M2G

Hello my wonderful 5:2 ladies and apologies!

I didn't realize that it had been so long since I was here, and I just spent well over an hour getting all caught up. Thank you Coops for getting touch with me to say I went MIA and was everything ok!

I am going to try and get thoughts out here but if I miss/forget anything please forgive me!

Oh my gosh, my thoughts are with you Sue about Gary....I didn't realize and I'm so sorry. Hywel is still so young and I just can't imagine how that would affect my girls...I'm sure they would be a mess. I like what Dorrie said about something positive coming out of this and I love that line of thinking. I like that you and Steve can hopefully both be at the funeral and help him through this time. Hugs to you all!

Dorrie, sorry things have been difficult with you and your marriage. I hear your voice a lot in my own line of thinking, because I do this all the time "Tomorrow I will fast. Tomorrow I won't eat junk. Tomorrow will give me a fresh start" arrrgh! How many times have I told myself that? Along those same lines of thinking...this seems random but isn't...I just read an article in Reader's Digest about alternative ways to tackle alcoholism. No, I'm not struggling with overuse of alcohol, BUT how many times have we said "well, if I was an alcoholic I could just STOP DRINKING, but since my drug is food, it's NOT like I can just STOP EATING!" Right? Well, there are alcoholic programs out there that encourage MODERATION. OMG. I didn't even know this! I am and will continue to be in the moderation camp when it comes to my eating. I refuse to life life in a black and white zone, I need to give myself patience and credit when it's due and I also need to know when I'm going OVER the line and need to reign it back in. Anyway, I hate to think that any of us are living in the tomorrow...for what about today? And happy early birthday Dorrie!

Florinda, I didn't mean to stir up anything negative for you. I was just simply floored because I thought I had been following along pretty well with this group and then it hit me like a ton of bricks that you had lost 30 fuc*ing pounds!!! Holy sh*t woman had I lost -30lbs I would have been shouting it from the rooftops for anyone within listening range to hear. I understand where YOU were coming from with the "but I need to lose xxxx more..." but I think that can be a dangerous line of thinking. And I'm going to be honest here...I hear that from ALL of us to some degree. I mean this IS a group formed around one common thread afterall...WEIGHT LOSS...but I wish we did a little more celebrating and little less self-bashing here. Oh I know we all struggle in our own way and we should be allowed that, I just don't want us to wallow in the "but I'm not THERE yet" mode. I feel a little rambly and I hope that makes sense. We all share what we want when we want so no one should ever feel bad about that, I was honestly shocked because I thought you were STUCK and couldn't lose a pound, or at least that is what I took away from your posts and so to hear that you had lost so much, I honestly thought I had missed something. LOL. And I love what your male friends told you...that is awesome! Please do tell us more about your living conditions, as Sarah pointed out she envisions MASH and that comment made me laugh because I agree to some degree.

Denise, I'm so happy for you with Bill. Sorry about the CPAP and the ex-GF, but it sounds like you guys are working through some of the kinks and I'm envisioning a happy relationship for the two of you. I'm sorry about your purse and I PRAY that someone turns it in. What a horrible winter we are having and the main thing is you are ok. Keep us posted about the purse!

Cathy...YEAH GIRL!!! That is awesome! I'm sooo happy for you, dancing bananas all the way around (for any of you who didn't belong to this site like 2-3 years ago, they used to have a TON of crazy emoticons and you could put a GIANT dancing banana into any post...it was so cute!) So anyway, hats off to you...so exciting!

FYE - OMG you DID marry a viking! Holy cow! That is crazy. Tell him all your 5:2 ladies are sending him get-well wishes. And with me being gone I also missed any grumbling about secret groups. Sigh. People need to get over the fact that we have our own space here.

Sheryl, glad you are also ok, this has been a tough winter...seems like the entire US has been gripped in ice/snow/cold temps for the last 6+ weeks or so. Here in Denver, we should hit about 60 degree this week and sunshine...OMG sunshine...we are desperately addicted to our sunshine here, so we need some good light and 60+ is shorts weather around here. I'm glad your ex is gone and it sounds like you and Steven are working through some issues. If the issues COULD be worked around do you see yourself entering into a more long-term thing with him?

