Georgia

And BTW, my feast days have been fraught. ( LOVe That word! Lol) within wise choices this weekend. I had to travel to another part of the state Fri night and spend that night and most of the next day preparing to song and play at a funeral. Aggh. Was glad to be there to help comfort and make thing a easier for the family but much tension and stress involved. Whereas, my CALORIES weren't much over my limit, if at all, it was so removed from my norm that it kinda threw me into this "feeding frenzy". I even woke up Sunday morning THINKING about food which really hasn't been happening. Ugh! Ate too many items that involve carbs this wknd so it's back to MY norm tomorrow and limited editions today! .

Perspective. I think we might all need to take a deep breath today and just love ourselves. Do I love ALL of me? No. Do I know I've got to change SOME of me? Yes. But, life is short. Here is a poem my Pastor used yesterday. I looked it up today when i started reading this thread this morning. It was spring but it was summer I wanted; the warm days and the great outdoors.... It was summer but it was fall I wanted; the colorful leaves and the cool dry air. It was fall but it was winter I wanted; the beautiful snow and the joy of the holiday season. It was now winter but it was spring I wanted; the warmth and the blossoming of nature. I was a child but it was adulthood I wanted; the freedom and the respect. I was twenty but it was thirty I wanted; to be mature and sophisticated. I was middle-aged but it was twenty I wanted; the youth and the free spirit. I was retired but it was middle-aged I wanted; the presence of mind without limitations. My life was over but I never got what I wanted. || poem by a 14 yr old.

One of Rox's last post. Enough said. RIP, Rox. "My bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and the assets of my mom's estate are all TOD to my oldest son, with the understanding that he shares it equally with his brother - he'll share because i've threatened to haunt him if he does'nt. But seriously, this is major surgery and unfortunately there is a chance of death, whenever there is anasthesia involved."

If "normal" people maintain weight loss and a healthy lifestyle, now that we have ACHIEVED it, why do we have to accept statistics as to why We Can't do it also? Not me. I'm in it for life. I've regained some. I've worked dang hard to lose it. Did it. Serves to reason if I continue to fight and work it, I can be successful. Simple.

Me too! Wound up somewhere right around 500. Maybe 510 or so. Done. Really want to snack tonight. Peaches never looked so good and my calories were all gone. Ha! Tomorrow is another day!!!!

Truth.

Well, after reading the study info that Laura provided I feel better. I'm a little over three years. I just ate my dinner which started with a plate of salad with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes lettuce and 3 ounces of chicken which at the time seems edible. I ate MAYBE a fourth of it and about 1 1/2 ounces of the chicken on top. I can't imagine that just suddenly in the next year and a half ALL this restriction is going to have disappeared. I did gain over 25 lbs ( which I have almost completely lost less 2.5 pounds) but it WASN'T because of the sleeve. I would have gained it in the first year, the first months or the third, fifth or tenth year. Garbage in garbage out. If you eat junk and sliders you WILL gain weight just like you do without the sleeve Like Swizzly, I will NOT be gaining back all my weight lost and ALL THOSE DOCTORS who told us most restriction can't be lost (yes, some naturally will) are wrong?? The tool continues to work WITH ME as I Work my sleeve.

Well, at 59 1/2 my leptin, I'm afraid, has "lept" on out! LOL

And BTW, EVERYBODY needs to read this! I think, though, even reading it as "prebies" we just couldn't understand and REALLY believe it would take as much work! We, former fatties, liked the easy way of eating when we wanted, doing what we wanted, living like we wanted, so telling us beforehand we are gonna have to WORK - um, well... HA! I get it NOW!

No, unfortunately, I don't think it will level out. I'm over three years out now. If I eat over a MAX of 1200-1300 calories a day, I WILL gain! And that is with fasting of 500 calories two days a week! I've tried eating "normally" and truthfully, I just don't think (and that is all research I've seen also) my "normal" is ever going to change. Sad, but true. And, also from what I've seen on VST and OH (as well as my "normal" friends) those who have exercised and led very active lives have to change their eating habits and portions/calorie count as time advances also.

I wil "Amen"the hard part of keeping it off! I didn't do this just to get a really slim cute figure I was in it to get healthy! BUT, the slim part really makes me feel good about it all. I wish for you to accomplish what YOU want to get out of it - including your goal weight. Just know, that above all, you are already a winner. Those of us years out now know that the sheer accomplishment of continuing to fight the fight and focus on healthy living comes with HARD WORK! It's not for the faint at heart! Those who look on and say, "Well, she did it the easy way." I dare them to do, eat and work it as hard as I do everyday to continue to be healthy and accountable. . You can get to that 140 or 135. May take some "other measures" as your surgeon said! Those including diligence and perseverance. I wish I could be a fly on the wall when your surgeon sees that you reached your "very aggressive" goal. Lol