Carlotta1

I eat pizza maybe once a month. I don't treat it like a cheat. I have one slice.

Get it out your home immediately...your junk food. For a while eat only at home so that u can get to the basics. Eat Protein first.. Measure your food. And drink tons of Water. . Limit carb intake. Taking in too much carbs triggers me to want sweets.. Etc. You have come so far ..please don't jeopardize yourself.
You know what to do. Just start doing it. .

You are doing fine. Don't get bogged down too much with the numbers on the scale. Feel how your clothes fit, how light u will start feeling , how much more energy you will have as time goes by. Remember u r doing this for the rest of life., it will take time for concrete lifetime changes, so go slow with your weight loss journey. Weigh and measure your food, be aware of head hunger as it pops its ugly head sometimes, figure out what your bread hunger triggers are, exercise consistently. Concentrate on these changing and the weight loss wil follow.

I eat pizza maybe once a month. I don't treat it like a cheat. I have one slice.

It will happen, for sure. Wishing u a speedy recovery after your surgery.

I eat pizza maybe once a month. I don't treat it like a cheat. I have one slice.

As I read your post, I am having gurgling sounds. And yes my family can hear it loud and clear. It even happens when I am lying in bed ..I just are chicken curry with 1/3 cup of brown rice. My stomach had tough time with the brown rice.. That is why my gurgling is occurring now. .it also happens when I gulp Water or drink lots of water. I don't get embarrassed when I am on front of others and it happens. It is just part of my new life now )

This comedian/actor died Saturday at a Pittsburgh hotel. Sadly reminds me of the toll obesity took on him as well another one of my favorite comedian/actors, John candy. I'm so thankful for my WLS, for I, unfortunately, was headed in the same direction.

I loved my dr pepper ...I cannot believe that I had not had a sip since December. I only miss it if I have mex food, , like fajitas. Otherwise in don't crave it ..you will do just fine.

I was curious about Medifast meals for variety. They are portioned, minimal carbs & only 100 cal. I have some left from my last failed attempted and thought it might be ok. It gets you to ketosis as well, just curious if anyone has incorporated it for variety. I figured it beats cheating.
-raychel

I have been out of town on a weekend trip to visit my family and 3 more days away for work. I am finally back home. What I notice is that every time I go away from home for a couple of days. I have a hard time with sticking to my eating schedule and food protocol. I got kind of stressed out with work and had to talk to myself , to convince myself, that Jo job is worth sabotaging my health journey. I could tell I was head hunger eating . I wanted food to calm me down, I was so aware what was going on, Which was good.. However... I could have done better with eating nutritional foods rather than carbs.
I am going away for Easter weekend. Can you all please give me tips on how to handle away from home situations. I came back so exhausted from my trip . And when I am exhausted..I do not make good food decisions. I need to get back on board TODAY.

Wonderful story..and thanks for sharing your emotional evening. Post pics of your modeling night.

I don't LOVE the repetitive questions... But we were all there once.
Ok, make us a topic list. lol
Honestly, all my posts are about me because, well, I am my favorite subject.

