MzB

@roundisashape - good vent, now you can get serious about it again. It is akin to a job. It's serious at one level, but fun and rewarding at another. I am glad that I am at least Facebook Friends with most of the people I have met or dated. I liked them enough to ask them out but for a myriad of reasons it didn't work out. So that keeps me from getting frustrated. Relationship building is a dance, and some are naturally better at it than others, but don't quit dancing because some people have no rhythm.

Awesome! Congratulations.

Five years ago today, July 13, 2010, I had my vertical sleeve gastrectomy at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan.
At the time of my surgery, I was just hitting 300 lbs on this scale and this morning I weighed in at 198 lbs. That is up about 25 pounds or so from my all time low of about 173 lbs, but that was probably a little too thin for me. I would like to get back to my original goal weight of 180 lbs and I am working on it.
Am I glad I had this surgery? Absolutely, without question. Have there been challenges? Absolutely. Even after five years, I still miss being able to sit down and enjoy a nice, juicy cheeseburger and fries or a club sandwich, but, as I always say, not being able to control myself with foods like that is what got me into trouble in the first place. However, despite all of those challenges, I know that I would never have been able to lose over 100 lbs without the help of this tool.
My health has improved. I no longer take blood pressure medication and my lower back and knee pain has all but disappeared. I have developed anemia which my doctor feels may be a side effect of my surgery, but that is being treated with Iron supplements and I see it as a relatively small price to pay.
My personal life has improved too. After being widowed with three young children in 2007, I met a wonderful woman a few months after my surgery in 2010 and we were married in 2013.
Truth be told, my eating habits are not the best, and that is something I am taking a cold, hard look at these days. I will be 50 years old next June and I intend to be back to my goal weight of 180 by then. It is time to stop kidding myself about my sugar addiction and other bad behaviors and get my act together.
If anyone reading this post is on the fence about having the surgery, my advise is to do it. I don't have any regrets at all.
Brian

I was lucky to find a man who loved me at all my various sizes. I was a size 18 on our wedding day and he thought I looked beautiful. And just so you don't feel those guys aren't out there, I got married at 36. ☺ There is a whole story about having the word "spinster" on my marriage license. But that is probably best for another thread. .
One thing I will share is an experience in college that reminded me it isn't just others seeing a thin person and treating them different, although I will say it will happen. You will change too. In college I put on weight by my senior year. ( Size 16). No dates! Nothing but guy "friends". One day I was in a particularly good mood and was more open and even a little flirty. Wow, the attention I got. I noticed guys and they responded. My size hadn't changed, my attitude did! I suspect that when you start to lose weight you will feel more confident and sexy. Guys will be responding to that as well. . Just remember to be open and love will find you. The right guy will love you for what is inside even if he is first attracted to what is outside.

down to 36 waist
Down from 309.5 to 251.

Chili rellenos with refried Beans is my fav.... Always was, even before surgery. but really, I eat anything and everything minus the nachos and rice. Just eat the insides of the taco/enchilada/burrito. Fajitas are easy...just eat the fixings, not the tortilla.

I always get street type tacos and eat the insides

At our local Mexican restaurant I have had at various times:
Insides of a taco (chicken or beef)
Refried Beans.
Refried Beans with the insides of a taco (made two meals).
Fajitas (no tortilla) -- lots of leftovers to bring home for several meals.
Queso -- brought home a cup and added a teaspoon to my own things at home like chili or refried beans.

Thanks for all the wonderful feedback and information. I am so blessed to have found this community. I knew this would be a lifestyle change going in, but I (probably like almost everyone else) am still surprised by how much of one. ???? I am getting in some green veggies and milk products which is where my carbs are coming from now. It is good to hear that this may start to feel more natural over time.

im from Texas. Hubby loves Mexican/tex-mex. any suggestions on what to order? I have been sticking to a cup of chicken tortilla Soup (no chips) but other suggestions would be great.

I was lucky to find a man who loved me at all my various sizes. I was a size 18 on our wedding day and he thought I looked beautiful. And just so you don't feel those guys aren't out there, I got married at 36. ☺ There is a whole story about having the word "spinster" on my marriage license. But that is probably best for another thread. .
One thing I will share is an experience in college that reminded me it isn't just others seeing a thin person and treating them different, although I will say it will happen. You will change too. In college I put on weight by my senior year. ( Size 16). No dates! Nothing but guy "friends". One day I was in a particularly good mood and was more open and even a little flirty. Wow, the attention I got. I noticed guys and they responded. My size hadn't changed, my attitude did! I suspect that when you start to lose weight you will feel more confident and sexy. Guys will be responding to that as well. . Just remember to be open and love will find you. The right guy will love you for what is inside even if he is first attracted to what is outside.

@@SassyTassy
I don't have anything to add because I've been married to a man for 26 years that can't keep his hands off of me whether I'm thin or fat, but you are very pretty. When you lose the weight, you are going to be fighting them off with a stick, whether you like it or not

Look for Dannon's Oikos triple 0 - 15g Protein, 0 added sugar (stevia), 120 calories. I love all the flavors, but the coconut creme I mix with my chocolate Protein shake to give me a "I'm eating a Mounds bar" feeling

I am 8 weeks out from surgery and doing great, but I have to admit I am struggling with how to eat in the new "normal". I did this surgery to lose the weight and keep it off, but I don't like the feeling that I am on basically going to be on a strict Atkins for the rest of my life. I am staying at less than 30g of carbs a day at this point but I feel like I am having to be incredibly strict about only eating Protein and almost no carbs. My PA said some carbs were good to have, but all the threads on BP seem to really caution against it. I really want to be successful but I seem to worry that a small piece of bread or rice will totally throw me off. Carbs are scary! LOL. Wanting to feel a little more normal. ????

