Kathy812

Ok, so don't know that I will take pics every day cuz I'm compelled to go in and color correct etc. And I don't have time or energy for that. LOL. Here was today's food. I'd post afters but they were clean plates. The thing about being AR is that I know how much I can eat by now. So I only serve what I can eat. I probably won't end up eating the BS cuz I finished dinner at 8pm and it makes no sense to try to eat again in 1 hour. But I did actually have 3.25oz of pork loin. Cals were well under 500 for the day and protein was 67g which is fine. Carbs were under my limits as well and fat was fine too. OMG. I'm such a nerd.
Breakfast - Egg White Puff


Lunch - Chopped Shrimp Salad


Dinner - Roasted Pork Loin with Broccoli


Tomorrow is "Toosday" and is an UD. I will attempt 1000 cals that do not include a bunch of crap.

4 years out, I had gained a total of 25lbs since my lowest weight.
This last year I was working out 4x per week but could not lose weight. I was becoming very discouraged and trying hard to not let it get me down.
In August, I started intermittent fasting, it has been very slow, but I've lost 7lbs and I love it. This is a way of eating that I can stick with. I still work out 3-4x per week.
Working out has to be part of any program I do- I realize that now.

4 years out, I had gained a total of 25lbs since my lowest weight.
This last year I was working out 4x per week but could not lose weight. I was becoming very discouraged and trying hard to not let it get me down.
In August, I started intermittent fasting, it has been very slow, but I've lost 7lbs and I love it. This is a way of eating that I can stick with. I still work out 3-4x per week.
Working out has to be part of any program I do- I realize that now.

Wow, just saw this thread for the first time, never thought menopause could be a factor. I always blamed my thyroid. I never reached goal ( I'm 17 months out). Now, I have to assume menopause could be a factor?
I work out 5 days a week, log my calories and still vacilate between 167/168 #. Very frustrating and at times emotional. You would think with all this work I could drop at least a few pounds. Sigh...
Anyway, I'm determined. I just have to figure out what will work for me.
Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App

Hi
I got my Sleeve to MGB revision surgery done yesterday in Tijuana, MX by Dr jaime Ponce de leon. I'm surprised at how well I am recovering right now. I'm doing way better than I did when I got my Sleeve in July 2010.
Dr. Ponce has been doing the MGB for years and in December 2016 he was trained first-hand by Dr Rutledge the creator of the Mini Gastric Bypass during a conference in TJ.
Dr. Ponce was only going to bypass me as recommended by Dr Rutledge in sleeve revisions, but he found a larger than usual fundus which my previous Dr. is known for creating. He reshaped my pouch and bypass 7ft of intestines. I had a little gas discomfort after surgery, but I'm up walking comfortably on my own.
I'm thankful for this forum! All of your stories have been an inspiration to me during these 9 months of researching. I'm looking forward to helping others as I recover as well. If you have any questions please don't hestitate to ask.

One nutritionist likens eating fruit to consuming Halloween candy. Bariatric Dietitian Elizabeth Anderson weighs in.


Is Eating Fruit Like Eating Candy?
In my opinion as a bariatric dietitian, no.
Is fruit nature’s candy?
Well, I don’t know about you, but I haven’t yet confused blueberries with blue jellybeans.
Many of my post-op WLS clients are nonetheless extremely nervous to incorporate fruit back into their diets.
Some have even been told ‘fruit is dirty’ by their providers.
Most feel they ought to avoid fruit-- like mosquitoes in Florida.
Now I think I know where this is coming from. Many folks with the best intentions believe the sweetness of fruit can prime the appetite-pump for MORE sweets—the high fructose kind.
If you feel fruit might lead you to return to sweets with wild abandon then you are better off skipping it.
But for those of you post op gastric sleeve and bypass clients, fully healed from surgery, and hankering for a small piece of watermelon to beat the heat or a tiny bowl of pineapple while vacationing in Hawaii, I say, enjoy.
When I became a dietitian I took a solemn vow that I would always encourage well-balanced nutrition. To me, that means recommending to my WLS clients: lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
I understand and encourage my clients to limit carbohydrates. I follow the bariatric plate guidelines and suggest 2 tablespoons of starch at lunch and dinner or, about 10 % of these meals.
It’s late summer. This is your opportunity to enjoy the starchy vegetables of the season like sweet potato, fresh summer corn or green peas.
And the delicious fruits of summer like Maine blueberries, Georgia peaches and succulent summer melon—in WLS portions.
Fruits and vegetables, especially the deeply colored varieties like beets, raspberries, kiwi and tomatoes, are packed with disease-fighting antioxidants and nutrients that are so vital to good health.
Plus, the loads of vitamins and minerals in fruits and vegetables are much better absorbed by our bodies than the version we get in supplements.
I know many pre-surgery eating habits need to change after surgery. I sincerely hope that doesn’t mean you have to avoid some of nature’s tastiest treats of the season.