My bariatric group hosted their first meet and greet, that was loaded with some great vendors giving out some nice goodies, and holding a few drawings for some cool stuff. Then they held an amazing fashion show using some of their patients that were willing to walk the catwalk in some beautiful outfits. They also provided some tasty Snacks, some healthy some not so healthy. (I will question that when I see him in the office next week). My mom, hubby, daughter, and daughter's best friend attended with me as my "support people" As the fashion show was coming to a close, I notice my surgeon standing in the back watching, and I slipped back to talk to him for a moment. I haven't seen him for 4 months, like I said I have an appt next week, he looked at me and seemed puzzled, he said I know you, but I don't know where I know you from. He thought I was a spouse of a patient. I reminded him that he did my surgery last May, and that I had lost 130 pounds, his mouth dropped open, and then it clicked who I was in his mind. He asked how I have been doing, and how I am feeling now that I am at my goal. I told him I feel amazing, I was so overcome with emotion that I just stepped forward pulled him into a hug and started to cry, on his very expensive suit. He hugged me back to my surprise (he is very professional, and doesn't have the most friendly personality, very to the point and blunt in the office) and said that he was just blown away with my success, and that he was PROUD of me, and wanted me in the next fashion show. My family had joined us at this point, and my mom made the comment that I was too thin, and he corrected her and said I was not too thin, I looked perfect. He said I looked like a barbie doll, and he wouldn't change a thing about me. I thanked him for saving my life, and he reminded me again tonight of something he said to me on the day of my surgery. He couldn't "fix me", but he was giving me the tools to fix myself. That has stuck with me, and when I start to think of cheating on my food plan, (I NEVER diet, I have a life long food plan) I think of the amazing tool he has given me, and how he told me it was up to me to make this tool work for me. I have worked my sleeve to it's fullest and I am proud to say that I have gone from a size 22/24 to a 4 yes that's right a 4. I am going to walk in the next fashion show, and I am not only going to walk, I'm going to strut my stuff. I am so proud of the work I have put into my new self, and I and forever greatful for the tool that Dr. Uchal had given to me. My life was changed on May 8th 2013, that will be the day I Celebrate my rebirth. I just wanted to share with you all, it was an NSV but seeing all the other women that had made the same amazing transformations that I have made brought me to tears. At the end of the show, they announced that the ladies that walked in the show tonight had lost a total of 2,200 pounds. Amazing. And my mother who needs the surgery told me that she was too old. Well tonight she met a woman that is older than her that was sleeved and lost 156 pounds. She looked AMAZING, and my mom asked her a ton of questions. I think she might actually look into being sleeved. This is something I have prayed about for the last year. My mom is diabetic, high blood pressure and high cholestrol, and she had to have back surgery, and now she needs knee surgery. I keep telling her the surgery would change her life. It would help her live longer, healthier and happier. She told me that she would do the surgery but doesn't want the excess skin, I told her I would rather have her with excess skin, and Alive, than bury her with tight skin. I don't want to lose my mom to obesity, when help is available. I think that actually sunk in tonight. I guess we will see what she does. I did my surgery to be here for my daughter, and I hope she is willing to do the same to be here for myself and my daughter.
Tonight was a great night. It also made me decide to help set up a monthly meeting for my area. I posted in the local group area so I guess tonight not only made me happy, but also made me see that I have a lot of support and motivation to offer.

Hi Carlotta!
Congratulations on your great success so far, AND for being so self aware about when and how you get derailed. I have found that traveling REALLY upsets my routine and I also usually end up with Constipation issues too.
What has worked for me is to be clear with my travel companions (work or family/friends) about what I need to do to be healthy. When I traveled at Christmas to see family and friends I discussed the menus to ensure there were things I could eat, and if there wasn't going to be much, I packed my own food to ensure I had enough Protein. I carried a Water bottle everywhere and reminded myself to drink every time I saw it. My family was happy to assist in keeping me on the right path. They know how hard I have worked to lose the weight.
As for work related travel, we all need to learn how to take care of ourselves without "cramping" everyone else's style. If work people want to go out to a restaurant, no problem! You can drink Water, and eat a salad or other small plate. Making the decision that your health is more important that a job is key to being successful long term with the weight loss. If people are shoving inappropriate food at you, develop a "pat" answer that works for you like "thank you but I can't eat that", and then keep saying it (the same phrase) every time they come back at you with "but a little won't hurt" or what ever excuse they use. The broken record seems weird when you first start to use it but honestly some people have to hear the same phrase 30 times before the believe and actually hear it! (Now that is self involved!)
If you are tempted to eat the wrong choices or too much food (you didn't post much detail about your challenges) then eat before you go to a party or social occasion. Carry water or other low calorie drink with you to keep your hands busy and unavailable to grab at the food. If you like to "pick" and graze a bite here and there until it is out of control then don't be within reach of the food. Stand on the other side of the room.
If you decide that you want to live your new healthy lifestyle, I know you can overcome these challenges. The sleeve is a tool that helps us put the breaks on the mindless eating, but old habits die hard, and I still struggle with head hunger, and stress eating almost a year post surgery. Only now I am dealing with little bits of the "bad" food instead of platefuls!
I hope this is helpful, and I wish the best of luck in your Easter travels!

