Ladydi1202

SW: 243.6 lbs. on 11/18/2016
CW: 199.0 lbs. on 02/23/2017

Hi July Sleevers! I'm down to 146, BMI of 28.5 and still chugging along. I don't even remember surgery and the initial post op stages at this point lol. I can eat whatever I want as well, just small amounts of it and I've become accustomed to focusing on dense Protein. I love the newfound energy, the confidence, and all the new clothes. I'm looking to at least another 16 lbs, but I'm also focusing on getting toned. NSVs and good vibes abound.

Have reached a BMI of 29, and moved into the Overweight category!
I was sleeved in July also, and find I can eat anything since 3-4 months out. I understand what people mean about tool and choices, as if I wanted to I could eat chocolate on the hour, or packets of chips, ice creams etc, I can.
My discipline wanes here and there. Have being going up and down recently so need to go back to basics. Am thankful I can no longer binge like I used to... my appetite hasn't come back that much yet, which is awesome.
I don't come here often, but if you read this, let me know how you're going, what is easy, hard, anything

Before and after! The best decision I ever take of my life.
Stats. 325 pounds Feb/16 Now 165 pounds Dec/16
Blessings.
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Today
I
Hit
My
Goal
Weight.
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I don't care about the flak...I'm fed up. And I'm ranting about it. I see these people here, in my support group, in the waiting room at my doctor's office...they're everywhere. Complaining, whining, justifying their own crappy choices by asking others to validate them. I'm raising two sons to NOT be backseat drivers to their choices, to not blame their self-created misfortune on others...it's a personal peeve of mine. YMMV, of course.

Bless your heart. Too funny. I agree, people piss the opportunity away - over things like a freaking mini Halloween candy. Uhhh... ok.

You are spot on. It really is a very sad situation when people are given this amazing opportunity and they can't rise above food to take full advantage of it. It really is a mental game from the very beginning, and I don't think many people who post on here get that. They look at the insurance requirements (if they are using insurance) as "hoops" to jump through instead of thinking about why the requirements are there and how they can actually be beneficial to help them mentally prepare for surgery and their post-op life.
I try to remember that this is a public forum, so there will be a wide variety of opinions from people with very different types of lives, but after being on here for a few months, I am more convinced than ever that LOTS of people get this surgery for the wrong reasons, see it as some kind of magic wand that it isn't, and ultimately are not going to be successful long-term because they refuse to change their relationship with food.< /p>
I just think "bless your heart" and move on. People are going to do what they are going to do...

amen

I'm on the purée diet and wanted to make scrambled eggs? Thoughts on this? I was going to add milk to make them more purée.
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Thank you all! It's comforting to know you are here and you hear me.
I don't have a plan B yet. I'm torn between moving into maintenance, as I have reached my original goal weight, and taking the opportunity of still being in my first year to lose as much as I can.
I have been working with a therapist, however I only see her once a month, and it isn't enough right now. I have known for a while that it isn't enough.
I guess that is my plan B. I will call her first thing in the morning and set up weekly sessions.
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Therapy could be a real help. But if you're "too smart for your own good" still, you might not want to admit you need help.
Still, I think last night is a really clear sign that it might be time to consider learning more from a professional. I hope you do. There's just something in the tone of your post that makes me think you are someone who is actually really hard on yourself. I'm picking up a lot of angry self-talk between the lines.
Reach out for help, try to understand the why and not just the what, in terms of your behavior.
You can't beat yourself up to a better life.
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Excellent post! I think the hardest part about a stall, if you've been doing everything right, is accepting that it's out of your control and letting go.

Great post! I have discovered that I have a cycle of losing really well for around 2 weeks and then 2 weeks or so of no weight loss. I have had to remind myself a few times to take a deep breath and just keep doing what I'm doing and not go crazy and try something radical to get the weight loss going again. It all evens out.
And I'd rather have a stall than a gain any day. :-)

