YellowRose

Update -- I'm okay. lol. I quit weighing. I haven't weighed since I wrote this post. I am doing all that I know to do and still live like a normal person. I started going to Jazzercise classes that I LOVE (except that I caught a nasty cold.. so I am under the weather AGAIN and trying to recover from that). I'm drinking more fluids - Water, tea, crystal light. I'm eating Protein first. I want to weigh, but my mind will play tricks on me. I'll either expect too much and feel disappointed .. OR... I will be surprise and want to Celebrate (and put it back on) hahaha... Ignorance is bliss right now. BUT the strangest thing has happened. I am wearing some shirts I haven't worn in a year -- button-up shirts!! ... with NO gap-o-sis. My pants are kind of baggie in the behind. My shoes are falling off my feet. My rings are loose. BUT I am NOT going to weigh. I WANT to.. but I know me. It is best if I just live in the moment and not try to fret about it. AND the posts have been VERY VERY encouraging and I love them! I read them over and over. So please feel free to add more. hahahaha

Well I joined an exercise class. I went 4 times, then got sick with a cold (thanks to guy in our office who coughed and sneezes everywhere). So I sat out this week and hopefully can start up again on Monday. And I suppose I will lower my carbs, which again makes this just another diet. The difference would be when I see the losses again. THAT would be motivation. Right now I am lacking that key ingredient - motivation.

GGOD post. GREAT FOLLOW-up comment. I will be watching this thread for updates.

I had my surgery in Mexico so I don't have a bariatric doctor and my reg doctor was NOT supportive. But I do however have an "infectious disease" doctor who is treating me for the bacteria infection. I went for a "final" visit today and STILL have a low grade fever. Stubborn infection. This bargain surgery is costing me a lot of money. So... Perhaps this LONG STALL from he'll is connected to the fact that I'm still not healed. Perhaps the feelings of depression are related to that because I'm a pretty chipper person.

GREAT answer. It feels good to just not feel alone. It's not just me? Nope. THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking time to share your stories with me.

Well so far I like what I hear. You have given me some hope. When I log everything in to fitday I am getting between 30-50 carbs per day. 20 carbs is induction level, so I don't think it is too many carbs. UNLES I friggin' have to cut them down to "zero" -- which means that the sleeve is just another diet. Dang it. lol. I do alternate with plain greek yogurt sometimes. The Atkins Bars are for the Protein. I ONLY use the ones with 20 grams... period. But seriously, Escape-Pod might have it right. My body is still fighting and recovering from the hospital stay, and over a month of antibiotics. Now I feel like I have a bladder infection starting up because of the yeast imbalance. DANG IT> LOL. AND it is SO HARD to up my Water during the day because of working in an office and having to answer the phones. (GEE don't I have an excuse for everything??!!?) Weight loss is VERY scary. You place so much hope in the procedure and then there is panic when it just doesn't seem to be working. I keep thinking, "Any day now... any day now..." AND then get frustrated and say, "To heck with it all..." Then waffle back. sigh. I will tell you this -- part of my history -- seems like everytime I get totally frustrated and pitch a huge fit I have a loss. I have to get all worked up and whine and grip and pitch a fit and my body says, "Oh okay... we will throw you a bone. Here's a loss." ARGH! Well... off to the gym. Gonna go vent on a treadmill.

Yep -- frustrated. I eat less than HALF what I used to eat. I don't snack on junk. I'm very careful not to over eat. Typical day: Breakfast: 1 egg or one egg muffin (low carb, just egg, cheese, & Jimmy Dean mild organic sausage) Snack: 1/2 Atkins Peanut Butter bar (20 grams protein) Lunch: Usually a salad with some kind of grilled meat (buy the fajita meat bags), AND usually split with coworker Snack: other 1/2 of Atkins bar Dinner: Grilled meat & one veggie On weekends I occasionally add a high Protein shake if I am hungry or bored or just having a crave attack. No sugar. No starches. Not much dairy Only good fats (coconut oil, olive oil, etc) I am SO TIRED OF COUNTING AND WEIGHING AND MEASURING AND WATCHING AND AND AND AND... I don't WANT to stay on the "diet" merry-go-round. I thought the sleeve would curve the appetite.... sometimes yes, but most times no. I only had about 75 lbs total I wanted to lose. Just don't think it is going to happen. I am frustrated because I spend $5,000 on a surgery -- FOLLOWED by another $3,000 - $4,000 in followup from an infected drain tube and hospital stay and I.V. antibiotics through a Picc line. I am frustrated because it is the same old story -- no matter how much I do or do not eat my body is what it is. It is not cooperating. AND I know people will say "You need to..." And I KNOW "I need to..." But I am so tired of it all. I've been so sick with infection and now that I am over it I thought "now" it would happen. But it isn't. I read all of the success stories and I think to myself, "It works for everyone but me" -- thought that my entire life. I lost 30 right out of the gate. Gained back 5 while I was in the hospital... and now.... nothing. I am battling the same 2 pounds, up and down, up and down. Was it worth it? I can't say it was at this point. Will it begin to change? I hope, but not certain. Depression is hanging in the air - and I feel hopeless. Is it because I am over 50? It only works for young people?? I mean, seriously. I am NOT eating sugar, or junk, or crap, or over stuffing myself. I was anemic, according to my doctor, so I am taking a mild, slow -release Iron supplement. I take a multi-Vitamin daily and extra D3. I've been walking 2-3 times a week. I drink between 32 - 40 oz of Water a day. DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS ... even have a fitday account, an app on my phone to chart the progress. I have the recipes. I shop with a list. BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA THIS SUCKS OUT LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (sorry -- just had to vent)

ditto!! I feel like I want to eat every couple of hours! Stress eating thanks for posting this.

ADD MEXICO! I did not but thought how bad could it be? It was $400 bad! plan ahead and call your provider!

I firmly believe in a low-carb lifestyle (meaning no sugar or processed junk!). This is a very good question to get started because while I was recovering I had a chance to talk to a woman who had lost 100 pounds in one year. She was sipping one of those "baby" cokes (regular kind) and eating peanuts. She said, "You are eating so little that carbs don't matter right now." Don't know that I totally agree with that, but while I was on mushy's I did mashed potatoes, etc. So I did not consider the carbs. I am now 7 weeks out and going through the first big stall. My brain is thinking LOW CARB -- HURRY -- LOW CARB!! I want to get to the place of balance & eating "normal" -- NOT out of control and full of junk like before, but not afraid to have a couple of crackers if I want.

New post about the infections: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/22543-almanza-a-few-thoughts/ My "bargain" is going to cost me.