ready2B

I love what @@SuzeMuze has said here! So much truth. But I will add a little something I realized: I suspect that when we compare ourselves to others, we pick and choose whom we compare ourselves to. And guess who we choose - those who are more successful than we are and so we feel like we have failed in comparison. Do we notice how many posts there are daily from people discouraged with slow losses and compare ourselves with them and think "Wow, I lost a little more than they did, so I should feel great about myself! I am doing well"? No - we seem to only take note of the ones who lost a lot more and think "Oh, wow, I should have lost that much too. I am such a failure at this and something must be really, really wrong with me!".
I suspect if there was one big poll that accumulated all the weekly losses from each person here and somehow adjusted it by how many weeks out they were, how much they had to lose, how much they exercised, as well as other factors such as age, sex, etc and plotted that all on a bell curve - the majority of us would fall smack dab there in the middle somewhere! There will be a small handful who lose far faster than the rest and a handful who lose far slower - but for the most part, I am willing to bet that the vast majority of us are well within that NORMAL range.
(BTW - @@Annek2014 - I checked my weight chart and I had lost 15 lbs after 3 weeks. My weight the day of surgery was 280 - so if you must compare, you are doing awesome!)

I posted about a month and a half ago that I hadn't had any issues with this Rx. But since then I have developed horrible insomnia and racing heart even on the days when I don't take it. I am now stuck in an awful sort-of-love/hate relationship with it. When I take it, I lose weight without much effort. If I don't take it, my weight shoots right back up, even when I eat the same. So I only take it about 1-2 times a week and only half a pill then, but I still end up with my heart racing like crazy and lying wide awake until 4 or 5 in the morning all the rest of the days of the week. This is SO not worth it!! Right now I am just trying to maintain my weight loss until my surgery next month, but I am going to have to find a way to do it without these evil pills.< /p>

I've been taking phentermine for the past 45 days, prescribed by my PCP to help "get the ball rolling". I fully understand it is a very temporary aid. I am very pleased that it has enabled me to control my appetite enough that I can make better choices and limit my portions so that I have lost almost 20 lbs. I had tried numerous times before to lose on my own and had been completely unsuccessful in losing even a couple of pounds. I've been also tracking every bite on MyFitnessPal.

Fortunately I have had no bad side effects at all other than Constipation. No heart racing, no anxiety or any of that. I just eat less. And I think it has also speeds up my metabolism. The few days I was unable to take it (due to constipation that needed to MOVE), I gained weight back while eating the same amount of calories.

So, I am very grateful for this little bit of help. It has helped me lose enough already that I no longer have severe pain in my knees and back daily. I certainly wouldn't want to take it longer than 3 months though, so I am anxious to have my surgery and be able to lose the rest of my weight.

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.

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 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.

It is important to get a fair amount of physical activity daily. Physical activity is a combination of exercise and physical labor. I am not big on exercise. To me it is more like wasted effort. I drive for a half an hour to go to the YMCA to swim for 30 minutes and then spend another half an hour driving back home. But I am big on manual labor. So I consider work, manual labor, as a good alternative to exercise. Last year I moved by hand over 100,000 pounds of gravel and 50,000 pounds of concrete blocks. This year I did about the same. I am 28 months post-op RNY and am 66 years old. The surgery restored my stamina (ability to perform physical labor) so I can do what I did when I was a 30 year old.

I am so happy to have found this thread. I have been exercising since pre-op (over a year now). I remember people telling me that I will start to love doing it. And they were wrong! I still hate it.
But it does make me feel better. So I carry on...

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 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.

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.

@@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.

@@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.

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.

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!

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 would sit on them if that ever happened.
Seriously.....that would certainly provide us with an ironic setting to speak up.
I'm fairly certain I'd go the sarcastic route, "Dessert ? Are you serious? Those people......wow. Eating dessert. Can you even imagine?...........what ever will they do next? Now that you mention it, Tuesday week ago.....get this.......We saw the pizza delivery truck pull up to their house........for real.......it was Pappa John's.......not even the diet pizza place, but Pappa Freakin' Johns. What about you guys? You and your wife appear to be the picture of health........What brand of chewing tobacco is that? Really? Does your wife chew, too? She looks like the Skoal type of gal............just a pinch 'then her cheek & gum.....hmmmm mmmmm sexy"
From there it'd get crazy.
My most aggressive weight loss attempt shaved a nice chunk off.....had me going from 6x down to 2x shirts. I never had this happen.
I can honestly say that since middle school I have never heard anyone fat bash.

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.

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.

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.

Wow! Sounds like you need to find some better folks to hang out with!

What nasty things to say. I don't get why people say stuff like that. It's so incredibly rude to 1) make any comments about someone else's medical/nutritional needs unless you are their doctor! 2) say about anything on someone else's body as being "gross", and 3) making middle school girl statements about what other people will think about you! All of those are terribly immature and say a lot about the person who said them. Please don't give any credence to one word of it - as they say "consider the source!"
Congratulations on your first month and wonderful success! Hold you head high & find some people who will support you and cheer you on.

If she was drinking as she was eating, she could have been flushing the food out of her pouch making room for more food. This is what I was told was why we aren't supposed to drink for 30 minutes after we eat. I remember the days before I had my bypass - where I could sit in a restaurant with friend and just keep eating and eating because I was also drinking 4-5 diet cokes. I just never got full. Now I really feel that fullness very quickly and I don't think I would if I drank liquids while eating.

If she was drinking as she was eating, she could have been flushing the food out of her pouch making room for more food. This is what I was told was why we aren't supposed to drink for 30 minutes after we eat. I remember the days before I had my bypass - where I could sit in a restaurant with friend and just keep eating and eating because I was also drinking 4-5 diet cokes. I just never got full. Now I really feel that fullness very quickly and I don't think I would if I drank liquids while eating.

Congratulations! Best wishes for smooth sailing!