[TGG]

I have been somewhat discouraged by the weight not coming off as quickly as expected. I am not one to stay in a funk for long so I thought what am I going to do about this. I could not eat less or work out more as I know I was doing great in both areas. I started thinking about why I had this surgery. Yes it was because I wanted to look better, but the MAIN reason I had the surgery was to feel better. To put myself first and start to make transformations to a healthier lifestyle. Well, I feel better. About 2 weeks ago I went down and splurged on some nice face products, both care and makeup. I do not generally do this so it was a real treat. I also bought some nice body lotion to put on every night before bed. So my ritual now is to get up at 5:45 and do my exercise tape. Have a shower, cleanse my face, brush my teeth, put on some mascara and lip gloss (lots of make up for me) and to do my hair. Sometime during the day I get out for a 1/2-1 hour walk with my best friend Baxter (my golden). Before bed, I apply the body cream, cleanse and moisturize my face, brush and floss my teeth.
I may not be losing the weight as quickly as I had hoped, BUT I AM TAKING CARE OF MYSELF. I feel good. Pre op there were many days that I would just throw my hair up in a ponytail and away I went. Some days I would skip brushing my teeth, and I flossed about once a week. I did not care about myself. I would have never allowed my children to skip a shower or brushing and flossing, however I did this all of the time. My care just did not matter to me - everyone else mattered, but I did not.
Well, I care now. So this surgery has given me more than the tool to loose weight. It has given me the wake up call that I matter, and I should take the time everyday for myself to make sure I exercise and look good for me. I know that by doing so I will be stronger, healthier, happier, feel good about myself which in return will make me a better mother, wife and friend.
Just wanted to share my thoughts. Thanks

[MsVickie]

Darlin when is the last time you lost the weight you have in a little over a month. It will get there. Im glad your taking care of you. This is part of the program i think. We have taken care of others so long......we forgot about us. Its your turn.

[TGG]

I know that my weight loss looks like a big number and yes it is, however the majority of the weight was lost in the first week. I think alot of it was water as I was really retaining water pre-op. I have lost 3.5 lbs in the last 3 weeks. I know that my day will come when the weight loss it big, it is just hard as I have spent a lifetime of obsessing about weight loss and I am really trying to learn to make this new journey not about numbers

[DianeB]

So glad you are thinking about you now!! How good does that feel? We take care of those around us but we forget about ourselves. When we take care of ourselves we give the best of ourselves to those we love. I'm proud of you!!!

[greensgirl19]

You're doing great!!! I think taking care of ourselves is so hard to do because for so long we considered ourselves substandard somehow. We are all now realizing that WE MATTER. And more importantly, we matter to other people who need us and love. You are doing a great thing by doing these things for yourself when you're in a slump instead of weighing on the negative. I think you're doing wonderful - and even though I'll be in your situation shortly, but don't know personally yet - others keep saying the weight will start to 'fall off', so in the meantime I couldn't think of anything better than for you to pamper and take care of yourself.
Hey - for a splurge - how 'bout a massage?!?!?!?!?

[kitty56]

I know what you mean by not taking care of ourselves. I think my problem was, that I was just so heavy that it was such a big chore just taking a shower. I was so tired just taking a shower. Doing something special for me seemed like it was useless, I felt like I was a nobody to people and to myself. I had family and friends that loved me no matter what but it always sat behind my mind, what is the use I am never going to lose the weight anyway and I am always going to be fat. So I lived life as best as I could and I did love myself but I hated my fat. Well once I lost alot of weight I wanted to wear necklaces and found out I had none and that day I bought me some and I wear them everytime we go away. I love looking prettier now with jewlery on. I even got compliments that I look so nice now. I guess I need the compliments from family and my friends just to know that I am looking better. My husband told me this morning that my face is getting so pretty, I am just me and still see the same face that I was 6 months ago, but thinner. Yes go and splurge on yourself you, deserve it. It sure takes our minds of food. I am thinking of more girly things to get.

[qt82699]

you have such a great outlook on things, and i agree with you that this whole process is about caring about and taking care of you! with that said i think you have accomplished so much already!!

[Ladyhawk]

Glad to hear you are focussing on other things than the scales. Your body is adjusting to the loss and you are probably building some muscle during this slow time. I know that doesn't help. I know now you feel, I wanted to wake up every morning and be down another pound. We get spoiled at first.

You are doing awesome both loss wise and mind set wise. Keep up the good work.

[traciflud]

Ladyhawk is right, I feel like I was spoiled at first with the rapid weight loss, now I try not to obsess about the numbers too much. I am with you TGG, when I get a compliment on how good I look, I immediately say "Thanks, I FEEL good" and then I go into a big speel on all the health problems I am so glad have dissappeared. That way I am always reminding myself of the health aspect of it and not just the number on the scale or my clothing size.

[CeeCee]

I had a similar experience with my weight loss after the first couple weeks. I hit a stall really early on. I was so frustrated and I came here to vent. Everyone told me to just relax and be patient and the weight loss would kick in. And it did.

I think your body is just shocked by everything that has happened to it and all the new exercise and lack of calories. It tries to hold back on the weight loss for awhile, but eventually it has to give and then the pounds will fall off. Believe me when I say it really will work. It just take some time.

Give it another month and I bet you will be pleasantly surprised on how your weight loss will catch up. It sounds like you are doing great. Already working out and walking in the mornings. You are way ahead of where I was in the excercise area when I was a month out and look at me. The weight finally started to come off. Yours will too.