Happy Camper

I set a reminder on my calendar :-) Good luck

Hi Bea, Even as a "VET" I need some motivation, after a gain. Thank you for starting this and monitoring, if you will. I am at the beginning stages of living the 5:2 and am excited to ask if you will please add me. Take care

Happy New Year fellow sleevers :-) here is to a positive and healthy 2014, with continued weight loss..... Feed Your Eye, Georgia, Laura V and others using 5:2, a few weeks ago I thought I could do it, and nope the old "hell with it, I want it" plagued me. I ended up finally having a hard time even looking at myself in the mirror, my belly fat returned, my arms and face are bigger. I am on new medication for seizures plus I am in full blown menopause so my hormones are whacked but, but, but, I did it. I started 5:2 and eating healthy with smaller portions again. Guess what, maybe it is Water weight but darn I got on the scale and wozers down 4 lbs. No matter what....it motivated me, so anyone thinking of doing it - JUST DO IT!!! For yourself. I am a little over 2 years out and had lost 115 lbs, am back up over 200 so my weight loss is now only 95 lbs I had been so proud to be in onederland I am ashamed, was ashamed. Now back on MFP keeping myself accountable. I have gained back in approximately 7 months 20 lbs, I am done. Thank you all for continued support, listening and sometimes just simply sharing your journey. Take care.

Thank you all for the support and wonderful thoughts. Best to you all in your journey.

Hi all, Merry Christmas, I hope it is okay and does not offend anyone. I thought I would update this post. I saw a neurologist and after tests etc, bottom line is they found a slight abnormality in my left temporal lobe. We are watching it and I am now taking meds but other than some weight gain and NO desire to exercise it seems to be fine, but I was fine up to the day I had the seizure too. So all in, does not seem to have anything to do with my sleeve! Good news. Take care

Swizzly and Jane, Thank you for the well wishes. Just so strange for me, I will be finding a neurologist today and hopefully get appt next week. Today marks my 2nd year surgiversary and,in my wildest dreams never thought I would have to be finding out why due to another medical condition. I will keep you all informed, sharing is important to me. It was through Tiffikins and a few others real life experiences that I gained the confidence to have my sleeve surgery. I still so believe in it. Have a great weekend.

Well friends, I was back on the boards trying to get reconnected to lose the last 30 lbs and then.... WHAM. Came home after hard day in the office last night, hubby had dinner prepared: brisket with rub slow cooked on BBQ for 5 hrs, like smoking. Beautiful green salad with avocado, cucumbers, green onion and 1/2 glass Merlot breathing for me. It was soooo nice. So, I grabbed the wine (had not had anything to drink in about 6 months), drank it in about 15-20 mins, then ate BTW, never drank a lot before surgery and even less now. We finished dinner and I had about 1/4 c frozen Greek yogurt. Stared falling asleep watching TV about 9pm. Got up went to kitchen to get bottle of Water, asked my son to get it from the bottom drawer as I did not want to put my head down, thinking I was a little woozy from the wine still. Felt worse tried to get to kitchen chair to sit down, and the next thing I remember I am on the floor with my hubby in my face and son the phone with 911. Apparently,I had a grand maul seizure and my son caught me from hitting my face on the wooden kitchen tale. I ended up with a broken toe and was low on potassium and dehydrated (ER tests!). Last year, Nov 7 just about same time at night I had leg cramps got up from bed to try to push my toes down because they cramped so bad, that I ended up passing out, stopped breathing. Ended up in ER at that time and guess what....low potassium and dehydrated (i think I posted last time too). So now, definitely last night was seizure, I had urine incontinence, eyes rolled back, tonic/clonic - I am thankful my hubby and son were there. Today, exhaustion and now I am not ale to drive until cleared by neurologist. My daughter did a google and asked me if others had seizures post weight loss surgery. So I began to look and there have been folks who had them after RNY. Hypoglycemic seizures, so not sure but I got a blood test kit and before eating I was at 119, after eating I was 109. Now going to gather stats until I go to neurologist. Need to find out why. Why seizure, why low potassium when I take it daily for almost 2 years in liquid form, why dehydrated when I drink minimum of 96 oz of water (crystal light tea flavoring). Anyone else had issues like this or know of anyone? Thank you for reading, I had a complication after surgery some of you may recall, I had abscess needed second surgery and treatments for several months. Then last November the "passing out", which could have been a seizure but we did not recognize it. Now this grand maul confirmed seizure. I have to find out why.

Friends, Today I was down because yup got on the scale first time in about 6 weeks, and sad to report I gained 20 lbs. WTH???? I stopped my vigilance in logging my food, I stopped daily exercise and I started eating Cookies and moved from frozen yogurt to ice cream...really? Maybe this is my reality check. I knew my pants were getting tight but, more was my Muffin Top was showing up again, I made the excuse it was menopause, my life has been upside down since June too much detail, but lots of stuff and I found myself back to what comforted me, food. I do know for a FACT my restriction is not nearly what it had been, I am afraid my stomach stretched. Some say it can, some say no but something changed. 4 oz simply does not do it for me anymore. I thought I cold follow your lead VETS and jump in on the 5:2 but I was not disciplined enough. Maybe now? Maybe for once I can meet a goal, get rid of this 20 I gained and lose the 15 more to get to my goal. So sad I was 15 lbs away, and now I am at 35 and over 200. So folks just know it can happen, it did happen. My challenge now is just learning how to get back down. Thanks for listening and this board has always been supportive with some great people here.