Ok..don't beat up yourself.. The next time u eat today..just go back to eating your healthy meal. One twix will not sabatage your weight loss unless u continue to eat that way. Most of all have the all or nothing attitude with food. Either we are perfect..and if we slip a little..then we think we have failed which brings us to binging the rest of the day, or the rest of the week...the vicious cycle continues. It is how we deal with eating something off the program.
As far as stress and anxiety are concerned. Be aware what is taking you there..you may be over tired..physically hungry ..etc étc. If a specific situation triggers stress and anxiety..try to calm yourself and say to yourself this too shall pass. I see a psychologist (preop and post op )for my binge eating so that I can have tools to handle deal with stress/anxiety.

On the third week..I could eat soft foods. It was difficult for me to keep food down. I had to stay on soft food longer than what was recommended. I was in no rush..I was patient to go from one stage to another. After 6 weeks ..I was healed enough to eat anything that was one my food protocol. Don't rush the process. If u have a little difficulty in one stage.. Stay there before u move on to another stage. I.. Call your dr if you cannot progress at all to another stage.

Took me from 6-8 weeks to slowly eat foods that I had not eaten for a while.

Get it out your home immediately...your junk food. For a while eat only at home so that u can get to the basics. Eat Protein first.. Measure your food. And drink tons of Water. . Limit carb intake. Taking in too much carbs triggers me to want sweets.. Etc. You have come so far ..please don't jeopardize yourself.
You know what to do. Just start doing it. .

Ok..don't beat up yourself.. The next time u eat today..just go back to eating your healthy meal. One twix will not sabatage your weight loss unless u continue to eat that way. Most of all have the all or nothing attitude with food. Either we are perfect..and if we slip a little..then we think we have failed which brings us to binging the rest of the day, or the rest of the week...the vicious cycle continues. It is how we deal with eating something off the program.
As far as stress and anxiety are concerned. Be aware what is taking you there..you may be over tired..physically hungry ..etc étc. If a specific situation triggers stress and anxiety..try to calm yourself and say to yourself this too shall pass. I see a psychologist (preop and post op )for my binge eating so that I can have tools to handle deal with stress/anxiety.

Almost 4 1/2 months out and got on scale the other day and much to my surprise im not far from my goal. Im rocking my sleeve and I feel great I'm down 86lbs total and 71 since surgery. Im in the gym 3 days a week and I keep track of everything I eat. Im so excited!!!

Have u considered the sleeve. It is less invasive. I am having very good success. To me the biggest advantage the sleeve has over the bypass is malabsorption ..having the bypass will make u have malabsorption of nutrients...for the rest of your life
Investigate the advantages and disadvantages of both surgeries..talk to a board certified dr as to what is best for u..then u can make an informative decision.
Btw..I did have a revision from band to sleeve.

I wish I had known that I miss the gulping of Water..I used to love to gulp.
I wish I would have known that the food tolerance progression is taking me a longer time than others.
I wish I would gave known about gummie Vitamins. I cannot handle the. News I bought at the hospital and was taking my meds.
I wish I had. Now about this stall I am going thru.
I wish I believed in the sleeve before I had the surgery as much as I now believe,. It is working for me.

I record my meal plan in myfitnesspal the night before ..I am eating about 850 calories and approx 80 grams of Protein. Sometimes I have to eat my last meal and I am not hungry at all. Since I want to take in my carb and calories, I wIt a little while longer then have the last meal. I eat 4-5 times a day. I don't want my metabolism to slow too much ..so I eat what I have planned to eat. Some days I am not hungry and I still eat what I am supposed to for nutrition/fuel.
You are doing really good 50 pounds in 3 months.. So keep doing what ur doing. But just be cautious of not eating enough..

I felt very educated - my surgical practice was excellent about that and I spent alot of time reading on here too so I guess I don't have any surgery related "wish I had known"
My wish I had known was how much I was missing out on life being morbidly obese. I was pretty active for a 300# person, had friends and what I thought was a pretty good social life. I had NO IDEA there is a whole world out there of people who don't have to worry about if their butt will fit in a chair, if a store will carry a clothing size that fits, or if they can do a particular activity "even at that size" - it is like a parrallel universe where fit and normal size people get to live..haha.
I feel like a kid again - wish I had known all of this and maybe I would have found a way to change my life years earlier.... not sure, but that is really the only thing i could think of that I wish I had really known years before.