So yeah this is basically how I looked like (4-5kilos before my heaviest weight), I don't have much pictures since I hated being in them (still not a big fan though) and it's actually one of the only I have got from that dreaded period. And this is me this morning, so far I have lost 38kilos (83,7pounds) since February 25th, not that bad
Cheers everyone.
(PS: did not realize you guys would see how I titled my pics, so yeah sorry 'bout that).

Most recent "during" photo.
Just made it home from gym.....old dude tired but pumped up from the werk done.

I didn't manage the insomnia very well. I honestly think the insomnia contributed to my continuing weight gain through my 50s and 60s. There's all kinds of research that links insomnia and weight gain.
Here's what I'm doing these days that's helping a lot:
* Post-WLS I'm drinking less coffee than I did before -- no more than a cup a day. That is helping.
* I'm exercising a lot more than I did 100 pounds ago -- and that physically "wears me out" and lets me rest better at night.
* About 50% of the nights I take either a Melatonin or half an Ambien. It helps. Sometimes.
* Since WLS I go to bed when my husband goes to bed, in other words -- at the same time every night. Following that sleep schedule rule really does help.
* I manage my reflux a lot better since WLS -- meaning that I actually take my H2 blocker antacid (Ranitadine) every day and on time.
* Since losing 100 pounds, I don't have stress incontinence and don't have to get up during the night to pee anymore. Not a single time.
* Finally, I'm just a lot less stressed at 100 pounds less than I used to weigh than I used to be. I fall asleep easier and generally sleep better throughout the night.
However, one thing I have NOT conquered that still messes with my sleep is to deal with the damned cat who always wants out when I'm sleeping soundly; I then have trouble getting back to sleep. I think the cat and I are going to have a serious discussion. I think he's going to have to spend the whole night outside from now on.
Thanks for making me focus on this a little better. The cat won't appreciate it, but I do.

There is a brand of non-dairy ice cream called So brand and they make ice cream with Cashew Milk, Coconut Milk, Almond Milk. It tastes wonderful, and my pouch handles it quite well. Also, Klondike No Sugar Added Krunch and Plain bars. So far so good.

I had a hysterectomy (uterus only) one year ago. Although I still have my ovaries, I think menopause has finally set in. Hot flashes every evening and at night. (Anyone else have a partner who is overly amorous when s/he wakes up and finds you nude and panting in bed? I don't have the heart to tell my husband he's not a rock star.) I am suddenly far less interested in that arena of late too.
I am only 42, so I am hoping for a few more years before my hormones go completely out of whack, because I have heard that menopause does cause weight gain.
Good luck!

I had a look...
I was alone...
Talked to myself for a while...
But then I got bored and started to troll myself...
So I yelled at myself and left...

I probably shouldn't post on this thread, because I haven't seen the TV show.
But I gotta say ... I love the way I look post-op at 137 pounds (5'5" tall) and 70 years old without any plastic surgery.
Yes, I have crepe-y thighs. And my boobs are halfway between where they used to be and my waist, and my arms aren't made for primetime sleeveless dresses.
But I look SO MUCH BETTER than I used to look when I was a big fat mess. I look really, really cute in clothes. And my hubby adores me at any size / shape.
I'm just so happy I have a hard time being unhappy about some extra skin.
(Not saying everybody isn't entitled to feel how they feel. Just wanted to express my own feelings on this subject.)