Wanda, how is Curves going? I hope you are going as much as you can and that you like it. Please update us on that...

Dee, I'm so sorry you are sick. Sounds like you have it really bad and I hope you are on some good meds. What a terrible time for you to be so sick. Getting back into your place and your stress levels sound really high right now...maybe that is why you fell ill...stress I think tends to weaken our immune system...hugs.

Sarah, so glad you got a new stove...also hats off to you for baking and not partaking! I could never do that! You have done so well and you are such a great cheerleader around here! Thank you for that. Love that the girls all want your son to bring them goodies. I did that at Christmas let my 13 yo dd take fudge to all her friends at school...they were so happy!

Kelly...CONGRATS to your Seahawks. They showed up and deserved the win. I'm not sure what happened to our boys...gosh it was a sad super bowl party. People left early, and depressed. LOL. United in Orange now must be referring to that sunshine we are going to get later this week.

Georgia, I hope your granddaughter is feeling better! Going to check that link about the twins when I'm off from here! Thank you for sharing.

Alas, I'm feeling as if I've already forgotten someone. Gah! Sorry if I did.

As for me, I've started back to school (my last semester yay!) my first class was Jan. 27 and I might be wrong but it's been about that long since I hopped on here! WOW! Time sure does fly when your days are full of homework. HOwever, this class is really going to be a good one because it's all about us finding a JOB when we graduate in May. It's called Business for Creatives and we are working on getting together an online portfolio, writing an artists statement, polishing our resume, etc. So lots of work but really good stuff.

Ironically I am sick today, hence being on here instead of working out. Hubby had been sick in mid-Jan and took meds, got better and then fell sick again on Sat. He's finally passed it to me (sore throat, cough, etc.) and so I decided to skip my workout today. Was planning to go then it hit how I really didn't feel so hot, so gave myself permission to skip.

I will try to be better about coming here...having to read through 25+ pages in one fell swoop is no fun!

Sarah, I'm so sorry about your friend. So hard seeing or knowing someone is struggling and there is nothing you can do. And for you moms that deal with your children and their addictions, my hat is off to you. I can't imagine and don't want to imagine how hard that must be. Sending you all hugs...addiction is a really rough challenge.

Dee, so glad to hear that you get to move back home next week...WOW that is so exciting!

Florinda, OMG you lost all your regain? Seriously? I like to *think* that I follow along with posts pretty closely, especially when it comes to this group because honestly I just don't always have the time to devote to all the posters here, so I tend to stick with the ones I know and care about. WHEN did you lose all the regain? Because I must have fricken missed that party post? I thought every post was that you were basically STUCK STUCK STUCK! Was it when you were sick the first time and taken to Germany? I know you have had to change your eating according to your medical issues, but I'm so sorry that I missed how you got rid of the regain. And along that note....um WHERE is the f'ing celebrating? Oh I know there is "work to be done" blah blah blah, because honestly I'm a "work in progress" too, but can you do a little happy dance for getting rid of the regain? Okay, if you won't I will ***bah, still totally miss the dancing bananas from the olden days of VST*** BUT if we HAD dancing bananas I sure would put a bunch in here for you!!!

Dorrie, sorry you are struggling... me too. Somewhere between Nov and now I lost my mojo...can anyone help me find it? It might be over there in the corner under the triscuits. Sigh. I definitely overindulged this weekend, my girls were at a sleepaway church camp and hubby and I partied like we HAD NO KIDS and NO PARENTAL RESPOSIBILITIES! Wheee, it was fun. Drinking, dancing late night movie (saw American Hustle with get this a showtime start of 10:35 PM ...this from a gal who likes to be in bed by 9:30pm...and there was at least 15 mins of previews!) Anyway, eating out should also be added to the list. It was fun but I definitely am paying for it on the scale. I was going to FAST today but just had some triscuits and greek cream cheese along with half of a black bean burger. (Breakfast was hard boiled egg and cheese...) so much for a fast day unless I don't eat dinner which isn't likely to happen. I've been doing 6:1 for THE LONGEST TIME EVER NOW and I can't seem to get out of the rut and get back to my 5:2. Advice??? I know I need to pull up my big girl panties and JUST DO IT!

