katesuccess

Great ideas all - but I love the 'think big!' approach of nana27! I've done a pedi a couple times to reward myself with a non-food treat after losing a chunk of weight, and considered a new purse - a nice one - but then realize i don't need one and I actually like the one i'm using from two years ago. I get a massage about four times a year as my work practically demands it. SO - It might have to be a small piece of jewelry or a spa experience. A trip or cruise is still a bit out of reach financially unfortunately. I'll keep thinking and reading all of your great ideas. Thanks!

Great thread - I'm getting close to 'one-derland' and haven't decided on anything yet. It's a major important goal for me though, and I want to honor it somehow. I'm not up for a tattoo (though many of them are really beautiful and meaningful, as Kathy's are) and I'm not a heights person, so skydiving, hot air balloon ride and hang gliding (big in my town) are all out. As some say above the new clothes thing is nice -- but kind of a necessity these days!

Sorry to be late - I have a houseguest! Today I'm 210 - slow but in the right direction!

I had a new one recently -- You know you lost weight when... your arms fit on the massage table without having to tuck your hands just under your thighs to keep your arms from sliding off the too-narrow table!

One of the mail order companies also has a chicken broth flavor protein powder, which was very good when I was sick of sweet drinks.

It's dreadful. I cannot fathom what the motivation was for completely revamping and doing this, other than advertising revenue. All the other changes I am finding are definitely for the worse, and I to find myself avoiding using it now unless I am on a full computer using the full site. That will cut my usage time (and enjoyment!) down by about 90% or more. I'm glad it was there during my preop and immediate postop time though, because it felt like a tremendous lifeline for me. I'm only sorry it will not be as user-friendly and readily accessible for those coming along now.

Starting weight was 215, today's weight is 211. So far so good!

I'm doing well! I could not be more pleased with my surgery and steady progress so far, and I feel terrific. I agree about Face to face support being important. Do you. Do you have a date yet?

I'm also on the. Eastside--sleeved at Overlake/GH April 29th this year. I'd live to get together if folks decide to. Kate

"Actually he's always loved me....Now, what lets talk about YOUR body (or marriage)!"

GOod to know about the Gall Bladder attack symptoms Miss Mac. Thanks! My back feels a little better today, and so I'll wait another couple days before calling for an appointment. It's likely just my body adjusting and readjusting to the increased exercise, weight loss and posture changes. I've got a massage schedule for Friday so am looking forward to that. Thanks for your help everyone!

Thanks folks - I"m planning to see the doctor if it hasn't resolved within a week. It is dull generalized pain, rather than sharp or specific to one area or muscle, so it's manageable for a few days. I'll get in next week if it's not better. Thanks!

I do chicken thighs (cut in thirds) in my crockpot - two packages at a time! I use whatever healthy sauce-like thing i'm hanking for at the time, and just be sure not to overcook them. Lately I've done them in a large pot in the over which is easier for me to monitor. Anyway, I then put them in 'snack baggies' in 2-2.5 ounce portions, spooning a bit of sauce over each after weighing. They all get labeled with a permanent marker and frozen. I take out whever I feel like for dinner each night - and they're fast and easy mini-frozen meals. Also meatballs (turkey or beef) are great for quick frozen meals. I can take a couple out and weigh them, deciding if it's a 2-ball dinner or three! Add a spoonful of FF gravy or marinara or slice with a bit of melted light cheese and warm up. Soooo easy! Sometimes I buy a big frozen bag of cooked chicken strips too, and pull a few out to weigh up to 2 ounces, and warm them in the microwave. Then I might add some guacamole, salsa, onions, tomatoes, satay sauce, whatever floats my boat that night. Experiment! Oh, and I did buy a packaged already cooked beef potroast the other day, figuring I'd cut it into several meals - Hormel I think. It was tough, fatty, and tasteless - I threw the rest of it out after one meal--so don't bother with that!

I've looked over forums here and done a couple searches, but not finding anyone talking about this - maybe it's me! I'm four months post-op, have gone from 276 to 212 (yay!) and I alternate days of slow jogging with whole-body weight training at my gym (I have a trainer). For the past few days i've had a generalized back pain from about my lower rib area to mid shoulder blades, and it's lousy! It hurts when I sit or stand, but not lying down so much. I'm trying to figure out if this is due to just the usual trainer-change to my routine (not much significant changed) or maybe weight loss affecting my posture, and if so - what the heck can i do about this. Anyone?? OUCH. Kate

I agree with all the above posters about getting or making some free weights. Two liter seltzer bottles filled with Water and taped together are about 5 lbs. for example. Another thing not mentioned above is to consider adding is a TRX strap. The 'original' ones are expensive, but Fred MEyer and Target sell a knock off that's just fine. They all come with a booklet or video, and there's tons on line on Youtube. It's an adjustable strap with handles that uses your own weight to sculpt and tone, and typically your attach the strap but closing the door on it, with it's knob at the top on the other side of the door. The bonus there is that you shut the door on it, (with a Do Not Disturb! sign on it if you have roomies), and then it's a reminder not to leave the room until you're finished with your workout! I have one at our cabin where there's no gym--I alternate days with weight/strap and jogging.

