luvrolife

Just came back on this site after a long while - really looking at ideas to get back on track! I have a little renewed optimism tonight so will try to tighten up restriction and see how that goes. I definately know grazing got me in trouble and after surgery last year to fix a brain aneurysm I am struggling to get my life back! However, I am not ready to give up.



I am glad I wandered on here again tonight!

I've had to lose back some re-gain a couple of times. Here is what works for me:
1. For the first five days, eat nothing but lean meats (unprocessed -- no Jerky, bacon, sausage, deli meat), green veggies, and healthy fats. Eat as much as I want and don't worry about calorie intake each day, but weigh all portions and track intake on MyFitnessPal.
2. After five days, expand to include dairy, tree nuts, Protein Powder, Beans & legumes, and small quantities of fruit. No grains, no sweets, no starchy veggies, no liquid calories other than Protein Shakes.< /p>
3. Also after those first five days of meat and green veggies, set a daily calorie goal in MyFitnessPal of 500 calories under my maintenance calorie level. If you are not sure of your maintenance calorie level, a good starting point is your current weight (in pounds) x 10. Continue to weigh/measure my portions religiously. Eat Protein first at every meal.
4. Do vigorous exercise for at least 30 minutes per day, five days per week, but do not eat back my exercise calories. I don't even try to calculate calories burned, I just care about doing vigorous exercise like running, HIIT, etc. Walking doesn't count!
I think it is great that you are going to check back in with your bariatric team. I am sure they will help you a lot. Good luck!

I'm not sure if you are asking me or not, but I'm doing great! I'd like to get down to 125 lbs and currently I'm at 130.6. Once I cut the soda and got rid of the carbs, it's amazing how well my stomach works!

I'm not sure how "easy" it is but for me I see how this is a time to learn your body and read its signals or in other words, "listen to it"! I've been to enough WLS meetings and work with more than a dozen people who've gained a significant amount of weight after Surgery. It tends to start in the 2nd year for many.
I guess that's why they call it a tool. Now that you have the method to get the weight off, you have to learn how to use it and listen to your body to assure you keep it off. Maintenance is hard for everyone who loses weight, that's why time and again I hear it's a life style not a diet. That lifestyle requires vigilance and daily commitment. Really no different than any other goal we achieve in life. For example, I can't have great credit and the opportunity to make my money go further, if I consistently make choices to spend beyond my means.
I do know of someone who actually died from a gastric bleed after stretching their "pouch". They were on a cruise and had to be helovac'd out to the mainland...He actually had been sliding back into bad eating habits, during his third year without looking back. It was a terrible, as his wife was not allowed to go with the helicopter, so by the time she arrived she got the tragic news he didn't make it.
I'm using this time to put a plan in place, (food and exercise) and find ways to stick to it.
Best wishes on developing your routine!
Vanessa

I'm not sure how "easy" it is but for me I see how this is a time to learn your body and read its signals or in other words, "listen to it"! I've been to enough WLS meetings and work with more than a dozen people who've gained a significant amount of weight after Surgery. It tends to start in the 2nd year for many.
I guess that's why they call it a tool. Now that you have the method to get the weight off, you have to learn how to use it and listen to your body to assure you keep it off. Maintenance is hard for everyone who loses weight, that's why time and again I hear it's a life style not a diet. That lifestyle requires vigilance and daily commitment. Really no different than any other goal we achieve in life. For example, I can't have great credit and the opportunity to make my money go further, if I consistently make choices to spend beyond my means.
I do know of someone who actually died from a gastric bleed after stretching their "pouch". They were on a cruise and had to be helovac'd out to the mainland...He actually had been sliding back into bad eating habits, during his third year without looking back. It was a terrible, as his wife was not allowed to go with the helicopter, so by the time she arrived she got the tragic news he didn't make it.
I'm using this time to put a plan in place, (food and exercise) and find ways to stick to it.
Best wishes on developing your routine!
Vanessa

If you are on a stall early on, eat more, drink more and stay off the scale. For those of you under 500-600 calories, you are starving yourself and training your body to get by with less and less calories. This will make it harder to lose and maintain when you get farther out. My longest stall was at my lowest calorie intake when I Was sick from a medication and too nauseous to eat. As soon as I Doubled my intake the pounds fell off. I don't track or measure anything, but a couple spot checks of my calories showed 1000 calories by 2-3 months, 1200 calories at 6 months and been maintaining 12 pounds below goal for 4 months on 1400-1600 calories.
Eat Protein, drink Water, take your Vitamins, include a balance of veggies, fruits and whole grains. Quit making postop so hard and STAY OFF THE FUCKING scale.< /p>

Thank you for this reminder! I find myself, at a plateau, tempted by sweets, trying to differentiate head hunger from real hunger and fielding conversation about my recent WL. This time of year is a great marker for dealing with all of the above and your article aids me in putting it all into perspective. THANKS AGAIN!

