SpideyMom

Hi, Don14! You have done fabulous!! WOW! I have been stuck before, and what has usually helped me is a few days of going back to mostly liquid, along with increased exercise. I'm really surprised at how critical exercise is to losing and maintaining! I never exercised before, and now I realize how important it is. But, be sure to pat yourself on the back for 1. losing soooo much!!! and 2. not gaining during this plateau. Also, do go talk to your doctor about the fill. It very well could be the culprit. Keep up the great work!!!

Congratulations, Danielle!! Where God guides, God provides. How blessed you are!

Good luck, Danielle! Come back and let us know how you are doing.

It is so great to see you all on here again! Everyone is doing so well, despite the challenges we all have been through. Denverlee, I am so happy to hear that your daughter is doing well. I will continue to keep her in my prayers. Jennie, fab job on the triathlon! I need to up my exercise too, but I doubt I'll be doing anything like that soon! I love my tae kwon do classes, and I start with a new personal trainer next week. I need to get back to walking, too. John!! I am so happy to see you and hear how well you are doing. That is fantastic that you are doing so well with maintenance. You gave me a good reminder that I need to slow down when I eat. That, and not drinking with the meal, are simple things I need to get back to doing. And Sarah, I am so sorry for all you have had to endure! Keep coming around, we enjoy hearing from you. I have had three surgeries in the last year, and I have two more to go through in the next 6 months. With each surgery, I have gained a few pounds, and that really depresses me. Maybe coming back here to talk with you all will help. Any maintenance tips you all have, please share! Hang in there, and keep coming back!

Jennie, congratulations on getting back to your goal! I think exercise really is the way to go. I am starting training with a new personal trainer next week, and I'm hoping that I will get back to where I was -- 10 lbs. ago. And way to go on that triathlon! I am super impressed!!

Congratulations, everyone! Now that it has been a year and a half since I lost 100 lbs., I must say, maintenance is pretty hard. But if we accomplished this much, we can accomplish anything! Keep up the great work, everyone!

Hi, Rebecca! Glad to see another person around here! I agree with you, a little change here and a little change there can let the bad habits sneak up again. One thing I let go of completely that I've been trying hard the past few days to get ahold of again is not drinking with meals. I hate doing that, but I realize now that drinking with the meal was helping wash down my food, so I ate more. I'm hoping that this change will help me. We should all be happy with how far we have come, whether we reached our goal or just got close. Look at how different we are from 2 1/2 years ago! We've come a long way, baby! If anyone else is out there, please check in! We've always been a great, non-judgmental, caring, encouraging group, and I think we can help one another with the maintenance phase -- which is much harder than I thought it would ever be!!! So, c'mon back, y'all!!

Hi, Gaye! So nice to see you again! I can't believe all you have gone through with the band! You poor thing. I am glad you are feeling good again. I have gained 10 lbs, but it is due to poor eating habits. I've had three major surgeries over the past 9 months, and I fell back into comfort eating and not exercising as much. Now I can't get the darn 10 lbs. off!! It's very frustrating and disheartening to me. I would love to keep in touch again because I need the accountability. Anyone else out there?? Come out, come out, wherever you are!

I'm glad you posted, LOM. I pray for you and your daughter, and hope that you will find strength and peace to help you through such a tough time. You may want to talk confidentially to a doctor about getting on an antidepressant. It sounds as if you have the classic symptoms of depression, which is normal when you are going through something like this. If nothing else, try to take some fish oil capsules. It's known to help with depression. You can Google it and find out more. But I also agree with Mamadot that it would be good if you could find someone to talk to during this time. You are going through so much! And to only gain 16 pounds with all of this stress *and* your band being unfilled is fantastic. I have been struggling with some weight gain from emotional eating, also. It's a lifelong issue that so many of us have. I gained about 8-10 lbs. and went in for a small fill. It's helped me lose some, but I still need a band for my brain! LOL Hang in there as best as you can, know that we are here for you, and you can vent any time! God bless you. xoxoxo Ann

Thanks, everyone, for the responses! I am glad for any help/support that is out there! I am still struggling. I just had another surgery 3 weeks ago, and I know now that I am very depressed. It started with the last surgery in October, and compounded with this latest surgery. I believe that I too suffer from binge eating disorder. Mamadot, I could have written your post! However, I don't have weekly support groups. That is wonderful. I have been faithfully seeing my therapist, who is a certified addictions counselor, and that helps. I almost went back for a fill last month, but then I got really sick with a flu bug and didn't get around to rescheduling. I am now confused as to whether I should get a fill or not. On the one hand, I am definitely able to eat more than before, but on the other hand, I am not making the best choices. I need to get a grip on things! I am still holding true to my no sugar/no white carbs, but there are so many yummy sugar-free things (esp. ice cream and pudding) out there that I keep bingeing on. One thing that has totally gone out the window for me is no drinking with meals. That was a very hard thing for me all along, and I find myself sipping all through a meal now. I think you were right, Mamadot, about the honeymoon period. I think I need to go on a second honeymoon! LOL Hang in there. We can keep it off! Ann

LOM, I am so glad to hear from you! I was on here earlier and was wondering about your daughter. I am glad to know that she is responding well to the chemo. It is scary stuff, and you were wise to stay home at Christmas. I remember going through the same types of things. The whole experience makes you realize what is truly important in life. I will continue to keep the prayers flowing... I'm a strong believer in that! And don't you worry about crying in WalMart!! I'm sure people have done some strange stuff in that store, so crying is nuthin! Keep your chin up and know that you will all get through this. xoxo Ann

I posted this just over a year ago, and I SOOOOO needed to look at this again. Since reaching my goal, I have become guilty of the first six things on this list. And now it's time for me to fess up and face the music. I am really struggling lately, especially since my surgery in October. I thought that the LB would be the saving grace, and it has been in so many ways. I've changed my eating habits tremendously. But what I haven't changed is my addiction to food in general. I can't stop thinking of it -- all day. When can I eat again? What can I eat? How much can I eat? Will anyone notice that I'm taking seconds, thirds... fourths? Is anyone else struggling with this? I need some help!

Sarah, I think you are doing great!! Don't worry about those 2 lbs!! Think of all you have lost!