former_vbg

As others have said, you are recognizing the problem- so that is an awesome start. Something that might help motivate you to stay on track is to remember there is a honeymoon period. You really want to take advantage of that time as much as possible. You can do it!
p.s. Carbs are a huge demon for me as well. It's ok to give yourself a treat, otherwise you may end up obsessing about what you can't have. Something that has worked for me is tell myself that when I reach "x" goal, I can treat myself to this... It was different all the time. It might be like when I hit onderland, or when I reached a new BMI level, or maybe even just 10#. I don't overdo it, but I do the "planned" treats so that it acts as motivation for me to get to that goal and then I get right back to the plan. Like you, ketosis has been key in my weight loss. Not everyone does that, but everyone is different.

Probably a little weird NSV, but I get such satisfaction over being able to take one hand and in a claw like manner hold my other wrist touching with my thumb and middle finger with a little room to spare. I also like touching my collar bone being able to feel bone. No, I'm not anything close to underweight, it's just that it was covered up by so much fat before, it's nice to see the new "me" emerging.
Something fun is I'm taking a day trip tomorrow and have realized that the jean pile I went through over Christmas to change out the original fat jeans to the not so fat jeans, that now some of those are too baggy. I don't like tight jeans, but hate baggy jeans. So, I now have a new pile of jeans that don't fit. I'm wearing a pretty solid size 10 now which is awesome! I still have my brand new size 6 and 4/5 jeans from my last journey nearly 14 yrs ago that I fell short by 20 or 30#. I'm happy with my progress, but will be doing the HUGE happy dance if I'm able to fit into those babies!
Oh, and one more since you guys brought up grocery store stuff. I was at Walmart last week getting a few things. I was in the soda row trying to get some liters of Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry which was on the top shelf and all the ones at the front were gone. I couldn't reach the ones in back and some guy noticed I was struggling and he says, "here, let me throw you up there to reach those". I about did a double take to see who he was talking to. "THROW me up there?" I couldn't look that thin, not yet for someone to even suggest that. Talk about make my day!! :Banane55:

Probably a little weird NSV, but I get such satisfaction over being able to take one hand and in a claw like manner hold my other wrist touching with my thumb and middle finger with a little room to spare. I also like touching my collar bone being able to feel bone. No, I'm not anything close to underweight, it's just that it was covered up by so much fat before, it's nice to see the new "me" emerging.
Something fun is I'm taking a day trip tomorrow and have realized that the jean pile I went through over Christmas to change out the original fat jeans to the not so fat jeans, that now some of those are too baggy. I don't like tight jeans, but hate baggy jeans. So, I now have a new pile of jeans that don't fit. I'm wearing a pretty solid size 10 now which is awesome! I still have my brand new size 6 and 4/5 jeans from my last journey nearly 14 yrs ago that I fell short by 20 or 30#. I'm happy with my progress, but will be doing the HUGE happy dance if I'm able to fit into those babies!
Oh, and one more since you guys brought up grocery store stuff. I was at Walmart last week getting a few things. I was in the soda row trying to get some liters of Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry which was on the top shelf and all the ones at the front were gone. I couldn't reach the ones in back and some guy noticed I was struggling and he says, "here, let me throw you up there to reach those". I about did a double take to see who he was talking to. "THROW me up there?" I couldn't look that thin, not yet for someone to even suggest that. Talk about make my day!! :Banane55:

Please don't speak in absolutes as if this is for everyone. As noted, there are some of us that have been quite successful and do drink with our meals and have not had any issues. Speaking for myself, sipping small drinks is all I can manage, but I DO drink before, during and after and do not have issues. I also have not experienced any stretching of my stomach because I am taking very small bites, and chewing well.
My surgeon didn't have any issues with drinking with meals as long as I was getting in my Protein first, small bites and chewing well.

Congratulations!! I know how hard you have been working! Final stretch is within reach!!

