esskay77

I didn't get any comments until I hit around the 50 pound mark. I'm now down 80 pounds and get many more comments. Of course, I'm still way too big but I'm doing great and am proud of what I have done so far. And I FEEL great!!! But, yeah, it was a little disturbing that nobody noticed such a big weight loss! Once I started buying new clothes, that made it more obvious. Especially now that I'm out of the plus sizes. The regular sizes leg width is smaller so my legs now look thinner. And, they actually are thinner which really helps--I'm starting to find my "chicken legs" that I used to have and am excited about it! lol

If you are serious, I'm only wise because of this forum!! I have learned so much here.

I'm glad things are finally going well for you! You are on a great path now and I know you will do well. One other note about bread: bread will always be one of those things to stay away from or keep to a minimum. However, there is a brand of bread that is not made with any flour or wheat that you might eventually (not yet!) want to try. It's not the best but it's not a bad substitute. I talked with my NUT about it and she agreed that it's not a bad option. It's called Ezekiel bread and you can find it at Whole Foods. Oddly, it's not with the breads! It's in the frozen foods section. It's made with sprouts and other things like that. But, using lettuce for a wrap instead of bread is always a much better option (which I think you said you did?) Best of luck!

By the way, congratulations on the weight you have lost so far!!

Definitely talk with your nutritionist but I wasn't allowed bread for quite a while. I would put that down for now. I also wasn't allowed chicken, etc. unless I blended it in a blender first. Since bread was not on your list, keep it off your daily food intake for now. You will eventually be able to have some but not much. I agree with what someone else above said, the issue people are having is that our food for the few weeks out was more like yogurt and other smooth foods. Even cottage cheese was a bit lumpy but doable. It's not always about what your stomach can handle, but what is appropriate at this stage. But I feel bad that your mother is following you around and kind of shaming you. Is she staying with you right now or do you live with her? You might want to have a nice, calm conversation about boundaries and the kind of support you need. Though unfortunately, she is right on this particular issue. It's all very tough and confusing. The best advice is to talk to your nutritionist and follow what he/she says. Don't try to experiment outside of those guidelines. No bread for you! (that's me trying to be funny--think "no Soup for you!")

I don't count calories anymore, I just track protein right now. Am trying to figure out how to track carbs but haven't been as successful, though I try to stay away from them as much as possible. I'll have a bit of carbs when I can but I haven't quite figured that all out yet.

I had initial regrets the first week out of surgery, which I hear is normal, but I have not regretted it since! I feel amazing! I can do things I haven't done in years--I have stamina, energy, and my cholesterol level has never been this good, my blood pressure is amazing, everything! You do have to make lifestyle changes but since you are a coach and athlete, I think this is going to be all right up your alley. You just have to make food something that helps you live, not live to eat anymore. There are some times when I am traveling that it can be a bit difficult but it's not impossible, you can have really good food, it's just healthy too. Once you start to feel better, you won't really want pizza or french fries or anything like that (my weaknesses) as much. Follow the instructions your doctor and nutrionist give you and you will be great!! Try to relax and enjoy the journey you are about to embark on. It's a really nice ride.

Hey, it's getting colder out now and getting time for colds and flu. I usually make homemade chicken noodle Soup but now I don't know what to do. We aren't supposed to have the noodles, right? White flour and all, right? Can we use whole wheat or multigrain noodles? Other types? Are egg noodles bad? I'm guessing they are but not sure. Thanks in advance!!

That's awesome!!! Congratulations. How did you learn how to run? I'm just at the beginning stages of trying. You are a great inspiration.

I'm going to a support group at the hospital where I had my surgery. I'm still too new at it yet so not sure if it is helping. Our main topic is that we are addicts, which I haven't fully wrapped my head around yet. I'm going to continue to go because there are some nuggets that I have learned so far and I have only gone twice. I haven't committed to saying I'm an addict but I do recognize some of the behavior they talk about! So, I will continue to go. I have heard that attending support groups of some sort is only positive in the long term success. Because of that, I need to do because I want this to be successful for me long term.

It is NOT as strong as before. Sometimes it feels like it but it only takes a bite or two to satisfy the hunger.

Happy birthday! That sounds good to me. Keep your portions small, the size of a deck of cards for the fish. Enjoy!

But you have already lost quite a bit, since surgery, right? That's awesome! Your body just needed to take a break. And, while the scale may not be changing, your body is. That's the best part. Keep the faith!

I go to the gym to do the weight machines and then I also do Zumba, which has given me my stamina back!! And I also walk and I'm trying to add a bit of jogging mixed with the walking.

It will happen. Are you keeping a food journal? There is something magical about actually writing it down. Makes it work better somehow. Anyway, we all lose at different rates. If you feel concerned, talk to your nut and show her your food journal so she/he can figure out if there is any adjustments to be made. But just keep on following the plan and I guarantee it will work.

