IcanMakeit

Isn't it strange how our self perception can be so inaccurate? I weighed over 240 lbs, couldn't walk more than a block without pain, had almost all the worst comorbidities, and yet told myself that I wasn't so bad off that I needed to take immediate action. It took a photo of me holding my grandson to give me a clue.

@@Miaoreo, I have the same issue. My waist is larger than it should be in proportion to my hips. This is partly due to loose skin. I have to buy size 10 jeans and they droop.

I gained water weight right after surgery and it took a week to get back to my pre-op weight. And then I lost almost nothing the next week. I was very concerned that I would be a failure, but from reading everyone's experiences on this site and others, I stopped worrying so much about the pace of weight loss. (I didn't suddenly become more patient, just more realistic.)

My hunger returned about four months after my surgery. Luckily it's not usually as extreme as before. I just eat small planned Snacks between meals and try to drink more Water. Some people are lucky and hardly ever experience hunger after surgery. We didn't catch that brass ring.

I love hearing about my fellow May 2014 sleevers but I'm sorry that you are having serious issues, @storytotell. I hope your doctor will be able to help you manage your nutritional challenges. My news is very positive. I made my surgeon's goal at almost exactly 7 months out. Since then, I have continued to lose at an even faster pace. At 128 lbs., I'm now closing in on my personal goal of 125. My real challenge now is going to be maintaining my weight loss. I haven't had my next appointment with my surgeon, but my labs from November were all excellent so I'm hoping that will continue.

My final Holiday Challenge weight is 128 pounds. Thank you, Susan for creating this challenge. It really helped to motivate me to stay on track during the holidays. I made my surgeon's goal during this challenge. Perhaps I can make my own secret goal during the next one.

Thank you for organizing another challenge. I really need it after my New Year's Day bacchanal. My goal will be 124 lbs.

In 2015 I will: 1. Get back into yoga. 2. Get regular exercise. 3. Weigh myself once a week. 4. Make healthy food choices 90% of the time. 5. Log my food intake every day. 6. Learn swing dancing. 7. Go on outings with my husband on weekends rather than hanging around the house.

Sort of. I'm in the north bay.

Congratulations on your amazing accomplishment. You are truly an inspiration. Childhood obesity is indeed a problem that will only get worse if we, as a society, don't take it seriously and begin to address it.

2014 was fantastic for me. I began the year with a determination to change my life and improve my health. I lost a significant amount of weight and then began to think about how I was going to maintain it. That's when I reconsidered WLS. Altogether, before and after surgery, I have lost 115 pounds and exceeded my surgeon's goal. Bring on 2015. I will soon begin my new challenge, maintenance.

I'm over 60 and I haven't worried too much about the age appropriateness of my new, smaller wardrobe. I concentrate on comfort and on how the outfits make me feel. I don't shop in the Juniors section, or at Forever 21, but otherwise all is fair game. Have fun!

As long as you don't already have kidney disease and you are not over consuming protein, kidney stones should not be an issue. Enjoy your weight loss and your improved blood sugar levels! I was on the Atkins diet for over two years, keeping my carb count under 60 grams per day with no ill effects.

You are correct, ketones in your urine means you are burning fat. That's nothing to worry about. And why do you think that you need more carbs? A normal, stable blood sugar level is also a good thing. More carbs might cause high, unstable blood sugar levels. As a fellow diabetic, I am confused by your concerns. It sounds like you're fine.

Please contact your surgeon. Even if this turns out to be a normal part of the healing process, it's important to get a proper diagnosis. Another person's experience with these symptoms may not be reflective of what's going on with you. I hope you feel better soon.

I am a firm believer in allowing short, planned breaks from strict dieting. (Although I am not sure I could do a whole week without consequence -- my planned breaks are usually for one meal, or just for dessert.) If you are too rigid, eventually the frustration will make you want to give up and go back to your old way of eating. And you have to keep the big picture in mind. We're in this for the long haul. One or two days of high calorie eating won't negate your year's worth of day to day healthy choices. Enjoy your Christmas break without guilt or regret and then get back to work. Isn't that what we do with other aspects of our lives?

How wonderful that they discovered this so early. Good luck with your future procedures.

I think it is very common to have trouble eating meat, especially in the first few months post op. But the good news is that this gets better for most people and you don't need to eat massive amounts at a sitting. Meat is so high in protein that 2-3 ounces can be enough. Although it was irksome in the beginning, I now like the fact that meat fills me up so quickly. I also find that I stay full longer with denser meats than with those with more water.

The reason I am more wary of alcohol calories than I am treat food calories is that I understand that alcohol is burned first. While you're burning off alcohol, you are not burning fat. This is true for sweets as well, but to a lesser degree. This is why I don't eat sweets (with rare, planned exceptions), even when they might fit in my calorie allotment. I definitely do better when my carbs are very low, but I know this may not be true for everybody. Although I am aware of the statistics, I am not too concerned about becoming an alcoholic. My pre-surgery drinking habits were pretty lightweight. I saved alcohol for special occasions and drank very lightly when I did indulge. I expect this pattern to continue once I resume drinking. Regarding food addiction, it's true that I overate, but I believe that was mostly due to my inability to experience fullness until I was over full. (Until my surgery, I rarely felt full.) But I was always a good, disciplined dieter. I just wouldn't stay on the diet for much more than a year and my weight always came back.

I guess my weight loss is too recent, but I don't see an old me and a new me. Just me. I am the same person I was 115 pounds ago. I am just currently making better health choices and working harder on my long term well being. Self hate is a foreign concept to me. Now embarrassment, that's something I can relate to. I am a prideful person. When I look back at how much I weighed, I am embarrassed that I let myself get so big.

When your size 10 slacks fall down in the middle of your Christmas family gathering.

Yes, it is confusing. When I attended my first WLS seminar nearly a decade ago, I was told that we could never have alcohol again after surgery. This year they recommended waiting at least six months. There's a big difference between six months and forever! I guess the science is evolving.

One of the real pleasures of my former lifestyle was having a good glass of wine with a fine meal. I really miss that. But I keep putting off my first post-op glass of wine. Of the few treats I have allowed myself in the past few months, I have chosen to have Desserts rather than wine. Then the next day I regret my choice because the dessert turns out not to be so special and I can never eat a whole serving anyway. I think I'm afraid to have the wine because I believe that alcohol interferes with weight loss even more than simple carbs. I guess I'll just wait until I reach my ultimate goal before I partake. But even then, I won't be able to drink it with my meal. Oh well, I'll trade that pleasure for my new healthier body anytime.

I'm glad that I am one of the lucky ones with the extra burn. I wonder how long the effect will last? I still want to lose about 5 more pounds before my tummy tuck next year.

I was one of those people who lost a significant amount of weight pre-surgery. I would have wanted to blast anyone who questioned my right to pursue WLS at my new weight. I would not like to be judged by anyone who does not have all of the facts.