sheilarae

I did it! I walked 10 minutes today. My word for the year is "WALK". Right now my neck and back are killing me...but I walked!!

Fiddleman, I actually like everything on Oprah's list. I am especially fond of agave nectar and dark honey. I have a friend who gets his stevia shipped from South America somewhere. I am nuts about blackstrap molasses but it is sometimes hard to find.
When all else fails I have my wife stick her finger in my coffee, she's mighty sweet.

I'll stick to time. My blood pressure MEDS keep my heart rate from going up! Starting slow so I won't quit. Moved to January Challenge.

I did it! I walked 10 minutes today. My word for the year is "WALK". Right now my neck and back are killing me...but I walked!!

I did it! I walked 10 minutes today. My word for the year is "WALK". Right now my neck and back are killing me...but I walked!!

I did it! I walked 10 minutes today. My word for the year is "WALK". Right now my neck and back are killing me...but I walked!!

You're not hijacking. I wanted to see a discussion and I thank those so far that have responded. I'm stilly confused about the fact, that, according to mayo Clinic sugar substitutes don't alwsyd affect blood sugar but sugar alcohol can. Not all artificial sweeteners contain sugar alcohol. My family is still actively debating this and Iis leaning toward saying using a little sugar is healthier. My head is spinning.

Ok. Since I just started physical therapy because of a car accident...car totaled...I comment to walking at least 10 minutes a day.

Ok. Since I just started physical therapy because of a car accident...car totaled...I comment to walking at least 10 minutes a day.

Ok. Since I just started physical therapy because of a car accident...car totaled...I comment to walking at least 10 minutes a day.

I'm 7 months out and have been single a long time. Also "old". 62, but I teach 4-5 year old kids so you'd never know it! Wouldn't know how to act on a date but I'm interested in meeting new people.

No way. All good!

Your kids are younger than mine so they may have some of the "What a mom is supposed to look like" thing going maybe?
My 24 year old was forced to admire me in my jeans and t-shirt today and he and I have a very close and open relationship. He says to me, "Mom not only are you getting skinnier, but your boobs aren't getting smaller either which is good!"
So they do get over the "What a mom should look like" thing

GG, this sounds like me. I hadn't thought of it as being bored, but I suppose that's a good description. I found myself wishing (a little) that I could get a tweak to my surgery so I would have more restriction and less desire to eat like I did a year ago when newly sleeved. Absurd, I know. However, all that physical discomfort made it easy to stay laser focused on the prize. As i get closer to goal, looking and feeling pretty normal, I find myself in a bit of a quandary. On one hand I think I've done great and lost enough weight, and on the other hand I know my BMI is far from normal. Then I think who cares, I look fine. Then I think I'm just making excuses for myself so I can stop obsessing so much. I just want to be DONE! I hate always having to replace clothes, and not having enough in my closet for a decent wardrobe. Then I think how great it would be to wear a size 6. Blah, Blah, Blah. On and on. I drive myself nuts, and I know I drive my poor husband and kids nuts, too. Hence, the above post, where I've had to take a little mental hiatus. Honestly, I can eat right and I'm pretty sure I can maintain for life....I just had SO much to lose, I'm a little worn down from it, and I'm wondering "are we there, yet?" What a crazy way to think - but there it is!

Squirrel!
What??

I hate to post this on top of RJ's beautiful post, so RJ please know I read it and appreciate your viewpoint as always.

