Teachamy

NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO!

I hate when too many people respond to a topic and I'm too lazy to read them all.

I also hate when people hijack other peoples' threads.
Which reminds me...I hated the Sopranos finale. Did anyone else?
And Kim Kardashian with blonde hair...I mean REALLY? And why does Kanye always look upset? It all bothers me.

I'm sure many people will offer you suggestions, but I need to share some advice with you. (The best advice I received throughout my weight loss journey, in fact.) I was complaining about food boredom to my nutritionist. Same thing, day in, day out, blah, blah BOREDOM! Her advice was not what I expected. She said, "Food is not entertainment." I know we have all heard the cliche, "eat to live, don't live to eat", but until she said this to me, I never really internalized a new way of thinking about food. She also added, "Talk to all the normal weight people you know. You will find they continually eat the same things." She was right.
It is normal to get bored in the early stages, but as you get used to your new way of life, try to remember that you are eating to nourish yourself and lose weight. Food is no longer entertainment.
Best,
Amy

Speaking only for myself, I focused on that one because the other two have merit in my opinion. Neither bother me as much as they appear to bother you, but I find the vent concerning grammar to be "unfair" for lack of a better word. Perhaps because I was a special education teacher for children with learning disabilities or because my father is dyslexic and has trouble communicating correctly via the written word, I have more empathy.

@@VSGAnn2014

Very good point about cultural differences that I hadn't considered.

I participate in online forums a lot and am used to communities where other members are also experienced online community members.
This joint, on the other hand, attracts a lot of people who appear to have never been in an online community before. They are not only uncomfortable being online with others who aren't from their own cultures or backgrounds, but seem shocked that there are others online who share their need for WLS while having little else in common with them.
So then this culture battle develops when the newbie side has a reaction to others' language or sense of humor or lifestyle or "morality" or "ethics." And threads that started out interestingly enough turn into "You're not polite enough or sincere enough or humble enough or kind enough or empathetic enough or succinct enough or too straightforward or too rude or ... blah, blah, blah."
I'll remind anyone who cares that your style isn't everyone's style. And to those who just want strokes for being lazy, I suggest you go hire someone who'll tell you what you pay them to say. And if you want to pay me to stroke your idiocy, please PM me and I'll tell you where to send my check.
(And now there will be the obligatory posts about how this is a *support* group and we're not supposed to offer any authentic feedback.)

I have a colleague who can't deal with overhearing others compliment me. She would actually chime in any time people asked me how I lost it. "she had surgery". Yes, it was meant to help with my many autoimmune diseases. That was all I had ever shared with her and others at work. I would always add, "And I'm eating 800 calories a day." She's a bitch. She gives me "elevator eyes" when she sees me, scanning me up and down, and like Scarlett O'Hara, she is just "pea-green with envy". I look fabulous--no apologies on my part.
BTW, in the gay community, an otter is a thin, muscular, hairless (chest/body) man. I have a good friend that is described as an otter. I have never once considered licking cheesecake off him. Would add an awkward dimension to our friendship, I would imagine!

That made it worse.

The only thing that bothers me is how long and flat my boobs are when released from my bra. That said, my husband still loves 'em and I don't care enough to go under the knife so...

Hubby lost over 100lbs with a bypass almost 9 years ago, and his loose skin didn't bother me one bit. I know mine doesn't bother him too much, but when I am in a "certain" position for sexy time, I can hear and feel the loose skin on my stomach flapping away. And let's not even DISCUSS the boobs. I could kill myself with the sheer trajectory. Or at least blacken my eyes. Bothers me more than it does him.

Did you pick up two poles or three?

<~~~~~~~~tiptoes out quietly.

Oh, and I'd happily lick cheesecake off Ottermode or Builtfat.

I haven't been here for quite a while myself. Revs was always my favorite! Sad to see she's not around. Nice to see all of you, though!

After a consult with my trainer today he said....I need to back off from my workouts. I'm over training.

