Globetrotter

Man, that ricotta bake saved my sanity two weeks out from surgery when the very idea of the smell of one more protein shake made me want to hurl. Hmm, just thinking about it makes me kinda want it, maybe I'll make it for dinner tonight! Although now that I am a year out I had better make just 1 or 2 servings worth since my capacity has increased and I don't want to take the risk that I will gorge, and at least now I can add in some chewable protein like ground beef or turkey. Drooooool =)

Man, can I relate to this post!! Day of surgery I weighed 294, and was a tight 24, loose 26. It was three months before I could squeeze into 22 pants, another three months before I was an 18 and a 20 depending on the brand, three more months before I was a comfortable 16 and another 3 months before I could wear a 14. So you could say that I've changed sizes roughly four times over the last year, or every 25 pounds. The pisser (excuse me) now, is that I have NO idea what my "true" size is, I'm beginning to doubt that even exists. I have a pair of trousers that I'm convinces must be factory rejects because they are Ann Taylor Loft and they are a size 10 and they fit, yet I went to Ann Taylor the other day and tried on a blouse in a 16 and it barely fit. I went to Kohl's the other day and a pair of Daisy Fuentes capris in a 16 fit perfectly, yet I have a pair of J. Crew cords in a 12petite that fit nicely. I think though that my theory of sizes shifting more quickly when they are <12 will prove correct. My theory has always been that plus sizes have 20 pounds between sizes and that "regular" sizes are ten pounds between. My further theory is that petite sizes (<6) have only 5 pounds between them - hope I get to find out!

I believe creatine is a component in my protein shake powders that I get from GNC, will have to check. I cannot open the video, what does it say?

Oooooohoooh! toldjatoldatoldatoldja!! *doing the toldja so dance* Yahoo Keys, I knew you could and I knew you would, yes, hope for all!!

Expect the best, prepare for the worst. It's important to listen to every kind of story offered up by post-ops but never assume that you will be the rare patient that just coasts through everything. Also acid - be prepared to possibly be on some kind of acid blocker for the rest of your life. I am one year out and if I forget to take my Prevacid I know I am in for an uncomfortable day and a high likelihood of overeating. Everything everyone else has said about support networks and protein and exercise and carb eradication is so awesome I don't need to add to it! =)

Well, ya know, there's no "have to" about making certain foods for your family. I get rather feisty when I hear women say things like this, you're not their slave - they can eat what you serve them and like it! Besides, they should be encouraged to support you by helping to create a nutritious environment for you, and really everyone can benefit from cutting out high glycemic carbs.

I went to bed the other night at 176.6 and woke up in the morning at 179. WTMF!!!!! Four thin discs of sauteed baguette used for bruschetta can't do that ... can it?!! Because that is what I had for dinner that night. These had better be TOTM pounds but then I get paranoid that my digital scale, which runs on batteries, might have been running down and maybe the lower numbers were a false reading in the first place - aack! Need to get new batteries, take some miralax, cut out the carbs and weight myself the day after TOTM finishes. =/

Breakfast - half serving Tera's whey chocolate Protein shake, half serving Click espresso Protein powder. lunch - half of one cucumber, two radishes, with salt & pepper. One serving Oikos organic greek yogurt, one serving cranberry-almond-chocolate trail mix, Elite protein shot. dinner - Something protein from Mastering the Art of French Cooking, making it with a friend! Probably roast chicken with some kind of sauce, my portion will be 4 oz. + incidental sauce. Dessert - 2 TBSP artisanal spiced chocolate gelato/ice cream Water - working on it! Vitamins - dangit, must remember when I get home Exercise - maybe will go for a walk this evening with friend

Did you ever see the movie Juno? Allison Janney's character goes off on an a preachy ultrasound tech, it's really funny. Deep respect to you for not unleashing on her, I wouldn't have had such control! And bravo to you for nipping it in the bud - if I had known then what I know now, about heredity and so much more, I would have had this surgery when I was only 40-50 lbs overweight, maybe I wouldn't have lost my 20's. I haven't yet had anyone get sanctimonious on me about having surgery but I have now several times been in the extremely awkward and bizarre position of being considered an arbiter or "success" at weight loss; average size women now start -unsolicited- monologues at me about their own weight issues, anxiously describing their progams to me, as though my approval/opinion holds weight? I'm really not explaining myself very well here ... it's kind of like when someone makes a fortune from clever business strategies, everyone wants financial advice, or when you study medicine and become a doctor everyone gives your opinion on all things medical gravitas. It's really wierd to be in a coversation with several women and have them talk about thier diets and exercise regimes and ... exclude (?) me from ... participation in the conversation because ... I'm not a combatant in the trenches of weight struggle? Or so they think. I don't know and I'm really really not explaining myself well but, it's wierd.

