[Kat]

I haven't posted in a couple of days. I've had company fron NY and also for some reason my password was lost and I just now have got the RR site up and running.
I have been thinking a lot about a subject that is touchy and seldom discussed on this board of success and hope. I myself have never liked to read the posts on "falling off the WLS wagon" but it has to happen to some people sometime.
As most of you know, I'm a chef and am around food all the time. I have been doing great, except the last month. I have not lost any weight. I know that part is due to not enough exercise, a slow met. rate & I'm no longer sticking to 1,000 calories but have been up in the 1,500 zone. I have to take responsibility for myself. I know that. For what I weigh and what I take, the calories don't match the projected weight loss charts. I've always had a slow met. and know exercise, for me, has to be done in order to continue loosing at this point.
I guess this post is sort of a "warning" for you newer guys out there who have heard that you should start an exercise program early. I wish I had now. Life got busy (with work) and I had an injury and yadda yadda yadda. Bottom line is this-when you go through this surgery and so many things change, it realy is a perfect opportunity to add some good exercise habits. Even if I couldn't walk or swim for a time, I still could have been doing butt crunches while driving at the very least. The point is that I made a bad choice by not doing more and I wanted to give you all a "heads up".
I have been having a somewhat rocky road and so far have stayed out of the ditch but need to get on better pavement. I realized this right before my vacation and have been doing much better the last 2 weeks but you know how sneaky my old fat self is- always lurking in the back waiting to grab me when I'm tired and not paying attention. I'm not proud of myself right now 'cause I feel as though I have wasted valuable time. My doc. says the easier weight loss will end in Nov. for me, at my 18 month point.
Anyhow, I don't mean to sound like a preacher. More like a teacher with a confession.
Thanks for the opportunity to talk to others who know where I've come from. I never wnat to return to that dark holy hell of wearing tents for clothes, not being able to move well and feeling like my life was a thing of the past. It truly is my choice now.

[Kenyar]

(((((((((Kat))))))))))
thanks for the update and your insight. you know you'll always have support here to get you thru rough times.

you will get to where you want to be. and stay there. It's not good to think about wasted time and what we could have and should have done. in general its a downer. and being down wont motivate you. it will be counter productive. now you know what it will take to be that much better.so go for it! YOU CAN DO IT!! make the most out of the last few months.

PS. you have every right to be proud of yourself ALL THE TIME, PERIOD. whether you lose another pound or not. you have lost 135lbs. by today's standards, thats an entire person (nicole richie, paris hilton, but none the less they are people too! ). so give yourself credit for that. i think you've done a FABULOUS job so far, and it isnt over yet. not til the fat lady sings....wait, she had RNY too so shes not fat anymore... (bad joke sorry )

[goofchick]

Did someone say ROCKY ROAD? *drools*

[Kenyar]

HEY WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!! you are a chef???? did you ever think about writing a book of recipes for post-ops?? That might be the perfect project to keep you on track.

[A new me]

Kat thanks so much for the insight. Thats exactly what a newbie like me needs. I have started exercising and I think your right. Ive been doing it every day since I got cleared and now Im up to doing it twice a day. However after readign your post I can so see how people go back to thier old ways and things start to take over. I am a bit nervous about that stage. I had lost weight before with weight watchers, LA Weight loss and etc......but it always came back on. So it does make me nervous that it can happen again. Hoever Im hopign that these new skills and tool that I have will be a blessign if I can use them right. Thanks again Kat.

[DocSanae]

Kat, thank you for your input, and sharing your thoughts.
You may have gotten a tad waylaid, which is something everyone goes through from time to time. No one is perfect, and you learn more from your mistakes than your sucess. Life is such. In fact, one of the most important things on this journey is to admit that you aren't perfect, and learn to dust your hands off when you fall off the track, not look back, but look ahead and start a new day there, just as you have done.
I certainly hope everyone will feel easy sharing about his/her own mistakes, because *support* means not only sharing successful tips, but sharing where you made mistakes, because you are not alone in making mistakes.

As for losing your weight, even if your window of best opportunity has ended, if you have a good program and keep to it, you will be able to continue losing. It's only that the speed you lose will be much slower than immediately post op, and be at the speed it is for non-ops. A couple of lbs per week at best, a few lbs in a couple of months at worst. It's just that you'll be in control 100%, instead of your body sharing the job 50-50 with you, which is how it is immediately post op. Use your tool wisely, and maintain your tool wisely. That is the key to your success.

(((((HUGS)))))) May your journey go well, and bring you lots of rewards.

[MsVickie]

That is what I like about comming here. We just open up because we feel comfortable doing so. Kat thank you for this post. We need it here along with all the rest. The honesty.

[Kat]

Thanks everybody.
There is no doubt in my mind about the continuation of loosing weight. I will.
Just keeping things real for ME.

[reducing bren]

Thank you Kat! I need your words to remind me that I need to take more responsibility for my actions and body too and not rely so much on my pouch to do it for me.

Hugs
Bren

[earthygirl]

{{{{HUGGS}}}}} you are a true inspiration from one wagon faller offer to another, I'm yanking my tushy back up onto the wagon. I've got my one year coming up on the 22nd, and I am damned determined to be at least under 160, since it doesn't look like I'm gonna make goal.