lsereno

Hi all, I'm at goal, but I am going to continue updating my weight each Friday. Today I was at 135.4. I'm OK bouncing a little up and down, but the whole goal weight management is going to take some work on my part. I still can't believe I'm actually here :-) Lynda SW-139.3.....CW-135.1.....GW-135!!! Feb. 10: 139.3 Feb. 17: 138.3 Feb. 24: 137.6 March 2: 136.4 March 9: 137.4 March 16: 135.1 March 23: 135.9 March 25: GOAL! 134.5 March 30: 135.4 April 6: Easter:

My hair thinned, starting about 4 months, I had normal thickness of hair pre-op, and it went to thin, but not unmanageable. I didn't have to change my style and you couldn't see my scalp. It just looks scraggly and thin at the bottom. My hairdresser said at month 9 he was beginning to see regrowth. At 10 months, I have tons of short baby hairs growing back and my hair feels super thick at the base. I have to use hairspray to hold the little buggers down. But I am happy to see them! Lynda

I eat a lot of fibrous foods too, but I didn't till I was more than 6 months out. Just had an artichoke yesterday - talk about Fiber, but so good! Lynda

Thank you! I checked your diet and nothing jumps out at me. Instead of the protein drink, I have greek yogurt almost every morning to get help get my protein in. I am exercising most days. I walk for 45 minutes 3-4 days a week and take a group exercise class twice a week. Also, I weigh my food on a food scale. I find it easier and more accurate than using a measuring cup or eyeballing it. I am also careful to get in the 64 oz. of fluid a day and take the vitamin supplements my program recommends. At 5 months out, I got around 800 calories a day. You might look at trimming back a bit on nuts and cheeses and see if it makes a difference. A lot of people do stall, so don't give up! It will come off! Lynda

Good luck tomorrow on your surgery! You can have my spot on the Losers Bench! It served me well and I'm on the Goalies Bench now, 10 months later. Rest and be kind to your self in the days after surgery - you deserve it! Lynda

Welcome to the Goalies Bench! So glad to hear you are enjoying the fruits of your labor - brutal triathlons and all! Lynda

Hi all, I've been hovering around goal for weeks but today I am finally, officially there! I weighed 134.5 this morning. It's not my normal weigh in day, but I said the day I get to goal, that's the day I declare it! Time to join the maintenance threads!!!! I'm loving my new life. Over the course of this, I have spent time worrying I would never get to goal so it is extra sweet that I am here! During the last 10 months I have learned: How to walk with my knees closer together and my back straight because I'm not carrying 100+ extra pounds everywhere I go. Tracking food and Water can be easy: I use a white board on my fridge door. I have to have a group exercise. I simply will not exercise on my own. I look great in $5 tshirts from Walmart and Target. Probably two pounds of my weight loss is from my thinner hair, but it is coming back! The freezer is my friend. I freeze lots of bits of veggies and meats and reuse them later. Only the skinniest people obsess about my weight loss. What's up with that? I'm looking forward to maintaining my weight and enjoying my healthy life. I feel like I've been given a gift of good health and I am enjoying it every day! Lynda

People share their opinions for a lot of reasons: maybe they love you and they're scared (My Mom fell in this camp), maybe they are just clueless (every one who said 'Why don't you just diet' fell in this camp!), and some are just haters. For those that love you, take the time to help them get over their fears, but stick to your guns! I took Mom to a support group meeting and she met my doctor too. She knew my heatlh was compromised because of my weight so that was already worrying her, so she was an easier sell on the operation. But she was still scared for me. I told her I had to weigh the risks of staying fat vs. having the operation and having the operation won. For those that are clueless, if I cared enough about them I said "My Dr. and I have agreed this is the best option for me." No more discussion. If they kept on, I told them I didn't want to discuss it. For haters, just ignore the suckers. They really are just jealous. Best wishes on your journey! Lynda

Thanks everyone! I am still in a bit of shock. Just realizing I am officially off the loser's bench and on the goalies bench! Yeehaa maintenance! Lynda

Thanks Dorrie! I'm saving you a spot on the Goalies Bench! I'm officially off the Losers Bench :-) Lynda

