One Year Out: Support, Motivation, and Tough Love

[sideeye 1,440]

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But...I'm still 40 lbs away from my goal weight and stuck.

My doc uses a really good metric to keep me sane. He says that on average, bariatric patients can be expected to lose 50% of their excess weight. So based on what you've written, you were 310 and I'm guessing your BMI baseline would've been around 160(ish). So that's 150 lbs you would lose to go from pre-op to BMI-chart-approved, 50% of that is 75lbs. You've already lost almost 100lbs.

That's not to say you shouldn't shoot for a goal weight 40lbs below what you are now - it's just a marker to keep in mind when thinking of failure or success. And based on the "50% of excess weight lost is the average" metric, you're ahead of the average. So don't beat yourself up.

[Healthy_life 1,437]

22 hours ago, hap314ness said:

Thanks to @FluffyChix, @skinnylife, @proudgrammy, @VSGDavid, @summerset, @wanda247, and @GreenTealael for your input! I'm crying at work from your support, assessing my negative self-talk, and coming back to Earth. Therapy is coming, as is my year follow up, so I know I will have plenty of in-person guidance as well.

As far as maintaining a regimen, I will say that I have held fast to breakfasts and lunches that are measured and nutritionally sound. My weak spots as of 10-12 months tend to be

• snacking in-between meals at a new job where treats are brought in and stare at me
• too-large portions at dinner

I suppose I've gotten over the first hurdle of recognizing what I'm doing that will impede my weight loss. Now I must continue to jump the hurdles of being kinder to myself and maintaining motivation despite the stall.

This is the continued work with bariatrics. Recognising and confronting old behaviors. Finding strategies to get back into weight loss mode.

Great advice from the above posts.

Snacking: keep healthy options on hand get rid of temptations

Eating larger meals at night: Larger meals can still stay within your calories for the day. With your Protein, load up on salad, steamed or roasted veggies.

The office and food holidays: Many people will appreciate healthy options. (I'm sure there are others watching their weight) Veggie and fruit tray, meat and cheese platter, Hummus dip, Spicy edamame, Salt n vinegar cucumber slices, chicken or turkey meatballs. deviled eggs. My favorite is my dieticians white chilli.

My dietitians bariatric site for some inspiration:

http://insidekarenskitchen.com/bariatric-friendly-recipes/