nowatgoal

I remember spending weeks just pouring over success stories and I couldn't wait until I could join them and be a "normal" weight! I lived and breathed this forum because I was so excited to be having the surgery. It's hard to believe in just 6 short months I might be an inspiration to others. WOW - thank you for telling me that!

Not a guy, so I can't relate but I now have coffee all over my monitor! Too funny!

AMEN! I've lost about 90 lbs. from my highest weight and the last 15 lbs. have been harder and slower than the first 75! I've had to exercise my (now smaller) butt off to get these last few pounds off. Thank goodness for the sleeve which has kept me on track when I would have become to frustrated and cheated in the past.

I just love the pics! You DO look like you love working out! Isn't that the best? I was just thinking yesterday about how I enjoy exercising now and I think it's because I'm not trying to lug an extra 90 pounds around when I'm doing it. You look absolutely AMAZING! Congrats on your well deserved R&R time with hubby.

WOW - all those NSV's in only two months time! How amazing is that?! Congratulations! My 6 month surgiversary was yesterday and I was thinking of doing a quick NSV/update today too. I love reading other people's NSV posts. So happy for you.

Aww - thanks, Lynda! You've definitely done the same!

Sounds like an acid problem. In the beginning, I needed to take my PPI before bed as well as when I got up. And, on really bad days, one mid-day too.

I have suffered from shin splints most of my life. They rarely flare up now, but I'm not exercising to the extent that I did when I was young. Here's what I have read, when researching for myself. You may know all this already, but hopefully something here will help. I agree with the suggestion to get checked out by a specialist. Causes: sudden increase in distance or intensity of a workout inflammation of the lower leg muscles, those muscles used in lifting the foot can be aggravated by a tendency to pronate the foot (roll it excessively inward onto the arch) - this can be help with the proper shoes tight Achilles tendon or weak ankle muscles What Helps: until they have healed, choose an exercise that will allow them to rest ice anti-inflammation medications stretching exercises for calf and front of leg possible change in footwear - careful attention to selecting the correct running shoe based upon the foot type (flexible pronator vs. rigid supinator). This is extremely important. In some cases, shoe inserts (orthotics) may be necessary when returning to walking, do so gradually

Happy 6 month Surgiversary to Me today! :-) FINALLY dropped the 4 lbs. that came on overnight about a month ago. Here's my weigh in for this week. This only leaves me with 6 pounds until my Easter goal and final goal. Even though things are really slow now, I would certainly think this is achievable. Feb. 15: 149.6 Feb. 22: 146.2 -3.4 Feb. 29: Mar. 07: Mar. 14: Mar. 21: Mar. 28: Apr. 04: Apr. 08 EASTER:

Wow - what an act of kindness, Favoredone! The multi-colored roses are beautiful! Jasleeve, I've been following your journey and hoping you are better each day.

I used to over eat all the time because I wanted that full feeling. Since the surgery, I am able to eat very little before feeling full. Like 101driver said, it's a different sort of full feeling though. If you eat too much by even 1 bite, the food feels like it's stuck in your esophagus with no way to move down and then you want to throw up. Its taken a long time for me to retrain my habits towards eating so I slow down enough to not overeat and to also learn how much my tiny tummy can tolerate. You'll never be able to gorge on massive meals again, and you'll get full on tiny, tiny amounts of food.

I'm going to continue these challenges until I reach goal - so thanks for getting this one going! Weight loss is super slow now. Actually, it's come to a stop. I'm pretty close to my overall goal and I've really upped the exercise intensity and duration so hopefully I'll be at goal by Easter. I actually had a gain recently (could be the new exercise regime). I'll use my real weight even though I haven't changed my ticker to reflect the gain. SN: Slimming Sara SW: 149.6 GW: 140 CW: 149.6 lbs to lose: 9.6

Thanks for taking on the job of "holiday challenge poster" Forensikchic! :-)

A bit FRUSTRATED with the fact that I won't make this goal. I was conservative when I set it, and when I made my last post I was only 1 lb. away from reaching my Valentine's goal of 145. But, I GAINED 3.5 lbs. a week ago. Just before the gain, I upped my exercise length and intensity and that seems to mean I am holding onto water to repair my muscles and replenish my glycogen storage. I understand the reason for the gain, but it's still hard to step on the scale and see that the numbers are higher and not going down yet. Hopefully, my hard work will be rewarded with a tighter, stronger body and the scale numbers will drop eventually. I don't have the heart to change my ticker to 149. I'll keep it at 146 with the idea that I will be back down some time soon!