I was diagnosed with ADHD several years ago…maybe even as many as 5? I don't know. I saw something shiny.
But seriously, I was pretty diligent about taking the medication for a while and I still do occasionally when I have a big project that requires my laser focus. But two things hold me back from taking it regularly. The first is that (for me anyway) I am prescribed by a psychiatrist who handles my husband and daughter's medication; she is not covered by our insurance, and she is expensive. And she (smartly) requires follow-ups. As much as I think it's a bit of a racket, I know that the check-ins are important and they have the greater need for them right now. The second is that I've had this all my life and being in my 40s have already come up with some pretty fantastic coping strategies. I don't think it's a coincidence that the kind of work I do is kind of ADHD in nature. I manage two different nonprofits and am constantly shifting gears and being interrupted. I might go from writing a grant to talking to a donor to settling a dispute to making up name cards in a two hour period. So my tendency to get distracted is not usually a problem; if I were the type of person who had to do everything in a specific order or be upset, I would not be as successful at what I do.
The odd thing that I have noticed about being sleeved is that when "what/when am I going to eat" is taken off the table, the effect on my work is strangely similar to taking my adderall. Because I also like to cook. So I guess knowing that I will go to the fridge and cut up some chicken breast for myself at 11:30, means that I don't drop everything and run to the store to get stuff to make that new recipe I want to try. I just keep working at what I'm doing. I am still cooking a lot for my family, but for example last night I had planned to make them an Italian Pasta dish out of some leftovers from earlier in the week, and I knew it wasn't going to work for me. So I made it, went to work out, came back and made myself some steak. In the past I would have started it around 4:30, poured a glass of wine, skipped the workout, and said, "Oh, eff it" and eaten with them.
When I really stop and list the little adjustments like this it's mind-boggling.
What was I talking about again? Oh yeah. I have the ADHD.

When I was 380 lbs...I thought about my situation and weight and what I could or should do about it almost every minute of the day and night..What i went through and how it was molding me into a very sad and lonely person...Looking at the results of not doing anything was a wheel chair or worse...Every moment I was consumed with it...
Now as I am losing and stalling and gaining, I love the whole idea that I am no longer in a place where I know it was every day that it could have been the end of me.....
I posted yesterday something similar to this....worrying about myself getting to goal and will I be ready...I am enjoying the new me..The fact that I can do so much and have energy...
I don't think about it every min. but when I talk about it I still talk as if I cured hunger for the entire world..I am still fascinated that I was able to come this far and accomplish all of this with as much as I have gone through.....
I deserve to be thin and healthy, I paid dearly for the right..Will it bore me..I hope so, I hope it becomes so routine that I never think about it or talk about it anymore and that how I look when it is all over will be me....A fat me a distant memory...The new me rising above the limited life of who I was before...
Bored, never.....
I talk less about it now then I used to, except on here...My hubby and daughter and friend bare the burden of listening to me about all of the ups and downs.....But in my case I almost died..I appreciate the fact that I am here to talk about it.....
They seem to concur.....
I will never look at this as just a part of my life..This was a new beginning for me and I will always think of it as not a diet, not a program....but a miracle that gave me back my life.....

Okay, here is my advice.... don't be scared, do something about it.
The best way to keep that feeling of "tightness" is to eat in such a way to keep it tight.
-Eat until no longer hungry, do not regularly "fill" your stomach
-Don't drink with meals, do not pack that stomach
-Avoid sliders - you know, the foods like crackers or chips that you can eat literally a whole bag and still feel you have room for more
-Eat the dense, filling Protein food first. For me, beef or chicken is most filling, but salmon or other things can be too. Eat your few ounces of that and if you are not full, have a bit of veggies. Skip the potatoes, and any sliders.
-Consider reducing your sugars - by that I mean reduce carbs. For some of us, carbs/sugars increase our appetite. I eat very limited fruit, bread, rice, noodles because those foods trigger hunger and don't satiate me.
-Watch out for Protein Bars and other "health foods" as many of them are high carbs/sugar and don't fill you up very well. I argue they are somewhat "candy like" and tend to trigger food cravings. Protein drinks that are low carb have worked well for me though.
I am 2 years out, I have lost 160# and in maintenance. The sleeve doesn't prevent me from eating anything, but it is a tool that helps me adhere to my healthy eating plan, if that makes sense.

I eat the good carbs. Old fashion oatmeal with skim milk and some vanilla Protein Powder and cinnamon for Breakfast ( or an egg. ) I might have a mini whole wheat bagel or small apple with T Peanut Butter, whole wheat crackers( 4 am squares ) and a cheese stick, Danon Light and Fit Greek yogurt. , or Cottage cheese and fruit as meals. I was told to have carbs with Protein as a snack. I also drink Protein Drinks throughout the day. I know I should eat more veggies but they bother my pouch unless they're mushy. Yuk. I ALS eat one good fat a day. If I don't eat PB then I have almonds, walnuts, or avocado.

I'm from Tyler. Dr Fox in Dallas did my surgery June 24.