mindytaylor08

Years down the road and in small portions.
Just remember food addiction is a real very hard thing to overcome, but with the tool you are about to receive you can do it!!!
Several months after my surgery I couldn't figure out why I still wanted food when I wasn't hungry and if I ate it I got so sick. So I was looking up YouTube videos of other WLS perps and I watched one that put it all into perspective. She said a food addiction is the worst of all addictions if you think about it. A drug addict simply avoids the people and places their drug of choice is. Same for an alcoholic. A food addict has to eat to live. It was an ahh haa moment as well as a duh moment for me. Once I had the mindset I was eating 3 tiny meals a day my Protein and Water just to live and for no other reason I was the most successful.
When you start thinking about food find a good distraction like walking for 5 minutes and drinking a bottle of Water.

Years down the road and in small portions.
Just remember food addiction is a real very hard thing to overcome, but with the tool you are about to receive you can do it!!!
Several months after my surgery I couldn't figure out why I still wanted food when I wasn't hungry and if I ate it I got so sick. So I was looking up YouTube videos of other WLS perps and I watched one that put it all into perspective. She said a food addiction is the worst of all addictions if you think about it. A drug addict simply avoids the people and places their drug of choice is. Same for an alcoholic. A food addict has to eat to live. It was an ahh haa moment as well as a duh moment for me. Once I had the mindset I was eating 3 tiny meals a day my Protein and Water just to live and for no other reason I was the most successful.
When you start thinking about food find a good distraction like walking for 5 minutes and drinking a bottle of Water.

Years down the road and in small portions.
Just remember food addiction is a real very hard thing to overcome, but with the tool you are about to receive you can do it!!!
Several months after my surgery I couldn't figure out why I still wanted food when I wasn't hungry and if I ate it I got so sick. So I was looking up YouTube videos of other WLS perps and I watched one that put it all into perspective. She said a food addiction is the worst of all addictions if you think about it. A drug addict simply avoids the people and places their drug of choice is. Same for an alcoholic. A food addict has to eat to live. It was an ahh haa moment as well as a duh moment for me. Once I had the mindset I was eating 3 tiny meals a day my Protein and Water just to live and for no other reason I was the most successful.
When you start thinking about food find a good distraction like walking for 5 minutes and drinking a bottle of Water.

Pretty good actually.

The way I lost the last little bit was 2 Protein Shakes and dinner and s good cardio workout 2-3 tines a week.

A little background on me. Back in November of 2009, my sister-in-law (brother's wife) died of a pulmonary embolism at the age of 41. She and my brother had gotten married when I was in the 5th grade and she had lived with us before that, so I honestly couldn't remember a time when she wasn't my "sister". I loved her dearly and she was a huge part of my life. Her death was devastating to my entire family. I can't even put into words....
Anyway, she had been overweight/obese as long as I'd known her, which was maybe from her junior year in high school? It was pretty obvious that her weight had contributed to the blood clot that killed her. And after seeing what her death did to my family, I was determined not to put them through that again. So I really committed to losing weight (I was 270 at the time). Throughout all of 2010 and most of 2011, I worked to lose weight and maintain that loss. I got down to 176. In August of 2011, I had surgery to remove my excess skin and improve my body shape. I had an extended Tummy Tuck with muscle repair, breast lift with augmentation, and Lipo all over.
Complications from the tummy tuck had me pretty much bed-bound for months. I had accumulation of Fluid in my lower back that was very painful and meant I could not sit or stand for any period of time. The only relief I got was when lying on my side. Needless to say, I didn't do much exercise. I was very depressed and miserable. And I turned to my old friend, food!
Between my plastic surgery in 2011 and this past summer, I gained and re-lost and gained and re-lost and gained to the point that I was back up to 260 pounds. Only 10 pounds under the weight I'd been at when Becky died. I was determined to lose the weight again, but I didn't want to fail the way I had in the past, so I opted to have VSG and I am SO GLAD I made that decision. I know that this time is the real deal and I will be able to lose the weight and keep it off, thanks to my new tool.
Anyway, now that you have all that background, let's get to the subject of my post! This weekend I was talking with my husband about my potential need to buy some new clothes for work, now that I'm down almost 70 pounds again (24 pre-op and 43 post-op). I went into my closet to try on some of my old dress pants for work. I was THRILLED to discover that I could fit into the same pants I'd been wearing when I went back to work after my plastic surgery (size 16s) and I was even able to squeeze into some of the pants I'd been wearing before my plastic surgery (size 14s). I added the 16s into my normal rotation and I fully expect to be wearing those 14s regularly in a couple of months.
I am so happy about this. In the months before my plastic surgery I was in the best shape of my life! I felt great. I was confident and active. The realization that I am *this close* to being back to that version of myself (but even better because I don't have that loose skin anymore), has me super excited!
PS: I hope my story doesn't turn any of you off from plastic surgery. Despite my complications early on, now that I am 3.5 years out, I have NO regrets. My tummy tuck held up incredibly well through my weight fluctuations. Now that I'm getting thinner and started doing strength training again, I'm even starting to see a little ab definition. I think that once I am at goal, it will look amazing! And while it's a little backward to have skin removal surgery BEFORE WLS, I think the end results for me will be very similar and I'll be grateful to not be having surgery right away again once I get to my goal the way many WLS patients choose to.

Which surgery are you getting?
I am willing to help you where I can. I enjoy watching others through this awesome journey!

What are you mixing it with?
I am lactose intolerant still. 5 1/2 years out. I use almond milk and it makes a big difference.

Try almond milk or lactade. Something for lactose intolerance. It made a big difference for me.

I have had my ups and downs. Had a baby and am working on loosing re-gain of 30 pounds!

One thing you must do is get rid of people who sabotage you. I had to do that myself, it wasn't easy. I would definitely do a pouch test. But I can tell you that support is key to success. I went for the first 4 years after my surgery. We all have issues that we need to overcome. When you are ready to face them you will feel better about yourself and be able to focus and concentrate. I had memory issues as well. I suggest that you start looking at yourself in a more positive light. I know it is hard, believe me I have been there. My therapist had me make a list everyday five things in my life that I was grateful for. I know it sounds silly, but it is a good strategy. If you can read the book Codependent No More, that will help too. We all eat for a reason or use food to self sooth. Do you exercise? Sometimes that helps with self esteem.
Steps for you to start:
1. Stop beating yourself up.
2. Make a list of things that are positive in your life.
3. Start with a baby step, add a Protein drink in and remove one thing that derails you.
4. Go to support group.
5. Talk to your primary doctor about your memory. They may have suggestions or medications that can help you focus.
6. Don't give up. You are worth the work.

Am 7 years post op, and have lost 170 pounds and have successfully kept the weight off. If you are in need of support, I am very knowledgable and willing to be a help to people who are struggling or have health questions.

I hide most of my feelings from family. I have a seven year old that's worried about my surgery. Pain isn't my fear, not waking up from surgery is. Even though I know it's irrational thinking! I can't help it.