Lisa :)

It's amazing how the sleeve has changed my life!!! A year ago, I was 100 pounds heavier and was completely out of breath when climing a flight of stairs. I had my surgery 7 months ago and a week from Sunday I will be competing in my first triathlon (1/2 mile ocean swim, 13 mile bike ride and a 5K). Becoming a triathlete has been something I've aspired to do for about the past 5 years....but something that seemed so unattainable because I had such a hard time losing the weight and because I was so worried about what other people thought of me. I'm super excited but anxious and nervous at the same time!! I just want to let everyone know that you CAN do anything you set your heart and mind to do!!! And for those of you that are just starting out on this journey....don't be afraid to jump!!! I have spent way too much of my life standing on the sidelines because of fear. My sleeve surgery has never really been about the number on the scale....of course I still weigh myself more than I probably should and of course I'd still like to lose about 60 more pounds but if I didn't I would still be happy because I AM HAPPY. I'm happy not because of how much weight I've lost or what size clothing I wear, but because I'm living my life the way I've always envisioned it!!! YAY me!!!

Here's another question: Did your surgeon see you at the one year mark and do extensive blood work? If so, what were the results? Every time I go for a follow up, I have to have blood work done and my protein levels are tested (along with MANY other things). When my protein was low, I was told to aim for 100-120 (which was right after surgery). But now that it's normal/high, I've been told to aim for a minimum of 60.

Laura...Sorry I wasn't here to support you yesterday when you posted this, but I was busy dealing with my own wagon issue!!! I actually rammed into a support column and did several thousands in damage to my wagon!! Well, the adjuster has provided the estimate and the repairs to the wagon are in process. I'll be back on my wagon in no time and it'll be good as new!!!! Traveling in a damaged wagon has been proven dangerous and you put your health and safety at risk!! Make the repairs ASAP!! Safe Travels.....

Another one I love is "Make it a choice, not a cheat"!!! I love it because if we are truly making a lifestyle change then there should never be a reason to "cheat". Cheating implies that we shouldn't have something. Why shouldn't we? Even those "normal" people without food issues/addictions eat foods that are not "healthy". The way I see it, if you're going to eat cake, pizza, candy, whatever....make the CHOICE to eat it AND enjoy it, understand what that type of food does to your body (i.e. blood sugar spikes) and then move on and get back on track!!! I don't deprive myself of anything!! My goal in having surgery was not to NEVER eat something unhealthy ever again. My goal was to develop and healthier relationship with food....which is a work in progress, but nonetheless, progress!!! Great topic!! And I hear you Amanda Rae....sometimes the things people say here drives me nuts!! Most of the time I just don't respond becasue I realize that I'm being too judgemental and/or it's not my place to speak my mind. Like Measureofme said, we're all at different points in our journey. Hopefully, we'll all find our way!!!

Yes, and to sweeten the deal for him, I am giving him $500 the day he commits!!! I'll do ANYTHING (which includes bribery!!) to get that boy headed in a direction that involves supporting himself!! LOL Your post reminded me of a time, not too long ago, when my son's friend used to bring donuts over ALL THE TIME!!! His parents own 2 donut shops and every Saturday (when the kids would come over to hang out in the Man Cave) he would bring the donuts that didn't sell that day. Anyway, one evening I come downstairs to this: 6 DOZEN frikkin' donuts on my kitchen table!!! It's a good thing I'm not really "psycho" for donuts!!!! At one point a couple of months ago, we finally had to tell the kid that enough was enough!!!

EXACTLY!!!!! We had already moved once, and the 22 year old found us!! And wouldn't you know it, we still had an extra bedroom. After the 19 year old leaves for the Air Force, we are outta here!!!...and we're gonna build a tiny little one bedroom in Hawaii!! If they do happen to find us, there won't be any room for them!!

LOL!! We've already decided that we are going to move to Hawaii....it's an island and they can't afford the airfare!!!

Tell him that if he brings the donuts, there will be more than 1 dozen physchos on the trip, cuz you'll be number 13!!! And I agree....kids are ingrates!!!....mine are grown and won't move out....but that's for a different forum!!

