Shanny

I would like to stress exercise. Even though I have some days when I fall off the wagon, I still make sure to exercise. I notice, that I still maintain or even lose weight. Do something that you like. I do every exercise there is, I think, but I actually enjoy walking. I put on my headphones and walk for about 3 hours. I have a tracking app, and before I know it, I'm walking over 10 miles. It really helps to melt away the pounds and build the muscle. If you like to dance, do Zumba. If you like to swim, do that, or try Water aerobics. It doesn't feel like exercise while you're in the water. Once you get it out your muscles tell a different story. Just make sure you're staying active. Also, measure your food. My doctor stresses to measure not weigh. Like the others said Protein first. I do allow myself a "snack" a day that's not on the list. But, it's something low-fat or fat free, like those Weight Watchers Mini Fudge pops, or Fat Free chocolate pudding and fat free Cool-whip. It's yummy, and I stay under 100 calories. I think it's about balance. Granted, I'm only 7 months out, but I've already lost 60% of my body weight and I'm 4 pounds from my goal. I think I'm doing pretty well. I hope I can maintain it! Good luck to you. We're here if you need us!!!

5 months out, and 80 pounds gone forever! I'm pretty stoked! Loving my sleeve!!!!!!

So, I saw my friend yesterday after not seeing her in a year. She raved about my weight loss. I knew she was a personal trainer and now she's begging me to take her Body Pump class. Has anyone tried this? I HATE lifting weights but she swears to me it's fun and it'll help me tone the areas I want to tone.

Give your body some time to readjust! The scale will move. If you're like me your body will start to demand exercise and the pounds will start flying off, sometimes 2-3 in a day!

Another pound down! SN................................Starting Wt........................Current WT.....................Goal......................Lbs to Goal Shanny..........................168.6...............................159.................................145............................14

SN..............Starting WT.....................Current WT...................Goal................Lbs to Goal Shanny..............168.6.....................160..................................145.....................15

SN..............Starting.....................Current....................Goal.....................Lbs to Goal Shanny.......168.6.......................161.4......................145...........................16.4

I had my surgery on February 11, 2011, and I've lost 85 pounds so far - not even six months out. Over 50% of my body weight!

SN..............Starting.......................Current................Goal..................Lbs to Goal Shanny.........168.6........................162.4....................145..........................17.4

OMG, I tried it for the first time yesterday. EVERY muscle in my body hates me today! It even hurts to blink!!!! I could't wash my hair this morning because I can't lift my arms over my head. It's horrible. But, I love a challenge, so I'll be going back again!

For most of my life I felt invisible. Well now, I'm visible - hooray! So last weekend I went to Artscape, a arts festival, in Baltimore. I worked for the organization that produces the festival for 7 years. I haven't seen then in about a year, so I went down one day to see them. People that I've known for years walked right past me and didn't recognize me. It took a double take for them to remember who I was. I thought it was a fluke. Last night, we had a block party for the neighborhood where I grew up. I've known these people for 25+ years. I show up, and NO ONE knew who I was. I had to tell people who I was, then it was all hugs and smiles. I look somewhat different, but really? I love the fact that I look and feel better, but I don't like that no one knows who I am anymore. I hurts my feelings. Maybe I'm just being whiny. I don't know.

So, when I started this whole process I was 247 pounds and 5'2". When I talked to my doctor he told me not to pay attention to the BMI chart because with my bone structure, if I was between 98-110 pounds I would look horribly sick. I have thick bones - I'm short but not a thin body structure. I was fine with that. We settled on 135-140. Well, at 170, I'm pretty happy with the way I look now.If I change my goal, I'm only 20 pounds away from it. I want to see what my surgeon thinks. At our last visit he said he wasn't going to hold me too strictly to the goal we set way back when because it's about what I'm comfortable with and my body will start to slow down when I'm around my natural weight. I think I'm close to it because getting to the 170s was a breeze, getting out of them has been a struggle. I would love to lose 20 more pounds - get my stomach flatter. I think I'm probably going to have to have a tummy tuck because after a C-section, 4 GYN surgeries, and a hystertectomy, all done between my navel and waist, I'm pretty sure my internal gurdle is shot to pieces. I have NO muscle tone in the bottom portion of my stomach; it's all above the navel. But even if it never gets flat, I can live with that. I can love 150. It's not 247! I don't go back to the doctor until July, but I seriously want to talk about reevalutating my ulimate goal.Granted at 150, I'd still be considered overweight, but I really don't care what the chart says. I feel fantastic! My clothes fit. I'm between a 10 and 12 now (I'd love to be an 8 - in about 15 more pounds I will be). Besides my butt disappearing, I'm very comfortable with the way I look and feel. I don't look like a freak to the point where people can tell I had surgery (like Starr Jones). It looks natural. It's about the size I was when I got pregnant 14 years ago. As far as my health goes, all of doctors agree that the only health issue I have is smoking. The rest is perfect, so I'm not continuing to lose for health reasons. If I went down to 135 that's just vanity. Hell 135 is still over what the chart says I'm supposed to weigh for my height. My surgery is a success - I've lost 75 pounds, I feel great, I have no health issues, I enjoy shopping again, my self esteem has increased - what more could I ask for? I've never wanted to be "skinny", just on the slimmer side. If I'm being completely honest I love being thick. It's what's considered attractive in the black culture. I just don't want to seem like I'm giving up so close to the 135 goal. I'm not. But, somedays I feel like I'm getting too small and I'm not liking the way it looks. I hate that my legs are getting so skinny. I hate having such a small butt now. If I lost 36 more pounds will I go from happy to miserable because I hate the way the new "skinny" me looks? Advice?