Normal eating is making healthier choices overall. Keeping in mind what your NUT or Surgeon has told you, but for the most part realizing that high Protein choices will be what fills you up quickest and keep you full longest. Moderating that with other healthy choices like fruits and vegetables. And, if you are far enough out from surgery and IF you think you can control yourself with something off program whether it's sweets or something that doesn't fall into the Protein, veggies or fruits, then in moderation and understanding that too much of that will affect the progress of weight loss.
It's a delicate balance, something that each of us has to figure out for ourselves since we are all different. Furthermore, men tend to lose weight more quickly than woman when following this regimen, plus if the men have more physically demanding jobs, that is even more helpful for them.

You guys crack me up! No, I'm not insulted Lissa, you gave me a good chuckle. Yes, my screen name was in reference to my original WLS that I had 14 yrs ago come this March. The "VBG" could easily have stood for "very big girl", cuz I was. I love saying I WAS cuz while I'm not yet thin, I'm getting much closer!!
Honestly, I don't have anything negative to say about the procedure. It was actually very successful for me. As of this morning, I weigh exactly the lowest weight I reached when I had the VBG surgery and I don't blame the surgery for not reaching goal. I think it was a combination of things.
First, there wasn't ANYTHING like there is now with regards to the support post-surgery from the Dr.'s or support groups. I think I went in for one follow up, maybe two at the most a few months after surgery and never saw the Dr. again. I didn't think anything of it. They didn't tell you Protein first, not sure they knew. My highest at the time of that surgery was 305#. I got down to 162 within I think maybe 6 or 7 months, it's been so long ago my memory has faded a bit on some of those specifics. The other thing that happened for me was I was so thrilled with the attention from men that I got involved in a long term relationship with someone who ate lots of junk food, and was fortunate that at most he had a small to medium sized gut as a result. He didn't really take seriously my requests to eat more healthy around me, and consequently I just gave in to those eating habits. I kept the weight off for a few years actually, but then started bouncing back up close to #200, then I would drop back down to the 170#'s and then back up.
The reason for the "failure" of the surgery persay is more about me thant he surgery honestly. I'm not one to go to the Dr. unless I have a serious pain or whatever, just not a complainer. What had happened over time was that I had developed inflammation in my esophagus which could have EASILY been resolved by a reflux medication. Instead what happened is that my esphagus would make it difficult for the "good / more dense" foods to go down. I started gravitating to the slider foods because they wouldn't come back up. The inflammation wasn't everyday, nor every week- just intermittment and so it just became a way of life for me. I never said anything to my PCP all those years. I really wish I had, I may not have shot up to the weight I got to this time around.
To answer your question on how the VBG procedure is done/ was done is they used either a silastic band or mesh and create a small pouch at the top of your stomach very similar to the lapband. The basic difference between the lapband and the VBG is that it was permanent, where the lapband required fills. I don't believe there was ever anything metal used to create the band- but I suppose some surgeons may have done that but it wasn't common. My original surgeon used the mesh and so when I had the sleeve, it had become embedded into my tissue and so my surgeon for the sleeve simply cut tightly around the mesh because it is still in tact and not really an issue. In some cases, the silastic band was able to be removed for people who had revisions.
When I had my Upper GI done prior to the surgery, I was diagnosed with Esophagitus Stage C on a scale of A through D. And, A being good, and D worst. Basically, it's based on the amount of inflammation you have. Fortunately, after I started taking a PPI, that feeling of food getting "stuck" on the dense foods went away immediately. Only problem was that by that time I was well overweight "again". Could I have just stuck to the same program those of us who have had WLS now and lost weight? Probably, but when I started researching all the changes with WLS, I REALLY liked the idea of having my ghrelin removed so my appetite would be significantly reduced.
I couldn't be happier with my Sleeve!!! My cravings for sweets and sugary things are pretty much gone, and that is a huge deal for me. I think with this being my 2nd time around, I am older (40 yrs old), more in tune with my body, WAY more knowledgeable about weight loss surgeries and I understand much better that this is a tool- not a cure. I don't remember if I thought my first surgery was a cure, but I don't think I realized that even though I had that surgery, I would still have to make the life style changes a LIFE LONG process. I have every reason to believe that I will be able to maintain my loss, and even if I go through some bumps in the road that I will be able to keep things managed before they get out of control.
Feel free to post here or PM me if you have any other questions.

