feedyoureye

Coops, have you ever seen "modesty" suits? I have thought about it a time or two... http://www.simply-modest.com/posecom/index.php or I sometimes wear a T or a mens white cotton dress shirt over my suit. I have also worn capri length yoga pants with my suit. I just bought a two piece tankini... have not worn it yet, but someday!

Thanks Meg. The time just flew!

Last night I was talking to a friend who is getting RNY in one month. I was saying to her how quickly it would pass and she would be having the surgery. I remembered the date and realized I was at one year myself! It went REALLY fast and here I am at 2 1/2 pounds from "Normal" and 7 pounds from goal! I am one of those people who decided to eat "normal" food most of the time, and not do a very low carb diet. I am a vegetarian, so very low carb is pretty hard to do anyway. All in all, the sleeve has given me the help to "just say no" to the quantity, and my mind was able to do the rest enough to almost get to goal in one year. I am losing so slowly now that I expect to get to goal much later this year sometime. That is fantastic! I am going in for labs today, and if my previous labs results are any indication, these will be stellar. When I show my friends (the ones I see every day) old photos, they say they cant really remember me like that, only the way I am now. When I see the ones that I haven't seen for a while their chins hit the floor. I have never lot this much weight before, and I have been dieting from the age of 8. The older I got, the harder it was to lose. It was all I could do to keep my weight from going higher than 257, which was my high for 20 years. I also think,that just important as the sleeve itself, and the healthy food choices is this site... You guys have been the greatest support system, helping me keep my mind in the right place to be successful. I think the stories here are some of the most meaningful stories I have ever listened to. This is a very powerful group. I believe those who have a support group like this one, that you can go to every day if needed... or about 10 times a day if you are me! must improve success statistics significantly. My Doc asked me if I would be happy losing 50 pounds and I said yes, but would love to lose it all. He is ecstatic that I have lost so much weight, and I think this group has made that difference. Now to keep it off. I have actually lost about 8 more pounds than the image in the black dress....

I felt a cheep thrill there for a minute too.... hehe...

Circa is right. It is frustrating but normal. I have had several stalls over 3-5 weeks. Just keep up the good work,and take the long view... this is a change for life and the year will fly by... just wait and see!

sorry I hit the button twice!

And I hope by now you know how I feel about you girl!

Thanks two, its a work in progress.

The composition of grass fed cows is different than lot fed... they have lots more Omega 3... there are some studies that show all the omega 6 in our food now, including that showing up in animal flesh that has been raised on soy and corn, contributes to the obesity epidemic in the US. I live up the freeway from two "cow concentration camps" feed lots in Mid California.... sadface. Animal waste is so disgusting to me too...all the meat thrown away... somebody gave their life for that overcooked burger in the trash! Just saying, my point of view. Mindful eating is a great practice....wherever it leads you.

Thanks all my sleevie friends! Thank you for everything! I am a vegetarian because I have been working for years to decrease the suffering I add to others life. Animals or people. Any sentient being. I am not always successful, but I'm working on it. Years ago I asked myself, "what can I do with the skills and talents I have, to benefit or at least not add suffering to others?" And my life has been moving slowly towards that. I just figure, its hard to love animals and eat them at the same time. (I do love how meat tastes, I was raised on it, but really, how good it tastes is not worth tossing my wish for their happiness) I don't judge others for where they are, I can only try to get in touch with my own 'destiny'. Perhaps a longer answer then you ever wanted to hear! Thats it in a nutshell. I love vegetables too, and one of my hobbies is making fake meat, which is getting pretty good and tasty if I do say so myself. Pass the BBQ sauce!

I am really enjoying Kale right now, raw or cooked. I also chop brussels sprouts and put in soup or pan fry. Sooo good and good for you! Lots of Omega3s.

My Dr told me up front. I believe this must be public knowledge. Ask your Dr. If he/she will not tell you, then contact the ombudsman or the head of the facility with your question.

Just reminding myself! Another trick is when you are on top of things, and confidence is flowing... write yourself a little note.... to be opened when you need it most!

about every 3 months for me in the first year too...

The more good habits we develop the better... even if it doesn't show up on the scale... better quality veggies and food, more water, eating a little slower... affirmations in the mirror in the morning and evening... new shade of lipstick...learning a new recipe, deluxe shower gel, learning a new word in the dictionary every day... saving all your change for a nice haircut or trip to the museum..... this makeover is bigger than the scale! So while doing all the right things most of the time, don't forget to enjoy the moment.

greek yogurt, cottage cheese, seitan (gluten/wheat protein products) tofu and soy products like TVP, nuts and nut butters... mostly almond butter and walnuts, flax, Beans, hummus, cheese, I also eat some eggs ( I get the ones high in omega3s) 4everfit Protein drinks (lacto vegetarian) balance bars....I make my own Tofurky style roast from scratch, buy morning star farms products, bean, pea or lentil Soups.....tempeh.....soy nuts.....

