irishaggie

On 3/13/2017 at 3:57 PM, BigViffer said:

Take comfort in the fact that after a while, you won't even remember what your "last meal" was. Or if you do remember, you will look back on it and shake your head wondering why that food seemed so important at the time. I think back to the biscuits and gravy and shudder at the amount of fat I used to eat every weekend. I tried it about a year out, just not what I remembered. It was pretty gross actually.

This is so true… for awhile after surgery, I obsessed about what I could eat and when, but after a routine kicked in, I did not miss a thing… I ate some of my faves before I started my 2-week liquid diet, but can't even remember what it was now… I was unprepared for how much the surgery would change me mentally, how it makes you not desire what you used to crave… Best of luck to you, @cruelirony!

We are into our 1 year anniversary month. I'm wondering how everyone is doing????

Wow, time flies, right!?! Hope you are all well! I'm doing great My weight loss has screeched to a halt, but I know that is due to my not exercising enough. So happy I got the surgery, though it still feels so surreal sometimes, all this rapid weight loss. I am determined to keep it off! Happy Surgiversary Month, everyone!

I fell into this discussion backwards, if you will… I was not looking for any problems, been happy as a clam since my gastric bypass last October 2016… However, in the last month or two, I started feeling increased anxiety for no reason at all… I started to recognize the old signs, those overly anxious feelings that I had many, many years ago, before I went on antidepressants. I am on Pristiq (extended release) and have been for 5+ years. When the all-too-familiar feelings arouse out of nowhere, I chalked it up to the mental and physical changes that happen after weight loss surgery, but it just did not feel right. I started researching how medications are absorbed (or not) after gastric bypass and stumbled upon this post. I have contacted my doctor and will post updates. To summarize, I read learned that a non-ER (extended release) medicine may be the answer, but changing from an antidepressant that has always worked for me is scary. There definitely needs to be more research on this topic!

I find I've been sabotaging myself a bit since all of the 'compliments' started. Why do I do this? I'm very close to goal. I've lost a lot quickly. Highest weight 178. I was 158 when I started Optifast and 136 at surgery I think. And I'm now 152.

The thing is I'm not at my goal and I've been eating carbs and Cookies and crap. I'm not gaining weight but I'm slowing my losing down and I'm feeling depressed about my eating.

I'm angry with myself. In this moment I'm saying I'm done with it and back on track. I just wish I could understand why I do this. I've never really been below 150 and it's like I deliberately make myself fail.

I don't know if anyone relates. Is this common for the 7-8 month mark? I seem to be able to eat more and the head hunger and cravings have returned.

Sorry my highest weight should read 278 and 236 at surgery.

Yes... I am this way lately, too... and from what I have been reading, it is very common AND I've read we snap out of it, so don't worry

I think we just need to develop thicker skin and better "one liners". I live in one part of the country from November to April and I just got back "home". I have lots of friends who are seeing me for the first time down 95 lbs. They say the dumbest things:

1. One couple has now told me 5 times EACH that they don't recognize me (they need new material).

2. A lot of marginal acquaintances come up to me WHILE I'M EATING in a restaurant and look at my plate and say "I want to see what you're eating" or "is that on your diet?"

3. My wife doesn't want me to lose another pound.

4. And of course everyone says "you must feel much better".

I've just started telling them that I lost most of my weight in 2015 and while it's new news to them, it's old news to me. Hopefully they'll leave me alone.

Of course, there are dozens of good friends who are just happy for me. I love them dearly!

I love this, @@Cape Crooner!

I have people telling me all the time now when I tell them I have 20 more lbs to go, oh no you will look too thin! I don't think at 5'5" 150 (in 20 less lbs. 170 now) I will be too thin. Maybe they are trying to compliment me & saying I look great now but it does make you wonder. I'm not trying to be 125 like was in high school, or 135 at 40. I'm 60 now & don't mind keeping a little weight on. So 150-155 I think I will be fine.

I agree... I've had some of that, as well. I have to admit that I am still more than happy to not be at my old lowest weights... not sure it is just me used to being bigger so I am happy with anything less now or if it is because I am healthy and active than I have been in years so not worried about being "thin"... I'm gonna go with the second reason

You guys... Its a bit of a story but I need some support.

