CowgirlJane

It's tough it really is. My weight loss practically stopped about 8 months post op. Culprits were carbs, including Protein bars!! That is when I got serious about carb (basically sugar) control. I also changed up my workout to high intensity shorter duration. I went from losing 2-3 pounds a month back to 10-12 a month and made it to goal. I think you should discuss with a good nutritionalist since nursing adds some nutritional issues I didn't deal with. Hang in there! Kick the sugar/bad carb addiction and life gets better.

Look at my before photo..huge belly!!! It's gone now. There was alot of skin and prior to plastics I used garment to spread that skin just so to make fake hips....Haha. now my tummy is pretty flat for the first time EVER!!!!

Cant wait to hear..Haha So I made a huge deal out of my excess skin before the nekkid phase. Then he was like....I dunno, women your age,have had kids etc., just look that way. Obviously I had more excess skin than a typical woman but it was clearly a bigger deal in my head than it was in reality.

Haha..you don't know the worst of it. When you have been partnered a long time a certain division of duties happens. Last night I successfully tested my smoke detector by starting a fire in the fireplace without opening the flue. Oops. My house smells like I have been camping. Remember my long hair about which I am so vain..Haha...clogs drains and I need to learn how to open the "trap" whatever that means. Power stopped working to my horse area and I don't know why. Had to run a cord for the water tank heaters since it is freezing cold out there. Yesterday instead of going to the gym I hauled and stacked firewood. Uphill. Who needs the gym? Haha You know what I like about all this? Who has time for angst?? I got crap to DO. I was raised on a farm and my parent owned a business. I was raised working HARD and it suits me. Who needs to date when there are chores to be done?? It is strange but I am energized to tackle stuff. This happened when my ex left for 2 weeks last spring too. Like, I just focus more and tackle it when it is just me. I still kinda hope the airplane ride works out..tonight is happy hour night so I will likely see Tony the pilot. He is kinda shy so I am not sure what to expect. I kinda like that too....like I am tuning into my own soap operas.... will he ask her to go flying? He takes his plane up to the San Juan islands (gorgeous) in 15 minutes so a fast little plane. We could go up there for lunch...My treat. I am in a very happy mood. Some awesome stuff at work .. and day 2 under 150 so not a fluke.

Love LOVE LOVE it!!!!

Wanda you do have willpower - raised a family, have a career, still married haha...willpower! Eating clean is a habit change and a physical addiction withdrawal. Keep at it!!! It isnt easy but the cravings etc reduce so much!

Ah Florinda I always love you keeping it real. We love each other actually. We've talked about it..but we are both incapable of really being in love in a healthy way. For me I think it is temporary defect for him....I think it's is permanent situation. I did finally hear from him so that's good. 25 degrees...brrrr..I was gonna dump horse manure at the composting place but it's all frozen to the dump trailer...dang it!

Didn't see that... but I think it is better to just not engage and not talk about it...

Sarah - you are a stronger person than I. If I baked that stuff, I would eat it. I apparently have food addiction issues because my solution about food is to make the decision once - at the store. Once it is in my house, I am done, I will eat it eventually. Steven has only been at my house once - when my EX was gone for a couple of weeks. My EX knows I "see someone" "date" or whatever but I surely would never want to rub it in his face. Steven feels the same way but, he says that he would like to come over here now that my EX is out of the house, since he has a bachelor pad so to speak and always feels obligated to clean before I come over. In fact, and I still feel bad about it - I made a comment about how dark it was back when we first met and he did this huge cleanup/overhaul - washing windows, removing dark curtains etc. He has a pretty bad case of ADHD and frankly I suspect bi-polar - because he stayed up all night for two nights to do all that which is not rational. He told me that he likes it much better but I still feel bad since I didn't mean to criticize. Anyway, he has dropped out of contact with me since I saw him on Friday. It was kinda weird because we were going to connect again over that weekend and I expected to have plans with him Friday night (tomorrow) and he just hasn't contacted me or returned my call. Well, it's not weird. He does this. It means he is in a mood. This is why he can't have a real relationship - he is the coolest guy to be with, talk to, but when he gets in a funk he goes into hermit mode and cuts everybody out. It is annoying and rude but it is just what he does. The other possible trigger is he was getting all chummy again last time i saw him - wanting to make plans with me to do all this great stuff and this has happened before... he gets swept up in that line of thinking and then later freaks out about it. He actually almost broke up with me because we were going to go camping and he just went in full on amp up mode over it because he really wanted to be alone. I was like...okay... I will live wihtout a camping trip....LOL. It is a irritiating pattern and he keeps wondering why I stick around since he knows how much it pisses off every woman he has ever dated. In the end, maybe it is good, keeps me from really falling in love with him and keeps our relationship right were it should be - Friends With Benefits with irregular contact. Because, although he has been wonderful for me in so many ways - it would be a freaking disaster to get too involved with him. The wonderful part is that he has been my biggest cheerleader. I met him after I got to goal but had all the extra skin and everything... he is the first man in my whole life that made me feel sexy. When I look at myself, I do see the flaws, but he has helped me see that I am beautiful and I NEVER EVER felt that way before - even when I had thin periods in my youth I always hated my looks. Really, for all his faults, I am so glad I have had him in my life... even though I do know it ends...soon.

