4ALongerLife

IDK on band either but I'm a sleever. I am unsure why dr's still do it, but guess because ppl still want it. It's the recidivism rate that I wish more dr's would speak to with banders and what the erosion/having a band on your stomach can do. I don't mean that to sound judgmental. It takes a lot of courage to have any procedure IMHO, but I do wish dr's that do a band with someone educate them on the worst of the worst (same with sleeve or bypass). Get allll the facts before you decide on the avenue.

Just a challenge to consider - but it wasn't easy for any of us. We all had our moments and our various struggles to learn something from. But the thing is ... this is a journey. You are learning some very important skills that once you hit whatever magic number you are shooting for, you will need the skills you picked up along the way to keep at where ever you have driven yourself to get. Learn that as you go so that history doesn't trip you up to repeat itself. Best thing I can advise, don't compare. Everyone's different. Stalls happen. Keep doing logically what you know are "the basics" to success. Make sure you log, get your Protein in and do it first, make sure you get your Vitamins, at least 64 oz Water a day, plan ahead on meals (because that can easily trip you up if you don't), get at least 7 hours of sleep (so your body will lose and you don't fall into boredom/stress grazing). If eating too much, make sure you get water as thirst masks as hunger (or so we assume). Get in a local support group. Work on cognitive distortions (like all or nothing thinking and shoulding all over yourself). It's a work in progress and unfortunately they operated on our tummies, not our brains..... Hang in there. There is no rush, there is never a finish line. Ugh not uplifting but in the end, you are building strength to be successful long term. Don't lose sight of that. And focus on the items above to get you there. Best of luck!

I rarely log into bariatric pal anymore; however, there are active support groups in the Plano area - a few in fact. There are also a couple of active (and secret) facebook pages for discussion/meet ups/luncheons, etc that several of us in the area do. The reason the pages are secret is that not everyone is "out" about surgery on their main pages. I think most of the folks that I know in these communities/fb pages generally go to the one time a month "big" group meeting at Baylor Plano (we meet the second wednesday of each month at 6 pm in the garden level of plano's main hospital and the group is led by a clinical psychologist with vendors/various bariatric person's who come to speak to us). That is a great way to begin to "get connected" in the DFW area and to get introduced into the fb pages. If you want more info on the baylor plano meeting, go here: https://www.baylorhealth.com/PHYSICIANSLOCATIONS/PLANO/SPECIALTIESSERVICES/WEIGHTMANAGEMENTSURGERY/Pages/SupportGroup.aspx or google baylor plano bariatric support. Additionally, there is a support group at Baylor Grapevine for those in the metroplex that are closer to the Tarrant County side. Those meetings are second tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Ball Street and are led by a dietician who is also certified as a counselor. I don't know that it is posted online anywhere. I found out about that meeting from a friend in the active fb pages. (But you could call Baylor Grapevine and ask for the bariatric coordinator or nutritionist dept for more information.) Both personnel that lead these two groups have been trained and also worked at the Cooper Institute. Point - they are both very qualified individuals with years of experience. I have attended both groups and find them to be well worth your time IMO. The groups are free and are educationally focused - meaning there is structure to the group, with a specific topic, but they also encourage mingling to meet others. These meetings are conducted in a structured manner and focus on skills to learn for longevity of success (i.e. 12-18 months when your hunger returns after sleeve, what other tools will you use to fight obesity/the reasons that got us there in the first place/how we look at food/coping mechanisms/barriers to success/etc). I am very active in these groups as the way that I look at it is, it took me 30+ years or so to establish these thoughts / behaviors / maladaptive ways to cope, it's going to take me longer to undo them so I continue to go. Repetition in my mind is key! Should you want something not so "clinical" or structured, there are also two patient led support groups that I can tell you about (one is in Dallas, one is in the Plano/Addison area). There is also another group that has spun off of the Plano group that meets in various locations for luncheons, etc. We also have other pages if you are a runner, want to start walking, doing activities but you want partners to begin with. All of this has spun out of the patient led groups and this message is an fyi that there are other options in the area should you be interested. My name is Stephanie Coutee and should you need any further information, connection, etc to local support groups, please find me on facebook where I am generally much more active than I am on bariatric pal (around a very busy work schedule lately tho, fyi). I am also very active (daily) on myfitnesspal under the same name as I have here, 4ALongerLife. <Information all given due to my infrequency of activity on this site.> Social support is the #2 tool that predicts weight loss success long term. I do highly encourage you seeking out - and making time for something like this, even if it's not in your comfort zone. I still have my thoughts of limitation, where at my heaviest I didn't want to meet others. That's hard to change, but I challenge you with this thought: change occurs outside of our comfort zones. You aren't alone should you dread going outside of your comfort zone, but I can say, when I have pushed myself - it's generally been with a good pay out. I hope to meet you soon! (Seek me out please!) Wishing you all best of luck! Thanks, Stephanie

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Titanium by David Guetta/Sia (warrior mode activated!)

