nowatgoal

Thank you so much! And you make a good point: if you had GERD before the surgery I bet that makes a difference in how much you deal with acid after the surgery. I never had an acidy stomach prior to VSG so I think I had an easier time of it post op with only needing Prevacid for a few months.

Wow - I feel like you wrote my story. There is so much I relate to that I could just say DITTO and be done. I'm almost 8 months post-op and I have had the same sort of issues (both good and bad) that you have had. I've never been able to eat very much (seems like I have a super restrictive sleeve) and my most difficult learning curve has been learning how much I can consume. I've always been a fast eater and used to joke about the "chewers". I spent the first 2-3 months throwing up just about every day because I would inevitably screw up one of my meals. But, slow learner that I am, I have finally mastered my intake and feel like every hardship along the way has been worth it. Congratulations and thank you for sharing your story. Your smile and your beautiful children's smiles say it all. It's wonderful to be able to relate to someone and to feel their happiness jumping out of the computer screen.

I took mine until I noticed I didn't really need it anymore. That was at about the 3 month mark. Now I only take it when my stomach feels acid-y which is maybe once or twice a month.

What's your BMI? Between 3 and 4 weeks I experienced a stall which is very common. Perhaps you are going through the typical stall that happens at this time. I would continue to follow your doctor's outlined program (usually high Protein, low carb, plenty of fluids...) and after your body has had a chance to play catch up your weight should begin to drop again. I have had many, many "stalls" because I tend to lose in a stair step fashion. Plateau, lose, plateau, lose...

I'm with Dorrie - "Bring it on!" I'm just 2 pounds from my final goal, but I want to lose a little more than that because I'd like to have a little buffer while working out the maintenance phase of things. I'll probably try to lose 5 pounds between now and Memorial Day. Not much, I know, but it's really slow going these days... These challenges help keep me motivated.

SN: Slimming Sara SW: 149.6 GW: 140 CW: 141.8 lbs to lose: 1.8 Feb. 15: 149.6 Feb. 22: 146.2 -3.4 Feb. 29:145.0 -1.2 Mar. 07:145.2 +.2 Mar. 14:144.2 -1 Mar. 21: 143.2 -1 Mar. 28: 142.6 -.6 Apr. 04:142.2 -.4 Apr. 08 EASTER: 141.8 -.4 Happy Easter, everyone! I missed my goal by 1.8 pounds. Not too far off goal. I'm still happy. I have appreciated having this challenge and all of you to report in with each week. Thanks for being with me on this journey. Hope you all have a wonderful Easter today.

Yes, I'm losing pounds, but very, very slowly now. Still losing inches, but also slowly now. It's tougher the closer to goal you get. But, I couldn't be happier with getting back A BODY THAT I CAN BE FRIENDS WITH! Life is so much easier. People definitely notice, but not everyone says something. A lot of people don't mention it, for whatever reason. Nearly 100 lbs. down from my heaviest. 62 lbs. down from since pre-op diet. First pic: 238 lbs. Second pic: 142 lbs.

SN: Slimming Sara SW: 149.6 GW: 140 CW: 142.2 lbs to lose: 2.2 Feb. 15: 149.6 Feb. 22: 146.2 -3.4 Feb. 29:145.0 -1.2 Mar. 07:145.2 +.2 Mar. 14:144.2 -1 Mar. 21: 143.2 -1 Mar. 28: 142.6 -.6 Apr. 04:142.2 -.4 Apr. 08 EASTER: Another half pound loss this week. Doubt I'll be suddenly dropping 2 pounds in the next few days... Oh well... I got close. I'm okay with the snails pace of these last 10 pounds because I feel good. Everyone has done an amazing job with the Easter challenge. You've all motivated me along the way!

What a great accomplishment! You look amazing! Whoohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Because of my pre-op diet, I was a BMI of 30.5 on my surgery day. I had a BMI as high as 37 when I was heaviest but I had been dieting to bring it down. I knew it was just a matter of time before the weight came back on because over the course of my adult life I've lost 270 pounds from diets (and this isn't counting all the short diet times where I lost 10-15 pounds over and over). With my "low" BMI I was able to reach a "normal" BMI by 3 mo. out, but then it really slowed down and now I only lose a few pounds each month. I eat when I'm hungry, exercise by doing a lot of walking and hiking, and I am 2 pounds from my goal weight of 140 (BMI 22.1). At first I was worried that I'd get too thin and wouldn't be able to maintain a healthy loss, but as my body reached a normal weight, it naturally slowed itself down and I can see now that I think I'll be able to maintain a weight of 135-140 without too much trouble.

