*Lexie*

@@MissLiss I'm 8 months out.

Amen to that!! I worked very hard pre-op on dieting and I work very hard post op. The difference is now I actually get results for all that work.

This topic usually draws a lot of attention. I drink diet soda with no issues. I wish I could have given it up permanently but ended up going back to it. My sleeve is still nice and tight.

You look fantastic. Isn't it exciting to have a cute belly button again? I had mine done when I lost weight around 5 years ago. I was very happy with how it turned out, though it is a pretty big surgery and recovery was rough. Luckily I didn't destroy it when I gained that weight back. Other than the sleeve surgery scars, my abs look great now. I just bought a bikini top today for my trip to Cancun in a few months. Oh, just imagine the possibilities ahead of you now!! Congrats!! What a way to reward yourself for all your hard work.

Yay, that is fantastic. I bet you feel amazing. Pick up a 5th grader and carry them around for a few hours and you'll realize why you never felt like doing anything with all that extra weight.

And it was your birthday, that somehow makes it worse. I never used my card. The only place I've ordered a kids meal at is Qdoba (their kids meals are just smaller versions of the regular meals). I typically stick with a side salad or Soup which makes it easier.

I think the 3 week stall is real and there is a scientific explanation for it out there somewhere. I was doing everything right and didn't lose for 3 weeks. However, any other stall or plateau (pre or post op) have been related to my actions. If I do things right, I lose weight. And I can only speak for myself here.

That cruel scale danced around the 200lb mark for me for almost 2 weeks. But it finally dropped below and stayed there. Hang in there, it'll happen.

My surgeon says the 12-18 months is the honeymoon phase. Hunger level is low, restriction is high so weight tends to come off a little easier. That doesn't mean that you can't lose weight after the 1 year mark. It just means that it might slow down and you might have to work a little harder. I've read plenty of stories on here of people continuing to lose after 1 year. If you are focused, you can get to your goal.

I have days where I feel like my stomach is a bottomless pit. And the next day, I take one bite and feel stuffed. It varies day to day and depending on what I eat. I can eat a lot more potato chips than I can chicken breast. So I stay away from potato chips.

I agree that it could be behavioral. I still fight my snacking demons. I am working on breaking those habits. Especially evening snacking. It's just a habit like anything else.

You look fantastic! I work out like crazy too and I'm losing slow. So glad to know I'm not the only one. I'm developing amazing patience.

Yay, congratulations! I have been following you from the beginning of your journey and am so excited to see you near goal. I had surgery a month after you and I'm a slow loser too. I had the same reaction; a few months of insanity over the slow loss to an acceptance and appreciation for the big picture. Of course I'd still like to lose fast but I know that's not going to happen and I'm hoping the one benefit I have is less loose skin.

Starting weight - 181

I'd like to play again. My goal is going to be 174.

Crazy, isn't it? Takes some getting used to. 8 months out and sometimes I still forget how little I can eat.

Welcome @@BigHarleyGuy1, if you want information from people that have gone through it, you are in the right place. Reading through this, I agree with so much that the others have said. @@B-52, you are absolutely right about BMI and my surgeon used the NFL player example in my consultation to show that it's just one measure of health and isn't always accurate. I also agree that this is easier than the traditional method of losing weight. Don't get me wrong, I work very hard, daily workouts, logging my food, etc. But when I want to fall off the wagon in a big plate of buffalo wings, the surgery literally prevents that from happening. (at 8 months out, I can eat 2 buffalo wings)

Hmmm, will have to give that a try.

180.0 today.

I hear it and read it all the time. People saying that someone told them they took the easy way out because they had weight loss surgery. But most of us that have had surgery agree this was the only way we could lose the weight and keep it off. This got me thinking, how many people do you know that did not have weight loss surgery that lost weight and kept it off (for say 3 years or more)? I'll go first. Of all my friends and family, I can think of one person.

I was getting a little hanging skin on my neck. I read that you can fix it by looking straight up and puckering your lips or trying to kiss the sky. I decided to try it and would do it 10 times a day and after a few weeks, I swear it's tightened up and the loose skin is gone. I do use lotion on my neck too.

I'm almost 8 months out and I have to agree, it's getting pretty tough. What's crazy is that I feel like I still have really good restriction. I don't eat much and I exercise a lot (my first 5K is this Saturday) but the weight loss is slow and inconsistent. But like you two, I'm keeping at it. I'm too close to stop now.

Off with your head!! Luckily I quit a few years before surgery. I know how hard it is and I remember thinking that I was so thankful I didn't have to quit while trying to do a pre-op diet and the stress of an upcoming surgery. Lives may have been lost if I had.

Wow, that is amazing. I am running a 5K this Saturday and just hope to finish under 40 minutes. You motivate me to keep at it and hopefully someday I'll finish under 30 minutes.

Luckily no but I have seen that or tough love responses that I think are a little on the tough side and lacking the love. I read and respond but rarely share my struggles because I don't want someone telling me that I should know better or ask me how on earth I was ever approved for surgery so I have those discussions one on one with a few trusted people. I am really sorry to hear that you are getting this type of response. I'm just not sure I'm surprised by it. Maybe you could try finding a few trusted people of your own and sending private messages. As for the challenges, I participate in them too, I think they're really helpful.