grateful-1

For me, normal means being able to get through the day without thinking - no, OBSESSING - about what I am going to eat next. (Check!)
For me, eating normal means I can go to a restaurant and eat what I've ordered happily without looking at what everyone else is eating, dying for a taste and wondering how I could get a bite without looking like the pig that I am. (Check!)
For me, normal means getting one small plate of food and eating it slowly while actually enjoying it instead of inhaling it like a spit shined Hoover. (Check!)
For me, normal means being able to have just a smidge of cake or a taste of ice cream with the will power to not take another and then another and then another. (Check with the caveat that this one may trip me up later.)
For me, eating normally means that my choices are 90% healthy and 10% yummies that hold little nutritional value instead of the other way around. (Check with the above note.)
For me, normal is not binge eating on a regular basis or eating secretly while being ashamed of myself. (Check and a promise made to myself from my pre-op day forward.)
I know my normal will always involve tracking, planning, reminding myself to slow down and enjoy the moment, etc. I know I will never eat and drink at the same time as "normal" people do. My goal is to be unleashed from the chains that I feel food has captured me in and so far, I'm thrilled. I know every day is a new day, and there will be many traps on the road that I am traveling, but I am going to make healthy my normal without the total deprivation that I know will be my downfall.
It's a fine line that will be very hard to balance on, but a balancing act I am determined to learn!

I found a tiny little thrift store in my area, that is cheap, and the $$ goes to a domestic violence shelter. My hubby jokes that I rent stuff from them. I buy it, wear it a few times and then drop it back off when it's too big. The girls that work in the sorting area have started keeping the smaller sizes for me. Last time I was there I spent $25 and got 6 outfits. All in size 10-12 and Med. They love the fact that when I donate, everything is clean, folded and sorted, all they have to do it hang it and put it on the rack. And they have celebrated my major milestones with me. I got into a size 10 jeans for the very first time there, and the girls all cheered. It's funny when I go in, they always have something on hold that they either think will look good on me, or they are just curious to see if I can fit into it. I am going on a cruise the end of Jan, and they are already setting little sun dresses aside for me for my days in the islands.

Hardly anyone on this site will admit it but we've all been there. We all test our sleeves to see what it will handle.
Last nite we went to Hometown Buffet. I filled my plate and took 1 bite of each thing. 8 bites total. I even took 1 bite of 3 different Desserts. I didn't beat myself up for it cuz I live in the REAL world, where we eat what everyone else eats.
I did notice how many obese people eat there tho. Never really noticed it before. The table next to us had about 8 people, the least weighing in at about 230. They went back again, again, and again. It amazed me. I was satisfied with my 1 bite of each thing I loved.
Got on the scale this morning and I lost 1 lb! Yeah! Hometown Buffet and I actually lost 1 lb. Amazing....
Just pick yourself up and quit beating yourself up. Ur gunna eat pizza, Pasta, bread, and other "taboo" foods. It's great just being able to eat a couple bites of it tho, isn't it?
Thats what I luv about my sleeve.

This is my first post and I just wanted to get the pictures over with.My Surgery date was August 8 and I weighed 252.My CW is 220 and my next weigh in is in 4weeks on Nov.11.My doctor wants me to be 200 by then.I struggle everyday and seem to do better the days I work because I'm away from the house!When I'm at home I'm less active because I'm sooo tired!Anyway here's my pictures!I posted them on my FB page thinking no one would really be able to tell a difference because when I look in the mirror I don't see the loss everyone else does!The first picture was taken my Anniversary July 23 and the other Oct15.

Me too! I finally hit Onederland last week, and wanted to wait a week to make sure. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Have made it to onederland! I am soooo happy! Can't remember the last time I weighed under 200!

bread doesn't sit the best with me anymore. It's a blessing really cause I loved it so much. I make pizzas using low carb tortillas as crust that's about it. I'm 3 months post op, lost 35 lbs which is slow but my nut told me that the slower it comes off the less saggy skin and stays off for good meaning less likely to regain. Good luck and if you are dying for bread, eat a soft small pretzel

Wow, I am 3 months out and I do not limit myself! I eat breads and pasta!!! I do not crave it and I eat such little amounts it is not a big deal!!

I'm a new RN I also did not want to be an overweight nurse, while teaching others to be healthy. And I want to be able to be the best I can be for my patients And my family, of course.

I'm a new RN I also did not want to be an overweight nurse, while teaching others to be healthy. And I want to be able to be the best I can be for my patients And my family, of course.

It will get better. I think by week 4 I felt like I had never had surgery (except I couldn't eat as much). Hang in there.

In my experience sugar (and carbs) are very addictive, causing cravings for me. I try to do sugar free most of the time and now full sugar things are actually very sweet to me. In lessening my consumption of sweets I lessen the cravings for them so it is win-win. I do still have dessert every so often, though but I notice the next day I think about food more than I normally would.
I also subscribe to the idea of moderation. If you can have regular sugar but in low amounts that won't sabatoge your weight loss and dont' cause you cravings then I don't see an issue. Everyone tailors their "tool" to what works best for them. Good luck, you will do great!

This is very true. I was feeling sorry for myself yesterday. I woke up today 2 pounds lighter and it just reinforces my commitment to this. Everything will come in time. This is the new me and if I like it or not I got this surgery to enforce the new me from slipping back in to my old ways. The sleeve is doing its job.

Thanks for responding guys and letting me know what you can have. I am going through some mental hurdles right now trying to decide if this decision was the best decision of my life or the absolute worst. It does seem to get easier daily though. This is where the rubber meets the road though with me. I am 2 weeks and 1 day out. By now, if I were on a diet and not sleeved it would have flown out the window by now and I'd have a heap of McDonalds sitting in front of me as I typed this. But I can't now, this is my path. In a way I am mourning my old self but on the flipside to that coin, that person was literally killing me.
So thank you for sharing, it does get better.

