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Has anyone else been going through major impatience at just wanting to reach our goal weight right now? I feel so ridiculous because there is no way I would have lost weight prior to this surgery at this rate and I should be feeling (and do) so grateful. But the goal is getting closer and I'm just wanting to get this journey completed in order to focus on to other personal goals. The more weight loss there is, the more I realise I'm still me. That the thinner me didn't change who I am inside. I had to attend a seminar today for work, and there were all of these women, very trim and professionally dressed. I looked in my reflection in the mirror and for the first time, I could see my own body shape not standing out from them as it used to before when I was at my highest weight. It felt good.

Im not sure if this is related to weight loss, but my 21 yr old daughter and almost 15 yr old daughter and I took salsa dance lessons tonight for the first time. I'm looking for a more fun way to exercise and it was quite a workout for an hour. Lol! The twirls have your arms up for some minor aerobics and make you wish you took some anti nauseous medicine ahead of time! But its gentle on your feet learning the basic steps. Although there is a bit of looking down at your feet, say "I'm sorry", look down at feet again, repeat "I'm sorry", look down at feet.....

I live in the Sacramento area. yes, the whole state is cold!

Is anyone else feeling cold due to weight loss? We have the heater running all day in the office at work, and in my car too. California is having a cold freeze, but I think its the weight loss too. And I feel for everyone dealing with constipation - me too.

When you reach your goal weight, do you have any vision of if or how your life will change then?

I was in a recent stall for two weeks but the scale is moving again. Surgery date was 9/19/12 and to date have lost 66 lbs. From 239 to173. It's so strange but I have only lost one pants size down from size 18 to a very loose size 16 but the 14s still are too tight. Next dr appt is 4/11/13 and he wants me at 150 by that time (not yet goal weight though). Do you find the weight loss slower the closer you are approaching goal?

Congratulations to you both!!

Results of my 3.5 month follow up appt today: Lab work good. Need a tiny bit more protein. 61 lb weight loss currently. Dr said i look twenty years younger and am doing great. Wants me to drop another 30 lbs by my 4/11/13 appt. Says he knows I can do it. Lol. Well, if anything, it does encourage determination. Also the RN told me that my kidney stone incident on Thanksgiving is common with patients who had surgery and a study is developed trying to see if calcium is the culprit or too much animal protein possibly.

Waiting in the waiting room at my surgeon's office for my three and a half month f/u appt. I recognized a girl waiting also who attended the six month classes with me. She has dropped a lot of weight. She looked like she was trying to place me as to how she knew me. Isn't it amazing how much our appearances change with this surgery?

Hi there! I've had hair loss too but it didn't worry me as much because I went though this when I had my first baby 28 years ago. I guess I must have lost a lot of weight following his birth and my hair was coming out. It didn't last too long and so when this started, I wasn't feeling so scared. Stalls: I've just accepted that they are meant to come and go allowing our body to reproportion in the intervals. It's frustrating to step on the scale and not see the weight loss progress but perhaps the inches are less during this time? Has anyone tried salsa dance lessons? I'm considering it. There are several schools in our area and I do love the music. Also have enjoyed belly dancing in the past. Trying to find some fun forms of exercise aside from Jazzercise or Zumba at the gym.

Questions on foods.....I'm able to eat anything at this point but taste buds not back on some foods such as chocolate. Thank goodness. I tried a choc chip cookie and a choc candy at Christmas and it had no taste. I don't have an urge for that. Deep fried foods such as buffalo wings don't taste like they used to either. I'm eating all raw veggies and salads which is wonderful. Crave the produce and fruit. But my question is taste returning...and what proteins are you eating because I am tired of chicken, turkey, eggs, even some fish. I got so tired that I bought my protein drinks a couple of days ago. Do you have your taste buds back and what proteins are you eating?

Thank you Greenfamily004! I think we all have done so well and it is so inspiring to read eachother's updates to help us through the weeks. Congratulations on your size 12!! That is wonderful!