I did not but I think it is pretty normal. By the time I had surgery I was so OVER food as a friend, crutch or whatever. I was so miserable (look at my before pic, I LOOK miserable!). I was hungry 24/7 so I certainly ate alot but it wasn't a food funeral. Truth of the matter is that being sleeved doesn't mean your food life is over. I sometimes struggle too, but in general I LIKE not being hungry all the time. I like that food doesn't drive me and my behavior like it used to. I like being sleeved so in hindsight I think a "celebration" of a new life is more in order!

I am so sorry. I lost my younger sister and best friend to breast cancer in 2007. She was only 40 and it devastated me and alot of other people. Vent away, and I know there is nothing any of us can say to ease the pain, but you have my prayers.

I was banded for 10 years and by the end I was NOT compliant for sure. The band drove me to eat sliders because dense Proteins hurt. I had bad acid but didn't realize it so I tended to eat soothing foods like yogurt and ice cream - self medicating I guess. However, even when I was compliant - say the first 2 years, I just suffered alot with the band. Anytime i had any fill at all I experienced pain and vomiting and yet was often hungry. it wasn't good.

148.5 this morning... woo hoo Are there reminders of my EX? EVERYWHERE. He didn't really deal with his stuff. I made him empty his closet - even though he slept int he guest bedroom the last year or more he kept his clothes in my bedroom - so those are at least moved. Remnants of his office are still here etc. He did consolidate some stuff and says he will pack up while i am in Orlando next week. I am not sure i believe him... if he doesn't I will do it when I get home. I am not weirded out by it and I don't think it is intentional on his part but it does make it so that my house still isn't really 100% mine yet. I wouldn't have a "real" boyfriend over (if I had one that is!) for example.

When I was obese, I would go through these emotional rollercoasters.... like I would work so hard to get to say....240# and feel wonderful and then suddenly I was 250# again. It would often make me just give up, that feeling of despair and that feeling like the effort it took to lose/maintain was beyond what I could sustain. During this weight loss journey I have been pretty good about not letting a number on a scale give me a good or bad day, we all have normal little stalls, weight fluctuations etc. However, for some reason, this time it just felt discouraging. The day I posted this thread I weighed 154, still 4# under my goal. However, that old feeling was there - like, wtf??? How did this happen so quickly? I am glad i wrote about it instead of trying to deny my feelings and I really appreciate all the feedback and comiseration!! So guess what, this morning I am back down to 148 - within my current "bounce range". A number on a scale doesn't give me a good or bad day, but knowing that the process WORKS, that following good eating and fitness habits works is reassuring and bolsters my confidence. good thing because next week I am going to a big business meeting where there will be much eating and drinking. Last year I maintained during that weeklong trip and I am gonna do it again!

Denise I used to sleep with a cpap and it was quiet. Sounds like your relationship is still young and maybe he is sensitive about it? Seems like he overreacted to your concerns. Maybe it's the female in me but I would be all apologetic not mad. Anyway have you considered earplugs? I didn't have a mask but what they call nasal pillows but they didn't shoot out a bunch of air unless dislodged. I think a new machine will reduce this problem but I wonder if he is open to that? Florinda I am certainly just happy for you and glad you are posting! I set out to get massive housework done last night and am shocked how little I accomplished.

fye - I LOVE your husband...hahaha.. can't help myself I was raised with exactly THAT kind of guy. Hope he heals up well. In all seriousness I am concerned with the California situation... it's dry dry dry... and the wet season should be wrapping up! I love Cali....not sure why I don't live there... but hearing the situation it is concerning. even the Seattle area, known for precipitation, has had a mild winter. Ski resorts opened late.... No snow so far at Seattle sea level ( I am at 300' above sea level .... No real snow here either). Right now... sunny and COLD... dropped.to the 20s.

So when I log into the website, I always check "content I follow" and that is how I know there are updates here. I hate the emails so for me that works better. Okay, let's talk about 5:2 shall we? I can't say that I have had a real 5:2 week but wow my eating is going pretty good. I went back to some basics.. things that worked in the past. In the morning i make a delicious omelette: -saute a mix of bell peppers and onions (frozen from trader joes - score!) -slice up some low carb/low cal sausages from Costco and saute with the veggies- 100 calories and a good dose of protein - score! -put 1/2 cup egg beaters in my mini blender to whip it good and pour it over the well sauteed ingredients, turn down heat -sprinkle with yummy cheese. today it was sharp cheddar and a bit of goat cheese -turn the oven on BROIL Let the eggs cook a bit more on the stovetop then put it on the low rack under the broiler - it puffs up a bit like a souffle I eat about half early (like 6-7am) and then the other half as a mid morning snack. I figure the whole deal is about 200-250 calories Lunch - I wasn't too hungry so had a few pieces of shrimp. I haven't had dinner yet, thinking of having a bit of salad with protein added I was at Trader Joes and they had samples of a bruschetta sauce mixed with cukes and lentils and feta cheese. It was amazing and I never thought of using bruschetta that way... so I have some finely chopped veggies from their produce section and have been mixing a bit of bruschetta with chopped up salami... yum I don't track, so I really don't know how many calories that is but it feels about right. I will have a protein hot chocolate before bed. Oh yeah, and I will probably have a glass of red wine because I worked my ass off today and figure I deserve it. Other news - I LIKE that the EX is gone, it is like a burden is released... but I can't help but worry about him. I keep wanting to call. I have been cleaning and really just trying to start afresh. That will be put on hold as I am heading out of town soon, but, it feels kinda good. I only get wound up when I dwell on it so I try to not think about it much. Friday night - going out with Mary at "our bar". I am guessing I will see my pilot friend.... we shall see if he invites me to go on a plane ride... like with SPECIFICS...haha.

