LadyIvy

You need to learn to prioritize yourself. This means making scheduled workout time that you treat like any other appointment. I need to do it first thing in the morning. How great for your 3 year old to get up in the morning and take a 15-20 minute walk with mom? My son LOVES our walk time and I wish I had started with him much sooner. Its time every day for the little biologist to come out in him. I have been sleeved since 4/9 and I am already hooked on my workouts. The other morning, I decided to walk instead of my dance workouts. I walked my son to school and then went an extra 2 miles before going home. Since I live in TX, if you are going to workout outside, it needs to be in the morning. Halfway home, my pandora station started playing some amazing stuff and I did the Charleston in the middle of the sidewalk and danced my way home with a smile. What a great way to start the day! All because I learned to prioritize my health. It is really hard, I am an A type personality that never gave myself time. I told myself it was because I didn't have time. People agreed with me because I have always been one of the busiest people most people know. Between grad school, being a military mom, practicing field biology, being part of the ELITE program and two years as president of the honor society I was very active and kept putting the weight on. I found that ton of extra time to eat so what if I took that time that I used in fast food lines and eating large meals and do something ELSE for myself. Even if I hadn't lost a lb yet, it has changed my life. I have a wedding this evening and leave for camping on Sunday. All I can think about is long morning walks on the beach and playing with my son. If you have problems doing it for yourself, remember how much your 3 year old would just LOVE to do this stuff with you. It will also teach her an active life so that she just grows up that way and becomes one of those that just does it every day.

You need much yummier food to make that little bit you can eat worth it. I have started baking and cooking again and make sure everything is super delicious and healthy since I can only have a couple of oz of it. Poorly made food just pi*&es me off now. I have a challenge where I find something high in protein and that I really want, and then I make it over and make it super healthy! Its fun to invent tons of new recipes (including baking 60 calorie cornbread love muffins for the occasional carb intake). I used to eat things in large quantities in the simplest way I could make them. Now nothing is simple, (but somehow ALMOST as fast) and has WAY more flavor.

So wrong, yet so yummy. I actually am going to a wedding today and have to watch out for stuff like cupcakes!! One thing I have learned though. I still think I want my sweets, but after a bite or two, I feel sick and my son gets really lucky because I just can't eat it. I can't stand regular sugar anymore. Good whipped cream used to top my list too. I would have to try the PB stuff!

Are you still in the weight loss stage or the maintenance stage? If you are in maintenance, most women don't need more than 1800 calories. Take into consideration that you were previously overweight and subtract 360 calories a day. It may be time to go back to basics and remember to take 20 minutes to eat meals, chew slowly and get lots of water. Also, log the amount of sodium you are taking in. I agree, gaining that fast might be water weight. You can use sparkpeople.com to keep track of calories, fats, proteins, sodium etc. They have a phone app in case you aren't near your computer often.

I found that after a month, keeping my caloric intake under 600 was causing BIG stalls. Everyone is different. You have to figure out what your body can handle and what it wants to keep that weight loss going. I also work out 30 minutes to an hour 5 days a week and my caloric intake was negative. I don't care what anyone says, that just is not healthy. I don't care if it takes me a bit longer than other people, you just can't deprive your body and brain of calories like that and continue to function at peak. I now aim for between 700-900 a day (which is difficult when all you eat is the healthy stuff). I usually need 2 protein drinks to do it. It takes a bit of experimentation. Also, hold a trick up your sleeve for when you have that first big stall. Extra calories, less calories, more working out, less working out, different work outs. The body is amazingly adaptable and when you hit a stall often changing something for a few days is just what you need.

Here is the great thing about this surgery, you are not saying goodbye. You are saying see you later. Yes, you might decide some of those things you don't like anymore. But how hard is it to say goodbye to something you don't like? With all of these favorites of yours, you can still get them, you just won't see them as often and will eat a LOT less of them. I found that with a lot of my favorites, I really don't like them so much anymore. However, knowing that I COULD have a little if I really really wanted to makes it much easier to let go. I have noticed that when people tell themselves they can't have something, they want it so much more. This way, I care very little! You are going to be surprised how much this surgery changes a lot of your perspective on foods you thought you could never let go of.

A journal would be helpful, but I still would ditch the juice. It is a LOT of unnecessary calories.