Here's the thing...Diets don't work!! If they did, everyone would be losing weight and KEPPING it off with them!! The only way to achieve success in weight loss is with a change in lifestyle....which is why most of us had surgery in the first place. The thing with diets is that they create a deficit. But it's like borrowing money from a bank...you can't expect to go into "debt" and not pay it all back plus interest!! That's the way diets work....you go into calorie "debt" and then, one day, you have to pay the debt back with "interest"!!! This is the reason that most people lose weight on diets and then when they go back to eating the way they did before, they gain it all back plus a little more. This is also what drives our "set point" up too...which is the weight your body wants to naturally be at. Immediately after surgery we are forced to "diet", if you will...but long term, I don't believe that long term weight loss can be PERMANENTLY achieved through severe calorie restriction. Our bodies need fuel (aka: food in the form of Protein, carbs and fat) to run efficiently. I was in a 5 month plateau (from Nov-March) and, for me, it was about taking an honest look at my eating behavior. I wasn't tracking and my nutrition was off balance. Now that I'm back to tracking my food and eating a balance of protein, fat AND carbs, my weight loss has picked back up again!

So I've been dealing with, what I'm referring to as, my Plateau From Hell since November (which is when I hit the one year mark). For the first couple of months I wasn't bothered by it at all....afterall, plateaus/stalls are such a normal part of our journey!! It was actually nice to get through the holidays without gaining so much as an ounce but then after January came and went, I started getting a little frustrated!! I'm not obsessing about it (maybe I should be LOL!) and I haven't really talked about it much. But a few days ago, while on a hike with one of my best friends, I shared my frustration. She asked me if maybe I'm eating too much or not eating the right foods....OMG, I got super defensive and my denial responded to her with a slight tone of sarcasm "Of course, I'm eating right...and it's not like I eat very much"!! Then, like a good friend does, she gives me some honest advise: "Maybe you should keep track of what you're eating...Just a thought". Without admitting to her that she was right (LOL), I decided it was time to be real with myself. So my plan was to write down everything I ate at 2 times during the day, once at some point after noon and then again before gong to bed. The reason I decided to do it this way is because I know that if I start tracking my food in MFP continually throughout the day, my eating habits will immediately change...and I didn't want them to. The goal here was for me to understand what I've been doing for the past 4 months!! So, I tracked my food intake for 3 days and OMG...what a slap in the face!!! The first day I took in 2670 calories. Day two was 2135 and day 3 was 2310! My actual calorie target is 1400-1800 depending on my training schedule (I'm triathlon training and I sometimes burn as much as 750 in a workout). Lesson learned: Snacking and sliders are not my friend and I'm coming to terms with the realization that unconcious eating has slowly crept its way back into my life. Okay, now I've put it all out there....I could actually go on and on but I won't!!! I'm making a committment to getting back "on track". And although I'm not as active here as I was during my "honeymoon", I'm really going to make a point to get on here daily because it keeps me "plugged in" and maybe I need to be a little more focused on this right now. I know I am not the only one who's dealt with, or is dealing with, this issue (and, of course, I'm not referring to those who are 3 weeks post op and have hit their first stall...that's why this is posted in the vet's forum!!). I would love to hear your honest opinions and experiences!!! What did it take to get you back on track???...or are you in the same boat with me???

OMG...you just made me realize that my plateau started right when I came back from an 8 day cruise!! I remember coming home, getting on the scale and being elated b/c I hadn't gained any weight after a week of eating danishes for breakfast!!! Yikes!!!!

I'm not generally an ice cream person, but Blue Bunny makes a sugar free vanilla/caramel bar that is half covered in chocolate. It does have malitol in it, so if you're sensitive to malitol (or sugar alcohols), don't even try it!! Anyway, it's pretty good and 70 calories....doesn't taste like sugar free to me!!

