Ava324

Oh, how I suffer with this! I have a desk job, and outside of designated exercise time, I'm rather sedentary. But I exercise a lot. Today is my only rest day for the week. Two mornings I went for a jog/walk, four days of bootcamp, a personal training session, and Sunday I have a 4 mile race. Bootcamp is the real killer, because we do a lot of core exercises on the floor. I have to roll up a mat for under my tail bone, and it's still very painful. And not just weight-bearing pain. If I poke it, it's sore. Bruised? Not sure when it'll have a chance to recover from the abuse..

I'm pretty sure it's a bad-ish thing, as it certainly doesn't feel good. Not painful though. The tingling is mostly at the back of my head, and it's also sometimes accompanied with a cold feeling through my body. I feel a little faint, but nowhere close to actually fainting. I brought it up to my personal trainer a few weeks ago, and he didn't know what it was and jokingly said it was endorphins pumping. Yesterday I started the day with a 3 mi. interval (1:1) jog and walk. I had a pre-workout snack an hour before PT (5pm), but I still went into it with under 400 calories for the day. I had a head tingling spell during my session (very intense circuit with cross-jacks, power squats, stance-jacks, suicides, kettle ball swings, etc.). I didn't have to take a break to sit down at any point, and my heart-rate recovery was pretty good. I stay hydrated with ease.. I had a 20 minute break before my bootcamp class.. I brought up the tingling with my bootcamp instructor and he said it was a sign of over-exertion and that it's potentially dangerous. Fainting and coma dangerous. He had a football teammate who had frequent episodes of it and would sometimes faint. The internet is scary and there are all sorts of neurological causes, but mostly I find it on forums for people with MS and such, not just during a workout.. So I don't think those causes apply to me. My breathing and heart seem fine during the workout, so is it just fatigue? Do I just need to up the calories a bit? Or cut back on how hard I'm pushing myself? Has anyone experienced this before?

I thought "un-laws" was intentional and a new term for in-laws you don't get along with. Lol. I've been pretty open about surgery, but for sure I've never had someone who didn't know comment about my portion sizes.

142. Yay! I'm kicking serious exercise butt in order to reach my big goal by my one-year mark (12/10) and to maintain through the holidays and the end of this challenge. Sorry to ask this for just one pound, but can my challenge goal be changed to 139?

You may already be doing this, but drinking from a cup with a lid (not through a straw though) helps. The smell of the Protein can be a big contributing factor. I haaate cleaning blender bottles if it's sat for 6+ hours. Gag. I'm a big fan of the Healthwise/Nutriwise drinks. This website has the best prices I could find, and they carry the full collection (unlike my surgeon's office): http://www.bariatriclifestylediet.com/brands/NutriWise.html. The classic hot chocolate is mah jam (15 grams protein and only 80 calories). I've tried most of their drinks, so PM me if you have any questions.

Can't speak about the safety of them, but I agree about the carbs. I haven't touched traditional noodles (or Pasta, rice, or bread) in about a year. Last weekend I made shrimp pad thai with theeese: http://www2.netrition.com/sea_tangle_kelp_noodles.html (6 calories per serving, and obviously, we don't have regular sized servings - so maybe 3 calories) http://www2.netrition.com/nooodle_angel_hair.html (0 calories! made out of pre-biotic Fiber, so they're good for you) So even if you stay away from noodles during recovery just to be safe, you can still look forward to healthy noodles that fit in your plan.

Honestly, I think there's been a negative effect on my cognition.. Since surgery, I suffer from frequent afternoon "fuzzy brain". I'm pretty much zapped at the end of the work day and I make many more mistakes. Especially typos, and I'm often kicking myself for sending a team-wide email with gibberish. Or I'll create a calendar entry with subject "Deadlineinee to..." What?! It's similar with getting a point across verbally in the afternoons. I'll have to take long pauses because I lose train of thought and am trying to get it back..

9W to 7.5 medium. I can't even wear the shoes I bought when my pre-op shoes got too big.. Also my ring size went from 8.5 to 6.

Morning and directly after work on my way home. Different types of exercise though. I run into energy issues if I try lifting weights in the morning. I'll get very queazy if I try before 10ish. Morning is my preference though, so that's when I do my cardio, and I do my best.