IDK what diet to tell you to follow. Closer out from surgery is very different IMO than whenever you are further out. And for me, it depends on what my goals are now. I wanted to decrease body fat and build muscle..and I've watched my caloric intake via myfitnesspal very closely for the past 2.5 years. I now follow a 40 Protein / 40 carb / 20 fat diet and try not to exceed my RMR calories a day. Anything above the RMR calories is converted into fat - it's simply too many calories in, not enough burned. That's different close out from surgery. I would say overall, focus on (lean) protein and Water. The focus should be to make this a healthy lifestyle, not just a diet (where we think of the term diet as a fix to our weight issues that is). So fish (& shrimp), bison, turkey, chicken, eggs, greek yogurt, cottage cheese, then the rest added in small amounts. And refined/processed foods in moderation. Moderation might mean 2 or 3 times a week, depends how you are moving towards your goals. There are way too many plans to try to follow to accomplish this. I say experiment (this site is huge on the 5:2/IF, but also IIFYM, high fat/low carb, etc.). Figure out which one is best for you. It's not one best for all. Good luck!

I would advise you to start tracking everything you eat. There are many tracking apps out there but I use myfitnesspal.com. Next, clean out your house of anything unhealthy. It's called managing your environment. Third - you mentioned fruit/veggies, but what about Protein? The rule of protein first still applies this far out. Is your knee better now? As for the pouch test, IDK about doing that personally. It's a liquid diet if I'm not mistaken. This far out, for me, I don't want just liquids. But google "pouch test" and there's alot of info out there via dr. google. Best of luck to you!

How far out are you? Have you had any water? Many times, when I feel like I am 'starving' ... it's really thirst. Just a suggestion!

Here's the woman to listen to! I haven't been around much lately (ok in a while) but dang Cheri ... YOU LOOK FABULOUS! God bless you and the family! xx

LOVE this answer personally!

First, where are you in the metroplex? I would tell you the best way to find out who's best... get out to the support groups and ask. Ask what are the important questions that ppl would suggest if you interview the dr.s... then go interview the dr.s Interview the bariatric nurses at the hospitals - if you can. There are so many great dr's in DFW. You will find several options. So also ask about the hospitals where you get it done. I'd say get out on virtual sites but that can be just as scary, as can be in asking anyone... but don't be too frightened. You are going to hear great stories and not so great ones with anyone. I believe you will be led to the right person - and you will meet tons of ppl in the interim of this process and learn loads too. How exciting and nerve racking right? C'mon... you can do it! Best wishes... xx

Duh I forgot protein drinks. How'd I forget that? Our "staple"! (I do pure protein or premier but that's a personal preference.) I'm going to have to look up those EAS carb control drinks. (How many ozs are they?) Any flavor that you would suggest?

I weigh daily but I fluctuate anywhere between 3 lbs. to 7 lbs. A DAY. So what's that tell you? Well... first, you can't sweat it too much. But what's too much and what's not enough? Hmm. Here's what I do... choose a time that works for you on when to weigh (once a week, "officially" is your weigh in day) and use that as your basis on the number that 'counts'. My group dr. has a "flag" system for those of us in maintenance. He says, set your goal weight. If you go up 3 lbs for a week, then it's an orange flag. You monitor your weight and your actions/yourself for another week (i.e. back to basics - tracking, protein, water, working out, etc). If the number either increases or stays the same for another week, you move the flag to red status. That's when you call the big dogs in - who can you rely on to motivate you to get your head back in the game? I have a list of people that I go to. My closest advisors / support system / people that I respect their advices and that respect my ideas/thoughts and where I am who truly don't judge and problem solve where they can to help. Thankfully, I haven't gotten to red status ..... yet.... but I'm only 20 months out (goal reached at 6 months). I still have 'issues' with body dysmorphia so the mirror and how my clothes fit doesn't help (and I have size 2-8 in my closet, depending on the cut!). I know when I've had a bad week or two, I generally tighten up what I'm doing - back to the general guidelines that I know that work: tracking my food, protein, water, mindful eating and working out. Hope that might help you (or someone else here!). Best of luck! xx

Ha! Sarah... I had to be on a liquid diet for FOUR months (leak/long story). You'd be surprised what you can do whenever you have to. Hang in there!

I remember feeling that way! I don't however remember when I felt that way... but.. your body is still making as many hormones as your larger self. So if you have suddenly lost a lot of weight, the body hasn't caught up to not make as much estrogen. At least that is what I was told. It WILL pass. Hang in there! Best of luck on your journey(s)!

