I am 9 months out from surgery and have been "maintaining" at 165 for about 3 months now. I have occasionally gotten frustrated at myself for not getting this last 15 lbs. off and getting to my goal weight. It is totally my own fault because I eat anything I want and don't exercise. So yesterday I stop at Wal-Mart on my way home because I have NO shorts that fit and I'm standing there trying to decide what size to buy. The shorts are 50/50 cotton and linen so I know they will stretch when I wear them and I can't decide if I should get a size 8 or a 10 and then it hits me.... why the heck am I giving myself so much grief over these last 15 lbs, this time last year I was trying to decide whether to buy size 18 or 20 shorts!!! Wow life is so awesome now. I can run with my grandchildren, plant the garden with my husband and eat a tiny bit of anything I want and maintain a size 8 or 10. So maybe I will lighten up on myself and just enjoy the moment, I will get to my goal, maybe not right this minute, but I will get there. So I say we enjoy this journey and the new life we've given ourselves. I hope you all have a great day.

Awesome! And maybe, just maybe 165 is the perfect weight for you! God bless and congrats on stopping the "beat myself up" mantra!!

You are awesome! I don't have a goal weight; was never given one by my surgeon's office and I don't plan on having one. I'll know when I'm where I need to be. I don't want to stress over a number. Like you all I want is to be healthy and happy. Good luck in your journey.

I'm impressed by your embracing of such a healthy mind set! And how warped is it that my next emotion was jealousy, that I weigh only 2 pounds more than you, and wear 14's! not fair.

I love your new attitude! I think it is great that you can enjoy your life and maintain at an 8/10... wasn't that the whole point of this?? Why we all went through this? I don't think any of us want to be supermodels, we all just want to be normal.

Congrats on doing so well!

Thank you for the reminder!

i was just going down the path of self abuse myself...i am also within 18lbs of my goal...and a bit frustrated it is not coming off faster...but realize the incredible success I have had up till now, and I am not exactly working out how I was or as strict on eating as I was.

It is hard for me to put out of my mind the horrendous fear of failure and regaining all my weight back ++ as I have so many other times over the years.

i know that is not even possible with my current rate of food intake, but it is constantly on the back of my mind.

But as i put on my size L shirt today, I reflect on the XXXL's I was in only months ago!!

Perhaps that fear will always be there and maybe thats not a bad thing???

surgery date: oct 12, 2011

Thank you all for your support. You are all doing such a fantastic job!! I am so proud of us all. We rock!!!!!

thank you for your post. It is always nice to know that you are not alone. I have been stuck at the same weight for 3 months now. I haven't gained a pound but haven't lost anything either. I was exercising as usual but nothing was moving so I thought I should take a break and see if that helped, no it didn't, still the same. So now I have decided to embrace the 65 pounds that I have lost and get back on the exercise horse and ride it out! At least I can get better toned by the exercise even if not losing any weight. Like one of the other poster mentioned maybe this is where my body is comfortable, my surgeon never set a goal weight for me, I just always felt that I wanted to be 135 pounds so I have 15 pounds to go. I am coming up on a year anniversary next month. So maybe be the end of this summer I will have achieved "my" goal if not I will reflect on where I started and where I am today, that makes me feel good.

I am starting a crossfit program after we return from easter break I am going to try it for 2 months, I will let everyone know how that goes. My treadmill was getting kind of boring.

thanks again for posting I can really relate to what you had to say

My surgeon never set a goal for me either. I was 135 when I was younger and just thought 150 was a weight I could probably get to and maintain. I am probably going to start exercising myself to tone up and whatever happens just happens. If I never lose another pound the surgery was a success and I will be happy with my results.

I find these forums so helpful. It encourages me to hear how you have lost enough weight and are happy and may reach your goal. I find I am so impatient and when I see that others have done so well I remind myself that it took time to put on my weight and it will take time to take it off. I like reading about positive atttitudes as it keeps me on track. I have lost 40 lbs. and feel much better about myself. But I can't wait to be writing that I have reached my goal weight. I have 33-35 lbs. more to go. I only seem to be losing 1-2 lbs per week now and maybe that is where patience is required. My big stumbling block..... I have not started to exercise. I live in the Caribbean and it is so hot and humid. I just can't wrap my head around wanting to be sweating. I have never liked exercise and need a good kick in the pants to get me started. Any ideas? I think I know the sensible answers but still I am not behaving sensibly in this regard. Any tricks?

gettinthinner, I am the wrong one to talk about exercise. lol I don't do any other than walking at work, and that is not much as I am an ultrasound tech, and house or yard work. I live in Louisiana and it is already in the 80s here and also humid so I know where you are coming from. I have a treadmill that looks very nice sitting in my sun room but I've only been on it about 2 times. If you find that motivation please share the secret with me.

Go to an air conditioned gym!

I had surgery for my health, but my recent motivation to exercise has been such a shallow thing that I hate to post it. I love looking at my own smaller butt in the mirror! Sorry if that's TMI!

You do have a great attitude about this whole journey. I'm working to keep mine positive, but I'd really like to see the weight start coming off on the scale. I'm seeing improvement in every area of my body except my stomach, but I'm somewhat bummed that the scale isn't dropping faster. I do know that I'm building muscle, though. I can feel that muscle and it's effects on my daily life every single day.

Loved your post!!!!! I have similar feelings about this. I still need to lose some weight to get to "goal" -- whatever it should be. But if I don't lose another pound I am thrilled!!!! I don't gain and I can eat "normally." I do follow rules of getting protein in and generally eat healthy. But I don't crave sugar nor the large quantities of food I use to. I am no longer a slave to my hunger. I have lots of energy. I really enjoy excercise and a healthy life style... lots more. I just can't complain. I know the rest of the weigth will probably come off slowly. But I really am happy NOW! and the only "pain" is shopping for new clothes, shoes and styles! :-) I just feel really fortunate!!!