I've reached goal weight. I'm happier than ever. My friend and whom I thought was my support system when I needed her... Just recently saw me. Told me I looked anorexic. I'm freaking out. She had her surgery 8 months before I did. Different doctor and all. She hasn't reached her goal weight and has a lot of dumping due to bad eating habits. Why am I so concerned about what she says when I'm succeeding and she even said she was jealous... Am I wrong?

Sent from my LG-H634 using the BariatricPal App

Did you guys have a different surgery from each other? Or both RNY?

I'm down 105 pounds, with about 40 left to go to hit my personal goal. I can't believe how slow the loss is now. I'm lucky to lose 5 or 6 pounds a month now. Working out between 2-3 hours every day and keeping the calories around 1200 per day. I'm sure I I'll get there but it is still going to take awhile. Now it is time to start researching plastics for all this loose skin.

Your before and after pics are amazing, @@kaitlynm!

@@SleeveandRNYchica @@dede0314 @@Cape Crooner You guys are doing amazing!!!! My loss is still 60 lbs, 20 more to go. I think the closer we get to our goal the slower it gets. I need to walk!

I'm almost 20 pounds from goal, too! We both saying we need to walk, lol, and it still holds true for me. I am barely hitting 8000 steps a day, so i need to kick it up. Now that my weight has slowed, I'm more motivated My doctor says that exercise shows more result now, post surgery, than it did for our pre surgery bodies... good to know!

Hi everyone! It is so hard to believe we are almost 7 months post op! I am 39lbs away from my personal goal of 175! I am still working out only 2-3x a week. My schedule is just crazy! My goal is to lose 1.5lbs a week. I am just trying to be realistic at this point. My average has been 6-8lbs a month since month 3 and I. April I only lost 2lbs. That totally sucked but I am still pressing forward. Yes, it is so much easier to snack now, but I really try to watch it! I don't cut my carbs completely and enjoy fruit, triskets, pretzels and crackers from time to time. I just don't OVER endulge.

what a difference! you look great!

I've lost 105 pounds... I need to take a more recent pic in former fitting clothes

ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1463368038.690495.jpg

You look great!

Thank you @@kaitlynm and sorry for the delayed response! I get on this site when I have time and for some reason I never received a notification of your response! You are doing so well and it is good to know that others are experiencing these stalls only to have continued weight loss as time passes I like the idea of trying to stop the losses later down the line, lol, sounds like a good problem to have, right!?

@@irishaggie I think you are doing fine. I've lost 100 lbs since pre surgery, but I have 45 yet to go to hit my goal. I work out every day between 1 to 3 hours and yet you are not that far behind me. If you could work some in it might jump start your losses again. I just came off a month long stall. I lost 5 pounds last week all of a sudden. It seems to have stopped now unfortunately. I have a feeling this is going to be how it goes for most of the weight loss. Stall, loss, longer stall, loss, etc. hang in there. We will get there and hopefully by the time we are a year out we will be trying to figure out how to stop the losses.

I've noticed the same… I am a wine drinker and have been drinking it occasionally since around the 5 month mark. At first, it barely affected me, but I was being super careful. After I relaxed enough to enjoy it, I noticed it would hit me fast (nothing I could not control), but the buzz would fade fast, too. So, like VSGAnn2014 said, I now know I need to be careful. One night, in a social setting, I drank too much wine, but just to keep my buzz (helped with the social situation)… I never got 'drunk'… not good for my liver, I know, so I am trying to be super careful now. This is just another one of those areas, post surgery, where I am learning anew… I don't plan to stop drinking wine occasionally, but my post surgery health comes first and I am trying to find the right balance… Just being honest

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.

I'm having the same post 6-month issues, too. I seem to do a lot of snacking because, well, it is easy. i have found some low sugar/carb snack bars i like and i seem to grab them way too often. however, the carbs are still there and the Protein is not high enough to compensate. i need to weed out the Snacks and walk a heck of a lot more. my weight has stalled, as well, and i am still not sure if it has to do with me hitting my peak weight loss or the fact that I am not exercising. probably that i am not exercising and now my metabolism is suffering. I do drink lots of Water and get all my protein on most days, so that is something. I am also religious about my Vitamins. Hair loss has slowed. I've lost 85 pounds approx. and I am feeling great, just feel like I need to loose another 20 to be at my goal weight. I'm not giving up yet!

My surgery was Oct 13. HW 286, SW 268, and CW 199. I feel like I'm not getting anywhere lately (the last month). I have only lost 2 pounds in the last month and no matter what I do I just can't seem to get the scale to move. I eat about 1000 calories per day because I work out 2 hours every day. (Intense Cardio). I get 100g of Protein per day and drink at least 70 oz of Water. I did so well up until the middle of Feb, and then now just nothing. I have started adding more weights into my workouts. I understand that there is stalls, but this seems crazy. I still have 55 pounds to loose, and I'm not going to make my 6 month goal of 190 set by the surgeon. Anyone else having this proble

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

It is like you read my mind… we are both feeling the same things! I feel better just reading that I am not alone… I've lost so much weight and have done so well, but I'm worried that I am not doing enough. I am not walking, starting to sneak in carbs (and wine!)… just feeling guilty and know that I am not doing enough. My weight loss is super slow now, too. That part you said about feeling fat and squishy still, lol, i feel that same way sometimes. I think so much of it is mental, I guess, lol… Anyway, thank you for sharing and allowing me to vent, as well

@@SleeveandRNYchica Good to hear from you!!! Sorry you had the set back! 53 lbs is great! I've lost 50 since surgery!!! 35 more to go to get to 145 to keep it under 150!!! The weight loss has slowed down, but I haven't been walking like I was, need to step it up, literally!!! Keep going your looking great!!!!!!

I have been horrible at walking I need to step it up, too!

Has any one else noticing some Hair loss? Mine isn't horrible but I just started noticing at 3 months more hair on my clothing. No clumps just more strands than usual. Taking Biotin everyday, & getting my Protein in. I'm at a stall right now, for 2 weeks. I haven't been walking as much, so I know what I need to do! Hope everyone else is doing well!!!.

I have noticed hair loss in my brush, but nothing dramatic… yet, that is! Being just past the 3 month point myself, I presume that I may see an increase soon. I am getting my protein and taking Biotin, as well. I guess that is all we can do. I know that my skin is doing much better post surgery, so that is good Probably has to do with cleaner living, less sugars, etc. I have been in a stall too… i dropped below 200 at Christmas, but I've been stuck in the mid-190s. I too need to walk more. I have only been walking about 3-4 times a week and I should be walking at least 6

@@Txn26 - Hello from Houston! Yes, doing great! Thanks so much for checking in I've lost just over sixty and have been hanging out just below 200 since Christmas… I've reached a little plateau, but I'm trying not to obsess over it, lol.

@@irishaggie I too find myself eating in a rut but I combed through the worldaccordingtoeggface.com website and printed all the recipes that sounded good. I now have a pile of them tp plow through when I get bored.

This week is the first time I weighed the same as the week before. One thing I have noticed is that when someone says they weighed the same as last week and the week before they usually also end up saying "But my body is changing." This is the same for me. I recently got some 2X shirts and they were tight. This morning I noticed a loose-ness to one of those shirts that I don't remember being there so my body is changing.

On a side note I can't believe that I wear my clothes tighter these days. When my weight was going up I would wear loose fitting clothes thinking I was hiding my ever expanding myself from the world. Now I wear stuff that is slightly tight because I know I will be shrinking into it.

Yesterday I wore myself out. I went to Sam's Club and walked around looking at stuff. Then I went to costco and did the same. Then Walmart and Safeway. My hips were hurting last night but feel better today. I did stop at Panera and had some of their delicious turkey chili. I thought ahead and brought my 1/4 cup measuring cup with me. So I sat down at a table (before I would have eaten in the car) spooned the chili into a measuring cup and sat there eating.

The other day we went out to a Mexican restaurant and I ordered a chicken burrito without the tortilla. It was delicious.

I am wishing everyone very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a wonder filled New Year!

Wow, @@395Ron, you and everyone else is doing so great! So good to hear that we all have more successes to post and less questions/waiting for results Funny you mention that about wearing clothes tighter, too… I am trying to avoid the outfits that fit me, but show too much, lol, less anyone think, "she may have lost a lot of weight, but she still should not be wearing that" Funny how losing so much weight affects every aspect of our lives. Seems like everyday choices about wear to go, what to do next, etc. are all different now that I am thinner and healthier. Love it!

Happy New Year to all my WLS buddies! I know you all are looking forward to the new year with as much excitement as I am! Bring it, 2016!

