PamelaAM

Hey guys! Thank you SO much for all of your comments and tips - it all makes sense! Going to start a new regimen and see if I can't get rid of these last 40 lbs once and for all! I think sometimes we all just need some encouragement or maybe a swift kick in the butt from each other :-)

Myrori - you have done amazingly well! WOW! I know in the past (and I mean since I was 16 and I'm now 58) I have really struggled on other diets that normal people lose on. I remember one time being on that one where you get the daily injections of HCG and Vitamin B12 and they had me on 500 calories a day and I still only lost about 30 lbs. it got to the point where they were saying things like "ok, instead of that 1/2 of red apple, try a 1/2 of a green apple because there is less sugar in it". They couldn't figure out why I couldn't lose anymore. And I totally wasn't cheating at all - I was so obsessed with losing. I am probably eating a bit more than I should but I am going by what the nutritionist said. I think I just need more exercise.

I am drinking probably about 100 oz of Water a day and doing about 1200-1400 calories. I'm sure it's the exercise that I am missing and I need to quite coming up with so many excuses that I don't have time :-( Here's what my day today will look like: 6 bottles of water - 4 with Kellogg's K20 to add 20 grams of Protein 2 Kelloggs Protein Bars to add 20 grams of protein Breakfast: 1 egg salsa small amount of cheese (1/3 cup) 2 small slices avocado lunch Greek yogurt 1/2 cup blueberries 1/2 cup strawberries 1/3 cup granola dinner 3 oz salmon (baked) 2 Tbs tarter sauce grilled veggies (zuchinni & onions today) If I need something in the evening I will grab a small handful of reduced fat wheat thins.

Just trying to see what everyone else is doing with regards to food intake once you've gone beyond the 6 month mark. My nutritionist told me to eat 1200-1300 calories and 120 grams of carbs and 80 grams of protein. Seems like the carbs are so much higher than what everyone is doing. I had a problem doing low carbs in the beginning so they told me that I needed to do 120-130 of carbs per day - just seems like alot.

That's why I love shopping at Old Navy - vanity sizing!!! Haven't been in this small a size in years :-)

LOVE the scale pic!!!

You have been such an amazing inspiration to so many people but especially to me. You went first. . .and then you mentored me the entire way. I still remember our first meeting at Marie Callendars for breakfast and you could hardly eat and were so depressed. I was having my surgery 3 days later and you inspired me and let me know that i would be ok. All of the text messages back and forth when I needed support and a voice that had "been there". You got me through SO much! And YOU were the one that has brought us all together for our support group - none of that would have happened with YOU. The group has inspired and nurtured all of us and given us all the strength to keep moving forward even when we were having a difficult time with the process. It made all of us feel like we weren't alone in the journey. Thank you for bringing us together. And you continue to inspire. Each and every month when you speak to the graduating class at Kaiser and share your story, letting them know that this DOES work - even though the road is sometimes difficult. They look at you and see your succes and find comfort in the fact that they are embarking on the right journey. I hope you realize the impact you have had on all of our lives. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart! Pam

Leslie, you look fabulous! You shot by me so quick it was amazing!!! Great job! See you next week!

I know how frustrating it is. I have had major stalls in the past 7 months since my surgery so I totally feel your pain. But don't let it get to you. Just keep doing what you are doing and your body will adjust and start letting go. Everyone loses at a different pace. I am down 61 lbs in 7 months but most of that came off in the first few months. Have only lost 11 lbs since January 1st and went 8 weeks without losing an ounce. Just keeping moving along and your body will catch up. The weight WILL fall off - I promise!

I had been on Juice Plus a few years ago and then basically got lazy and stopped taking it. I was thinking of taking it for these last two months before my surgery. Does anyone know how long AFTER surgery before you could swallow a big capsule (and they are pretty big) again? They also have chewables but they are gummies and I didn't think that sounded like a good idea.

Yay! I remember when I finally saw a "1" in front of my weight too - you would have thought someone gave me a million dollars! Congratulations - you have done an amazing job!

Welcome! You will find that this is the best decision you have ever made! Certainly was for me :-)

You look amazing!!! Can't wait to see you!

Thank you for the amazing inspiration!!!!!

My blood pressure dropped to an alaming low because the nurses were still giving me my BP meds. The doctor had a fit when he saw that I was still on them and took me off them immediately,. I went from taking two per day to none. t\They couldn't even get a BP reading on me when I went in for my post op at 11 days after surgery and finally got 73/.42 and then couldn't get one again. My BP has been down ever since and the pills are no longer needed.

Your throat is most likely irritated and swollen because of the breathing tube as well as the boughie that went down via your throat. It should subside over time. If it doesn't start getting better after a few days I would definitely check in with your doctor. I've heard alot of people have swelling for even a couple of weeks after.

You are doing absolutely fine! I don't think I got anywhere near 35 grams of protein in during the first week. It was a couple of months before I was able to get in the 60 grams (at the time) that they wanted me to. My surgeon told me that if I could get 35-40 I was doing great. Congratulations on the beginning of your new life!

It has nothing to do with Protein according to my doctor. The way it was explained to me was that when you remove 85% of your stomach which is a major organ, your body thinks it is dying and sends all of the signifcant energy to the major organs in an attempt to save itself. The hair follicles actually die at the time and right after the surgery. It simply takes about 3 months for the hair to work itself out and actually fall out during the 3-6 month period. If you look at the anatomy of your hair/follicle you will see the process. I take Biotin because I figure it might help with the regrowth but it doesn't help at all with the actual loss. Some people experience the loss and others don't. For me, I had significant hair loss to the point that I had to cut my hair really short and am actually doing a "comb over" on the top to disguise the loss. So it IS really important to get your protein in, but not because of the hair loss - but because your body just needs to to heal and perform it's functions well.

So I was doing great losing and I was tracking my food every day on myfitnesspal.com. Then I thought "I have a good feel for what i should be eating every day so I don't really need to take the time to track". Boy oh boy, what a mistake THAT was! I was at a total stall from 3/6/11 until this past Sunday! I am about 6 1/2 months out and I was getting so frustrated that I wasn't losing. I chalked it up to the fact that I was traveling alot for work and probably not getting in the exercise that I needed. Then it hit me. Wionder what would happen if I went back to tracking my food intake? Started tracking on Sunday and am now down 4 lbs from where I was on Sunday morning (I had gained 2 lbs while traveling for two weeks straight!). THE SCALE IS FINALLY MOVING AGAIN! Duh!!! I was simply consuming too much food without even realizing it. So a word to the wise (or not so wise!). . .even when you think you know what it feels like to eat the right amount, you probably don't. Start tracking and KEEP tracking! Makes a huge difference! Needless to say I am thrilled that I finally figured out what the problem was but mad at myself that I wasted a month and a half with no loss because I thought I knew what I was doing :-)

I've always gotten way more than enough protein in and getting water in isn't a problem but I was just consuming too many calories but wasn't seeing it because I was only able to eat small amounts so it didn't seem like alot. But now that I am back on tracking I can clearly see that I was eating too much.