suejersey

A few years ago some friends came to visit. We live about 5 minutes from Six Flags and our families went to the park. I wanted to ride the Batman ride. I get on and could get the seat all the day to get the buckle to work. The guy was rushing to make sure everyone was set and I had to get off because I was just too big to fit.
On Friday night my daughter, her friend and I went to Six Flags and I rode Batman! (and Superman!) It really meant A LOT to me to say I can do anything a normal person can do again!
And then I said, "Why am I riding a roller coaster?!" I "cheated" death on those two roller coasters LOL and now I am done with roller coasters, I think, but so proud, happy and normal!!!!!

A few years ago some friends came to visit. We live about 5 minutes from Six Flags and our families went to the park. I wanted to ride the Batman ride. I get on and could get the seat all the day to get the buckle to work. The guy was rushing to make sure everyone was set and I had to get off because I was just too big to fit.
On Friday night my daughter, her friend and I went to Six Flags and I rode Batman! (and Superman!) It really meant A LOT to me to say I can do anything a normal person can do again!
And then I said, "Why am I riding a roller coaster?!" I "cheated" death on those two roller coasters LOL and now I am done with roller coasters, I think, but so proud, happy and normal!!!!!

There seems to be a lot of that "must get to xxx___number on the scale" going around! I have to put myself back when I was earlier out and (even still to some degree today) to understand that mindset, but I think it's okay to be higher than your "goal". And pre-op I would also read that most WLS patients lose, get to a certain number then "bounce" back up (usually about 10-20lbs) and that is where they maintain. My pre-op little brain was like "oh that's not gonna be me" ha ha ha.
I have to agree with Georgia though (as per usual) and while I am currently fighting off my regain (-11lbs of my +20lb regain is GONE woo hoo!) and I will continue to fight my regain, I think we all need to cut ourselves some slack in the whole "I must get to a certain number, I must be perfect, I must have a >25 BMI," type talk.
Pull out some old photos. Go back in time and remember dreaming of being post-op and being HEALTHIER? I would have given my left arm (okay maybe a pinkie finger) to weigh what I do right now back in the day....I would have been SO JEALOUS of myself right now. But somehow we get "here" and then it's not good enough. WE need to remember how far we have come, and in the grand scheme of things, how much of a difference is 10, 20 more lbs going to make in your life. Celebrate your success, keep your eye on the goal (not telling you to not achieve your weight goal) but keep a positive attitude.

I will probably get flamed for saying this, but have you considered your caloric intake is too low for your caloric burn from exercise?
It is not even clear to me what is the right amount of calories to suggest. I have no idea. I stopped thinking about calories several months ago and eat when hungry, paleo style. Protein first, veggies and some good carbs / fat. Not much else. My meals are about every 2 hours where each meal is 200-300 calories. my Breakfast meal is usually the highest in calories (500-600) because i eat oatmeal mixed with a higher calorie Protein powder (400 calories from 2 scoops). There is a mix of calories from Protein shakes and from food for the aggregate of daily meals. Again, I stopped paying attention to exact numbers and just eat in a healthy way and often . It is working for me and it might work for you. It does not feel like a lot of work to eat this way and keeps both energy and insulin response stable. Also, sometimes I do not " feel" like eating (like 3 hours after a workout - my "dinner" time), but I do anyways in order to keep the metabolic response constant from rise to bed.
Also look at reducing the inflammation that comes from working out often. You can do this with fish oil (my dose is 5 g daily). Reducing inflammation in the body will reduce fat storage.
Also, are you lifting? There have been studies done that show inflammation genes can be suppressed and anti-inflammation genes can be increased in as little as 24 hours when a paleo style diet is combined with training. Isn't that an exciting fact?
I exercise about 1 hour a day, but intensely. Rarely do I do steady state cardio any longer (read: fat burning zone for an hour). Instead, I do metabolic conditioning combined with lifting. Almost every day is a different type of workout and always is challenging. Think about adding some shock treatment into your workouts to really increase the metabolic conditioning. Sorry if this suggestion is something you already do. I do not know how you exercise. Just try to stay away from steady state cardio; it triggers your body to store fat instead of lean you out, after a long time of doing it.
Just some ideas that might help you. My weight modulates between 175-180 (just Water cycling, I guess) which is just about right for my height and lean muscle percentage. See if some of these suggestions are worth pursuing.

I think the thoughts and findings for having sugar post-op are relatively new. I read to use full sugar popsicles during the liquid phase and to not worry about sugar too much till you can consume some solid Proteins. I will say I had "some" full sugar things like hot tea... I'm still 29 pounds down....4 weeks post op and I don't really put the low sugar thing into my equation. If I always eat my Protein first, and drink all my Water, there really isn't room for much else so a little sugar does not mess it up. IDK just my 2 cents....

If I'm doing very low carb I do regular cheese.. if I'm eating more carbs then I cut a bit of calories by selecting a cheese with less fat... full fat cheese is very calorie dense and even with the sleeve you can rack up a lot of calories from cheese if you're not careful.

Oh sheesh I don't know how to load pictures. sorry.

ROFLOL! I love your title for this post!!!! I totally relate. And to be honest, I wish my breasts were as perky as the ones in the cartoon! I wear a size "long" in bra now.

Good for you! You look so much happier, too!

