twobluecats

...I don't post over here much anymore, but I spend a lot of time over on obesityhelp.com. I Celebrate my nine month anniversary from surgery today. I can't believe it's went by so darn fast. I'm down a total of 104 pounds (16 pounds preop), and I feel great. I track my food, and I weight daily. For the most part, I concentrate on Protein and low carbs. But, I don't deprive myself of anything as I simply love food. In fact, I had half a cupcake today at a lunch, and I tracked it too! I just don't make bad choices back to back or on a consistent basis. Here's the latest before (day of surgery) and after (today!) photos.

Haven't been doing a good job of posting here. But I'm very frustrated this Monday morning. I've been hovering at 200.4 for the last week or more. I was at 203 on August 3. I am SOOOOOO wanting to see 199 on the scale. I am starting to wonder if it will ever happen! I sure hope to report back next Monday with better news, but with a trip to Las Vegas planned on Thursday, I'm not sure!

Awesome! I think of you often, and your success is inspirational! I can't wait to post here in December. I'm very happy with my progress thus far, and I know how you feel when it comes to living a more active life!

Take care!

This is definitely a matter of personal opinion as the ol' scale affects us all differently. But, I weigh daily..twice to be exact. I weigh in the morning and at night. I find that I don't beat myself up if it doesn't move or fluctuates up (I know I didn't eat 3500 calories to cause a pound gain!). And, I like to start my day with a reminder of my goals.

So, three months ago today, a major bodily organ was sliced into pieces and part of it was pulled right out of my body. Funny, seems like a lot longer than that. I am down 59.5 pounds since December 1 when I started this journey and 43.5 since surgery day.

The last two weeks have only garnered a two pound loss each, but my sleep pattern was really a mess as my husband worked nights to do some training.

I still track every meal on myfitnesspal.com, and I average 750-800 calories (sometimes a bit over, but not regularly), 75-90 Protein, and 30-40 carbs (again the rare overage, but not ever over 50).

I will be 42 in two weeks, and I don't consider myself a fast loser at all, but I am happy with the progress. As long as I continue downward, I am thrilled. I eat everything now, with nothing "off limits." Fortunately, I'm not a sweet tooth or snacker, so that has not been an obstacle. I have pizza, tacos, etc. But those things don't completely dominate my diet anymore, and I balance the days that I have some to ensure that all my counts are still good. And, I can only eat a small amount compared to the large pizza I used to inhale!

Life is great. We are going to Tahoe for Easter, and we are going to Europe for 16 days in May for a Mediterranean cruise. I hope to be under 220 by then, and I'm at 239.5 today. I think that's very doable based on my current stats.

I love my sleeve and my journey. And, I love the support I find here and at obesityhelp.com.

Happy Monday, all....

HW:299

SW:283

TW:244

I'll take it!

Even happier now as I'm at 39 pounds as of today...almost 11 weeks out. It goes by so darn fast!

Awesome work, ladies. I'm at 249 today, which is three pounds down from last Monday. I'll take it as the slowing will begin with my vicious menstral cycle. I always seem to slow for two weeks before I begin. Then, I lose well two weeks.....repeat.....

I love this forum! It's so nice to "hear" yourself think and then bounce things off others for advise/support.

I could totally wolf down most of a large pizza before, so I know my sweet sleeve is working fabulously. I started thinking that the amount of pizza I ate basically equated to almost the size of a regular thin tortilla with a normal amount of "stuff in it. Not that much food when I think about it. But, boy pizza definitely has more calories. Still, it's one of my favs, and I'm glad to know I can work it into my plan from time to time.

pizza has always been my all-time favorite food, and I waited until my two month anniversary to try it. We usually get Papa Murphy's Delite pizza, which you bake at home and is basically the pizza toppings on a cracker thin crust. The crust is super, super thin and doesn't compare to any other thin crust from the chains. I cut the pizza in slices about two inches across the crust end. I was able to eat two slices, which was about a normal sized slice. I didn't really know what to expect, but I knew that with their crust being so thin, it wouldn't be like regular pizza, even thin crust from other places.

Anyway, I have this feeling of guilt, surprise that I was able to eat it, and sorta happy that I can (after all, that's what I love about the sleeve compared to other surgeries. I counted for it on my daily journal, and my calories were a little high for the day(over 900 and I usually stick well below 800), but everything else was in check. I know it won't be a regular rotating meal, but I am happy that I can include pizza every couple of weeks or so as long as I plan well (my lunch was too high, but I can revise that for future meal planning).

Anyone else have experience with pizza post surgery?

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

You are doing so well!

