Success2013

what's a smashbook?

thanks!

What tips would you add to this list?

I just posted a new thread with 13 Ideas to help with your VSG journey. I think there may be tips in there that will help you.

Thanks to this forum and all of the reading I do on success and positive thinking, I've compiled a list of ideas that I've found helpful in our journey to be healthier and slimmer with VSG. I hope you may find something that will help you, whether you're a newbie or a veteran. 1.. I know it will be hard, but try cleaning out your kitchen of foods you shouldn't eat. it's a lot harder to go and drive somewhere to get bad food than it is to just reach in the cabinet. if you have others in your house that you are buying the junk food for, talk with them about how this is hindering your progress and give them healthy alternative Snacks as well. donate any unopened foods to your local food pantry. 2. Surround yourself with positive affirmations. Read motivational books, music, dvds etc. I am a Christian and Bible scriptures and prayer help me. 3. Put a picture on your fridge, mirror, car dash and so forth of the ultimate look you want to achieve, whether it's a pic of how you use to look or a pic from a magazine of how you'd like to look. 4. Find your Mantra and post it everywhere as well. This mantra can change weekly, monthly or whenever you need a new one. (such as "just do it", "walking makes me sexier", "I AM a gorgeous woman". Speak as though you ARE what you want to become! 5. Plan your meals and snacks out for a week in advance, or at least a day in advance. then shop and stock your kitchen with these items. this way you aren't tempted by bad foods because you had nothing good in the house to eat. 6. if you don't have a tracking method, this is a MUST. there are numerous apps for iPhones etc. some populate ones are Lose It and My Fitness Pal. If you don't have a smart phone, then buy a pocket journal to write everything you eat down and buy a pocket nutrition count book that list Protein and carb counts. 7. If you have trouble with Water intake, try getting some of those cute insulated tumblers with lids and fill up several for the day and keep in the fridge, when they are all empty you know you've reached your goal for the day. 8. Set alarms on your phone throughout the day as a reminder to drink your water or to eat your protein. 9. Get a little lunch cooler or insulated lunch tote and fill it with string cheese, bottled water, Greek yogurt etc to have in your car when running errands so you aren't tempted to get fast food. 10. Set weekly and monthly goals with rewards or celebrations for achieving each goal. 11. Make a Vision Board to represent your new life when you reach your ultimate goal weight. I have on mine a cute swimsuit, parasailing, hiking etc. 12. Find a form of exercise that you enjoy and set goals to add exercise into your weekly routine. It could be dancing, tennis, volleyball, badminton, softball etc. it doesn't have to be just walking or running. Try a different sport each month to keep it fun. 13. Keep a calendar and organize your life to help keep stress down, so you can focus on you journey to better health and a happier life! I'm typing this on my iPhone, so please disregard any typos. Please let me know if any of these ideas help you. God Bless and give us strength to achieve our goals and pay it forward to help others succeed.

I was sleeved exactly 1 month after you and started at 232 and I'm down 20, I think I will be slow too, but I'm determined to blow through some Protein this week and kick this but in gear!

thanks for sharing. except in the pic where you are holding the excess skin, it wasn't really noticeable. but it looks great, congrats!

thanks everyone for your input. I bought some sugar free Werthers candies to suck on and they are 4 carbs each, which concerned me.

do you have a pic of your tummy before the surgery?

if you are tracking your carbs, do you count the net carbs (like you do on Atkins Diet) or do you count the actual carbs?

that's okay. Onederland is when you start weighing less than 200 pounds. I swore I would never get back over 200 pounds, but it happened. but once I get under 200 this time it will be for good!

Did you go 3 months with no weight loss? how did you get it going again? I started at 232 also, I finally hit -20 this morning (212) and I'm about 5 1/2 weeks post op.

Woop Woop! I finally hit -20 this morning! sleeved 1-21, I'm now at 212, dreaming of One-derland!

You totally rock! Doing it in the snow!

yes I held onto the treadmill while I ran (jogged).

Carol it was the first time I've ran on a treadmill, but it was fairly easy, you decide how fast to run and it's only for 60 seconds at a time to start.