fat_free

I had a look...
I was alone...
Talked to myself for a while...
But then I got bored and started to troll myself...
So I yelled at myself and left...

I did something similar. I bought a beautiful skirt that was about 2 sizes too small, hoping that one day I could wear it. Sort of a motivation garment. Every time I saw it in my closet I was reminded of the future's "maybe". When I could finally wear it, I felt like a million bucks every time I put it on. The sad part is that eventually it became too big for me...or should I say I became too small for it...

Awesome visual

Awesome visual

This is another thing that gets me, the way my clothes fit. It's not a mystery that most clothing makers don't factor in 20 Lbs of excess skin when creating clothes. It will be so nice to be able to put on clothes with ease, rather than trying to re-fit a busted can of Pillsbury muffins back into the canister.

OK, I finally uploaded a couple pictures at the request of a friend. I still don't think I am to the "After" stage, but I am pretty damn close. Here is a picture from me that has to be at my highest weight. I didn't weigh myself back then so I am guessing that I was over 330 lbs:

It's funny, sometimes when I look in the mirror I don't recognize myself. But when I saw this picture, I literally asked who it was! I guess I am getting used to being this guy:

I am 3 years post op.
Before:

During:
I say during because I haven't had my first round of plastics yet. That's scheduled in May.

Here are my stats from my journey. From highest weight of 250 to lowest weight of 119. It's amazing I've really lost half a person.

As you begin the process of weight loss by changing what you eat, you’ll quickly feel better (and lighter).
For example, look at the difference in what you now purchase at the grocery store since your operation--you see much more ‘real food’ and far fewer pre-packaged items in the grocery cart now, that's for sure.
But fruits, vegetables, protein drinks and lean cuts of meat cost more than pre-packaged junk food, which can be attributed to one of the reasons some lower income people lose the battle with obesity.
Since you’ve made a decision to change your life, including what you eat, you’re going to be buying several of these healthier options in bulk, as they will serve as the new staples in your nutrition plan.


Your dietitian and bariatric support team will prescribe some foods and drinks that you will consume just about every day so it makes sense to buy these items in volume.
I love Facebook. It’s a way I can stay in touch with my patients (and their families) here in New Jersey between office visits and once they are on maintenance after reaching goal weight.
I recently posted a query asking my post-op patients what healthy staple items they buy from the big warehouse stores—BJ’s, Costco, Sam’s Club--and I received many helpful responses that I’d like to share with you.
Armed with these terrific recommendations below, you’ll eat healthier, save time, money and require fewer trips to the grocery store during your weight loss journey.
“What "go-to" items do you purchase from warehouse stores since weight loss surgery?”
· Premier protein shakes
· Protein bars
· Sam’s chicken sausage with mozzarella
· Muscle Milk
· Liter bottles of water
· Optimum Nutrition protein powders
· Frozen Mahi Mahi filets
· Cranberry almond chicken salad in 4 oz. cups.
· Chicken breasts and ground turkey
· Baby Bell light cheese
· Frozen veggies
· Veggie burgers
· Salmon fillets
· Fresh spinach
· Probiotic 10 and Fiber Gummies
· Ready-to-eat veggie tray
· Gold Standard Whey, Kirkland Fiber Caps, Opti-Fiber, Kirkland Calcium Citrate
· Mini cucumbers
· Bagged chopped kale salad
· Kirkland plain Greek yogurt
· Kirkland citrus green tea, Crystal Light
· Figgy Pops, Healthy Choice fudge bars
· Quinoa
· Chia seeds
If you are a member of these clubs, take an hour or two and really peruse the aisles in search of healthy products that support your nutrition plan. Keep in mind, many food items can be frozen and thawed when you need it to avoid spoilage.
Ask your IWL dietitian for more ideas or bring in a sample of a food or drink you’re not sure of (take a screen shot of the nutrition label before you buy it).
If you’d like to friend me on Facebook, I can be found here.

I don't know if you were asking me but I do, a lot. I run half marathons and do triathlons. Run 20+ miles a week and do yoga about three times a week. I have never been athletic and never ran or did yoga pre WLS but love it now

Thanks! Oh yes yeah it's under there lol! Not as bad as I feared and it does continue to get better... But I would like some "work" here's a pix of some....

