lsereno

Grilled chicken on anything. I mostly eat at McDonalds and Taco Bell, so I'll comment on thosel At McDonalds, I often get a grilled chicken sandwich and just ate the chicken early out. I also like salads with grilled chicken. Eat the chicken first and then eat whatever veggies you have room for, if any. At Taco Bell, I order the cheapest chicken tacos, eat the filling and leave the tortilla. If you want to be less obvious about leaving the bun or tortilla, leave the paper wrapping and push the filling up. Just wad the wrapper with whatever you don't want to eat. Lynda

I need carbs and exercise to maintain my sunny outlook on life. I do stick to healthy carbs with treats of unhealthy carbs since I'm at goal. I added carbs back in once I could eat enough to get my Protein in without shakes and still have a little room left over. Of course, I only eat 65 grams of protein a day, so it's a lot easier for me than Fiddle! Fortunately for me, healthy carbs are not trigger foods for me. Unlike Sees Candy, Cheetos, and Cake. Those can't come home with me. Lynda

Change your celebrations to be less food focused. Enjoy a family craft. Work on putting photos into albums. Take a walk or play a game. For birthdays, maybe an outing instead of a meal. My birthday is in the fall, so I like to go pick a pumpkin and take a hay ride. At Thanksgiving, make a gratitude tree. Cut leaf shapes out of construction paper or buy paper leaves. Get some pretty pens and have everyone write down something they are grateful for. Put the leaves on jewelry tree or a real tree branch. So cute and keeps people busy. You don't have to cut out the food entirely, everyone has favorite holiday foods. Just add other things and focus on them. Enjoy a little of your most favorite dishes and send left overs home with family and friends if the event is at your house. Lynda

You'll get more answers if you post in the Vet's Forum, because vets usually check that forum and might miss your post in another forum if it gets buried by new posts. I kept the same exercise schedule at first and slowly added healthy fats, more carbs, and a few treats such as sweets, snack crackers or alcoholic drinks. I went into maintenance in March 2012 and did well all year till around Christmas time when I got a little too happy with the extras. I cut back and was back at goal quickly. I originally had a 5 lb. bounce range, but after the Christmas incident, I reset my bounce to 2 lbs. My weight doesn't vary much unless I'm truly gaining or losing so that work well for me. Also, I continue to weigh myself daily so I know when to cut back or when I need to add some (only slipped under goal weight a few times in almost three years). I don't exactly track calories, but I'm sure I eat more than 1200. I lose weight on 1200 per day. Lynda

Hi all, I've been poking around trying to find out whether I can expect my teeth to deteriorate after surgery and I've seen some scary threads on other boards, but not much discussion here. I really am not ready for dentures and my teeth are touchy. I already have several root canals, an implant and one bridge. Have you had dental problems you think are related to VSG? I've read the dry mouth, acid, Vitamin and mineral supplements, and poor uptake of Calcium and Vitamin D can play havoc with your teeth. I'm currently taking Kaiser Fremont's recommended regimen of Vitamins. which includes a large amount of calcium, taken 3 times per day so it absorbs into the system better. Thanks for your input, Lynda

I still get comments but stick with a few stock answers; To waiters: "I'm full, thanks!. It was great!" To close friends, family: "Yep, this is how I eat to stay at goal. It's important to me to stay healthy." To acquaintances and strangers: I just laugh it off and say something like "it works for me!" I also get: "You're so tiny!" Reply: "Thanks, I feel great!" "How do you stay so skinny?" Reply: "Weight loss surgery! It's successful if you work it!" "You eat that?" Reply: " I can eat anything in small amounts." Lynda

Hi all, I'm more than 3 years post op, but I joined this group six months before my surgery too! My program (Kaiser Fremont) required several steps and losing 10% of your body weight. The process took about six months. I still remember the fear I wouldn't qualify, the antsy waiting, and how loooooong six months seemed. Here's a link to my thread about my journey pre-op http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/183023-starting-journey-with-kaiser-fremont/ Use this time well to prep for surgery and your life after. I did and it helped me pass the time and spend less time worrying. Best wishes to each of you on your journey! Lynda

My three year labs are still in the normal range, but I notice when comparing two and three year labs, the numbers are all lower at three years. I do take a full course of Vitamins and a PPI daily. I'm considering stopping the PPI because some other meds changed and I may not need it now. Lynda

I didn't want the port and the lifelong maintenance of fills required with the band. I didn't want the dietary and pharmaceutical limitations required with bypass. Lynda

I will if I get it. Still haven't decided yet!

