ASBgirl

You look fantastic!!! Love the dress and the Mercedes as well....I'm a Volvo girl for life but who's looking? Haha! Wonderful Job!
Shelby

Here are my Before and After

Here are my Before and After

Here are my before and after! Not quite at goal.

Here are my before and after! Not quite at goal.

Here are my before and after! Not quite at goal.

Here are my before and after! Not quite at goal.

Here are my before and after! Not quite at goal.

Here are my Before and After

Looking great!

Here are my before and after! Not quite at goal.

Here are my before and after! Not quite at goal.

My addiction was Dairy Queen Blizzards. I couldn't stop myself!! I'd buy two mediums instead of a large so they would think I was taking one to someone else ... If that doesn't sound like an addict, I don't know what does.

Oh good gracious, who here ISN'T a food addict? Seriously? I see so many heartfelt pleas saying "I miss food, why oh why can't I be normal?" when in fact normal people don't put food at the top of every activity and as the most important thing to focus on each and every day.
It's hard, very hard, but "Hi, I am Art, and I am addicted to food"

Well I can say honestly that I had a good weekend with my eating! Lost back 2 pounds from Wed to today. With the extreme cold I did not get in any exercise. I just felt like hibernating. I did get some great healthy food choices precooked for the week though so that will help! Thank you all so much for the encouragement. It has really helped me to see that I was not the only one who struggled during my THIRD sleeved Christmas.
Lipstick Lady- You are totally right! This is manageable. I mean at one time I had 125 LBS to lose now I have 10-20. In the overall picture of my life this will be easy!!!
Michigan Chic- Sounds like you and I are in exact same place. We can do this!
Brown Does All- You are correct. It is all about balance. I still want to live and enjoy food but I can OVERINDULGE like I did from Oct-Jan 2nd ever again. It has to be little and infrequent splurges.
Thanks again guys for all the support!!!

Well I weighted and it is as bad as I thought it would be. Gained 10 pounds since I last weighted in October. Gained 20 from my lowest weight. Am now 25 -30 from goal. I have pretty much partied all Holiday season with no effort what so ever!! I am SOOOOO pissed at myself but I learned many lessons:
1. I HAVE to weigh at least once a week. Maybe I would have caught this sooner if I had
2. This will take attention and diligence the rest of my life. I can’t just pretend I am a normal person when it comes to food cause I am not.
3. Sugar/carbs have to be rareish treats not every day indulgences.
4. I need support from my fellow sleeve brothers and sisters. I need to get on Bariatric pal daily.
5. Exercise is necessary not only for my weight loss but also for my mental well being. I am a stress eater and the exercise helps with the stress.
I restarted a ticker and set some new goals for myself. Joined the Valentines Day challenge and set that goal at 10 pounds.
Really trying hard right now not to beat myself up but it is so hard!

Oh, and I should add... when I tell friends that I am 50-50 and not sure I would choose to do plastics if I had to do it over again they look at me like I am freaking insane. From the outside, it seems like a miracle. I have a tighter bod and perkier boobs than many 49 year old (or younger!) ladies who were never obese do. I get alot of attention from the opposite sex. I get all the things you think you want.... but i am still not sure it was worth it...
money don't buy you love and a hot bod does not buy you happiness. just something to keep in mind.
Having said that, i am basically an optimistic person with a good life, I am just trying to say it isn't really that much "better" post plastics or honestly even after losing the last 20#. I had hit a great healthy weight 20# heavier than I am now and can honestly advise people to really assess WHY those vanity pounds are so important. I am not saying don't lose those last few... I am just saying don't count on it really making jack difference in your life.
Oh, and clothing size. I went into plastics wearing approx size 8-10 pants and a medium top. I did not get large implants because i wanted to stay med on top (I have a big ribcage and shoulders). I now seem to wear 6-8 no stretch pants depending on the brand. If I shop at H&M I definately need that. I went to that white house black market store and fit into their 2s and 4s pants. So, even size goals are just stupid really.... it is all just a head game. Be healthy, be fit, be strong, be happy

Well I weighted and it is as bad as I thought it would be. Gained 10 pounds since I last weighted in October. Gained 20 from my lowest weight. Am now 25 -30 from goal. I have pretty much partied all Holiday season with no effort what so ever!! I am SOOOOO pissed at myself but I learned many lessons:
1. I HAVE to weigh at least once a week. Maybe I would have caught this sooner if I had
2. This will take attention and diligence the rest of my life. I can’t just pretend I am a normal person when it comes to food cause I am not.
3. Sugar/carbs have to be rareish treats not every day indulgences.
4. I need support from my fellow sleeve brothers and sisters. I need to get on Bariatric pal daily.
5. Exercise is necessary not only for my weight loss but also for my mental well being. I am a stress eater and the exercise helps with the stress.
I restarted a ticker and set some new goals for myself. Joined the Valentines Day challenge and set that goal at 10 pounds.
Really trying hard right now not to beat myself up but it is so hard!

Amen!!! I feel the same way. Of course, when I told my Hubs about the DL pic he said, "You always looked good to me!" .

I remember a few years ago when I joined this board, it was hard to find people who had been over a year out much less 2, 3, or 4 plus. There were only a couple hanging around.
It's great to have a group of us here now!

I wanted to say welcome to all the new vets (a year or more out from surgery) that have found their way here, or have found their way back to the boards.
It's nice to more vets around. I look forward to getting to know you all better!

And one more thing, after watching my naturally thin friends, they all eat healthy most of the time with the occasional splurge. There really isn't another way that I have seen. Lynda

Susie, I offer some warning advice on following the "if I get plastics I will feel better" trail, it's a particularly dark rabbit hole, just ask CowgirlJane, who has discovered an entirely new continent of issues to deal with now that she has had plastics. She will be the first to tell you that, as it turns out, plastics do not necessarily heal the grooves we've worn from years of mental "cutting".

For heavens sake Susie! 4/6? When you were shooting for a 10?! I'm sorry, but you can't have them both... 150 AND 4/6. I say so! Can't you just find some peace and live with the 4/6 and don't worry about the 150? You have done sooo well... gotten to at 4/6..... that is awesome! How about focusing on a different goal instead.. like Gman says... perhaps how many steps you can do in a day, or some other health goal, and not just a "vanity" goal. I think you have the looks nailed already!

Yes, it is so easy to "fudge" ( excuse the pun but that was a weakeness! Lol) during the holidays. Luckily for me, I know I didn't that cleanly but my overall cals stayed pretty close most days which helped me not go over my bounce except a pound. I got back in range last week but now in NOLA Tje land of beignets and Cajun food!!!