ROFLOL! I love your title for this post!!!! I totally relate. And to be honest, I wish my breasts were as perky as the ones in the cartoon! I wear a size "long" in bra now.

ROFLOL! I love your title for this post!!!! I totally relate. And to be honest, I wish my breasts were as perky as the ones in the cartoon! I wear a size "long" in bra now.

ROFLOL! I love your title for this post!!!! I totally relate. And to be honest, I wish my breasts were as perky as the ones in the cartoon! I wear a size "long" in bra now.

ROFLOL! I love your title for this post!!!! I totally relate. And to be honest, I wish my breasts were as perky as the ones in the cartoon! I wear a size "long" in bra now.

I can totally relate to this! I find myself having a little "extra" on my weigh day, when I have lost. I do have days (like yesterday) were I wanted to just nibble all day long. It was frustrating and scary. I hadn't exercised for three days and yesterday (3rd day) I think it made a big difference in my ability to stay focused. Today I did Zumba and Body Pump and feel much more in control.
I do think some days we are just more hungry than others, and we need to listen to our bodies. But perhaps "overindulging" in good things isn't so bad, certainly not as bad as a binge on junk. But it still freaks me out when I feel I have over done it.

I can totally relate to this! I find myself having a little "extra" on my weigh day, when I have lost. I do have days (like yesterday) were I wanted to just nibble all day long. It was frustrating and scary. I hadn't exercised for three days and yesterday (3rd day) I think it made a big difference in my ability to stay focused. Today I did Zumba and Body Pump and feel much more in control.
I do think some days we are just more hungry than others, and we need to listen to our bodies. But perhaps "overindulging" in good things isn't so bad, certainly not as bad as a binge on junk. But it still freaks me out when I feel I have over done it.

I can totally relate to this! I find myself having a little "extra" on my weigh day, when I have lost. I do have days (like yesterday) were I wanted to just nibble all day long. It was frustrating and scary. I hadn't exercised for three days and yesterday (3rd day) I think it made a big difference in my ability to stay focused. Today I did Zumba and Body Pump and feel much more in control.
I do think some days we are just more hungry than others, and we need to listen to our bodies. But perhaps "overindulging" in good things isn't so bad, certainly not as bad as a binge on junk. But it still freaks me out when I feel I have over done it.

I have to vent about the gym.
I can.not.stand the:
super tan 50 year old ladies (I am 47 by the way)
who park their convertible BMW
in the corner of the park lot so they don't get scratched
wearing full make up when they show up at the gym
with matching
headbands
sneakers
and outfits
who come into class and complain about the instructors
and the routines
and how the old instructor was so much better
UGGGGHHHHHH! We are here to stinkin' workout, get or maintain health and
get stronger. Please, I can't stand it.
Thank you, now back to your regularly scheduled programs.
And I hope I didn't offend anybody.

Also, call the gym and explain your nervousness:
(1) they can tell you the 'quieter' periods are while you get started and till you are used to being there, -- you might be surprised at their supportiveness... also
(2) ask for a trainer to help teach you the machines. You'll want an appointment and you may need to pay extra (and you sure can tip). Knowledge is POWER.

At first I used to worry.. I mean 397lbs on the cross trainer or rowing machine?? And then I just had a light bulb moment and thought ' I actually don't care what anybody else thinks of me' at least I'm in the gym!! A poster above said there are three types of people in the gym and I definitely agree. Some are so preoccupied that they don't notice the world around them.. Once I get going I'm like that.. I don't take any notice of who else is in the gym, and the fat on my thighs wobbles and my butt jiggles and my boobs.. Well what's left of them... My sports bra doesn't seem to do its job.. But I just carry on regardless!! So good luck!! Just be selfish in the process and think of yourself

I dealt with it with humor... I took video of myself throwing myself on the ground in front of the gym throwing my best 2 year old-esque tantrum I could muster up. I had to deal with it with humor. Because in all realness, no one really cares what other people look like at the gym. You are there just doing your thing, they are doing theirs and that dialogue in our heads is what is silly.
You deserve to be there just as much as anyone else and speaking from experience, it's much bigger in your head than in they gym.
You can do this!

Went to my nine month follow up today, surgery was December 10, 2012 with a presurgery weight of 379, weight today is 226.5. In waist size went from a tight 54 waist to a 36 waist. Shirt size from 4XL to Large and sometimes even a medium. Anyhow now for what everyone always wants to see the picture.

Oh sheesh I don't know how to load pictures. sorry.

I am 4 mos post-op as of last Thursday. I workout with a trainer for an hour 3x a week, and am doing the C25K on off days. I like the mix of strength & cardio and am starting to see the results (just yesterday I was standing with my hands on my hips while in between sets & thought 'what is this weird bone just below my waist.' Asked my trainer & she said 'that's your pelvic girdle. Is it the first time you've felt it?' Um, YEAH. You mean I can actually feel my bones?!? Holy cow.)
I bought a heart monitor & my trainer & I have incorporated the data into how we structure my workouts, and I use it when doing the C25K on my home treadmill as well. Really helps me to know how I'm performing and track my fitness progress.
And with adding in the Sweet Sweat/McDavid wrap combo recommended by Fiddleman, I'm hoping to sculpt my middle even more!

had surgery last Sept 6th 2012. cant believe its been a year, got more to go but hey I feel so good ~~