When I started working with my trainer I told her I suck at lunges and hated them, because I fall over. Same thing with squats. That inner core stability strength just wasn't there for me. (years ago a previous trainer assigned lunges, and I just never did them! ) So this one had me start doing them using TRX straps, holding on and doing the lunges--amazing that after a few days it wasn't so bad. Then after 5 weeks of 3 times a week with that routine (including other stability stuff AND lifting) she shifted me to doing lunges using a Smith Machine - bar only, no added weights. Again, hard at first and awkward, and then great fun! After 5 weeks of that - i'm fine to do lunges with a 10 pound weight in each hand, doing a curl as I get to the lower lunge point, and alternate legs. And again - after three times, it's not easy! I completely agree with the use of free weights and kettle bells, and some cable stuff - trainers call it "Functional Training" because it uses movements your body does in everyday functioning. It's (as other posters said) the sort of thing that strengthens your core along the way a bit, even if you're more focused on lifting. So, you may already have begun working those muscles, but like you and your trainer discovered, they're in need of more work. Maybe ask about some combination of lifting and agility, so that you don't lose the lifting progress you've made? Good luck - I know how defeating it feels to find this sticking point. You can do it Ava!

When you're hungry and eat more food than you originally planned - but now that means an extra 40-5- calories, not 1500! (And you still lose weight ) When you can do a lunge with hand weights, and not fall over. When the gym becomes fun in that "hurts so good" sort of way, instead of a drag you dread. When you stand on a little step ladder without first wondering if it will hold your weight.

Today's weight is 215, and my goal weight is 198. Thanks for doing this!

A day late, but 215 yesterday!

My daughter is training a team for the local Tough Mudder here - which I've wanted to do since i learned about them. She's pushing me to pick one and train for it, so i'm thinking Chicago May 9-10 in 2015. Anyone else interested?

If you're worried about knees and weight - the Couch-to-5k app works nicely if you walk as instructed, and then walk faster or 'power walk' the jogging parts. I had to do that in the beginning, since I was in the 270s when i started, and had already had knee trouble a few years ago when I overdid it once. Also, I'm pleased to say I started "5K Forever" yesterday, and it was great. It's intended to sped you up some after doing a c25k app. Intervals are usual pace alternating with slightly faster pace, and of course the 5 minute warm up and cool down. Thanks again for the ideas and encouragement everyone! It makes all the difference in the world to me. Kate

Sounds bad - I know a lot of people like the ecodrink ones though, so that might help. (I didn't like the taste - but that's soooo personal!). I use Trader Joe's chewable ones, and they taste fine to me - I didn't like the bariatric advantage ones or the liquid gold though - awful to my taste. You may have to try some out, and remember most places will take back the unused portion if you go in and just tell them it tasted really bad. Worth doing because it's so expensive! Good luck - keep at it, as it's really important to take them in some form.

Thanks SO much everyone! I do think of this as training, not just getting to the 5k end point. It's a vehicle for for health, not an end point at all. I love having the goals and incentives of the app though, and will try the ideas you've all floated. Thanks again!

Well, today was the final day for my Couch-to-5k app on my phone, also known as c25k. It was 8 weeks long, three times a week, and I loved it most of the days. At 6 weeks my husband and I did a 5k run/walk and I was glad I could jog the entire first half, and then alternated jogging and walking the remaining time. My time was abysmal by most standards (46.07), but i was happy with it as a benchmark for eventual improvement. I also figured by the time I finished my c25k program I'd be ready to jog the whole 5k. So why WHY didn't I do the math at that point? Hello!?! I did the app today and jogged 35 minutes covering just over 2 miles, and then saw that it was (gasp!) the last day of it, and the little "Congratulations - you're a 5K runner!" came up. Uh...no. Not yet anyway. So, maybe I idnt' flunk it, but I'm giving myself a "C" for not making my goal--but the good thing is, I WILL make that goal, and will get some other motivator going in order to speed up my pace. There's one out there called "Forever 5K" that works on speed. I'll get there eventually! Suggestions anyone?

So I LOVED your post about the sassy new haircut, as i've been plotting the same thing for myself this month - would really love to see a picture of the new do, Bandista!