M2G

Aww, happy anniv! Y'all look so cute!!

New baby pictures:

And while I'm at it...just celebrated 18 years of marriage to my hubby...on June 1st. Can't believe we've been married 18 years and together 22 years! That's over HALF of my life!!!!

I agree that there is a combination of both. Restriction is still strong for me at 3.5+ years later BUT it's certainly easy to eat over my daily caloric goal. (My goal is about 1500 calories a day but it's easy to creep towards 1900!) The other day I was eating fast food (I know, I know, not the best choice!) but at chick-fila I had 4 chicken nuggets and about 3 waffle fries and that was it. There was no room for anything else (their salad w/grilled chicken would have been a better choice!)
So restriction is still there but the healthy eating HAS to be part of the equation too. I'm sure in my pre-sleeve days I would have no trouble eating a 12 piece chicken nuggets, large fries and a diet coke, plus room for more, like an ice cream cone, etc. So yeah the sleeve does still force Portion Control for me anyway.

I can eat a lot! And can eat around the sleeve too. I do eat around 2 cups of food at dinner... can eat lots of salad...and junk and at other times get the breaks put on by the sleeve at very little food (may not even be protein) I have to write it all down and plan for healthy choices to keep on track. Restriction is a great tool, but will not keep me from gaining all by itself. I can def eat more now than I could at one year out. If you don't have the healthy eating plan in place, you may be caught in a weight gain cycle at some time. It has happened to the best of us at some point. The more tools in the tool chest, the better life you can build!

For me, it's a combination. Before WLS, I had to eat a huge meal to feel full. Now, 3 oz. of Protein, 1/2 cup of veggies, and 1/2 cup of something starchy is my max. Sometimes I have 4 oz. of Protein and less of other stuff. So grateful to be able to eat a normal sized meal and feel full!
But I could eat really fatty stuff or eat junk foods and gain very quickly, even with the restriction. I learned that my first holiday season at goal. Hello Sees candy, I'm talking to you!
As for getting hungry, I think a 4 hour window is fairly normal. I expect to feel hungry a little before I eat. I think it's a healthy precursor to enjoying my meal. I go from I feel full, I feel comfortable, I could eat, mmm food sounds good, to it's time to eat! This is a very nice change from my pre-op hunger, which was a raging beast. I would feel so hungry my stomach hurt.
Georgia, If I don't get enough fat with meals, I get hungry quicker. Doesn't take a lot. A couple teaspoons of oil or butter, few slices of avocado, or a fattier meat all work for me. I'm only three years out, so not sure that will work for you, but you might want to try.
Another thing I've noticed, if I don't get enough calories earlier in the day, after dinner, I feel hungry and like I can't get full. I have a super strong urge to snack all night. When I feel that way, I go to bed early and take care to eat a little more earlier in the day the next day.
Lynda

It's both for me. I did learn new habits in the early days, and I try to stick with them. I still have restriction, but not like I did in the early days. I sure wish I did! That made it so much easier. Now I can overeat if I don't watch it. So, I have to rely on those habits to keep things in line. However, I do have enough restriction to keep from going too far overboard.
I can't say that there is any rhyme or reason for why or when I'm hungry. Some days I'm just hungrier than others, and I think it's genuine hunger, not head hunger. The other thing I've noticed is that my weight loss stops when I go through periods of hunger, even if I'm 100% on plan. I know dietitians would not believe that, but it's true. I just spent the last 3 months at the same weight, no matter what I did, and it was a real struggle to stay on plan because I was hungry (but I did it). I think the increased hunger is my body trying to make me eat because it is hanging on to every last ounce. Then, all the sudden, for no reason at all, my hunger will decrease, and my weight will start dropping again for no reason at all, because my intake has not changed. This past week, I started losing again.

Oh, I like the Black and white one way above the others... flattering and stylish! With black boy shorts? Cute.

You look great, Sheryl! I like the back and white top the best!

OMG COOPS!!! We were both in London at the same time!! I wish I would have known...we could have at least had a quick hello maybe.
Sarah -- you look amazing -- I can't imagine what you're having lifted/tucked...? You look tight as a drum in that pic.
(((Sheryl))) Hang in there, lady. <3

Sarah, if I can add any help to Sheryl's advice please shout - didn't have the lower body lift so she is defo the one for that...
Good luck and look forward to a whirl wind ride - but I can guarantee that it is all so very worth it! My TT and BL defo changed my life for the better; physically and mentally.
Kim, your dog sounds almost human - love the peeing story. It is great having a pet isn't it!
And you are right about the pesky scale - they continue to taunt me and haunt me...lol... I am, once again, bouncing around the place. Had a real good fast day Tues, but today has gone a bit silly - never mind!
Denise, I love dancing too... especially in the pub! But unfortunately, I am not that good at it... but who cares!
We are taking Betty and 3 of her friends to Wembley Stadium tomorrow to see One Direction - it is gonna be an adventure for sure... and they are soooo looking forward to it!
Not sure what Steve and I are going to do whilst they watch the concert - but as we are in and around London we might just take advantage and so some sight seeing? I suppose it will depend in timing but we will defo get some food out! No fast day tomo - haha!

