IcanMakeit

It sounds like you have a good attitude. So many of us get so hung up on the number of lbs lost and lbs to go that we forget to appreciate the health improvements we are achieving. You are so right. Getting beyond my co-morbidities is way more important than the number on the scale. I also think pressuring yourself to lose a certain amount of weight in a certain amount of time might lead to frustration and eventual backsliding. Of course, I'm a big hypocrite because I am tickled that I made my Labor Day goal a week early. But I hope that if I did no make the goal, I would just keep on keeping on without recriminations.

I felt the way you do a couple of months ago. I felt that since I lost so much weight pre-surgery, that I should lose more and faster after the surgery. But our bodies are not machines. There are lots of things interacting at once and we don't control what our bodies do with the inputs. We only control what fuel we feed it and how we exercise. Please don't give up. If you keep moving in the right direction, you will eventually arrive at your desired destination.

I have not encountered mean-spirited posts on this site and I'm sorry if that has been your experience. I am actually grateful when I make one of my hand wringing complaints and someone gives me a reality check. But I know I would not get take it well if their advice was actually a put-down. If you see a post that is inappropriate, please report it. I don't want this site to go the way of so many other places on the internet!

I have not heard about any correlation between weight loss surgery and birth defects, but to put your mind at rest, you should talk to your surgeon as well as your PCP.

I am so sorry you are going through this. It is indeed a scary place to be. But I don't think you should totally give up on your WLS plans before you know your diagnosis. It won't hurt to go to your appointment and discuss your situation. I am sending you healing thoughts.

CW: 163! I can't believe I made goal a week early after losing slowly, or not at all for a few weeks. Bring on the Halloween challenge.

Everyone is different, but I definitely needed two weeks before going back to work. It took that long for me to feel like I could stay awake all day. I also had very bad nausea caused by the antibiotics I had to take. Regarding hair loss, I have heard that if it's going to happen, it usually starts around the 4th month after surgery. And the only thing that affects its severity and duration is adequate Protein and Vitamin supplementation. I am not at the 4-month mark yet, so I don't really know if I'm going to lose a lot of hair. I haven't noticed any changes so far.

Hi. I'm 60 years old and I live in the wine country in Northern California. I'm a little rattled right now because we just had a pretty strong earthquake. But the earthquake reminded me of how lucky I am. Not only did my friends, family and job all come through the earthquake just fine, but I had my 3 month follow-up appointment with my surgeon and was told that my A1C level was absolutely normal. I was so happy, I would have hugged him if that would not have been completely inappropriate. But my list of good fortune is actually much longer and deeper than that: I have a great, supportive husband, two adult children who are healthy and happy, and the two cutest grandsons on the planet. I know everyone thinks that, but for me, it's true :-)

Even though pre-surgery I told myself that I would likely be a slow loser, after reading about others' successes, I became impatient. If they can lose 20 lbs. in a month, why not me? Now after three months, when these thoughts arise, I tell myself, "slow your roll!" Everyone is different and we are not machines. If you stay on track, you will lose. Maybe not as fast, you'd like, but you will lose.

Congratulations. What a great accomplishment.

I understand you not wanting to have your kids be too far apart to be companions, but I think your health should take precedence. Also, your pregnancy and childbirth will be less complicated if you are not obese.

Please add me to the challenge roster, and thank you so much for organizing the challenge. Since it doesn't look like I'll make my Labor Day goal, I hope to do better on this one.

CW: 167. No change again. But since I just got back from a mini vacation, during which I had bacon and sausage, it's my own fault. I know what to do. I just have to do it.

This is a great topic. I love hearing about everyone's success. Congrats to all. I've only lost 35 lbs in the three months since the surgery. But health wise, I've gone a lot further! I'm definitely enjoying the increased strength and vigor. And because I lost a whole bunch before the surgery, my total loss is pretty good. I'm happy with my results so far.

Thanks for the "attagirls". With such stellar support we will all make our short term and long term goals.

As of today I am overweight and I want to dance. I've gone from morbidly obese to obese to overweight in just over 7 months. I'm feeling hopeful now that my surgeon's goal is very attainable and my own personal goal might be as well. Yay me.

167 today. Only 4 lbs to the Labor Day goal. I think I can. I think I can....

This is not a stupid question, but it is a common one. From the other posts I have read, the amount of loose skin you end up with depends on your age, genetics and how long you have been overweight. Exercise may be helpful, but it may not make much of a difference. But since exercise is important, it's totally worth doing.

I have been reading with growing jealousy about women who have lost significant amounts of weight and have now dropped several dress sizes. These are wonderful accomplishments and deserve to be applauded. But mixed in with my congratulations is my feeling that it is unfair that people who weigh 30 - 50 lbs more than I currently weigh, wear 14's and 16's when I can't fit into 18's and 20's. I know it's petty to be jealous, but just today I tried on an XL jacket and found, once again, that it was way too small. I've come so far in pounds lost (more than 70), and I've barely changed size on top. I'm still wearing my size 24 tops and dresses, for gosh sake! And they are only a little bit large on me. And my waist is still so large and flabby, I have to wear slacks with elastic waists. How many more lbs must I lose before I, too can shop in the regular sizes? Ok. Thank you for letting me get that off my chest. I'll try to return to being a reasonable excuse for an adult now.

Current weight: 171. No loss for the second week in a row. That's what I get for getting cocky. A couple of weeks ago, I was all "I got this."

I so needed to hear this right now. Thank you.

I've been riding for almost two months now. At first, it was really tough. I had to get off and push the bike up even small hills. But now, although I'm a lot slower going uphill than down, I no longer have to get off and push. Keep at it. It definitely gets easier the more you do it.

I'm happy for you that it went so well. And as a another parent of adult children, I am high-fiving your parents for being so supportive.

Your body takes a while to adjust after surgery. It is very common to lose little or nothing in the first couple of weeks post surgery, even though your caloric intake is so limited. When this was happening to me, everyone told me to drink more Water. The more water you drink, the more you flush the fluids out of your system.

Today's weight: 171. Well, I had a good run for the previous 4 weeks. I guess I shouldn't complain about not losing this week. (But of course I will.)