Most people would agree that they need more time in a day. As our lives get busier, finding the time to prepare healthy meals for the week can be difficult. We often talk about preparing meals in bulk and freezing, but having to defrost the same meal over and over can become boring and lose its appeal.


To overcome this meal time monotony I like to freeze ‘meal bases’ that I then present in a variety of ways to create different meals.
These ‘meal bases’ are protein based making them perfect for managing meals post weight loss surgery. Below are three options I love to have on hand in the freezer.
Option One: Bolognaise Sauce
Make a large batch of your favourite bolognaise sauce (don’t forget to grate in a few vegetables to boost nutrition) and freeze in individual or family size portions.
Serve with a small portion of pasta (try risoni if you find pasta hard to tolerate).
Serve over couscous with a small side salad.
Pour over a baked potato and top with grated cheese and Greek yoghurt.
Pop in a wrap with shredded salad and cheese.
Serve on a grainy slice of toast – Burgen is a great option at approximately 4-5g protein per slice (depending on the variety).

Option Two: Mexican Style Chicken Mince
Cook onion, garlic and grated carrot with ground cumin and coriander. Add lean chicken mince and brown. Add one drained can of five bean mix and pour over a jar of your favourite salsa. You can add spinach, peas, mushrooms or any other of your favourite vegetables. Don’t be afraid to add some extra salsa if you need a little more moisture.
Place mixture into halved red capsicums and bake – top with avocado, Greek yoghurt and chilli flakes if you enjoy a little spice.
Serve in a taco shell with shredded/diced salad.
Serve in soft tortillas with shredded/diced salad.
Serve over ‘zucchini pasta’ (using a vegetable spiralizer).

Option Three: Tandoori Chicken
Marinate chicken tenderloins or chicken thigh fillet in a mixture of tandoori paste and Greek yoghurt.
Serve in wraps with raita, cucumber, carrot, coriander and chilli.
Serve with rice and steamed vegetables.
Top pizza base with mango chutney, add cooked chicken, red onion, spinach, chopped raisins, cashew nuts and cheese. Bake in the oven, then sprinkle with fresh coriander and extra Greek yoghurt.
Add to a salad of cucumber, carrot, coriander, mint and cashews. Dress with a mixture of Greek yoghurt, mango chutney and lemon juice and top with microwaved pappadams.

Happy cooking!

Got it. So to to have a little bit better muscle mass and achieve a little more weight loss, I just need to exercise 6 hours a day.
Excuse me while I tell my husband that being at the gym is now my full time job. I'm sure he will understand.

I am 16 months out. I never made goal I still need to lose 40 pounds . My lowest weight was 173 in August. I had gained weight and was at 187 at my dr. Visit last week. Needless to say my surgeon challenged me to lose 10 pounds in two months. Told him I thouj my sleeve was broken. Turns out I have been grazing. I kept saying few snack won't hurt me. They have killed me and Im so mad at myself. I'm going to Paris in June and want to look fab.
This week went back to basics and have lost 6 pounds since monday. I have gone back to basics as everyone on here suggested and it works. 1 Protein shake in morning , greek yogurt for lunch. Lean protein for snack when get home from work. Additional lean protein around 7 pm. Also have gotten in all my Water something I never did before. Keeping my carbs at 20 grams and my protein at 90. I am so grateful. That I have this forum to see that I'm not alone on this journey

Befor, after and during 11 months out 120 down 81% of excess weight gone!

The holidays may be the happiest and most exciting time of year, but they can also be the most dangerous for your weight loss and weight loss surgery. It’s hard to resist the holiday treats, which can be everywhere for the entire month of December – if not since before Thanksgiving! Plus, you can easily lose your focus when the family is around and sitting on the couch is more appealing than going for a walk in the rain or snow.


