Cecilia

Thanks! There are some aspects of the site that really could be made more user-friendly... Good to know you're working on it. The support here is amazing!

OMG, don't even want to go there!

Hi! I'm trying to figure out how to add and update pictures in the "before and after" section of my profile. Any help would be appreciated. I have no recollection of adding the before picture (but I must have) and would like to crop it, and no clue how to add the "after" picture. Help!! Thank you! Cecilia

How awesome for you!!! I can't wait to start losing again. Once we get my thyroid issue addressed, maybe I can begin moving forward (and downward) again as well. Congratulations!!! You should post a new picture!

Yep. They put me on Synthroid and OK'd me working only 8-hour shifts (instead of 12's) for the next week or two until I'm feeling stronger.

Well, I went to my doctor, and they checked me for anemia, they checked my protein levels, and they checked my thyroid. Not sure if I mentioned this before, but two weeks before my surgery I took radioactive iodine for an overactive thyroid. It apparently did the job, because my thyroid is no more. All other labs were fine (improved, even), but my TSH (the hormone that says "wake up, thyroid, and do your thing) was off the scale. That is to say, my fatigue, creeping up depression, cold hands and feet, and absolute lack of weight loss over the last three weeks, and even the raspy voice that lingered after the cold, could be attributed to the fact that my metabolism has ground to a halt, almost, or something to that effect. The thyroid is responsible in part for regulating your metabolism. When I was hyperthyroid I lost weight without trying, now that I'm hypothyroid, I'm failing to lose weight despite trying like crazy. I guess that's sort of good news. They have a pill for that.

Hey you guys... I need some TLC and maybe advice. I caught the bug that's been going around town a few weeks ago (three weeks ago, now that I look at the calendar). I missed a day of work early on, then went back, probably too soon, because rather than being on the mend, I felt like I was getting sicker. I did the whole "cough up crud" and other things too TMI to mention until I felt I was on the mend again, was working again, but Saturday my coworkers "voted me off the island" and sent me home because I was ghostly pale. You may have noticed I haven't posted much lately either. My stomach is constantly churning, nothing feels good to eat (all my comfort foods made me feel worse, naturally) and I can see that I'm retaining water. I'm bloated, gassy, and queasy (I bet you want to take me out on a date now!) plus this cold thing seems to have settled in my chest as my voice still sounds like that of an adolescent male going through the change. How much of this "taking so long to recover" do you think is related to the surgery, and how much do you think I should go in to see my doc? I keep telling myself "all they are going to say is you have an upper respiratory virus, get rest and plenty of fluids" so why go in and make myself *more* tired... Your advice?

Wow! What a difference!!!

Loving the collar bones!!!

Keep up the good work!

Wow! Congratulations! For the past 4 days I've been logging every bite into my mouth, eating mostly protein, staying under 1000 calories a day, and lost 0.6 pounds. It's not much, but it's better than gaining.

As for salads I'm just doing organic baby spring mixed greens and lite dressing. As a snack, it's very filling, and only like 45 calories.

I have NO IDEA what you are talking about, but I'm glad pooping is not traumatic any more, i guess? LOL!

Okay, Today was day 3 of using MyFitnessPal RELIGIOUSLY to write down all my food and activities. Not surprisingly, I'm eating better and exercising more than any time in the last month. I'm so tempted to jump on the scale, but it's TOO SOON! Lord, give me strength to wait until Friday to weigh myself!

The only time I have a problem is when I overeat them. God, I feel like I could LIVE off of "Organic mixed spring greens" salads, but my pouch still has a limited capacity for volume, even though the calories are practically negligible...

I was spring cleaning my daughter's room, and I was happily astonished to find that I can crouch and reach and crawl and get back up as if I were 10 years younger! Hurrah!

For me the biggest thing is still being able to cross my legs like a lady. I just LOVE how it looks and feels! Or to sit in a normal size chair and be able to tuck my legs up under myself. Hell, I may even give Yoga another try now that I can get into some of those positions without cuting off my breath!

Best of luck to you! I would do this sort of thing for my mom in a heartbeat as well.

I was so jazzed about being able to fit into my old watch (funny--you never think of your wrists getting fat, but they do) that I wore it for three days before I realized the battery was dead. LOL!

I've been eating salads, too. First cautiously, then ravenously. It feels so good to much those leafy greens!

My mom (70) had the surgery last year and lost on average a pound a day for the first three months. I, on the other hand, younger, and more into exercise, lost 20 the first month, 10 the second, and am fighting for every pound after that. So one thing I'm sure of is that it's not necessarily age-related.

Weight is off again, and I've learned that I must only weigh once a week. Maybe I'm gaining muscle? I've been riding my bike to work, and my pants continue to get looser... In any case -- water weight, increased muscle mass -- regardless of what it is, I will stop fretting over the day-to-day weight and keep my eyes on the bigger picture.

With everybody posting their successes I hesitate to write, but maybe it will bring comfort to those for whom the scale is stuck. It happened again: The scale said 195.6 the last time I weighed, and today when I got on it had jumped up to 196.8. That is very damn not cool. Grrrr...! To top it off, I'm experiencing my first illness with pouch, and things went from bad to worse as I discovered that I can't take my usual approach of nursing a big glass of OJ to keep my fluids and vitamin C up. It went right through me. Too bad I don't need a colonoscopy tomorrow, because I feel all cleaned out.

Wow! Everyone is doing so well! I"m so happy for all of you!!!

This is an unbelievably funny statement. LOLOL!