Oh Denise, my real name is Sarah. Is Bill feeling better? Did he have his other surgery yet?
Ladies I have some exciting news to share. I have plastic surgery scheduled for July 1st!!!! It came about suddenly. My husband and boys take a week in July to go camping. I take care of a 2 year kid during the day and in the summer I also care for an 8 year old that I have cared for since she was a baby. Anyway, when the boys go camping I always take the week off and have a week to myself. I thought maybe I should have surgery the week before they leave and then the 2nd week of recovery I will have a quiet house and I can recover without having to worry about the family. So I scheduled for July 1st. I have another appointment with my surgeon on June 16th and my husband is coming to ask any questions or share any concerns he may have. If something major comes up I hold off on the surgery but I don't see that happening. So, July 1st I'm scheduled for a Tummy Tuck and lower body lift. I'll have a full 2 weeks of taking it easy and then my boys will be around to help with whatever lifting needs to be done for the following few weeks. I'm really excited about this and wanted to share. I don't feel nervous at all, I'm sure that'll hit me eventually.

Well, Girls, Today is my FOUR YEAR surgiversary! All in all, I'm pleased that I am at goal and was able to have this life changing surgery!
I have found in the last few weeks, that I still have some work to do on making sure I make good choices. I tend to really work to ACHIEVE a goal, and then when I get there, somewhat relax and old habits/eating patterns creep back.
I'm right at 148-150 - my goal from original and where my body really likes to be overall. I did get down to about 140 last year with 5:2 and I'm REALLY REALLY THIN at that weight (being 5'8") I like it for ME but my face looks OLD and others seem to think I look "sick".
With that said, I need to "shape up" a bit - just with life itself, my energy level is low, my stress level - high and I'm tired, tired, tired! I've also been experiencing reactive hypoglycemia (I think due to increased carbs and sugar) where my blood sugar gets extremely low (to the point of faintness).
I guess what I'm trying to say is - I'm very happy with what I have achieved, I'm thankful and grateful, and I realize AGAIN that it's a LIFELONG JOURNEY!!!

My nurse ok'd some sugar-free Halls Vitamin C drops. My throat hurt so bad, I was really glad I brought these to suck on once they determined I had no leaks and were letting me have small sips of Water.< /p>

Awwww love the Jack & Florinda pics....you are BEAUTIFUL Florinda!!! WOW!!!
Sarah, glad to hear from you, sorry about your friend, that is just so sad. Nothing like watching someone "throw it all away" when there is life to be lived. I hope she changes her mind soon, just know that YOU can't change it FOR her. Hugs my friend.
Kelly so glad to see you pop in here. I'm very sorry about your job. What is on the horizon next? That really just stinks the way everything went down. Sending you a hug too!
Well I *FINALLY* had a fast day yesterday...ended around 587 cals...woo hoo! Only bad thing was my 13 year old saw it on my fitbit app on my phone and was like "what the HECK!!!???" I don't talk about doing the 5:2 thing around the girls (hubby knows) but the LAST thing I need is for my teenage daughters to starting trying to "diet"...we push healthy eating etc. but certainly not restrictive like this. She was like "Mom I probably ate 350 calories just at Breakfast alone!" So I told her it was just a low-cal day and that I accidentally skipped lunch while visiting with my neighbor. Ugh.
Anyway, LOVE how I feel when I'm fasting...may try to do it again today! WOO HOO!

So my second fast day is coming to an end... smashed it again!  Didn't have lunch so I went from 10 pm to 4pm without chewing,,, yey!  I had two crackers at 4pm cos I mentally needed a crunch, then porridge with low fat/cal pro biotic yogurt for tea at 9pm.
Tis my son's 14th birthday tomo, so more cake - I will have a small piece but I ain't going mad...lol!  Don't want to undo the good work of the last two fasts.
Gonna do another fast friday!
 
anyone else fasting?

Hi ladies. Quick note I received the Fast Beach diet book. Nothing at all new. If u read the first book you've read this one. Only push is 4:3, HI exercise , and more control during non fast days.
I will be done by tonight. If u want me to send the book to u let me know. We can pass it around. There are some tips. But to me nothing we don't already know
I Am with u Coops. Fasting today! Focused for the next 6 weeks

fast day completed... I didn't chew anything til 7pm, which means I went 23 hrs without eating!  That is a real achievement for me and it wasn't that bad!  I did have a few cuppas though, and some herbal teas... the Hot Drinks really helps!
 
