IcanMakeit

I think that the perception that WLS is the "wrong" way to lose weight comes from the fact that most people who haven't had it, think it's easy. And since lots of people believe that obese people are lazier or more self indulgent than others or lack self control, they don't want us to be able to lose weight easily. We should have to work hard to overcome our character flaws. I don't think these feelings are at the forefront of most people's thought processes, but I do believe they are there.

Challenge starting weight: 107
Goal: 107
Labor Day weight: 104
I did not achieve my goal, but I have learned a great deal by following my weight and food intake. I know that I'm under eating out of fear. I believe that as time goes on, I'll get used to being thin and will become less fearful of weight gain.

I'm back to my pre-vacation weight: 105.

@@charmia, that's my take on it, too. I think that since smoking marijuana lowers inhibitions, you could end up making bad food choices and/or overeating. I'm not a smoker but if I was, I would avoid it post surgery.
Just my $.02: Lets be careful how we use the term addiction. If it's applied indiscriminately to every behavior we don't approve of, it loses its meaning.

I don't know if this qualifies as an NSV, but I ate popcorn last weekend and did not try to overeat it, nor did it lead me to start craving other slider foods. (Popcorn is one of the foods that I abused most often when I was obese.) I think if I keep dangerous treats to a minimum, I can learn to eat them occasionally and responsibly.

I was at 108 this morning after my week and a half of vacation. This is what I knew would happen if I stopped following the rules. This is not a disaster since I was underweight, but I am now recommitting to my healthy lifestyle.

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.

I'm sorry to be late to report in. I've been on vacation with no access to a scale. And apparently no restraint. My weight this morning was 107.

I'm really wanting plastics, too. It's disappointing to finally be thin, but not be able to really appreciate it because of the prodigious amount of loose skin on my abdomen.
But on a more positive note, my husband and I just took a long twilight walk (well I walked, he used his mobility scooter) and both of us were amazed that I could walk so much further and so much faster than last year. I'm no longer 60 going on 82. I'm now feeling like 61 going on 45.

@@Essence46
I understand your resentment. You are putting in the effort, you should get the desired result, dang it! But as you stated: we can't compare ourselves to others. Some have bodies that are stubborn and hang onto every pound, others have a pretty smooth journey for the first year. But most of the people who consistently continue the healthy lifestyle end up in the same place a couple of years out.

I agree that trying to encourage people to lose weight is bound to cause friction. The best way to support your loved one's efforts toward health is to share your new healthy habits with them. Invite them (without insisting or nagging) to participate in your activities/exercise and share your healthy foods with them. You can't force people to change, you can only support the change once it begins to occur.

I agree that trying to encourage people to lose weight is bound to cause friction. The best way to support your loved one's efforts toward health is to share your new healthy habits with them. Invite them (without insisting or nagging) to participate in your activities/exercise and share your healthy foods with them. You can't force people to change, you can only support the change once it begins to occur.

I am 13 months out from my vertical sleeve surgery and my surgeon recently commented that I have lost over 120% of my excess weight (from 244 down to 110). I think the statistics that lead surgeons to believe that the gastric bypass was more efficacious than the sleeve were from studies that looked at one year to 18 months results. At two years, the stats for both surgeries are about the same. Don't make your decision based on estimates of possible weight loss. Either WLS can be successful if you follow your surgeon's instructions and either can fail due to noncompliance with the bariatric program. If you decide that you are willing to make the lifelong changes that WLS requires, choose the type of surgery based on the one you believe will do the most to improve your long term health and the least to harm it. For me, that was VSG. For someone else, it might be GB.

I agree that trying to encourage people to lose weight is bound to cause friction. The best way to support your loved one's efforts toward health is to share your new healthy habits with them. Invite them (without insisting or nagging) to participate in your activities/exercise and share your healthy foods with them. You can't force people to change, you can only support the change once it begins to occur.

@@leag78 I know this isn't what you want to hear but my advice is that you just keep following your doc's plan and try to be patient. Everyone loses at their own pace and we don't get to dictate to our bodies how quickly to lose. Your weight loss so far seems pretty darned good. Try not to worry so much, just enjoy the benefits.

You are not being dumb, just human. Like me right now... I am about to "jump time" as I call it waiting for my call for approval. It has been the longest 9 days yet! LOL
Besides, when I get to where you are it will be you reminding me of this. LOVE this community.

@@amazon, I heard you say ice cream equals weight loss and that's all I needed to hear! LOL.
@@enjoythetime, I am afraid that the weight I put on will not come right back off. I have witnessed some pretty disappointing regains in my family and I don't want to follow in their footsteps.

I agree that trying to encourage people to lose weight is bound to cause friction. The best way to support your loved one's efforts toward health is to share your new healthy habits with them. Invite them (without insisting or nagging) to participate in your activities/exercise and share your healthy foods with them. You can't force people to change, you can only support the change once it begins to occur.

I have two good reasons and one stupid one for not posting pictures, 1) I haven't told the world about my surgery, 2) I am a very private person and don't relish the thought of sharing intimate details about my body when I can be readily identified by my photos, and 3) I use an iPad and uploading photos to this site from the iPad is not easy. Oh, and one more: 4) I hate the way I look in photographs. I thought I took bad pictures because I was heavy. It turns out that I just don't photograph well whether fat or thin.
@@Elode you do not have that last problem. You look gorgeous.

@@leag78 I know this isn't what you want to hear but my advice is that you just keep following your doc's plan and try to be patient. Everyone loses at their own pace and we don't get to dictate to our bodies how quickly to lose. Your weight loss so far seems pretty darned good. Try not to worry so much, just enjoy the benefits.

@@amazon, I heard you say ice cream equals weight loss and that's all I needed to hear! LOL.
@@enjoythetime, I am afraid that the weight I put on will not come right back off. I have witnessed some pretty disappointing regains in my family and I don't want to follow in their footsteps.

I have two good reasons and one stupid one for not posting pictures, 1) I haven't told the world about my surgery, 2) I am a very private person and don't relish the thought of sharing intimate details about my body when I can be readily identified by my photos, and 3) I use an iPad and uploading photos to this site from the iPad is not easy. Oh, and one more: 4) I hate the way I look in photographs. I thought I took bad pictures because I was heavy. It turns out that I just don't photograph well whether fat or thin.
@@Elode you do not have that last problem. You look gorgeous.

Love this topic! I understand the fear. We went to Jamaica last year, I was 6 months into maintenance and had surpassed my original WL goal. I went into it with the mindset that I took waaaay too many vacations where I was miserable, wearing a tent, hiding from the world so I opted to enjoy myself but was still conscious of my choices. I didn't deprive myself but I didn't overindulge either. We were on the go constantly so that helped. Whatever you decide to do just know that once you get back into your regular routine the weight you may see come on will come right back. Have fun, enjoy the time:-) After all that's why we all did this right?

Let loose, be bold, laugh, enjoy! Do what you want to do and don't let anything hold you back! Dare to try new things!

I had a recent vacation. I found that although I had a few things that I usually don't have (like a small scoop of ice cream every day) I came back a couple of pounds lighter. I was WAY more active than I would have been 90 lbs ago. I'd like to say ice cream = weight loss, but um, no, lol.
I say don't sweat it. Enjoy.