Thanks for all the wonderful feedback and information. I am so blessed to have found this community. I knew this would be a lifestyle change going in, but I (probably like almost everyone else) am still surprised by how much of one. ???? I am getting in some green veggies and milk products which is where my carbs are coming from now. It is good to hear that this may start to feel more natural over time.

Yes, as Ann said I want to clarify when I say "carbs", I mean what I call the white stuff (bread, Pasta, rice, etc...)
I get most of my carbs right now from veggies, fruits and dairy (although I've cut out most dairy also). I will occasionally indulge in the white stuff because I have lost most of my excess weight at this point.
As usual, Ann, Blerdgirl, Inner Surfer Girl, and Rogofulm are spot on.

My WLS coach tells me to take the fibre content and subtract it from the carb content to get the number of carbs I should be calculating. This way you are keeping track of the refined/sugar carbs only.

As a rule, ESPECIALLY in the honeymoon phase of WLS ( up to 18 months post surgery) you will still probably lose weight eating a few carbs. But as early out as you are, you should be eating protien and veggies, leaving little room for carbs (bread, crackers, etc). Protien is most important right now becuase you have such little real estate in your tummy, you gotta eat what counts. Those carbs from white stuff gives you no nutritional value right now.

Another thing about a WLS person eating carbs is that it can be a slippery slope. Sure, you can't eat very much right now, but the sleeve relaxes after a while, and a few crackers turn into a box (these are also considered slider foods because more can be eaten) I don't know about you, but I could easily polish off a box of Cookies once I get going. That's why I choose to stay away. They also make me crave more carbs and sugar, and the next thing you know, you're stalled or gaining. No thanks!

You will have plenty of time to introduce a few carbs the closer you get to goal and then maintenance. For now take advantage of this ever so important time when you're able to lose weight easily and minimize the carbs and get your protien and veggies first! After all, we all didn't get fat eating chicken and broccoli, did we?
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I agree with @@Babbs completely! During your honeymoon and weight loss phase, you will lose best if you limit carbs to those in dairy and green veggies. No starches, no refined sugar, and no alcohol. Once you get to goal weight, you can experiment with whole-grain carbs like brown rice, quinoa, barley, whole-wheat Pasta, and sweet potatoes to see what effect they have on your weight maintenance. That's where I am now -- taking baby steps to discover what works and what doesn't. This is for the rest of our lives, so there's no need to rush back to foods that used to be a problem for us. For example, as much as I love bread, I'm choosing to avoid it altogether. Good luck!

Thanks for all the wonderful feedback and information. I am so blessed to have found this community. I knew this would be a lifestyle change going in, but I (probably like almost everyone else) am still surprised by how much of one. ???? I am getting in some green veggies and milk products which is where my carbs are coming from now. It is good to hear that this may start to feel more natural over time.

Thanks for all the wonderful feedback and information. I am so blessed to have found this community. I knew this would be a lifestyle change going in, but I (probably like almost everyone else) am still surprised by how much of one. ???? I am getting in some green veggies and milk products which is where my carbs are coming from now. It is good to hear that this may start to feel more natural over time.

I definitely did NOT cut out carbs to lose all my excess weight. (I'm now 6 pounds below goal.)
Carbs aren't just sweets and breads. Carbs are in milk, yogurt, fruit, green and other colored veggies, whole grain foods, etc. Carbs are necessary for high energy and good nutrition.
I don't understand why people think life after WLS means no carbs or even low carb. I think there's a terrible lack of education about which foods contain carbs and which carb-laden foods are much healthier for us than others.
Now on maintenance, I average around 100 grams of Protein a day and 150-200 grams of carbs a day. But I don't eat slider foods (Cookies, chips, crackers, Desserts, sweets, pastas) often at all. Yes, I have them occasionally, but they're not an everyday item on my menu.

I'm almost a year out and have lost 100lbs. I don't cut out carbs, but it's almost habit to get Protein in first and carbs if I have room. I've found that I can't tolerate certain foods, carbs included. But, without even thinking I'm always looking for protein first. Once you have your protein, you're usually too full for carbs. It becomes habit. Eventually, you won't even have to think about it. That's the goal, lifestyle change. I was a carbohydrate addict before. Now, protein is primary, carbs are an afterthought.

You will eventually get use to eating no carbs.. You are scared & worried now because you are farely new but once time goes on you won't even miss it. Like everyone on here says eat your Protein first and then worry about the rest. In almost 3 yrs out and I eat no carbs unless is on a special occasion or it's because I'm mixing in my Protein Shake. Yes I still do Protein Shakes. I actually do it when I have to reset my body because sometimes my body stall n I start from day one to remind myself the proper way of waiting. This takes time. But at the end is worth it.

I'm 4 wks out today, discussed this my NUT today and she said worry more about grams of sugar than carbs.

I don't avoid carbs all together, just simple carbs like Pasta, rice, bread, added sugars, and starchy vegetables. If you eat vegetables and fruits in reasonable quantities you should be ok. Just eat your Protein first.