RareGold3000

You look positively beautiful and I'm sure you feel just as amazing!! Thanx for being such a great role model with your journey, with your positivity and your encouragement, you're a gem!!! Thanx for sharing the great pics too!!! Karen :-)

Way to go!! You look great!! We had the same starting weight, well I was 249 lbs, close enough. I am 5'5" and want to get down to 132 lbs so we'll see. I've slowed alot in month 7, 1-3 lbs this past month, but 6 inches, so it's still working, and working out helps, 5 days a week. I pray I'm at goal in 5 months!! Thanx for sharing and congrats again!!! Karen

You look fabulous, and you are such a beautiful lady!! Thanx for sharing!!!

I weigh every morning when I wake up!!

Well as I thought, I hit another stall and lost 3 lbs this past month, so I'm still 5 lbs from what I thought I'd be at. Although I did lose 6 inches in that month which is great!! Oh well, it's good to keep trying!! I hope you all are doing well!! Karen

Oh, and NancyDec, we SEE in the mirror what we've been seeing for years, so it is going to take us awhile to see the 'newer' version of ourselves. We will see it though eventually, I have faith :-)

Thanx MichiganChic, it's slowly coming off and I feel so much better!! And as I just said in another topic, make sure to measure yourself once or twice a month, take bust, waist, hips, each thigh and arms measurements. And, then compare, you'll be surprised. This past month I lost 1-3 lbs, kept gaining 1 and then losing 2, gaining 2 losing 3, on and on all month, BUT I lost 6 inches total in that month. So, don't get discouraged either, although trust me, I KNOW it's hard not to. We ALL want to see the pounds coming off at least 8-10 lbs a month and it's just not going to happen with some of us. I keep telling myself I didn't gain it all in 6 months so I'm not going to lose it all in 6 months either, and I haven't LOL! Karen

LOL MichiganChic at the "5 minutes in the 80's" remark....LOL that was cute, BUT yea I totally understand how you feel too. It's even hard to wrap your head around it once you lose alot that you are actually almost 'there'. We tend to still see the 'fatter' version of ourselves for a long while I feel. It takes time, but we'll see in the mirror sooner or later what others see as we're getting smaller.

Sorry to hear this happened to you. Some people don't have this issue the whole way thru their weight loss which must be awesome!! I am further out than you, at 7 months post op, but just this past month I lost 1-3 lbs total, it kept going back and forth on the scale all month. I was about to do what you mentioned, throw the scale out the window, since I should know better by now with the few stalls I've had. But, I also measure myself every 2 weeks, and I lost 6 inches total this past month. So, please measure yourself once or twice a month, I'll bet you are losing inches if not pounds, AND yes, Water weight is definitely a factor in not losing or gaining a few pounds here and there. I understand your frustration, but just keep on doing what you're doing, eating right and exercising and it WILL all work out and cooperate for you!! I have to keep telling myself that too, trust me. Good luck and don't throw the scale, maybe just 'hide' it for a little? And, let the tape measure be your friend :-) Karen

Yes, they do, I take Citrical 2 gummies per day. They chalky chewable calcium were just too tangy for me post op, I couldn't stomach them at all and asked my surgeon if I could take the gummies and he gave the ok. Good luck!!

Agree!! :-)

I have before and after pics on my profile, under the 'gallery' section if you care to look? Karen

So sorry to hear of all of your 'illnesses' in your household. Hopefully your son won't get it!! I think you'll be just fine, we'll pray that all goes well until Wednesday for you, and beyond!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you too!! We share the same birthday, although I am 49 yrs old today....Where does the time go? Have a fantastic day and look forward to an AWESOME birthday next year!! Karen

I'm not sure if anyone started one yet or not for Valentine's Day? But, if not, I'd like to start one, feel free to join in!! Post your highest weight, surgery weight, current weight, and Valentine's Day goal weight. Here's mine: Highest weight: 249 lbs Surgery weight: 239 lbs (8-21-12) Current weight: 185 lbs Goal Weight for Valentine's Day: 173 lbs Best of luck everyone!!

I saw my surgeon 2 weeks ago at 6 1/2 months post op and he said where I was at with calories was where I should be. I am at between 700-1000 calories a day, depends on the day. He told me that at about a year out I should be at 1200 calories a day or a bit more. I started back to the gym finally after a labral tear in my hip has been holding me back, so now I'm burning like 300 calories a day for now. Once I add more min to cardio I will burn more, God willing that the injection in my hip keeps the pain at bay!!

You look fantastic!! Keep up the great work, you're doing awesome!! Thanx for sharing!!

Yes, the pre op staff did at the hospital

You look great, congratulations!! Thanx for sharing, you're doing awesome!!

I bought a size 8 skinny jean and a Medium shirt (I have it on in the profile pic, just the shirt). I bought these 2 items in Sept 2012, one month after surgery. For me, it was encouragement, not discouragement. I'm currently in size 10 or 12 jeans depending. And, even if my goal changes, or I get to a smaller size than I thought I would, that's fine, it's only 1 pair of jeans and 1 shirt, I'll buy smaller ones when and if I get smaller. I say, go for it!! Enjoy!!

You look great!! Way to go, such a huge accomplishment!! Thanx for sharing!! Best of luck with the last few pounds you want to lose!!

I lost 10 lbs pre op, 22 lbs the first month after surgery and 12 lbs the second month, so that would be 3 lbs per week the 2nd month. So, by 5 weeks post op I had 25 lbs off....35 lbs total including the pre op. Yes, it depends how heavy you were to start, some lose faster than others as well. It's very disheartening sometimes to compare, and it's our biggest evil many times in our journey. We are all 'individuals'. Good luck to you :-) Karen

What a great transformation, you look fantastic!! Thanx for sharing the pics with us!!

You look fabulous, congrats and keep up the great work!! Thanx for sharing!!

I feel your pain, sorry for what you're going thru!! I hope you lose the rest soon! I am almost 7 months post op, and from 6-7 months, I've lost ONE pound. I keep thinking, 'move scale, move'. UGH!! I was sleeved on 8-21-12 and have another 42 lbs to go to get to 132 lbs. I'm praying I will start losing again, at least 5-8 lbs a month til I get to my own goal!! I've lost 75 lbs so far total. Not sure what the next few months will bring though. I think we just need to be patient and keep doing what we've been doing. Good luck!! Karen

Congrats, you look amazing, great pics, and awesome smile!! Thanx for sharing!!