9 mths out...struggling.

So had my 9mth check up yesterday.  Dr. says I'm doing great.  Having some skin issues.  Some rashes and skin break down on the belly.  He made notes again, and said with good documentation my insurance should cover a TT and BL... Woo Hoo.  If that is the case, and can deal with having to pay for my legs and arms myself. 

I am however having a hard time with looking at myself in the mirror.  I don't like the way i look.  I have 35 pounds to go till my goal.  When I look at myself, I think I have more to lose than that. Will I be able to lose more when I get to that point?  I'm not sure...Scary to me, if I can't.

Does anyone else have a hard time with people commenting on the loss.  I have a friend at work that calls me skinny.  I really don't like it.  I'm not sure why I'm not happy to hear those words.  I just think that it is not me....I have never been skinny, so I guess I just don't like the word.

I would love to hit my goal by my 1 yr anniversary.  This will be 35 lbs in 3 months.  That is a tall order this far out from surgery.  What do you all think.  I just got some new 1 cup storage containers.  Hoping this will help, because I have really started measure more strictly than I have.  I also just started drinking 2 green smoothies a day.  I have not been able to eat much veggies or fruit after i get my protein in.  So I'm hoping this will help with my low vitamin levels,and my weight loss.

If anyone has any tips for me to help get this last 35 off, please share.

Thanks

Jane

I think that you have to give some time as to what you really look like. It's a new YOU in the mirror. I guarentee that you look much better than you did presurgery! You may have some skin issues when you get to your goal, but approach it like you did with your sleeve. One step at a time. Rome wasn't built in a day young lady, you will be fine. You have accomplished a wonderful transformation with 85 pounds gone forever!
Most of us hated the way we looked presurgery. We chose to shorten our lives by adding the weight with a addiction to overeating. It takes time to break those chains that bind us, time heals all wounds they say so give yourself some time. That's all it will take, and you will look back on this and giggle some day. Good Luck on your journey!

You've done great so far! It takes a while for the head to catch up and give you a realistic look at your body. I still see fat in the mirror. I'm called skinny all the time...it amazes me...never been skinny in my life! It does take some getting used to the attention. Just smile, say thanks and change the subject.

Some of the extra fat won't go away without the TT. My doctor said that most of what I have left around my belly is fatty tissue attached to the extra skin. Exercise helps tone it up a bit, but only the TT will make mine go away.

To lose 35 lbs by your anniversary is a tall order because we tend to lose slower as we get closer to goal. Just try not to let it get you down if you don't make it. You will get there eventually as long as you stick to the plan!

Measuring or weighing your food is always a good idea, especially if you think your portions have "grown" over time. Increase the protein, decrease the carbs, drink more water, exercise will all help. Mixing things up seem to help too...it confuses the body. Eat different foods at different times of the day. Change out your exercise routine - walk a different route, etc. The fastest way for me to lose is to eliminate any breads/starchy veggies.

Good luck!

 Its a tall order, but within the range of possibilities :)

Im in the same boat though - I set my goal at 180, which is 55 lbs away, but when I look at myself, I feel like I need to lose at least another 100 lbs. Ive never been at this weight before, so im in a whole new ball park, and it's really hard to see what others see. I hate the word skinny too!!

I know PS wont be the end of our mental issues, but it will help at least make us feel some what more normal without all the alien skin folds hanging from our bodies!

Maybe it's because I'm 55 years old, that I look at it a bit differently....and I concentrate more on my accomplishments than on what I have not yet achieved....and I have to tell you that learning that mental mind shift took me YEARS to do, and Thank goodness I did it before I had this surgery !!!!

I KNOW ME. I know where I came from, and I know where this body of mine has been. I am not going to be THIN. I don't even think I WANT to be thin. I want healthy. I want the ability to move freely, move well, and to be free from all that FAT that was keeping me down in a literal sense and an emotional sense.

My goal weight (below) will still have me as overweight; and I'm ok with that. WHY ? because FOR ME (which may not be you !) I have gone from morbidly super obese --- a BMI of 53 to a BMI of about 32 now. My GOAL for myself is to get m bmi down to 29. Overweight.

My doctor has told me that I won't lose the hanging fat and skin on my tummy, abdomen, thighs, arms....whatever without plastics. Plastics are not in my personal budget. Nor covered by my HMO. I know that.

Month 8 and 9 were total stalls for me. Exercise, walking, keeping to my plan.....month 10 I lost. Month 11 I gained 4 pounds. Month 12 I took off the 4 pounds.

My goal now is to lose another 12 to 15 pounds this coming year. And keep them off. That would put me just below my personal goal of 166.

Try seeing your cup as half full. concentrating on the half empty cup will not build your esteem nor your confidence.

thank you to you all for your kind words.  I believe that the next 3 months will be tough, but I'm up for the challenge.

I will keep you all posted.

Have a great weekend.

Jane