Hi everyone! I'm feeling good and loving all the changes with my new body! I'm down 62 lbs from my highest weight which I recorded two weeks before my surgery, October 8. I'm almost to Onederland! I have not been too tempted by the Christmas treats, etc., but find I am in an eating rut. I need to cook more. Hoping to experiment some over the holidays and find some go to meals to make part of my routine in the new year. I hope all of you are well. Keep us posted on your progress!

@@edie091371 I see progress every day. Today for the first time I was able to hold my balance while standing on one foot. I still have issues with stairs and curbs. Part of my right thigh is numb and now has a burning sensation when I take a step. Friday they cleared me for all foods except rice, Pasta and bread. I return to work full time 4 January. Today for lunch I had a turkey and dill pickle rollup. I still have not had any issues with any foods but it is only a matter of time.

403 High Weight in July 2015

356 Surgery Weight (- 47 lbs)

307 Current Weight (-49 lbs since surgery) This is probably high due to the hospital stay

Wow, Ron, you are doing simply awesome… such an inspiration to us all! Keep it up!

I am finally able to sit still a few minutes and catch up with the thread. How is everyone feeling? I am doing great. I am down 29 pounds since my surgery on October 8th. I know that sounds a little slow but as long as the numbers keep going down I am happy! Kev is doing great too. Since his surgery on November 12th he has lost 19 pounds. We went to Gringos Mexican Cantina for lunch today and ordered beef fajita nachos. They come 8 to an order. We had to laugh because he ate 1 and I had about two thirds of one!!! It is so fun to go enjoy the environment but not gorge on the food. We allow ourselves one restraunt trip a week where we are not super careful with our food choice. If we did not treat ourselves once in a while we would go crazy.

In other news I resigned my position as manager at the Spa. BEST DECISION EVER!!! Then I turned in my notice and leased a suite to open my own little nail salon. I named it 'Polished' and opened this last Tuesday. It turned out beautiful and I was very busy with clients my first week!! I feel very blessed! I actually love going to work again. I will be posting pics of my suite on my Facebook so any of you that are not on there feel free to add me. Edie091371@yahoo.com. or Edie Smith Steer. I have missed hearing from you guys and look forward to catching up.

@@395Ron how are you?? @@thinner-me? @@60&goin4it ? @@irishaggie ? @nervousnana ? And everyone else I missed!!!

Hi @@edie091371, so happy to hear you and your hubby are doing so well! I am doing great over here and just moving right along… I had my 2 month appt yesterday and I've lost a little over 50lbs from my HW, so my doctor was very pleased. I am trying to fine tune my eating habits and focus more on exercising and not drinking during meals (very hard for me, lol!). Love hearing about your new venture and wish you the best with the nail salon! Sounds like it will be a great success, Congrats!

We were thinking about adding Torani to the BP Store. Where do you buy your Torani and how much do you normally pay?

I've bought them at the grocery store, Sam's Club, Amazon, and the Torani website. Sam's club has the best price of $5.62 for a liter, but they only have a few sugar-free options. Torani website is great when you want selection (they have so many SF options!) and the price is not bad at $7.99 for a 750ml.

I use the Torani sugar free flavorings all the time. I use it for Protein drinks as well as my coffee and yogurt. I buy the plain greek yogurt and add a splash of Torani. Freeze that mixture and you basically have ice cream.

Oh, my favorites are the salted caramel and coffee liqueur.

The salted caramel added to a Protein shake was a life saver during my liquids pre op stage! So good!

I asked this question on another thread but thought I would ask you all how much you eat at a time each meal? I'm at 7.5 weeks. From 2 weeks to 6 weeks my Nut. wanted me eating 1/2 cup of food 3x a day. No problem for me. When I went back at 6 weeks she said to increase to 2/3 cup which I'm doing now & to increase to 1 cup by 3 months my next appt. That seems like a lot so soon. I'm having no problems with the 2/3 cup of soft foods but I don't think I could eat 2/3 c of meat. Most everything else that I see other's not eating near as much. Curious as to how much you all are eating & what your Nut. says how much you should & will be eating.

that seemed like a lot when you posted the amts, but I'm just basing that off what I've read from peeps that r many years post surgery... But, I'm not sure! I would not force it...?... If u hunger for that much, then great, but if not, I'd probably not try to meet those goal amts... Just my thoughts, lol, for what they r worth!