OD that does sound messy. Ugh! I'm glad you told him how you feel so that is at least out on the table.

CCJ yes yes, he will try to take you down with him, you need to physically separate from this man. You have been more than kind and generous with him (from the sounds of it!) and you need to cut this tie and move on with your life.

BDA whoop whoop...so glad you joined Curves. I would love to hear about what you think of it. Please be sure to update!

Snowing today here, enough for them to do a "delayed" start for school. I guess I will get a triple workout out in today, weights for an hour, spin for an hour and probably at least half an hour of snow shoveling! (We live on a corner and the sidewalk is also our responsibility...sigh.)

Hunger has definitely returned! I noticed it around 2 years post-op (now I'm 3+) but I do have to say it really rears it's ugly head when I eat carbs. So *if* I'm on plan and eating mostly Protein and veggies it stays much more in check.

And interesting side effect for me of doing the 5:2 is that is GREATLY reduces my hunger. It also cuts out my snacking and, for me personally (maybe my other 5:2 sisters also) the effects of the lower hunger and less desire to snack carry over from a fast day to feast day.

Hello, well I was doing a lot better but then I realized pretty quickly that my restriction had really gone down a lot so my weight loss surgeon scheduled an EGD with a balloon dilation for the 28th of this month. Then about a week ago I came down with a kidney stone about 10mm big. So yesterday I had to have shock wave surgery to knock it out...I guess I have to live with the fact that both of these are recurrent themes in my life now and will have to be dealt with from time to time. And the Addison's disease only makes the procedures worse because they have to give me boosters of steroids during the procedures to boost my blood pressure so it doesn't tank every time. And now that we've finally found what works, I actually got to come home after my surgery yesterday instead of having to stay an extra night! Yay me!

Ugh! Sorry about that, but YAY for not having to stay the night. It's the little things sometimes that make us so happy!

I really like Unique in Aurora, I give myself at LEAST an hour to go through everything. The only downside to Unique is that you can't return anything. Goodwill I believe their policy is 10 days with tags and receipts.

Kelly OMG, I LOVE the girlish scream...THAT is the kind of stuff legends are made of. Love it.

I know this is old (circa 1998) but this was when the Broncos won their first superbowl and my MOM was AT the game in San Diego...oh what I would have given to BE there! She went with her very dear friend who was also a die hard Bronco fan, so I can't begrudge her.

Sorry ladies at the risk of turning this into a FOOTBALL thread here are a quick highlights from the radio podcast from that game...favorite line (about 1:10 minutes in) "Oh baby they're going to WIN this thing!"

http://www.southstandsdenver.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=603:you-can-stand-up-and-salute-dave-logan

Wow, that is a LOT to deal with and I'm so very sorry about the loss of your brother. Also that is some scary stuff about possible cancer and the mastectomy, reconstruction and it would be HARD (for me personally) to take a break from working out...as I do get that endorphin high from exercise. I guess if I couldn't do my regular exercise, then walking in the sunshine might help clear the cobwebs from my brain.

I love what the others have suggested, and the only thing I can add is that you are over a year into this journey, put things on autopilot right now with eating. Use food as fuel and not as an emotional crutch. Keep things simple and focus on what you CAN do.

Remember that the sleeve is your tool for life, you can always use it when you are ready to keep on losing!

Wow, amazing new photos of you both! My husband and I also had the sleeve, (with more modest results that you both...he lost about -70 and I lost about -85) so my hats off to you! Love couples who do this together!

Congratulations on your amazing transformation! You look wonderful now!!!

