ElyQuint

I think my arms are longer.

The most amazing gift VSG has given me is the ability to communicate with my body. I'm 9 months out from VSG. I started this process at 288 and started ovulating at 260. I get my period every 5 weeks since then. They are bad but really predictable and I have nothing to compare them to. I still pluck daily and have to watch carbs but my cystic acne has cleared up, my moods are relatively stable, less ovary discomfort, blood sugar is regulated and otherwise symptom free.

What's the busy all about? Sounds like something other than you is becoming your top priority. You don't have time for that. Life is short and you have wasted too much of it already. It doesn't sound like you are having any fun. What's the point of being 15 pounds from goal if you are too busy to do the things you always wanted to do?

I had to look up what Tom was. Lol.

I know my peers will get this: http://thescrambledalchemist.blog.com/2014/04/12/shame-success/

I love that this has provoked thought and I agree with you Elf, its reflected everywhere in our society. I didn't have value until I had struggle. We teach our children that our hero's are those who rose up out of adversity. If we were mass raising martyrs this would make sense.

I guess it depends on your individual motivations. My tool will get me through the door but it won't keep me in the room. I did this to help make a healthy lifestyle more accessible and manageable and I want longevity from my tool so I can drive your skinny butt to dialysis twice a week. Now gimmie one (yes, one) of those eggs!

Not vegan but vegetarian for sure. My man is a chef so there is always an abundance of amazing ingredients happening. All I have to do is put them together!

I love the no sugar added almond chip so delicious coconut ice cream.

Oh man. I do that. Lol. So if we apply our theory she is either waiting for you to placate her with something OR there is something she needs that she isn't getting. Or homework sucks. If I remember correctly it did just that.

Ah. Don't forget what's best for you will be best for her. Yoga together, pedicure together, paint really bad portraits of one another. Teach her how to address her needs so she doesn't have to do it as an adult. Unless she's a baby. Babies have enough problems.

I usually fix us a cup of decaf coffee and meditate on whats really bothering her. Sometimes she's afraid of not having enough, or not being good enough and sometimes she is afraid or anxious. I sit with the feeling so its like I'm listening to her and paying attention to what she is projecting. Normally I would placate her with french fries. Once I figure out what she really needs I can address it. For example, if she needs to relax we do yoga, if she needs comfort we bubble bath, if she feels lonely we call mom ect. It may sound crazy but its an easy way to learn to address your residual hang ups.

@, I can relate. I've started trying to treat my panic stricken, tantrum throwing, inner child with compassion. Whenever she acts up I look for a way to sooth her the way I wish someone had done when I was that child.

It didn't taste good either on accounta the texture. It was a mass of mush. Lol. I am no cook. I've given up on cauliflower as a "crust". I use sami's flax and millet Lavash for crust now. It tastes great, high fiber, high protein, low carb and works like a flat bread. I like to roast my cauliflower with curry or whip it with herbs and spices.

Thanks all. Elfnow, I think your friend is a victim of what I refer to as our cultural pathology. I see if everywhere! My blog isn't wls specific but its a great example of how we center our lives around this poverty mindedness. Martyrdom and Self-sacrifice feed the idea that we are somehow "not enough". Brene Browne often talks about this. We don't believe in our own worthiness unless we can point to our struggle and say "look what I overcame". If you make a list of personal heroes I promise you will see struggle as a theme in what you value.

2 eggs... 4 oz of cheese. That's calories. Lots. And mine looked nothing like that! I soooo wanted it to. Anybody tinker?

One full month here.

Sppppp... if you make the banana egg pancakes spread peanut butter on them! Also, add garlic, and cold butter prior to cooking the carb quick biscuits. Yum!

This may sound a little risky but it often helps me. The key is awareness. Once you dismiss your attention you can put anything in your body. The problem is that you still think of your body as a civic but want it to look and act like a Benz. Stop feeding a Civic!!! Think of your food as fuel. The quality of that fuel is a reflection of how you feel about YOU at the moment you consume it. If your going to eat, eat quality. People who love themselves don't eat doritos. They eat avocado w/ cumin, imported cheeses and marconia almonds with sea salt, rosemary and olive oil! Doritos are cheap, fake food and your decision to have surgery was a decision to live a high quality life. When you feel the junk food impulse consult the snob in you and prepare a high class snack fest that you won't need to tune out while eating!

I've posted this before but if you take hemp hearts, chia seeds, peanut butter, mix in a bowl and eat hot or cold its a great low carb cereal. caprese is also a morning favorite. I make a lean mean low carb hemp heart banana peanut butter muffin also.

I am sharing this because everyone has that relative with an unfortunate personality. I come from "hard huggers" but they always surprise me. Last night at dinner my aunt asked what I planned to do about "all that extra skin". When I said I didn't anticipate enough for it to matter she said "do you think that's realistic?". Now, I'm 5'2 and started at 288 aiming for 130 (anticipating a normal regain to 160). I expect flappiness but not medically damaging flappiness and I personally don't care. If hangies cause rashes i will have it removed. I'm just AMAZED that she thought this was a socially acceptable approach. To be fair, she was raised by hard huggers and consequently has poor social skills. I'm clearly laughing about it but I knew you folks would appreciate it.

http://thescrambledalchemist.blog.com

This statement really intrigues me. You have already assigned shame to your medical treatment by admitting to having been embarrassed for having the surgery. You seem to be the one who thinks its the easy way out. I suspect, like me, you sometimes feel like a fraud and are afraid other people will discover it. So here is my question, to you, me and others feeling the same. How much do you have to struggle in order to consider yourself worthy of success? How much suffering entitles you to a quality life? When will you start standing up to yourself? Why do you measure your own success by the level of difficulty exerted in order to achieve it? Now I have to blog all night. Lol.

Add decaf instant espresso to a protein shake and viola! Hot or cold latte! Make it a chocolate protein shake and viola! Mocha!

7.29.13 HW 288 SW 277 CW 199!!!!!!!!! Onederland!!!!!!!! Today will be known to my friends, family and coworkers as my most obnoxious day!!!!!!