SmilinNC

I told no one, not a single soul...my health is my business is how I see it. People can be mean, intentionally & unintentionally. I definitely would never want a coworker of mine to know because most of mine are gossips. I tell people 'not enough' when they ask me how much I've lost & that I'm doing WW for the billionith time (which I do attend each week) & hitting the gym again (which I am). Do what is best for you, but remember once you tell someone you can't take it back..

I work with several people that have had it -- and I have stuck to keeping my business private. I tell everybody that I cut out fast food and junk food, cut out carbs, drink lots of Water, and exercise my ass off. All of this is true. I love that I kept it to myself. Because I don't want my food to be inspected every day at lunch and I don't need everybody discussing my decision- as I have heard so many judge the folks I work with that are open about their business.
I love that it is my secret. I still have done all the hard work.

I think you should go. Change of scenery would help some of your pain & misery. As for the reception or eating times, you could always excuse yourself for the initial, go stretch out in your room, have a Protein Shake etc & then go back to join for the activities. Amazing what some laughter, activity & change of scenery can do for the mind & body!

2 days!!!! Im so excited!

Hey, if you want to risk your post-op recovery, go for it. I'm glad you feel fine...and I hope you don't have the "one time" you don't.

Couldn't agree more! I work the night shift.....and sadly lots of 12 hour shifts with no breaks. Eat what you can, when you can. We're busy taking care of our patients......

I'm up & headed to the hospital to check-in! Whew! Today is really here... I'll post again when time permits! Later!!!

Blegh. Finally hit under 200 lbs, went on vacation this week, and what do I do? Fall off the wagon! Feeling pretty disappointed in myself. I know better than this, but I went & hit the trifecta: slider foods, not tracking, and grazing!
Trying hard to get back on track today and not beat myself up about it, but it's hard. I'm used to self-sabotaging (kind of wondering if that's behind all this - I typically panic when I diet & get close to 200, self-sabotage, then give up. Only difference here is I broke 200 and am at 198). Also used to that old habit of berating myself for not being able to follow through on changing my habits, self-criticizing - you know the drill. All the mean things we say to ourselves.
Trying to think of some of the positive things I can take from this. Like - I learned that I feel crappy when I eat carbs and 'normal' when I eat Protein. I learned that although I can definitely eat a lot of carb-y slider foods, they definitely do not process well through my system, and being stopped up is not fun. I also learned that I do better when I am accountable; when no one is looking I get sneaky. Sneaky is not good. Sneaky makes me depressed and lonely and fat.
So....I am tracking on MFP again after largely ignoring it for 4 days. (I am zenandnow23 on MFP if you want to friend me and kick my a** in gear.)
I'm going to have my Premier shakes and Water today & try to get myself back in the protein mindset. In other words, DETOX!!
And I am going to *try* not to be mean to myself for not doing so great over the past few days...but I gotta admit, I'm feeling pretty down.

Great article about discovering what you're really hungry for instead of just denying certain foods:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/is-psychology-making-us-sick/201308/want-lose-weight-find-out-what-you-are-really-hungry
Lynda

223lb in before. 174 in after pics

I wish I could. I even called the dietician and she said no protein.
A little juice diluted with Water twice a day and a cracker if I feel light headed.
They are serious about the no protien...
Only a couple more days.... Thanks for the advice though! I was looking at all of the Protein Shakes and water I have in the fridge for after surgery and wanted to down one so bad.... lol. I was good though and had a Coke Zero instead hoping the caffeine helps!
Laura

I promise myself that I'd return a year after to the same spot in Hearst Castle...