Every single itch, rash or pain that your excess skin causes should cause a doctors visit. If it is documented to likely cost them more in treatment over time, then to just do the surgery, almost every company will approve it. Foremost, you should be proud of yourself. No, the excess skin my not be the prettiest thing in the world, but what you are doing for your life and the rest of your body is beautiful and strong! Don't let that negative tape recorder in your head find something new to say. Keep up the great work! Congrats on breaking 300, you should celebrate!

Yesterday was another stern reminder that my motivation needs to stay high. I have been having a hard time figuring out what makes my body happy, but running in negative calories is surely NOT it. Every 2-3 months I have to go in for a spinal epidural because my cervical and thoracic vertebrae are so damaged from years of smoking, being overweight, gymnastics, dancing, power lifting etc. I have not treated myself well and am still fairly young and really paying for it. I sat in the office and came about as close as possible to a panic attack. It was obvious I need it or there was NO WAY someone having the emotional reaction to that I do would lay down on that table again. Sad thing is, I am great with pain. It is something about the spinal stuff that I REALLY do not react well to. I feel so much better than just two months ago. I was in so much pain the day of the surgery, lying flat to get into position really hurt on that cold table. I went from a daily pain level of 6 to a 2 or 3. Don't get me wrong, I still can't do what I used to do. Heavy lifting is pretty much out for me (I always took pride in not needing help for things). However, I am only 29 lbs down and my pain level as gone down SO much. I didn't even make another appointment. I decided if 30 lbs does this what can 45, or 60 do? I feel like such a wuss, but I just can't do this again. Every time I think about not going to the gym, or eating something that I maybe shouldn't have. I will be thinking of the multi-yearly spinal epidurals and the subsequent day of ridiculous pain, followed by a week of solid discomfort. I swear they get worse every time!

Same here, started feeling much more normal around week 4. I didn't need the naps anymore after that.

I remember a study years ago where they found sweet and low ingested in excessive amounts caused cancer in rats. That is when they started creating stuff like splenda and truvia.

I use splenda. I get over 100 oz a day because of it. I drink decaf sweet (splenda) tea. I really can't even tell the difference anymore. We switched from sugar over a year ago and my husband instantly lost 10 lbs. We never went back. I hear a lot of good things about Truvia too.

I use a straw too. I actually drink slower with one and don't get gas issues.

Congratulations!

Many do, it depends on the length of your torso and the width of your hips. Take a look at images of women in bikinis on the net. You will see how different thin figures can be.

I was told no more than 10 lbs for at least 6 weeks. He said my abs would let me know if it was more than that.

It only takes 72 hours to clear out of your urine, but it could take a month to clear out of your blood. It depends on how long you smoked and how often.

This is exactly how I did it too.

I was told that I had to quit. I went ahead and quit as soon as I was approved. I haven't had a cigarette in 7 1/2 months. It seemed silly to me to go through a major surgery for my health and continue smoking.

How much do you weigh now? Are you still in the "normal" range? Are you on the low side? Would it hurt to add 10 or 15 lbs? I agree with PEvette though, you should see someone about this. It can't hurt.

If you look around the board, you will find people tend to hit a stall right around where you are. You are going to do fine. Keep it up!

I'm not sure what to tell you, but I hope this all gets settled soon. I am sorry that they are being such a PIA and making it difficult.

About 3 weeks here too.

I have seen a number of your posts and I completely agree. I am all for information and honesty. Sometimes it is hard, but I don't understand why someone would post and hope for lies. Thank you for sharing your journey!

How many calories you need to burn for weight loss is dependent on how many calories you eat. Everyone is different, find what works for you and stick with it. I completely understand worrying about the semester starting. I am a graduate student. I actually didn't prioritize my workouts until graduate school. As an undergrad, I was on tons of meds and just kept sitting on my butt putting on weight. If you have to wake up earlier, do it. If you have to stop using this site quite as regularly, do it. I have found that waking up a bit early (and I, in my entire life, have never been a morning person) and immediately putting on your workout clothes and getting to it, really sets the tone for my day. I feel good, my mood is better overall and I have found some time from myself. In the morning when I get to class, I am much more alert and don't hit that tired slump about 2 o'clock. Try it for a couple of weeks this summer. You will see what I mean. You have a few months to develop the good habit now and make it a priority. The only way I can manage it, is to schedule it. I pretend like I have an appointment at the times that I set every week. When people try to fill that time slot with something, I just say I have an appointment and schedule it at a different time. Treat it like a class. You have a set time for that class and you are there for it. Good luck prioritizing, that is what undergrad is all about. Learning time management! WTG on what you have already accomplished!