May142013

I'm not letting my husband Google it! Right now he is fixing me an egg several mornings a week. Those days will be long gone once he knows an alternative Protein source!!!

I don't know if I'm the only one who gets EXTREMELY annoyed when reading complaints about alleged "stalls". *sigh* sometimes I feel empathy for folks but most times I feel extreme aggravation. Listen folks...we aren't gonna lose weight every day or every week for that matter. If that was the case we would lose 365 lbs in a year! This surgery was not intended to be a "quick fix". I personally don't believe in "stalls". Have I experienced weeks of no loss??? SURE! What did I do to "break my stall"? NOTHING!!! Im 8 month's out and still follow my doctors orders and exercise...REGULARLY. That's it...that's all! When the numbers don't move I don't give into fear...I simply "stay the course". I really get dissappointed when I read about folks being taking on an emotional roller coaster by the scale. If you are eating what you're suppose to be eating and exercising like you're suppose too...YOU WILL LOSE!!!! This is not a race...its a lifelong journey. Our main goal should be to optimize our health and live better lives..not chasing a number on a scale or a size. We have to have the mindsets of those who've lost weight and maintain healthy lifestyles without surgery! I hope I don't sound harsh or judgemental...that's not my intention. I just want to encourage those who are feeling down about the "sta lls" or "slow loss" not to give up! I send my "cyber love" to all of you!

I'm not letting my husband Google it! Right now he is fixing me an egg several mornings a week. Those days will be long gone once he knows an alternative Protein source!!!

Thank you for sharing your story and pictures! You are gorgeous and such an inspiration! Also, your baby is precious as well. Congrats!!!!!

Hi Cheri - first of all, congrats on the new addition to your family. Second, congratulations on the weight loss. I reached goal quickly, five months to reach my doctor's goal and a month later to reach MY personal goal, five pounds less. 145 give me that 5 pound pad! I THINK more like Lynda though. MY goal is 145, but I don't wait until I hit 150 to cut back a little, if I weigh 147 in the morning, I know I need to 'adjust' my calories, just for a day or two. I've been maintaining for 2.5 years now and although like you, it's been easy for me......I'm like Lynda, I am vigilant. The fear of regaining keeps me a "little" obsessive. I weigh every morning, and I know that I should weigh between 144 and 146. I also weigh again at night, it's kind of a game I play, then I guess what I will weigh in the morning! I do not let the scale dictate my mood though, it's more like a "dashboard" for me, it lets me know if things are 'running' right, kind of like the dashboard in my truck!! lol At night, I will weigh between 146.5 and 148. I am not a exercise guru, but I have made 'life style' changes that are second nature to me now. Like I said, I weigh every morning. I weigh or measure my food when I'm home. I log it all on line. (MFP) This is not what I just do, it isn't a chore, it isn't a choice. It just is.....it's how I stay in check. I am accountable to ME and after 30 years of dieting, I know how quickly eight or ten pounds can sneak up on us. Losing weight has never been a problem for me, keeping it off has been. Not this time and now I'm equipped with the knowledge of what works for me, I really can't imagine this 'routine' wouldn't work for everyone. I am missing 85% of my tummy, self control is much easier now, at least it is in my case. I don't feel like I have sacrificed anything. I make choices. I do not skip extra cups of coffee, there are line to draw Cheri!!! About two months ago, since fear of weight gain seems to never leave us, and I personally think that is a good thing.....I just wanted to 'test' and see if I could still lose weight if need be. I need 1300 to maintain, give or take 50 calories. I cut that back by 100 calories and in 2.5 weeks, with just one hundred less calories, I lost 2 pounds. I was happy, I know I can do it. I don't get hungry, so cutting back and/or resisting when I should or when I want to....is not difficult. You and I are lucky. I don't do what Lynda does, but I am soooooo glad to see how SHE is. I thought I might be the only one who is a bit on the obsessive side, I love it!!!! I do not have everything planned down to how much Protein, veggies etc per meal. I track and plan ahead, but not quite like that. I get in between 65 and 100 grams of protein a day. During the losing phase, I had NO bread, but now, if I want my tuna fish on a piece of bread, nothing but cokes are off limits, although there are thngs I choose to avoid most times. When I did my "test" a while back, I did make sure I was getting at least 85 grams of protein a day, I know that helped. You will do fine, don't stress out, just be diligent with tracking your food, that is something I personally believe we have to do forever, track and weigh/measure. The things I do, are MY keys to success. I don't ever want to forget what it was like to shop for size 20's in the ladies dept. Been there, done that and I don't want an encore!!! It keeps me humble, and keeps me motivated. Good luck, I predict you are going to do just fine!!

