need advice from those who have met goal weight in a year or less

[Lamonica2013 18]

Sorry I don't post much on here or really keep everyone updated on my process, successes, and struggles... Hoping to get better with that by starting a blog of sorts. Anywho... my goal is to reach my lowest goal weight within 1 year or less. Hw 293 sw 287 cw 199, at 3 1/2 months po. Some days I seem to have no motivation what so ever to workout, which is terrible and I believe the cause of my weight loss slowing down. What I'm looking for is any advice both nutritional and exercise wise from those who have been able to reach their goal within that first year. I'm hoping this will motivate me more and help to keep me positive to push forward with all of this with so much in my life falling apart right now. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks for listening and looking forward to seeing your responses.

[skinnygirlwithin 693]

well i am not a year out.. and maybe not great at advise but I am 5 1/2 months out and 18lbs away from my goal weight ( down 82lbs so far)

Honestly 94lbs in 3 1/2 months is pretty freakin awesome! you should be so super excited about that!!!

Motivation... look at your before pictures & take pics of you now.. You have to push pass the lack of motivation... for example, tonight it poured for a few hours & its now chilly out, but a little after 8pm i got my sneaks on & made myself go out and run/walk/jog for an hour. because you have to push yourself through the "i don't want to".... even if you just walk... tomorrow walk a house more then today... and so on.. before you know it, you will be walking miles like its no big deal... Everyone's weight loss slows down.. just make sure you are getting in all your Water & Protein...

I am sorry you are going through so much... try to remember to put yourself first and be good to yourself... don't beat yourself up if your weight slows down... it happens to all of us... good luck!!!

[CowgirlJane 14,260]

What is so magical about 12 months? I got to my initial goal, losing 150# in 14 months. I have lost more after entering maintenance. As time goes on, how long it took makes little difference, it is the changing of the habits so you keep it off that is the real ticket to success...

Advice - keep working the sleeve (ie follow the basic rules!), eat small quantities always, work out, eat low carb - I focus on Protein and veggies even now. As your body changes, adapt. for example, changing a workout routine to High Intensity Interval training can help restart a weight loss as it slows down.

You have done great so far so I encourage you to set yourself up for success and not get too rigid about weight loss goals. Get healthy and make the most of the journey!

[LivingFree! 478]

I think many of us become so focused on that number on the scale that we lose track of what is, as what cowgirljane said so perfectly, our "ticket to success." You have reached the toughest reality that we all face; some sooner, some later-- "Life" and all its stressors continue to happen after WLS, and unless we have planned and strategized how we are going to handle all those stressors that life deals us as WLSers, we are going to struggle, kinda like you're describing. It's a whole new game when we're dealing with big-time life stress AND are now a WLS person! You still are early enough after your surgery to take some time to reevaluate your eating habits and your lifestyle habits and make adjustments as needed that will serve you better to set yourself up to grab and hold on to that long-term "ticket." Only YOU know what those need to be.

I reached my surgeon's goal of 150# at 10 months. I worked really hard in year 2 and 3 on changing my lifestyle and my relationship with food(had lots of simple carb demons!). I have studied nutrition considerably, and it is important to me to now use food as fuel/medicine for my body and think of processed food as sludge that I don't want in my body. My diet consists of lean Protein and fresh veggies/fruits. My ability to exercise vigorously is limited due to hip problems, but I move 30 minutes every day without fail. It's all been a lot of hard work, but so worth it. I feel so much more in control of myself and my eating than I ever have in my entire life. The sleeve HELPED me achieve that, but I (we, all of us) are the ones who have to do the work!

You will find your way. But please try to remember. There is no "finish line." This is for the rest of your life.

[Lamonica2013 18]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I suppose my biggest issue is comparing myself to other sleevers with their weight loss, even though I know we are all different and those who are larger than me will lose more weight starting than I have. Also my Dr and bf want me to drop the weight as quickly as possible.. A year or less. I'm trying so hard to just focus on myself and what is right for me, and not compare myself to others but I just can't seem to get into the mindset for some reason. I know deep down I am doing well but fear going to my Dr appt next week with only losing 10 lbs so far this month. I really don't want him to yell at me like he did before and go through the depression again. I'm trying to stay positive and reassure myself that I am on the right path and keep working harder. I don't have any pictures of me from before except face shots so I can't look back at the person I used to be, I'm really kicking myself for that now.

[jenpez 113]

It's only human to compare, we all do it. It's what you do with the comparison that is important. If mentally tossing the comparison aside is easy for you then good. If not you need to try not to or tell yourself things that make the comparison less valid. Age, start weight, height, geographical and cultural differences, knowledge or lack of about nutrition all change stats.

I am 10 months and well below everyone else's goals for me but about where I want to be. Now I just have to learn how to maintain. ie stop losing without gaining!!