Anniesmom12

Dont let go of your chance to change your life forever for the best for you. I can tell you that I thought I had support from my closest friend ... until after I lost my first 50lbs, then she became distant and we lost our friendship. I found out later that she was afraid she was turning in to the "fat friend" that I had always been and she didnt like it, so she didnt want to support my weight loss efforts anylonger...thinking I would give up and gain the weight back. But I did this to be HEALTHY and LIVE ! If I had not had the surgery I can tell you that today I would be over 400lbs easy and more than likely on my way to my grave in a few short years! Hold on, we're here for you as much as we can be! You have to think long term and hold steadfast to the goal of being healthy for YOURSELF!

Thanks for the information.... started a routine tonight at the gym that mixes it up on the treadmill with speed/incline. it was a workout!! LOVED IT! I only do strength training/weights every other day.... that what the coach at the YMCA suggested. I hit the steam room for 15 min, sauna for 15 and the hot tub for pure relaxation for 15 min!

It so hard to get the "I didnt gain this weight overnight, I wont lose it overnight" thoughts in your head. I know it is for me. Somedays all I want to do is exercise and go go go as hard as I can to make the weight come off faster...but it doesnt...it stalls me out! The fear we all have of not measuring up to others weight loss gets us sometimes too! But I am an individual, not a production part.... I have to do what works for me. Just relax, slow down your pace, follow the plan and I promise this will work for you! Try not to overdo it, just keep moving forward slowly!

I try to get 800-1000....but always end up at about 700. Some days I get to 850.

I have seen several ladies on here that have gotten pregnant after surgery. I think there was one that was pregnant with twins...at about 8 months post op. Best of luck to you!

Welcome! and I would like to say I am proud of your success!! keep going!! The road ahead may be tuff, but the outcome is fantastic! I never thought I could feel so good, be so active and love life (and the gym) as much as I do. I have about 12 lbs to be half way to my goal and I am excited to stay the course and keep going DOWN. Best of luck to you! The time flies and soon you'll be shopping and suddenly see what a difference you have made! Again I am so happy for you and your success so far!!

I want a penpal too!! How can I get one?

. I hope your surgery went well, I will pray for your quick recovery and hope that you lose all you want to! You can do this!! Life is gonna change for the best for you!!!

I have a question for you.... what incline do you use? how long does it take you to do 5 miles? what weights do you do and how long in the sauna....(have you tried the steam room as well?) Sorry to be asking so much... but I could use the help in getting my routine in place.

I, too, have had a few stalls in months 5 & 6. I read on other post that most increase protein, increase exercise intensity and length and it should break. I think the idea is to change up your routine because your body has gotten used to it. Good luck and congrats on the 66 lbs! It's truly an amazing journey isnt it?

I cant bring myself to eat pizza! I guess because I consider that a "trigger" food.... i dont want to get back in to my old habits. But it seems the dough wouldnt sit well with the pouch, not sure. Anxious to see responses here.

So proud of you!! I was planning on a 5k in Charleston, SC April 6th ... but I have to work instead! But I will be more than ready for next years 5k!! hopefully at goal and can actually RUN!

We've replaced sitting at home in front of the TV every night with going to the local YMCA and working out/swimming.... all 3 of us!! Going to Zumba for the first time tonight....cant wait! then meeting up with hubby (my daughter is out of town with her school group till Sat) and working out then swimming. We both feel much better....and I must say we're a little more frisky after our workouts too!! LOVE THE GYM! (lol)

You are welcome. I was nervous too, but pressed onward and I am SO happy I did!! Looking back the only regret I have is not doing this years ago!! The preop time is a great time to get things in "order".... to start making positive changes like eating healthy, exercising and learning to put yourself and your needs above everything else. I spent way too much time making sure everyone else had what they needed or did what they should....that I forgot that if I dont take care of me...who will??? Enjoy the preop stage, relax...all will be fine! I hope your surgery goes as well as mine, your recovery is short and you lose all you want to!!

