Holly5.3

I also agree-let's see where those clients are a year or two from now! Also, how many of these clients were losing weight for the first time? Big difference between a woman losing pregnancy weight than someone who has stuggled with weight their whole life! The best revenge is living well...you show that trainer that this was a healthy choice for you in the long run-it wasn't quick fix!

Please don't let the belt upset you! You are doing fabulous. Ok, so you had a little fashion set-back, hang the belt in your bedroom where you can see it, and use it as your inspiration! Picture yourself wearing it; how much smaller your waist will be! I purposely bought an adorable black stretch dress (Target) a size XL (14/16) when I was wearing a 22. The dress hangs where I can see it every night and when I wake up! I can't wait to wear it, it's so cute! It will happen, I just pray for patience and strength!you will wear that belt...and it will get too big! Think it-believe it-See it and it will be!

I know what you went through! Even though I don't feel hunger (yet, or any more!) my mom stayed with me after surgery until this morning. My first few days home, she's making pork roast with gravy, etc. Then 2 days later I wake from a nap smelling my childhood favorite, corn fritters! Really, Mom?!?! I was a little mad because it was my favorite and my girls weren't going to like them-they eat very light. Fried foods, except chicken, doesn't appeal to them. She overheard me tell my sister on the phone that I thought it was kind of insensitive for her to be frying up a batch of fritters, so she went on a cooking strike for a few days (too funny! Like I cared-I was on liquids!-lol!)

I hope I didn't offend anyone with term eating disorder. For me, not eating appropriate food, eating too much or too little= dis. order. I'm not eating orderly, so I'm "dissing" the orders (based on sound nutrition for a lean and healthy body). a 5'5" woman weighing 278 pounds, who should weigh 138, does not follow "orders", she follows her addiction to fat, carbs, and sugar. Maybe its because I'm an "older middle-aged" woman and have gone through every program imaginable since I was 16 and finally realize it wasnt the diet that failed me, it was me failing me.

Thanks so much! I'm sure I'll be more creative once I get a few tested and approved recipes under my belt. It's a challenge, but I'm trying to have fun with it!

I wouldn't until your nut/dr. instructs you to. Puree stage didn't start for me until day 19 post-op, yesterday and it was harder than I thought. A poached egg with a sprinkle of cheese was like an entire diner breakfast! (love that!) but I tried to eat a slice of roast beef about the size of a dime-chew, chew, chew. Delicious, but I got scared so stopped (pureed meat is gross, thought I could chew long enough to get it to that consistency-afraid I wasn't chewing well enough before swallowing!) Second try, some Peanut Butter. Again, it felt wierd in tummy, away with te OB! Third try...ricotta cheese with black pepper - 2 tsps. and I was stuffed. So much for my first pureed dinner! A tiny bite of roast beef, about 2 tsps. Peanut Butter and ricotta cheese! Don't be in a rush to get here, it's still not easy (like anything worth having is?)! Good luck!

 Happy Birthday! Isn't it wonderful that your new life has begun! I'll bet you are in a better place this birthday than last year! God bless snd have a beautiful day (and year!).

I'm so glad I have my mommy here! She's like, didn't you change from liquid to full liquids on a Tuesday? You should be starting phase 3 puree 2 weeks later, also on Tuesday! I love you, ma! Right, I can move to puree tomorrow, not Thursday! It's a hurricane miracle (I live 1/2 mile from Great South Bay on long Island, NY. (1/2 way between NY city and the Montauk lighthouse)! We may need to evacuate, my sister is supposed to but won't, so my niece and her 3 little ones are with me!)

I can't wait for puree! 4 days to go! Meatball with ricotta sounds delish! Retried Beans with a little LF cheddar-awesome!

I just made this dish with one ingredient switched out. Instead of marinara, I used pureed canned zucchini w/tomato, just to add some veggie. Very cheesy and tasty! Only on day 2 of puree, so I was looking for something light and Italian, since family was having pizza. Could only eat about 3 teaspoons-very satisfying. I only wish it was a little thicker, maybe pureed veggies added too much moisture. Still tasted like stuffed shells/eggplant parm.! (idea: Maybe use as a stuffing for portabello mushrooms when on normal food phase.)

I hope I didn't offend anyone with term eating disorder. For me, not eating appropriate food, eating too much or too little= dis. order. I'm not eating orderly, so I'm "dissing" the orders (based on sound nutrition for a lean and healthy body). a 5'5" woman weighing 278 pounds, who should weigh 138, does not follow "orders", she follows her addiction to fat, carbs, and sugar. Maybe its because I'm an "older middle-aged" woman and have gone through every program imaginable since I was 16 and finally realize it wasnt the diet that failed me, it was me failing me.