I agree that if you are in a rocky relationship pre-surgery, then post-surgery is bound to rip open any little tears in the fabric. My husband and I are BOTH sleeved (he's about 5 months behind me) and I do think us doing this together was the right decision for us, and it definitely made us stronger because we were both on the same journey.

That being said, any mention of WLS aside, I think many marriages end due to plain old selfishness. I'm not saying there are legitimate reasons for marriages ending but I think so much of our society is ME-ORIENTED when really it's a give and a take to make a marriage work.

We will be married 18 years this coming June and together for 22 years...is it always easy? Nope! Is it worth the ups and downs? Yep!

Kelly (I think that's right, with a "y" not an "i" please correct me if I'm wrong!) anyway, looks like we will have our own little epic SUPER BOWL SUNDAY right here on this thread. I'm jelly (that is what my girls say when they are jealous, ha ha!) that you got to GO to the Seahawks/49ers game...thanks for sharing your video. I'm sure that was exciting. We are Broncos fans here, we bleed orange and blue and always ask "if God isn't a Broncos fan then why did he make sunsets orange and blue" ha ha! We decided last Sun. after they won that we are throwing a big ole super bowl party. We promptly went and invited like 65 people (families, kids, etc.) to our house for super bowl sunday and now we are praying that there are at least 20-30 people who can't make it ...OMG! Too funny, we got all caught up in the excitement! No matter what happens on Feb. 2nd...you and I Kelly, we will still be pals.

Also wondering if your hubby is gaining? I know that in OUR household, my hubby can EAT a LOT more food than I can and NOT gain weight. Grrrr....men! But I'm glad you put your foot down about the extra treats, etc. After my younger daughter's VB game last night her coach suggested we hit McDonalds for their $1 ice cream cone. I wanted one SO bad, but yesterday was a fast day....so I abstained. My older dd wasn't feeling well, didn't go to the game but when she found out about the ice cream, I had to swing thru another McD's to get her one. Hubby asked "what about me" and I told him "I'm helping YOU by NOT buying you an ice cream..." LOL.

Yesterday was a great fast day, and a double workout day, and ran errands during lunch so that I wouldn't be thinking about food.

I agree, Sheryl that you need to back off the intensity right now...you are still healing...be gentle to yourself.

Wanda and Sarah, OH MY GOSH I'm so proud of you both! YAY YAY YAY!

I'm sending a good friend of mine (who also had the VSG, she is about 18 months post-op) some links and some of my food logs surrounding the 5:2. I think she hit that WALL and can't seem to lose anymore and still wants to lose like 35lbs more (and we are NOT talking vanity pounds here, her goal weight is 180 down from 320). Anyway, I'm hoping she will try the 5:2 and report back to me how it goes.

Florinda, I'm so very sorry about your "friend"...he's an a$$ for unloading on you! Grrrr! I'm not sure how I would handle that, but you are doing the right thing by continuing to workout and hold your head high. Definitely not a good way to end things. He leaves in a month (I think that is what you said?) Anyway, good riddance to him!

Coops, I think you are probably just hormonal...I hope it passes soon. This "womanly" stuff sucks.

I did just have regular white cake but I'm going to not eat frosting anymore that is green or blue or purple etc. I don't know what kind of dye is used but OMG the next day to "see" the colors in the loo (sorry for being graphic) it sure is turning me off from traditional cake, that is for sure!

I haven't been able to fast and today should have been one but isn't. Sigh.

Tomorrow is a double workout day but I think I need to fast...

LOVE THE PHOTOS KIM!!!

You look amazing and I wouldn't know anything about costumes and appropriateness...and if I did a few drinks and I wouldn't care! LOL!

Thanks Cheri...my ferratin was 11 ng/mL (normal like you mentioned is 15-150) so I was just outside the normal range. The note at the bottom of my labs (from Sept. 2013) said "labs perfect, though Iron stores are somewhat low (does functionally have plenty of iron)."

I'm wondering if I should redraw labs again 6 months from last time instead of waiting a whole year. Hum. Thank you so much for your update, I'm glad to "see" you around here again, Cheri...you have been MISSED! Hugs!

