Cecilia

And while we're at it, would you be interested in doing this run with me? Dirty Girl, Twin Cities, August 3 Look at the review, too!

OMG! I was going to sign up for that one and all the times are sold out except for the 2:45! Which one are you doing? Is it too late for me to join your team? It would be so awesome to run together!!!

Isn't it good? I love that there's a story line, and you're *in* it!

Thanks you guys! I'm having an awesome day! I'll be traveling to the Cities this week and plan to hit all the Savers and Goodwill stores up there to refresh my wardrobe. Keep up the good work, all of you. It's tough, especially getting the exercise, but I can't tell you how good it feels!

I MADE IT!!!! I had to wait three days and re-weigh because I was afraid it may just be a fluke, but it's for real: I weigh 198 pounds!!! The next time I weigh in I may "only" be overweight!!!!

There is NOOOOO comparison. However, I would have to say that compared to 35 years of misery and starvation and exercise and some loss followed by heart-breaking regain of weight... this *is* easiER. But it not easy. Some friend! The whole time I was married to a man who could lose weight by just thinking about it, he never understood my struggle. NO CLUE. I think if you haven't been in our shoes, you just can't possibly understand what a last resort this is. Seriously, though, I'd ask him what gives!? And let me know how it goes with the training! I'm starting week 2 on Saturday.

I can't imagine how you could NOT eventually begin to lose real weight. My mom has a serious aversion to exercise, and in a year she's still lost 100 pounds, so exercise is not essential, but it will make you feel better. May I recommend the app Zombies, Run! and the Zombie 5K training program? The latter follows your basic couch-to-5K (starting with 15-second runs... anyone can do it). The former is more like a game where you collect things along your walk/run, then you have to outrun zombies or lose the items. They're made in the UK, I think, and have really good story lines that break in every so often over your music, or between tracks. I can't recommend enough! Also, you know what will motivate you? Sign up for a 5K walk/run. Nothing like knowing you need to be fit in 8 weeks to motivate you to stick to the program! Overall, though, Hang in there ArmyWife&Mom. Have you had a chance to talk to your doctor or nutritionist about this? Hugs!!! Cecilia

So how did everybody do this Easter? I made baskets for the kids and sampled one jelly bean... otherwise there was no desire nor temptation even though the office was full of treats!

That's amazing!!! Congratulations!

If you want a bar that's high in protein, low in carbs, your best bet is an Atkins bar. As they are part of the low-carb movement, they will have no sugar (assuming that's what made you dump)

Seriously. What she said. I had so much fear about telling people, because my early experiences (telling before surgery) and my own self-doubt ("I could have done it without surgery if I just tried harder," and "all these people have seen me at office parties and they know I hit the pizza and Desserts pretty hard.") were not good. But nobody could say that I'm just using the surgery to be able to pig out and still lose weight. They see me eat three bites of my lunch and be done. They see on Facebook that I'm running a race next month... I hope this helps. And FWIW, I have been told that there may come a point where people will wonder if I really need to lose more weight or might tell me I look "too thin," but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Just remind people you're not wasting away from cancer, LOL!

Here's the way it went for me: "You're losing weight!" "I am!" "How did you do it?" "I had surgery. Plus a ton of exercise." "You look fabulous!" or "I always wondered about that surgery..." or "Did insurance pay for it?" or "You look fabulous!" Nothing but positives! C

OMG, you guys slay me! I also almost spat my lunch out at the computer screen when I read the SharPei comment, LOL! Yes, compression garments for all of us!

I hear ya! I have a huge tub of big clothes that are going to Goodwill. I thought about taking them to a consignment store but truth is, I just want to be done with them! Yay!

My dear peeps (no pun intended), Where are you all!? I know it's Easter weekend and all, but I miss hearing updates from you. I had to share: Even as the scales seem stuck again, I'm noticing changes in my body. For one, (and I'm not thrilled about this) the skin that used to be plump with fat is sagging. My butt is sagging. My belly is sagging. My boobs are sagging. My arms? Let's not talk about my arms! LOL! On the other hand, my bracelets are looser. My ring is spinning around on my finger. The formerly known as tight pants are wondering why I can't wear them any more. Answer: I think I exposed my undies three times at work today not realizing they had fallen down that far! They fit okay the last time I wore them! Aaaack! There was a potluck at work and I wasn't the least bit tempted to eat any of it. I tried a microwave entree for lunch today and it made me throw up (I keep eating too fast at work -- old habits die hard). Someone left a Hershey Kiss in my locker and I tried it and spat it out. It tasted so artificial and gross! I never thought I'd live to see the day I turned my nose up on free chocolate! What else? What's new with you? What small things are you happy about/sad about? How's your eating coming along? Am I the only one who can't eat fish? Check in everybody!!