You’ll probably find your own strategies for getting through the holidays without gaining weight and without getting into trouble with your gastric sleeve, gastric bypass or Lap-Band. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Follow Your Weight Loss Surgery Diet Rules
Go back to the basics if you want to stay on track this holiday season.
Portion size rules are still in play. A quarter-cup of mashed sweet potatoes is very different than a few large ladles.
Measure everything you can. When it’s not possible to measure, eyeball the portion sizes.
Enough is enough, and another bite is too much. Stop eating when you’re barely full. It’ll keep you from gaining weight or from getting dumping syndrome or feeling sick.
Choose protein first, whether it’s turkey, ham, or the egg whites from deviled eggs.
Go for vegetables and fruit next, whether it’s salad, roasted veggies, cut raw veggies on a vegetable platter, or a fruit salad.
Keep moving. Make time for your regular workouts. On the days when things get too busy, think about moving as much as possible. Go for walks whenever you can as long as the weather does not involve icy conditions, white-outs or other dangerous situations.

Always Be Prepared
You don’t always know when they’ll happen, but challenging situations are sure to hit. Always be prepared so you can come out on top. For example, you can keep some almonds and yogurt at work so you have a high-protein snack available at any time. That’ll help you stay away from the chocolate-covered raisins on the secretary’s desk.
Also, plan activities that will keep you out of the kitchen. When you’re off work and at home without anything to do, you might find yourself wandering over to the fridge. Keep yourself busy with anything that will keep you away from the fridge, whether it is meal planning, taking a walk, doing needlepoint, or going to the mall.
Make Holiday Recipes Healthier
Make healthy substitutes for holiday favorites.
Try broccoli slaw or grated turnips fried in cooking spray instead of potato latkes deep-fried in oil, and serve with apple slices and Greek yogurt instead of sweetened apple sauce and sour cream.
Turkey or ham instead of duck or brisket.
Roasted root vegetables with rosemary or green beans with almonds instead of green bean casserole.
Roasted sweet potatoes or acorn squash instead of candied yams or sweet potato pie.
Baked apples with cinnamon instead of apple pie.
Hot tea with a cinnamon stick instead of hot cider or spiced hot wine.

Be a Good Guest and Host
How does that help you lose weight? When you’re a guest at someone’s party or event, bring a dish to share. The catch is that you make it a healthy dish. If there’s nothing else healthy for you to eat, you can always keep munching on the dish you brought.
If you’re hosting a holiday party or dinner, you can still serve everyone’s favorite dishes. Just make sure to make some dishes that you can enjoy, too. The following are good party dishes.
Shrimp cocktail
Skewers with cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and low-fat mozzarella or feta cheese
Stuffed tomatoes with fat-free cream cheese and olives
Salad with spinach or mixed greens, pistachios, and cranberry vinaigrette
Chicken and vegetable skewers
Roasted Brussels sprouts with chestnuts and sage
Fruit salad

Spoil Yourself
You are someone who is entitled to eat only the very best, and not someone who must eat everything that is available. Think of yourself as picky, not deprived. Unless, of course, you are afraid of dumping syndrome or you have certain food intolerances, you can eat your favorite holiday foods. Just keep the portions small, and choose only the ones you truly want. You’ll feel better deliberately eating a few controlled and measured bites of your aunt’s sausage stuffing than you will if you skip it and later eat a cup of it, plus some mashed potatoes and gravy, because you feel deprived.
Want It When Willpower Runs Thin
Want it. We all run out of willpower around this time of year. Instead, think about your “want power.” It’s not about, “I need to gather the willpower to pass up this cinnamon roll.” It’s about, “I’m going for a walk in about an hour, and I’m going to feel way better during it if my stomach isn’t bugging me because of a cinnamon roll.”
Drink Water. Drink Water.
This tip has so many benefits! Drinking water instead of alcoholic beverages can save tons of calories. Choose water or hot tea instead of cider, hot chocolate, and other caloric drinks.
There are other reasons to drink water. Sip on water at parties. As long as you’re circulating the room with a glass of water in your hand, you won’t be able to carry and eat from a loaded plate. Plus, your weight loss surgery diet doesn’t let you eat solid food while you’re drinking water. Choose the water over the solid food for most of the party, and you.
Enjoy the Company, or Pretend to
This may be the only time of year you get to see certain friends or family members. Take advantage of it. Focus on them, and not on getting seconds and thirds. You may actually find that you enjoy your holiday events more when you notice the non-food aspects of them.
Socialize even if you don’t like the company, because it’ll keep you from digging into high-calorie food that you don’t need or want. Look at it this way. If someone told you you could lose weight and the only thing you’d have to do is listen to your coworker’s friend’s husband talk about his snail collection for an hour, you’d do it, right? Well, do it.
You can stay healthy this holiday season as long as you focus and plan ahead. Once you do, you’ll feel very proud of yourself, and with good reason. Happy Holidays!