I have started eating cheeseburger salads and they are a revelation! When I really need that fix of juicy mooing cow goodness and miss the flavor profile of a good cheeseburger, I get this from a whimsical burger place in town but it is totally makeable at home. Any greens you like, a patty's worth of any kind of protein - the restaurant offers everything from elk to veggie burger - pickles, onions, mayo-mustard dressing, and tomatoes. It is delicious and satisfies the craving for that special burger combo of juicy hot meat meets cold crunchy vegetables, yay!

Wow Keys, I'm gonna say it - this scares the $h!t outta me! You have been such an all-star, I guess this just proves that none of us is safe, that the sleeve was merely a tool to build the house but that we still have to watch out for termites! I noticed you mentioned that you had stopped logging your food, that seems to be the clincher right there, every time one of us (myself included) stops logging food, it spells stall or gain. In the almost year that Ive been on the board you've been an exercise maniac so I know that's not the problem, but I also know that you have had a more tolerant attitude toward carbs designating some as good and necessary because of your exercise. I'm sure that is 100% true, but regardless of how necessary, those carbs are just our damn gateway drug. I'll bet that if you log religiously for one month, do a 5-day pouch cleanse, and cut your carbs back to post-op levels, that weight plus some will just disappear. =)

Okay, this is depressing - I already eat/live this way and barely lose if I lose at all! I do not eat rice, potatoes of any kind, grains, bread, jam/jelly, syrup, white sugar. I cardio exercise 5x a week and I'm barely losing a pound a week, and that's not every week!

I haven't been married but I do still have my cheerleading uniform from high school - needless to say it is itsy bitsy. Can't wait!!

Luve is actually quite detrimental, as it only addresses the physiological results and not the underlying causes. I exercise (zumba, body pump, tango, pilates) about 6 times a week, I'm cutting back the carbs that have crept in, have become diligent about my vitamins protein count and water again, yet nothing. I've kinda always been a little smug over my innate sensuality and my ability to experience eroticism and now, I feel as sexual and have about as juicy a responce as prairie grass. =( =( And that situaiton with the old flame was AWESOME!! He was quite ... goal oriented, and fun was had don't get me wrong, but I know what my body is capable of and I was nowhere near even middle of my range.

low dangles aren't just for former fat men, I was with a man who was naturally very lean and he had a surprisingly baggy and lengthy sac, and he's not old. Yes, Breast-ees and testes have much in common. =D

I ve suddenly noticed that I basically have no libido. I came to this realization is the most unfortunate way; while getting steamy with a guy that I've wanted since high school. We had mad epic crushes on each other when we were kids and we finally had the opportunity to consumate - it's straight out of a movie! I was totally into it and into him and yet mid stride (so to speak) it occurred to me that I was not responding physiologically in my normal way. I didn't get nearly as lubricated as I ought to have, and my arousal wasn't really there. Since then I have been watching my emotions and physio responses and have become alarmed, nothing turns me on. Nothing is erotic or arousing, I hav always been primed and rerring to go and suddenly, nothing. It is depressing. I am 116 lbs down, 50 pounds from goal, age 29.

This is so depressing, I probably shouldn't have clicked on this thread right now, I've been in a glum funk since yesterday about a lot of things and this is just fuel to the fire ... Let's just say worst case scenario it is 5 years later and although a person has been diligent about changing their lifestyle, the stomach has still stretched out a lot and now the person is pretty much on a severe diet just to maintain. Can they get a "tighten" tune up? Resize the stomach back down to smaller? Is that possible?

