lsereno

Congrats Meg! I'm so happy to hear you had a good loss this month and you are so close to goal. Wish I could have seen your face when you saw the number on the scale. Welcome to onderland! Lynda

I try to not keep foods in the house that are too tempting for me. I'm with SKCunningham: throw it out! It's better to waste it in the garbage than waste it in yourself. Next time you want Pirate's Booty for a special occasion, buy a small bag. If it doesn't come in a small bag, then divy out your portion and give the rest away. Some foods I don't bring in or limit the portion size: mixed nuts, chocolate, chips, cakes and Cookies. Hubby likes sweets but we get his individual portion sized. A cake slice instead of the 8" cake. A couple of cookies from the bakery instead of the boxed dozen at costco. A piece of Sees or a candy bar instead of the bag of Hershey's miniatures. I can enjoy a bite of his cake or cookie without adding too many calories. And he likes ice cream, which I didn't like much to start with and can't have after surgery cuz' I'm now lactose intolerant. I have found other ways to satisfy my need for crunch and sweet. I like a cup of heated soy milk with sugar free caramel syrup in the evenings. Sometimes, I have just hot Water with the syrup. Tastes good to me! And I like whole wheat crackers and dry toasted bread for crunch. I've found beef Jerky to be a good snack. It's low in calories, loaded with Protein, and salty and chewy. For habit eating, like in front of the TV, I try to find something new to do. I spend more time on the computer in the evenings. Keeps my hands busier. I also like to light a candle, apply hand lotion, or put on lip gloss when I feel the need for a treat. No calories! I also brush and floss right after dinner. That doesn't always work, but it helps and my teeth are thanking me! Look at your habits and find substitutes that work for you. Just saying no is a lot harder than saying, I'm gonna try this instead. And SKCunningham, big shout out for dumping that popcorn! I'm proud of you!! Lynda

Boston scientists have discovered a hormone that is secreted by muscles during exercise and boosts the amount of energy the body burns OK, Best new reason I've heard to exercise in quite a while: http://www.boston.com/Boston/whitecoatnotes/2012/01/dana-farber-scientists-discover-hormone-that-triggers-fat-burn-energy/RdTIxJZ7YtqTx7fV5PWh7L/index.html Sheesh! Maybe I'll go back to six days a week. I really wanna hit goal by Valentine's Day. Lynda

I've read it takes up to a year for excess skin to shrink, so I plan to wait a year after getting to goal to see how things look. I rub my skin to bring extra blood flow to the area after showering and then use any kind of body oil or lotion to keep it soft. Not sure if makes a difference, but at least it feels nice. Lynda

Leggings are a lot longer than compression shorts and have cute trim at the bottom, so they can be worn with a lot more. I got some cute llace-trimmed leggings for $8 at costco and they def. suck stuff in. I've seen girls wearing them with mini skirts or a belted tunic. If you pair with winter boots, they will look like tights. Also, exercise has made a real difference for me, but it takes time to see results. Lynda

I took it the first 6 months without a problem. Lynda

Congrats Pasquini! What a great way to start the new year: Normal BMI!! And I love your new profile pic. You look fabulous! Lynda

Hi, Being able to eat more is a natural part of the healing process. It's important to follow your plan. Yes, an occasional treat won't kill you but relying on restriction only and not good eating habits is a sure way to see weight loss grind to a halt and even reverse as our tummies heal. Here's what's worked for me: Stick with Protein first and get the Water in. Eat three meals with a max of two little Snacks. Eat protein as snacks. Limit the treats. Exercise. I want to get to goal ASAP so I am limiting calories to under 1.000 per day. I have great energy with that amount of calories. It means sticking to low fat or fat free protein options and using Splenda instead of sugar to sweeten things. I also stick to whole grains for bread and crackers unless its a treat. Lynda

I like to eat, but I don't like to cook for just myself: I like ground beef.You can have it as a patty or, crumbled with some veggies and sauteed real fast. I buy the chickens from costco and use the meat in chicken salad (made with lite mayo, greek yogurt, honey mustard, and some apple), chicken strips, or sauteed quick with veggies. thin pork chops fish on the george forman or baked in foil with lemon and then served over wilted spinach. I buy premade soups, like the Vegetable barley at Costco, then I add 3 oz. of dense Protein. I don't use all the liquid in the soup. Winds up being more like a casserole. Needs to be a good quality, low calorie soup like from Costco or Whole Foods to work well. I have lowfat salami and string cheese at lunch. Check the deli for pre-cooked kabobs. I like tuna salad too. I know what you mean about being hungrier. I'm a month ahead of you and my appetite is increasing. Hope it is getting close to being what it will be permanently. Lynda