145. No change, which I'll take, because I was up to 152 during the week. Apparently fluids (IV during endoscopy) + TOM + salty foods = 7 pounds in 3 days. ><

Currently 145 Goal 140 I hope to hit goal beforehand but the trick will be to come out of the holidays holding it... Or back to it.

Yessss! Last week: 146 Goal: 145 Today: 144

I'm at goal today, but I want to sustain for the end of the challenge tomorrow.. Will post then! @@Evolving Here's the next challenge. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/322801-holiday-challenge/

My PCOS has been in remission since month 3 post-op. My PCOS doc now treats me like a regular patient, and I only have to go in for annuals. I cried at that news. I keep track of my food, exercise, and weight daily (minus a month+ "vacation' from it..), and I definitely stay on plan better when I'm writing it all down. I'm 6 lbs from my goal, and these are the biggies that helped me get to where I am now: supportive and encouraging spouse that is completely on board with keeping temptations out of the house (he's lost 70+ lbs "second-hand") my gym (I go at least 4 times a week, which includes working with a personal trainer and boot camp classes) Couch to 5K app (also known as "C25K". This got me in touch with my goal driven side and now jogging is therapeutic, and I look forward to running events that I register for well in advance. I'm training for a mini-marathon (4 mi.) now.) local support group (luckily mine meets weekly just 20 mins away, has about 10+ regulars, and is led by a social worker) keeping calories between 600-800/day (this works for me... My intake is actually a little higher, because I don't count my chewable Vitamins, mints or tums. If this was "too" low, I'd feel bad, but my energy is pretty good. I don't get headaches or blurred vision anymore. I know what blood sugar issues feel like. Also, the lighter and more fit you are, the lower your BMR (basal metabolic rate, i.e. calorie need) is. I'm still working to get these last 6 lbs off, and I'll probably switch to the 5:2 plan for maintenance.) various food/recipe blogs (I honestly love food more than ever. There are so many creative options, and I generally have fun with cooking dinner. Mini hamburger meatloaves, "cupcake" meals like lasagna and chicken enchiladas, philly cheese steak stuffed bell pepper, etc. I also have a raging sweet tooth, and I find "skinny" deserts.) Diet wise, for Breakfast and lunch, I eat like a little kid. I had a cup of Protein hot chocolate for breakfast, and I have a bento lunch box in the fridge today. It has 4 almond crackers, 1/2 serving of tuna salad (1 pack low-sodium tuna, 2 tablespoons plain yogurt - no mayo, a diced hard boiled egg, and seasoning), and 4 small strawberries. All that will put me at 203 calories. I'm contemplating half a gladiator smoothie before boot camp for the extra protein. Dinner will be 4 oz of butternut squash quinoa salad and two slices of deli honey ham rolled up. Probably followed by a serving of Arctic Zero.

I personally need the gym for accountability. I change into workout clothes and stop at the gym before going home. My gym, a small Anytime Fitness, will actually call if you stop showing up. I got the call early in my membership when I missed 10 days in a row. I loved that. The staff knows you by name, and there's a comradery between the regulars. I love my personal trainer and the 3xs a week boot camp I joined. You mentioned building strength, and I don't believe I'd be lifting half of what I do without the motivation and routine my gym membership provides me.

