Margie122

Best of luck to you in your new journey. I wish I had done this YEARS ago...it was one of the best decisions I have made for myself. Right now I'm about 80lbs lighter than I have been in decades, I can walk more, do more, and it feels great.

I am going to handle Thanksgiving this year by skipping all the appetizers and "filler food" and having turkey, gravy, veggies....and maybe a very small amount of stuffing (if it looks good!).

sleevemom43013 you look great! When did you have your surgery? Currently I am wearing a size 16...I haven't worn a size 16 since HIGH SCHOOL! The last week or two have been a bit of a struggle. Had friends over last Sunday and they brought so many Desserts my head was spinning. I need to STAY AWAY from the carbs....they are not my friends. It's going to be hard with Thanksgiving, then my birthday, and Christmas. The holiday's are usually a time when dessert and appetizers are in abundance. My surgery was 8/17 and I'm in the weight loss phase, so I need to just say no. Best of luck to everyone. Hope everyone is doing well.

During the weight loss phase most programs recommend staying completely away from bread, Pasta, potato, cake, crackers, and most carbs. I get "good carbs" from some veggies but avoid the rest as much as humanly possible. Some people can incorporate carbs back in during the maintenance phase, but for some people they are a slippery slope and can lead to weight gain through "grazing". It's common to have a stall. Don't be discouraged.

I see my NUT next week and SOUP has confused me too! I plan on asking. I love soup, especially in the Fall/Winter here in New England. It doesn't have to have noodles/potato/rice - anything with lots of veggies!

Thinking of you and praying for a speedy recovery (and BENIGN tumors) !!!!

proudgrammy I really like the GNC total lean chocolate shakes cold...I never thought to heat them up. Thanks for the tip! I don't like the bariatric hot cocoa's I have tried...they taste "fake". As for me and hot bev's I like decaf hazelnut coffee. It's my morning indulgence.

I would eliminate the crackers from your diet. Sounds like you are doing well, and it's normal for your weight to fluctuate. I wouldn't wig out about it. Keep track of what your eating and discuss it with your NUT.

I am hopeful to get up to the local Goodwill store this weekend to look for some work pants. All the ones I own are now too big and I refuse to pay top dollar for pants that won't fit in a few months!

CW: 214.6 (up .6lbs! UGH!!!!) and goal weight is 195lbs. Thanks for doing this challenge

TXTina you look great!!!!

Congratulations on your success and good luck with your skin removal surgery.

I love getting massages and I never felt self-conscious even at 295lbs. I figure massage therapists are professionals and I'm sure they've seen it all! I am going to schedule a massage soon For my ultimate treat at my goal weight I want to hire a professional stylist to help me with my wardrobe to tell me what looks good on me and what doesn't...because I really have no clue.

That dress looks great on you! HAPPY BIRTHDAY

To anyone who has made this "bread" - does it freeze well???

Try to distract yourself if you feel yourself getting down. Read a book? Watch a good show? Clean out a closet? I can't tell you how many things I cleaned after surgery. I got sad when I was done! My house has never been so clean or organized and clutter free. It's not an easy journey. I find myself getting head hunger too....I'm not physically hungry but I see something and I want it. I want it badly. I have to have a conversation with myself to stop. If you find yourself getting into the emotional eating trap, I would suggest you call your program and see if you can get back to see the psych/counselor or find someone through your health plan. We still have all the emotional baggage we had BEFORE the surgery, we just need to find other ways to deal with them now that doesn't involve food. Best of luck!

Thank you for posting. I just had surgery on 8/17 of this year, but it's great to hear from folks who are a few years out that it IS possible to maintain weight loss long term! Good for you for maintaining your weight loss with those physical issues you've had. Sorry you didn't get to go on your horseback trip to Iceland, that sounded great...but I'm sure you will be able to do tons of other fun stuff down the road. Best of luck with your upcoming surgery.

Do one long one and post the weights late the week you are away

This afternoon I see my primary care physician and I am hoping he will take me off the high blood pressure meds. I've lost 80lbs, and I don't think he's seen my at this weight since my 20's...I'm 44. The dosage has already been cut in half. Wish me luck!

My doc said my blood pressure was great but he still wants me to stay on the dose I'm currently on. It's half the dosage I was on before surgery. I'm a little bummed but he is very cautious and he's going to check it again in six months. He said if I should have any issues I could come in sooner. I had a physical today and he said everything was looking good. As an aside and a total NSV when I went to have blood drawn she got it on the first try from my arm! Losing 80lbs totally helped them find my veins! Usually I would get stuck 2-4 times and they would end up taking it from my hand...which hurts really bad.

I wish my grandmother could see me.....but I'm sure she knows ????

OMG VSGAnn2014 I nearly choked on my yogurt when I saw that picture of Scarlett O'Hara. HILL-AIR-EE-OUS!!!

You look fantastic! Love your dress.

213.6 this morning. Hope everyone had a great Halloween Thanks for doing this challenge Steph, I hope you have another one!

Great job! I couldn't do your five day liquid diet but I'm going to do a modified version starting tomorrow. I have let CARBS creep into my diet his week and I used the excuse I was traveling and it was Halloween. I'm too close to Onederland to screw this up.