anewme2015

It makes me feel better to hear that many of you are facing similar struggles. It really felt so easy in the beginning and I guess I took it for granted. Now I have to work. My snacking has been carb-loaded and it triggers cravings for sure. I've decided (AGAIN!) to do the pouch reset. I need to get these cravings under control. As for working out, I'm definitely not hitting the 2-3 hours you mentioned. Wow! I work out 3-5 days a week for 1 hour. It's been slow loss lately but I know it's the carbs. Ok back on track. I want to hit my goal. I keep scrolling the progress pics chats for inspiration. When you've been fat 130 or less seems like a dream. But people on here have done it. If they can, we can. Right?

Damn girl you were always hot and you look amazing now too! If you have any secrets to share on how you got there please do. I'm currently 155 down from my HW of 278 and I feel like 130 may be a dream. You did it though! Wow!

I'd love to hear from anyone who had their surgery October 2015. I'm struggling lately with carbs and remaining on track. How are others doing? The 7 month track is hard. Maybe we can support each other to remain focused and losing? I'm not being nearly as careful as I was and I'm disappointed in myself.

Great job! It gets easier.

WOW! You look like a totally different person! Very inspiring results!

Hello Jennifer! Welcome!

218 to 153 is far from a fail!

Oh and I should clarify that the 5 day pouch reset is different. I've done that reset to get back on track too and I find it also effective.

Yes I do two days having 4 premier protein shakes then I transition to shakes just for breakfast and lunch and a good dinner then I transition to shakes just for breakfast and my other meals food. It works for me.

I LOVE THIS IDEA! Fun! Do it!

And congrats on surviving breast cancer!

You're so slim! Lol heal well and let's us know how it goes. Rest up!

Congrats on the amazing weight losses October family! Ron, I hear you with the chocolate and candy. I don't dump either. It is an added challenge for sure but we can do this! I don't know if this is something you want to try but if I find myself succumbing to sweets, which I have on occasion, I follow it with a day or two return to protein drinks. I find it stops the cravings in their tracks. I'm trying to avoid most carbs altogether but I also know the all or nothing DIET never works. We want this to be a lifestyle change and there will be times in our lives that we eat carbs. We need to focus on limiting the amount and not allowing it to become a 'well I ate a carb this day is ruined so I might as well stuff my face with every carb and sugar on the planet thing". I sometimes wonder if the dr's tell us we can't tolerate carbs so we'll avoid them because I find on the very rare occasions I've had carbs, they go down easily and I can eat more of them than anything else- problem-free. I couldn't pig out on chicken if I tried! Lol Anyway, focus on the positives in your post. It's an incredible amount of weight and this is for forever. We can't beat ourselves up about slips. We need to analyze the why and then get back on track. Unrelated: any Octobers considering plastics?

Stay strong! Once you're into day 3 or 4 the cravings and hunger subside. It's the oddest thing but it will happen. Keep your Fluid up to help with feeling full. You can do this!

Best of luck @@Elode I'm sure everything will go wonderfully. Please keep us posted as so many of us are considering a similar journey into plastics.

I'm all about non-food awards! I've cut and dyed my hair, shopped for some new clothes, taken time for regular mani/pedi's, facials, massages, a ton of new high end makeup, purses! and when I hit goal the ultimate reward will be a mommy makeover! It feels amazing and at times I wonder if the shopping isn't giving me a bit of s replacement high but right now I'm allowing it because the things I'm doing are making me feel good and hey it's about damn time I felt good about myself!

Congrats on the loss and all the great NSVs! As for the arms, I'm right with you. I'm debating an arm Lift when I get closer. If you look on the real self app you can see before and after pics and it's truly amazing how much it improves. I'm definitely going to do plastics and I NEVER thought I would. I'm thinking a breast lift, tummy tuck and arm lift. Hopefully I won't need a body lift to get the results I want. I have another endoscopy because I have developed an ulcer but I'm hoping the medication is doing its thing. Anyway I hope more people post. I e followed this group since the beginning. How is everyone?!?!?