Hello everyone!
It feels so good to be here. I don't have any pictures of myself alone, so I am enclosing a shot of me with my daughter from last spring. She is covering some of my body, but the shot of me in the blue T-shirt shows you the before. (Bulging size 16 before, slim size 10 after. Now I vary from an 8-10, depending on the brand.)
I also enclosed my 2013 work ID and this year's ID so you can see the difference.
Best of luck to you all! Best decision I ever made.
Amy
 

Hello everyone!
It feels so good to be here. I don't have any pictures of myself alone, so I am enclosing a shot of me with my daughter from last spring. She is covering some of my body, but the shot of me in the blue T-shirt shows you the before. (Bulging size 16 before, slim size 10 after. Now I vary from an 8-10, depending on the brand.)
I also enclosed my 2013 work ID and this year's ID so you can see the difference.
Best of luck to you all! Best decision I ever made.
Amy
 

Prednisone is hell! So glad I am off of it.
Hi! I am Amy and I sometimes feel like I have won the autoimmune jackpot--type I diabetes, transverse myelitis, chronic hives, celiac, hashimoto's thyroid--the list goes on. What is AMAZING about this surgery is it affects the gut hormones that cause an inflammatory response in the body, and is the cause of many autoimmune conditions.
My diabetes and insulin need has changed tremendously for the better, which will help my cholesterol too. My blood pressure meds have been cut, and I rarely need an allergy pill for my hives. (Let alone prednisone!)
This surgery is a saving grace for many of us. Glad you have made this decision! You won't regret it.

Excellent!

Just wait until after surgery...12 days no pooping...11protein shakes...10 days obsessing...9 days in a STALL! Oh the fun awaits you!

Just wait until after surgery...12 days no pooping...11protein shakes...10 days obsessing...9 days in a STALL! Oh the fun awaits you!

Just wait until after surgery...12 days no pooping...11protein shakes...10 days obsessing...9 days in a STALL! Oh the fun awaits you!

Just wait until after surgery...12 days no pooping...11protein shakes...10 days obsessing...9 days in a STALL! Oh the fun awaits you!

Lisa--
Since you asked for suggestions of meal plans, I'll give you mine. The best advice my dietician ever gave me is "Food is not entertainment"--I had been complaining that my meals were boring. She told me to look around at all the thin people I know and ask them what they eat and if they eat the same things all the time. I asked my mom and sister-in-law, and both said that they do eat the same things all the time. So think back to things you found easy to grab and eat way back when. Yogurt, cotttage cheese, Protein Bars, any Protein you can think of as appetizing and start there. Hydrate.
Breakfast: yogurt, a Quest bar, nuts and a fruit
Coffee: I like mine with half and half. I log the calories and let it go. It is my treat
Snack: Fruit
Lunch: Veggie/chicken Soup, Tomato Soup, salad with cottage cheese, wrap with turkey and provolone
Snack: string cheese, yogurt, nuts
Dinner: Repeat lunch options. Also have chicken frequently.
When I venture away from these options, I am eating my emotions, stress, and fatigue. So I try to keep the menu pretty boring. It is not entertainment. I track everything in MFP to keep myself sane. (and honest!)
I am so very sorry for your loss and I hope you find some comfort and peace. I know you can do this--you've found the strength to get out of bed every day since you lost your husband, you are obviously incredibly strong and will overcome this challenge!

Lisa--
Since you asked for suggestions of meal plans, I'll give you mine. The best advice my dietician ever gave me is "Food is not entertainment"--I had been complaining that my meals were boring. She told me to look around at all the thin people I know and ask them what they eat and if they eat the same things all the time. I asked my mom and sister-in-law, and both said that they do eat the same things all the time. So think back to things you found easy to grab and eat way back when. Yogurt, cotttage cheese, Protein Bars, any Protein you can think of as appetizing and start there. Hydrate.
Breakfast: yogurt, a Quest bar, nuts and a fruit
Coffee: I like mine with half and half. I log the calories and let it go. It is my treat
Snack: Fruit
Lunch: Veggie/chicken Soup, Tomato Soup, salad with cottage cheese, wrap with turkey and provolone
Snack: string cheese, yogurt, nuts
Dinner: Repeat lunch options. Also have chicken frequently.
When I venture away from these options, I am eating my emotions, stress, and fatigue. So I try to keep the menu pretty boring. It is not entertainment. I track everything in MFP to keep myself sane. (and honest!)
I am so very sorry for your loss and I hope you find some comfort and peace. I know you can do this--you've found the strength to get out of bed every day since you lost your husband, you are obviously incredibly strong and will overcome this challenge!