ready2smile

I received a wonderful box from my Penpal Pegi. She really paid attention to our emails and text convos & incorporated a lot of things to not only help me with my lack of energy, but also helped to inspire me. Which is even more special because we're at very different stages of our journeys. I got a water bottle, energy and fiber supplements, pistachios (love them!), mini spatulas, a super pretty Washington State calendar, pens, a journal, protein bars, mio, sugar free hard candies, little single packs of hummus (never saw those before), flavored water bottle toppers, and other things I'm sure I've neglected to mention. My favorite thing of all was the letter she sent. It's great getting to know people better through this process, sharing your successes, failures, tips/tricks, fears, hopes, creating friendships and being a support to someone else.

Sorry to hear that Marla. Especially after all you've been through. I've struggled too. I'm such a slow loser. I guess what I'm learning most from this is no two people are alike and I'm always going to be a work in progress. I'll always have to try harder, forgive myself more, and dig way deep for the motivation to stay on track and exercise. I guess that's why people refer to it as a "journey", a word I never really liked by understand much better after living a year in this life. Wish you all the best!

I definitely don't have a problem with losing too much. Im ok with the way I look at my current weight, but I'd rather lose another 15. It's so much harder than it was in the beginning, and I haven't been as mindful of my eating as I should be. In regards to my chest area, never been my biggest asset-but my hubby thinks I should get LASIK before boobs so I can see what I've got, lol. I told him I don't need to see em, I'll know they're they're when I don't have to push them up courtesy of Victoria Secrets!

You look amazing! Congrats on your loss and best wishes on your upcoming tummy tuck! I'm hoping to do the same after another 20lbs, (breast lift and implants too) just need to find someone reasonable.

You look great. What was your starting weight? I'm at the same weight you are-I had surgery at 240. I too haven't been this size since high school. What a wonderful feeling it is.

Ou look fabulous, and so happy! Congratulations. Mine is on January 10th. I'm actually a little nervous to go to the dr this time. I'm proud of my loss, but don't want to disappoint my surgeon or myself. I feel like I can keep going-now if I can find the motivation!

I'm right there with you in the needing to move department. I got too complacent.

Hey there. How's it going?

Just got an email about the new site and realized its been forever since I've checked in here. How's it going? I miss catching up. I'd forgotten how much this used to be my support system. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had it at our house this year. I ate more than I should, and foods I shouldn't have-but overall much less than I ever have on any of my 39 turkey days. Enjoyed my family tremendously. I actually walked out to grab a guest a drink and caught my 7yo nephew taking a swipe of cool whip directly from an unopened container in the garage fridge! He dropped it and hid in the corner, told me "something fell". Not much else in there was white, and his auntie is a pretty good detective and realized even if "something" did fall from the fridge, it doesn't get all over your face by falling down. Can't say I blame him, and I held no grudges-his new nickname is CW. Lets see, what else? I just had a birthday, my 39th. Last one before the big 4-OH! I'm at the lowest weight I can recall being at since grade school. Sadly, I haven't technically lost any weight for about 2 1/2 months (unless you count the 5 I've taken off and put back on). Time to get on with it eh. I'm quite sure it has to do with lack of motivation and restraint. Actually, I think most days my brain is motivated but I can't get it to connect with my lazy body... I can tie it to 5 things I need to correct: I haven't been tracking my food, getting in enough protein, exercise, or water, and I've never attended an actual support group. So, I started tracking again yesterday. I'm getting up right now to make a protein drink (with water) that I will take with me on the 2 mile walk my HB and I are about to go on. Then when we get back I'll find out what date the monthly support group is on and actually GO! So enough for me-I have a drink to make and a walk to take. Guess I should get out of my jammies 1st (now that I actually talked myself into moving this body of mine!). Have an awesome night all, best wishes. R2S

Would have loved for my taste buds to change after surgery. Wish I was one if those that came out hating or dumping with all sweets. Wasn't in the cards for me so I have to be extra careful and stay clear of old habits. This time of year really sucks when you're trying to lose or even just maintain a weight loss. Knowing what "needs" to be done is completely different from following through. They weren't kidding when they said this is only a tool and you have to use it to your advantage. It's not easy, the weight doesn't simply "fall" off once you have the surgery like a lot if people think. Its a lot of hard work and determination. There are so many bad choices out there-you can't just put on blinders, and even if you did it wouldn't necessarily make you successful. Eeks, I think I need a 12 step program for people who need help eating clean, high protein foods, drinking water and exercising.

I've felt like poo for eating too much junk, resolved to be better, then the next day lost my will and did the same crap. I seriously need to find my will power again. The last month and a half has been stupid, I haven't lost anything at all and it's my own fault. I've stopped tracking and fallen back on a lot of bad habits. I don't eat much at a time, and I do eat 3 healthy small meals-but it's the junk I eat in between that is doing me in. I know better, and it makes me mad. I had to fight hard for this, I need to quit blaming the Halloween candy and my husband being an enabler and do this the right way like I know I can. I'm so disappointed in myself. I've come so far this time, from a size 20 to a 12...but I know I can do better. I need energy to feel good-and I sure as heck won't find it eating crap and sitting on my ass.

I'm doing the same crap. Even worse, not logging my food. Trying to get back on track, it's the night time eating/snacking that gets me. I crochet but I can't do it all night long. I hate that I like so many different things. Can't wait until Halloween is over. Wouldn't hurt if I could get my hubby to be more supportive and less of an enabler. He knows better too, he's had the same surgery.

Agreed! We get busy living life and forget about the support we need and how good it feels to give it. I'm 65lbs down, not a huge loss in comparison with some others, but with all things considered-I feel like I've accomplished a lot. My body has changed, don't recall when I wore a size 11 last or weighed less than 185. I'm 175 now and I get a lot of "hey skinny lady's" and "stop losing weight already's", "you look so good", etc. It's nice to hear but I feel like I have at least 10-25 more to lose. I'm pretty hard on myself. I can go up a lb in a day-not from how much I eat but what I eat, so I still take the scale pretty seriously and feel like I'm far from an expert on food and getting the perfect routine. Unfortunately I have little imagination with food prep and in the cooking areas so my meals are pretty boring, lol. I do try to track all my meals in MFP, helps me to be accountable. I know I need to exercise more, but I'm healing from a knee injury.... which I'm sure is partly why the energy level is a bit low still even though I take my vitamins. By the end of my work day I'm worn out. Oh, and I love wearing smaller clothes, but shopping can be both overwhelming and frustrating. Expensive too!

You look wonderful!!!