It is been 6 months since VSG and for the first time I did not reach my goal. I was expecting to be 137lbs today but I am still 143lbs. I am eating so poorly lately. Chocolates, sweets, sodas...I have tried to do the pouch test twice but then i postpone it to the next day. Even my Protein intake is at the minimum now.

Can someone please scold me, give me a good slap to remind me on how i got obese in the fisrt place and how much effort i put into losing the first 50lbs? Why I am getting into these old habits if I know they will take me to a place I do not want to be?

Hey Brazcan...

I am not going to scold you or tell you off... as far as I am concerned that is not the point of this amazing site... instead I am going to congratulate you for two reasons...

1, You've lost an amazing 53lb in just 6mths and have only 17lb to goal... that is something to be proud of... my God you must be feeling brilliant!!

2, You've come on here... admitted where you are going wrong and shown a determintation to get to goal. That takes some doing as there are a lot of members on here who will read this!

YEY YOU!!!

I still haven't made goal and I am over a year out now... like you, I started beating myself up, putting myself down and I hit a really dark place a couple of months ago... and to be honest, my stats weren't half as good as yours... I had lost 49lb at 6mths not even 50% of my excess to get to my personal goal... and then my weight loss stopped and then slowed down. Since then I have lost another 17lb... so you can see why I went a lil crazy for a while. But I kept going and I am still going... I follow the programme 95% of the time, but over the last week it is 100% because I know at this stage things are getting even harder for me to lose weight.

I also come on here... to read stories of inspiration, warnings and general good luck... it really helps!

However, I also feel that the sleeve is a tool that ables us to, if we want to, enjoy 'treats'... doesn't mean any damage is done!

I think you should have a little think now... are you happy at this weight? Yes, go in maintance and don't beat yourself up. No, dust yourself off, give yourself a virtual hug and get back into the groove!! Ok, so it might not be sooooo easy... but you know what I mean?

Another thing that I found helpful when I have had blips in the matrix is to get my old clothes out... put on a pair of your biggest trousers and watch them fall to the ground... then with a smug grin on your face pat yourself on the back...

Good luck!! =]

GO TO YOUR ROOM AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE!!!!

Then congratulate yourself on how far you've come, pick yourself up, tell yourself you CAN and you WILL do this. You will finish strong!!!

Coops said it perfectly. Print it out & read it when you are feeling down. You are doing well. Many have said it & it is really hard to believe it (when you are in the middle of a stall or not reaching an arbitrary goal), but .... THIS IS A JOURNEY, NOT A RACE. You can and will do this! Follow your plan & enjoy the ride.

You only fail if you quit. Have you quit? If not then FIDO! **** It, Drive On!

Take some time to rethink what you are doing that is not going well. The think about what got you to 143.

Recommit to those good habits and refocus.

FIDO!

We both have 17 lbs to go and you started after I did! Let's get to goal together--if you are having a bad day, let me know and vice versa. For now, get rid of the sweets in the house (you know they are a temptation) and dig out the protein shake and the deli meat. We are so close!

Ok to start with quit whining. You weigh 143? You wanted to weigh 137 ...that is 6 pounds! Not 17! You are 6 pounds off AND you are admitting to eatting a bunch of crap. Put on your big girl panties, realize how far you have come and have a salad.

You didn't reach your goal because you didn't TRY!!!

Start journaling, measuring and making good choices and those 6 measly pounds will be off before you know it.

Congrats on your amazing weight loss. Celebrate your accomplishments