I love this sculpture. So much so that when I initially noticed it online I tracked down the actual artist that created it. It's a 3D rendering he made for a client that's planning on using it in their advertisement. One day I'd LOVE to have a sculptor re-create this piece or art or something close to it. It's near to my heart and to every that's struggled with weight gain and loss.

Throwing these pants in the trash bin!!

So we get a few people who think surgery is the easy way out, so what? In a year from now when we're leaner, healthier, and we can keep up with our more athletic freinds and family, what then? Do those same people keep saying, "but you took the easy way out", it just gets old. This is a personal journey, only we know the pain of our failed attempts, only we have suffered the effects of our obesity, only we know the internal struggle to make a decision to invade our bodies and modify them in the hopes of gaining health that many people take for advantage. The easy way out? We know it isn't, but we decided to take responsibility for our health problem, unfortunately for our naysayers, there is no surgery for ignorance.

Got a friend, relative or acquaintance who thinks weight loss surgery's a cop out? Arm yourself with some easy facts that will enlighten the less informed about the brave commitment that's changed your life.



Weight Loss Surgery: The Easy Way Out?


Are you frustrated with diet and exercise? Feel like it’s too much effort for little to no payoff? Is weight loss surgery something to consider? Probably not. Why? The qualifying criteria for surgery is strict; the lifestyle changes required are extreme, and after surgical healing is complete… a healthy, low calorie diet must be followed. And exercise? That doesn’t go away either. In fact, the recommendation is about an hour every day.
Weight loss or bariatric surgery has become more common in the U.S. as surgical techniques and outcomes have improved and most insurance companies are covering it.As a bariatric dietitian, I see patients before, after and many years out from surgery. Sadly, there’s a common misconception that patients who choose to have surgery are taking the easy way out. Short story: going under the knife is copping out.
I find this comment uninformed and hurtful. I have never seen a patient who hasn’t carefully considered the risks of surgery or what they will have to incorporate and eliminate from their lives afterward. Proactively choosing a surgical tool, when all other measures have failed, is a courageous example of taking personal responsibility for one’s health…not a stroll down Easy Street.
Bariatric surgery is not for those with 10, 25 or even 50 lbs. to lose. Surgeons will only operate on patients with a body mass index or BMI that is 40 or greater. If a patient has a chronic disease as well as obesity, the qualifying BMI drops to 35 since the health urgency is even greater.
When an individual meets the BMI minimum and has had no luck with a long series of diet and exercise plans-- weight loss surgery could be the tool helping them regain their health.
Ironically, there’s a lot to gain from bariatric surgery but it comes with a high price. I always ask my patients considering surgery if they are prepared to do the following….permanently.
· Never drink with meals again
· Give up smoking, carbonated drinks and severely restrict if not outright eliminate, alcohol
· Exercise an hour per day 6+ days per week
· Take a minimum of 5 vitamin/mineral supplements throughout the day
· Chew food at least twenty times per bite
And there’s little margin for error. If patients push the limits of their new stomachs, they pay for it with intense physical pain including nausea and vomiting.
The journey after weight loss surgery is exciting, scary, motivating and hard. As more weight is lost, confidence grows but new challenges appear. Relationships can be tested; self-esteem may soar or sink. It’s no surprise that support during this journey is essential. Research repeatedly shows patients receiving professional, non-judgmental support after surgery lose the most weight and keep it off. Since surgery is only step 1 in the weight management marathon, it’s clear to me, patients choosing this option aren’t slackers at all—more like superheroes.

