BANANA PANTS!

Thank you for sharing your success - it is inspiring to me! I love how you mentioned not shying away from people - for me that is one of the greatest changes I have felt since the surgery. I hid it pretty well - but I was constantly worried about what people thought about me because of my weight. Now - I never even think about it - even though I still have a ways to go until I am the weight I need to be. Cheers to you and your 6 months of success and cheers to 6 more!

I sat at 200 for nearly a month. I felt like my scale was mocking me as I said a little prayer and stepped on to it each morning waiting for the glorious Onederland (yes - I am a daily weigher - it works for me). Now I've been at 199 for a week and I feel a jolt of elation each time I DON't see at 2 at the beginning of my weight. I've come to terms with the stalls - I have learned that after the first few months of setady losing, my body will now drop a bunch of pounds over a few days and then just hang out at that weight for a while. The great thing is that my body shape is consistently shrinking despite what the scale says.

Melody2 - You are welcome - I feel like I have now payed it forward as I got this inspiration from someone else on this site my first week after surgery. An interesting note about my goals - when I first wrote them down I thought they were achievable, but I had no idea how fast so many of them would happen or how realitively easy it would be to meet the goals. My strategy was to have realistic achievable goals to inspire me on the days when the scale mocked me - and it was a huge success in terms of keeping me looking at the big picture. But I honestly was surprised at how realitively easy they were to achieve - it's interesting how differently I think about this process almost 5 months out than I did 5 days out! I was so afraid it wouldn't work, or that I would be a "slow loser," but now I realize that it's going to work, that success or failure is up to me, and most importantly - for the first time in my life I have to ability to make weightloss a success.

At almost 5 months out I decided to update my goals - but first I wanted to see how well I had done. I am really surprised that I hit most of them already! I really do think that setting achievable goals is the way to go!!! Here is a run down of my progress. I guess at 5 months I will need to reset completely new goals. Thanks to so many of you on this site who helped me establish these by psoting your experiences. It really helped. As you can see - the exercise one is the hardest for me! Weight Goals: 1. Optimize weight loss in the first 3 months (this means following diet strictly - high protein low carb) - DONE 2. 10% BMI loss every 6 months (this will get me to goal 22 BMI by one year)-- DONE Other Goals: Survive the first week! (DONE) Fit into NORMAL sized clothes!! (DONE) Not having to move the steering wheel up when I get in boyfriends car (DONE) 10 minutes on the elliptical machine Need to buy new bras (DONE - LAST WEEK) Enjoy looking in mirrors again (DONE) Can wear high boots (DIDN'T DO -BUT NOW ITS OUT OF SEASON) Someone who doesn't know about the surgery comments on my weight loss (DONE) The day I can tuck something in (DONE) The first week I exercise (on purpose for 30min x3 days) (DONE) The first week I do the same as above but for 5 days

Melissa - and really everyone who posted on my blog, The feedback from people here is really meaningful. I truly appreciate your kind words, encouragement, and feedback - because there have been days when I needed to read something positive about someone elses journey just to get me out of my funk! Melissa - 76 lbs?!?! I am jealous!! I do know what you mean though about having days/weeks where you get depressed or in a funk. I've been there. All I can say is to keep looking forward (or maybe look back and see how different you are today than you were on January 14th)! Anyway - it's good to get this kind of supportive feedback - and I just wanted you all to know how much I appreciate it!

On May 17th I will hit the 5 month mark on my weightloss journey. I've officially lost 63 lbs since surgery, made it into Onderland (at last), experienced the dreaded stall, had my pants fall off because they were simply too big (I call it the Pants on the Ground Phenomena), cursed my scale which I swear was broken for a month, had my rings fall off my hand, gotten tons of great compliments, rediscovered mirrors, stopped hiding behind people in pictures, flown on Southwest planes where people actually chose the seat next to me even though there were many others open, been ushered out of the plus sizes section at a department store by a well meaning sales lady who thought I was lost, started wearing high heels again, eaten too much too fast and puked, gotten very drunk off of very little alcohol, learned how much I love solid proteins, started exercising again, and have started reaching out to old friends as part of my reconnection plan - which was part of my New Years resolution. My life is 100% happier. I cannot imagine NOT having this surgery. I look forward to what lies ahead, and I although I expect that I will be cursing my scale again at some point, I have faith that the remaining 73 lbs will be worked off in time. In many ways, I've restarted my life at age 40!

Jennie - I knew the scale would be fickle on a day to day basis and I knew that having a more global view of the weightloss process would help me keep my focus on the big picture. I think this was my one relatively intellectual thought during my pain-med haze of the first week post-op! I'm not losing near as fast now either and I knew it was likely going to take me a full year to lose my weight, so the percentage has been a good tool for me. I'm not gonna lie - part of me hoped I would be one of those people who had lost it all within 6 months - but the reality is that it's going to take a year. Not sad about this though - I'm focused on enjoying the journey.

