delta_girl

Yay! Happy day! I'll bet you can't wipe that smile off of your face all day!

I picked up keytone strips from Walgreen's. Here they are behind the pharmacy counter so you have to request them. They are only good for about 3 months after you open them and they do expire. I think I paid $14 for the container of 50 test strips. You check your keytones by placing the active end of the strip in your urine and comparing the results to the scale on the container.

Week three is a bit early for a slippery slope, but that is where I have found myself. Yesterday (after several similar feeling days) I had decided that I was a failure and my old habits were back and I was helpless. All of the research, the questions, the medical tests, the planning, the operation, the recovery, the shopping for good things, all of it was not going to work for me because I was going to be one of those who didn't make it. It started with wanting something salty, so I licked some cheetoes which are in the house because my skinny boyfriend eats them. Then it was a few crackers way too early, then it was a few nibbles of something else. Very quickly I found myself feeling like I was starving all day long and nothing could satisfy me. Though I was still staying around 600-700 calories a day, it was getting harder and harder. My Protein was 40-55g a day. I have checked my keytones daily and I was and am in heavy ketosis. Still, I felt like a complete failure. Being a slow looser didn't help that feeling at all. This morning I decided to yank a knot in my chain. Thank goodness I have been tracking every tiny thing that goes into my mouth, illegal or not. Yesterday and the day before my carbs were insane and I hadn't even payed attention. No wonder. It hasn't just been head hunger, there has been an actual reason for the ravenous cravings and sense of failure. 132 carbs one day and 56 the next. Good grief that is nuts. (Carb police, thanks but I don't need to know either your nor your Nuts carb recommendation. I am already aware. This isn't for you.) I do need nor am I asking for any sage advice from anyone. What I do want to share is that if you find yourself in a similar situation where you feel like you are starving to death or you feel like a failure, it is ok. What isn't ok is to do nothing about it and let it get the best of you. If you aren't tracking what you eat and drink, use one of the many web or app resources available, or write down what you eat each day. Talk to someone about it. Put some tape over the inner voice that is not lifting you up, and take charge. I may be super early in the game to be using my sleeve as a tool while I should be working through early stages, but we aren't all the same. Today I have a grip on myself and have stopped the internal dialogue of defeat. You can too, no matter where you are in your process. I am excited about my day, about my walk this afternoon, about cleaning out my car so that I am better organized, doing my graduate school homework, even doing laundry, because I feel better than I have in months and I have a renewed opportunity for a healthy, productive life. Failure isn't failure until you stop trying.

I just discovered Click brand. It has both caffeinated and non caffeinated versions. After trying some really unpleasant drink options this week, I am really pleased with the taste. You can order a buy one get one free sample to see if you like them or not, which is very handy. The Protein is a little bit less than some of the other options, and the carb count is higher but it really does taste good. http://drinkclick.com/

At first I felt like I was swallowing a lot of air and burped a lot. It caused brief discomfort or pain until the air bubble shifted. I don't know what I'm doing differently now but the air isn't getting trapped as much, but I'm drinking wayyyy too fast still. Sometimes when I pick up a bottle of water I'm gulping and it is going down too easily. I have to make myself present in the moment when I put something against my lips, and that isn't always easy to do. I guess it is just going to take us a lot of practice!

Mine don't look nearly that good going into 3 weeks.

I just do one scoop for 25g of protein instead of two. Banana Cream is delicious!

Fantastic! I remember that it felt difficult to swallow, or at least very different, in the first day or two. Just take it slow and be patient with yourself. It is really easy to swallow air. Some people say don't use a straw, others say use one. For me, I found that using a straw helped me to not swallow air and made it easier to drink. Don't let yourself get dehydrated! It will feel like just about all you do all day long is drink, but you are really just taking little sips constantly.

I've lost 17 lbs since my surgery around 3 weeks ago. I, too, wish I could lost 25 lbs as quickly as you did!

Too funny!!!! I am so happy for you that you are getting out and shopping and having fun with it!

My doctor said quit 10 weeks before surgery to be extra safe. I quit two weeks before and it was not fun, but I just did it cold turkey. Now at three weeks post op, I have no desire to pick that bad habit up again. I really enjoy walking around the nearby lake and smelling the fresh air. I really like that my hair smells like shampoo, not stale smoke. I really, really like that I am not spending money on something that can only be harmful to my health. Not sure if it is relevant or not, but I was a closet smoker and was careful not to do it much at all during the week, especially not around work, but I was a hell of a weekend warrior with the habit.

My other protein drinks (like Isopure) has 100. I'm eating around 450-500 calories a day, so 170 really adds up super fast.

I really don't use a recipe, though I had one at some point in the past. I made these a lot when I was a gym rat mannny years ago. I'll estimate somewhat with 1/2 C of oatmeal, 2 egg whites, a few drops of vanilla, 1/2 single serving container low fat or fat free yogurt to mix in and save the rest for the topping. Mix the ingredients and pour into no stick frying pan. If the pancake falls apart, use fewer dry ingredients or use more wet ingredients. This makes 2 servings.

I've done a recipe that is made up of oatmeal, vanilla, egg whites and a bit of low fat yogurt mixed together and made like pancakes, topped with yogurt and fruit.

I haven't dared to try regular or light yet. The number if calories scare me.

I was really disappointed with Unjury as well. I do like their unflavored to add into other things, though.

Why can't you have a small piece of birthday cake on your child's birthday? A few bites will satisfy you and you probably won't even want or need more than that. I have some very, very thin friends who are that way naturally who have children and they also have a small piece of cake on days of celebrations. They just don't do it all of the time.

This is very interesting. I would like to see more photos, too. Good thread.

I want to run, too!! I still feel way too heavy to put that much repetitive force on my joints, but I'm walking at 3.0mph for 50 minutes now and still feel good and energetic afterwards. In another 20-25lbs I want to start doing walk/run and work my way into a bit more every week.

There are actually several other threads on this same topic besides the one you shared.

Every time I see this thread rise under New Content it just gets alllll over me. Sometimes I think about commenting on it, but I'm not sure if the forum has enough "paper."

Pre op 216 lbs Day of surgery 09/26/12 212 lbs Today 10/10/12 198 lbs

Hey Pinky. We have the same surgery date. I lost 4 lbs pre op and 14 since.

I just ordered some small packs to try out from this company. You may like them, too. http://drinkclick.com/

My surgery was Sept. 26 and I was pretty much losing a pound a day until today when I weighed the same as yesterday. This is the entrance to week 3 for me, so I'm glad to know what is going on. And chips and crackers have got to go. I do have a small cheat that I have when I want something salty. Canned, boiled peanuts, but only a very few. They are salty and soft. If you eat too many, you will get a huge sodium overload and way, way too many calories.