Thanks, Iggy. My surgeon also said it's very elastic, like a nylon sock. When they remove the portion of it, it's empty and deflated so they can pull it out. But it stretches (and stretches) to accommodate food and over-eating. Very interesting!

Yaaaaa! Made my Halloween goal this morning 10/26/12 - 240.0. Whoooo-hooooo!!

True, true! I cooked last night for the first time in weeks for my niece and nephew and their babies. I enjoyed feeding others again! I even made brownies for desert, and not one tiny lick of batter made it to my mouth-a miracle!! I had my Soup while they all had dinner then a Crystal lite when they had desert. I did it! (they ere all like, "Aunt Holly's back!" (single tear down cheek!) the heavier I became, the less I cooked and baked-weird, but I couldn't find joy in food when I felt like it was my enemy!

I was too open and honest! I was so excited about getting the surgery that I blabbed to a lot of people Pre-op! Now I'm kind of regretting it-like all eyes will be watching and waiting for every pound to drop off. Maybe I'm just a little paranoid having had to take another week off after returning to work only one day! I went in last Monday, everyone was glad to see me, said I looked great. Went home-burning pain back with a vengeance, say my dr. Tues. -home resting remainder of week-I guess I'm embarrassed! Anyway, people in my community gossip about everything and anything anyway! When I'm scootin' around in my tiny little body next year, riding with my hubby on his Harley, I'll give them somethin' to talk about!

God bless you! You look amazing and are an inspiration! Good luck getting to goal!

I always drink through a straw so after surgery when I didn't, I gulped air and way too much liquid at a time. Once I got back on straws, I noticed less burping and stomach gurgling. I guess everyone is different, even when it comes to straws!

I can't wait-puree starts for me tomorrow after 4 days clear, post-op and 2 weeks full. Ya BA dabba doo! So excited to have an egg- one ever-lovin' egg (with laughing cow low fat cheese wedge melted on top-can't wait!) Meanwhile hurricane Cindy rowring away outside - I better have electric in the morning for my egg- oh no!!!!!

Now, now! Let's only bring positive energy to this forum! That's why we're here, to help and be helped.

Has your Protein and/or Water intake dropped due to kidney stone? Maybe shake things up by going back on your Pre-op diet or whatever you were doing when you were losing. I'm supposed to be on stage 2 liq. but nothing tastes good, so I went back on shakes, crystal lite and Protein chicken broth. When I eat yogurt or pudding, I feel too full and can't finish so I wasn't meeting protein req. minimum. Now I'm getting more than enough protein, I'm having about 600 cals./day, and feel the weight coming off each day so far. (at 600 cals. a day I better lose! Jeeeesh!)

Awe! Cute story - I hope it happens soon! As for college sweatshirt-whooo-hoooo! Awesome! Not only do I have multiple sizes in my closet, I have bins upon bins in my attic! My dream is to fit in my size 10 wardrobe that I bought the year before I got married (1990-wow! A lifetime ago!) but I was quite the fasionista at the law firm I worked at so it should be fun to see which pieces fit and can still be worn!I did have some classic designer outfits/dresses-I may need to remove a shoulder pad here and there! Unless they're back in style by the time I'm a size 10! 

Prayers and positive energy being sent your way and to your surgical team! You'll be great! Happy re-Birthday!

Just a suggestion...read Bethany Frankle's Book, "Naturally Thin". I read it a few years ago when I went on Jenny Craig (lost 70 lbs.-gained back 77, ta-da!!!) and I just re-read it. It gives a prospective of the relationship between food and being a naturally thin (I prefer the term fit) person. The relationship I've had my whole life with food is warped. Love/hate. In her book, you can learn about the balancing of foods from meal to meal so that your day balances -carb/fat wise. Wonderful recipes also. My fav. tip-"Cancel membership in the clean your plate club"-leaving even a tiny bite of each food item on your plate is empowering, let's you know that you DO have power over food-it's not the other way around - any more! Eat to live-not Live to eat! Yaaaaa!

food v. Feeling Fantastic. Hmmmmmm I know I used to think good tasting food made me feel fantastic to eat, but when the food was no longer in my mouth being tasted-I just hated myself! The momentary, dare I say "ecstasy", felt while consuming is a mind F---! Afterwards the self hatred and negativity canceled all those warm fuzzy feelings i had when eating.