I can eat pretty much the same stuff as I did pre-op, but I'm much more Protein focused now. So I have lowfat cheese and lunch meat, greek yogurt, and soy milk (can't tolerate regular milk post-op). Since I eat so much less than I used to, I'm careful when buying fruits and veggies. I like the small tangerines because they are a good snack size. I also like the bagged spinach, because it's easy to just throw a little in a Soup or sandwich, or wilt some to go with a hunk of grilled protein. I buy frozen berries now because I wasn't eating them fast enough to finish off a box of fresh ones before they spoiled. I buy loose veggies, like a handful of brussels sprouts, or a zucchini. And for drinks, I mostly have Water throughout the day. But I wasn't a big soda lover to start with. Lynda

OK, Maybe Meg in Nola has kick-started something. I hit goal this morning! Lynda

Fage 0 is my fav. It's available at my costco. I also liked Kirkland Fatfree Plain Greek Yougurt, but my Costco no longer carries it. My two fav ways to eat greek yogurt: Smoothie: Blend the amount of yogurt you can eat (at 2 months I could do 1/2 cup, now I can do 1 cup), some Splenda, a splash of OJ, 1/4 cup Water, and a couple of frozen berries. Yum! Yogurt parfait: Stir some water into the amount of yogurt you can eat (at 2 months I could do 1/2 cup, now I can do 1 cup) to make it a thinner conistency. Stir in Splenda to taste. Top with Splenda-sweetened berries. I buy the big bag of mixed berries from Costco and defrost 1/2 cup then stir in a couple tablespoons of Splenda. Lynda ("Greek Yogurt helped get me to goal!")

Hi all, GOAL!!!!!!! Today I weighed 134.5!!! I am officially in maintenance! What a wild ride it's been the last 10 months! I posed a longer message in Success Stories. I still can't believe I'm actually here :-) Lynda SW-139.3.....CW-135.1.....GW-135!!! Feb. 10: 139.3 Feb. 17: 138.3 Feb. 24: 137.6 March 2: 136.4 March 9: 137.4 March 16: 135.1 March 23: 135.9 March 25: GOAL! 134.5 March 30: April 6: Easter:

Congrats goalie! You look fabulous! I've read loose skin is reabsorbed a bit during the first year, so keep workin out and give it a chance. I'm really hoping some of mine will disappear. It does look better spread over muscle, but I'd like it GONE! lynda

I love Splenda and don't have problems with it, but my friend prefers to blue packet, Nutrasweet. Maybe try it and the old standby pink packet artificial sweetener? If you can't use any sugar replacements or find a Protein powder with a sugar-replacement that works for you, try the unsweetened Protein Powder or the chicken Soup flavor from unjury. You will need some kind of protein powder to get in your protein during the first months after surgery. Greek Yogurt has lots of protein too and could be sweetened with any sweetener, but I found it hard to get enough of it down at first. Lynda

So my pre-op and transition post-op clothes are finally all given away except for maybe a couple of pairs of jeans that are a little too big. Most of the too big shoes have left the building. I have new, smaller bracelets and I'm getting my favorite rings resized. But I finally realized yesterday what is wrong with my necklaces: my neck is skinnier and they now hang too low! Guess I'm going to have to buy a couple of shorter chains for my pendants too! Oh, my, the struggles of weight loss :-) Lynda

Congrats Meg! You have worked so hard to get here and you deserve a big hand! Thanks for sharing your struggles, successes, and tips along the way. Lynda

Meg, Congrats! I can't wait to join you at goal!! And I'm looking forward to hearing about life in maintenance. Lynda

At 10 months out, I rarely rely on a Protein shake. Even when traveling the last couple of times, I got enough protein through food (full disclosure: I get 30+ grams of protein in before lunch with a cup of non-fat Fage 0, a Soy Latte, and under 100 calories in whole grains). My grocery bill, liquor bill, and dining out bill are all smaller. As is my clothing bill (It's amazing how great a $5 Walmart t looks on me now!), my medication bill (no more cholesterol med and only one blood pressure med), and my gym bill (no more personal trainer 3 times per week - I can now keep up in the free group exercise classes!). I do spend on Vitamins, but I buy in bulk. And the greek yogurt is pricey too, but I get it at costco. Lynda