So I this problem. Last night I was laying in bed and fantasizing of all the wonderful things that will come from losing weight. I would finally be able to quit stressing about being so overweight and having so many health issues. And then, suddenly, this panicky feeling came over me and I thought, OHMYGOSH THEN WHAT?!?!?! I have been putting so much of my focus and time into researching and preparing for this surgery. I have been obsessive about it (much like when I was in the process of trying to conceive a few years ago). The way I work is that I NEED something big to look forward to, I NEED a project. Crazy I know. Anyway, so if I finally get the surgery and lose weight THEN WHAT???

Any of you experienced this?

ANy one have major non-weightloss related goals?

Thanks I really need something to strive for I guess.

Hi, I did. This is one of those cruel places our minds go. YES.....you'll have a life afterwards. it's my bet that we're gonna be SO busy doing fun stuff, this won't ever be a concern. There are other fantastic things waiting for us.

hmm...I am not sure what you mean by "project" losing weight itself is project IMHO. Maybe you can sign up to run a marathon or somthing like that. Start training for it while you are losing weight and exercising, and once you hit your goal that is what you have to look forward to.

Did that make sense?

mypov.....

BTW...I'm 5'2" and weighed 295 at my highest. We're about hte same size sounds like. I began in a size 22/24 and am already down to a loose 18 pants and 20 top.I feel great!!

llewis

I was also consumed by my weight. I would wake in the morning thinking about it and fall asleep at night thinking about it. Well it was either that or food. But now my addiction is being busy all the time. I have so much energy now.I am always waking up and finding a new project to do on my house. I also love going out with friends now. My husband loves it because I was a hermit crab and didnt want people to see me. Now I am the one always saying lets go. So your new thing will be thinking of fun things to do and doing things that you have been holding back on. Its great. I love my life so much since my band. I just hope my mind can keep up with my new energy level.

I know *exactly* what you mean. I've been that way with dieting in the past, and I believe that was one reason why I ended up re-gaining the weight. I can get really caught up in the process of losing, but don't get the same jolt from just maintaining. It's fun when you're working on it and seeing the scales move, clothing sizes dropping, and getting compliments about the weight loss. But it's not as much fun to have to still work just as hard to stay the course without those perks. I just hope and pray that the lap-band will help keep me in line at that point.

But, in answer to your question, I'm planning on going back to school. I'm researching my options right now, and might get started as early as next semester. This is a changing point in my life besides weight loss, because my baby is turning 16 in a couple of weeks, and my role as mom (which has been mostly chauffer lately!) is shrinking. So it's time to start something new!

Tami

llewis- Thanks for the support. It does sound like weight-wise we are similar....but I'm in a size 26/28! Awesome about your success so far though!

DerickM- I agree that weight loss is a project. I need something for when that project is conquered and a marathon sounds like a good idea...I'm a little less ambitious than that though so mb just a 5k run

JJM- Yes thats the obsession I'm tlaking about!! THanks for the words of encouragement!

TAMI- Yeah I guess thats it, the process, while difficult, is also kinda exciting and mb I just worry about that being over. Good for you for going back to school. I started back last year and one thing about losing weight is how much easier I think it will be for me to deal wtih college.

Thanks everyone!!!

Yup! I am the same way. I think we are all somewhat obsessive or we wouldn't be overweight in the first place. I started obsessing on exercise...which is probably a much healthier obsession to have. I even just started working at Curves! Join a gym...preferably Curves...you'll meet people and have fun. That's my suggestion...

i keep thinking in terms of small victories...

When i lose 10% i'm getting a pedicure...

20% a massage....

eventually buy a serious distance bike...

learn to run...

particpate in an Iron Girl event maybe the 5K in Tempe next December of the bike/run in MN the year after....

We can do ANYTHING we set our minds too!

I am getting certified to be a teacher's aide, then I think I might go back and become a full fledged teacher. I plan to make my new obsession educating myself. ~Mandy

Hey, MyPov. How about knowing that you can look forward to the following and alot more: going for a walk without back or knee pain; going shopping; wearing your seatbelt; doing housework; swimming; lifting your feet up to put your socks on; taking a bath comfortably; using stairs; fit into chairs at: movie theatres, restaurants, hockey games, etc.; get up and down from the couch with ease; run if you want to while flying a kite; bike ride; roller skate, and best of all, how about playing on the swings and slide with your little ones....I could go on and on, but you get my drift. Be excited!!!! It will change your life in a fabulous way! Your new life will be your "project"!

Cheers.

Kat.

I hear what you're saying too!!

I imagine that it will feel like completing any other major life "project" does - once the event has past, all is great for a while, but then the celebrations die down, and life moves on. For example, I felt a bit lost after our wedding, birth of our son, and most recently after our last move into our current (and lifetime!) home.

For now I've turned myself into my "project", and when I'm done, I'll find new, positive, things to do. I am enjoying planning what I'm going to do next. I don't know what it will be, but think that at least if I've got a plan, that I'll have a good chance of turning my energy to good use. I've got a list as long as my arm of all of the things I want to do - I imagine that I'll be busy enjoying an active life with my family, hopefully will have more kiddies to chase around, and hope to find opportunity to try out new "extreme" activities and adventures - but who knows??

Good luck, and enjoy the ride!

You will figure out what to do along this journey because you will build so much confidence that you will want to actually go and LIVE LIFE. That is my goal, to go and LIVE LIFE.

This sounds familiar. For so long I have been obsessed with my weight and imagined that once I lost the weight life would be all rosy and perfect. Boy was I wrong! All the problems I had all along are still there, I just can't hide behind the excuse of being fat anymore. That has been a serious struggle for me. I hope your not like me and have this picture of life automatically being rainbows and ponies as soon as the weight starts coming off because you might be setting yourself up for some serious disapointment.

I have to disagree with most - while it's nice to think life will be rosey, perfect and everything you ever dreamed of and you'll be so darn busy when you get to goal you wont even notice that you don't have a project I think that is "wishful thinking" and not close to what most of us discover as reality.

Yes it seems like getting to goal would cure all our problems or whatever but it doesn't, and with your personaltiy you'll need to find another project once your there or you will fall into a depression. Maybe get heavily involved with your childrens school activities? You'll need something like that because being thin doesn't change your life instantly the way a lot of people like to dream it will. I think it's good that you are thinking ahead because I didn't and it was a bit like "if not dieting then what?" and I felt lost for a while. I too am project/goal oriented or nothing gets done so I know where you are coming from. I've been at a normal BMI for nearly a year and I do somewhat miss the thrill of losing weight and how focused it kept me.

Yes you will be absolutely SHOCKED at how much of your time and energy is freed up when you aren't obsessing about food and your weight.

I started running. Now my time is filled with reading about running, planning runs, finding events, etc. My goal is to run a whole 5k, then a 10k, etc. I also started embroidery. It's easy.

Here's a good list of hobbies. Maybe you haven't thought of some of these before.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hobbies

As someone said, life will not be perfect after weight loss. But I want to add that whatever happens to you, you will feel more confident and have more energy to meet the challenge.