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I may not be like others when it comes to this but there is a reason why and it was confirmed for me recently why I don't really talk about it much. I was talking with a family member who knows that I had the VSG surgery last year and they have put on a few pounds recently (well over time). We were speaking of the US standard of BMI and I had stated that with all i've lost i'm still considered "overweight", and they said oh yeah well what do they say about my weight and I said well I don't really know your size but it you are 200 lbs or more and based on your height you are probably considered "obese". I even said a year ago I was considered "morbidly obese" according to the standards but i'm glad i'm not there anymore. Well once I said that they stated well if it had not been for the surgery you would probably still be but you "CHEATED"!! I was like cheated - really?? At that point I confirmed that no matter how many people say congratulations or i'm proud of you or you did it! In the back of some of their minds they feel "I Cheated"! That's why I don't tell people I just say I had my gall badder removed (which is true) and I can no longer eat the way I use too and I exercise and eat right (which is all true). I did not know there was a right or a wrong way; a honest way or a chearters way of losing weight?? Do you?! Just because I didn't join Weight Watchers again for the 4th time or try the lastest fad diet like most of my friends and drop some weight and then blow back up again shortly after does that make me a cheater? It doesn't matter if I slaved away in a gym 5 days a week or that I still need to eat right and be mindful of what I eat they still see me as a cheater! I hate that stigma but, at the end of the day I made a decision that was best for me and my life, i'm not coping out to being a cheater - I still have to put in the work both physically and mentally despite what people may think about bariactric surgery and it's supposed "quick fix". I've seen people gain it all back so I know that it is not a quick fix and you still have to work at it - it's a tool. Used wisely or unwisely you will it the fruits of it. I just needed to vent I guess and it hurt me to hear that from a loved one but like I said that's why it has been a personal choice of mine not to be forth coming with this journey of mine because of that very comment. Hopefully one day I will feel open enough to let more people in on my journey but until then that's why I have my VST family where i'm not judged!

Can not believe I am already 10 weeks out!! I really wish I lost more but at the same time I am pleased with what I see so far

oh my goodness! i'm so sorry! and just in case you still need some back-up... YOU DID NOT CHEAT!!! you took your health and life into your own hands and took control... made a positive change and there was nothing easy about it! i also get this response a lot! from my sisters & mom actually! even this morning my mom told me I finally looked like I had the baby! (the baby is actually 15 months but i never lost a pound until i started my pre-op diet...) so you know what i have to say about these little smart a$$e$... HATER HATER HATERS!!! just HATING HATING HATING!!! hate away... i tell them! i'm just gonna keep going to the next bigger, better, brighter thing! and i REFUSE to eat over it! on those days, when folks are hatin' on me, i make sure to eat super clean and slow... give them something to really hate on me about! my new healthy self!

I agree with tmorgan - this is no easy way out. I struggle with it a lot - it's not easy hardly being able to eat anything. My husband also constantly asks me how I do it and how he could never do it. He tells me how strong I am and how proud he is of me. I too tried every diet in the book and it didn't work for me. This did. I have also had friends tell me that I'm being an a*****e telling people I had this surgery because I was able to afford to pay for it myself. How she thought I was bragging about it. Bragging about trying to get healthy? She, of course, doesn't have a weight problem. fortunately my family is very supportive - and so are my coworkers.

Not tricking flicking.

You are stunning and obviously are working hard to achieve your goal. What a great way of rocking that sleeve. Keep it up!!

Reading these blogs and forums has been such a great help to me and I have started to realize that there is hope and better days to come. Everyone's inspiring stories has really made me start to think about what I'm looking forward to after I have surgery. Here is a list I will share with all of you: Going out - anywhere without feeling embarrassed Fitting in an airplane seat Going to the movies without feeling stuffed in the seats Sitting on the floor to play with my nieces and nephews Bending down to pick something up Exercising without feeling embarrassed Riding my bike Buying cute clothes from "normal" stores Dating Going to the park Going on walks Camping Traveling-anywhere-and not having my weight hold me back Swimming without feeling embarrassed Feeling like I'm worthy.....of anything Being taken seriously Not feeling shameful I know there is a lot more, but that's all I can think of for now. For all of you who are in the pre-op stages....what are you looking forward to the most? ~Holly

I am so frustrated that I seem to have stalled out after a month of solid loss. I am excited to be 20 lbs down, but I really had hoped I would see a continual loss. Today has almost been a week since I have seen the scale go down. I know it is time for my TOM, but it is still bothersome. The great thing is, that years ago I would have said screw this I am going to eat whatever I want, but now I can't. While I could choose what I eat, I can't eat much of it. I know the band is already helping even though I am not at my sweet spot. I am staying on track longer than I ever have. I have managed to do the Total Gym and the Elliptical this week and it does help how I feel, but it's still not easy. So many others on this site have said we didn't get fat over night so we won't loose it over night. Here is to really hoping the scales start droping soon.

It can be so discouraging. I get on really good losing streaks then will plateau for five or six days. The past few times, I let it ride and knew my body would eventually catch up, but this last one I went to liquids for a day. Hit the protein shakes during the day (breakfast and lunch) then had a very low cal/high protein dinner. It worked, busted right off that plateau. I've heard that people find either increasing or decreasing their calorie intake for a few days can help (I've always been to afraid of trying the high calorie method). Good for you though, sticking to it in the face of discouragement. It's not easy living the bandster lifestyle like we do, and when the reward of lower scale numbers isn't there, it's overwhelming.