Hi Everyone, I have been thinking and wondering if anyone has had these same feelings or same thoughts. I have been thinking what if I over-eat or how do I know if I have over-eaten? I am so afraid of doing that and I want to make sure that I don't do that. I know I have never pushed myself to over-eat but how do you know if your stomach stretches back out? I am so scared of that happening that I would just die if I ended up back to where I was. Or has anyone thought, okay am I going to plateau now or will I lose more weight and how do I know for sure that I am going to? And I keep telling myself that I am still so fat. I have been praying that I don't have those thoughts, but I can't seem to stop focusing on that and start focusing on what I have lost already. Anyhow hopefully someone can shed some light on this subject for me. Thanks all so much for listening! -Tifani

If you overeat, trust me you know it. You either throw everything back up or have this horrible discomfort in your pouch area. As for stretching your pouch out, it takes months and months to do. When your pouch is created, its created with the knowledge that it's going to stretch. My surgeon makes the pouch so that when it's stretched it will be the size of a small orange. Other surgeons make is different sizes, but that's pretty much the norm. You need to get into the mindset that you did the most wonderful thing for yourself by getting the surgery and know that this is what is going to work. If you keep thinking that you're going to fail, you're going to drive yourself to fail. It's all mind over matter. Tell yourself you are going to succeed and lose all the weight you want to and you will be fine!!! Focus on how much you've lost! Celebrate it!! Feel free to email me, we can chat more...I'm here for moral support if you need it!! ~*Becky*~ 5/17/05 -60lbs

Hi Becky, Thank you so much for the words of encouragement. You know you are right! About keeping positive and telling myself that this is going to work instead of focusing on what if it doesn't. The good Lord has brought me this far so I know he will bring me through this. I guess what I don't understand is how come our stomachs have to stretch back a little? I haven't ever over-eaten before...I'm just worried that I will go back to being the way that I was. I know that by nature that our mind can get the best of us. It's just hard to try and program our thinking into being the positive losing-weight- person now. Anyhow thanks a lot for your kind words.....they have uplifted me. -Tifani

No problem Tifani!! I had a hard time "re-programming" myself to think positively after my surgery too...It takes a little while, but you'll be able to do it and get into the positive weight loss mindset!! Keep Up the Great Work!!!! ~*Becky*~ 5/17/05 -60lbs!!

I feel you Tifani i am only 12 days out and I worry everyday that I am going to stretch mine out. either by drinking to much or eating something that may cause it.. I guess its just a fear for all of us.

Doctors say that it is really hard to stretch it back out. It will stretch some though. And as for plateaus you will have millions of them. Sometimes I'll go 3-4wks and nothing and then all of the sudden I'm down 5lbs almost over night. So don't let plateaus worry you. They will happen, just keep focusing on what you are suppose to be doing and you will get past it. As for still seeing your self as "fat." I have lost around 160lbs, and I still feel like the same fat ass I was. I can't see it - but everyone else can. It takes awhile for our minds to catch up with everything. I know I've lost it because hey I'm in 12/14s now. And I'm only 10lbs from having a "normal" bmi, but I still see myself as I was before. Eventually our minds will catch up with our bodies though. Just try not to get discouraged and try not to worry too much about stretching your stomach back out. As long as you follow your doctors guidelines you will be fine! ` Julie 325/165/155

I agree with you on the body image issue. I still think of my self as being vary obese. The day of surgery I was 280lbs. As of last week I was down 54 pounds which I am very proud of, but I weighed this much (226lbs) 2 years ago and I felt just as obese then as I did the day of surgery. I do think that once I get down below 160 (66+ more to lose) I will feel that I have really accomplished something because that was my lowest weight as an adult. My ultimate goal is to get down to anywhere from 135 to 147, to be at a "normal" weight. THis may not happen if I have lots of skin that can weigh 10-40 pounds though. For now I know that I just have to work at it and do what I can. P.S. I wish everyday for a time machine to fast forward to a year from now to get all of this worrying and pants falling off over with!

Hi Andrea! You just hit the nail on the head. That is exactly what I have been feeling. I don't know what else to say about what you just said because that is how I have been feeling. I know that I should be rejoicing in the fact that I HAVE lost weight. And that I am on my way to a new me. I just keep praying that the Lord will guide me and re-direct my thoughts start thinking more positively. I wish too that I could fast forward to next year so that I can also get rid of this worrying. Well thanks for sharing your thoughts and if you ever want to chat ...feel free to email me anytime! -Tifani