You're an inspiration!
The metabolic profile was a blood analysis done by my PCP. My metabolism is low only because I'm not eating or exercising enough. Hopefully, I can turn it around. The encouragement helps! Y'all have given me a push and so for today things are better.
Thanks <3

You probably know this already... but one of the ways people regain is that whole "I am not hungry enough to eat a real meal".... so then they are not satiated so that is when liquid calories and little snacky unhealthy foods start sneaking in. Those snacky foods are insideous. It seems like you really aren't eating... but the carbs and calorie count can be astounding.
So, while I understand not having hunger for Breakfast and lunch, I think it is important to get at least a small amount of nutrient dense food (ie Protein and veggies in) and it may prevent over eating in the evening.
I say don't buy into the "my metabolism is nil" story. I KNOW I need to eat less compared to other women my relative age/size. Oh well, that is life. Sort of dwelling on that crap is just negativity. We each have to find our own path, and what we need may adapt over time even. I compare this to my orthopedic doctor who told me that he never likes to tell people they have "bone on bone" arthritis. What matters is can they function with a managable amount of pain or discomfort? If they can, who cares what the XRays show.
Relating back to food, I genuinely believe that eating the right kinds of food will help you manage your weight over strict calorie control. If it were just calories, I would have been trim while following weight watchers etc and I never was.
I am one of the rare people that don't track (although i believe in the value of it) because I KNOW that eating healthy foods, in sort of the program I typed up is how I maintain.

I'm not sure how "easy" it is but for me I see how this is a time to learn your body and read its signals or in other words, "listen to it"! I've been to enough WLS meetings and work with more than a dozen people who've gained a significant amount of weight after Surgery. It tends to start in the 2nd year for many.
I guess that's why they call it a tool. Now that you have the method to get the weight off, you have to learn how to use it and listen to your body to assure you keep it off. Maintenance is hard for everyone who loses weight, that's why time and again I hear it's a life style not a diet. That lifestyle requires vigilance and daily commitment. Really no different than any other goal we achieve in life. For example, I can't have great credit and the opportunity to make my money go further, if I consistently make choices to spend beyond my means.
I do know of someone who actually died from a gastric bleed after stretching their "pouch". They were on a cruise and had to be helovac'd out to the mainland...He actually had been sliding back into bad eating habits, during his third year without looking back. It was a terrible, as his wife was not allowed to go with the helicopter, so by the time she arrived she got the tragic news he didn't make it.
I'm using this time to put a plan in place, (food and exercise) and find ways to stick to it.
Best wishes on developing your routine!
Vanessa

I had my surgery the same day CheleLynn45. There is much to get accustomed to isn't there? I went to Thanksgiving at some long time family friends that I haven't seen since the summer. When I walked into the kitchen, the husband remarked Whoa...where's the other half of you?! It was nice to have my body changes acknowledged...but the interesting part is not everyone says anything....and I like it!
I have noticed now that people want to be closer and engage with me more. It's not like I was a pariah but the interesting thing I've noticed in people's behavior is if they think you're more successful at whatever in life they decided is important...they want to engage with you and are more endearing...like yesterday, I went to see my NUT and she was smiling the whole time, telling me how great I looked, made a compliment that I was smart, fun and cool. Then before I left she was hugging me. We always had good productive visits before but her happiness at my progress made her feel so much closer to me to express it. It was a nice surprise, but a surprise nonetheless.

My surgery was Oct. 27th and I'm approved for FMLA until the end of January! I have a very physical job and I have severe osteoarthritis. My knees are in terrible shape which is the major reason I submitted to having a VSG, after enduring arthroscopic surgery to repair a double meniscus tear.
Thankfully between my Sick Leave Acct and State Disability I can afford to take time off to heal rather than worry about the "job". I spent decades worrying about everyone and everything else and not enough about me. Those days are SO over for me....

My Big Meal is a healthy goal-weight body. I hope to get there by next spring/summer. I love this message. For so long, eating was my goal, my reward, my motivation. My life has changed now and a long, happy, healthy life with a strong, healthy, slim body is my new Big Meal. Thanks for this post.

Everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for this community you and I are part of.
I avoid food-holidays like a recovering alcoholic avoids Octoberfest so today on Thanksgiving I'll be hiking in the forest with loved ones who share and support my vision for wellness. After the hike we will grill a wild salmon and vegetables outdoors.
I'll give great thanks for an active, healthy life, pain-free at goal-weight after years being opiate-addicted for chronic back and knee pain with morbid obesity. Who needs a Big Meal? Not me!