I love crunchy stuff. At first, I ate a single saltine to get my crunch fix. Now I rely on whole wheat crackers. I found a great one at Walmart with 5 grams of Protein for 100 calories. I usually just eat half. Cucumbers, baby carrots, and apples are good crunchy treats too. I like my apple with a little Peanut Butter. I make a ranch dip using the dry mix and greek yogurt. It's great with the cucumbers and carrots. I also double-toast my whole wheat bread so it's really crunchy. Lynda

I walked every couple of hours when I was awake. I took pain meds for 8 days post-op. The last couple of days I only took a half dose. Lynda

You look great! And you're almost in twonderland! Hitting that new first big number is just a great feeling. Thanks for sharing your photos! Lynda

I think I think you might retain a little Water. Give yourself a few weeks to see the real difference. And watch what you're eating. When I first started exercising (pre-WLS), I was hungrier and I ate more without realizing it. I've been exercising 5 days a week (mixed program of walking, cardio, and strength training) since 6 weeks out. I think it has made a difference in my continued weight loss and in the way my body and skin look. Lynda

I was cleared for a couple of drinks a week at 6 months out. I started with a glass of port. It had been so long that the first one felt warmer than I remembered and I needed just one to get a little buzz. Next up a few days later, I tried my traditional Christmas drink: Cointreau and and Cranberry juice. I had a couple of those and had a pleasant buzz. A couple weeks later I had a Mai Tai at PF Changs. Only needed one of those. Those puppies are strong! I think it takes a little less because it's been six months since I had anything. But drinks are empty calories so I am really limiting how many I have since I'd really like to hit goal by Valentine's Day. And I will be diligent about how often I drink even after I get to goal because I am scared of transfer addiction. I'm in my mid-fifties and I've never had a problem with drinking too much, but I sure don't want to start now. Lynda

I agree that there will be surprises. For me, I expected to be a perky, 100% in a week. Not so much in reality. It was between 4-5 months before I really felt like my strength was totally back. I have worked on head hunger in the past and it took awhile for my appetite to come back so I'm still dealing with this one. It is much easier with the sleeve, but it's not automagic. I have to refuse the extra treats and choose the healthier options. Yes, I would like that bagel with friends. In my head at least. But the non-fat soy latte makes me much happier in the long run. Lynda

Hi all, I lost .9 lb.s this week and hit a mini-goal. I've lost 80 pounds post-op in a little less than 8 months. That better than the last two, but I'm gonna have to work harder to get to goal. I have 6.7 lbs. to go and 4.5 weeks. I did return to a full workout schedule this week, but didn't cut the snacking as much as I could. I'm gonna really buckle down this week and see how it goes. One week without Snacks won't kill me. I do not need movie theater popcorn to see a movie!! My Valentine's Goal also includes reaching the following goals: 144: This was my Christmas goal and I've lost 110 lbs. (32 pre-op and 78 post op). 9 lbs. to my final goal!!! 142: I've lost 80 lbs. post-op 140: Five lbs. to my final goal!!! 139: My number starts with 13. I haven't weighed this since the early-90s. 135: GOOOAAAL! Lynda Valentine's Day Goal: SW-144.2.............CW-141.7..............Goal-135 Dec. 25: 144.2 Dec. 30: 142.8 Jan. 6: 142.6 Jan. 13: 141.7 Jan. 20: Jan. 27: Feb. 3: Feb. 10: Valentine's Day:

Congrats! I can't wait to join you! Do you have any tips? Lynda

Yes, I do get head hunger. I try to have something that is one of the following, depending on the circumstances: 1. Small. Sometimes I just need a little something sweet, salty or whatever. If this is true, often a saltine cracker or two will satisfy a salt urge and one small candy or sweet will satisfy a sweet urge. 2. Without calories. Sometimes I am thirsty. If that's true, after I drink a glass of cold Water or a cup of hot water, I'm not hungry anymore. This hits me most often if I'm slacking on my water that day. 3. With Protein. Solid protein limits how much I can eat and keeps me full longer. Some days I just need a little more solid food. That's probably not head hunger though. Sometimes if I know I should be full, I distract myself by putting on lotion on my hands or face, brushing my teeth if it's nighttime (try to not eat after nightly brush and floss), or finding something else to do. I might start reading or play a computer game instead of watching TV. I also sometimes light my fireplace and a candle. That feels like a treat to me! If I go that route, I usually also have a cup of hot water with a little sugar free caramel syrup in it. If I eat empty carbs, like white bread, cake or Cookies, I seem to be hungrier the rest of the day. Needless to say, I avoid these empty carbs most days. Lynda