I'm FINALLY back on track!!! Since writing this post, it's taken me a while to really get myself there, but I've been tracking my food consistently for the past 8 days and I'm down 4 lbs!!...which is absolute proof, to me, that tracking works!!! I've also "officially" starting training for my first triathlon of the season which is on June 23rd. I think this has boosted my motivation as well!! I take my training plan and write it all out on calendar pages that I print off my computer....then, I plaster them up on my wall in my bedroom. Each day that I complete my training I cross that day off with a highlighter. If I miss a day, I put a big "O"...which stands for a missed OPPORTUNITY!!! The visual feedback is a powerful thing for me!!!! I do think that our bodies often need time to adjust. For me, I believe my current weight is my body's current "set point". I think our bodies are like thermostats...they are comfortable at a certain "temperature" (weight) and they attempt to regulate themselves to stay there. When we yo yo diet for many years, our set points change (and go higher and higher) with each diet. A dear friend (and best selling nutritionist) explains it as a "debt". He says "you can't borrow money from the bank and not expect to pay it back with interest". He says that when you create a deficite by calorie restriction you will eventually pay back that calorie deficite with "interest" (extra weight).

That's okay...Laura made me spit my Syntrax nectar all over my computer the other day!!!....I'm still trying to get it out of my keyboard!!

I'm almost a year and half out and spend about 4 months gaining and losing the same 5 lbs. I still have 40 pounds to lose and knew that if I didn't take control now, I may continue to do this forever!! I started tracking my food daily in MFP (myfitnesspal). I can't tell you how important this is to my success!! Not only does it hold me accountable to what I'm putting in my mouth....it helps to change my behavior. I also cannot stress enough the importance of daily exercise. Find something that you really enjoy doing and get out there and do it!! I had a dream to do a triathlon and I ended up doing 3 last year and got hooked. If it weren't for all the training I do, I'm sure I would have gained weight over the past 5 months. Lastly, to get back on track, try lil miss diva's The Basics Boot Camp. It can help you get back to where you started without making you feel like you're starving yourself to get there. Here's the link: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/28139-the-basics-boot-camp/ Good Luck!! Keep us posted!!

I walk up ALL the different streets and trails...BUT, keep in mind, I've been doing it since before my surgery. When I first started, I could not go up Hill St or Skyline without stopping several times!!! Now I'm 115 lbs lighter, which is litterally a load off my back!!! LOL!! You have to start somewhere!! A walking group would be fun!! I'm game!!!

You looking that $h!t up reminds me of this:

I love walking The Hill!!! I've been walking it since about 6 weeks before surgery (which was Nov 2011). I "technically" live in S.H. I just walk out my door and head up!! Sometimes I walk up Skyline 3 or 4 times...and other times, I do what I call "big loop" which is simply a long walk all the up and around the hill!! We could start a little walking group!

Do you think there's any protein in a caramel chocolate egg?

I had a private room so i had no issues. I will tell you, I took my iPad and never once had a desire to be on it!! I texted with family and friends and that was about it...I could never get comfortable enough to deal with my iPad.

OMG....I just spat Syntrax nectar all over my laptop!!! I'll be sure to stay away from those caramel chocolate eggs this Easter!!...I sure as H#!L don't wanna be sucked into that vortex!! LOL!

Hey neighbor!!! I'm here in the LBC!!!! What kind of exercise are you looking to do? I'm not sure I would be the best exercise buddy b/c I'm on a pretty tight training schedule for triathlon season. But I do walk Signal Hill once a week if you are interested in that!! How far along are you in your journey?

It's not a crime to eat a caramel chocolate egg!!! What's really important is that you recognize it and MOVE ON!!! There is absolutely nothing wrong with what you ate....but if you're going to eat something that you consider "off program"...make it a CHOICE, not a CHEAT!!! And then when you make that choice--ENJOY IT!!!! Now get up off the ground and get back on your wagon!!!

WOW....I'm scratching my head!! At almost 17 months out, there is no way I could eat an entire Big Mac. Now, I haven't actually tried, but once in a great while I eat 1/2 of a hamburger from In N Out. I didn't even try ANYTHING from a fast food place until I was well over 4 months out and when I did, I couldn't stand it. Even to this day, fast food tastes HORRIBLE....I think because it's so processed. The only thing I can tolerate is that 1/2 hamburger from In N Out. My concern for you is not that you were able to eat a Big Mac, but that because you can, it's easier to go for that choice again and make a regular occurance of it. I'm not saying you will....but if I had been able to eat one at less than 3 months out, I would probably just continue to eat them on a regular basis.

It's powdered Peanut Butter