Maybe it's the amount of exercise? I've noticed (and just personal observation I'm not a dr!) that people seem to stall who exercise excessively. 2 hours is maybe too much? It's also unlikely that that level of exercise is sustainable so you may be setting yourself up for failure later either way. Maybe try to cut back the exercise and see what happens. And I suppose it's not exactly 'missing' my fat security blanket but I agree with your statement abt feeling the same emotionally fat or thin. Losing weight didn't make all my demons and insecurities disappear and while I'm definitely putting myself out there more, I'm still plagued by a feeling of being on the outside of things. It's weird. I thought that would go away. And jpod, you are soooooo right. Skip the first bite. I think I need to approach it like I'm an alcoholic. Maybe some things (simple carbs) I just can't handle in moderation. An alcoholic doesn't say I'll just have a little drink and have it be ok. I think I need to change my mindset and address the carb addiction like it is- an addiction!!!!!

I'm a carb addict too. I completely relate to your post. If I have anything above 40-50 g then it's like a drug and I want more more more! I ate some chocolate and wow- off I went! So bad. I think I'm having a little panic about losing my fat security blanket or something because since getting under 170 I've been self-sabotaging. And now Easter. Ugh. I need my focus back. I gotta kick the carbs because like you I feel so much better without them.

Congrats on the weight loss! That's amazing. While it is higher than my calories- we're abt the same timelines- your loss has been fantastic and you're continuing to lose at a great rate so I wouldn't change a thing or worry abt it. Ideally you want to lose weight eating as much as you can. You're also exercising so you're burning calories there. It's always tempting to compare ourselves but it seems what you're doing is working so my unsolicited advice would be: if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Lol

Thanks Kaitlynm. It's funny how we're never satisfied with ourselves eh? You're right. I should be more celebratory and less hard on myself. Just had a 'bad' few days and feeling off track I guess. Thanks for helping me focus on what I've accomplished. Thanks Kaitlynm. It's funny how we're never satisfied with ourselves eh? You're right. I should be more celebratory and less hard on myself. Just had a 'bad' few days and feeling off track I guess. Thanks for helping me focus on what I've accomplished.

Hey October family, it's good to see people posting updates! I'm ebbing and flowing- sometimes I feel so awesome and focused, other times I stray a little and it veers into the ridiculous and I have to stop the self-sabotaging and get back on track. I knew it wouldn't be a magic bullet but I am a bit disappointed with how I can eat anything and feel fine and sometimes I can eat too much and feel fine. It makes it more of a struggle to remain on track. I've gone from 257 to 165 and yet I feel so fat now. Isn't that weird? I'm exercising regularly but I just feel squishy everywhere. Lol it's definitely an adjustment. I've also been more emotional lately and feeling the loss of my old eating habits. I really used food for fun and as a way to connect to people like my partner and family. Sometimes I get in a bad mood around dinner time and take it out on others. I'm trying to be more self-aware because I believe that I can change these associations if I'm conscious of them. It's just a challenge. None of it seems to be happening fast enough for me and yet I would have never lost weight this fast without the surgery. Sometimes I feel stressed out about not 'maximizing the honeymoon period' and all of that stuff of which people are often reminding others. If I stumble I worry it'll all slow down and stop and I'll kick myself for not being on track all the time. It's a perfectionist mentality and it's not doing me any favours. I'm not sure if anyone relates to this. I just thought I'd throw it out there. This isn't as easy as I'd hoped and I'm not being as perfect as I'd planned. There you have it. 165 though. I just chant 'into the 50s! Into the 50s!' everyday before I weigh. Lol

You were and are very pretty! Congrats on the weight loss!

I'm in Ancaster. It's a 45 minute drive outside of Toronto. Or 3 hours depending on traffic. Lol

The Optifast is a challenge for the first few days and then you'll find your appetite drops off. I was amazed I wasn't hungrier. Good luck with your surgeries! The recovery isn't bad at all. And soon you'll be dropping weight and feeling great. I'm excited for you both. Keep posting abt your journey. It's nice to chat local!