MeMeMEEE

We were in Wesley Chapel/Zephyrhills 2004-2007 and then moved back to IL and every day have asked ourselves why?? LOL We are moving back down after May 2013 when my daughter graduates high school. House prices are half what they were when we were there before - so thankful that we didn't buy then. I am biased as I LOVE Florida LOL I'll miss spring and fall but not winter - snow is way over rated! I love the water - even if it is 1 1/2 hours from Wesley Chapel. It gives me an immediate sense of calm. It can get cold in FL - I remember the kids wearing gloves several times in the winter and breaking my coat out also. I remember a very cold February one year. My husband would actually like to move farther south but I don't know about jobs the farther south you go. At least with the Tampa area, you have St Pete/Clearwater and Lakeland areas to commute to. I worked in Tampa and my husband in Lakeland. Traffic used to really suck during commute but they have done alot of road work so I don't know how it is - has to be a little better. Totally agree with missmachine on the slums next to the nice neighborhoods. Things can change quick. It isn't unusual to see a trailer park next to a gate community.

Today 120.6

I have at max 4 packets a day, mostly only one when I do have it, probably half the time I have none so I can do that! I have stevia too but it is a bag and trying to use up my packets for now. How is stevia - still considered natural and safe? I'm on day 3 and I think day one is hardest - saying "NO" to the bad carbs when technically you could still eat them and be in calories. I had some raw veggies and dip last night at a party and steered away from the sugar cookie fruit pizza

A couple questions - Splenda? Coffee? Processed meats (beef jerky, beef sticks)? Edamame (nut/seed/veggie - not sure)?

copying over from MFP... Yay! I want to join too! I have a few goals, I would like to be 117 lbs by 1/1 - that is around 6 lbs. I am in a normal BMI just barely and want to be more solid. I want to enjoy the holidays (I was on a feeding tube last year) but not go overboard. I want to continue to walk at least 5 days a week. This week I began taking my lunch at 10:30 and 2 breaks together at 1:30 and walking about a mile on one - would like to do it on both. I know once it starts getting dark earlier it will be too easy to just not walk at night!

I kept smaller sizes in my closet all the time - lots of Salvation Army and Goodwill finds - several things I passed up because I didn't try them on often enough! It is so nice to have something that fits too!

You are doing wonderful! Congratulations!

Yes - see link in my signature for my story. Feel free to pass it on to him as well.

I'm joining too, just finished the Labor Day challenge - met my goal for the challenge as well as my goal of healthy BMI. Weight before surgery 242 start of 6 month MSWL, 213.4 date of surgery Date of surgery 8/8/11 Current weight 121.4 Goal weight for competition 117 I weigh every day and only records losses, sometimes that is every few days, sometimes every few weeks.

This last month I made my goal of 123.8 which put me in a normal BMI. I then made my goal of weighing that fully dressed My next mini goal is 121 which will be half of me. I want to get around 117 so I can be solidly in a normal BMI range. I am in no hurry for that. I am loving the fall weather we are having and wearing jeans in a size 6!! Have never been this size in my life! I have a plastic surgery consult on September 11th. Most likely I won't have surgery for a while simply because working on paying off a credit card and my car before our big move to FL next year - would love to be debt free. But I want to know my options, costs, expectations, etc. I wish I would have started blogging each month a long time ago so I could look back on the non scale things I accomlished each month. The journey really is about so much more than a number. I went back to Weight Watchers meetings - I made lifetime with them in 2003 so now that I am back at (below) my lifetime weight, meetings are free. I like the extra support it gives me on a weekly basis. I attend my hospitals monthly support group also. Don't underestimate the support available to you - make use of all of it! It keeps you motivated and encouraged! I need all of that I can get!! I bought myself my first little black dress a few weeks ago - I'll share the dressing room picture for now. Who knew that finding shoes would be the bigger challenge! SW 242 Height 4'11'' 6 month Pre-op loss (-28.6) Surgery date 8/8/11 213.4 1 month - 194.2 (- 19.2) 2 months - 180 (- 14.2) 3 months - 170.2 (- 9.8) 4 months - 164.4 (- 5.8) 5 months - 167.2 (+ 2.8) 6 months - 162.4 (-4.8) 7 months - 155.4 (-7) 8 months - 149.6 (-5.8) 9 months - 143.4 (-6.2) 10 months - 139 (-4.4) 11 months - 132.6 (-6.4) 12 months - 126.8 (-5.8) 13 months - 121.4 (-5.4) Made goal! Normal BMI!

Mine is about 45 mins away.

One egg with salsa is great! I don't think it's too much. There are phone apps to help you eat slower too - might be worth checking out. My go to snacks when i feel snacky are beef jerky and edamame, cherry tomatoes, grapes but i do portion them out. Have you tried o Pb2? Great healthier alternative to peanut butter.

I highly suggest asking around the revision forum - I know the risk can be higher in that case. They say in general 1% have complications. Doesn't sound like much until you are the 1%. But the other 99% don't have them. Really, it is like any surgery - there is risk. But don't let it discorage you - just educate yourself on the possibilities.

You are doing great! How amazing does it feel to have that first year behind you??

I think it is important to remember that the sleeve is a tool, you still have to exercise control over what and how much you eat, to an extent - the further out you get, the more important this becomes. I can tell you know this - you regret that pizza. Try to portion your food - if you know you can eat 12 shrimp, only put 6 on your plate, 1/2 of wings, etc. (remember there is alot of bone on that 1 lb of wings). Also, make sure you aren't allowing yourself to eat longer than 20-30 minutes - if you are, some of your food has digested and that is why you can eat more.

Hi guys! Right now I am an Illinois sleever, but we plan to move (back) to FL next year. We were in Zephyrhills/Wesley Chapel 2004-2007. I expect we will move back to the area. Would love to live farther south and closer to the gulf but I just don't know much about those areas and jobs. My husband worked in Lakeland and I worked in Tampa so we were located well. We have been shaking our heads, wondering what the heck we were thinking almost since we moved back to IL. We both are from here. My older daughter is married and they are here in IL, as well as my mom. My younger daughter is a high school senior this year and is applying at UNF for Fall 2013. She's the reason we are still here, she wanted to graduate with her friends here. House goes on the market in April and she graduates in May - can't wait to be headed back to FL! I have a count down going! I attend my support group here monthly and am really wanting to find one for when we move also. So if anyone attends one in the general area and you think it is a good one, let me know! I don't mind driving 45 mins to an hour - I do here! Looking forward to getting to know everyone! I see lots of August 2011 sleevers I recognize here!

If you are up front and honest there is nothing left for them to talk about. And you might help someone else who has been considering it.

I started at 242 (4'11'') at the beginning of my 6 month medically supervided weight loss, day or surgery I was 213, I am 122.2 now, just inside the normal BMI range. My surgery was 8/8/11

Thinking of you and sending lots of prayers. I have been through leak and pneumonia and it can be rough. Most important is to remember that you will get through it (I know when you are in the middle of it, it sure doesn't seem like it). Try to keep your spirits up.

When you can eat dense protein like chicken breast you will not be able to eat as much.

What are you eating 4oz of? Is it dense Protein like chicken breast? Or soft?

Are you on a PPI? I have a gnawing, almost like hunger, feeling when I don't take my PPI. If you aren't you might want to get on one. Also, most of what you mention eating is fairly soft - how much chicken breast can you eat? Dense Proteins will fill you up and keep you full longer.

Did you get rid of all your small/6's? I am not seeing any?

edamame or beef jerky but you are probably kind of early for those - both have about 14 grams of protein in a serving