I'll be honest, I skimmed your post because near the middle my eyes started getting teary and I am currently wearing a ton of non-waterproof makeup. I wasn't bothered by my excess skin the first few times I lost a lot of weight, probably because my entire life I have been fat or saggy, however after having lost with the sleeve I decided I wanted to get my boobs done. This was almost entirely because I hated that I couldn't wear cute tops because I needed major support bras to not look like I was super saggy. That same week I started checking out abdominoplasty pictures and I'll be honest even then I had no idea that I could ever have a flat stomach. Ever since I was a kid, even when I was thin I always had a little pooch of skin/fat so I generally didn't wear tight clothing or if I did it was with spanx. Well, a year later and 3 surgeries with everything from the boobs and stomach, to thighs, arms and posterior body lift, and I look like a different person. I had no idea how different I would look and feel. Sure, I am still a little ashamed of my arm scars, although they are quickly fading and very hard to see, but the rest can only be seen when I'm not wearing clothing so I mostly ignore them.
Having my plastics procedures did unspeakable things for my confidence that just losing weight never could have. I am so grateful that I was able to have the work done and while most of my friends find me to be fabulously full of myself because I just had to go spend a small luxury car on being a "plastic Barbie", thanks to my surgeon I never look in the mirror any more and feel disgust. I had no idea how much the extra skin made me dislike myself until I finally saw what it was like gone. I may not love my face all the time, my hair might still be thin (damn sleeve) and I have plenty of other flaws, but my figure, because of my surgeon is something that for the first time in my life that makes me feel almost hot sometimes. I feel like a finished product, instead of like a deflated fat girl.

Excess skin made me feel like I wasn't completely "there". I looked pretty dang good in spanx, but when I didn't have supportive garments, i had a bit of the melted snowman look...
I never thought I looked better fat - not at all. Trim, with excess skin was WAY better than obesity.
There were those, including my lover, who tried to talk me out of plastics but I persevered. I likened it to getting rid of the ole 3X sweat pants, just didn't serve me well anymore. Having plastics was tranforming - not just in looks, but confidence and feeling "normal".
It is a big deal too, not to be taken lightly, but I am so glad I did it!

hello my sisters in Christ; please pray that I can be patient and that God will see to it that THIS SURGERY will be approved for me to have. I know it is in Gods will that that this could only happen for me. I am just starting this journey and hope to be ready set and go by Jan . I hope all goes well. I couldn't have sped this up at all since Insurance is requiring the wait of time. Has anyone else had to wait too? Bless you all

I lost a lot of sizes, and went through several wardrobe sizes.
Getting a wardrobe at the thrift shop or consignment store is much easier said than done. I tried to do that and never had luck in my town. I think there are some places that have better selection, but I would have had to drive a long way to get to them. After a few attempts, I gave it up. I didn't like having to dig and search and search, just to find nothing.
I have a professional job and have to dress a certain way. I also don't have a lot of extra time. So I tried to be pretty basic in shopping. I bought about 3 pairs of basic slacks, and paired them with different tops and jackets. I really only had about 15 items in my closet at any one time, but it was enough to get me through 2 weeks without repeating, for work. (Obviously I washed and repeated the pants). I also always made sure I had one casual outfit for weekends. I bought things a little snug, and then wore them until they were a little too big. I shopped only clearance items, and got things really inexpensive - like I mostly paid around $10 for the pants, and less for shirts, a little more for sweaters or jackets.
Now that I've been the same size for over a year, I'm starting to build a big wardrobe. I LOVE being thin for that reason. I still am a bargain hunter. There is solace in knowing I don't have to grab what I can when I see it and pay full price, like when I was fat. I used to do that, just being thankful there was something that was sort of cute and fit ok. Now I know that I can wait for things I like to go on sale, and if it never does, oh well. There are a million more things out there in a size 8 that I'm sure I'll love

Carin, I really respect your answer to the comments left here.
If I had a good amount of spare money to spend on clothes, shoes, handbags and accessories I'd do it!!
After being married to the meanest man for 25 years (I used to have to hide money for holidays so the kids could have ice cream) I am now married to a man who encourages me to spend and I'm not ashamed of that fact. We both work hard, the 3 older kids are independent and the last one is 17 now and off to university next year so now its MY time to spend on me. In some area's of our lives we live very cheaply. However, I might treat myself to a few pieces of timeless classics which will work well in he long term.
Kate

