Hi,

Where do you want to be in 1 year from now? When I had weight loss surgery, I had no idea how long it was going to take me to lose weight; I was older than most of you and everyone l drops their weight at different speeds. Most all of us ladies know that men lose much faster than we do. For me it took me about 14 months to lose 105 pounds. I was thrilled it only took me that long. I know when I started this journey like the rest of you I wanted it to just melt off of me. As first it felt like it was, but I knew that would slow down and it did.

What I want you to do it take it in small steps. Set you goals by weeks or by a month, and DO NOT put yourself down if you don’t reach that goal. Remember we are all individuals. I had a walking buddy and she was good to keep me motivated and when she was down I did the same for her. She had sleeve surgery with Dr. Aceves about 6 months after I had mine. I was honored when she asked me to go with her for her surgery.

Mix things up, become creative with your food ideas. I actually have become a much better cook now that I am healthy and at my goal weight, but that didn’t happen overnight. I started searching out recipes that I could incorporate in my lifestyle and something that taste great and that my husband and I both would eat. Find the protein that you like and find 50 different ways to cook with it and watch your carbs. Chicken happens to be a protein that I use the most. Those sneaky carbs have a way of messing up your weight loss. If you are eating carbs make them WHOLE GRAIN carbs, not whole wheat—the key word is Whole Grain. Summer is coming along find some great salads and put your protein in along with a little fresh fruit—like strawberries and then make the salad your entire meal. Watch the dressing that you are using. I learned to NOT put the dressing on my salad, but dip my forks into the dressing and with every bite I always get dressing.

So look at the calendar and put a goal in your mind where you would like to be one year from today. Some will be there and some will not. Don’t overwhelm yourself with too big of a goal.

I also used to like to look at catalog or magazines that had beautiful clothes that I wanted to be able to buy when I reached my goal. Looking at these beautiful clothes kept me from eating too. Do what works best for you. I will admit I have bought a lot of new clothes once I reached my goal.

If you haven’t picked your doctor yet I would like to tell you the Dr. Aceves is the very best that you can have for your surgery. If you have any questions about him, I am more than happy to answer anything you would like to know. I wanted the best I could have and after a lot of research and talking to people on these boards, I knew he was the one.

I wish you great success, remember do this one day at a time. If you had a bad day the good news is that day ends and you can start all over the next day.

Hugs,

Suzanne

Sleeved 10/210/2008

That will make me 27 months post-op!

I want to be within my "bounce" pounds of 125 - 128.

I don't know if this is an impossible goal, but I should have surgery in June. I'd like to lose from 212 to 131 by then (for a normal BMI). This might be an impossible goal, but I'm just basing this on previous weight losses and regains. Just reaching below 200 and staying there would be an accomplishment for me.

you'd be surprised what you can accomplish when you don't realize it's impossible. LOL!

succeed or fail, it's a good goal to have.

hopefully at goal...i think it's attainable.

Hi,

Congratulations to you. Looks like you just got started. I think it is very reasonable to be at your goal, and you might surprise yourself and be below your goal. I am here if you have any questions along your journey.

Hugs,

Suzanne

I want to be happy in one year!

I feel there are way too many unknown factors for me to fully control my weight loss, so my goal is to be happy with my life with whatever I have lost.

I am exactly 6 months out today, and I am also exactly half way there, so I know goal will not be a feasible weight, but goal weight is just a number on a piece of paper right now.

I did a test 5k run on Saturday to prepare for my real 5k run in two weeks...I'll do a 4 mile fun run on Thursday...things like that are my goals right now :-)

Hi Susanne,

Another Suzanne only spelled a little different. I think you have a great attitude--it is only a number and you are so correct there. And to be running is fabulous. I walk a lot. I have a shirt from Nike that says "Running Sucks." LOL. I am proud of you for running, but it is something that when I see a runner smiling and enjoying it then I would consider running, until then I will walk everyday.

Everyone has a form of exercise that works for them, and for me it has been walking. I think that you will be at your goal weight without a doubt. Keep doing what you are doing. It is working! I also think after a year you will have figured out how to control your goal weight--pretty simple calories in calories out. If you gain you will bump up the exercise or eat less calories.

Hugs,

Suzanne

I love this thread! I am around 350 now and hope to get sleeved next month (though it will probably be near the end of the month). At any rate, my step sister is getting married in October so I'd like to be below 300 by then. I would LOVE to be at or below 250 by the end of the year (I want a bike for Christmas but swore I wouldn't torture one with a butt that weighed over 250!) but that's pushing it quite a bit. So by May of next year Onederland would be my ultimate goal but I think that might be a pretty big stretch. However, when I set my mind to something I even surprise myself. So yeah, my official goal is to be below 200 pounds in one year. It'll be interesting to revisit these at that time!

Hey,

You go girl !!!!!!! Anything is possible if you want it bad enough and you have the right attitude and drive to make it happen. I will be excited following your progress.

Since I have been down this road ahead of you, please feel free to send me a note with any questions that you might have. :cheer2: I love they way you dream about being where you want to be. It can happen and it isn't unreasonable.

Sometimes just visualizing yourself at that weight really does help :happy: . I also learned that looking at others before and after pictures really motivated me a LOT.

Stay in touch and Hugs,:cheer2:

Suzanne

I simply want to be done losing weight in 1 year. I have about 120lbs to lose.

I want to be firmly where I need to be in 1 year.

Hi,

I think you can do just that. It is something that you should be able to achieve. Keep that great attitude.

Suzanne

That will make me 27 months post-op!

I want to be within my "bounce" pounds of 125 - 128.

Hi

I loved what you said when you said the sleeve saved your life and it could save someone else's life too. That is part of us being willing to talk about our WLS and telling others who ask us how we did it.

So many people are embarrassed to say they have had WLS. NOT me, I am all about educating others. I get it if they are uncomfortable talking about it. But if we can talk about WLS it may make a difference in someones quality of life.

Congratulations on ALL your accomplishments. You have done GREAT.

Hugs,

Suzanne