Bos123 asked me "In looking back over the last year, what were the hardest parts for you?" I thought it was a great question and here are my answers. (I am 13 months out and at goal).

I'd be curious to know what was hard for everyone else after surgery.

For me, the hardest parts have been so minor compared to the good parts, but if I had to list some they would be:

• the first day getting out of the hospital and being thrown into the world of food after not having eaten for a week (I was taking the train and the station was full of food and ads for food and smells and I had a bit of breakdown)
  
• eating too fast in the beginning and throwing up the slimes
  
• eating OBTM (one bite too many) and feeling sick or throwing up the slimes
  
• not being able to enjoy going out to dinner because I ate so little that the experience was diminished
  
• not being able to drink coffee or wine in the first few months
  
• I still can't eat Pasta or rice and I miss it sometimes
  
• feeling a little like I'm lying to people when I don't tell them I had surgery to lose the weight
  
• wishing I could have done this long before my 58th birthday!
  

Again, those things are MINOR compared to what I have received in return.

Thanks Bos123 for asking such a great question.

Slapping down that stubborn last 2 pounds before goal. Feel like lopping off a foot to beat it.

The hardest part for me is dealing with my head hunger and staying away from my food addiction that involves sugar. Everything else has been relatively easy. I did find myself sitting with a friend in a bar and looking around at all the alcohol and carbonated drinks and deciding on having some cheetos. The bar tender kept questioning me on needing something to drink and I would give her a little info that I can't drink while eating and that lead to more questions. I finally just explained that I had wls and she then stopped. I just wasn't interested in talking about my surgery. That was the first time.....Next time I will just order water.

It's really been hard getting into exercising. I do it, and then I don't do it.....

Well, I am over two years out and still not at goal - I've been in a 'stall' for 13 mths now, bouncing up and down the same 3-4 lbs... so, the hardest thing for me over the last year is trying to accept, that despite all my efforts, I may not reach the magic number on the scale. As much as I am chuffed with myself and the weight that I HAVE lost, I would be lying if I said that I wasn't dissappointed that I haven't reached the place that I wanted to be. I am at my original goal size however, but there is still plenty of 'fat' left, especially around the torso area, that just refuses to leave me!

The hardest part is battling mind hunger and greed for tasty things available before your eyes. Fanatic about food and can't eat enought.

Hey Coops, I feel you here. I have a lot of soft spongy stuff in my torso area too. I think it's fat, but when I asked my surgeon, she said it was skin.....Somehow, I have a hard time believing her.... But I am so tired of all this number on the scales too. I have had a very long Thanksgiving here where I had a lot of sugars. Now it's back on track and i am going to keep working at getting a few more stubborn lbs off now. No more sugar for me. You have been stuck for 13 months and have had a lot of trauma's that caused you a lot of emotional dilemma's. When our body is stressed, the body releases cortisol that causes us to hang on to our weight and causes additional hunger. now that things are calming down, maybe your body will start letting go of those pesky unwanted, uninvited lbs off your body. BTW, you are one hot sexy woman! Perfect in my eyes. "HUGS!" :wub:

some day I will come over the pond just to meet you........