The thrift stores have become my salvation! Every time I drop a size or two I saunter joyfully over to "Value Village" (Canadians, can I get a whoop whoop!) and spend a whopping $30 on new tops and jeans. HUZZAH!
Man does it ever feel good to wear clothes that fit as I'm on my way down. I happily donated a bunch of my Size 22 pants and jeans (SEE YA' LATER!), but some of my tops that I bought full pop retail are truly lovely pieces (purchased from funky online shops like Zulily) that I cannot bear to part with. This is where my seamstress friend comes in - she will be doing some sewing for me at $10 per garment and saving me hundreds of bucks that I would otherwise need to spend on new clothes.
As a professor I have an unwritten (but implied) professional dress code to adhere to, and having a seamstress buddy on board is very helpful!

Thanks to all for comments on this article.
To those who asked if anyone should spend so much on clothes during and after weight loss surgery, the answer is that I do not recommend it!
Several factors contributed to my spending so much on my transition wardrobe. As a number of readers correctly guessed, where I lived (New York City) and the type of work I did (corporate executive type job in a well known financial services, think banking, company)during my weight loss period had a lot to do with it. We were expected to dress in a formal professional, very sophisticated style. The clothes I thought I needed in order to dress appropriately tended to expensive, and at the time, I thought I had to have a complete wardrobe each time I changed sizes. Now I know that with some planning it would have been possible to buy stylish clothing much less expensively, and by selecting the items with an eye toward versatility, fewer of them. As some of you have pointed out, shopping in thrift stores, and looking for sale items are ways to minimize the expense of adjusting your wardrobe during a major weight loss. Tailoring some of the more expensive items can also keep your costs down. Unfortunately, during my weight loss, I didn't have a workable strategy and it proved very costly.
These days, I take my own advice, considering my personal style, my lifestyle, and my budget as I plan my wardrobe.
Several people commented that they have their own personal styles and that they wouldn't want to change. Knowing what your fashion preferences are, and staying true to them are both essential to presenting your best self to the world. What image consultants can do is help you refine your style so that it remains consistent both with the person you are and the roles you need to play in your life, whether in your professional life or in social settings, all the while looking fabulous.
The very reasons I chose this career! I am interested in your comments, so keep the conversation going!

I have been very limited in the clothes I can wear for years. Fortunately, I was also able to find a good seamstress who helped me fill out my work wardrobe.
As I lose weight I am looking forward to being able to find nice things at consignment, thrift, and even conventional stores. I plan to only buy things that I absolutely love, are flattering, and that I can afford.
I also have the same attitude towards food now: only choosing food that is delicious, nutritious, and fits in my program.

It took about 2 days once it was in their systems, however my Drs. office sent it certified returned receipt and they actually received it 2 weeks prior to that.
The only required a letter of "medical neccesity" from the Drs. office.
I kept calling Humana but they will NOT tell you anything over the phone. It wasn't until I received a letter in the mail, my Drs. office received one as well.
Humana Rocks!!!

There is a significant amount of variability as to how much weight people lose following weight loss surgery. Research indicates that up to 20% of patients fail to lose the expected amount of weight following surgery. While there are surely surgical and medical explanations for this outcome, patient behavior has also been shown to play a role. Therefore, it is important for anyone having surgery to anticipate and understand factors under their control to improve outcome.