Joined our local YMCA on Friday. Saturday hubby and I swam laps in the lap pool (20 of them!!) and did some walking around the track mainly because he's trying to "catch up" with me exercise wise. Sunday I went by myself and worked out about an hour on treadmill/stair stepper/exercise equipment then went to the lap pool.... and oh yes I did 15 minutes in the hot tub to relax afterwards! Had a great relaxing afternoon....stayed about 2 1/2 hours!! Looking forward to going with the hubby and daughter tonight! I love that place!!! (OMG...never thought I'd say that about a GYM! WOW!!)

I am so proud for you! it is wonderful to see you doing so well!!! Feels so good doesnt it? Finally to accomplish weight LOSS for good!!! Keep going!!!

Wow, how wonderful!! So happy for you! Thanks for the inspiration and motivation!!! You look fantastic!

It is a lot of little things that keeps me motivated... I love that now I can actually cut my own toenails and paint them! I love that I can lay close to my husband at night and he can put his arm around me...all the way...and actually touch the bed! He can walk up behind me and wrap his arms all the way around me...and his hands meet! My daughter and I walk our neighborhood just about every afternoon and I can keep up with her....and most days push her to go faster! It feels like a million little things that I never really noticed before that I couldnt do, or that never really bothered me about being 370 lbs... that all make me so happy that I can do now! Once in a while I look at my reflection in the mirror I have to really look... cant believe its really ME!

So I have had a bag of clothes that were too big for me....but I held on to them about 3 weeks after I bagged them up. I kept thinking "I paid a lot of money for those clothes, I dont want to just dump them off at Goodwill". So I found a lady that needed them....and today she came and picked them up. It was with mixed emotions that I handed her that bag! It wasnt just that i was giving away clothes that I paid a lot for, but clothes that I wore because nothing else fit me! I was attached to them, felt like I needed them! So handing her that bag meant no going back! Now I have some smaller size clothes that actually fit me (for now) and I love the compliments! But letting go of those "big" clothes closed that chapter for me.... a little scary for me! But I feel so much better now that they are gone!

Went through my closet again....this time it was MUCH easier to let go of those clothes lurking around that I wanted to keep "just in case"...... There will be NO just in case this time!! I am doing this weight loss and kickin butt!! No more fall back fat clothes!! I tossed that bag of clothes right in the Goodwill bin and kept going! Feels so wonderful to be losing this weight for good!! Good to hear others stories about letting go too!!

Went for my 6mo check up last week... turned out great! 86lbs down....and he said all of my lab work was perfect...except my Vit. D level...I asked for a prescription for a bahama vacation for some sun so my health plan would pay for it...but couldnt get him to agree! gotta take a vit d pill once a week for 12 weeks.... bummer! Hope everyone elses visit came out ok too! I am feeling fantastic!!!

I have my 6 mo follow up on Tuesday next week....and I am a little afraid he'll be disappointed that I havent lost more !! Kinda scared to go back!! Good luck... let us know how it goes!

Congrats!! Way to go!! I love the before and after photos! I will be 6 months out on Feb 13th....and I've lost 83 lbs so far.... have been at a stall for a little over a month...but it's starting to go on down now!

So it's been raining here for almost a week....and I was in need of some sunshine. I decided to use a free week of tanning at Ultratan and went in last night to start. I have tanned in beds before and knew that I've always had issues not being able to pull the lid all the way down....at most I pulled it tight down on my belly....but never closed. So I anticipated having the same issues last night. But alas...I DID NOT! I layed down in that tanning bed....reached to pull the top down and low and behold it CLOSED! ALL THE WAY!!!! I couldnt stop the tears from flowing down my face!!!! It seems to be the little things that happen to me when I least expect it that mean the most to me!!! Times when I dread doing something cause I couldnt do it before....then find out I can do them now! Needless to say I am excited to go back again tonight!!!

It just feels so good to get in ...shut the lid and lay there...quiet, still and feeling warm and like I am at the beach! Nobody sees my scars but me...and sometimes my hubby....and we dont care if the are darker! I really felt like I just had to have some "sunshine" after a week of it raining.... now today its sleeting and some mixed snow in it... thinking I am going to head back and tan again today! Yucky weather!! Would love for spring to come on!!!