I am gonna go  4:3 this week; today weds and thurs... it is my mam's birthday tue and my son's birthday thurs so they will be fuelled with cake and junk food.... hoping the 4:3 will counter act this!  Possibly going out for a few bevvies sunday too.. such a mixed week food wise for  me!
We have another week in work and then we break up for a week and in that week I have promised myself that I will go back to Curves.  By mid June my work load should have decreased too!  That will allow me more time for me!

Florinda, what a great story! I'm so happy for you, thank you for sharing. Can we get a lovey-dovey picture here (in the private group) as well?
Denise, sorry Bill is sick I hope you don't get it either.
Georgia, THANK you for posting that. I plan to take a good look at it in a little bit.
Coops YEEEEEAH GIRL!!! Love that skirt from when you were 21..."chuffed to beans" for ya!
Well, my fitbit logging is going well, I'm even logging when I eat ice cream, and half a donut (NOT on the same day, lol) but here is what my last few days have been (calorie-wise)
Thurs: 1,406
Fri: 1,912 (this was the ice cream day! oh my, that is HIGH cals for me personally)
Sat: 1,910 (I know 2 high cal days in a row, my only *saving* grace was Sat. I did so much lawn work, I was OUT working in the lawn...mowing, triming, edging, fertilizing, cutting branches, hauling them to a temporary neighborhood dumpster, etc. I was out from 10am-4pm with only Water to drink, so then I must have made up for it by dinner time, lol)
Sun: 1,069
Mon: 352 from my am breakfast and mid-am yogurt.
I'm having lunch out today with my mom, so no fasting today. Maybe I will try to fast on Wed. Anyway, at LEAST (for now) I'm logging my food which is a big f'ing 100% improvement over the last 4 months of NOT logging whatever I eat. UGH!
Maybe I'm back on track? Maybe...

Florinda, what a great story! I'm so happy for you, thank you for sharing. Can we get a lovey-dovey picture here (in the private group) as well?
Denise, sorry Bill is sick I hope you don't get it either.
Georgia, THANK you for posting that. I plan to take a good look at it in a little bit.
Coops YEEEEEAH GIRL!!! Love that skirt from when you were 21..."chuffed to beans" for ya!
Well, my fitbit logging is going well, I'm even logging when I eat ice cream, and half a donut (NOT on the same day, lol) but here is what my last few days have been (calorie-wise)
Thurs: 1,406
Fri: 1,912 (this was the ice cream day! oh my, that is HIGH cals for me personally)
Sat: 1,910 (I know 2 high cal days in a row, my only *saving* grace was Sat. I did so much lawn work, I was OUT working in the lawn...mowing, triming, edging, fertilizing, cutting branches, hauling them to a temporary neighborhood dumpster, etc. I was out from 10am-4pm with only Water to drink, so then I must have made up for it by dinner time, lol)
Sun: 1,069
Mon: 352 from my am breakfast and mid-am yogurt.
I'm having lunch out today with my mom, so no fasting today. Maybe I will try to fast on Wed. Anyway, at LEAST (for now) I'm logging my food which is a big f'ing 100% improvement over the last 4 months of NOT logging whatever I eat. UGH!
Maybe I'm back on track? Maybe...

my fast went ok friday - went over 500 but under 800 so I am claiming it!
on another note, sorted out my summer wardrobe; put woolies away and got out my linen trousers from last year - the size UK14 are way to big - they have to be recycled! As I was doing this I found a skirt I wore for my 21 birthday and for a laugh I tried it on... well bloody hell fire - it fits! Ok, it is tight around the waist and I probably wouldn't be able to wear it for long.. but I can do the button and the zip up to the top! How happy am I? NSV claimed right there!

A beautiful day here in South Wales... sun is out as am I!  Gardening in between catching a few rays!  I love the sunny weather!  Especially now I don't drip with sweat at the thought of it!  Yipee!

I want to reply to so many of you but don't have the time right this moment. I've been so busy lately. I'll get back on later today or tomorrow and reply to everyone. I just wanted you to know I'm thinking about all of you.
I surprised the family with season passes to Six Flags so we are headed there for the day!
Enjoy your Saturday!

Globe. How wonderful. Sending cyber high five and a big smile

Florinda, I love your story but even more I love the fact that you sound do happy, you have had a rough past year ( I think it is that long) so you deserve all the love and happiness you are getting.

Florinda, I was in need of a fairytale today, thank you! x