Honestly, its just Protein first, write everything down, stay around 1200 cals and eat a lot of veggies and some fresh fruit. I keep my carbs under 100. Im a vegetarian, so its pretty hard to keep the carbs much lower day after day. When being more "strict" I try and keep the carbs below my protein numbers. I am also working on getting more Omega 3s (and less omega6s)in my diet by eating kale, flax, walnuts, canola oil, spinach, and other leafy veggies. "Spring fats" http://www.prevention.com/food/smart-shopping/vanishing-youth-nutrient?page=2 http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/138981.php

Normal! Congratulations! I'm a couple of pounds away myself... hope to get this surprise some day too!

Many Docs prescribe omeprazole for at least 6 months after surgery. It worked for me, and I did go off later without problems.

Hahaha! I love my chocolate too, I was just getting into an over the top consumption habit..probably caused by sugar more than chocolate... I still eat it every day... just happy again with a T of chocolate chips (with a T of almond/flax seed butter) and a chocolate Protein bar as my fix. Chocolate is almost the only thing that can give me reflux... I can tell when I am eating too much... Keeping it at my 1T or so a day has been OK'd by my tummy.

Ha! Its taken me two months to lose 3 pounds! Oh well, its in the right direction at least! Notice how I put these!!!!!!at the end of every sentence?! I did have a 5 week stall and gained about 4 pounds over the holidays, and managed to still lose 3 pounds in the last two months. OK? OK!

OK, so I have 30.6 to lose, well thats close enough. I am at 5 months, and tomorrow is my 58th Bday. I can eat almost anything, and tonight at my Bday party with my folks, I think I did! I went to a salad bar, and ate up, then my folks brought a chocolate cake, and I had part of a small piece, then ate some more when I got home. I was feeling pretty cheaty...and decided to man up and write everything down and keep accountable even if I was going hog wild. 1178 cals. You know, I think I can live with that kind of hog wild once in a while. I LOVE MY SLEEVE!!! My Protein was only at 60 and my carbs were high (like 110!) but tomorrow is another day, and I will take the leftover cake to work and let them scarf it down and get it out of my face. I have been testing the Water a little bit more than I should at this point, I really want to eat around 900-1000 a day... I do work out 5 days a week, and feel pretty strong, so perhaps that amount is not too bad. I am losing around 7 pounds a month right now...things are going pretty slow, but that can still get me to goal in 4-5 months at this rate.... How about you guys? How many calories a day? How many days of exercise a week? How many pounds a month at this point? Good luck girls and boys on the last 30 or less!

Thanks girlfriend! I am 2 1/2 pounds from NORMAL. (as if losing 2 1/2 pounds could make me normal!) And look at you! It's the home stretch for us both! I am going out tonight, and Im all dressed up and feeling really great about how I look, and how I feel. Feeling like I look better is the greatest added side effect of an insurance paid medical procedure I could imagine.

semi rant.... After being on this board for over a year, I can tell you that I have seen about a bazillion posts about someone not losing weight for a day and getting all upset and blaming the surgery or themselves with failure. The body just can't stay the same or lose all the time. Weight loss does slow down as time goes on as well... when you lose a pound a day then have a two day stall and say its no big deal, wait until you stall for 6 weeks after losing 2 pounds the previous month. This is also normal, but frustrating. There are many many great threads on here with tons of advice from long timers on stalls... People have spent hours and hours of thier time talking down upset sleevers...I just wish folks would do a search before going ballistic on the little things. I think its true we just gotta vent now and again, and I know I have had fear that when the scales are the same for "too" long, that is where I will stay forever... Or when I gain 3 pounds that means I am going to gain all the weight back... even though I am eating 1200 calories a day and exercising 4 times a week... its part of the roller coaster ride.

You can't be prepared 100%.You will learn new things and struggle with others. How I handled the social eating thing was/is: I tell myself over and over again.. "I am here for the company, not the food." It just makes things a lot easier. I usually do eat, find something I can have... I am a vegetarian, so there are usually not that many things that really make up a protein first meal for me at most restaurants.. so I have protein ahead of time, or after, and just have a little bit of something I want and enjoy the company.