So, I had all last week off, part holidays, part vacation time I had to burn up or loose. I have been noticing the past few weeks that the "smaller" clothes I was wearing were now starting to look too big.
I'm not really a clothes hoarder in the traditional sense (some may disagree), but I have been UP and DOWN for sooooo many years that I started keeping all these various sizes. No, I don't have infinite closets. I actually put up closet dollies down in the basement held up from the ceiling. I actually have 3 of them. One dolly is 12' long, another about 6' and another about 4'. It's a combination of work clothes, everyday clothes, jackets and then my show outfits when I compete at horseshows.
Anyhoooo, I decided it was time to shed my bedroom closet and go "shopping" downstairs. I actually have some pretty nice things in the smaller sizes, so there wasn't really a need to pay money at the store. Then, yesterday a very good friend of mine who retired a couple of years ago offered to let me come raid her closet today for her work clothes since she doesn't need them anymore. I had to go to the store to buy some more hangers- LOTS of hangers. Some of the fun was some of her clothes were too big, but like me she had different sizes from times when she was thinner. How cool to be able to say, "I'm sorry but this is too big".
Some really nice blazers, blouses, sweater sets, dress shoes (we wear the same size shoe!). Also, when I was "shopping" in my basement, i was trying on some skirts and such and to my amazement several fit. I have not worn a skirt in several years because I didn't want people to actually "SEE" my legs and see the roundness of my fat calves. They are still bigger than I like, but I'm not one to wear short skirts anyways. But, I'm to the point where I am now willing to wear skirts again.
I actually got some panty hose today, something I haven't bought or worn in many many years (no need if I didn't wear skirts or dresses). I had no idea what size I would need to buy and so I looked at the sizing chart on the back and it said I should wear a size "B" pantyhose, not Q, not 1x, 2x, etc... Wow, talk about an amazing feeling!!!
After I got home from the store and my friends house, hanging up all my new clothes, I decided I should try on the new panty hose because I was still in a little disbelief that I could wear a size "B". Sure enough they fit....
I hadn't seen my friend in a couple of months and when she saw me her mouth just dropped. She was like WOW, you look amazing. Her young adult daughter was there and she says, "wow, you are so skinny". Of course, I'm not skinny, but compared to where I was, I'm a lot thinner. Talk about ego boosters!!!
It will be funny when I go back to work Tuesday and people start seeing me dressing so different. I have had a tendency to wear bigger clothes and didn't really spend a lot of time trying to dress super nice- just felt like it was a lost cause when I was so big.
What a way to start out 2012!!! 102# down in 6 months, and 10 days!!! wooot!! wooot!!!! Final goal, here I come!

Kind of silly to Celebrate being "overweight" using the BMI scale- but today I moved from being obese to overweight!!!
I'm going to ask a friend to take some pictures of me next week. VERY few people know I had surgery and I'm still self-concsious of having photos taken, so will ask a friend who knows I had the surgery.
And, 2# away from 100# weight loss

Don't feel bad and as much as I hate to admit it, I gained nearly 40# in about a 5 1/2 month period. I wasn't even approved yet, but after I checked to see that I met the conditions of my insurance, I remember sitting at this board reading and reading, doing my research, but all the while scarfing down all the stuff that was my comfort food. It embarrasses me to even admit that here. I'm guessing I'm not the only one who has done that though.
Yes, how stupid of me to be on a board for WLS and there I was eating and eating like food was going out of style. It wasn't that I was afraid I couldn't eat it later, but just that I wanted to indulge because I could and I was gonna have that surgery so what the heck, it would come off then.
So, then once I decided on what surgery I was going to have, then I started the approval process. I didn't have to do the supervised diet or even any liquid diet before surgery- just the standard 12 hrs before surgery thing.
So, yeah I went WAYYYY bannanas and yes I might even be at or much closer to my goal. But, to be honest, I don't have that many regrets. Not saying I recommend it, cuz it's not healthy and there are many other reasons. I guess what I'm saying is that what you are going through is normal and just do your best to contain it if you can. Things will work out though.

