Hi, got the date of Nov 24th....holy crap. Would love to have a buddy or group with the same date to chat with!

Thanks you guys!!! I wonder if I am eating too little. I increased my calories the past 2 days and this morning I dropped 2 lbs.

I know that stepping on the scale everyday is wrong but I can't help it....it taunts me...."step on me, STEP ON ME!" and there I go, like a puppy scampering to get a treat. LOL.

SO glad I have my November Girls!

emsgirl: It is funny. I had lost 30 pounds before surgery. I lost 20 pounds after - up until the holidays. NO ONE SAID ANYTHING. I came back to work this week and at least 5 people said "My you look like you lost weight". It took 54 pounds for anyone to notice! LOL! (Okay, I am very tall and so it is distributed in larger spaces, but, really???)

One thing could be that I did go to visit my mom during the holidays and picked up some old clothes in a smaller size. So, I am wearing clothes that "fit" versus are sloppily-loose. So, it could be how the present is wrapped!!!!

Vitamins: I do chewable. Don't like gummies. Get stuck in teeth.

emsgirl: It is funny. I had lost 30 pounds before surgery. I lost 20 pounds after - up until the holidays. NO ONE SAID ANYTHING. I came back to work this week and at least 5 people said "My you look like you lost weight". It took 54 pounds for anyone to notice! LOL! (Okay, I am very tall and so it is distributed in larger spaces, but, really???)

One thing could be that I did go to visit my mom during the holidays and picked up some old clothes in a smaller size. So, I am wearing clothes that "fit" versus are sloppily-loose. So, it could be how the present is wrapped!!!!

Vitamins: I do chewable. Don't like gummies. Get stuck in teeth.

i love that "how the package is wrapped"!

What kind of exercise are you all doing. I say everyday that it's the day I'm gonna exercise...and then I don't...need some motivation and ideas. I am suppose to do a pack test to qualify as a wildland firefighter in March. But I'm worried It more than I can handle at this point. I have to walk 3 miles in 45 minutes wearing a 45lbs pack and wildland gear. Some of the firefighters were talking about starting training this Saturday with a 3 mile hike. I don't know if I'll be able to handle it yet. Especially cause it will be like 20 degrees out. Could you do it at this point? Am I just being a chicken.

Emsgirl: I hate the cold weather so I go to a big box store and walk up and down all aisles 5 times. (I've learned to leave wallet in car or I would do more shopping than walking). When I first got out of the hospital I would go to IKEA or a furniture store - they have lots of seats if you wish to rest!

I signed up for the YMCA yesterday. I'm trying to motivate myself to get there. I twisted my knee two weeks ago and it is still sore. But that doesn't mean I can't do weights for the arms! (smack me later if I don't report that I went!)

I just joined a very small gym. 1st workout yesterday, lasted 30min on a treadmill and am happy with that.

Start any work out with small victories that way you can say to yourself "I did it", even if it is only 10 mins.

I would start doing your training sooner than later, by March you will be ready. You will have lost 45lbs by then and you are already used to hauling that around anyway, just get your lungs and heart ready!

Good luck.

You don't have to smack me! Went to the YMCA yesterday and did the recumbent bike for 70'minutes! (A good show was on and I wanted to see the end) This morning I woke up to a 3 pound loss. Maybe there is something to the "shake your routine up" statement.

Knee was pretty swollen today, though. (Very old sports injury).

Was more active this weekend. Tuesday I'll go to a Zumba class after work. I hate Zumba but it's free! Going to aim for 3 hours of exercise this week. However I get there I get there.

Most people don't seem to notice I've lost weight, though I saw someone after a 3-week absence and she could tell. I was stalled out for 3 weeks, though. Since Jan 1st I've lost 5 more pounds, so finally on the downward trend again, yippee!

I am 7 weeks in and have only lost 21 pounds. Haven't lost a any weight in the last 10 days. Just started working out.. Leslee Sansone walk tapes.. 30 to 45 mins. Getting frustrated.

Hey Gang! I went to a support group meeting and wanted to share info with you. One of the Administrators of our program did a college research project on people who had wls between 2009 and 2013 - basically, people who were over 1 year out from surgery. She categorized the group into 3 segments. 1. Those who maintained their weight. 2. Those who marginally gained weight (1 - 10 pounds from their lowest or target) 3. Those who regained (11+ pounds).

The key factors that people stressed to stay the course are:

1. Have a solid support group - bariatric pal was mentioned as a great source, plus the ones through your physician's office, and, family/friends

2. Continue to journal your food

3. Exercise

4. Even though your stomach limits your intake, make sure your intake is good stuff. (Protein bar in one hand, jelly donut in the other.... pick the protein bar!)

5. Keeping your appointments with the doctor and nutritionist

6. Don't fall back into old habits

7. Alcohol - although many of the maintainers said they do drink alcohol, they limit it to one or two drinks once a week or less

I don't have the stats with me regarding what percentage maintained, marginally gained and really gained. But, when I get them I will share with ya'll! (And, no, I am not from the south. Just felt like saying ya'll).

Hey Gang! I went to a support group meeting and wanted to share info with you. One of the Administrators of our program did a college research project on people who had wls between 2009 and 2013 - basically, people who were over 1 year out from surgery. She categorized the group into 3 segments. 1. Those who maintained their weight. 2. Those who marginally gained weight (1 - 10 pounds from their lowest or target) 3. Those who regained (11+ pounds).

The key factors that people stressed to stay the course are:

1. Have a solid support group - bariatric pal was mentioned as a great source, plus the ones through your physician's office, and, family/friends

2. Continue to journal your food

3. Exercise

4. Even though your stomach limits your intake, make sure your intake is good stuff. (Protein bar in one hand, jelly donut in the other.... pick the protein bar!)

5. Keeping your appointments with the doctor and nutritionist

6. Don't fall back into old habits

7. Alcohol - although many of the maintainers said they do drink alcohol, they limit it to one or two drinks once a week or less

I don't have the stats with me regarding what percentage maintained, marginally gained and really gained. But, when I get them I will share with ya'll! (And, no, I am not from the south. Just felt like saying ya'll).

thanks fir sharing! Really interested in those stats!

I am 7 weeks in and have only lost 21 pounds. Haven't lost a any weight in the last 10 days. Just started working out.. Leslee Sansone walk tapes.. 30 to 45 mins. Getting frustrated.

im in same boat.

Emsgirl and Sarina: I think 21 pounds is good! Don't be deceived by all the numbers you see that are posted by others. For instance, my ticker says I lost 56 pounds... and that is true. But, half of them were pre-op and took me 4.5 months!

Since the actual surgery my wl is 29 lbs. If you do the math, 29 divided by the 7.5 weeks since surgery = 3.8 pounds per week. I don't know about you, but, I NEVER averaged almost 4 pounds a week for this long of a period.

Another example: 21 pounds, 7 weeks = average of 3 pounds a week! That is awesome!

I think we get delusional because right after surgery we dropped fast. And, now, we keep having stalls, then a drop, then stalls, then a drop. We want to see the dial move EVERY day. It's just not going to happen that way.

I am 7 weeks in and have only lost 21 pounds. Haven't lost a any weight in the last 10 days. Just started working out.. Leslee Sansone walk tapes.. 30 to 45 mins. Getting frustrated.

If you are in this range you are good. I was sleeved on 11/24/14 and have lost 26lbs.