This is NOT the "easy way out". It has been difficult for me at times. I was extremely, debilitatingly weak and dizzy for the first 10 weeks because I had too much restriction and could only get about 250-300 calories in and not enough fluids. My blood pressure was so low that every time I stood I'd have to hold onto something because everything would go black and I'd feel like I was going to faint. I was exhausted just walking from the couch to the bathroom or kitchen. Life became more normal at the 2 1/2 mo. mark because I began to notice I could eat a little more and drink more and my energy began to come back. I remember standing one day and realizing I wasn't dizzy and didn't have to hold something to wait for it to pass. I'm now nearing my 6 mo. surgiversary and I can now average 800-1000 calories. But, even in the midst of this difficult recovery time, I KNEW it would be worth it. The pounds were dropping off and I was feeling better about myself each day. I'm glad I don't have to do this twice but if I had to, I would do it again. Every single day I am reminded how wonderful it is to have this weight off. I WANT to walk and hike now. I WANT to go shopping for new, cute, tiny outfits to wear. I WANT to see people I haven't seen in a while. I used to avoid so many things due to my embarrassment, shame, and lack of energy. My negative self talk was constant and it's gone. I had given up on the thought of living a long, happy life but not any more. I have my life back!

Had a good week this week. I'm just 1.4 pounds from my Valentine's goal. I think the extra exercise is helping! SW: 153 Valentine's GW: 145 CW: 146 Loss: 7 pounds to lose: 1.4 I love how many posts I'm reading from people that have already reached their Valentine's goal! Congratulations! You keep me motivated and I'm cheering ALL of us on these last two weeks!

Today is my 5 month surgiversary and I'm just 9 pounds from my final goal! I haven't been reporting in each week because I haven't had much to report, other than how SLOW it's been going. But, that's OKAY because it's still coming off and the scale is still moving towards my goal. Since starting the Valentine's day challenge I'm down 4 pounds. Last week was a big moment when my weight finally started with 1-4 because I new I was in the final stretch. I have 4 more to go to meet my Valentine's challenge and I'm still hoping that I can do that because I've upped my exercise recently. SW: 153 Valentine's GW: 145 CW: 149 pounds to lose: 4

AMAZING! I love, love, love the pictures! You look so happy! I've been researching the couch to 5K and just downloaded the ipod track for week 1. I've never been able to run but I feel like I should be doing something more than my little walks. You are inspiring me to go from "thinking about it" to actually "doing it". Way to go!

It broke my heart to read your post. I am SO SORRY! It is never a good time to lose a parent, but you are already in such a vulnerable state right after this surgery and it takes such strength to deal with a major loss. I hope you will take especially good care of yourself because I am worried you will make yourself sick. I'm sure your mom would want you to continue to re-cooperate. I understand loss and grief as I've lost many family members over the years (my mother at a young age, my son, my sister). Grief support groups can be helpful because you can talk with those that have been through a similar loss and they understand. Please lean on others as much as you can. I'm sending you loving thoughts and energy.

Thank you so much for the warm congratulations!!! We've decided on April 29th (my dad's 80th birthday)! I really appreciate being able to share with everyone here because you all have been such a support this past year while I undertook the life changing experience of VSG. Sending love to my sleeve sisters and brothers!

Glad to hear that the good steps you are taking has broken your stall! Good job on your gym membership. I'm going to get one this week for the first time in 10 years. I think the weight just slows down around 5 months anyway, because I've noticed things have slowed dramatically for me too. BUT, the scale is still moving in the right direction.

Big moment! How exciting and a great way to bring in the new year! Congratulations!

Just love this! Congratulations. Isn't it fun to see someone that hasn't seen you in a while? Enjoy every minute of your success because you've worked hard and earned it! Happy New Year!

These are great lists. They helped me to think about mine... Reach goal by losing these last 12 pounds Walk at least 4 days a week Regain and tone my lost muscles Get a new hair style Get a new wardrobe Get married to the love of my life Become a step-mom to four little boys Travel to Peru for a two week honeymoon Hike around Machu Pichu without feeling overly tired Continue to pursue my art career Here's to an amazing 2012 for all of us!!!

Thanks for starting a new challenge, Forensikchic! I'm going to be conservative in my goal because my weight is not coming off as fast now and I'm using my birthday of Feb. 8th as a hopeful date for my goal (but will give myself until Valentines if need be). SW: 153 GW: 145 CW: 153 pounds to lose: 8 Good luck everyone!!!!