When did I say I consider myself "overweight"? The BMI range is 18.5-25 for normal. I'm 2 pounds from my final goal which places me just above the mid-point of the normal mark for BMI. I studied ballet for many years and have a small frame. I think I'd like to have a few pounds of leeway in my maintenance phase so I'll probably try to maintain a weight of 135-140. For my height, this does not place me anywhere near the underweight category. I'd have to be under 117 before I'd reach that BMI category. Does everyone need to get to the top end of normal for an arbitrary BMI chart and then stop there? I thought this was a thread about how often people step on the scale?

I weigh myself daily. Always when I first wake up, after I've used the bathroom, and always in my birthday suit. I don't beat myself up over small fluctuations in my weight each day. I've actually found it very interesting because I've learned what my patterns are for my monthly cycle with regards to water weight gain and loss and how my hormones affect this. I've been able to track when in any given month I'm going to stall and what week I typically lose. It's helped me to understand my stalls because now I know the pattern. I'm sure I won't be a daily weigh-er the rest of my life but I will probably weigh weekly and then monthly as I figure out my maintenance phase as my 1 year mark gets closer. I DO NOT recommend weighing daily for those that are going to let the number effect them emotionally. If the number is going to negatively impact your day, then don't do it.

SN: Slimming Sara SW: 149.6 GW: 140 CW: 142.6 lbs to lose: 2.6 Feb. 15: 149.6 Feb. 22: 146.2 -3.4 Feb. 29:145.0 -1.2 Mar. 07:145.2 +.2 Mar. 14:144.2 -1 Mar. 21: 143.2 -1 Mar. 28: 142.6 -.6 Apr. 04: Apr. 08 EASTER: Good grief, this is painfully slow progress. But, the scale is still moving, if ever so slightly. 2 more pounds to final goal. I will get there, eventually.

I'm just THRILLED for you!!!

I'm a pretty adventurous person - I take calculated risks because I want to live my life to the fullest. I grew up with an older brother whose motto to this day is "Take A Risk". He even has pins with that saying on them and he hands them out to everyone he meets. BUT, for some reason, a few days before my VSG surgery I became really overwhelmed with the idea that I was going to die on the operating table. I knew it was irrational because I had done so much research leading up to that point, but I couldn't shake the feeling. I kept thinking to myself that if I could just survive the surgery (in other words, just wake up from the anesthesia) that I could get through anything else that came along in recovery. Now, 7 months later, I feel amazing. I KNOW that my life is more fulfilled because the weight is off. I no longer suffer from weight related health issues and I can once again imagine myself living a long life. THE SURGERY DIDN'T LEAD TO MY DEATH - IT LED TO MY LIFE!

Now THAT'S an NSV!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SN: Slimming Sara SW: 149.6 GW: 140 CW: 143.2 lbs to lose: 3 Feb. 15: 149.6 Feb. 22: 146.2 -3.4 Feb. 29:145.0 -1.2 Mar. 07:145.2 +.2 Mar. 14:144.2 -1 Mar. 21: 143.2 -1 Mar. 28: Apr. 04: Apr. 08 EASTER: I'm up a pound from yesterday, but I'll report my actual weight of 143.2 this morning since this is my report in day for the Easter challenge. It's a loss of one pound from last week. I'll take it! 3 more pounds to my Easter and FINAL GOAL!!!

Thanks for this tip. I just ordered some. I started losing a lot of hair off my already thin scalp at about 4 months. I'll be 7 months out tomorrow and I've noticed that the losing phase has come to an end. Unfortunately, I can really tell a difference. My fiance says he can see where it's growing back in with short little baby hairs but I still think I look "balding". Worth it? Yes.

What a great list of successes - and you shared so openly and honestly about your challenges. I bet there are a lot of us that can relate to both. You are very self aware and that should lead to your figuring out how best to help yourself and your husband. Congratulations on an amazing journey thus far!!! XOX

Congratulations! Looking back, it all goes by so fast. Sending you best wishes!

Fantastic! Your giving yourself a birthday gift of health says a lot about your mindset! And a bootcamp too? WOW!!! You're inspiring me to take it to the next level.

This just brought tears to my eyes because your happiness shines through. I LOVE your attitude and I'm so happy that other things like a new job that you like are coming into place. Congratulations!

Voted again...

Perfect attitude for your vacation - the sleeve will keep you in check and you should be enjoying all that Europe has to offer (including the amazing food)! So glad your blood clot is under control. You'll be doing so much walking that you'll have tons of incidental exercise. Have fun!!!

Very inspirational! Congrats on a year well spent journeying to a healthier new you!