bigloser2014

Thank you all for great suggestions, reminders and a few firm kicks in the butt. Much needed! I am so glad to be a part of this wonderful support group! Combining all the suggestions and applying my logical Project Manager mind to it, I jotted down the sequence of events that led to this sudden onset of insanity. I just came back from, staying away from home for 4 weeks, 2 big family weddings and said no to almost ALL the food while I was there. I am proud of that! Being human, I think I had said "No" enough times in the last few weeks. My brain was rebelling! A few weeks outside my environment with EVERYONE pushing rich, yummy food at me was not easy! And I could not get my exercise. Exercise and the resulting soreness keeps me motivated and happy. Slipping into old habits is easy when the guard is down. I guess I was tired of saying NO! So, last evening, I gave myself this pep talk in front of the mirror (felt a little silly but how cares?) Pep talk begin: In the last week, I started to slip a little. Started testing the waters. NOT GOOD!! I over-indulge, weigh myself daily and find out that I had not gained. So, what do I do? Keep repeating the behavior thinking I am invincible! Until the weight gain actually occurs? Who am I kidding? I know it will come and come quickly, without the warning. The habits will be back before I can say “habit”. I cannot go back to thinking that I can fix it without taking drastic action! I WILL NOT be able to just stop eating!! When has that ever worked in the past? Create a plan. Revise it! Pep talk end. So, I created a plan. Organized the house. Threw away the Snacks. Passed a hard test: A boy from the neighborhood brought a cheesecake my husband had ordered from him while I was out. I threw it in the back of the freezer right away! I went to the gym this morning. I tried on my size 6 clothes and let myself feel the wonderful feeling. I drank 120 oz of Water and am chugging away today! I looked at my before and after pictures and I tried to remember all the wonderful compliments and attention I got at the weddings! Here is what I learnt from this small slip up: - I will not be cured! I am an addict and always need to have a plan. - Desperate times call for desperate measures! Get help quickly! Do not think you can do it by having the same thinking that you had before the surgery. Your tummy was cut, not your brain! It stills thinks the same way! - I did not have this big surgery to fail. I will adjust my habits and create as many plans I have to and be successful! For those here that posted about going through the same thing, create a list of things you can make better today and then act on it. DON'T WAIT! Thank you all!

After 9 months of excellent control and over 100 lbs. loss, I have been at goal (below 160 lb) for almost one month. I am afraid I am slipping! HELP! Been eating a lot more than I should for the past couple of days and been eating sugary things. I am so scared! I am asking for help and support before 2 days become 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 more pounds and then 20 more pounds. YIKES! Going to write down all the sugary stuff I ate since getting up early this morning. I feel sick and nauseous! UGH!

Wanted to share my success and the method to my madness! My heaviest recorded weight was 265 lbs. Weight at first doc appointment was 250 lbs., at surgery 238 pounds. I am 38 weeks post op. As of this morning I am at 164 lbs.! I am hoping to get to 150-155 some day but right now, my goal is to stay below 165. That will be my panic button weight. WOOT WOOT! Here is what has worked for me: - I exercise with a trainer 2-3 times per week and a total of 5 times a week. I look forward to my morning workouts. Even if it is -40 wind chill out, I am getting my cold butt to the gym! lol. I burn 350 to 600 calories per to my Polar watch. Another great benefit of the strength training: Very little lose skin. People tell me that I look 20 years younger! - I stay on my feet when I am home, as much as I can. I can't seem to be able to sit down. Certainly a change for me but I am using my new found energy to stay active, on my exercise as well as rest days. I clean and organize my house, volunteer and keep myself busy. - I drink about 100 ounces of Water a day since I workout so much. That helps a lot with constipation too. - I track everything on MFP and track an average of 1000-1100 calories a day, 100 to 120 gms of carb & the same amount of Protein. I measure everything! This works for me because I work out. I cannot keep a calorie and carb count like this without the amount of exercise I do. Keep in mind that everyone has to find their own way to make the sleeve work for them. Support groups like this one are extremely helpful but you cannot judge your success with what others are experiencing. I feel like I will be tracking and measuring for a foreseeable future but I don't mind at all! Talking about the pace of weight loss: I was losing an average of 10 lbs per month until the last 3-4 months. Since then it's been 5-7 lbs per month. Slow and steady! So, find your way and make it work!

