As I near the end of my Weight Loss Journey...

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

Hmmm... well - here it goes... I guess I'm just mentally drained where hard core weight loss is concerned quite frankly. Before I continue let me be clear I may still lose some weight... however as far as really working my butt off and continued food restraint... I think I really am done. Period.

Yes I'll continue to do my early morning running, I'll still do my workouts (this will be always and forever) and I'm probably going to add in some muscle toning exercises. I bulk up really easily so this is actually going to slow down the losses a bit. However, I'm NOT going to actively push more workouts to post higher losses anymore. I'm also NOT going to do low carbs anymore, in fact I'm going to add in more per meal.

Slowing down the routine will probably get me about 3-5 Lbs lost per month. I do believe I am very much ok with this. Physically I am very satisfied with how I look. I am wearing sizes 8-10 in pants right now and I just bought a bunch of size Small shirts and they are all fitting. I even bought size XS at Old Navy (my first time there ever!) and those even fit. Crazy huh? Well... this got me to thinking, how small do I really want to get??? I weigh 185 Lbs. So what??? This is how GOD made me, and I accept this.

I've lost nearly 150 Lbs from my heaviest weight!!! Why am I torturing myself just because of a stupid made up BMI scale??? Its just insanity I tell you!!!

I know we tend to continue losing with the sleeve even once we have decided we are at "goal". I imagine this will be true for me too. I have picked up really good habits so it's inevitable I will still continue to lose from here, I just don't want to try as hard anymore. If I want a tortilla with my dinner, guess what... I'm gonna have a freakin tortilla with my dinner. If I want a slice of bread, I'm going to have a slice of bread. If I want to some white rice one night, that's what I'll have. I can only eat one or two bites anyway!! If I want a few potato chips with my lunch... you get the idea. I just wanted to put it out there that *I* Irene am calling myself nearly done. If I lose a little more, great. If not... OH WELL!!! I'm HAPPY with ME right now and that is ALL THAT MATTERS!!!

It is possible that at some point I may change my mind. Well, guess what I'm a woman so that's my right. LOL!! None the less, I just feel happy and very much ready to let go of the diet mentality. I'm ready to just live my life and enjoy the new me... get used to the new person I've become. I can seriously actually look at myself in the mirror now and be ok with how I look.

I decided to put this in the Success threads because this is a huge success to me... saying goodbye to diets and hello to "maintenance"... whatever that entails (which usually for sleevers is still a little more losing but not breaking our necks for it). Well, I'm here!!! Say hello to the new and improved me. Again, if I continue to lose a few more here and there I'm ok with that. If I don't, well take me or leave me. I'm happy and content.

Blessings!!!

[mb20mom 9]

Amen sista! I'm in the exact same place. Just got into size 10's and while I haven't met my goal, I feel soooo good where I am right now. I just want to maintain for awhile. I'm sick of the constant dieting for the last 2 years. I even think I look good in my new bathing suit! Even if I don't lose another pound, I can always say I've lost 100 lbs and it will never be back. We're so focused on our final goal we overlook what we've done right. Enjoy the new you and have fun!

[MeMeMEEE 206]

My goal is a size 10 - that also will keep me very slightly above my normal BMI but I have been there before and liked who I was and how I looked. So what to BMI!

[kellyw74 258]

I am SOOOO VERY HAPPY for you! That is sooo awesome!

Weight is really just a number anyway. If you feel good, look good and like yourself! Who gives a rat's ass what that stupid scale says! I am proud of you for being able to say that you are happy with you regardless of that number! Don't ever let it define you!!

Hugs,

Kelly

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

Amen sista! I'm in the exact same place. Just got into size 10's and while I haven't met my goal, I feel soooo good where I am right now. I just want to maintain for awhile. I'm sick of the constant dieting for the last 2 years. I even think I look good in my new bathing suit! Even if I don't lose another pound, I can always say I've lost 100 lbs and it will never be back. We're so focused on our final goal we overlook what we've done right. Enjoy the new you and have fun!

That's right!! AMEN!! Enjoy yours as well! *hugs* I think I like to call it Semi-Maintenance mode... heehee

[MegInNOLA 531]

Good for you, Irene!! That's exactly what the sleeve is supposed to do. I can't wait for the day when I'm really happy with how I look weight-wise--yay for you for getting there! And you're right, you're probably going to continue to lose some anyway, having built up a great daily exercise habit. Sounds like sanity to me.