I consult on a Facebook group made up of people who experience very large weight losses through Bariatric surgeries and today I am struck by how they view their slimmer bodies and the BMI chart. What strikes me is that when they get down to within 30-40 pounds of what the BMI chart says is goal for them I notice many deciding they know better than the chart. The phrase, "I feel good at _____ weight" keeps coming up, as though that "feeling" makes irrelevant the BMI chart and scientific data about the dangers of carrying an extra 30-40 pounds on our bodies. Heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as other illnesses linked to overweight, don't care when we set an arbitrary number that we "feel good" about.


Today I'm wondering if it has more to do with the emotional work left undone when the excitement of the huge weight drop is focused on. It's great to focus on the big drop and enjoy it but it is also important to do the emotional and psychological work to embrace a body without a protective layer that keeps the world at a distance. I wonder if not doing this work accounts for people deciding to hang on to the last 30-40 pounds and deciding the BMI chart doesn't apply to them. Again and again, I see the term, "Everyone is different." While that is true, I see it as an excuse to not face fears about a life without fat and finish the job of making the body as healthy as it can be.

I know this pitfall well, which is why I care so much about it and am writing about it now. When I was 333 pounds and got down to 210 in my 30s and 220 in my 40s I said the same thing! "Good enough! I'm big-boned! The BMI-chart doesn't apply to me because I am 6'3" tall. I naturally have a linebacker's body. My body isn't meant to be slim." The thoughts that limited my possibilities seemed to go on and on and they did stop my progress at the exact weights at which I accepted those thoughts as fact.

The last and final time I lost weight I decided to allow my team of professionals, my coach and doctor, to decide when the goal had been reached for my body. I decided it was possible that my thinking about my body was limiting my results.
Imagine my surprise when a slim, sexy, very un-linebacker's body was waiting for me at 175 pounds and a BMI of 21. Imagine! The BMI chart applied to me too!! I try to gently point this out on the message boards I consult on, but people carefully choose their language with the term "I feel." We are taught to respect "I feel" and hold whatever follows in reverence. The problem is that many couch a thought with "I feel" terminology. They are actually expressing what they THINK and the thought, unexamined, limits their potential.

I love to work with people willing to differentiate between what they think and what they feel. These people are willing to examine their thoughts for patterns that limit their possibilities and may even cause a backwards slide into obesity. Really, losing the weight is just the beginning. Working with our thoughts about our weight and almost every aspect of our lives is central to long-term success and health.

I expressed thoughts like this on the message boards and within minutes there were multiple comments from people reverting saying "The BMI chart doesn't apply to me because I feel [this and that]." Losing a lot of weight isn't the end of the journey. It is just the beginning. So I believe examining the thought patterns that led to obesity is key in order to not return to obesity.

The BMI is not a perfect tool. No tool is perfect and there are some concerns as to its' value in all cases and for all bodies. But why not test it ALL THE WAY in your weight loss journey rather than holding-up short of optimal results? What do you think?

A lot of us have slightly different habits during the summer compared to the rest of the year. We often have a little bit more time in the summer, and the extra time, sunny days, and long evenings give us the chance to do things we can't always do year-round. Some of your healthy summer habits might be swimming, walking around town with your friends, or playing with your children at the park.
Unfortunately, not all summer traditions are healthy. Before weight loss surgery, you may have depended on frozen treats to help beat the heat and have fun. Ice cream cones, bars, and sandwiches, popsicles, smoothies, and slushies are cold choices, but they do not belong on your weight loss surgery diet.
They can be high in calories, so your weight loss can stall.
They can be high in sugar, so you can get dumping syndrome, especially if you are a gastric bypass patient.
They can be low in nutrients, so you are less likely to meet your daily needs.
They can be high in saturated fat, which is bad for your heart.
They’re low in protein.

So what can you do when you want something cold and refreshing but don’t want to throw your weight loss off track? There are plenty of options for cold summer treats to buy or make while sticking to your diet.


Avoid the Bad Choices
There’s no doubt that ice cream tastes good, so you may need a little extra help gathering the willpower to resist it. The following scary statistics should be enough to make you think twice before indulging.
An ice cream sandwich can have 360 calories and 10 grams of saturated fat (more than half the maximum you should have in a day).
A cup of Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream (half of a pint) has 600 calories and 20 grams of saturated fat. That’s like having two meals and only getting 8 grams of protein!
A brownie sundae from Baskin Robbins has 920 calories and 97 grams of sugars. Eat one of those, and you’ll be near your calorie limit for the day.
A fruit smoothie can seem innocent, but an original Mega Mango smoothie from Jamba Juice has 340 calories and 78 grams of sugars. You’re likely to feel pretty sick from all that sugar and hardly any protein.

