IcanMakeit

Good for you! This post was timely for me. My husband's arthritis frequently keeps him from joining me on my walks, and when he does come, he's kind of slow for me. So for the last two days, after our evening walk, I let him go home and I walk by myself for another half hour or so. This is a breakthrough for me because I have been too timid to wander too far in the evening by myself. But just like you, I find that I enjoy the alone time.

I have a lot of empathy for the people who haven't quite internalized the fact that in order to be successful, their lifestyles have to totally change. I was in their shoes early in the process. Even though I had read and researched and met with a nutritionist, I still, in the back of my head, thought I could keep doing things my way. It wasn't that I didn't have the facts. It just took me a while to accept them. So my head doesn't explode when I read those kinds of posts. I believe that these people can come to terms with their new way of life and be successful, especially when we, who understand what they are feeling, give them the benefit of our experience.

I have always been very specific about what I want in restaurants, long before my WLS. I have been very lucky and have found most places are very willing to accommodate me, but some of them charge extra for the substitutions. I really appreciate the ones that accommodate me without an extra charge. I also live in the SF Bay Area and I am very curious about which restaurant treated you so badly. How can they stay in business with that unfriendly attitude? I can understand them not allowing you to order from the child's menu, it would hurt their profitability if they allowed adults to order reduced priced meals, but a blanket "no substitutions" policy is ridiculous.

I agree that WLS is an extreme step that should only be undertaken by people who are willing to go "all in." The big changes in lifestyle that are required are difficult for many people to adjust to. But if you are serious about losing weight, you'll have to make permanent lifestyle changes anyway. The great thing about WLS is that it makes adjusting to those lifestyle changes easier. I can't really tell you whether or not you should have WLS or try again to commit to a permanent healthy lifestyle without the aid of surgery. I just know that I'm really glad I chose to go through with the VSG. I have reached a weight that I never thought possible and have been freed from a long list of ailments and reduced abilities.

Thank you for organizing another challenge. Even though I'm below goal, I love the accountability. Please add my name to the roster. I'll set my goal after the last 4th of July weigh-in.

@@CowgirlJane I have been assuring all my concerned friends that my current foray into the underweight category is temporary. From what I have observed, very few people have that problem when they are over two years out. That's why I don't want to overreact. My sister (who had RNY) purposely gained when she was told she was too thin, and ended up regaining a significant amount of weight that she is really struggling to lose.

Hmm. I don't really know because I keep my meat/fish servings at 3-4 ozs. I could probably fit a bit more, but I like my vegetables too much. I'd much rather have veggies than more meat. The problem with the way I'm doing things is that I'm still (at just over one year out from surgery) relying on Protein shakes/bars to make my quota every day. I should try eating a bit more dense protein at a sitting and see how I feel.

My doctor told me it was ok to use whatever means necessary to stay regular, but I was afraid of becoming dependent on laxatives and suffered severely for months. I finally got it that he must know more than me and it would be ok to take his advice. So far, I have had no ill effects from daily stool softeners and regular (not quite daily) use of laxatives. I do alternate the different preparations: Mira-Lax, Col-Rite, Milk of Magnesia, Smooth Move tea. I am so much more comfortable now! Also, about the grapefruit. I am below my goal weight and I have now increased my fruit intake. (I was already eating plenty of vegetables.) This is probably part of the reason I have been more comfortable. But I would advise being careful not to add a lot of fruit too early. It will definitely affect the rate of weight loss.

Boy can I relate to this! I have given away a lot of my largest clothes, but I just can't seem to let go of the intermediate-sized clothes. I just don't trust myself enough. The other issue is improper attachment. I absolutely love some of the clothes that no longer fit.

I know that there are far more important things to worry about in this world but I'm really bugged that every top I put on, even the most modest in style, manages to show my bra or bra strap. EVERY. ONE. WTH?! This happens even when I'm wearing something that is properly sized. Am I just a weird shape or does every one have this issue?

108 this morning. I get to add a few more calories this week, but I know a year from now I'm going to be laughing (or crying) about my current concern about losing too much weight. I don't want to overreact and end up on the Regain Express.