Stepped on the scale today and have made the weight goal my doctor told me to reach by my next appt which is January 10th. That is an emotional relief. He was pleased at my two week f/u appt after surgery and had told me to lose another 30 lbs by the Jan appt. This gives me another ten days now to continue my progress. I started pre-surgery at 239 and lost 61 lbs today at 178. Surgery was 9/19/12. This is a nice ending for this year to reach the doctors goal. Things that amaze me...losing 61lbs in 3.5 months when I couldn't lose but 5 lbs in six months before. I do receive compliments by people which is nice but I am so focused on this journey, sometimes I don't see the weight loss as readily because I've only dropped one pants size from an 18 to a 16. Guess it's just my body type. The other thing is that as I lose weight, I'm still the same person inside. It's so strange to think that as I am dropping weight, it's freeing me to really focus on other personal goals such as searching for a better company to work for, family matters, making time to get together with friends not seen in awhile due to distance, and other personal goals. It's strange how this journey has motivated positive changes in other areas of our lives. Good luck for everyone and may 2013 bring you continuous success and happiness.

Oh gosh..Phones! This was for momofonething....not nothing! Sorry!

momofnothing....congratulations! That is great! I can relate a little bit. My friends (a couple) and I recently got together on Christmas Eve-Eve and we hadn't seen each other since 4th of July. I've lost 58 lbs so far and they didn't notice or say anything. LOL! Since people at work who see me every day have commented, and even comments on pictures I've only just started to post on Facebook for the first time, it surprised me a little. But that made me realize even more that its how I feel inside about the accomplishments, not what people say or don't say. You are doing great! Hang in there with your mom.

What a great feeling!

Love this! WLS related...it's exercise and following the program. Personal: find a new and positive company to work for and since I am half way to goal weight, start getting involved in my interests....white Water rafting, etc.

Love what you wrote! A nice perspective on reality. Your resolution to be thankful on being thankful was my favorite. Merry Christmas to you and yours and a wonderful 2013.

There are reasons for not telling my kids right now. Have you been raised with separated or divorced parents criticizing the other parent to the child/ren? Its so hard on the kids. This is one less bullet my kids have to hear from their father re: me.

I was told to wait one year and I'm three months out now. I attended my wine club Christmas party and had two sips from a friend's glass. Tried a couple of sips of champagne and another day tried one sip of beer but that was painful. I miss the flavors!! Once I realised that, I've ordered and enjoyed virgin bloody Mary's.

I had surgery on Sept. 19th. I shared with three friends only. (Two of them are married to each other and the husband had gastric bypass himself three years ago). I did not tell my family, children, friends or coworkers. I told my employer that I had thyroid surgery to explain my 2.5 weeks medical leave. My family lives out of state so we don't get together much due to distance and expense. The last time we all were together was in July and I was 239 at that point. My friends and I live over two hours apart which sadly we don't get together as often as we wish, so our get togethers are rare. Life is so busy. All this has made the transition very smooth keeping the surgery private. People at work are noticing my over 50 lb weight loss and asking if I am losing weight and are complimenting. I have posted recent pictures on Facebook which I avoided always before and have received compliments. Because I don't see my family and friends very often, its easy to explain the weight loss by eating much smaller portions and watching what I eat. No-one is aware of how rapid its been other than the co-workers I work daily with. My kids have noticed but think I am on a diet of sorts. It motivated my 21 year old daughter to lose a bit of weight and my 14 year old twins haven't paid too much attention. Bottom line, keeping my explanations brief and people thinking its gradual weight loss has emotionally made this journey so much easier for me. I get frustrated over the stalls like everyone else because I lose inches slowly so my pants size hasn't dropped as fast as I would like which would make a bigger impact visually but I'll get there.

I was married to a man who is half Armenian who was born and raised in Tehran. My two sons live in London and speak Armenian fluently and some Farsi. Wonderful thread.

I'm halfway there! Lost 54 lbs total today and 50 more to goal weight! My surgery was Sept. 19th. I love this thread to see how everyone is progressing and supporting each other.

I am so excited! I weighed myself yesterday and had dropped 52 lbs total so far (pre-op diet included) and surgery was Sept. 19th. Only 52 more lbs to goal weight and I dropped another pound this morning. Seeing this on the ticker made it so much more real. Happy Happy! It's really happening!