Not many pounds to some but this feels great to me....from a size 18-10 so far. On vacation now and trying to keep up the physical activities (bike riding) but love the progress so far

Sent from my iPad using VST

7 months and 70 pounds down. Not bad. Not spectacular but I count myself has pretty much smack in the middle average.
It's been long enough now since my surgery that I have some thoughts on the thing as a whole. I did NOT go into this thinking it was going to be simple or fast, and that has played itself out pretty true to form. I DO believe that someone could lose weight as the same pace I have without surgery, but until I had surgery I was not successful so I DO NOT regret following through with this. Different strokes for different folks, but for me, I needed this.
Hunger is not what it was before surgery although around the 6th month mark it has made a comeback. Until that point I never felt hungry physically. I am much more in control of myself though, having had a break from what I always experienced as INTENSE hunger pains. Now, I do get hungry, and if its been TOO long I get dizzy too, but I don't feel that deep burning in the pit of my stomach like I might dry heave if I don't eat something anymore.
Now, for the aforementioned tips.
Plan your food, especially if you know its going to be a difficult day. For me, my hardest days are when I go to work. That's why I'm up so early in the morning, coffee in hand, entering things into MyFitnessPal before my day starts. It's easier to stick to plan when you actually have a plan, have your calorie count and calculated results (myfitnesspal always gives you a projected weight)
Don't get hung up on perfection. There are MANY a person on this forum who will chew you up one side and down the other because you ate a piece of pizza and here is what I have to say about that. If you are eating pizza and other assorted less than ideal foods with no reguard for calorie count please do not come here expecting hand holding. You know what you are doing. HOWEVER, even 'junk food' can be worked into a plan if you are willing to work around it. If you have GOT to have that donut, fine, but you are going to need to pass the fat/sugar/calories somewhere else in that day to make that work. Is it worth all that work just to eat something like pizza or a donuts? I don't know, only you can judge that.
Fast food will blow your count out of the Water so damn fast your head will spin. Before anyone gets their panties in a twist, I'm not talking about side salads, I'm talking Mcdonalds Breakfast sandwiches, cheeseburgers, fries... Best to keep your ass as far away from the drive through as possible.
SODA, the eternal question... Is it OK? Is it not OK? I say go with whatever your surgeon says on this one. Mine says its next to impossible to stretch a sleeve but still says soda is a bad call and I can understand why. First of all, we really shouldn't be drinking our calories, and I don't know about you guys but if I'm drinking soda I CAN'T EAT. I can manage maybe two bites but the carbonation just takes up too much space. I do have some blood orange san pellegrino in my fridge but it doesn't get touched very often. Frankly, I'd rather eat.
My weight loss has certainly slowed, but that is to be expected, I'm not 300 pounds anymore, but I am having to kick it into gear a little more than I used too. The second I start neglecting myfitnesspal I start slipping in the weight loss department so I know what I need to do. I have to work a long shift today but if anyone has any general questions I WILL be coming back to this thread

Sometimes people just get lucky. I am happy that recovery is going so well for you.

I'm the 14th also

I am definitely struggling with "head hunger" and true hunger today. I'm on clears until Tuesday, and I think I'd feel better if I was able to have something with any significant calories. I'm weak, exhausted, and can't stop thinking about food. I'm worried about how I will handle my two young sons on Monday (my first day on my own again). Are these emotions normal? I'm very edgy and emotional right now, and would give anything for a little bit of milk, Protein Shake, or Soup (not broth!!).
It's an "alone" feeling right now. I don't know anyone I can talk to about these emotions, so I'm hoping someone here has been through this! Thanks for reading this whining. I am irritated with myself!

I am 4 wks post op and i know i still have probably 2 more wks before i can return to yoga/pilates but will i have to wait longer to start a strength trainning program? cuz you know skinny girls look good in clothes but FIT girls look good naked. Joking, but i do need to strengthen my body. what has worked for everybody?

Crystal light, broth of any kind, SF Jello, SF popsicles, apple juice and white grape juice anything clear.

Hello all North Carolinians! My surgery Went very well! I had it on Wednesday August 7. I feel great just home relaxing and watching lots of tv trying to get in these liquids. So happy I did this and I can't believe it's over! Congrats to everyone. Dr Carl Lowe is absolutely amazing!

Wow....how in the world did I miss this thread when it first came out? I gotta give it a bump. Laura, I never chewed anything and spit it out.....but I did lick the seasoning off some wheat thins, and then my sweet lab mix ate the evidence. We both were happy....it was a win/win.

Birth control blow darts... 'nuff said

I'm sure there are alot of August 19th'ers on here! My brain is exhausted from all of the see-sawing from unbridled excitement to parlyzing fear. lol. Best of luck to everybody!