I find myself having to control my eyes from rolling when I hear thin people make such pronouncements. Do they think all obese people are stupid and without willpower? Most of them wouldn't last a day on the diets we've been (temporarily) successful on before resorting to WLS. They really don't get it.

I bought a Fitbit and I really like it. It estimates how many calories I'm burning each day, so I have a good idea of how many I should be eating. It has already helped. I'm back up to 109. That's only a pound, but it may mean I'm finding my healthy calorie allowance. Edited: that weight gain was just a digestive fluctuation, I guess. I'm down even lower than before. Now at 107.

I'm not freaking out yet, but I am aware that I need to raise my caloric intake a bit more. My goal is to gain muscle, not fat. I seem to have plenty of fat under my excess skin. I hope some of you who have successfully negotiated this part of the journey will chime in.

@@dena1258 If you want to respond to someone, you can click on the "@Mention" which is located below their member summary on the left side of the screen (on a computer or tablet). I don't use the app, so I don't know where the "@Mention" is located in the app. When you click on "@Mention," the username is inserted in your reply with the @ symbol added. Good luck on your weight loss journey. It sounds like you're in the right frame of mind to be successful.

Ok. This is getting crazy. I'm down to 108 this morning.

Lots of people on this site have reported that they have broken this rule with no apparent consequence. I haven't tested it because I don't really miss straws. I'll save my rebellion for something that matters to me.

@@Amy93 My insurance covered the breast reduction because of my backaches. And it's a good thing they did, because since the breast reduction, my back has been just fine, and I had really suffered before. @@Sleevie.Nicks I don't know how old you are, but age makes a big difference in outcomes after weight loss. I was 60 when I lost most of my weight and my loose skin is prodigious. My breasts really did resemble tube socks with rocks. Younger women probably fare much better.

My hunger returned fairly quickly after healing from surgery, but now (one year out) it's less irksome than it was presurgery. If I distract myself, I can wait for the next planned meal rather than feel compelled to snack. I don't know how long this will last, though.

After losing 100 lbs, my boobs went from 48H (watermelons) to 40DD (tube socks). This was before my breast reduction surgery. I'm not sure what my cup size was after surgery, but I've lost 35 more pounds since the breast reduction and now find my 34D bras are too big. I think my current size is 34C, which I haven't worn since junior high school. I'm getting a big kick out of being small-breasted.

I think this is a good question for your doctor. Maybe the change in hormone levels that comes with weight loss is responsible for your decreased libido, or it could be that your decrease in calories has depressed your energy. In any case, my guess is that this change is probably temporary and will work itself out.

I don't know if this qualifies as an NSV, but I ate popcorn last weekend and did not try to overeat it, nor did it lead me to start craving other slider foods. (Popcorn is one of the foods that I abused most often when I was obese.) I think if I keep dangerous treats to a minimum, I can learn to eat them occasionally and responsibly.

@blahslee I agree that not all Thai food is sweet. I think so many Thai restaurants over-sweeten food because most Americans like it that way. (For me, they could leave out all the sugar and double the spices.) I was whining because my favorite Thai restaurant is gone and I miss it. But you all have reminded me that I have two hands. I should make my own, just the way I like it. Next weekend, the wok comes out.

I have added more fruit into my diet and eat about 150 calories more per day, but my weight is still dropping slowly. I am now at the very low end of normal and have been told by my doctor to stop losing. You'd think that would be easy. I have dieted and regained so much in the past and I have vowed that this time I would maintain my weight loss, so I am trying to remain careful about adding foods. I don't want to get back into the habit of eating without thinking, but I don't want to end up with a BMI of less than 19! I hope I can get this figured out.

@@highdesertblue Your doctor may be a great surgeon, but he is definitely not a great coach. In his eagerness to encourage you to exercise, he only succeeded in depressing you and belittling your quite stellar accomplishment. Forget him. Try to add a little more activity every day and before you know it, you'll be walking and moving with less pain (and less effort). Losing weight does wonders for your mobility. Keep the faith. With daily practice, you will soon get to the point where you can move without drama.