It's funny. Before my surgery, the vast majority of the comments I received about my plans was negative. "Why would you do that?" "I have a (friend/relative/etc) who had the surgery and (insert bad outcome)" "You don't look big enough to need it." "I could never do that to myself." etc. Hence I decided not to tell anyone at work. Now that I'm back from my leave and visibly thinner, I have had nothing but positive feedback. "You look fantastic!" "It's not just your size, you just look happier!" "Can you tell me more about it? I've always been interested in getting it." etc. Most of all, I've been a little overwhelmed by the kindness others have shown me, and by their support. And I honestly am surprised that I look happier and more confident. I can't tell you how often I get this. Anyway, just had to share.

I did it! I signed up for my first race. It's April 22, and it's just a baby-race. 2 miles, not even a 5K. I've been walking 2M a few times a week, and I'm starting to use a 5K training app, so I hope that by race day I can run *most* of the race. What are you guys doing for exercise?

Welcome Ron! Don't be discouraged... we *all* have a lot to lose, otherwise we wouldn't be here, LOL! C

Monken, I wonder if your doctor's rules would be more suited to people who have larger amounts of weight to lose? In that case, I could see worrying about the six-month mark going by while you are still wanting to lose significant weight. Anyway, I'm glad we had this discussion. I had totally forgotten that I could have soft fruit. I had written all fruit/veg off as being too crunchy for now, but geez-- I think I would kill to have a little mashed up strawberry with my yogurt! Oh, hey! I also thought I'd share: Just when I thought I'd never eat an egg again, I suddenly am able to not only eat scrambled eggs, but fried eggs! I'm in HEAVEN!!

So SoccerMomma, your name is Christie? Nice to meetcha! When you mentioned that in a post I thought "who is she talking about?" LOL! Glad your mood is more stable, sorry about the queasy. Have you heard of Quease-Ease? I wonder if that would help? I've worked three 12-hour shifts in the past week and I'm handling it as well as before the surgery. Maybe better. People tell me I don't just look thinner, I carry myself like I have more confidence. Maybe I do? Either way, it was a nice compliment.

Okay, here's what I don't get. You and I are about even when it comes to starting weight, goal, etc. We've lost 30% of our weight in the first month, how could you *not* reach your goal within the first six months? I mean, weight loss would have to slow to a crawl, wouldn't it? Or am I confused? C

Are y'all sick of my long posts yet? LOL! My ex used to say I have diarrhea of the mouth. Evidently of the fingers as well. A short little post: I started incorporating running into my walks today. Got the app Zombies, Run! and it's a blast. Highly recommend it. That, and I wanted to add that I'm still shocked that I can cross my legs. It feels so good! I do it all the time!!! LOL!

I feel for you. Every time I read your posts. I had no pre-surgery shakes or post-op dietary restrictions except for on the texture of the food. My dietitian did say to try to get the proteins in first, but that's about it. I wonder... the idea of a ketogenic or an all-protein diet sounds admirable, adding extra oomph to the weight loss which will take place due to the surgery, but I still have my ketostix from ages ago, and I've been in ketosis ever since surgery. Not because I've eliminated carbs, but because I'm just burning fat no matter what. Also, it's probably a good idea not to crowd out the protein with other nutrients, since you don't want to waste muscle tissue as much as possible, but such a strict diet seems like the kind of thing that would make me flip out once the restrictions were off. Also, I was told that most of the weight would come off in the first six months. Whether you like it or not, things start to slow down afterwards. I don't know that you could make yourself lose more weight in the first six months than you would not eating only protein, or that you would even want to? I dunno. Just some rambling thoughts. My personal opinion is that if you want to do the best possible thing for your body as you are losing weight, it would be to add exercise. I'm very interested in what other doctors have all of you to do. It's so different for everybody!

Hi back atcha! I plan on walking tomorrow. Spring has finally arrived in Minnesota!

You look fantastic!!