed to make a goal wieght in one year? Wow, talk about
setting yourself up for failure... we don't all weigh the same, now do we?
Its very nice if someone makes their goal in one year, but for many of us,
that's physically impossible. Sorry to say this, but I think its
ridiculous to even expect it. I didn't, and never thought I would. At one
year I'd lost about 160 pounds and right now I keep doing what I'm supposed
to be doing -- exercising and taking care of myself and I seem to lose
about 8 pounds a month. I think that's just fine.
— Lisa C.
July 7, 2003
We're all different. The idea behind this surgery is to work toward your
goal and maintain it for the rest of your life. We all have different
metabolisms and we're all going to lose at a different rate. I'm 11 mos.
out and about 30 lbs. from my goal. I am so amazed at how far I've come
and I feel so much better than I did. So what if I don't make it in 1
year. If I keep on doing what I'm doing, I have a changed life that I
thought I'd never have. None of us can ever entertain the notion that
we're failures. None of us can ever entertain the notion of not exercising
or watching what we eat. None of us can ever entertain the notion of not
getting protein and proper nutrition. This is a lifestyle change and we
have to maintain it for the rest of our lives--that's the true goal. The
notion of achieving a goal to me means "getting to the goal" and
then returning to a normal life. This has to be my normal life -- for the
rest of my life. If I revert back to old behaviors--then I truly do not
make my goal. I hope I never have to say that.
— Cathy S.
July 7, 2003
Heather, I saw this post on the message board, and had to chime in here,
too. Don't know that I have much to add to what's already been said, but
I'm another who won't have made it to goal in one year (coming up on the
25th of this month). But I am down 160 pounds and have a lifestyle and
health I never thought I'd have again. So if I never lost another pound,
this surgery owes me nothing. But I am determined to hang in, and try to
take off a little more. If I need to readjust my goals I will, but I'm not
done yet! I just have to shut my eyes and start picking foods with my new
brain instead of my old one. Hope you hang in, too.
— AmyL
July 8, 2003
Hello Heather!!
I started out at 409 and have lost 190lbs. My surgery was 3/18/02. i would
love to get to 185-195 lbs. My regimen is to increase my protein intake
increase water intake, exercise my butt off and lay off of carbs.
— tameaka S.
July 8, 2003
I'm 17 months post-op and about 6 pounds shy of the original goal. I'm
quite content where I am at, and if I never make that original number,
thats OK with me. I actually encourage people to be flexible on that goal
number. As you lose weight and see where you are, you may want to adjust
those numbers, either up or down. For me, I was more interested in being a
size and weight that would be easy to maintain and since it is a calories
game, I knew that if I lost too much, it would take less calories to
sustain that lower weight than what I am able to eat now. I like being a
size 10, and getting to EAT! 8 would be nice but not at the expense of
those extra calories... I still weigh myself almost every day to make sure
I stay put and do not gain, drink tons of water, eat lots of protein, TRY
to control the carbs/sugars and get regular exercise. I know that failure
to ingrain those good habits will cause weight gain and a very unhappy me!
I think its important to make peace with your body and not to fight it. If
you can't get to that magic goal number, and your doing everything right,
well, then your body is telling you something. Not everyone who has this
surgery ends up a size 6.
— Cindy R.
July 8, 2003
Hi Heather, We started out at the same weight, and almost the same height.
It took me 18 months to get to my doctor's goal (155). The weight loss
stopped for me at around a year, and I had to up the exercise and eliminate
all refined carbs (white flour and sugar). This kick started it again.
Don't worry, you'll probably continue to lose... but those pouch rules
become more important now. I think those last few pounds are the hardest.
— mom2jtx3
July 8, 2003
I am close to three years out and I guess I am still 40# from
"goal"- whatever THAT is, a number issued by someone not walking
around in my body. My bones probably weigh more than most peoples- and I
may never see 150, I may not even look healthy at 150. So- until I am
miserable being THIS current size or it affects my life neagtively, I don't
plan on doing anything!! To me my surgery was a success, I am mobile, I am
normal and I am happy. I only weigh myself when I have a Doctor's visit.
I refuse to be obsessive about a number that can fluctuate like the
tides.... it's never consistant.
— Karen R.
July 8, 2003
My personal tactic has been to set "mini" goals along the way, I
have to admit I set them to where I feel confident I can meet them. after
the first couple months I lost about 10# a month, then since 6 months about
5 # a month, for a total of 100# on my 9 month anniversary. From what I
have read on the boards here I guess some consider it losing slow. I
consider it phenominal and the answer to my prayers. (attitude anyone?) I
started at 260 and an now 156. my one year anniverary is in Sept. my mini
goal now is to hit 155 by the end of july. My 1 year my goal is to get to
145. at 5 feet that is still a little overweight. When I discussed goals
with my surgeon his answer was to wait and see where my body settles in to
its comfortable weight. I think that is great advice. this surgery is more
than the first year, it is a lifetime commitment to good health, balance in
eating, exercise, and enjoying LIFE!
— **willow**
July 8, 2003
Hi Heather,
I am 2 1/2 years out and about 20# from goal. I have remained at the same
weight for about a year. I am off all my meds for diabetes just take vioxx
for my back and vitamins. I know if I exercised I would lose the
additional weight, but my back continues to be a problem. I still think
that the surgery was the best gift I ever gave myself. I am not in a size
8 - went from a 26 to a 16, but I'm not done yet. I feel this has been a
life long problem (food) - and even with the surgery - I will continue to
have to make the right choices regarding what and when I put something in
my mouth. Food choices don't mean that I am being "bad or good",
just healthy or not.
— connie m
July 11, 2003
Goal was to lose 190 lbs. I lost 140 in the first year and 20 more in the
second. So I'm 30 lbs from goal and nothing I can do seems to budge the
scales. Thankfully I'm maintaining my loss. But I am disappointed too.
— Danmark
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