I do know it is a problem in the early days of post surgery. My sister (who also had the surgery) had eaten something too big and fast and it got stuck. Having a swig of a carbonated beverage brought it right back up! lol. She was told about that from someone and luckily remembered it. But after a certain point, would be good to know if that is still true that we can't have carbonation or if it really is just for the early days. I only JUST found out this past weekend that I don't need to cut or crush my pills anymore or even have to have chewables or liquid vitamins or meds! Nobody told me that was temporary! I had surgery in January and have still been cutting and crushing everything that wasn't chewable or liquid. Same thing with straws!!! I thought that was a forever thing and it was just for after surgery for a bit!! What else?? lol

I heard that it expands your stomach but I don't know if that is true or if that is a temporary expansion or more permanent. I'd like to know the answer as well! I miss sparkling water!

Here is a good video that explains it all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR0VM3mnsgM

Then make sure to eat Protein. Protein is a better option than fruits and veggies at this stage. Don't starve yourself because you will binge later. In fact, eat protein every couple of hours--have a protein shake and an egg for Breakfast, a Fit and light yogurt for a snack around 10, some chicken (just a couple of ounces) or fish or some lean protein for lunch, maybe a cottage cheese for a 3:00 snack or a Protein Drink for your snacks), and then some lean protein for dinner. You can also have some veggies in there. And maybe pick one meal to have a carb but keep it minimal. Like you, I expect too much from myself and am trying to let that go a bit. It's ok to rant or post your feelings/thoughts. In fact, keep a journal for that. Get those thoughts out of your head and onto paper. I find that once I write it down, I don't need to think about it anymore.

Shame on the doctors office people for making you feel horrible. I don't know what kind of meal plan they put you on to lose the weight so I can't comment--is it a total liquid diet? The one thing I remember is that you need Protein. That probably means Protein shakes for you. Protein fills you up and keeps you satisfied longer. Saying that you will eat nothing else during the day sounds like you are just punishing yourself and that isn't helpful. Not eating anything is also not helpful and will actually make you more hungry later. At the very least, drink a Protein shake for each meal. But, if they gave you a meal plan to follow, you should follow that. Don't let them get into your head. Get focused, don't starve yourself but don't binge either. You want to be successful so ignore (or try to) the bad comments (because these won't be the last ones you hear!! I understand about wanting perfection, being an overachiever--it's all about setting expectations and reframing the situations.

You're fine! You JUST had surgery and your body is still recovering. It takes a while for the weight to come off. It takes even longer before other people start noticing it! It will happen. You know how people say "the weight just fell off"? That's not exactly true and that is what sets unrealistic expectations! You will lose weight but you will also have stalls where, no matter what you do, you don't lose a pound. And then, boom! You'll drop 5 in a day. It's a rocky journey but you need to learn to enjoy every step and stumble. Keep following the plan, keep a food journal always, drink your Water, take your Vitamins, exercise (when cleared to do so), eat your protein--and it will all fall into place. It may be slowly, it may be fast, you don't know yet but it will happen. Best of luck! Let us know in a few weeks what has happened--I bet your story will change by then.

Good question. I don't know. I just know that mashed potatoes was always mentioned to me during that phase. In fact, I was told to only count Protein grams at that phase so I never thought about the fat content. Of course, be sensible and don't eat too much, especially since there isn't any protein in them either! lol. but a few bites should be fine if you can have some protein of some sort first. I was usually eating a yogurt or cottage cheese before I got to the restaurant so didn't really need to eat much anyway. If I was with people that didn't know about my surgery, I would order the closest thing to what I thought I could eat and just pick at that. Sometimes I couldn't eat hardly anything but would just say that I wasn't feeling 100%.

Congratulations for taking the journey!! I wish I had done this sooner, before my weight got so out of control. But nobody, including doctors, had ever suggested it. Now, it is true that I would have been offended by the suggestion but it wouldn't have been any worse than the looks of pity I would get from the nurses and doctors as they weighed me. One just looked at me with these sad condescending eyes and said, aww, it will come off (I was there for something completely different so the fact that she mentioned my weight really pissed me off). The look on my face as I almost started crying must have been obvious. Then she suggested that maybe I should be on antidepressants because I look depressed. Well yeah! you just called me fat! Anyway, enough of my rant, you are now on the right path and you sound strong and determined, especially to keep on with your Protein drink while smelling that food!! lol Welcome to the club--everyone here is fantastic and supportive.

Oh, and eat something before you go in case you can't find anything on the menu. Have some yogurt or cottage cheese or a protein drink.

Do you know where you are going? If you don't, find out. If you do, look online for the menu so you can choose ahead of time. Sometimes fish might work, though chew a lot and eat slowly. Othertimes, if the have chili, that usually works pretty well (at least it did for me). You want Protein but mashed potatoes can generally work. If you are going somewhere that has Miso Soup, that is usually a good option. I know this isn't a soft food but it may work--edamame (don't eat the pod, just the Beans inside!) Refried beans if they have them? I don't remember my soft food phase anymore so please check your list with the menu or call your nut for ideas.