feedyoureye

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!

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.

Later on it is easier to get lots of water down. At least it was for me. I take about three small gulps... then I have to wait a few seconds/minutes, then three more... and like that. I feel full, then all of a sudden not. Its the stomach opening up its pylorus and letting the contents through. Your stomach also does get bigger as the swelling goes down and you can hold more.

I thought about it, but then forgot!

I have a bath every morning, and take a giant class of water with me, I drink it before I can get out of the tub. Its a good start to the day.

Coops, I have been eating around 1200... and slightly lower carbs...around 70.... Yesterday I ate around 1500 and still lost .4...go figure. My weight is going down. I thought I was going to stay on the same plateau forever... but I have hope to reach goal now! I am 3 pounds from "Normal" and 7 from goal (will probably adjust down another 8-10 as a cushion... that will take me another 10 years to lose!) You can do it! Slow and steady wins the race! I have changed how I eat.. more greens (Kale) raw and cooked, more veggies, flax oil, flax/almond butter, blueberries and more organic produce, grass fed eggs... more Omega 3... I don't eat meat or fish so I am working on getting other sources...fresh local walnuts... less sugar....I read in prevention mag something about omega3(spring fats) vs omega6(hibernation fats) in the diet and weight gain... so I figured it wouldnt hurt, and it hasn't! http://www.prevention.com/food/smart-shopping/vanishing-youth-nutrient?page=2

Beautiful transformation! Im in the home stretch too, we can do it!

Eating more organic and more omegs 3s. Going to dance class tonight. Getting in some studio time this weekend (painting) Getting out more!

Eat slow, under fill your sleeve... if something does not agree, try again in a week or two. Constant pain from eating needs to be reported to the doc.

Almost 12 months out... and same here. It is way better than before though...

you look sexy and fantastic all the way through, and you are a woman in transition. I think after you get to your goal or where ever the body wants to stop, you will have time to see what it feels like and looks like to be the new you. Seeing how sassy you look so far, Im sure you will still be sassy and sexy! Remember the hormones are all over the place during weight loss, so that will make you feel strange on top of the other sad things life sometimes throws us. You are doing great!

I believe in Atkins you do not count the carbs, but do count the calories. Also, some get nasty tummy from sugar alcohol... gas and runs....

I've been keeping an eyeball pealed for you, and just saw this post, glad to hear all is well and you are enjoying the sprog. Miss you! Have a great trip..(you are probably back by now)

I posted a 5 year study that showed that Ghrelin was still down by almost half at the 5 year mark... up just a little bit from the 12 month mark.

coops, the scenic route... I love that! I am pretty well taking the scenic route as well....

if you post what you are eating and your protein/carbs and exercise info, some one here can comment.

You should be able to get all your protein in if you use gluten, TVP and you can get pea or hemp or soy protein drinks. Add some flax seed oil or flax seed meal to improve your amino acids. Kale is also high in protein and omega 3s.