CVWillis

Before certain people jump on here and start with the "you have to change the way you look at food" speeches, I should make it clear that my post about the Pasta was my experience with pasta and that it should in no way be taken as an endorsement, recommendation, advocacy, affirmation, approval, or countersignature of similar behavior.
My relationship with food was apparently a lot different than some others on here. I was a "volume eater" becuase of other medical problems I had been having that were making me extraordinarily hungry all the time. But I know now, through counseling, that I really wasn't trying to fill a void in my life with food. I thought that might be the case, but it's not. I've only been obese for the last couple years when my other medical problems started. They were eventually corrected, but the weight stayed on. No, I wasn't always "thin" before my weight gain, but I had never put on that much weight. So the "void" wasn't my problem after all.
However, if you think the "void" problem might be part of why you are overweight, then I'd rethink why you might be craving pasta.

I'm a teacher and today was the first day of school. My goal was to be down 100 pounds total by the first day. WELLLLL, I have been stalled at 98 for over two weeks!!! I've been frustrated as hell! I know it's normal but that doesn't mean it's not disappointing. I know I haven't been working out as much as I should but I've been doing great with my meals. I'm kinda obsessed with MFP now when I was so resistant to the idea at first.
Anywho, I got all jazzed up for the first day today... I wish I would have gotten a full body pic but I live alone and felt weird asking a coworker. However, I do have pictures from today and from the first day of school last year. THIS is why I'm excited! The difference just from the chest up is pretty damn awesome. And the first pic isn't even at my highest weight. I gained about 15 pounds after this, when I hurt my knee and quit working out.
Take a look... I'm not fully "out" to everyone so I didn't want to post this on Facebook or anywhere else but I feel like I'm needing some positivity right now. Love my VST'ers!

Check in
CW - 220
I'm so emotional about my weight loss. I saw a pic of me and cried in PUBLIC! I look soooo small! It's a good thing but I was overwhelmed! I'm in a size 14 I haven't worn a 14 since high school and even then I was considered big.
I want to lose 50 more to reach my goal of 170. My surgeon isn't happy with with my lost. He feels I'm 20 pounds behind where I should be. But his nurse is always encouraging & positive. She's had weight loss surgery and understands.
I'm emotional & excited! Happy losing everyone!

To be fair regarding the gastric bypass, I was asked while in the holding room to sign papers regarding my sleeve. One paper was to okay having an "open" gastric sleeve, in case there are difficulties and they could not do it laprascopically. I signed that paper. I was also asked what he should do if he feels that my hernia was too extensive and there was too many problems because of GERD to do a proper sleeve if I want him to close up or perform Gastric Bypass. I signed the papers to allow the Gastric Bypass, if need be.
No matter which I ended up with, I promised myself that I was changing my life...forever.
Neither surgery is an easy way out. The people that I know that have gained the weight back with Gastric Bypass CAN do a boot camp type regimen and go back to the beginning if they chose to. They should have done this after 10 pounds gain. They should have gone back to the nutritionist.
Nobody really needs to have mal-absorption issues with Gastric Bypass. They do because they do not follow the rules, they go ahead and drink beer, diet pop, regular pop, eat breads, spaghetti and they overeat. I believe truly that those that gain weight after Gastric Bypass did it because they chose to use the surgery as a "cure-all" and expected not to have to do the work.
Whether you get the sleeve, bypass, you have to do your job. You have to eat properly and exercise. I can't talk about the lap band, because this is the only surgery I would have refused outright because it would be too harmful for me because of my issues with adhesions and the fact I have lupus.
I think what most people need to really know before they have surgery is this is permanent and you have to work as hard, or actually harder after surgery than you ever had, because this is a lifestyle, not a diet.

Check in
CW - 220
I'm so emotional about my weight loss. I saw a pic of me and cried in PUBLIC! I look soooo small! It's a good thing but I was overwhelmed! I'm in a size 14 I haven't worn a 14 since high school and even then I was considered big.
I want to lose 50 more to reach my goal of 170. My surgeon isn't happy with with my lost. He feels I'm 20 pounds behind where I should be. But his nurse is always encouraging & positive. She's had weight loss surgery and understands.
I'm emotional & excited! Happy losing everyone!

