ready2B

I make smoothies with 1/2 cup frozen berries (any kind), a 1/2 a banana, a scoop of Protein powder and a cup of Water or Crystal Light. The fruit helps cover up the Protein Powder.

I love the Bariwise hot cocoa mixes. They dissolve completely and don't clump like a lot of other Protein mixes. The mint & amaretto are my favorites! I also just this week tried Smart Protein by TR supplements (you can search for it on Amazon). The vanilla is very mild and not too sweet like a lot of others. It also dissolves completely so no graininess. I mix it with Carbmaster milk and a dash of whatever flavoring drops I want (those little Lorann 1 gm bottles used in candy making). So far, I've used Eggnog, Cake Batter, and Praline & Cream. Fantastically delicious!

I am with you. I HATE any kind of "intentional exercise". So, I just have to find more ways to move more naturally or doing things that I enjoy like gardening. Yesterday, I needed some new clothes badly so I went to the mall. I walked quickly from one end to the other and back before beginning my shopping, and by the end of the day, I had walked over 130000 steps! (I work from home and on days when I don't go anywhere, it's really easy for me to get less than 2000!) And the good thing was I really enjoyed it and it didn't feel like exercise. It wasn't going to a gym, feeling like people were looking at me, being confused about how to use equipment, doing boring exercise videos or anything that I despise. Other days I will find somewhere interesting to explore. I use stairs when I can, park further away from stores and just do whatever I can to add at least a little more activity to my day like getting up during commercials and cleaning something. Every little bit helps. I have found that I need to do some toning though after losing over 100 lbs. So I have some small hand weights and use tone to try to get rid of my bat wings. I know crunches are the best way to firm my tummy so I don't mind doing a few minutes of those. Since it's a heck of a lot easier now to get up off the floor, those are easier too!

I agree, you should get tested to see if you have any other comorbidities. Check with your insurance company to see which ones qualify. I think I would have a hard time trying to GAIN weight to qualify for surgery to LOSE weight. It seems so counterproductive. Don't follow her advice until you find out more specifics.

I am almost 10 months out and have only lost 3 lbs in this past month so I hear you! But - I have dropped 3 pant sizes this past month too - so go figure. Just keep following your plan. I have started to increase my activity level a bit more and that seems to have broken my stall. (*crossing fingers!*)

I never could stretch my meals to last 30 minutes. And I hate cold food (especially eggs!) and they would be ice cold if it took me that long to eat them. I feel full quickly anyway and I stop, so I don't see the point in sitting there nibbling for a lot longer time period. I think I would end up eating more, not less that way.

It totally depends. I was able to still wear my 3x pants as I lost the first 50 lbs. Then I dropped 2 full sizes in pants almost over night. Then I stayed in the same size for about 30 more lbs, then lately I dropped 3 more sizes even only losing 5 lbs! There doesn't seem to be any rhyme of reason. You were smart to keep your smaller clothes. I had every size under the sun and got rid of them all. WIsh now I had at least a couple of outfits in each size.

GNC carries the Quest chips. I tried each of the flavors and although they were disgusting like some of the other brand, they didn't do anything for me. I'd rather have air popped popcorn for crunch or Mr. Cheese O's. I also like the Balance Bites.

I eat air popped popcorn about 3-4 times a week. I asked the nutritionist and she said it is fine after the first 3 months.

Mine said after 3 months - give the pouch time to heal first. After that, perfectly fine.

@@India928 - one of the best things I learned was to go ahead and FEEL whatever emotions you are feeling in the moment. Don't try to stuff them down or ignore them or distract yourself. Go ahead and feel sad if that's what you are feeling. Mourn the changes. Cry if you need to. Sit with the feelings and really experience them - and you find then that they aren't really anything you can't cope with, you just feel them and then they pass. You move on and you grow and change and are no longer a slave to those feelings anymore.

@@VSGAnn2014 - interesting idea about the feeling of "they are my tribe". In a way, I feel that - certainly the empathy and the understanding of just how difficult struggles with weight are that you truly can't know unless you've been there. But I also feel a new connection with healthier people - I want to be identify myself in a different way these days and be motivated by the healthy habits of those who take good care of themselves. But I don't have to bash anyone else to do that! I also despised being obese. I hated looking in the mirror and felt I didn't deserve to be seen in public. I was close to becoming a recluse. Such a sad, tragic downward spiral. So I don't ever look at someone else who is overweight with disgust - it is not my job to judge them by their physical appearance nor their job to look aesthetically pleasing to me. I might be concerned about their health, but beyond that I certainly don't cringe or think someone is "gross" because they are fat. Shame was such a useless emotion for me. It never motivated me to lose weight - in fact it only made me hate myself more. So I don't ever want anyone else to feel shame about themselves or their bodies. Learning self love and valuing myself as a human being went a heck of a lot further in motivating me to take the best possible care of myself. And I imaging true compassion will go a heck of a lot further with others than shaming them will.

Thanks! @Dub- too funny! I wish I had been quick on my feet with something to say, but I just stood there stunned and speechless during most of her rant. I think I was so shocked that she would say those things to my face - clearly not thinking that I would take it personally because I WAS one of those people until very recently. Or who knows, maybe she is just nasty enough that she meant it to insult me in an underhanded way. Regardless, I don't need to be around people like that. I have plenty of other friends and family who don't behave in such a judgemental way. @@B-52 - yes, it makes me very sad too!

I have lost 105 lbs so far since my WLS and lately I've noticed something strange. People who knew me at my largest weight now come up to me and start talking badly about other people they believe need to lose weight. It wouldn't be so awful if it seemed like it was out of real concern, but I get the impression most of it is nothing more than fat bashing. My neighbor was just over and she was telling me about some friends of hers who are overweight and said "I bet they just stuff their faces all the time. It's just gross that people get that fat and don't do anything about it. I even saw them eat DESSERT at a party!" She knows that less than a year ago, I was one of "those people" that she thinks are so "gross". I felt she wanted me to join in this bashing but I wouldn't - I just said you can't judge people by the outside. You have no idea what is going on with them medically, emotionally, or their personal struggles. Anyone else dealing with this sort of thing from people now - them wanting you to join in bashing others who are overweight/obese?

I felt that sense of loss at about a month out. It didn't last long, only a few days for me. I just kept reminding myself of all the reasons why I am doing this. I also realized I never had a real "relationship with food". food is inanimate, and impossible to have a relationship with - you have relationships with PEOPLE! Food is for fuel mainly. Yes, it is also for enjoyment, but there are so many things in life to enjoy that food plays such a minor role. Even more of a minor role now that I have the ability to enjoy so much more. As it turned out, after about 3 months, there really wasn't anything I couldn't tolerate and have in moderation. So for me, I don't believe there are foods I "can't ever have again" - just foods I might choose not to eat or just take one small bite of because I value my health and new life more now than I value the momentary pleasure those foods gave me.