Life IS my Big Meal!
As you sit down to whatever Big Meal awaits you today give some thought to this question....
What is the metaphorical Big Meal in your life? What grand table are you being invited and challenged to join by your Weight Loss Surgery journey?
Maybe it is to live a longer, healthier life to enjoy friends and family. Maybe it is to inspire others who suffer morbid obesity to believe they can be healthy again or to teach your kids to have a healthier relationship with food from the beginning of their lives.
Whatever your Big Meal is, consider if the meal you will sit down to later today moves you closer to that vision or further away. Whether you choose to eat carefully or splurge later today do it mindfully, consciously and with compassion for yourself.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I had my surgery on 10/27. I took off five weeks. I only work part time. I probably could have gone back at three weeks but doc wrote me out for five so I am taking the five weeks. It has been nice to get used to all the new things in my life.

That's the job for me...I'd much rather deal with cattle than people...

I'm a Weigh Master at a large cattle company, and I was READY to go back!! I have a Wednesday-Saturday job, so it seemed like I was away from work for 2 weeks, but it was actually 6 days. I didn't have any issues. My boss asked me everyday how I was feeling and if I was ok; mainly because two former co-workers had weight loss surgery too, so he knew what to expect. I guess one of them still had discomfort when she went back, but it's been the opposite for me. It's been pretty busy, with a steadiness of trucks showing up, but I've done fairly well.

My surgery was Oct. 27th and I'm approved for FMLA until the end of January! I have a very physical job and I have severe osteoarthritis. My knees are in terrible shape which is the major reason I submitted to having a VSG, after enduring arthroscopic surgery to repair a double meniscus tear.
Thankfully between my Sick Leave Acct and State Disability I can afford to take time off to heal rather than worry about the "job". I spent decades worrying about everyone and everything else and not enough about me. Those days are SO over for me....

Sometimes I truly believe clueless people are So self centered they need to see how their behavior is basically Bullying!
.....and then I think up scenario's like this:
I'd make a Craigslist "Free" Giveaway post and then make a print of it and put it on their school Bulletin Board in their Faculty Room!..... asking for help to find and give these to some "DESERVING" "NEEDY" or UNDERPRIVILEGED soul at this Holiday Season....Let's REMEMBER this is the season of Giving!
Ooooooh if she gave up an ugly Christmas Sweater amongst the Treasures, I could then caption it :GREAT WHITE ELEPHANT GIFT!!!!
I'd definitely be sure to include lots of and LOL's!......It seems to make all sorts of rudeness completely palatable.

A few years ago, the teachers at the elementary school I work at decided to start a Biggest Loser contest. I did not want to participate at the time. My fiance had recently died and I was battling depression. My therapist actually suggested not participating or going on a diet because I was under so much stress and had just started a new psych med.
Even though I made my disinterest known about the competition, someone signed my name up without my permission or knowledge. I was placed on a team with three other teachers in my department and apologized to them because I was not going to be a part of it. Thinking that it was taken care of, I went on with my regular routine.
Two weeks later, I was called on my classroom loud speaker to go weigh in. Thinking someone made a mistake, I ignored it and continued teaching the lesson. Twenty minutes later, a para came to takeover class so they could make me do it. Annoyed beyond hell, I put my calm face on and scurried to the nurse's office and hopped on the scale so that I could get back and continue.
This exact scenario started happening every Friday. I didn't appreciate what was happening since I never wanted to participate in the first place. I wasn't dieting, but lost 12 pounds the first two weeks without trying (probably stress related) and gained it back the following month.
There was a group of teachers from K-2 that won the contest. They took it seriously and lost a lot of weight. I was happy for them. One of these teachers came to tell me over lunch that she was giving me all her fat clothes. The way she told me was like she was doing me this great favor or giving me a X-Mas present. I said that I didn't need anymore clothes, but thanks anyway.
I worked late that day and noticed my car was stuffed with large boxes and garbage bags full of clothes (rural area, left car unlocked). I was insulted. I actually didn't look in the boxes/bags until weeks later and noticed that the clothes were ugly and 1-2 sizes too big. They ALL went to goodwill.
I was confused and hurt by this whole fiasco. I guess it made me look at my physical appearance more in-depth, which led to self loathing and disgust. Maybe I was being overly sensitive? My sister thought so, however, she wanted nothing to do with the clothes either.
Fast forward to the present, and all the teachers in the winning group have gained their weight back and then some (especially the teacher that gave me lots of unwanted fat clothes). Although I empathize, I can't help but think of one thing: GIVING BACK THE FAT CLOTHES. Even though I'm no where near my goal weight, I have lost 45 pounds and am down 2 sizes. Wouldn't it be sweet revenge to pack up my fat clothes and put them in her car?
Would you do it?
It's interesting and funny to think about, but I probably won't do it. I would never want anyone to feel the way I did when I was given those unwanted fat clothes two years ago. Even if they do deserve it.
Sorry for the long rant. I don't like to leave out details.