I'm on board with the bloating/swelling notion, I "gain" exactly 4 pounds every TOM the week prior that goes away the week of. Also salt is a big culprit and summertime foods like barbeque and margaritas are high in sodium. You never mentioned what your exercise regimen is like? I'd say go one week of trying all the stuff we've mentioned here; fat flushing foods, low salt, extra water, exercise change up, and if after a week there is no change in either how you feel or the scale, then see your doctor. As for going on a diet, I am with you, "diets" are cruel and pointless. Of course, I don't consider cutting out flour-based carbs, soda, alcohol, etc. to BE a diet, that to me is just smart healthful living and taking care of my Self.

Wow, you just hit the nail on the head with one blow! I wear alot of structured dresses now and I wear good shapewear underneath so the breasts-waist-hips ratio is noticeable and pleasing to the eye (depending on the mirror I'm using). I haven't yet noticed any specific attention from males, I think, I don't know! When I do get attention from anybody, I have to remind myself that it isn't automaticaly negative. When I walk into a room or take a seat in a crowd I automatically feel that those around me are thinking mean thoughts about the size of me. I'm a size 12 which is perfectly average in America these days and yes I feel so much more confident, put a little swagger in my walk even, but I can't help but have a part of me that craves ... acceptance? approval? naked desire? I don't know, but I'm going to try to find this book you mention.

I did a body pump style class recently; we used hand weights, a heavy weight bar and a lighter weight bar, floor mats, & a step platform. This was not fun, this was brutal! Three days later I was still sore but I will be going back for more, I can tell this is the perfect workout - cardio, aerobic, & strength training, all rolled into one. Hurt so good!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the buck stops with Lunaire. Yes they are pricey but worth every single penny. The fit flawlessly, you wil never have to adjust a slipping strap, the breasts are molded perfectly, and they are pretty! Their "coolmax" underwire sports bra is the best bra I've ever worn. EVER.

Chilo1 - missed you girl! I'm so happy to be back in the forum, sharing with my VSG team! I've recently returned to the boards with some postings about this very topic, the frustrations and mainly fear that have come along with my one year anniversary (14 July). I was spinning out of control with my carbs and although I wasn't gaining, I had stopped losing, plus I was suddenly experiencing hunger and what appeared to be the ability to eat normal portions, I freaked out!! But my order of protein bullets arrived in the mail, I got into a good rhythm of my zumba classes again, and lo - 5 pounds down in 4 days! I am now fully on board the wagon, preaching to all and sundry - IT IS ALL ABOUT THE PROOOOOOOOTEIN! =) Once I got back to eating 80+ grams of protein a day and less than 50gs of carbs, my "capacity" to eat vanished, as did my "hunger". I had also fallen prey to what I call "revenge of the cheap ****"; cheap snacks tend to have way more refined sugar, carbs,and corn syrup in them and they f*** you up, fast. Also, I suppose that in some way, it is finally paying off that I have been an incredibly slow loser during my first year, depressingly frustratinlgly slow. Because now, there is no sudden slap in the face and obvious end to the honeymoon, I just keep on being the slw-a$$ loser I've always been =). Hey, I don't mind being the turtle, so long as I finish the race. =) Keep the faith chilo!

Haha, hi! Yeah I went on vacation then moved and started a new job. It's been a bit of a struggle with food and carbs, see my "one year anniversary" post in general sleeve discussion. Though I did just break a 2 month stall, went from 184 to 179 in 4 days because I reigned in my carbs and got back to the gym but Im thinking I need to be back here on VST more because I clearly need my support network.

In the 500 years that we've been wearing specific garments that can be categorized as "underwear" we have only worn snug "underpants" in the last 50 years. For the previous 4-500 years they were always very loose legged "drawers" or "pants". I wonder if rates of infections rose significantly after the switch. I try to stay with cotton that is loose enough to "breathe", plus I have the loose skin and fold to deal with now so any panty cuts into my flesh. Spanx bike shorts are airy and smooth and streamline you, if I could find a female version of the boxer brief I would be all over that. For "boudoir adventures" a plain pair of cotton boyshorts drives the men crrrazy! =D

This is hysterical. But in all seriousness, I do have this problem as well and sometimes it can be funny like, "woah hello there!" But sometimes it can actually be painful, not to mention that it looks just awful. Nobody in the world wants the dreaded Toe so unless I am willing to wear really thick and stiff girdle panties =( I have to wear tunic length shirts with pants, just like I was still fat!! Also BTW, anybody have the problem of bruised hipbones from the waistband of lowrise pants? I'm still fat (179) and this is already a problem.