Awwww, sorry Wanda about your Uncle...thanks for the reminder to live our "dash" to best of our ability.

I was blessed to have another birthday, nice and quiet...had Breakfast with a friend, did some shopping, then picked up the kids from school, dinner was Subway in between school and volleyball practice home at 9pm to eat cake and open presents. I love Subway's 3 inch Subway Sunrise Melt (it's a breakfast thing but you can order it anytime) 3 inch is almost too big, but I get it with egg whites instead of regular egg. And yes the cake was good too! Dinner out tonight and then I can close the book on this birthday!

Thanks all for the bday wishes!

Cheryl I like your insight on Denise's dating life. HA HA! I totally agree with you that having a "degree" doesn't necessarily mean anything. Hubby and I both have Bachelor's and he brings in a decent income, enough to allow me to basically quit my career (which I'm currently trying to revive) so I could raise our girls. I've been lucky enough to have jobs that have allowed me to "only" work when they were in school or work from home. But you don't have to have a DEGREE to be smart, witty, and interesting!

Denise - I think Bill sounds like someone you want to continue seeing, and I'm hoping it all works out for you!

Kim, I'm getting so excited for your big event...I have never given any thought to a corset and now I'm thinking "WHEN can I have an event where I can wear a corset??" Ha ha!

So I did it, I fasted yesterday, worked my freaking a$$ off in the gym and was still UP on the f'ing scale. Argh! I'm not really worried about it, but I will tell you this. Today is my birthday and every fricken year it comes during a time that I'm supposed to be "dieting" or trying to clear out the junk from Christmas, blah blah blah. But there will be cake. I saw it this am when I went down to make coffee. And tomorrow night is a big family dinner at a japanese hibatchi style restaurant to Celebrate my birthday along with my MIL whose bday is in 2 weeks but will be out of town during her bday. So we'll combine our celebrations. So much for fasting more than ONE day this week. Bah!

But at least I know I can do it because I have been struggling big time with 5:2...errr shall I call it 6:1 which is pretty much what I've been doing since Nov. Sigh.

Congrats on your tremendous loss and thanks for sharing your plastics story. I too was told by a PS that I should consider a belt lipectomy (aka circumferential lift, or lower body lift) and I'm actually surprised that you opted for that just judging on your before pics. It looks like you were mostly just skin, not fat. I definitely have the nice ole layer of fat under my loose skin that doesn't seem to want to go away.

Your price is excellent, I was quoted about 20K.

I'm still undecided about plastics. I keep thinking about putting my girls thru college on the money I would spend on myself (even tho they are only 11 and 13 it's going to be here before I know it!) and not to mention the pain, the drains (oy! one drain for the VSG was enough to make me crazy for 6 days that I had it!!) and the time off from working out.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your story with us, I truly appreciate it.

Wow, amazing transformation! You look amazing!

LOL @ being fat = easier...yep yep yep...totally way easier, but sooooo uncomfortable!

Georgia! Yum, I made something similar and everyone in the family agreed they were GOOD!

I'm holding steady on my fasting day...so far I've had about 40 cals from coffee creamer and a 100 cal greek yogurt.

Sheryl I did a double workout today and had NOTHING in my system but the coffee and Water. I didn't collapse, and the workouts were each an hour long and very intense. I know for me personally, a lot of "hunger" that I think I "feel" is truly in my mind. It's just past 2:30 and I finally ate some yogurt. I did come home and take a very long hot bath, as I was just exhausted and the bath sounded better than the shower.

If I can manage a 300-ish calorie dinner I will be so PROUD OF MYSELF!

Here is a PLUS for your corset, Kim! LOL

http://news.yahoo.com/dangerous-corset-diet-104500255--politics.html

LOL< that's awesome ...I've never given so much thought to a corset as I have in the last couple of days since Kim posted about it.

I think I'm going to try and do an all liquid day today to beat the carb monster back into it's cage. Gotta do something...

