Cecilia

My mom (70) had the surgery last year and lost on average a pound a day for the first three months. I, on the other hand, younger, and more into exercise, lost 20 the first month, 10 the second, and am fighting for every pound after that. So one thing I'm sure of is that it's not necessarily age-related.

Weight is off again, and I've learned that I must only weigh once a week. Maybe I'm gaining muscle? I've been riding my bike to work, and my pants continue to get looser... In any case -- water weight, increased muscle mass -- regardless of what it is, I will stop fretting over the day-to-day weight and keep my eyes on the bigger picture.

With everybody posting their successes I hesitate to write, but maybe it will bring comfort to those for whom the scale is stuck. It happened again: The scale said 195.6 the last time I weighed, and today when I got on it had jumped up to 196.8. That is very damn not cool. Grrrr...! To top it off, I'm experiencing my first illness with pouch, and things went from bad to worse as I discovered that I can't take my usual approach of nursing a big glass of OJ to keep my fluids and vitamin C up. It went right through me. Too bad I don't need a colonoscopy tomorrow, because I feel all cleaned out.

Wow! Everyone is doing so well! I"m so happy for all of you!!!

This is an unbelievably funny statement. LOLOL!

I'm so happy for you!!! That's a wonderful accomplishment!!!

I wish I knew... Between cats feuding (If I lock them out of my room they meow so loudly to be let in that they wake up my kids, and they let them in my room, and then the party begins) and my weird work schedule, I feel like I never get enough sleep. On days I don't work, I wake automatically at the usual time, then usually fall back to sleep for another 4 hours. Some days I have gazillions of energy, other days you could mop the floor with me. I do think a lot of it depends on what I eat. I just realized it's been long enough that I can be eating fresh salads, and I had a large organic baby greens salad with slivered almonds and Paul Newman Spicy Peanut dressing. ZOMG! I was in heaven! So far my stomach isn't hating me... we'll see if I manage to sleep through the night!

Congratulations to everyone!! Is it safe to say that we are all satisfied with our weight loss so far? I know in the beginning it was so hard, with all the adjustments... Now it seems like we're finally beginning to see payoffs!

Congratulations on your fabulous weight loss!!!

Happy, Happy Birthday, Babs!!!!

That IS baffling! Besides being pleased, did your doctor explain this to you?

I haven't had that problem... usually the woman's or trainer's voice tells me I'm almost there, then to stop and do the heel lifts, or whatever. That's odd...

I uploaded a fairly decent pair of photos that show the 10 week results so far. Disregard what it says about images not found. I'm pretty sure if you click, they're there. [Edit: And when I look at these, I can understand, and perhaps forgive people for commenting all the time. It really is amazing. AND crazy to think there were people who told me I didn't need the surgery, that I looked just fine before]

If I'm doing the math right, I'm 6 pounds away from being half-way there, and a few pounds away from being "just" overweight. These are my next two goals!!! What about the rest of you? What are your short-term goals?

CONFESSION IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL? So it's been what--a week or so since I told you I was eating badly and had gained 2 pounds back? Well, that made me super-aware of what I was doing, right? And every time I found myself staring into the bright lights of the open fridge door, I'd shut it and get a glass of water first. One glass turned into two, and suddenly I realized I'm not getting enough to drink. So I started making hash marks on my cup at work to make me mindful of what my goal was. And I started packing extra food for work, "just in case." As a result, instead of eating something blatantly not good for me, I had something a lot less damaging. It's that darn black-or-white thinking I need to shake. "If I can't eat a 100-calorie all-protein snack, I may as well have a chocolate chip cookie?" Really? So now I carry the Nature Valley high protein granola bars. 200 calories, but far healthier than a cookie. And I thought "either I run or I lay in bed a failure for not running." Instead, I counted raking the garden as exercise and riding my bike to work as exercise, and it got me out of bed and feeling better about myself. Anyway, small changes, and today I jumped on the scales and I'm down the 2 pounds I gained and then some. I'm so jazzed!!! I'm off to take another two HUGE buckets of big clothes to Savers and to shop for new slacks for work. Again. Another first: Never thought I'd get sick of shopping for clothes in smaller sizes, but there you have it. Hugs to all of you who encouraged me with your words, or who held me in your thoughts. I love you all! Cecilia

I am delighted for you!!!

Oh, you poor thing! Be assured that if you are gentle with yourself they are short-lived. Meanwhile, stretch, rest, and take time off training until the pain goes away, usually in another day or so. This year was the first ever that I did not get shin splints. I was shocked.

I like it! "It was a great ride, why, are you planning on starting to bike to work too?" or "It was great! You should get out your bike and do some riding when you get home tonight, then you can share with me tomorrow!"

You are ten pounds ahead of me, girl! Don't let the turkeys get you down. You are losing at EXACTLY the rate that is right for your body!

WOWWW!!!! Congratulations!

Happy birthday, girl!

I had my surgery in February and hope to be sporting a totally fabulous figure for my 50th birthday in October this year. My primary reasons were also to reap the health benefits (blood sugar is regular, no more aches and pains, can exercise again) and to sail into the second half of my life with more energy and joy than I finished up the first half with. The best is yet to come!