And, way to go to you for whizzing past your goal weight! That's AWESOME!

I am 50.2 pounds down since my December 1 preop diet began and 34.2 since surgery two months ago today. Woo Hoo!

YOU ARE AMAZING!

I can't even imagine how wonderful that feels, but I sure hope to find out some time this year! You've worked very hard to acheive this goal, and you are an inspiration to me, for sure!:lol0:

Can't remember what I was last week, but here it is already eight weeks out, and I'm down 31 pounds since surgery and 47 including my preop diet. I lost well this week as it was my TOM. I've decided that's something to now look forward to since twice now I've lost during that week! HA!

I will be eight weeks out on Monday. I am cleared for any food I want, but I still stay away from bread, Pasta, and rice. I limit my carbs to 30-40ish a day, and my calories average between 650-800. I am getting anywhere from 70-100 grams of Protein, and I drink my 64 ounces of Fluid. Dense beef, and even ground beef sometimes is harder for me to enjoy. I eat a lot of chicken, greek yogurt, deli cuts of meat, cheeses, tuna fish, any fish or shellfish, chili, eggs. I have a few reduced fat wheat thins(eight) when I have tuna fish, but I don't add intentional carbs very often. I get plenty from my dairy intake. I still have a Premier Protein Drink from costco every few mornings as it's packed with 30 grams of protein and helps me on days when I'm uncertain what the rest of my meals will look like. I use myfitnesspal.com to track my meals each day.

255 here.......down 28 since surgery day seven weeks ago today....44 since December 1. I'll take it, but I'm hoping to see something less than 250 before Valentines Day. I usually don't set date goals, but that would be really nice!

I was sleeved by Dr. Nick on December 14. I love his manner and his staff too. I asked at my seminar how many sleeves he did in 2009, and he said about 200 if I remember correctly. I have been very happy with my results so far as well as my care.

Funny! I never had blue urine that I recall.

Congratulations for what I'm confident you will be very happy to have done in a short period of time. Those first couple of weeks are a bit difficult, and I had unmentionable dreams about refried beans...ha! I couldn't wait to get to the mushy stage. I'm afraid I don't have much to offer for the full liquids other than I was also able to add thinned mashed potatoes.

Twobluecats, this is a great report to read. My program doesn't allow Protein shakes or supplements but wants us to get all of our Protein requirements from food. I'd love to read about what you eat over the course of a day or two. Do you post your food anywhere?

Thanks! I post on myfitnesspal.com. If you sign up and "friend" me then I think you can see my daily journal of food.

My six week followup was today. I was so happy to see how happy the doctor and his staff was with my progress. My nutritionist was also blown away by my daily Protein, calorie, and carb intake sans shakes. I am down 42 pounds since December 1 and 26 since my surgery date of December 14.

I am clear to add strength training and running to my current exercise routine. And, best of all, I get to add fresh fruit and raw veggies again. I ran to Whole Foods to buy blueberries, blackberries, and asparagus just after the visit!:laugh0:

Hey girl! I love, love, love dim sum! I think Tiff is right, Soup is gonna be your best bet. You could try a steamed dumpling, but you would be having a bit of Pasta that way. I won't lie, I had one in week five (without the doughy ends of the Pasta, just the meat in the middle and a slight bit around the middle) because that was the day I tossed my Cookies, and I felt week, and China was the next stop at Epcot.

You could always have the dumplings without the pasta at all. Still yummy and quite tender.

Have fun! Having japanese tonight, myself. Tomorrow is six week check up with Dr. Nick!

Better late than never.......I'm down two pounds from last week, but it's PMS week, so I don't expect a loss this week at all. Sucks being a girl! HA!

I fully understand your plight! But, food has always been a big deal, and I have always loved to cook. But, six weeks in, I've become VERY organized with my meal planning, and I am constantly thinking of food. I think that DeeDee is totally right. Once we get our own routine going and feel comfortable with a variety of food choices, it won't be so bad. Or at least, I hope that's the case.

Well, I tossed my Cookies today for the first time. I just ate two little bites of chile, but it was the first time I had had ground beef, and up it came. I guess the ground beef/turkey was just too much. I feel fine now, but oh, not happy for about 10 mins!

Bless your heart! I can eat chili pretty well, but I have been sticking to the Wolf Brand lean canned, or I made ground turkey white chili and did okay with that. I haven't tried my own beef chili, and I have a feeling it wouldn't set well.

Funny, my family just had a dish I made with ground beef, and I opted for a piece of tilapia. Fish and shellfish go down really well.

I see the scale is moving! Woo hoo!:lol0: