Will I Ever Reach My Goal

[MiTurner247 34]

I had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy on April 4, 2012. Im 5'4" and weighed in at 270 pounds. I currently weigh approximately 170 pounds, but I would really like to get down to 140 pounds. It seems that no matter what I do I just cant seem to get the rest of the weight off!

[McButterpants 2,846]

Look at you! You look great.

My surgery was 11/14/13, so I'm a little behind you; our stats are similar, but I'm older than you (I'm 5'4", high weight was 256 and I'm 46 years old).I'm not near my original goal, I'm still 30 pounds from that and 20-25 pounds from the 2nd goal. But, I'm not as hung up on the scale as I was in the beginning. I know I want to lose more, but it just isn't that important. I"m focusing on other things - like fitness, my health, my happiness.

My doc told me once...weight you lose the first 6 months are because of the sleeve, anything after that is due to hard work and behavior modification.

Best of luck to you! You really do look great - don't define yourself or your success by a number on the scale.< /p>

[swimbikerun 1,045]

Big problem: you didn't tell us what you are eating, what you are exercising, for us to help. Without those pieces, specifics, there isn't a lot we can suggest to you. Can you give us more info?

[LivingFree! 478]

McButterpants is so right! The more you take your focus off that number on the scale and the more you focus on your overall health habits, you just may find yourself dropping some pounds rather unexpectedly. Have you had that good long talk with yourself recently about whether you are using your food to its best advantage--that is as medicine and fuel for your body (nourishing it with fresh, whole, unprocessed foods)? Sometimes when we get a little further out, it helps to make a "recommitment" to ourselves (whatever that looks like for YOU). I went through that at about 2-1/2 years and went on to lose 20 pounds in the next year just by cleaning up my eating and lifestyle habits.

But, along the way, please remember your awesome 100 lb accomplishment! And, something that we all tend to forget--WLS is not intended to lose 100% of our excess weight. The expectation is about 50-60% of excess weight. I'm 5' tall and the BMI charts say I should weigh 100-110 lbs. I weigh 135. My body will not go to 100 or 110 lbs. Would it be nice?--yes. Is it realistic for me?--no.

Message is, just please stay good to yourself and maybe examine whether you're chasing a number that may or may not be realistic for YOU.

[MichiganChic 3,262]

@@MiTurner247 I am also 5'4", and can't seem to get below 160. My body likes to hang at 165, and I have to fight to get below it. I've been at this weight for a year. I've tried eating less, exercising, but so far this seems to be where I'm stuck. I try not to just think about that elusive number on the scale, but it's hard not to! I do think that if I would stay below 900 calories indefinitely and exercise daily it would probably go lower...but life gets in the way.

I think you look great, and from that picture, you don't look overweight at all! I go round and round with myself (and I'm sorry, but I subject my family and BP friends to the crazy loop playing in my head). Right now I'm trying the 5:2 to see if that will make a difference. If not....I am going to try to be happy where I am and work to become stronger and more fit, and focus on mainlining the loss. We know how easy it would be to go back up!

Congratulations on your success!

[tomi71 581]

Since Xmas 2014 I have been stuck in the 190s. I know the WL will get moving again but it is going to take a while. But it can be terribly frustrating. My therapist said to me he noticed I dropped a significant amount and that I should be celebrating. I told him I look in the mirror and still see a fat little chipmunk to which he replied "nobody else sees that!" That made me feel better and realize I need to stay encouraged yet not obsess as I am want to do wayyyyyyy to often.

YOU look awesome! I say don't sweat the scale. Keep fit and eat well and your body will eventually acquiesce and you'll see more results. As I understand it, the first few months one can see the lbs fly off but as your body gets hip to your lifestyle change it tries to hold on to what is familiar. Just keep going and take it one day at a time and Celebrate your achievements! You aren't where you started and soon you'll be where you want to be!

Edited January 19, 2015 by tomi71