I often tell patients, “The surgery does what the surgery does.” What I mean by this is that weight loss surgery almost certainly will affect how much food you can eat, but may do little to change what you eat. Weight loss surgery does not make you suddenly crave healthier and less caloric food. You have to make those choices for yourself. Additionally, while losing weight may make it easier for you to adopt a more active lifestyle, surgery itself will not make you suddenly fall in love with exercise. So making health behavior changes in addition to having surgery remains critical. So what specific health behavior changes have been shown to improve outcome?
1. Document what you eat – Many people strongly dislike writing down what they eat but there is evidence that this helps people after weight loss surgery as it does with non-surgical approaches. The reason is likely that documenting what you eat gives you valuable information about your behavior and allows you to make changes when necessary. Consider that your actual weight is the end product of what you eat, so weighing yourself gives you the results, but not the information necessary to make changes. For many, weighing themselves is a pass-fail exam. Either I’m a good boy or a bad boy. Consider that you can’t actually change your weight…you change what you eat and/or exercise, and that is what helps change your weight.
Many people seem to have little or no objection to weighing themselves so why do so many people despise writing down what they eat? Writing down what you eat is the truth teller. It forces you to acknowledge what you are doing. To avoid seeing the truth, you can either change what you eat or stop writing it down. Unfortunately, many people choose the latter. The good news is that in the smartphone era, there are literally dozens of apps and other technological devices that can make documenting your food and activity level extremely easy. If you do a little research you can find one that is right for you.
2. Exercise – You probably saw this one coming as well because it makes sense. Regular exercise is a way of burning calories and losing weight that does not involve changing what you eat. Given how difficult it is to lose weight and keep it off, it would be silly not to take advantage of one of the few methods known to work. Ironically, it might not work the way you would expect. Many people who lose weight through exercise notice that it helps them not just by burning off calories, but also by affecting their food choices. In other words, when you discover how difficult it is to burn off 250 calories on a treadmill, you may think twice before having that chocolate bar afterwards. Not everyone finds this effect, but for those who do, it can make a big difference.
When deciding what form of exercise to do, consider that you don’t need to become an Olympiad or a marathon runner. Many of the positive effects of exercise have been documented with just walking 30 minutes 3-4 times per week. If rigorous exercise is enjoyable for you, that’s great. But any time spent engaged in activity is beneficial...especially if you would otherwise be sitting on the couch watching all of those tempting food advertisements on television!
3. Stress Reduction – An increasing amount of research has documented a relationship between stress and weight gain. The obvious connection is that many people use food as a means of comforting themselves from distress, commonly called “emotional eating.” An interesting new discovery is that is that some people who report high levels of stress gain weight even when their calorie intake is unchanged. How is that possible? There is the suggestion that stress hormones and other chemicals may affect how our body metabolizes food and stores food. So even if you’re eating the same foods and the same number of calories, what your body does with those calories can vary.
If you’re going to be successful in reducing stress, you need to begin by discovering what “pushes your buttons” and take steps to change. One first step could be to document the things that you find to be stressful. Sometimes just writing down your problems makes them less frightening now that they’re just words on a page. For other people, writing their sources of stress naturally leads them to write what they might do about them. Another good idea is to investigate some simple stress management techniques. Many refer to them as relaxation or meditation exercises. As discussed earlier, there are a number of excellent smartphone apps and other technology-based methods of relaxation that you can explore. No one is better than the rest so just find one that works for you and begin to incorporate relaxation/meditation into your daily routine. If reducing your stress requires more than practicing relaxation techniques, consider speaking to a psychologist or other mental health professional to get the help you need.
4. Get some sleep – Here’s another suggestion that you’ve probably seen in the media recently. There is growing consensus of an obesity-sleep connection. Like exercise, the benefits of sleep are more than meets the eye. The obvious connection is that if you’re up longer, you become hungrier and are likely to eat late at night. This interpretation is not wrong, however, new research suggests that people who get 7 or more hours of sleep tend to maintain lower weights even when people with fewer hours of sleep consume the same amount of calories. How is that possible? Again, it’s not just how many calories we eat…but what our bodies do with those calories. Unfortunately, an increasing number of people are so busy between their work and social lives (not to mention all those tempting television shows) that sleep is not a priority. Just know that making sleep the last priority comes at a cost.
Consider how we train children to sleep. We create a nighttime ritual to ease kids to bed. There’s dinner, wind down time, then bath time, maybe reading a story or two in bed, and then lights out. Many adults however have a terrible routine. Eat a big dinner at 9pm, catch up on emails and pay bills, watch television for an hour or so and then fall asleep on the couch and stumble into bed at 2AM only to have to wake up three or four hours later. Try to change your sleep habits by changing your nighttime ritual. Eat an earlier dinner. Try to pay bills and check your emails at another time. Use the evening as wind down time. Rather than fall asleep on the couch, watch a set amount of television or Internet time and then turn it off and “put yourself to bed.” Begin by trying to go into bed a half-hour early every night for a week and see how you feel. If you notice some improvements in your level of energy, mood, appetite or other factors, see if you can make it permanent.
5. Join a Support Group – Some research has demonstrated that patients who participate in support groups lose and maintain more weight than those who don’t. Of course it may depend on the content of the group and who attends, but adding a social element to your weight loss and weight maintenance goals seems to help. This may relate to the accountability factor discussed earlier. If “we’re all in it together,” there may be more of a commitment to stick to your goals to help out the group. Or perhaps it motivates you not to be the one group member who is falling behind. Either way, participating in support groups seems to have benefits both in terms of weight loss as well as emotional well being after surgery.
There are other suggestions of course, such as improving your diet by reducing carbohydrates in favor of lean protein and a more plant-based diet. However, for many people, changing their diet can push all of those emotional “diet” buttons; so before you make those changes (or in addition to making those changes), strongly consider some of the changes recommended above. There is evidence that the benefits are additive. For example, many people find that when they exercise, they sleep better and in turn these changes help them manage stress better. The key is to acknowledge whether or not some of the factors above are problem areas for you and to begin making small changes. Sometimes small changes can lead to big results!

