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They say the average weight loss for women with 5:2 is just around a 1lb week, so you would be doing awesome and you look fabulous! If it is working, it probably will keep working. I can't remember when I started, I will have to look back in the thread. Around the same down, and my weight was down to 6.2lbs lost, but it was back up a little this morning, more like 4.6lbs lost. I weight daily and have a lot a bouncing around from day to day, so will see what tomorrow holds. But I would say you are right on track and I am rooting for you!!

That is exciting!! It always feels great to see the numbers go down!

Thank you so much for sharing your personal struggles. I having an amazing mom and feel so lucky for that. My biological father on the other hand I have not seen since I was 12 years old and have no contact with him. He was very abusive, beating my mother and brother and abusing me in other ways. I have dealt with it in therapy, but can't even really think about or I start to have problems with regression, and being at home with young children, the last thing they need is for me to lose it. I appreciate your stories because it makes me feel not so alone sometimes, even though I only know you through the computer... Anyways, I am half way through my fast day, coming up on supper with my old standby, chicken! Having an ok day so far keeping busy out and about, keeps my mind off the food! Back to normal tomorrow and I always look forward to it!

When I first had my surgery 2.5 years ago, Water never sat right and always tasted funny. Before surgery, I drank water like it was going out of style. And even still, I find water tastes off to me and many times it doesn't taste good either. Some days it is ok, most days not. So I find myself drinking a lot of sugar free drinks. I have tried finding ones that are sweetened with natural sweeteners, but there are not very many, and the ones that I have found I have to order online and are expensive (I also live in Canada). And I have tried making my own like kool-aid sweetened with Stevia, real iced-tea. The koolaid was ok, but I do not like tea and could not get over the taste (although I LOVE Arizona Sugar Free Lemon Iced Tea but can't make something similar). I have tried cutting them out, but then I don't get in enough water in a day. So what have the rest of the vets found? Any hints or tricks? Does anyone know of any other naturally sweetened drink mixes or a good recipe?? Or do I just accept drinking artificially sweetened drinks for life!

Cheri, you look stunning! You are an inspiration to so many sleevers, not just because of your incredible success, but also because of your willingness to share not just your personal triumphs, but also your struggles. Congratulations on your 3 year anniversary!! Your curves are amazing, and I love the tat!!

So does anyone know why this happens?? I have heard it from many, many sleevers that plain water either tastes funny or upsets their tummies. Oregon, you said something about the doc said it wasn't the right Ph for our stomachs, I wonder if that is the real reason?? Just curious as it seems it is pretty common.

I also come from a family where virtually everyone struggles with weight. But I also had a very difficult childhood as well, so I think it is a bit of both for me as well. I have always felt like I had to work way harder than other people to lose weight. And I also know that I have used food to cope. It's like a double whammy!! And I still use food to cope, so I just cannot keep anything in my house that is bad or I will eat it. I love cooking as well! I also love baking, but I don't a lot because I eat it. I bake mostly healthy muffins for my family, and I am not a big muffin eater, so they don't bother me. We eat out sometimes, but I mainly cook at home, 5-6 days a week. I grew up always eating home-cooked meals and my mom taught me to cook, it is just part of me I guess. And I find that it usually tastes way better and is way more satisfying! If we end up eating out too much because of events or holidays, I can't wait to get home and make a meal! We are going away next week for a holiday, so I am pretty nervous about that. I am going to try and not let it get to me, we haven't been on a vacation with our kids in 2 years, so I just want to enjoy it! Hopefully I won't gain any weight! Today is my fast day. The last few I have been struggling a little, but always make it through. I will see how today goes! It doesn't help that my husband is telling me that I am grumpy on my fast days Oh well, he will just have to suck it up! Have a great day to everyone today!