Surgery Date: 3/13/12
SW: 243.6
Challenge Starting Weight: 190.4
Last weigh-in: 186.4
Today: 183
Lost this week: 3.4
Total lost in challenge: 7.4
Labor Day Challenge Goal: 175
Pounds to go for challenge: 8
Weeks left in challenge: 6
Other Goals:
1. Log food every day into MFP
2. Exercise 4-5 a week
3. Make it to week 10 on Couch to 5 K
1. So far so good on MFP-45 days in a row.
2. Yes 4-5 a week
3. Still on week 5, but ran 2 miles without stopping. Woo! Hoo!

SW-145
CW- 140.4
GW-135
I lost 2.5 pounds this week! Go low carb!!!!! I am trying really hard to make my goal of 135 by August 8th, my surgiversary. I have two more weeks to lose 6 pounds. I believe I can do it. If I do, I will revise my Labor Day goal to 130. I need to get under my goal so I have some wiggle room. After that, I will start maintenance. Good luck everyone!!!

I'd like to add why do you feel the need to determine your goal weight now?? I say go for the 170 and reevaluate once you get there. Good luck to you.

I'm in too. I'm exactly 169 today. By Labor Day I would like to be 154. Hopefully this will be my next to last challenge. My next challenge is for October 27th. That is the day my husband and I will sort of renew our vows and get the sacrament of marriage in the church. I would like to be 134 at that time, but who knows? I will be 30 pounds lighter than when we first got married.
Is it possible to have a size 14 dress taken in to a size 6 or 8?

I joined the Century Club this week!!
HW 335
SW 239 (7/04/12)
GW 219 (9/03/12)
Wk 1 (7/09/12) 238 -1#
Wk 2 (7/16/12) 233 -5#
Sent from my iPhone using VST

I weigh in at 178 this morning.
Only 13 more pounds to make my goal, then from there... Only 20 addtional pounds to lose to hit my permanent goal!!!
I'm almost 3 months post op, the 24th!
Sent from my iPhone using VST

I had no loss in the 1st weigh in and I cannot weigh in on Monday because I'll be out of town. I am so excited to be off my stall so I decided to go ahead and post an early weigh in.
Today I weighed 186.4. I lost 4 lbs. WOO HOO! 11.4 more to go in 6 weeks. I can do it. Please baby Jesus no stalls!

K, don't know if we have a formal weigh-in day, but I'm making mine Saturday for now...
Finally cracked 190. Whew! What a freakin' battle it's been! But I'm here and I'm stayin'!
Three pounds down this week. Yay.

I'm down 6 of my 11 goal and I've been going to the gym 5 days a week, which was my goal by July 4th also!

Checking in!!!
Goal for July 4th is 25 pounds
Progress: As of 6/7/12: down 5 pounds. Walking and jogging for one hour 3x this week. Strength training for one hour 2x this week.
Exercising is helping so much. I'm losing more inches than pounds.
One more goal for July 4th is to run the entire track for half mile. Lets see what happens!!

I was in the same place as you. What I did was start making make ahead meals, too. Google Eggface ... she has lots of recipes that can be made ahead. I use her site for inspiration. However my go to quick food is chicken. I season a pack of boneless chicken breast & thighs with garlic & herb Mrs. Dash & olive oil then put it on the George Foreman. Put them in individual freezer bags and I'm set. I have also done pork chops & turkey burgers, too. I can eat them anytime for any meal. I also eat alot of veggies. I cook 2 or 3 veggies then put them in little storage containers and freeze those too. Plain greek yogurt with a pack of Splenda & sugar-free fruit is something else I keep on hand.
I hope this helps ...

Try the search for.....the world according to eggface....she has some wonderful quick meals.

I spent my post-op time watching Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Every time he'd go "That's MONEY", I'd make myself take a sip of water! LOL It amused me.

I hear ya, I lived on food porn the first few weeks post op...

Oh my, I also have issues with food, it is hard to break up with him.

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I had my surgery. It has definitely been a journey and I am so glad I have been able to accomplish so much.
I am so close to getting out of the 200's! I can almost taste onederland! My weight loss has considerably slowed but I am still pushing forward and I definitely feel great!
The difference amazes me still:

I had my sleeve on 03/01 in Tijuana MX. For the most part my sleeve tolerates everything except sweets and high fat content food (Perfect!). My pre-op start weight was 228, My surgery weight was 209, and my current weight is 181. I am starting Zumba this weekend and I am so happy that I got my sleeve. My first NSV is that I am now wearing all my fat but not as fat girl clothes that I haven't been able to wear in 3 years. The second (and most awesome) NSV is that my husband and I can both fit in our shower... together... at the same time.... you know.... to scrub each others backs and stuff...lol