demleonard

There are plenty of people who see a therapist for food related concerns- this is an entirely normal and very healthy thing to do. I have seen a therapist in the past for various concerns and who else is going to listen to you talk for 50 minutes without being judgemental, and actually give you legitimate, rational ideas for how to improve your mental health? If you can find a therapist that you mesh well with, this can be a great addition to your healthcare, even if you really don't talk about food at all. I tend to think a lot of us became fat because we have emotional issues that are buried under all of the years of using food for comfort and if you can dig out what my therapist called "the big T's and the little T's" (T stands for trauma and it's not just about big traumatic issues, but little ones that add up over time) you can work to recover not just as a person who uses food as a drug in a sense, but also as a person in general. Taking care of your mental health has an enormous impact on your physical health and if you have the means to have a therapist, it will really only help you. You go to the dermatologist for a skin check, to your PCP for physicals, and your dentist to get your teeth cleaned- sometimes a trip to the therapist is just another type of personal maintenance. There doesn't have to be something wrong with you to have a check-up with every other doctor- seeing a therapist is no different.

'you should just try to eat less and exercise more. Anything else doesn't work'
Or
' I don't believe you did that! That's so extreme! You're going to regret it!'

"Well, have you tried just diet and excerise?"
Like every other overweight person on the planet, only about 100 times......

My consultants at the wellness center have not set a goal weight for me but I want to lose at least 100 pounds from my top weight. That would put me at 172. That is above a healthy BMI but I think I could maintain that weight.
However, I am "stuck" in the 180's and have been for about 3 months now! Had my surgery 1 year ago and am now at the point where every little slip shows up on the scale.
I know I need to watch what I eat, log it and keep track of Protein and Fluid intake but I tend to start of good in the morning and then lose it as the day goes on. An old habit that is hard to shake!

I can relate to gaining, since I am doing it myself right now. My food is off quite a bit so I decided to get on here and see if I can get some inspiration from others. And you are giving me that by being honest about falling off the wagon. Glad you turned it around and hope I can get there, too!

Don't be ashamed! It's a wonderful thing to be able to spot it and correct it before it spirals out of control! Well done!

Well I'm 8 months out of surgery... The past 3 months I had gained 9 pounds of the 55 I had lost back.. 2 weeks ago I realized what I was doing and quickly made a change. It have successfully lost that 9 pounds again and I am going to continue on the right path. Anyone else do this? I'm ashamed of myself, but still love me. Lol I don't know what I was thinking. I would rather have 2 Cookies for Breakfast that 2 eggs... I still do not over eat. Just made terrible choices of what to eat!! Still remained soda free. So that is a plus. Anyways kicked it in high gear at the gym. I still think I can get the last 45 pounds off by Nov. to hit my onderland by my 1yr sleevaversary. I hope everyone is doing great, and hope to be back on for support often over the next few months!!
my son did start hitting the gym with me to provide entertainment ☺️

Now that VST has been around awhile, there are a lot of us at goal who are learning to maintain.

I would like to discuss maintenance. Is it easy for you? It is not easy for me.
I fight it every day. I can eat so much more than I could when I first had surgery. I don't feel really full all the time the way I did a year ago.

I used to be able to eat a meal and feel so full for hours that I had no desire to eat again until it was meal time again.

I would say that Head hunger is more than 75% of hunger for me. I can eat a meal and thoughts of junk food enter my mind an hour later.

I am so thankful that I do have this tool to help me maintain, but it will always be a battle for me to not eat chips, candy and all the rest of the stuff that could easily pack on 20 lbs in a short time if I gave into my head hunger.

How are the rest of you at goal doing? Is eating healthy such a habit now that you have no desire to snack?

So I am hoping today was the last day ever that I had to ask for a seat belt extender in the airplane (with I swear everyone staring). It was like when I asked for it- the needle dragged across the record, the spot light was on me and everything else was dark, and I was speaking through a bullhorn. Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating but that's what it felt like. Then everyone's eyes looking at mine like please don't sit next to me. Not drinking anything in plane in case I had to pee and jam into the tiny toilet. Taking up part of my sons seat with him throwing a fit mommy why can't I sit near the window. Couldn't really say because mommy is too fat and needs part of your seat. Ughhhhh! Surgery is July 29. Couldn't be sooner!!!!!