Cheri, the hair loss is probably baby related I am guessing. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I had beautiful, thick hair because it hardly fell out! Then I gave birth and for months afterward I lost my hair...I was so sad I know how you feel about struggling with insecurities. Somewhere in my head, I thought it was all my weight and if I lost it, I would feel better. I have also been through counseling and hold onto many of the things I learned, but still struggle, even after the weight loss. Its a work in progress I guess. It seems that many of us are in the same boat, so it sometimes makes me wondering if our insecurities were a result of our weight, or the other way around... Today was a normal day for me. There were Pioneer Days where I live, we did a lot of walking today! I didn't eat great, but not horrible either. So we will see what the scale says in the morning. Tomorrow is my first fast day of the week! Have a good night everyone!

That is awesome! After my dry heaving in the hospital for hours after I woke up from surgery, I was good for the first almost 6 months. Then I had my first incident of over-eating (out for lunch on Mother's Day) and I was done for. I have to be honest, I still have not completely learned my lesson. There are still moments of weakness when I eat just a little too much and have the slimies. But now that I feel a little more back on track, they are almost non-existent again!

Love the dress Coops, and it also looks great with that amazing tan!!

To be considered a vet on the board here, you have to have both 100 posts and be 6 months out of surgery. And I may bring on the hate mail by saying this because the rules of the board are different, but I really feel a year post op is more conducive of being a vet. There is so much to be learned in the first year. And even up to 18 months. I didn't considered myself an experienced WLS vet until I was almost 2 years post op. Then I started to realize that I might have advice and experiences that may be useful to others. And trust me when I say this, life after a year post op is when life with WLS really begins!

You should not have any problems unless there is a problem. I have gotten the slimies a number of times all because of eating one bite too many or eating too fast...then that last bite comes back up! That is a learning process for many of us. But, if you are having major problems with a lot of throwing up, there could be something else going on. You could have too much acid production or your sleeve could be too tight (I know someone who's surgeon made the opening to the sleeve too tight and she could not keep anything down. She had an endoscopy, and they used the scope to stretch it slightly...voila, no more problems!) People should not assume that throwing up automatically assumes you are always over eating. Yes, in many cases, but not always. You will be able to tell the difference!

Well, you surgeon is not very supportive, is he? Way to set you up to fail! If you read this thread, you will see that many of us slower losers were able to reach goal or get very close. And 33 lbs in 8 weeks is amazing! I am not sure where he is pulling his numbers from. My starting number was only slightly lower than yours. When I had my surgery, I was 224lbs. My goal weight is a little higher than yours, 140lbs, but I reached it. It took me 18 months, but I got there. At 6 months out I was down 55lbs, and it took me the next year to lose the next 25lbs. Just keep your head up and keep going. As long as you are watching what you eat and making the necessary lifestyle changes, you will get there!

I am sorry to hear about your hubby Cheri. I have no idea what that must be like, especially with a young family. The longest my husband has been away is a week, and that was difficult. My thoughts are with you during this hard time.

Normal day for me yesterday, and woke up this morning with no gain and a steady weight! So, 3 days in a row with no weight fluctuation, dare I say I might hold steady at this weight? This means I am down 6.2 lbs since starting 5:2 and I have been doing it for 4 full weeks (or maybe 5, but I can't remember...) For excited about it! I'll be honest, I don't love the fact that I have to go back watching what I eat (don't get me wrong, I was always pretty mindful), but if I had to pick something, this 5:2 is it! Knowing that I can eat the next day makes a fast day much easier to get through. Not like diets of the past where you felt like you were starving all the time or could never eat anything! Anyways, have a great day everyone!

All the food colorings bother me too...what are we, 5 years old. I can live without it. I live in Canada, so I don't have access to half the things you have in the US. I did find Nestle Nesfruta recently in the the stores, and I like the raspberry flavor. The nice thing about the sweetened drinks is that they do curb my cravings....sometimes!

I look way better dressed than I do naked! My face isn't, but I was 31 when I had surgery so it has bounced back well, just a little waddle under my chin that I am sure only I notice. I have bad arms, stomach and thighs and plan on getting some work done when I have the money to do so. I had read on another thread, I look 25 dressed and 75 naked, but I will take it!! Its not like I will be walking around naked anytime soon!