Protein is IMPERATIVE to bariatric patients. And the great thing is we have so many options!


Once upon a time it was nearly impossible for a bariatric patient to keep their protein counts up. We were taught to only eat certain foods and to avoid others. Chicken breast, lean beef, and fish was the rule of thumb. The problem with these foods was that several people had problems eating, swallowing, and digesting them. And we were told that once we hit a certain point, to avoid protein drinks as we needed to be eating our protein rather than drinking it.
Isn't it nice to know that times have changed? New research and information has given the bariatric patient so many more options on foods we can eat now to keep our protein levels where they should be. We are no longer restricted to the leanest cuts of meat, but are encouraged to try other cuts such as dark meat chicken, 80/20 or 90/10 ground beef, and (a personal favorite) BACON. Additionally, we are encouraged to eat eggs and shrimp, salmon and pork. And protein drinks (when done RIGHT) are no longer a no-no!
How Much Protein Do We REALLY Need and Why Is It So Important?
According to most surgeons and nutritionists, we need about 65-70 grams of protein daily. That goes up a little bit if you're recovering from surgery or are sick or pregnant (to about 85-90 grams). Protein is an essential building block of our bodies. When we're losing weight, especially, protein is one of the hardest working macronutrients on the planet. Beyond muscle building, it also helps strengthen our immune system, rebuilds tissue, and can even improve brain function. Additionally, when we lose weight, our bodies burn protein. When we're not getting enough protein, our body takes it from wherever it can get it - typically our body muscle. What's more, it can actually take muscle from our cardiac system!
How Can I Get My Protein?
Focusing on protein is the #1 concern of many bariatric patients. Of course, eating your protein is the very best bet. Focusing on protein foods with a high protein to fat ratio is the very best bet. Some of the best protein foods are egg whites, chicken breast, and shrimp. Although other meats, poultry, and seafood are also good options. Cheese is another great choice as are nuts and seeds. Beans do give some protein, but many bariatric patients have issues with digesting them.
Another good option is the protein drink. Once only encouraged in the early phases after surgery, now many nutritionists and dietitians are encouraging the bariatric patient to include protein supplements in their daily diets. Most contain high (35+ g) amounts of protein, and leave you free to consume other healthy (and needed) foods later on such as vital fruits and vegetables.
The #1 suggested protein drink that nutritionists suggest is whey protein. It is, by far, the most digestible and assimilated protein on the market (that means your body can use it a lot easier than other kinds). Sadly, many people can't tolerate whey or stomach it. If this is the case, there are other options available that are almost as easily digested such as egg white protein or vegan (brown rice, pea, and hemp) proteins.
If I'm Focusing On Protein, I Don't Have Room For Other Foods, HELP!
VITAMINS! You remember those vitamins and fiber supplements the doctor sent you home with? TAKE THEM. It's true that we often have to forgo fruits, vegetables, and whole grains when we're focusing on protein. That's why these supplements are so important to our lifestyle.
Remember The Basics!
The basics of our lifestyle don't change with time. We still need to remain focused on protein, water, and our vitamin supplements. Keeping these three things at the forefront of your mind will help ensure you successful weight loss, successful maintenance, and a successful lifestyle overall!

I really love cauliflower "smush" -- steam a well-rinsed head and throw in food processor with chicken stock. Add salt and pepper, cumin, coriander, a little chili. Savory pudding, OMG.