Eight Months Out

[comingupmilhouse 21]

I'm at 8 months and a week: I was 406 before I started the pre-surgery diet, 368 on the day of surgery, and am now at 244. Which is awesome, SO awesome, but my surgeon and I set a goal for 180, and the idea of being under 200 pounds for the first time I can literally remember is so important to me. (Also I have clothes from a long-ago weight loss waiting for me in my closet which fit at around 210 pounds that are super cute and also totally mocking me by being super cute yet still too small.) So all I can do is think about how I'm Still Not There Yet...and then when I don't lose for a day or two, I panic: Is this the end? Is this when the surgery push stops, and I'm just this weight forever? I know, I'm super paranoid. I know, I'm overreacting. But does anyone else just get that freaked out fear that, with you getting closer to where you want to be so badly, that it will all end? How do you manage those feelings?

[catwoman7 10,876]

I kept losing until month 20, although my loss really slowed down after about six months out. But still...it kept going as long as I stuck to my plan. So there's hope!!

[FluffyChix 17,410]

Congrats on your great success!!! Yay you!!! I totally understand where you are coming from! I had those feelings too. I was crazy determined though! And I probably drove everyone here nuts! LOL. It's pretty natural. We've had a lifetime (most of us) dealing with the disappointment of "failing the present x-diet we were trying". And each time the pushback metabolically was worse.

My doctor first set a goal of 156lbs for me. I thought I'd never see it--even though my goal was 150lbs (what I weighed in high school). But never did I believe I could reach 130lbs. So I made 3 goals and a 4th top secret BDG Goal (Barbie Dream Girl Goal) which I still don't fully believe in. LOL.

You can do this. It takes fierce determination and mixing things up and not cheating. It takes doing the headwork and using this time to break up with unhealthy food relationships. If you emotionally eat, fix that now too while you have the honeymoon in your favor. I'm coming up on 21 months right now and I'm still losing when I go back into WLM from maintenance mode. This week I lost about 5lbs of bloat from Fatsgiving. I'm gonna see if I can break the 130lb sound barrier. You can do this!

(OH and my doc nor my RD thought I would be able to lose this much weight. My highest was 325lbs and the most recent high was 287lbs.)

[catwoman7 10,876]

P.S. I seemed to have longer stalls the further I got out, too. I'd stall for like a month and think..."this is it"....but then it would start up again. Just keep at it!

my surgeon's original goal for me was 180. Although I told him I'd be absolutely ecstatic if I got under 200. MY first goal was 199. 180 seemed like a pipe dream to me. But that wasn't too, too difficult, actually. It's those last 20 or 30 lbs that can be a real bear to get off. But a lot of us have gotten there, so it's not impossible!

[comingupmilhouse 21]

Thank you both, so much!! Reading these was like the equivalent of taking a very deep, slow breath--and then nodding to myself at the end. I can do this, damn it. I'm not going to spiral into freakouts and assuming the worst. And FluffyChix, I have totally done the same thing, about goal weights, though for me, the 180 feels like the Barbie Dream Weight! Like what cat woman7 said, a total pipe dream. I HOPE I can come back on here and say, "Hit 180 and still going and need to come up with a new goal!" because--god, wouldn't that be amazing??

Edited December 3, 2019 by comingupmilhouse

[Ellf 205]

I'm also eight months out and started around a similar area. I'm at 244-246 and have been for the past three weeks.

[FluffyChix 17,410]

1 hour ago, catwoman7 said:

P.S. I seemed to have longer stalls the further I got out, too. I'd stall for like a month and think..."this is it"....but then it would start up again. Just keep at it!

my surgeon's original goal for me was 180. Although I told him I'd be absolutely ecstatic if I got under 200. MY first goal was 199. 180 seemed like a pipe dream to me. But that wasn't too, too difficult, actually. It's those last 20 or 30 lbs that can be a real bear to get off. But a lot of us have gotten there, so it's not impossible!

Totally agree with this! The last dang 20lbs have taken close to 9months lol!

[Pug-Mom-Patti 58]

Congratulations on you success! 😊

I feel the same way! I’m a few weeks ahead of you (surgery was March 8th). I started to slow down in September, then had a 6 week stall and now I’m starting to lose a few here and there. My surgeon predicted I would get down to 184 and I’ve set a goal of 178. The doc at my weight loss center said that might be difficult considering my age (I’m 47) but I WILL DO IT!

I freaked out because I gained 2.5 lbs from Thanksgiving but added a few extra workout sessions and today, those suckers are gone. I’m terrified that I’ve hit the end of the losing cycle, but am determined to do everything I can to keep going.

it is reassuring to read similar posts and know others feel the same way, it keeps me going.

@FluffyChix I love the Barbie Dream Girl Goal, is it ok if I steal that?? 🤣

@comingupmilhouse You’ve got this!! 💪🏻💪🏻

[catwoman7 10,876]

14 minutes ago, Pug-Mom-Patti said:

The doc at my weight loss center said that might be difficult considering my age (I’m 47) but I WILL DO IT!

it's doable - I'm 60 - so even older than you!

[Pug-Mom-Patti 58]

22 minutes ago, catwoman7 said:

it's doable - I'm 60 - so even older than you!

thank you @catwoman7! I need all the reassurance I can get.

[dee0128 6]

Hey. Well I'm only a month out and I'm having doubts on whether this would work because I gained 2 lbs at my 4 week doc appt this week. My first appt I was down 27 lbs. We did just have Thanksgiving but I can relate to the fear and panic. You've come so far in your journey it's inspiring and your just 8 months out. I started at about 334 before surgery and currently I'm at 305. In your case I don't think it's the end. Just stick with setting goals and you'll find a way to reach them like you've been doing.

Sent from my REVVLRY using BariatricPal mobile app

[Losingit2018 1,170]

Anytime that you get discouraged, click on fluffychics profile and read her posts.

She is truly amazing with how far she has come and what she went through to get here. Her story will inspire you.

Btw- according to her profile, she is 55 years old. So, age did not deter her from coming as far as she has

[FluffyChix 17,410]

10 hours ago, Pug-Mom-Patti said:

I love the Barbie Dream Girl Goal, is it ok if I steal that?? 🤣

Hahaha! Steal away! BDG Goal. It's a thing.

And I'm 57 and on a drug for breast cancer remission that shuts down my hormones into super-menopause. I still have lost about 155lbs. You can do this!

[Isabelmonster 62]

Holy crap that’s amazing I can only wish to be as successful as you are at 8 months out. First month I have lost 30 pounds and I’m sure the Plato will happen but man you got this!! We all got this tbh

Edited December 4, 2019 by Isabelmonster

[Tomkat 24]

This makes me so happy. I’m having surgery 12/9 and we have the same starting weight (as of today,lol) and to hear of your lost in just 8 months and where your dr thinks you can get down to....gives me hope. Great job!!