ddeldridge

Everyone here has nailed it. I started at 305 day of surgery, and lost about 150 in a year. But while everyone shares their own story the important thing is to not compare your success to anyone else.
Do what the doctor tells you, Celebrate little goals, and don't beat yourself up when you make mistakes.
Hang in there!! Stick with it and you'll do great!

I started at a much higher weight than you and I am over half way to goal.
It is possible to be successful. Just don't calibrate your expectations based on what other people experience.
You will probably experience rapid weight loss initially. You will probably experience slow downs and weight fluctuations. You will definitely experience periodic stalls, starting with a pretty common one about three weeks post op.
Based on my experience so far, the best thing to do is:
Follow your program.
Track your food.
Make sure you get at least 64 oz of Fluid a day.
Make sure you reach your Protein target every day.
Avoid starches, added sugars (especially high fructose corn syrup), and fried foods.
Take your Vitamins and supplements as directed.
Practice mindful eating: eat slowly, take small bites, and chew thoroughly.
Exercise when cleared.
Stay off the scale.
And, learn to Embrace the Stall
http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

I started my bariatric program at 478 lbs.
I'm down ~185 or so now at 10 months post-op.
I've clearly got another 50+ pounds to lose. Doubtful I'll make by the 12 month point......but I WILL get there by the end of 2016.
I don't consider this awesome success because I know I could have lost more. There were times when I strayed off course and learned to find my way back. Had I stayed true and on plan.....I would have made the goal by 12 months....easily.
My tips are to weigh often......know where you stand.......know what corrective actions that you can take to get to where you want to be.
Measure your food & drink caloric intake on myfitnesspal or similar. You have to have accurate ideas of what you are consuming.
Exercise as frequently as you can. On occasion, make that exercise on either a treadmill or elliptical machine where you can input your weight and it'll calculate your calories burned during that session. There are some powerful thoughts generated when you see and feel how hard it is to burn 750 calories......how much you had to sweat to do it. This knowledge will come to the forefront of your consciousness when you are faced with snack food and garbage calories.......you'll be more likely to kick that crap aside.
Keep in mind your ultimate goals and let your daily behaviors be driven by these.
Learn to have fun along the way and find comfort in your progress and new abilities......not find comfort from food.

I started out at 463 and at 19 months out I’m currently at 232. I lost exactly 200 pounds at my one year anniversary and then hit a major, months-long stall. Which completely sucked, as you can imagine. Doing everything right and not losing weight or inches was so frustrating, but a part of it unfortunately. It finally broke and I went back to steadily losing again, although much slower. I’d like to lose another 30-40 pounds (and then start in on plastic surgery), but honestly, if I didn’t lose another pound I would consider myself content.
There really is no way to describe how different my life is. Every aspect has improved – personal relationships, work, putting on shoes, driving my car… I wanted to dance with glee the first time I slid into a booth seat at a restaurant and fit properly (because in the past I didn’t fit and my stomach would bulge over the table top). In the past I’ve suffered with mild depression and anxiety. Even though they’re still there, I now feel such a sense of hope that things can actually change and this is a way of life I can maintain.
I was very nervous about having the surgery as well. Not only had nothing ever worked for me in the past but I have a cousin who had the band, then the sleeve, and then after a few years regained half of the weight that she’d lost and was very discouraged and really struggling to take it off again. This showed me, more than anything, that this isn’t an easy fix-all. It really takes work. I’ve had to relearn an entirely new way of eating and now have a much better relationship with food.
Everyone above has already posted some amazing tips for you; I won’t repeat what they’ve already said. Just know that, yes – it can work for you, but you have to be willing to put in the effort and make some changes.
Good luck!

Isn't medical science amazing?
When we have a blocked artery, we can have the artery opened up with a stent or balloon with heart surgery.
When a woman laboring is having problems delivering, putting her and her baby's life in danger, she can have a c-cection.
When we get cancer, we can have helpful but toxic drugs pumped through our bodies to fight it and hopefully put it in remission.
When we've tried every diet under the sun and completely screwed our metabolisms up, or we have physical issues that make it almost impossible to lose or keep weight off, we can have bariatric surgery.
No, medical intervention isn't always the way it's "meant" to be, but sometimes it's necessary.

a lot of people expressed to me dismay over cutting out a "perfectly healthy organ" but to me my system was not perfectly healthy. I was hungry all the time. it would take me 3 or 4 times the amount of food I should have been eating just to feel satisfied. I don't know - in time, science may reveal causes of obesity - but in the mean time I have to live and be as healthy as I can. the surgery gave me that
now my diabetes is GONE. and a normal child size portion satisfies me. completely satisfied. with a normal amount of food. I have never lost the weight before, and it feels wonderful all the changes in my body.
I can't say if it is right for you, but most of us only feel like we should have done it sooner. Keep searching your heart and see whether you are ready for this or not.

Oh... My... Gosh! You look amazing and it sounds like you FEEL AMAZING. This may sound harsh but, I would count the people that left your side as extra weight as well. In today's world, we HAVE to be supportive of people's gender identity, sexual preference, religious views etc. but not one movement has been made to support those that are on a journey to be healthy! I see it the same as a journey to find who you are.
Btw... Nice hooters
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Forgot to mention.....
SW: 386
CW: 264
Starting size: 30/32
Current size: 18/20, 22
I haven't been this size since high school!!!
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App