*Lexie*

177 today!

I had way too many food funerals. Acted like I was never going to eat again. Is it the right mentality? Probably not, but it's normal.

It'll come back. The low energy is temporary due to the low calorie intake the first month or so. I ran 5 miles yesterday and then went shopping and out with friends (8 months post op). And I didn't feel like getting off the couch 3 weeks out from surgery. Hang in there.

Some sweets are too rich for me. I also think I'm lactose intolerant now because i did try to have some ice cream and it gave me a very bad tummy ache. I have had some plain milk chocolate. I try to use moderation and now have it once every week or two where I used to have sweets every day.

Clean, white teeth and fresh breath. Every time I see a couple kiss passionately after waking up in the morning on TV, I think, there's no way that would ever happen in real life. I don't even want someone with morning breath to talk in my direction.

The 3 week stall is real and happens to almost everyone. Definitely happened to me and lasted almost 3 weeks. The good news is, I really haven't stalled again after that.

@@MissLiss I'm 8 months out.

Amen to that!! I worked very hard pre-op on dieting and I work very hard post op. The difference is now I actually get results for all that work.

This topic usually draws a lot of attention. I drink diet soda with no issues. I wish I could have given it up permanently but ended up going back to it. My sleeve is still nice and tight.

You look fantastic. Isn't it exciting to have a cute belly button again? I had mine done when I lost weight around 5 years ago. I was very happy with how it turned out, though it is a pretty big surgery and recovery was rough. Luckily I didn't destroy it when I gained that weight back. Other than the sleeve surgery scars, my abs look great now. I just bought a bikini top today for my trip to Cancun in a few months. Oh, just imagine the possibilities ahead of you now!! Congrats!! What a way to reward yourself for all your hard work.

Yay, that is fantastic. I bet you feel amazing. Pick up a 5th grader and carry them around for a few hours and you'll realize why you never felt like doing anything with all that extra weight.

And it was your birthday, that somehow makes it worse. I never used my card. The only place I've ordered a kids meal at is Qdoba (their kids meals are just smaller versions of the regular meals). I typically stick with a side salad or Soup which makes it easier.

I think the 3 week stall is real and there is a scientific explanation for it out there somewhere. I was doing everything right and didn't lose for 3 weeks. However, any other stall or plateau (pre or post op) have been related to my actions. If I do things right, I lose weight. And I can only speak for myself here.

That cruel scale danced around the 200lb mark for me for almost 2 weeks. But it finally dropped below and stayed there. Hang in there, it'll happen.

My surgeon says the 12-18 months is the honeymoon phase. Hunger level is low, restriction is high so weight tends to come off a little easier. That doesn't mean that you can't lose weight after the 1 year mark. It just means that it might slow down and you might have to work a little harder. I've read plenty of stories on here of people continuing to lose after 1 year. If you are focused, you can get to your goal.

I have days where I feel like my stomach is a bottomless pit. And the next day, I take one bite and feel stuffed. It varies day to day and depending on what I eat. I can eat a lot more potato chips than I can chicken breast. So I stay away from potato chips.

I agree that it could be behavioral. I still fight my snacking demons. I am working on breaking those habits. Especially evening snacking. It's just a habit like anything else.

You look fantastic! I work out like crazy too and I'm losing slow. So glad to know I'm not the only one. I'm developing amazing patience.

Yay, congratulations! I have been following you from the beginning of your journey and am so excited to see you near goal. I had surgery a month after you and I'm a slow loser too. I had the same reaction; a few months of insanity over the slow loss to an acceptance and appreciation for the big picture. Of course I'd still like to lose fast but I know that's not going to happen and I'm hoping the one benefit I have is less loose skin.

Starting weight - 181

I'd like to play again. My goal is going to be 174.

Crazy, isn't it? Takes some getting used to. 8 months out and sometimes I still forget how little I can eat.

I hear it and read it all the time. People saying that someone told them they took the easy way out because they had weight loss surgery. But most of us that have had surgery agree this was the only way we could lose the weight and keep it off. This got me thinking, how many people do you know that did not have weight loss surgery that lost weight and kept it off (for say 3 years or more)? I'll go first. Of all my friends and family, I can think of one person.

Welcome @@BigHarleyGuy1, if you want information from people that have gone through it, you are in the right place. Reading through this, I agree with so much that the others have said. @@B-52, you are absolutely right about BMI and my surgeon used the NFL player example in my consultation to show that it's just one measure of health and isn't always accurate. I also agree that this is easier than the traditional method of losing weight. Don't get me wrong, I work very hard, daily workouts, logging my food, etc. But when I want to fall off the wagon in a big plate of buffalo wings, the surgery literally prevents that from happening. (at 8 months out, I can eat 2 buffalo wings)

Hmmm, will have to give that a try.