Wow Coops that is so tragic. I have a firend who is a firefighter. What has shocked me is that he has to deal with suicide situations so much - I think it is a big problem and such a sad outcome. always makes you wish that person could have seen himeself through the eyes of others that valued him so greatly. I am truly sorry.

Sorry to hear about family and marriage stress - it totally sucks. In my case it wasn't caused by my weight loss.... but I will say that removing 150# of emotion burying fat made it so I could actually see and feel the issues that were really pretty bad all along. I hope this is something that can be worked through and a good outcome for you and your family.

I would have to draw the line there... if my social life was impacted this much to lose the last 10... I don't think I would go there. Thats probably why I am where I am, and not 10 pounds lower! I am not that great in the social life department anyway, and cutting out my occasional outings with friends that involve food (not horrible, The tummy helps on the quantity part, but some treats) would be heartbreaking to me. Most of my "food outings" are at horrible restaurants that do not cater to vegetarians anyway, and I have switched most of my thinking to "going out for socializing, and not for eating" Where do we draw the line? I go out once a week to a delicious restaurant - we go to happy hour as that is the only way to afford the food there...haha. I have two drinks and an appetizer - or share two apps with my friend. We sit there for a couple of hours after happy hour and chat with the regulars siince the DUI laws are so strict we want to be stone cold sober before leaving. I probably am NOT willing to give that up - but internet dating which seems to involve food and wine - often quite nice - yeah, I can give that up...LOL This morning the scale coughed up 151 instead of 154 so I feel a little less weirded out. It is strange - I am still well under my official goal of 158 so I am not sure why this upset me so much. I think it is that feeling of out of control - like how do I gain 4-5# in just a few days sort of feeling. I am worried that i am having ab swelling due to plastics. Surgeon keeps saying this is way late, I am a slow healer etc but I know from the patient support group that some people have intermittant swelling for like a year. Anyway, compression around the belly as I would like to maintain a waist! florinda, i am sorry if my words sounded like an attack - they were not intended that way and I think if you reread it you will realize it wasn't. I was taken aback as I thought i was understanding your situation but I wasn't. It really is your business what you choose to share and I am very HAPPY for you!!!!

So, I think Body Pump builds muscle endurance more than mass. To me it is very complimentary to other types of strength training. I have gone I think 4 times now - started out so easy on myself I didn't even break a sweat. I keep adding a bit of weight and really do hit muscular failure due to the high reps. The best class is the one that is probably 2/3 bodypump combined with a mega intense core workout... that core workout is almost too hard for me.

I had the band for ten long years! The sleeve is so much better BUT recovery is a little harder due to dehydration. Don't be shy and get IV fluids if you need them. I didn't - but I made it my mission to sip sip sip those early weeks. When you read the posts that say "I regret the sleeve, I feel like I am dying" I generally suspect undiagnosed dehydration OR excess acid. My surgeon had me on PPI the first3 months as prevention. After the initial healing period the sleeve ROCKS but I felt not quite human those first 6-8 weeks....

CBT - I think the risk goes much longer as most peoples drains are out in 2 weeks (I went 3 weeks with my last two drains) and seromas seem to show up certainly during the first 6 weeks. I am far from expert, but a common theme with the seromas are doing too much too soon. also, a couple of people on that facebook group have had wounds re-open by getting in hottubs and doing other questionable activities too soon...haha. well, not funny, but you would be surprised. Anyway, easy does it, slowly return to normal. I think many PS LIE and tell people they are back to normal at 6 weeks. I think it is more accurate to say... you begin to return to normal at 6 weeks.... and slowly crawl up from there. I am over 3 months out and am pretty good but I do sometimes get a bit of belly swelling after intense exercise. The lympathic and drain system is really impacted by plastics and some people are more impacted than others.

I too think you should go for it. my "transformation" came in stages... why not? I got a free makeover when I was a few pounds from goal and HATED what she did, but it did trigger me to update my look and work on my own sense of style.

I have been doing body pump and it FEELS like a great class. I was doing a little googling though and don't see alot of rave reviews about people really changing their bodies due to it. Not sure what I think... but it is really fun!