The best way to arm yourself against these diet disasters is to have your own alternatives at the ready.
Try These Healthy Options
Fruit is high in fiber and low in calories, and is a great choice for frozen snacks. Add protein to your treat by using Greek yogurt or a small portion of nuts or peanuts. Try these ideas, or create your own variations.
Roll a banana in chopped peanuts and freeze it. Mix the peanuts with cinnamon before rolling, if you want.
Freeze melon or watermelon balls or grapes.
Make raspberry lemonade pops by blending raspberries – or your choice of berries – and light lemonade. Pour into paper cups, stick popsicle sticks in the centers, and freeze them.
Blend mango, peach, or another soft fruit with Greek yogurt, keeping it chunky. Freeze.
Dip strawberries, peach slices, or cherries into light Greek vanilla yogurt. Put the fruit on wax paper on a cookie sheet, and freeze your treats.

Check the Ice Cream Aisle
The ice cream aisle has some options that are good for occasional treats.
Sugar-free popsicles have 15 calories each.
No sugar added fudge pops have 40 calories each.
A small no sugar added ice cream sandwich has 100 calories.
A half-cup of no sugar added vanilla frozen yogurt or ice cream has 90 calories.

Don't Get Tricked!
Never assume anything is healthy or low-calorie. Always read the nutrition facts panel and list of ingredients. Then make your own decision about whether the food belongs on your weight loss surgery diet.
Low-fat and fat-free products can be high in sugar and calories.
“Light” can mean light in color, light in calories, or light in something else.
Low-carb and low-sugar products can be high-calorie and high-fat.
Fat-free toppings, such as caramel or chocolate topping, can be high in sugar and contain 50 calories per tablespoon (that’s not a big serving size!).

Frozen Treats and Your Weight Loss Surgery Diet Rules: Solids and Liquids
After weight loss surgery, you are supposed to drink liquids separately from when you eat solid foods. This is true whether you have the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, lap-band, sleeve plication, or another kind of surgery. The reason is that solid foods stay in your stomach, pouch, or sleeve for a while, while liquids flow through more quickly and leave your stomach empty.
When you eat ice cream or ice pops, they melt in your stomach, sleeve, or pouch. This means that you do not stay full for as long as you would if you ate the same number of calories in solid foods. This does not mean that you can never have frozen treats, but it does mean that you should be aware of the extra calories you are taking in when you eat them. If possible, eat them with solid foods, such as fruit or nuts, to stay full.
Frozen Treats and Your Weight Loss Surgery Diet Rules: Portion Control
Another weight loss surgery diet rule is to use portion control. An innocent 90-calorie half-cup serving of non-fat frozen yogurt becomes a 360-calorie mistake if you sit down with the pint or fill up a regular-sized bowl with frozen yogurt. Always measure your portions.
Treats for the Liquid and Pureed Foods Stages
Ice cream and fresh fruit are off limits during the liquid post-op stage, and you can only eat selected fresh fruit on the pureed foods diet. You can still enjoy healthy, refreshing treats this summer. For example, you can enjoy frozen juice pops or make a fruit slushie without the added sugars.
Freeze one or more kinds of juice in ice cube trays.
Mix and match flavor combinations, such as apple and grape, a citrus blend with grapefruit, tangerine, and orange juices, or a tropical mixture using pineapple and raspberry lemonade juices. Be sure to choose 100 percent juice instead sugar-sweetened juice drinks.
When you are ready for your treat, grind the cubes in the blender until they are more like chips.
If your surgeon has suggested that you avoid orange juice because of its acidity, look for a low-acid brand in your supermarket.

Frozen chocolate fat free pudding.......mmmmmm

Something for me to keep posted on my wall to keep me focused on my journey AND for the rest of my life. Thank you for posting this Alex!

Surgery 2/17/14 I'm almost 5 months out
Left is 288, today I am 205... Not where I want to be but much closer than I was!