I threw up (or dry-heaved I guess) constantly after I woke up for hours. I am now over 2.5 years post up, and do not regret a thing. The first few weeks are the worst. You just had major surgery. Trust me, things get better!

I just checked, Oregon has 2 groups going. You are in one, Laura and I are in the other. I think she is going to get rid of one, but not sure which one! Maybe we can continue both. Maybe for stuff that people don't want to post on here, more personal stuff, we could use the group. There haven't been too many people coming in and asking about it, especially now that it is moved to the vet forum.

I posted in the new group, but I thought I would post here since we are just getting that figured out. Yesterday was my fast day and I survived it, although all I wanted to do was eat. I will admit, there are days that I don't love the fasting, but what gets me through is knowing I can eat the next day! I don't get too hungry, but it is that whole head hunger thing, and let's face it, I like food! Woke up this morning not down anymore, but still down. I am trying not to get my hopes up, but it is hard not to think that this might be working for me. If I stay around this weight, it puts me 6.2 pounds down from the highest I hit when I started 5:2 and only 2 lbs from where I was. If it works, I might even try to get down a few more pounds, but I will have to see if it is realistic. I don't want to have to struggle to stay 3 or 4 pounds under what I was if my body stays happy a little higher. For the next 3 days, normal days for me, and trust me, I enjoyed every bite of my Breakfast this morning...but I didn't wake up early to eat it, Laura! But it tasted oh so good....curse you food, why must you be so yummy in my tummy!

OK, I think I have the group thing figured out. Oregon, Laura and I are all on the right one...I think. Once Oregon approves you to join, you can post. You have to click on the side where it is says "Group Navigation" on the right. There is a heading called group discussion. If you click on it, it brings up the threads. Oregon started one, I posted a reply to it. You can see the threads but cannot post until you are approved to join. You should be able to find the group by looking under the community tab at the top, and click on social groups. It is called eating the 5:2 way and has 3 members.

OK, I think I have it figured out now! Yesterday was my fast day and it went well, although all I really wanted to do was eat yesterday! Not down anymore this morning, but not up either, so that puts me as of this morning 6.2 lbs down from the highest that I hit and only 2 lbs away from what I was before I gained weight. I am trying not to get my hopes up thinking this might be the answer for me, but it is hard not to get excited. I might even try to get down a little lower than I was before and see how it goes. And I can tell I have lost some because my pants feel a little less tight then they did a few weeks ago...hooray!! I hope you can figure out how to take your meds, like I mentioned, is it possible to take later in the day with lunch or something like that?? Have a great weekend! I am on my 3 normal days and enjoyed every bite of my Breakfast this morning!

Also done for the day, 510 calories today. It was a rough one today, but I made it! I also joined, but I think we have to wait for Oregon to approve us all. I have a hard time with medication and Vitamins as well. I have to drink milk when taking my vitamins and take them before I eat anything or else I just about throw them back up. So I end up having to take in a few extra calories just to take them! Do you have to take the medication in the morning, or can it be taken with your lunch?? Maybe if you can switch around the time you take it, it would be easier.

I am like Cheri as well, so it could be! I have always gotten in only about a good 2 weeks for weight loss, then ovulation strikes and my weight goes up a little for a week or so, then down for a couple of days, and then it starts to jump back up when my period is approaching...yay for me! Ovulation time I usually go up 1-2 pounds, during my period, it is more like 2-4 pounds.

Thanks for posting these. I haven't had a chance to read them yet, but I am sure they have great information. I really feel like a big part of our battle is all the guilt around eating. We have spent years made to feel ashamed for eating anything "bad" for us which results in bad eating habits, eating disorders, and weight problems. This is the biggest thing I have been trying to work on for 2.5 years already. I am not going to gain weight when I eat a small ice cream cone with my kids once in a month. And I shouldn't feel like I can't ever eat anything ever again. For me personally, I still enjoy food and I love how food tastes. Finding a happy balance between restriction and indulgence is where I sometimes struggle, but it is a work in progress!