Ava324

When I look at the month graph in the app, it's a pretty funny spike! It thinks I burned 3,500 calories that day. ><

I know this is an old thread, but I actually had a co-worker ask if I was okay the other day. My nail beds were very blue, and my lips had a light blue tint. I was absolutely freezing, despite a sweater and 4 cups of hot herbal tea. I happened to have a follow-up already scheduled with my general practitioner the next day and brought it up. My O2 levels were perfect, and my actual finger tips had perfect capillary responses. Not a circulation problem. Basically she thinks that my body is diverting energy to my core/organs, because of the extreme calorie deficit (I get about 500 - 700 a day and workout a lot). I live in Louisiana, and it is freaking hot and humid during the summer. First the first time ever, I am glad! I often walk/jog in the early morning before work, and people will say "I bet you can't wait for it to cool down." Oh yes, I can. I am dreading even Louisiana's mild fall and winter! Last winter, after surgery was easy, because I still had a lot of insulation, and I wasn't outside much then. I don't know how I'll bring myself to get out of bed and go jog at 5:45am when it's cold outside...

Thanks for reminding me! I should've mentioned that I mostly have seafood. It's the easiest for me. Baked salmon, canned tuna, shrimp, crab, etc.

I'm 8 months post-op, and my post-op eating schedule ended after 8 weeks - except they said no alcohol or tough meat like steak for 6 months. So that meant I could have raw fruits at your point, maybe a week after. I haven't run into anything that I can't tolerate. Dry meats, like chicken breast, can still feel like a rock going down. Depends on how it's cooked. I stay away from anything tough. Probably a forever thing. The only thing that's made me feel sick and like I really wanted to throw-up (I haven't thrown up/can't) was spinach and artichoke dip on bagel crackers. I ate it over enthusiastically... Too much too fast, and it was so painful. I did that to myself two days in a row, and I won't make it again. That's a me problem though, not the food.

At this point (8 months post-op), I very rarely snack. If I do it's string cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, turkey pepperoni, turkey Jerky, laughing cow wedge or PB2 & a flat bread cracker, popcorn, or 1/2 Quest bar. Regarding PB2 - It makes a great addition to shakes. I added some to an Eggface 5min cake (http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2010/04/that-takes-cake.html) (I used Syntrax Matrix Peanut Butter cookie Protein powder, PB2, and topped with sugar free strawberry jelly and fat free whipped cream). By itself (mixed with Water as directed), PB2 tastes very much like straight peanuts. I mean, it's supposed to, but I add a little vanilla Torani to sweeten it.

I really can't point out what I'm most proud of. I'll have to reflect on that. My most memorable moment is also my least memorable. When I first found this site, of course I was looking at success stories and before and afters and imagining how it could be for me too. I remember one girl posting about how she was finally fitting in regular store XL shirts. I cried. I cried happy tears for the prospect of wearing XL. My perspective has changed so dramatically, and when I got there, it wasn't really moving for me. Certainly a success, but I've switched gears so much to being fitter, healthier, and feeling good and not just smaller/lighter. Hitting gym and endurance goals is way more rewarding now. I bought my first pair of size 10 pants the other day. They're nearly impossible to sit in for now, but before, the idea of wearing 10s would have blown my freaking mind. Now I'm thinking when I reach my target body fat %, I'll be in 4/6. Before surgery, I thought I'd plateau and stop losing at 14/16.

I wish I could do either of those before breakfast and work. I have energy and strength issues in the morning, and the most I can manage is a walk with brief intermittent sprinting. Can't really call that cardio. If I try weights in the morning, I'll get queasy. That leaves after work. I do weights at the gym at 5pm, and I'll do C25K at 7:30pm.

Great piece! Now what's that treat pictured, and how can I make it? Yum.

I love this idea. Thanks!

Other than possibly future pregnancy, I'm determined not to be over 160 ever again. I need a bit of a buffer. Lol. My parents have started the "slow down" and "don't push yourself" comments. Even during my very first race, my dad was trying to get me to walk. Pushing myself is the point. I added some pics to my photo gallery: http://www.bariatricpal.com/gallery/album/20384-befores-durings-afters/

I want to try the new chips, but I have a feeling they'll be a slider or trigger food for me. I didn't have a "thing" for chips before, so I don't know.. It's amazing that they're managing about 22gr protein/140 calories. Super impressed!

I just have to say thanks again to everyone. This is such a welcoming, motivating, and informative site. It has helped me a lot. I'm so glad it was recommended to me, and I've recommended it to many others.

I wanted to do something special to Celebrate having lost 100lbs. What better way to proclaim the accomplishment than with a photoshoot? The soil actually weighed 94lbs, but close enough. I'm so happy with how it turned out!

I had a nightmare about eating bread once. I woke up worried, but it passed. Are you very anxious about it when awake? You say you're terrified, but it seems like you're doing well and are proud.

Super congrats!! It's so inspiring to have someone with the same stats and surgery date that is so successful. It's slowed for me too, and it's just so awesome that you're reaching the goal well ahead of your surgeon's time frame. Can't wait to see the photos!! I'm close at your heels. I've actually reached my surgeon's max goal for me. He said between 140 - 160. I'm 159.8! My personal goal is 140 though. That's only mostly true. I'm hoping to get and keep my body fat % down to 22ish%.

And I got my shirt in.

@@katesuccess - Same here! It's so bad that on Tuesday, when I did C25K and had to jog 25 mins straight, FitBit thought only 6 of those minutes were "active".

I was nervous and embarrassed at first too. Everyone starts somewhere. And now I love having a trainer and look forward to my sessions. Not a single con. It holds me accountable, keeps me motivated, and I get results. I was sleeved mid-December 2013, and I've worked with my trainer once a week since February. Compared to what I could lift in February, I've at least doubled all the weights. On some level you want to impress them, and I'm my strongest and can do the most reps when I work with him. I've learned so many different exercises. A friend asked what I did at the gym, and my honest response was "What don't I do?" Last week we did this planking thing with my feet on upside down frisbees. I had to slide my legs apart and then together and do as many of these scissors as I could. I maxed out three times and loved it. When I first started PT, I couldn't hold a plank for a second. So painful!! If I'd been on my own, I would have just accepted that. Or I would have focused more on crunches, tried planking again, failed again, and then would have given up for good. He found the problem though. It wasn't that my core was weak per se, but my back was very weak, and that has dramatically improved. Thank goodness for his expertise! I contractually committed to 6 months of training, but I just extended it another 6 months.