I'm not letting my husband Google it! Right now he is fixing me an egg several mornings a week. Those days will be long gone once he knows an alternative Protein source!!!

I decided not to name my sleeve because it is a permanent part of my body, not some foreign visitor. I did name my Lapband. Her name was Sybil because she had multiple personalities. I'm very happy that Sybil is long gone and I no longer have a foreign bject in my body that needs constant babysitting!

I decided not to name my sleeve because it is a permanent part of my body, not some foreign visitor. I did name my Lapband. Her name was Sybil because she had multiple personalities. I'm very happy that Sybil is long gone and I no longer have a foreign bject in my body that needs constant babysitting!

I love your doctors response. He hit the nail on the head.....the early weeks are all about healing and adjusting.

I'm 5 weeks post op and back on regular foods. This just feels like my new normal... NOT a diet! I eat way, way, way less but I eat so slow, I'm able to savor every bite. I'm completely satisfied. I love this!!!

Premier Protein ready made shakes are thin and easier to get down than the thick shakes. They come in Choc and vanilla and you can buy them at Cotsco and SAMs.

I'm not letting my husband Google it! Right now he is fixing me an egg several mornings a week. Those days will be long gone once he knows an alternative Protein source!!!

I love your doctors response. He hit the nail on the head.....the early weeks are all about healing and adjusting.

I went to a follow-up with my doctor on Tuesday, just a few days into the "puree" stage of my post-op recovery diet. I expressed frustration at not having lost weight in the past week as I stepped on the scale (despite my head understanding all of the reasons why stalls happen, and knowing that the weight will come off eventually as I continue to do the right things). What shocked me, though, was the response from my doctor....
"I don't care about weight loss right now, it'll come off eventually!"
I absolutely LOVE my doctor and appreciate that he's more interested in me making a full recovery (it's been textbook so far) than in dropping pounds as of yet...his response made me recognize that my new "tool" isn't quite ready to do it's job yet. Clearly, the post-op diet is in place to help your stomach heal and to transition slowly through diet phases in order to re-acclimate your stomach to various foods in the world.
Just. Hard to wrap my "gut" around the fact that I'm not losing weight at this point, despite my head knowing what's going on.
I will say, though, that it makes me excited for things to come!
Anyone else had this type of response from their doctor? When did your brain reconcile with the rest of your body? I'm reminded, often, of the sentiment that "the weight didn't come ON overnight, and it will come off the same way."

I track ALL my calories and my Protein. I also weigh every morning and I weigh and/or measure my food.
MFP is just part of the big picture. My new normal. My husband said it best when he said "It's like a dashboard on the car, it helps you know what's going on "under the hood" and if there is a problem, you know it right away"
I thought it was a perfect analogy.

I log everything bite that goes into my mouth and everything I drink. It helps me keep track of not only my calories, but my Protein, carbs, sugar and Water intake. I also input my exercise which helps keep me motivated as well.

For me, it's not wasting the "Hail Mary" I made when I decided to get weight loss surgery. It's remembering that WLS was my last, best chance to get healthy and now that I am here, I must be vigilant to keep the gift of health I have been given. That means taking care of myself by eating right, exercising, drinking enough fluids, taking my Vitamins, and getting needed medical tests and vaccinations, It also means addressing issues that affect my mental health.
Lynda

I'm not letting my husband Google it! Right now he is fixing me an egg several mornings a week. Those days will be long gone once he knows an alternative Protein source!!!

I decided not to name my sleeve because it is a permanent part of my body, not some foreign visitor. I did name my Lapband. Her name was Sybil because she had multiple personalities. I'm very happy that Sybil is long gone and I no longer have a foreign bject in my body that needs constant babysitting!

I'm not letting my husband Google it! Right now he is fixing me an egg several mornings a week. Those days will be long gone once he knows an alternative Protein source!!!

I'm not letting my husband Google it! Right now he is fixing me an egg several mornings a week. Those days will be long gone once he knows an alternative Protein source!!!

I'm not letting my husband Google it! Right now he is fixing me an egg several mornings a week. Those days will be long gone once he knows an alternative Protein source!!!

I'm not letting my husband Google it! Right now he is fixing me an egg several mornings a week. Those days will be long gone once he knows an alternative Protein source!!!

I'm not letting my husband Google it! Right now he is fixing me an egg several mornings a week. Those days will be long gone once he knows an alternative Protein source!!!

I'm not letting my husband Google it! Right now he is fixing me an egg several mornings a week. Those days will be long gone once he knows an alternative Protein source!!!