Today, after almost a full month stall, I reached onederland! I'm -63 lbs since surgery and couldn't be happier. I have gone from a size 24 to a 14/16 - and that changes almost weekly it seems. A couple of things I learned along the way: 1. Don't stress in the early days - just trust that the weight will come off 2. I stopped comparing myself to others in terms of how fast or slow I was losing - this helped me to just focus on myself (note - lots of people put their highest weight as their starting weight so not all of the weight loss was following the surgery - just be aware of this if you are comparing yourself which we all do in the early days) 3. Save all that money you are not spending on food for all the clothes that you are going to buy and then grow out of really quickly 4. Find a buddy who is going to inspire you to exercise or eat better or whatever you struggle with - I found one and it makes a big difference 5. Enjoy the journey - I know that I certainly am!

Thanks for posting - I learned so much and got such great inspiration from reading what others wrote as well - it sort of normalized the experience for me.

Thank you for your kind words!

Sleeved 12/17/12 - down 63 lbs! I just broke a month long stall where the scale teased me at 200-202 lbs - so tantalizing close to Onderland. I just laughed it off. I knew I would break through eventually. I started in a size 24 and now wear a 14-16 depending on the brand. XL shirts fit - but are getting looser...I find that when the scale stops moving, I see a more dramatic change in my size in the mirror and in my clothes. I still have a long way to go - but am the happiest I have been in years. I'm really enjoying every part (yes even the evil stalls) of this journey.

My advice - don't stress too much the first month. Follow the diet your doctor gave you and just have faith that the surgery will work. Everyone loses differently - but everyone loses! Enjoy those early days of rapid weight loss because it truly is amazing. Those early days will shape you mentally for the challenge ahead when you get to eating a full diet again (or what constitutes a full diet after surgery). A lot of what you have to overcome is all in your head - that truly is the hardest part - but getting yourself in the mind frame that this is a lifetime change as early as possible really helps. Also - as hard as it is - look at yourself a lot in the mirror before surgery and take pictures - full length ones - of yourself. I wish I had better ones of me pre-op but I seriously could not stand to see pictures of myself or even look in a mirror. Now I am obsessed - and I wish I had more to compare and to really see the changes. Finally - this is a great adventure. Have fun and enjoy the focus on yourself. It is like a gift and if you see it that way, you cannot help but enjoy the wild ride!

I think it's less imagination and more of a reality. Ask your doctor what a healthy BMI is for you based on your body type. I told my doctor I wanted to be 130 and he laughed and said that 120 was more realistic. If I am going to take the big step of surgery - why would I sell myself short of what is truly the most healthy BMI for me? Makes sense if you think about it. I think we are all so used to failing that setting a safe goal is a way of being self-protective. Now - 5 months out - I see the reality in it all and am so glad my doctor gave me a truthful and realistic goal - because my imaginition just would not have gotten there on its own! Good luck and aim high (or low - if we are talking about weight)!

Justinelli - you sound like me when I was 10 days out! This forum is a great place for support, but I found I was setting unrealistic expectations for myself. I am really happy not thinking of myself as a slow loser or a fast loser - but rather as someone who is following my plan and changing the the way that my body wants to change. It's almost like I had to give up to it in a way. After the first month or so of over-analyzing everything - you will settle into a rhythm and will be amazed how things just happen. Enjoy the ride!!

Sleeved 12/17. 35 lbs are now ancient history. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Wow - back to school so soon! Good for you! I am a little over a month out and just started getting the gurgles. Mine started because I began drinking coffee again. Caffiene increases the gut motility and once I stopped drinking it - mine went away. See if anything you are taking in might be causing it. Otherwise - I'd be interested to hear what others say.

I had the same problem and it started about the same time. My NUT had me double up on the Iron pills and it helped a lot. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Zip line is a big one for me. Also, I would like to start getting in touch with old friends. I have avoided reunions and get-togethers for the last few years since I gained weight. I might even post a picture on Facebook where I am not hiding behind someone! Sleeved 12/17/12 and enjoying the adventure!

Down 28 pounds. So happy :-) Sent from my iPhone using VST

Will you be having it at Virginia Hospital Center? If so, you will be so happy there! Terrific care! Sleeved 12/17/12 and enjoying the adventure!

I did mine at Virginia Hospital Center with Dr. Salameh. It was awesome. You are treated like a VIP through your entire stay. Dr. Salameh has a great nutritionist and the VHC program is more geared to the individual. It is a smaller program than the Fair Oaks program which is nice because it s a bit more personal. Sleeved 12/17/12 and enjoying the adventure!

I switched from the Blue Point Group to Dr. Salameh after my insurance changed. I was very happy with the VHC program. I was treated like a VIP throughout my entire hospitalization. Sleeved 12/17/12 and enjoying the adventure!