I used the unjury chicken Protein powder when I wanted something not sweet. I also like Gold Standard French Vanilla Creme mixed with soymilk and a packet of Starbucks Via Italian Roast Decaf. Tastes like a latte to me. Lynda

Looks average to me. I'm almost 8 months out and I can eat 2.5-3 oz of firm Protein, a few crackers or a /12 slice of bread, and about 1/4 cup of soft vegetables or fruit at a sitting. For example today's menu: 8 a.m.: Caffee Latte with 8 oz. soymilk 8:30 a.m.: 1/2 slice whole wheat toast, Yogurt shake with 1 cup greek yogurt, splenda, splash of OJ, and a couple of berries 12:30 p.m.: 2 oz. chicken breast, 1 oz. lowfat cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup vegetable barley Soup 4:00 p.m.: 1.4 cup greek yogurt dip (mixed with packaged ranch dressing), 3/4 cup mixed veggies (baby carrots, broccoli, cherry tomatoes and sugar snap peas), 1 tablespoon lite Peanut Butter and 1.2 graham cracker 6:30 p.m: 3 oz. ground beef, 1/2 cup vegetable barley soup (This is planned - I haven't had dinner yet) Lynda

Haha, On most days, I don't see myself as smaller or feel smaller when sitting, standing, etc. But other people seem bigger. My clothes look to small to fit, but they are actually a little loose now. My face looks way thinner when I see a pic, but not when I look in the mirror. When I look at myself full-length in a mirror, I do notice I am smaller. Part is that I rarely saw myself at my true size as I gained weight. At my heaviest, my clothes looked too big, but were snug or even too small. Part is that my head has just not caught up with the new me. I am confident it will though. I'm ever hopeful :-) I'm also hoping for some skin shrinkage over the next year. My tummy has a frowny face for a belly button. So sad! But not as sad as dying from being overweight, which was a very real fear of mine. Lynda

I didn't get my full energy back till the fourth or maybe it was the fifth month out. I agree with the list of Vitamins Lisa821 recommended along with a B multivitamin. I drank two Protein shakes a day to get my protein in till I was able to eat enough protein. Go easy on yourself and please don't spend a lot of time regretting your surgery. For one thing, it's a done deal now and for another, the issues you are having are miserable, but temporary. One day, you will bop up in the morning, realize you are thinner that you ever dreamed of getting on your own, and that you feel GREAT! It just takes time. Lynda

Boy, do I remember the antsy wait for a surgery date. Now is a good time to stock up on stuff for post surgery, like a cute nightie, robe, and slippers. Clean the house with some of that nervous energy and dig out those too-small clothes (who doesn't have at least one box of them?) and get them ready to try on post-surgery. Buy a couple of books to read and some nice lip gloss and lotion. If you don't have a food scale yet, I highly recommend getting one. Weighing is the most accurate way to measure your food. I also used a shot glass and teeny spoon and bowl for my drinks and meals in the first few weeks. One thing I wish I hadn't stocked up on so much is food- a lot of what I bought pre-surgery I just didn't want post-surgery. Good luck to you! Lynda

Lissa, I'm so sorry for your loss. I agree that exercise will help. Especially exercise outdoors, such as walking because you get two good things at once. Be kind to yourself. You deserve it! For me, that includes making time for myself, making sure I have foods that are good for me that I enjoy, drinking enough fluids every day to keep everything running smoothly, and forgiving myself for not being perfect when I fail . I also recommend a support group, not only one for WLS surgery, but one for grief too. I went to one when I lost my Dad and it helped. Please know that I am thinking of you. Lynda

I was itchy at the incisions and across some of the areas that shrank the fastest during the most rapid weight loss. I put vaseline on the incision sites and use a body oil or heavy lotion on the rest of me. It really helped! Lynda