Congratulations!!! You deserve a special treatment at the spa!!! Or, at the very least some special for yourself...whatever that is for you.

Most docs call these "program fees". It's just another way to add money to their bottomline. My doc charged $325 and proclaimed all these "benefits". Yeah, whatever. It was a waste for me as an out of state patient. I know a couple of his in-state patients and they also think his "program" is a joke. Just makes it more obvious it was to add to HIS $bottomline$.
Other docs are better and actually care about their post-op progress, mine does not. It was allllllll about the $$$ baby....

Don't feel bad and as much as I hate to admit it, I gained nearly 40# in about a 5 1/2 month period. I wasn't even approved yet, but after I checked to see that I met the conditions of my insurance, I remember sitting at this board reading and reading, doing my research, but all the while scarfing down all the stuff that was my comfort food. It embarrasses me to even admit that here. I'm guessing I'm not the only one who has done that though.
Yes, how stupid of me to be on a board for WLS and there I was eating and eating like food was going out of style. It wasn't that I was afraid I couldn't eat it later, but just that I wanted to indulge because I could and I was gonna have that surgery so what the heck, it would come off then.
So, then once I decided on what surgery I was going to have, then I started the approval process. I didn't have to do the supervised diet or even any liquid diet before surgery- just the standard 12 hrs before surgery thing.
So, yeah I went WAYYYY bannanas and yes I might even be at or much closer to my goal. But, to be honest, I don't have that many regrets. Not saying I recommend it, cuz it's not healthy and there are many other reasons. I guess what I'm saying is that what you are going through is normal and just do your best to contain it if you can. Things will work out though.

Mustang Ali,
I have just one question for you- just something for you to consider. Like most of us, we have battled weight most if not all of our lives. Do you think that maybe you are afraid of the natural changes that come with major weight loss? I don't know if you are married or seeing anyone, but I know myself that I tend to be more critical or suspicious of people when I get more attention whether its friends or boyfriends, etc, and it's hard to not feel like that "fat girl" who was always treated differently because their weight made other people uncomfortable. The logical part of my brain was like, "how stupid for me to feel that way", but the truth was, it takes some people a longggg time to get to know the "new" person they have become- not just physically but mentally.
As I was reading your posts, I just wondering if deep down you were reaching a point where you were starting to see the shedding of the "old you" and bringing out the "new you" and what that would mean. As you know, most of us use food to "protect" us.
I have a friend who is seriously overweight. She wasn't heavy all her life, but in the last 15 years or so she has gotten heavier every year. She lost her husband about 7 years ago and she says she doesn't want to remarry which is fine, but I can tell that she fears loosing weight because it may cause men to notice her and this is one way of keeping up that barrier.
I may be way off base, if so I apologize. I just know I have gone through something similar in the past and thought I'd throw it out there for thought.

I can so relate to the fears and issues over family / friends not being supportive. When I had my VBG 13 years ago, I only told about 2 or 3 friends, no family members- none, nadda, zip and to this day they do not know I had the surgery. They just figured I lost a bunch of weight the "old fashioned way". I'm SOOOOO glad I didn't because it would make it even harder going into having a revision knowing they would be even more judgmental this time.
I favor more of my father's side of the family, although both my parents have weight issues as well as one of my brothers.
I won't be telling anyone at work and it goes without saying, no family will be told either. I have only told 3 of my closest friends, people I felt pretty certain they would be supportive or at least willing to listen to me without being judgmental. Even when I go for short term disability from work, my boss will likely try to get me to tell him- but all he will get is that I am having surgery to fix a past surgery that has been causing some complications". That's all he needs to know, if that even. But, to avoid being completely rude and cause an uncomfortable conversation by just flat out saying I won't say, this will be my approach.
You have made a sincere attempt to include your family. You have done what you can do and now the rest is up to them to meet you in the middle on this. Like the others have said, this is about YOU- not about THEM. Just keep focused on the goal and you will be fine. The others will have to figure out how to deal with their own insecurities on their own time.