mamamareli

187 final
Not goal, but a slow and steady pound a week.

Well, still going slowly but going down.

188 lbs. thanks

Oops!!! That is 191 this week!!! Sorry I missed weigh in yesterday.

Start weight: 191
Goal weight: 185
Thank you so much!!!

I'm in again! V-day was my first challenge and I love it! Thanks for doing this!!!

191 on Valentines day! Missed my goal by 3 lbs but still down 7. I'm feeling positive! Congrats to all the v-day "losers"!

Up a pound to 194. Grrrr. Bouncing around too much!

Thanks for the responses. I am almost 9 months out but my weight loss has slowed a lot and my hunger has increased. So, I'm giving it a try. I'll be doing my doctor's plan the rest of the time. I got the book by Mosley on my Kindle and have been reading up on the overall benefits of fasting. It makes a lot of sense to me. Not extreme fasting, but this modified version. I don't think extreme fasting would work for me. It's back fired in the past when I used it as a "fad diet" a long time ago, pre-sleeve.

First "fast day" on 5:2 plan. I get 500 calories today. Just finished my Breakfast (185 calories) and I won't eat again until dinner at 5 pm.
Any tips from those who use this plan? I'm feeling good about it--send good vibes my way please!

I'm 193.4 for tomorrow. Thanks!

197 lbs. sorry I'm late!

I'm a little late but I'd like to join, too!
I currently weigh 198 lbs.
By 2/14 I'd like to weigh 188 lbs.
THANKS!
Jenn

Nighttime snacking is definitely my downfall also. I eat a semi healthy Breakfast, lunch, and dinner (only eating 6-8 bites) but start my mindless snacking at nite when I lie in bed and watch tv. Thought about making my bedroom off limits for food. I have 22 lbs to get to goal and I made a deal with myself last month. I'd start trying to lose again after the holidays. Until then, I'm happy maintaining. Hubby also gained 40 lbs over the last 9 mths since he's been eating carbs willy nilly (he's usually an Atkins fan) and also has plans of starting Atkins Induction on Jan 2nd.
So while I won't be doing Atkins, I can certainly cut down on my bad carbs and cut out the nighttime snacking. And my nightly glass of red wine - of course while in bed. I'm hoping my eating carbs (not to mention that we recently moved in with my FIL and hubbys daughter. MIL passed away 2 mths ago so we're helping out FIL) and others eating carbs (I don't eat much so I never really caused him to stumble but now that there's 2 other people in the household, not sure whats gunna happen) don't make my husband stumble.
Anyway, as I was saying, I know where ur coming from. Snacking is the culprit on much of our weight gain or at least preventing us from losing. And I don't mean 1/2 an apple with PB. I'm talking a handful of cheese Its, a scoop of ice cream, 1/2 PB and banana sandwich, a few bits of dinner leftovers, a handful of corn nuts, 5-10 Hershey Kisses (who can resist the green and red ones at holiday time?), an ice cream sandwich, or 1/2 Starbucks biscotti. All things I've snacked on this past week
So on jan 2nd, I will ban all food in my bedroom. That oughta help take off the final 22 lbs (albeit slowly. I know the last 20 are the hardest)
Good luck to u too!

Well it seem as if we all face the same battles, well done to all that replied before me, seems we all have our own pace and are getting there. If we did not have addictive behavior to some extent we would have not gained the weight in the first place. I also use my fitness pal so and have it set at 1kg weight loss per week, needless to say I do not always lose this but as long as I keep the Kilojoules within the prescribed range, I know I am safe. If I have a day where I am bordering on my limit or exceed it, I walk on the treadmill to balance it out.
Another strategy I have started is to buy watermelon or cantaloupe as I just love them and they are mostly Water in content. I feel this helps me get part of my daily Fluid requirement as well. They are not very nutrient dense and fill me up.
I have learnt that every 500gram of lean body mass I gain, burns 50 calories extra per day. My current aim it to continue with my personal trainer and gain 8 or 9 kg lean body mass at least, this will give me 400to 450 extra calories burnt per day, making it easier to lose and maintain. Good luck to all in their journey. Wish that it was as easy to gain muscle as it was to gain fat then we would all be lean machines. LOL!

I feel your struggle! I am 10 months post and have found myself snacking as well. I have days that I feel hungry and others not so much. I have a couple of things that ate a BIG weakness for me and I am battling those. I am really trying to get back on track! I have about 40 more pounds I would like to lose. Hopefully I can get there by 18 months out. That is my personal goal! We can do this!

I love MFP and I feel it has many benefits. Being able to accurately track my calories and macros on my opine at any time of day or night is very convenient. Not to mention there is a great community aspect to it...I get lots of support from my MFP friends.
I would not want to give that up just because a silly app sent me a message about starvation mode. I believe I'm strong enough to ignore such a message and move on with my life....rather than throwing out the baby with the bath Water.

I was at a luncheon and I had a lady comment on how much I've lost and then ask if I was losing on purpose. I laughed a bit and told her that I was absolutely losing it on purpose. She then paused, looked at me again and asked if I MEANT to lose weight. (B*tch, please. I was 264 pounds at 5'3". YES. I MEANT to lose weight.)
About ten minutes later, she interrupted my conversation to ask me AGAIN if I was intentionally losing weight. I looked at her, told her that I did NOT have cancer, I did not have a thyroid disorder, I did not have HIV, Addison's, Diabetes, etc. I told her I was sick and tired of being fat and I was LOSING WEIGHT ON PURPOSE and that she could reword her question in any way she wanted, my answer was not going to change.
Shut her up for the rest of the afternoon.

It's not true at all, we had this discussion several month ago and lots of hairdressers chimed in. They said it doesn't harm the hair at all and in fact will make it seem thicker. I am 4 months out and have mine done every 6 weeks or so.
Hair loss may or may not happen, do your best to get your Protein in and take Biotin.

Well, you look pretty hot in that profile pic (just sayin', not in a "hitting on you@ kinda way)

I think back to basics would be perfect. The carb cravings are what's killing me, and when I eat only food Protein, shakes and veggies I never get cravings. Stuff sneaks back in though. Time to kick carbs to the curb.
And thanks for the support on the other posters comment. I agree, it wasn't particularly constructive or helpful! Good to know there are supportive folks still around.

I started walking every day after getting home and eventually got back into the gym. I started gradually increasing the speed on the treadmill to where I have now gotten to the point of actually running. I will do the elliptical machine also. In all I will do about 45-60 minutes of "cardio" exercise a day. I may now have to try the spin class thanks mamamareli for the idea on that one. I have also been cleared as of this week to start lifting weights again.

I love spinning! It's challenging but also you can go at your own pace if you want, I did in the beginning. It's easier on the knees than jogging and a great calorie burn. I started spinning at my heaviest weight 275 before surgery, love it even more now at 210!

Okay I am going to be very honest. After all your posts about all your loose skin and how much you had, and how you needed surgery, ext? I expected something quite different than what I see. To me, you look freaking amazing. You see loose skin, I see a long, lean, slender body. Totally understand why you feel the way you do because we are our own worst critics, but just believe me, you look great!