Dinora7

No, it's 7 weeks. 10lbs to go to reach 100lbs off. Scary at this point the sleeve has done its work now it's all on me!

It is incredible how time flies, how I'm 7 wks from from my surgiversary and I've lost 90 lbs. I started this journey at 238 and I'm currently 148. Originally I was set on getting to 120 lbs, but to be honest as my body has readjusted it is clear that 120 would make me look sickly, it been easy and tough and emotional and life changing and now I'm at the scared out of my mind point. Things seemed magical and easy the first 6 months and then the swelling and stomach/ body adjustments made it harder and not to mention the brain that can't get the cravings of fried goodness to disappear. Sure I've modified my life greatly but now the reality of life is hitting, the weight is off I feel great and I want to live normally and eternally keep the weight off! To never ever taste fried chicken in my life again or icecream or have drinks impossible I'm only human, and 30 years of feed my body the awfully bad things yet so good tasting is the hardest habit to break. Sure you would say" just grow up and deal" but this journey at the one year point is just the beginning, it's like the honey moon is coming to its end and reality of daily life and my til death do us part relationship with food is becoming soo scary! I want to reach my goal of 100lbs total loss at my surgiversary but as it nears I realize how much harder and how much more comited I must become! Til death do us part a relationship of ups and downs with food, and I just keep reminding myself how the work will never and a promise that food will not be the end of me! Sorry for the rant

I must confess that today do to extreme stress I let the old me back and eat like crazy all day long. In my 9 th month out and have not eaten like this for about a year. 4 people shoot outside my home my car drenched in bullets, had I been in it I wouldn't be writing this post and the beast in my belly and brain was released stressed and sick to my stomach, is this a bad sign is stress going to destroy my hard work. Always been an emotional eater but I was sure I had beaten that battle, slain on the weight battlefield today, but happy to be alive. Sorry for the rant

Yes it is a bit crazy but most of all brave. I'm 9 mos out 90 lbs lighter and sometimes it still hits me and I can't believe I I actually made the decision, had the surgery and have lost so much weight. I did have a moment of nerves and second thoughts before surgery. On my first scheduled date there was a huge emergency and since my surgery was elective i was bumped off the surgery schedule after waiting an entire Day with out eating or drinking to go into surgery. It was nerve racking and made me doubt whether I was making the right choice, but I was rescheduled for the following week, placed as the first surgery for the day and that was that. Hardest but best choice of my life!

It's a bit tough to let go of the bigger you. It takes time for your brain to catch up with the new you. I am now 9 months out and 90 lbs down and I head for the larger sizes and can't believe I'm a size 6, I've even walked into Lanebryant, I have image issues and still see the 240 lb me sometimes when I look in the mirror. From time to time I pull out the last skirt I bought at my biggest ( size 20) and put it on and then it hits me, and I have my happy glory moments! I'm so afraid to fail that I too was holding on to a lot of my clothes but finally parted with them. I am now the lightest I've ever been my entire adult life and I am learning to rejoice and enjoy the new me!

I have gotten some negative results from sharing, and especially with family. So I bought an extra case of protein shakes gave a couple if family members my liquid diet schedule and told them to try it, all of them failed! It really should not matter what others may think, deciding to go through a life threatening surgery to ultimately save your life is one of the hardest and bravest things anyone can ever do. Deciding and accepting that one needs help is tough and committing to this life change is even harder. On the flip side I feel that with fellow obese friends and even acquaintances that see the change I must share my experience because it may change their idea about surgery or even prompt them to look into it, they know I know how tough it is to be obese so will not take offense.

Thanks. I really like your screen name. I think that achieving that mentality of loving oneself is really tough, still learning to do that oh not giving up.

I do the stationary bike I do my own interval hill climbs 45-60 min. I take spin classes from time to time, but although I haven't gone for a two weeks I do dance classes, hip hop, Bollywood, Zumba, Salsa, Samba. The dancing has been my favorite and is what I've done the most of. I slack off but try and keep trying set the clock for 5:30 to head to the gym if I manage that twice in the week I'm good, I bring my stuff to work and try going to gym at lunch, if I manage to go at least twice in the week I'm good and the dance classes I try doing after dinner, but like I said I haven't been for 2 weeks. It gets hard especially with abusy schedule but I just keep trying, some weeks are better than others. I don't know fitness pal

To be honest I eat most everything at this point, but I am totally aware of what I put in my body. I try sticking to the protein first and no drinking liquids 1/2 hr before eating and an hour after. I do however drink only non calorie drinks mostly water10-15 glasses a day, coffe black, an occasional no carb no calorie redbull (not best choice I also do wine instead of beer (I know alcohol is bad but I'm only human). Fish lots of fish and chicken always protein first. I do have carbs but no where near as much as before and my portions are always small that part the sleeve takes care of, I do have sugars in tiny portions, I know some might criticize that but I have to be realistic and honestly this journey is not about never eating again it's about being conscious of what you eat and in control, not have food control you. Oh and exercise it finally makes sense to me how important exercise is, and I try my hardest sometimes it's 5-7 times a week sometimes only 3 but still a work in progress and I try to remind myself everyday how I must be responsible for my mind and body. Sorry if I went on a tangent

Thanks so much, I must say I've been a little discouraged lately since it is getting a lot harder to loose weight which is expected but having posted these pictures has put things into better perspective.

Honestly I have not done much as far as weights specific to my arms, I did a lot of dance classes and Zumba. What you can't see is the loose skin under the cap sleeve, I think I'll need and arm tuck but thankfully I have lost weight pretty evenly, I just recommend a lot of water. I have 10 - 15 glasses a day it helps a lot.

Thanks, still 20lbs away from goal, hope to get thereby surgiversary!

WhAt is your water intake? I found that it makes a great difference coined with toning exercise. I am 9 months post op have lost 90 lbs total per and post op and besides my arms i do not have loose skin I drink 10 to 15 glasses of water a day

First time I see there's pics together, just made my day! 238 to 148. . Surgery 3/6/12

Do you belong to any support group? Have been looking for one

When did u have surgery? I work in SF

When did u have your surgery? I had mine on March 6.

I'm in the Bay Are had surgery oat Stanford

I'm in need to get motivated and on track for my surgiversary goal of 125 in March 2013 HW 240 SG214 CW 148 GW 140 by Christmas

If you have the 8 wks paid take them. I only had disability which meant a significant pay cut and although I have a desk job I took the 8 weeks and it really helped me focus and strictly stick to the liquid purée diet. It also helped me get in a lot more exercise and get mentally prepared for such a big change. I also took the time to get other aspects of my life in order which in turn also helped me focus even more on this new and improved lifestyle.