[wishes 125]

That's awesome. Congrats on really doing what is best for you and your health.

[Wheetsin 714]

Small shirts and they are all fitting. I even bought size XS at Old Navy (my first time there ever!) and those even fit. Crazy huh? Well... this got me to thinking, how small do I really want to get??? I weigh 185 Lbs. So what??? This is how GOD made me, and I accept this.

Wow, great job.

And good grief -- how tall are you?

I'm between 5'10 and 5'11, and when I last weighed 185 I was still in a M or L shirt. And I have a big frame (your frame looks tiny in your pics), and small boobs, and a large rib cage. I'm guesstimating to EVER see a Small, I would need to weigh like 130, which just isn't going to happen (my "normal" BMI weight is about 175 - 185). You boggle the mind.

[ASBgirl 53]

SO happy for you!

[amybaby33 5]

Girl..you are inspiration to us all! Especially someone like me, a former lapbander ready to get sleeved next Monday! The biggest victory is being at peace with who you are and never having to live in the prison of obesity again! I'm so very proud of and admire your insight, wisdom and willingness to share your amazing journey! YOU ROCK, HOT MAMA!

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

[/b]Wow, great job.

And good grief -- how tall are you?

I'm between 5'10 and 5'11, and when I last weighed 185 I was still in a M or L shirt. And I have a big frame (your frame looks tiny in your pics), and small boobs, and a large rib cage. I'm guesstimating to EVER see a Small, I would need to weigh like 130, which just isn't going to happen (my "normal" BMI weight is about 175 - 185). You boggle the mind. [/color][/size]

LOL Exactly my point! I'm an anomaly in every sense. I'm 5'6... and I weigh 185 Lbs. No my scale is NOT broken (I've heard that one a million times). I go to my Dr.s office and they have a Detecto Balance scale and it always weighs me exactly what my Taylor scale says at home. In fact, it's so funny, the tech will always start with putting the big slider at 50 Lbs less than I know I will turn out to be... haaa!!

I just don't know why I weigh so much. I'm just going to have to accept it at this point. For goodness sakes I have my Skinny cousin commenting on how skinny *I* am... and one of my Aunties even made a comment that I'm smaller than her. Only on top of course, she's a size 6 which I'm only about 5-10 Lbs away from as I fit into many pairs but are just still too tight to wear comfortably.

I wanted to continue on to lose around 20 more Lbs... but really - I just didn't do this to get super skinny. I like the sizes I am right now. Also, if I did lose 20 more, will I even be able to fit any shirts at all??

[MINI-Me 196]

Great attitude. Sounds like you found your HAPPY PLACE. And, that's what it's all about!

[sleeve 4 me 910]

This is an awesome state of mind to be at! I'm sooo happy for you! I know you are still going to lose, but the good news is that you will not STRESS over it and instead you will ENJOY THE JOURNEY! And I LOVE THAT! HUGS!

[lucill35 73]

I just wanted to say thank you! You are and have been such an inspiration to me as I travel on this journey. I don't know if you remember but you answered emails from me when I was just starting this journey and considering surgery with Dr. Aceves. You tell it like it is and I appreciate that. In your latest post you sound like you have found such peace with yourself and are ready to really live life without worrying about "will I gain or not lose like I should if I have a piece of bread? " One of the reasons I chose this surgery was because I don't think it's normal that I will never have a bagel, cake or ice cream again. Two Bagels, cake in the plural or a 1/2 gallon of ice cream, probably not, but in moderation, definately. Thank you for starting the challenges so far this year! They have been a real motivator to me but most of all thank you for all the support you provide on this board!!

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

And you know I am really REALLY smiling right now. That's what it's all about folks! Getting to a place where we can feel good about ourselves and know our health has improved so much, mentally and physically.

Lucille, my pleasure. I so believe in this tool!! It really really REALLY is the BEST thing I've ever done to take my life back. *hugs* I'm telling you though I am still going to join in on the challenges. I do intend to change my goals however to but a few pounds per month, very small goals. I just want to ensure that I'm gathering myself into maintenance without just going berserk either.

*Cheers!!*