Ruth1ess

@@KristenVSG2014 And our stats are so close!! Thank you for sharing!

Thanks. I'm feeling fierce tonight. And a little angry. I'm not even close to being done yet!

I'm 189 today, down a total of 104 lbs. Tomorrow is my 8 month Surgiversary. My goal before surgery was 185. It would set me into the 'overweight' category, a BMI of 29. It's my lowest adult weight, ever. I have ridden around 250 for most of it, jetting to 293 at my highest. But in 4 pounds, I'll make that goal. I'm squeezing into sz 12s from sz 24s, by my surgeon’s and everyone else’s standards, I am a success story. But it doesn’t feel like it. I'm happy with my progress. I struggled with so much fear before and after surgery, that I'd stall out places I'd been before in my life. 240. 220. I never thought I'd see 200, but, I hoped when I got surgery that I would settle right around there as my bariatric physician said I would. Then, I blew past that. That fear still remains, even though I've succeeded far past the places on the scale that I didn’t think I could ever get to. I've decided today that I'm going to go for broke. My new goal is 159, one pound into a 'normal' BMI. Not because I'm unhappy with my body. Not because I think I'm still fat. Because that fear is still there, and today I'm taking hold of it and saying No. I'm not going to let it control me any more. I'm saying today that I Can, and I refuse to be afraid of "I can't" anymore. When I think of all of the times I've been afraid of failure and how it's held me back, I want to scream in frustration, ball my fists, and lash back at the stupidity. My life would be so much different if I didn’t have that fear (which is saying a lot, considering I lead a very adventurous life -- no one would ever know my internal struggle). But, this is it. I’m seizing control today. I’m going to proceed on and hit that goal of 159 without any ifs, ands, or buts. This is it, this is my life. Not the life of my fear. That fear doesn’t have place with me any more, simply because I say so.

I'm 8 months out and still looking for a replacement. Sent from my Nexus 6P using the BariatricPal App

I personally would not. Riding in Cars/sitting position for any length of time hurt me that soon after surgery. You may be craving the alone time, too! Sent from my Nexus 6P using the BariatricPal App

You guys are too kind. I'm so glad I can inspire you!! Sent from my Nexus 6P using the BariatricPal App

@@BettyG Thank you, you can do it!! I started with a BMI of 46

I just updated my weight and saw my BMI.. I'm officially 'OVERWEIGHT'! Goodbye OBESE!!!

@@show1980 I'm still at 800-900 calories a day. I hit this most of the time, or I just don't lose. Breakfast: A bottle of Water before Breakfast, while I'm commuting 2-4 oz of scrambled eggs with ketchup or with a sausage patty Lunch: meat Protein and veggie from work cafeteria. If nothing else looks good, I'll nab some grilled chicken from the salad bar and a few bites of my favorite veggies. Today they were serving tacos.. I love tacos! So I had taco insides with sour cream and guac, no shell. Snack: One of the following: cheese or glass of fairlife milk, or maybe a Protein shake depending on how my protein goals look. I also really love the Quest protein chips BBQ flavor. 6-8 small Kosher dill pickles if I've already had a heavy calorie day. String cheese. Handful of sriracha cashews. Dinner: Meat protein and maybe veggie. I usually get lazy here and sometimes I'll get some panda express -- teriyaki chicken or angus beef, no sauce, with steamed veggies. That lasts me a few days. Or an order of wings and plantains from Pollo Tropical as a special treat. Or, I'll get into mega lazy mode and cook up a frozen turkey patty, or nuke some premade frozen meatballs with a little sauce of some kind (trader joes has a great peanut sauce, or bbq). Sometimes I'll pick up some sashimi on the way home, one of my favorites.

I started at 293, being 150 lbs overweight. After pre-surgery diet and dieting on my own, I was 275 on surgery day. I'm now 7 months out and I've lost 100 lbs. That's 66% of my excess weight. Assuming weight loss all but stops at 12 months, I've got 5 more months left to lose. I'm confident I'll hit between 78-80% of excess weight gone. This is far above my bariatric doctor's predictions. He said I'd stop after losing 91 lbs. In fact, I was chided in group education class for saying I was an overachiever and wanted to lose more than that. Pffft. My body's a trooper.