Well, crap...just pulled out my Premier Protein shakes and they all say they expire Jan 2014...so I cracked one open thinking it would be fine...NOPE CHUNKS. In all of them. I probably have 15 in the pantry and a few in the fridge and they are all CHUNKY!!! Blech.

I guess it's 5:2 today, even though it's double workout day. I have to do it....!!!

I think you will find a wide variety of opinions on this topic. I gave up coffee for about 6 weeks post-op and when I returned I really tried to cut down on the caffeine. While the link between caffeine and ulcers is not 100% proven, I do NOT want to get an ulcer on my tiny tummy. At home I brew half-caf to cut down the caffeine.

That being said I very much love my am cup of coffee!

I'm 3+ years post-op btw...

Aaaah Florinda, you are right I AM a hopeless romantic...I can't help it. Even when good friends tell us they are divorcing (seems to be happening now that we are in our 40's instead of our 20's and 30's...hum maybe there IS something to that "midlife crisis"...always kind of thought it was hogwash...lol) I'm like " but did you try everything else first??" Ha ha. Even when they have I'm sad to see people part ways.

The question of 6 months...will you be able to to physically? Can you even answer that question? You won't KNOW how you are going to feel in 1 month, 2 months, etc. I would say if you are feeling relatively "stable" now with what is working then 6 months would be good with the idea of saving some $$$ and giving you more "time" to look for that career, place to live, etc. It also gives you a definite timeline to work with: you can calculate your savings, and start a master plan that includes a place to live, etc. My only question would be what happens if you suddenly don't feel OK and you need to leave? What are the parameters for that situation? What is at stake?

Sarah, OMG I love that NSV. What a cool thing! Something happened recently with my 11 yo and she found a photo while cleaning her room. She was like "you don't even look like the same person" but I waited --holding my breath-- and she didn't mention fat. LOL I can't remember what she said but she noticed a big difference in my face. Interestingly enough someone at the gym just said something about how good I'm looking and (not that you looked bad before...lol always gotta throw that in but this person only knows me from the gym in the last year or so, not the BEFORE surgery me...) but she mentioned how my face has changed in the last few months (just me getting older ha ha!) but anyway, I think my body composition must be changing a bit due to the weight workouts. 3+ months now...woo!

I did NOT fast yesterday. I don't know what happened...worked out for an hour (intense mix of cardio, weights and abs) but did okay until AFTER I picked up the kids from school and then it just went out the window. I didn't eat probably more than 1200 cals but certainly NOT a fast day. Where is my brain??? Anyone seen it lately?

I think I'm going to try and do an all liquid day today to beat the carb monster back into it's cage. Gotta do something...

WOW! What a great thread this is, definitely feels like old home week around here! Loving it!

I'm 3+ years out and also put me in the regain (20lbs for me) and also put me in the 5:2 boat (although reeeeeeally struggling to do it now, but was awesome from July 2013-Novemberish and lost -13 from doing 5:2, but now am barely holding on to that loss, blah blah, so now it's more like 9...bah the numbers make me cray cray!)

Diva, I too am curious about the low Iron. In Oct. 2013 I had labs done for my 3 year and 10 out of my 11 Iron tests were normal. My "ferritin" was just falling outside the normal range and was considered low. I consulted 3 doctors (PCP, OBGYN, VSG Surgeon) and all said not to worry. I still take my Vitamins (fairly) regularly (like I miss a day here and there but usually I'm on top of it) but I DO NOT supplement with iron. I just don't want to be on the slow train to anemia.

Can you share more about the low iron. You said you stopped taking Vitamins (was daily iron part of what you stopped taking or were you never taking iron to begin with?) I totally and 100% understand the boredom of meticulously counting calories, Protein, taking vitamins, etc. We all *know* this is "FOR LIFE" but living it out is just a little bit harder than understanding it in our heads.

I'm GLAD you are BACK here and I'm so happy to see some cute doggies. We just had to put our 16 year old cat down due to cancer 2 days after Christmas...we no longer have pets and it's saaaaaad I tell ya! I'm sure you will fight your way back, you have the determination to make it happen.

WELCOME BACK!