I am 38 weeks post surgery. I think that I eat more calories and carbs than most posting here. I track everything on MFP and track an average of 1000-1100 calories a day, 100 to 120 gms of carb & same amount of protein. I also do intense strength training and cardio 5 times a week with 350 to 600 calories burnt according to my Polar watch. Can't be too much wrong with that since I have lost a 100 lbs so far! Just not as quickly. I have lost about 10 lbs per month and for the last 3-4 months, it's been 5-7 lbs per month. I am happy though! One thing I notice: When I was working out a lot and not eating enough calories and carbs, I stalled and felt bad overall. Now, I feel great and full of energy. On the flip side, I also know that if I am to stop exercising like I do, I will have to reduce my calorie and carb intake. For now, I think I have got how this works for me!

I am almost 7 months post-op. I have not had a single month where I lost more than 10 pounds in a month. In Nov. I lost 5 pounds. I do not want to say "only" 5 pounds. I would have given anything to consistently lose 5-10 pounds a month in the past. Now that, that is happening, why be depressed? You are doing great! Even after the "slow weight loss", I am 92 pounds less than my highest weight! That Includes pre-surgery loss; I was 238 at surgery, 173 today. That's 65 pounds in less than 7 months! Be Happy! Remember, slow and steady still gets to the end!

I chose not to tell. Only my hubby, daughters and mother know. For me it was not about lying or withholding. I just didn't want to waste my energy trying to educate the ignorant people. I have been judged for being over weight all my life. I will be darned if now I let them judge me on the way I chose to get rid of that weight and get healthy! My body, my business! That's why they have HIPAA laws, because no one has to disclose any medical information to anyone. And this is my private medical information. My health is my priority, not dealing with other peoples' emotions on how I am losing the weight! I did not need that distraction. I am very happy with my decision not to tell anyone. People will always have opinions. I am sure there are some who have figured out how I lost the weight. I don't care about that! Am I lying when I tell them that I am losing because of diet and exercise? HECK NO! I am in the gym busting my butt every morning at 6 am. I have not had a piece of candy or chocolate of any other artificial sweet in 6 months. I have been tracking every single bite in these 6 months. Surgery didn't do that. I did! So, yes, I am working at it! There is no magic. That said, it is a very personal decision. All of us have to make it based on our own situation in life. Mine told me that there were only 4 people who would support me no matter what and would be truly happy for me. Those 4 know.

Beautiful post! Thank you for sharing! My biggest fear going in was telling my daughters. Their acceptance of the whole idea, somehow, seemed essential to my success. I was lucky and got it. Looks like your mom was lucky too!

Hello all! I have been extremely busy at work lately and have not been able to post at all. In the past, late work days and stress would have made me eat non-stop. With my wonderful sleeve, I am glad I did not have that option. I was also able to have better control on my brain and stop myself from eating the BAD foods. Proud of myself and thankful for my sleeve! DRUM ROLL PLEASE! Since my pre-surgery consultation in March (that's where I am tracking from), I have lost 82 lbs! An all new wardrobe with pants size 8 and tops size Small to Medium, I have never felt better! The best decision I ever made! Emotionally, going from the person that wanted to hide most of the time, to the one that everyone notices has been the hardest. My weight loss is a hot topic and every social gathering that I am at. Kind of embarrassing but I am learning to own it. Hope everyone is doing well!

I love my sleeve too! I love hearing, "You are so skinny" ! Best decision I ever made!

I have a fast coming up that requires not to have food and Water from sunrise to moonrise (around 15 hours). I am the kind of person who likes to follow tradition when possible but health comes first in this case. What do you guys think? Bad idea not to have food and fluids an entire day? I am scared that I will pass out or something.

Congrats! It feels wonderful, doesnt it?

Onceyour surgoen gives you an okay, you can start lifting again. I weight train twice a week. Just start easy and slowly increase the weight as you get stronger.

4 pounds a week is great! You are not the slowest loser. I got sleeved on May 9th and so far have not had a single month of more than 12 pounds loss in an entire month. But here I am! Total 68 pounds down from my highest wt. Everyone is different. Don't compare your loss to anyone else. Also, try to remember when was the last time you lost 4 pounds a week consistently? Dont feel discouraged. Just follow the program and you will get there!just a warning that there will be some stalls along the way too but you will get there at the end.

I finally gave in and got one pair of black pants for work. From size 20W-22W down to size 12! YAY! 12 is a little tight but it will loosen up quickly. For once, I am happy about the tight pants.

I would say somewhere in the middle. With trainer # 1 you felt like it was a torture. Not something one can continue for long. I have had a trainer like that in the past and ended up leaving halfway through the pre-paid sessions. Trainer 2 seems to be overly cautious but if you enjoy working with her then talk to her and tell her that you want to be pushed a little harder. You may just find a happy medium. Write diwn what weight you use in a session and ask her if you can go higher in thenext session. In my experience, the hard core trainers like the first one dont like toning things down. Hope this helps.