Madmax68

@@gowalking Thank you for your post. I was just wallowing in self-imposed misery because I had a small gain over the holidays. Thank you for helping me put everything in perspective. It's important to look at the positives and how far we've come. (I'm also back at the pool today so will overcome this small setback).

I'm finally down to a weight where I can go horseback riding and would absolutely love to get out riding in 2016. I want to try ziplining too. There are so many things that my weight used to restrict me from doing - I want to do them all!

184.6 - another gain. My biggest yet. I see lots of gym time in my future

I've gained .6

181.8

181.2 - my biggest loss in ages!

I have ADD and take 40 mg of Vyvanse daily. I took it up to the day of surgery and started taking again the day after. I've had no problems with it and no crashes when it wears off. I do however, take it upon waking at 6:30 - 7:00, so it's out of my system when I go to bed at 10:00. I have no trouble sleeping at night. I've been on it for years and it never really curbed my appetite. Since the surgery I don't have much appetite but I believe that's mainly attributable to the lack of ghrelin. the vyvanse likely helps too, but my hunger doesn't pick up on the weekends when I don't take it.

185.6 this week - slow going but at least it's going - lol.

186.7

I'm at 188 this week - 2 pounds under my original goal! I'm going to keep going to 140-150, I think.

189.2

I'd contact the hospital or your surgeon and let them know what's going on.

@ You are right. I started out with a big, hairy goal of losing 123 lbs and no longer being in the obese range. In the next day or two I will have reached that goal. another goal of fifty pounds seems manageable in comparison.

I just have such an extreme fear of failure. I've failed with weight loss programs so many times before and then loathed myself for it.

I have to remember this isn't a diet, I've changed my life, my attitude and thinking. I have an arsenal of tools to help me this time - the sleeve, a support network that includes you folks, friends and family and the bariatric program staff. I eat properly, exercise and am continuing to lose weight.

I'm thinking I'll set a goal of 140, then Celebrate every ten pounds as I get there.

@@BLERDgirl I've always been an all or nothing person, but I think changing my thinking has helped me to be successful so far in this particular journey. On days I don't want to go swimming I tell myself "go for half an hour" Then I tell myself "You are already here, you might as well swim a kilometer" (that takes 40 minutes) then I think "well, you can put in another 20 minutes, no problem". Pretty soon my workout is done and I feel good about myself.

I think that's one of the reasons I am waivering. I like the idea of the great big goal, but will I work as hard towards it it it seems so far away?

My grandmother and I were very close and she passed several years ago. Interestingly, when I came home from the hospital I had a dream that we were sipping iced tea on a porch, talking about my surgery. She gave me a big hug (she gave the best hugs) and told me how proud she was of me. I woke up with happy tears for that visit from heaven.

I had to get a Bracelet for another health reason. they asked me questions about my medical history and the VSG came up, they suggested it also be on the bracelet. It just says "VSG/Gastrectomy" along with my other medical info.

Originally, when I started this journey, my goal was to get ten pounds under my doctor's goal for me of 200 lbs. Right now I am sitting at 191 and so excited to have lost almost 123 lbs, more than 80 since my surgery 8 months ago.

For all intents and purposes I have met my goal. But I want to go so much farther and I think I can. Ideally, I would like to be smack dab in the middle of the 120-160 range, which the BMI chart tells me would put me in the healthy range. So 140 is my big hairy goal, the one I secretly wanted to attain when the doc told me I would likely always be obese, just less so.

My problem with working to that goal is a feeling of failure if I don't make it. I might get to 160 or 170 and be happy with my health and my looks and my size and decide to stop then. I haven't been that weight as an adult, so I really don't know. And the honeymoon period could be over any month.

I am thinking of setting ten pound goals for myself, celebrating the mini victories along the way and if I get to 140 great! If not, I have to remember I did meet (and hopefully surpass) my initial goal.

What was your thought process when you set your goal? What do you think of the small goals vs one big one?

Thanks!

Hey Steph! I'm in. starting weight 191.6, goal 173.6 I'm hoping to lose 18 lbs.

Thanks for putting this together!

I'm finishing at 193.4

Thanks again for putting this together Steph. It is really greatly appreciated.

The taste got better? Or your ability to drink it without getting nauseous? Thanks

The taste got better, but the sensation of the ice Water hitting my stomach makes me nauseous for some reason.

I'm 7 1/2 months out - i found it got better gradually - now I can enjoy Water again, but not too cold. Ice Water still doesn't sit well.

The opiates made me nauseous as well. As soon as they got me off them, I could start to keep down Water. I hope you are feeling better soon.

Sounds fun! I'm interested to hear how it turns out. I'd make bariatric friendly foods like cheese crisps with salsa, hummus and veggies, shrimp cocktail, etc.

Please keep us posted!

194.2

Way to go @@skinnyrita! You must feel terrific - I am so happy for you

Hi @@skinnyrita My sister is around your age and looking into the VSG too. I think she's a little concerned about her age, but more concerned about high blood pressure as well as hip and knee pain. I'll tell her about your success.