I just turned one month yesterday.....
How are you guys doing after one month??
What are you eating? I still prefer soft stuff.
Are you able to drink your Protein? Me most of it.
Are you drinking all your fluids? I can't.
Are you guys exercising yet? I'm afraid to start.
How about them Vitamins? I'm taking regular pills
Any hair issues? I'm also taking Biotin to try to prevent.
How's your energy? I'm starting to feel much better, feel my energy coming back..

I had my gastric sleeve surgery on 9/4. I lost 6 lbs. the first 6 days post op then stayed the same for about 6 days. I was bumming out somewhat, and someone on here said do your measurements. I was really glad I did them before surgery. I took my measurements yesterday and lost a total of almost 17 inches!! I could not believe it. And I lost 2 more lbs as well. I read that because of consuming so much Protein, fat is turning into muscle which weighs about the same as fat but is smaller, hence losing inches and not weight. Than eventually the fat starts burning off. This made me very happy!! So, anyone who is not losing much in the beginning, I highly recommend measuring :)And I did lose 9 lbs. on the preop diet;so down a total of 17 lbs. and 17 inches. Yay!!!!

I know I will be getting this from my Dad. He is already asking me where I'm losing weight from. He says don't let your face get too skinny. Isn't there a way to make more weight come off your thighs? I said yeah sure Dad, I'll put my weightloss proportion order in right now.

I know I will be getting this from my Dad. He is already asking me where I'm losing weight from. He says don't let your face get too skinny. Isn't there a way to make more weight come off your thighs? I said yeah sure Dad, I'll put my weightloss proportion order in right now.

Ok, just a little update! I am not 4 days post-op and feeling great!!!! I had my surgery on monday afternoon september 16, 2013. I stayed in the hospital until wednesday afternoon, that day is still felt great. I've had no real pain, at least none the pain meds can't handle, and very little nausea. Yesterday, which was the day after I left the hospital, I decided that I would not spend it in bed and my daddy and I went to Walmart (first stop, i left my debit card at home and didn't realize it until after we finished shopping. had to go home, get the card and come back to the store. TRAGEDY.!) , Kroger, and Walgreens. I felt fine the entire time. Today, I returned to school! I have found some cream Soups and broths that I like, as well as my Protein Shakes and juices. I bought the flintstones complete Multivitamins, which are disgusting might i add, but since my surgeon and dietician don't like the gummies this is what I have to take. I did buy some prenatal gummies and Biotin just to add a little extra because I am NOT excited about losing my hair, I have been growing it since birth! lol!

Just had my first "oooh surely u can't have any more weight to lose.... got to be careful u don't get too thin"....
I explained patiently that I am still overweight and that I am trying to get to a normal BMI. But there was still a great deal of sucking of teeth before I was told I needed to be really careful or my pretty little face will collapse!
As this person never told me to look after myself when I was overweight, I am treating this as insincere concern ... but getting my defence ready for other comments. This is way harder than comments about the surgery, this feels more personal.... But bring it on, I am sooooo ready for the next comment :-))))

It's so funny to read this... it reminds me of the moment I had with my mom last week. All my life I've been 20+ lbs over weight. And every month she'd bring me a new pill, a new shake..something to help me lose weight. She was always on me "you're too pretty to be overweight" "you need to lose weight, i'm worried".
I was at her house last week..and SHOCK.. guess what? the comment of the day was "you're getting too thin, you look too old, don't lose anymore"..
ummm??? I'm only 139 (I'm 5'3, just barely hit 'healthy' for my size by 1 lb).
I can imagine what a shock it was for you to hear that from this person. It's funny to hear comments, who they come from and the times they choose to say them. I just giggle.
At the end of the day, Im proud of me..period. I'm healthy and that's all that matters.
And you are happy with yourself and where YOU want to be

Its all I can do to count calories. I don't count carbs or Protein. That's right, I don't count carbs or ptotein. I know, blasphemy. I still eat bread, rice, Pasta, and fruit. I don't eat enuf to really count however and I'm still losing. I had wls so Id never have to diet again. Counting stuff makes me feel like I'm dieting. Its all I can do to track my calories on MFP. I do that daily, trying to stay under 1,000 but its not the end of the world if its 1100 or 1200.
I know that low carb is anything less than 60 gms. Less than 30 is considered extremely low carb. My hubby is an Atkins fan and does less than 20 regularly. I tried it once for 2 weeks. I was miserable. Id rather eat carbs, just eat less food.
Good luck

I have a question. When you join these challenges, what do you do differently? I feel like I am doing everything I am supposed to, and I will either lose something by Halloween or not, but it's not in my control.
Sorry if I sound stupid, but I very much want to join a challenge of some sort. I recently hurt my back and am hobbling even to walk so I can't join a mini fitness challenge, and these seem to be the only other ones...but I don't know what to do to be successful at it?

I had my gastric sleeve surgery on 9/4. I lost 6 lbs. the first 6 days post op then stayed the same for about 6 days. I was bumming out somewhat, and someone on here said do your measurements. I was really glad I did them before surgery. I took my measurements yesterday and lost a total of almost 17 inches!! I could not believe it. And I lost 2 more lbs as well. I read that because of consuming so much Protein, fat is turning into muscle which weighs about the same as fat but is smaller, hence losing inches and not weight. Than eventually the fat starts burning off. This made me very happy!! So, anyone who is not losing much in the beginning, I highly recommend measuring :)And I did lose 9 lbs. on the preop diet;so down a total of 17 lbs. and 17 inches. Yay!!!!

I haven't had surgery yet, so I'm probably not much help.... BUT, you also have a lower starting weight than most people. So you may not lose as fast!