I agree that not just any personal trainer will do. Mine specialized in older people, had extensive training, had been a body builder in her younger days, and had a couple of close friends who had WLS surgery. She did a great job of helping me build up muscle mass pre-op, maintain muscle through the wieght loss phase, and readjust balance, posture, and gait following weight loss. Lynda

I don't have advice because I'm not a conversion. but there is a specific forum for band to sleeve conversions. I would ask your question there too. http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/394-band-to-gastric-sleeve-revisions/ Lynda

I do think a few sessions with a trainer might help those struggling with balance and gait issues a lot. I did have to physically think about how I walked, stood, and sat for the longest time. But I know working with a personal trainer helped me recondition my thinner body faster. When I first lost the weight, I still walked hunched over, with my legs too far apart and my arms a couple of inches out from my body because I had spent quite a bit of time with that extra weight necessitating that. I still tend to slouch, but I think that's habit, age, and a crappy computer chair. I'm considering the lumo, http://www.lumobodytech.com/lumoback/. But after a bad experience with the Breathometer (blew a radically different blood alcohol every time), I'm a bit leery. Lynda

You can't hate yourself thin. Continue working on getting a therapist. In the meantime, if there is a face to face support group you can attend, go to it. Start weighing yourself at the same time of day, once per day, or once per week. Log your food and your Water. Try to get 64 oz. of fluids a day in non-calorie drinks. To do so, set a schedule, such as 1 cup before Breakfast, another 2 cups before lunch, 3 cups before dinner and 2 cups after dinner. Clear the crap food out of your house. Give it away or throw it away, just get rid of it. Stock up on healthy food you enjoy. Measure and weigh your food before eating. Buy yourself something fun. If you don't have much money, then go to the dollar store and buy something there. Write some notes to yourself about why you deserve to be healthy and fit. put them where you will see them often. Post here in the Veterans Group. You are not alone. Lynda

New lipstick, new lotion, new perfume. New hobby or pastime you like that he wouldn't. Call friends. Troll these boards. Join one of the weight loss challenges here. Buy something in a smaller size. Get outside and get some sunshine and fresh air. Think of how much weight you lost when you got rid of the boyfriend! Lynda

Lisa, My thoughts are with you. Please be gentle with yourself. Everyone gets through grief in their own personal way. There is no one right way. Lynda

Congrats! Lynda

Blackberry- good to see you here! Congrats on the continued success! You can find several of us "oldies" in the vets forum. Thanks for sharing your story. I think it's so important for people to see what life is like a few years out. Fiddleman, one of the newer vets, works out a lot and eats a similar amount of Protein. Love that six pack! And that's a rocking rear end view too! Do you take any Vitamins? Are you getting your Vitamin levels tested annually? I've seen some vets struggling with deficiencies a few years out and others that seem to do OK with no supplements. I'm taking the vitamins my plan recommends and I get blood work once per year. I'm glad to hear you're maintaining with ease after a minor correction. For me, daily weighing is key to staying at goal. You are so lucky to have such a good skin recovery. I think your young age, (relatively) smaller weight loss, and good skin genetics really helped. I know what you mean about hanging tummy with planks. First time I saw that I was like "what the heck is THAT!" I lost 120 lbs and I'm 58. My skin is only coming back so much. I won't wear a bikini because my tunny looks saggy even though it's pretty flat. And my thighs are a little saggy too, so I prefer dresses that skim the knee and longer shorts. I do wear sleeveless shirts the extra skin on my arms is only noticeable at certain angles. Best wishes on the lipo! Can't wait to see the pics! Lynda

Try this line: "My doctor's happy with my progress and the amount I'm eating." People who argue with your doctor's advice are at a disadvantage. Eat what you like in the open, so you feel better about it and yourself. We can all eat more than in the first few months. People who haven't had WLS don't undertand a lot about it. I had to laugh when someone told me a week after surgery, "but I thought you had WLS last week?" I guess they thought the doc was gonna cut all the fat off of me. Anyhow, try to work on accepting yourself and understanding other's comments, while hurtful, are a reflection on them, not you. Lynda

I'm so sorry to hear this. I suggest: Make an appointment with a therapist that specializes in weight loss or addiction. Clear the junk food and trigger food out of your house. Write down why you want to lose weight. Post it on your bathroom mirror or the fridge door. Buy the healthy, nutritious foods you enjoy. Track everything: fluids, foods, and your daily weight. Measure your food. Join one of the weight loss challenges here. Get out and do something you enjoy that gets you some fresh air and exercise. Buy yourself a present. You deserve it. Two of my favorite mantras learned here are: You can't hate yourself thin Self soothing doesn't haven't to be self sabotage. Best wishes on your journey! Lynda

The 100 posts is the one that can be controlled by software. The site admins haven't figured out how to program the software to limit people whose surgery date is < 1 year ago. Lynda

For one of the first times in nearly 20 years, I need to buy pants because mine are wearing out. They are not too small or too big. Hurrah! More than two years at goal! Lynda

Change what you are doing at three. Usually at home in front of the TV? Go shopping or for a walk. Leave around 2. If you can't leave the house, choose an activity in the house that's not conductive to eating. Gardening, making a craft, cleaning a closet. Make a planned snack for this time of day. Portion it out and package it up first thing in the morning or the night before. Get the pistachios out of the house. Give them away or toss them. Therapy will help. Best wishes on your journey, Lynda

I bought a bracelet - 6.5 inches and three pairs of knee high boots. And I celebrated by wearing them - all the time! Love life at goal! Lynda

To clarify about the tortillas, I can eat one small corn tortilla now. It was probably around year 2. Flour tortillas are still a no go though. I just buy a couple of street-style tacos and eat the filling. If I have room, I eat a few bites of the corn tortilla. Lynda