Cheri, Thanks for asking the question. You have offered such great thought provoking topics over and over, i like looking for your topics. I think I am considered a vet, but anyway going...I have not hit my goal. I lost a lot quickly in the beginning, now at 20 months I am still 30 lbs from a realistic goal. I was so excited during my losing period, then I started having menopause issues, got hormone replacement...gained 10 lbs, stopped hormones....got dehydrated, low potassium ended up in hospital. Then, got new hormones...did not use the patch just am dealing with leg cramps, and hot flashes, night sweats...and GAINING. I am up 13 lbs from my lowest, and I need it to come off but, I am hungry. I have found I can eat much larger quantities and have now begun making excuses. I thought if I picked up using MFP I would do better, nope just stopped getting on the site and here as well. VST changed to me, and I really did not feel I needed to check the site every 20 minutes like I did in the beginning. Bean, Coops, Skinny, Granny, MG2, Oregon, Jane, Eye....and others......at some point we have all exchanged a note. I thank you for hanging in there and continuing to share your successes, tips and challenges. I hope through Cheri's, once again, so well thought out message we can reach out and give a hand to help each other again! I know I need to purge the crap from the house, stop saying "I will do this after...weekend, graduation, traveling for work, on and on". But, I do need to figure out how not to be hungry. I do not drink with meals, never have. I drink my water daily, mainly with Crystal Light Raspberry Tea. And generally eat my protein first. I had my first sip of a beer yesterday, it was flippin 100 degrees and looked good. Nope don't like the way I felt, I will stick with wine on occasion I feel like having a glass. So here is to researching the 5:2, Diva's bootcamp, pouch test whatever...just finding a way to reach goal. I really, really need to get there and i hope you all are successful! Thanks all for sharing, Cheri losing 9 lbs, well I am thinking 5:2 just may be the way.

I am on MFP but, do not know how to connect with others? Sorry I am so challenged in this way, this is my only social media type interaction, here on VST. I have logged generally for 15 months....getting off track, I stepped back into logging. Do I just type in your screen name? My hubby set up the account for me when he bought my iPad for my b-day, the day I was released from surgery Nov. 2011. My name is sandyd2011 on it.

Before I had my surgery, my last push to try to get my weight under control was to purchase a Life Fitness Elliptical machine and I promised my hubby, I would use it...this time. The $1400 treadmill that sat in the corner, was eventually donated with oh about 3 miles on it. At the time we purchased the elliptical, I was able to work it for 2 minutes. That was it, I gave up. Fast forward to surgery...came home, started with just walking around my house, literally on day 3. Got on the Elliptical, NEVER looked back. Never have allowed myself to give up, this is my health and I must continue. So 4 days a week on average for about 15 months now, I plugged along. I am NOT a fitness person, I do it for my health. Today, I worked out at a level 10, and hit 63 minutes straight. I can hardly believe it! If you need a pick me us, please know I did it, you can too!

I was wondering if anyone else has had an increase in salt craving since WLS or since losing weight? I never added salt before and now I really crave it. I find myself wanting nuts and seeds, almost daily. Ug, I need to break this new...um habit? I take potassium daily, been trying to research the minerals to see if it is a physical response or not. Just curious if anyone else as well. By the way, I have 23 lbs to get to goal, I have done the reset, cut carbs, increased exercise off and on, and tried to reduce calories but eating 800 a day is tough, as I get hungry but darn I want to reach goal! I have gone up and down 3-5 lbs for over 6 months. Anyone else? Please share so I can review your experience and perhaps help myself to move forward. Thank you.

Wow, that is concerning. I hope you have shared with Alex or the moderators. This site has been a secure location for support and education. Creative food, expressing concerns and meeting people who support and share in accomplishments. I am sad, you received the PM's

Hi all, I shared this long ago but what I did to help myself....especially in the beginning to LEARN to slow down and take smaller bites was to purchase an egg timer and I paced myself to it....I did not finish before the ticker. The best help, was disposable CHOP STICKS. I became very good using them, carried them if I was eating out and it worked because the input was much smaller than forks (yup tried baby fork too)! Smiles

I take Omeprosol daily as well. My cousin wanted to get the sleeve but, her doctor told her it was best if she went with RNY because of her GERD. Molly, IMO best to get all pros and cons from your doctor on it.

I was hospitalized for low potassium and dehydration. Not to mess around with in my opinion, please see your doc and get labs to determine the amount you may or may not need. I was taking pills only to find out my body was not absorbing it, had to go on liquid. Good luck!

Alex: YES I would do it again, even with needing a second surgery due to my abscess and third hospitalization due to dehydration and low potassium. Iggy: I am sorry for your loss, your friend, I am sure will be missed, that is a tragic situation when she was trying to live. All others: I am 17 months post op, still 20 lbs from MY goal and I live a normal happy life. This is a personal decision, period. This forum in my opinion is for support, education, a place of connection and commiseration all WHEN and IF we need it. PDXMAN: I understand the taking a break, you are successful...eat less than I do, by the way, and you have the ability to articulate for many here. Please keep up sharing as you are able. I too have backed way off, when people start chipping at each other, I just walk away. Best to all.

Good Morning All, Butterthebean, have you had your potassium level checked? Just sayin'...in November when I was one year out, I got dehydrated and did not know it. Had been taking potassium the whole time but, my body was not absorbing it well. I did a face plant, stopped breathing and ended up in ER. They put me on liquid supplement. Prior to my surgery over the last 20 years, I have been hospitalized for vertigo, and have had bouts on and off since that time. You will know if you ever have it. And I pray, that day never comes for anyone. Anyway, maybe with all the tests if they add that one would be an option. Of course, hydration is key. You are so active, perhaps to Lissa's point your muscles need more water/Gatorade to keep you going and balanced. Do keep us posted, while I have not been as active on the site, I do check back in here because this site with all the wonderful support is what helped me get on with my journey and it has been incredible! Best