Love Quest bars! My favorites have changed, so I highly recommend revisiting some if you don't like them at first. I didn't like the white choc. raspberry one, and now it's my favorite! chocolate chip cookie dough was my favorite, and now I find it a bit too salty. I order mine from luckyvitamin.com, which lets you order by bar or by box, and it's still the same $2.09/bar. My husband is a Quest bar hater, because he doesn't like the texture. Basically it's Protein powder held together with a thick fiber syrup. But he likes them cooked/incorporated into another recipe. These are delish!! I've made them a whole bunch of times.. Quest Bar Peach (or Cherry) Cobbler (4 servings) Ingredients: Crumble: 1 Quest Bar Vanilla Almond Crunch rolled flat 1 teaspoon coconut oil 1 teaspoon dry oats ¼ teaspoon butter extract (optional) Filling: 2 medium peaches or 37 cherries 1 scoop Protein Powder (I use Body Fortress Vanilla - 30 grams of protein/scoop) ¼ teaspoon cinnamon Optional Topping: 2 tablespoons Fat Free whipped cream Method: Preheat oven (I use a tabletop toaster oven) to 400 degrees. Roll Quest Bar out with rolling pin (I put the bar in a folded piece of wax paper so it doesn't stick to the pin), spray pan, and bake for 3 minutes or until slightly browned and crisped. Remove from oven and cool. Reset oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, stir together the peaches, protein powder, stevia and cinnamon. Divide between 4 small ramekins. Take the Quest Bar and pulse in a mini blender FIRST then add coconut oil, butter extract and sweetener. Stir in dry oats. Sprinkle on top of the peaches. Bake for 15 minutes. Pro: 13.75; Cal: 126.5 (peach) or 135.5 (cherry); Carb: 8.5 (peach) or 10.5 (cherry); Fat: 3.5 Fat Free Whipped Cream: 0 - 5 - 1 - 0 There are many more recipes. Check out Quest's "cheat clean" videos! Like I mentioned before, Quest Bars are basically protein powder with a fiber syrup. It's called VitaFiber, which you can order from here: http://vitafiber.myshopify.com/. I haven't tried them yet, but there are a whole bunch of options for making your own "Quest" bars. Pecan Pie Quest bar- 1/4 cup caramel flavored protein powder - 2 tbsp VitaFiber - 7 pecans - 1 tsp vanilla extract - 1/2 baby cookie, crumbled into small pieces

Count me in. Thanks so much for this! Love the holiday colors of the spreadsheet too.

Just have to say again that it's a process. Your body will get there on its own time and in its own way. If you stick to your plan, it WILL get there.

26 years old here, and I had everything going for me except for genetically good elasticity. I'm young, I wasn't that that big and not that big for that long. I've hydrated, dry brushed, soaked in coconut oil, taken Gelatin, etc. for months. Bottom line though.. the skin on my arms and thighs are ripped to bits. Poor elasticity, tons of stretch marks (scars), and irreparable saggy wrinkly damage. No regrets here either! And I keep up with the skin care and supplements anyhow. Love dry brushing.

I'd think not. If by full liquid, you mean you're in the broth stage, then no. I was told to strain absolutely everything. Contact your team to confirm, or wait til you can have yogurt to be safe.

The procedure is working. It's a process and your body is responding to the shock of it. The fluids you got during surgery could explain it alone. Glycogen plays a big role, and your body is working to mobilize fat for energy use: http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.php. During all of your frequent future and lengthy stalls, you may be losing inches instead. I found that I'd lose -> shrink -> lose -> shrink. You're right. It is quite actually impossible to not to lose weight when you're complying with the post-op plan. The FitBit app, where I log my daily weight, graphs my progress. It isn't a straight and pretty line to goal. I've gained a few pounds back here and there. At first this made me panic. Then, I'd be happy by it! If I gained 2, I knew a quick 5lb loss was at the end of it. The human body is a very complex machine on a cellular level. No body is the same, and yours is just "doing it's thing". This journey is a long and emotional process. Your procedure is working and your body is processing. If you take the steps to be successful, you will be. Period.

146. One pound and one week to go. This sucker is coming off so hard!

Ditto on the hunger and cravings. I jumped off the food logging wagon a month ago, and I have pretty much stalled and wildly fluctuated between 147 - 152 since. I really do want to get to 140, but don't quite have enough motivation to be as rigid as I was before..

I use truvia and Monk Fruit in the Raw. I couldn't tolerate the pure natural stevia I found. That bitter after-taste is too funky for me.

I'm a ways from getting plastics, as I'm still on a pride high on my loss and don't mind that my arms "give me away". Two years from now I may feel differently about them, and if I was going to nip/tuck something, it'd be my arms. Pre-op, mine were shaped like this: http://www.dbreath.com/images_content/before-arm-lift-knoxville-brachioplasty.jpg I still have that crease line, and that's actually the marker I use for measuring consistency. >< Scar wise, I could totally live with this: http://www.allaboutplasticsurgery.com/revis-photos/set2brachi8.jpg I went to the Your Weight Matters 2014 convention in September, and the attendants (500ish) were pretty much all WLS peeps at various stages. I saw lots of plastics. What I noticed most and what I'm more afraid of than the scar is that it'll look chopped. I saw tons of that at the convention! Let's say there was no scarring.... I'd rather keep my bat wings over this... http://www.palmaplasticsurgery.com/photos/brachioplasty_pt_5_right_front_after.jpg To me the unnatural appearance is far more noticeable.