@@chukki Thank you! I haven't really had a problem with loose skin. I do feel all around soft and pudgy, though, so I know there's some room to bounce back. Problem areas for me: 1. Turkey neck -- there are stretch marks/wrinkles under my chin now that drive me crazy. I'm trying some firming creams now because I'm only 35.. shouldn't have those yet! 2. Bat wings. My arms have always been the biggest part of me proportionally, I think I will probably have plastic surgery (brachioplasty) here eventually including down into the side-boob area. Time will tell. I'm going to give it another full year before I consider plastics. 3. I've carried the majority of my weight in my thighs. My inner thighs are pretty saggy/droopy, but I don't think I'll get it fixed. Par for the course. Pants will cover. 4. My tummy is puckered a little, but I think that time will smooth this out. Overall happy with how my stomach is beginning to lay flat! I'm not too worried about these things overall, though. I feel great and I feel like my 'fat prison' is gone forever. I'm a new person and have the rest of my life in front of me!

Hit your Protein goals, hit your Water goals, become active. Stay away from carbs and junk. Stay around 800 calories. Track everything. Sent from my Nexus 6P using the BariatricPal App

Wow, I woke up to some amazing comments, thanks everyone!! I'm glad I can inspire a few folks. @@Heather I I've been focused on intake and increasing my activity level overall. I'm a pretty active person outside of structured exercise. That being said, I'm definitely 'soft' and pudgy all around and need to get some toning in. I'm just really horrible at that. I need to find something that I love to do and can stick with because my will power in going to the gym is null. @@Jersey4sexy You can do it!! You are starting at a lower BMI so your skin will probably bounce right back It depends on the elasticity of your skin, body type, and age. If you're still in your 20s or 30s, you're in luck -- your age will significantly help. As for what you will eat after surgery, there is a lot of information in this forum about that. Look at the pre and post surgery section for help, but ultimately, you'll follow your surgeon's eating plan.

@ I'm okay with that Thanks all! So excited to see where things go from here!

100 lbs, gone forever. I still have 5 months til the end of my 12 month loss grace period. Really looking forward to seeing how far my sleeve can help me go! Happy Thanksgiving, all! HW: 293 CW: 193 GW: 185 Sleeved 4/14/2016

I'm a size 14, originally a size 24. I'm also only at 6 months! My goal is to be a size 12, but I just hit Onederland today and I'm considering pushing for a sz 10. Goal is so close!

Congratulations, you're on your way! 6 months in and loving every minute

I'm so impressed with your progress! Can I be you when I grow up? hehe. I've also had to learn not to write the entire day off as a loss once I screw up, and I don't deprive myself, either. If it's a special occasion or there's something I *really* want, I'll indulge in a small way and keep going with my day. I don't make it a habit, and I don't let food be the thing I revolve around anymore. This is a marathon, not a sprint. I really need to learn to workout, besides walking... I want to build my strength and endurance. I think that's going to be the next step for me.

@@dede0314 I notice now that we had the same surgeon! Same starting weight, same surgeon, and you dropped way over the expected loss for the gastric sleeve. Do you have any wisdom to share with me?

Monthly update! I've gone from 293 to now 210. I can feel ONEderland right on the horizon! Long term goal of 185, 25 lbs til goal. I had to do some better food logging management after almost a month long stall, and then I started dropping again like crazy. 5 months out and on 800 calories/day as my plan allows. I have three weeks to make my first goal of 199 lbs (it's when I meet the boyfriend's parents..eek!). Again.. so close! And I feel GREAT! I love being able to shop anywhere now. I just slipped into size 16 jeans comfortably and I can shop in the XL/L section at stores. It's so liberating and overwhelming all at once. I can shop for style now instead of necessity!

It will get better. After the first week, it should get just a tiny bit better daily. Before you know it, you'll be able to get your Water in. But it will always be a challenge -- or, it is for me. I still have problems with plain water at 5 months out, but I can make it work if there are no other options (finally). I add a splash of juice to everything. Lots of lemon, in a pinch. Tepid water is the most difficult thing to deal with. But quantity is no problem now. Some people have no issues at all at this stage. Everyone's going to be a little bit different. But it gets better, and will very soon!

5 months out next week. Starting weight: 293 Current weight: 216 Weight in 'after' picture: 220 or so Goal: 185 Still more to go, but I've regained my energy and confidence. Went from a sz 24 pants and 2-3XL top to size 16 pants and XL top. I can go forever now without getting tired. Simple tasks are no longer a chore. Planes are comfortable and feel like they were made to fit me. Bathrooms are more comfortable. The world doesn't have to bend to accommodate my size any more.

Feeling good with 70 lbs lost today. Wanted to show a picture and brag a little 38 more til goal, 24 until ONEderland!

Today's my 3 month surgiversary! It's only a headshot, but I don't have a good 'after' picture yet. 64 lbs down total since my preop diet! 44 lbs til goal.

Let HR be the one to slap him in the face. Seriously!! People like that will never learn otherwise to keep their thoughts to themselves. All else fails, justifiable homicide ????