Sorry my answer may read like a run on sentence, for some reason my enter button doesn't work here but: egg whites, shrimp (I buy them frozen from Wal Mart in bags and divvy out 12 a day for my PM snack), cottage cheese, greek yogurt, bacon (I prefer turkey bacon), beef jerky, pork rinds and almonds. Hope that helps you some what!!!

Ok Bean! I came on here just to check it out.. and ew. Wow. What else? Man I wanna see pix of the abs once you are healed up and standing up straight. WHAT A DIFFERENCE THOUGH! Awesome Patrick! Congrats!

You mentioned that you have a new job... is something about it bothering you? Or is there a trigger there? Could be nothing. You could just have had an "off" day. You are allowed to have those you know! Just do not "catastrophize" a slip. We all have slips (i.e. dammit I ate x amount over calories, had an extra cookie, whatever). But it's about perspective. Don't let a slip become a lapse, collapse or a relapse. Know with every minute, it's a chance to undo that slip - don't look at it as a chance to say screw it and snow ball into a twinkie over dose. Or dang, was that only me in the old days? Hang in there hon! This too shall pass!

I think you will be fine. You are watching it with an eagle's eye .. and you sound like you realize that if you lose too much, you are going to either have to eat more or scale back on the exercise. That's the two options you have: eat more or work out less. If you do this, make sure you track. My calories went up whenever I went into maintenance. Talk about a mind game! Congrats on all of your success!

We ALL go through this. Whether you are in the honeymoon, or 18 months out like me. My dr. calls it "behavioral fatigue"... you just get tired of the behaviors that you have been doing. He usually tells me that's when I need to "take a break" (i.e. like taking two weeks off of the gym, which I can't let myself do lately, hmm). Otherwise, changing it up, getting a workout buddy or an accountability partner might be a good avenue for you to try to pursue. I do agree with the honeymoon phase... enjoy it while it lasts as it will not be forever. The other suggestion that I can think of... make a list of all of the reasons why you wanted to have surgery/lose weight and go over them a couple of times a day. (If anyone's heard me say this before, my apologies.. I am a broken record.) Reach out like you did with this thread for pick me ups. I know myfitnesspal friends really support me the most when I need it. Best of luck!

One thing I've learned in my journey... why do we associate grumbling of our tummies with hunger? Guess what? That can just be gas and we've assumed that it's hunger. I challenge you to stop and really consider what it feels like to be hungry. Like really hungry. It's not that your tummy makes noises... it's more of an empty feeling, you might get a headache if you go too long w/o food (although post op, this never happens to me anymore). For those of you that are so recently out of surgery, you are going to learn a lot of things about your body and how it changes. I believe in going to support groups and learning everything you can... which thankfully where I live, we have several options. Whenever you are so new out of surgery though, my dr. said to make sure you get x ounces in x minutes (I think it was 4 ounces every 15 minutes) and he suggested using a timer. I have an app on my phone to time things.. or I use an egg timer at home. Hope that might help!

Figuring out what that ideal number was, for me, a hard one. I always thought 160 would be fine, then as it got closer, 150... then I got to 130 and that was TOO MUCH (I'm 5'7"). I lost my weight in 6 months (mostly due to 1000+ calorie work outs, but also due to my leak that I dealt with). The hardest part to wrap my head around in maintenance was that I had to eat more not to lose. I always have gained it back by doing that. But then again, I still do my workouts. Now the goal for me is muscle tone. I am 24% body fat, 22.7 BMI and a 2-8 depending on how it's cut (but I say I'm a 6). Size 8 was my "goal" as I wanted single digits! Oh and one of the best benefits... I was lifting weights today (upper body), standing with my legs together and I have a little "hole" of light between where my thighs fit together - they don't touch. Yay! I no longer start forest fires with my thighs! lol

Wow, that took guts! (I would say cohonas but didn't wanna offend he he). I know it's easy to get discouraged, thanks for trying to inspire everyone by being so brave/personal!

I am so sorry to read your story. My mother died suddenly, a heart attack in her sleep, in 2008 (my father followed her death 9 months later, after he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the liver and lungs). The day my mom died, the world literally changed. I would give almost anything that I have to have her one back for more day. It's a heart ache, for sure. With that being said, please spend as much time with your mom as you can ... cherish moments, get her to tell you stories that will die with her, write them down/record her telling them if you can. As an avenue to help you... have you ever been to counseling? I'm a big proponent of it (well I have a bachelors and masters in social work, my initial goal was to have my own "shop" after I got my LMSW-ACP, but a few years into professional social work I decided it wasn't for me). However, I know I used food for coping and we all know that stress can trigger those behaviors. A good coginitive behavioral therapist that perhaps specializes in food/eating or health psychology would be a good alternative for you, to talk to, to help you manage stress in other ways - as well as identify some of the reasons for the behavior. Just a thought. I manage my stress now through exercise mostly. And I usually make sure that I get at least 7 hours of sleep a night (I swear it helps!).