Went yesterday for my off...

Went yesterday for my official 6-month visit, and I've lost 115 lbs on the doctor's scales **** lbs on my scales) from my highest weight, 103 lbs from my surgery weight. My Bariatric Surgeon was pleased. Talked with the nutritionist re my recent plateau and got mostly the same advice I read here: more water, more movement, smaller meals/more times per day. Got a goal weight officially set for me ... my BS hadn't even talked about that before, although I had my own goal weight in mind all along. His was only 5 lbs more than mine, so I'll take it! LOL Also had my mind put to ease about whether I'd be able to make it to goal before my "surgical opportunity" expires since I still have so much to lose. Don't know if y'all remember my post here about being told at my 3-month visit that I was "behind schedule" on my weight loss ... but my BS made a similar remark yesterday, so I asked him what he was meaning, exactly, and told him the remark had weighed on my mind since the last visit. He apologized and said he hadn't meant to be upsetting so much as informative, did some quick calculations, and explained it this way: based on my surgery weight (-) my goal weight (divided) by 12 months (=) pounds I need to lose per month in order to have my weight TO GOAL WITHIN 12 MONTHS. Taking what I've lost so far, and dividing it by 6 months, my monthly weight loss comes to slightly under what it should be in order to get to goal in a year. Key words here are "within 12 months". THAT'S where he was coming from making the "behind schedule" remark. He said given what I've lost so far, if I'm able to continue doing as well as I have been, I'll probably get to within 30 or 40 lbs away from goal by my 1 yr anniversary, and then probably continue to lose over the ensuing 6 months to a year, down to my goal. It was such a relief to understand what he meant by "behind schedule", and know that's it's entirely possible for me to get all the way to goal if I work my program well. So, all in all it was a good visit, got a from my Bariatric team and I'm happy! everyone! Myra 442/430/327/155 hw/sw/pw/gw

115lbs in 6 months!? THAT'S AWESOME!!! Congratulations!!!! Like we don't already put enough pressure on ourselves, doctors have to make it worse by adding more pressure, and then not explaining themselves thoroughly. Gotta love it! You're doing awesome! We all have set backs. Just do your best. No one can ask for anything more! Huggs, Ruth

Myra, That is wonderful; I'm very happy for you. I'm curious why your Dr. was doing the calculations for 12 months; I thought the "window of opportunity" was 18 months anyway? I can see where this would be confusing... good thing you got it clarified. Regardless, you've done great and I'm sure you'll continue to do great! Take Care, Tanja

Thanks to both of you! It means so much to have the support of great people who understand ... (((hugs))) Myra

Myra, WOW! That is such an accomplishment! You should be so proud of yourself. I am scheduled for october 24th and i only hope I can do as well as you have!! Take care willby

That is so WONDERFUL!!!! Keep on going girlfriend! Monica F.

hi myra: congrats on the great success. your numbers are very close to what mine are/were. my dr, however, has not yet addressed a final goal weight with me, which is fine, since i already know it's forever from now. i'm confused, though. i thought the window of opportunity was the same thing as the honeymoon phase where you dropped lbs without really trying and the rest of the time was working at it. i guess i was mistaken, huh? again, kudos on the great results. take care dorthe

Hi everybody, Congrads to you Myra for your successful 6-month appt. Could anybody please explain to me about "the honeymoon phase" and the rush to be down ex amount of weight by the first year or 18 months? I may be alittle dense here but this is all new to me. I know everyone needs a goal weight so you can measure how you are doing with the tool. I do realize that the weight doesn't come off magicly and that you still need to work at it...but your pouch..is still your pouch and your food in-take is limited for the rest of your life. right??? I guess I missed that chapter..anybody got the time to fill-in a SMO horse-riding, Chair sitter sister?? Hugs from confused pre-op Virginia

Thanks to everyone for all the support ... y'all always come through for everyone here and you rock!!! As for the "honeymoon" thingy ... the original explanation I got was that it was 12 - 18 months ... with the first 6 months being the period the weight would come off the fastest and easiest (duh! like we could eat all that much?). I was told that after this "HM" period my body would begin to adjust to its altered state, and (in a sort of survival mode) even-off to the new way of things, essentially slowing down the weight loss to a standstill. Even though we're altered inside, eventually our bodies will HAVE to adjust to this and slow our weight loss or we'd just never stop losing, right? And, according to the "pros" that happens anywhere from 12 - 18 months out. Now having said all that ... I've also been told by another professional the duration of the surgical effect can be as long as 2 years ... so ... who knows? As for the goal weight thing ... my BS pointed to a chart on the wall, asked me my height, and showed me where 155 is the weight indicated. Then he said ... "but don't be disappointed if you slow down by 175 lbs" ... and I was thinking ... "DISAPPOINTED AT 175 LBS?!? ARE YOU CRAZY?!? I DREAM OF WEIGHING 175 AGAIN!!!" (On the outside though I was cool and calm ... you woulda been proud!) So anyone else heard differently on the HM thing ... cause I'd like to hear what they heard too. to everyone and thanks again! Myra

Hi Myra, Thanks for the explanation. I think I understand now. Losing weight a year or so out is more challenging also because I assume your guard is down because you can eat more and more different kinds of food without your body rejecting it (getting sick etc.) I guess as a pre-op I should try to stay eating the way you do in the early stages of wls and try not to expand to new foods too quickly. Now I think I totally confused myself but that's not unusual for me. Thanks again for your expertize..you totally ROCK...you are on a roll Hugs, Virginia