It seems that at least 50% of the posts on BariatriPal are bemoaning a stall. Daily, and sometimes hourly, I am reading about how someone ONLY lost x number of pounds and now the scale hasn't moved in ___ [fill in the blank] days/months, etc. Oh no, they write, I am a failure/unique/my surgery didn't work/life is not fair, ... Why am I in a stall?
I know I am exaggerating but I think you get the idea.
Guess what? STALLS are a NORMAL part of the PROCESS of losing weight. If you want to lose weight, you will stall. Not just once, but over and over. And, guess what? A stall is where your body actually does the hard work of becoming smaller. It takes a lot of work and energy to dismantle a structure that has been holding up, in some cases, hundreds of pounds.
For those who think they have to DO something to somehow "break a stall" (in my opinion, you do not break a stall, you just ride them out), here is my response:
What can you do to "break" a stall?
1) STAY OFF THE SCALE
Relax and stay off the scale if it bothers you so much. Weigh no more than once a week, or even less often. Weighing only at your doctor's appointments early in the process is a good strategy if your mood and self-worth are dictated by the numbers on the scale.
2) PICK UP A TAPE MEASURE
In addition to using the numbers on the scale to measure your progress, take your measurements. Inches lost are also a great way to see physical progress when the scale isn't moving. Most people see the biggest physical changes in their body when the scale seems stuck.
3) TRACK YOUR Protein AND Water AND MEET OR EXCEED YOUR PROTEIN AND WATER GOAL EVERY DAY
As long as you are getting in all your protein and water and following your NUT and surgeon's instructions, you are doing what you are supposed to do.
If you aren't getting in all your protein and water, then increasing your protein and water is something you can do (and should be doing anyway whether or not you are in a stall).
4) EXERCISE
If you aren't exercising, then you can exercise (and should be whether or not you are in a stall). You can start slowly by walking or even moving more around the house. Exercising will help you feel better, tone your skin and build fat-burning muscle.
5) MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR NUT
If you are unsure or unclear about what you are supposed to be, or should not be eating, then make an appointment with your NUT (which you should be doing whether or not you are in a stall).
6) REASSESS AND REEVALUATE
About the only good result I see that comes from complaining about a stall is when you take an honest look at what you are doing and realign with the program recommended by your NUT and surgeon. Have you started eating more outside of your plan? Are you restricting calories? Are you eating enough carbs and protein for your exercise? Are you taking your Vitamins? Are you eating often enough? Are you eating slowly with protein first? Sometimes, all you need to DO is go back to basics.
7) JOURNAL
One of the biggest things I have noticed from the various posts is how anxious and out-of-control some people feel when they notice a stall. Journaling can help you gain some perspective and deal with some of the emotional turmoil.
-- Write about how you are feeling about the stall and your weight loss, and surgery in general.
-- Write about why you had the surgery in the first place.
-- Write about what life was like before surgery.
-- Write about what you hope and dream about accomplishing in the future.
-- Write about your fears.
-- Write about your NSVs.
-- Make a gratitude list.
-- Make a bucket list.
-- Write a letter to your old self; write a letter to your new self.
Just write.
8) SEEK HELP
Stalls are when too many people seem to revert to old, counterproductive dieting behaviors (restricting calories, over exercising, bingeing, etc.). If this is you, then another thing you can DO is to talk to a counselor or therapist or consider joining a bariatric support group or a twelve-step group like Overeater's Anonymous.
The discomfort of being in a stall can also drive people to develop new, unhealthy coping habits or even transfer addictions. This is where you want to marshall all the resources you have available to you and use them.
The last, and most important thing you can DO is:
9) EMBRACE THE STALL
Stalls are a normal and natural part of the process.
Our bodies are complex systems and not simple machines.
Stalls go hand-in-hand with weight loss.
If you had Weight Loss Surgery, then you probably want to lose a significant amount of weight. So, get ready to embrace the many stalls you will experience as your body is transformed. It will be worth it.

I will .. if i did it before and was strong..???? i can do it again..????
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You can do this! You just have to keep your goals front and center and realize this is your new lifestyle not a diet to lose weight.
I think that is where so many struggle. I chuckle at my hubby because he lives with me and decides he is ready to go on a diet. LOL I always respond with, it won't last until you realize it is not a diet its a way of life.
Poor guy, has started his "diet" so many times only to go right back to bad behaviors. And yet he lives with me and sees what I actually put on my plate everyday. I am not referring to the quantity because that just would not be fair but I am referring to the quality Proteins, veggies and fruits.
You will do well! You just have to believe it and then put it in action.

I agree. Start as if you had surgery yesterday with the liquid diet and follow the 5 day pouch reset. That will help get a lot of the sugar toxins out of your system and it will jump start you.
Then, focus on the rules:
1. No drinking anything 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after you eat.
2. Limit your beverage calories. Try to stay on Water or sugar free non carbonated beverages. Stay away from alcohol. If you can, even limit caffeine as it really does cause you to feel hunger.
3. Mindful eating, remove distractions so you can pay attention to your pouch. Your tool is still there, you just need to retrain it.
4. Eat your meals slowly chewing well in between eat bite. Put the fork down in between but do not go over 30 minutes for your meal as your pouch begins emptying at that point.
5. Drink a minimum of 64oz of Water or SF non carbonated liquids.
6. Ensure you get a minimum of 1 gram of Protein for every inch you are tall. Even a little more is better. Make sure that you get that Protein mostly from dense Proteins like fish, seafood, beef, chicken and pork. These foods will keep your pouch fuller longer and provide you with much needed protein grams.
7. If you have not done this recently, you should have a full Bariatric blood panel drawn to ensure you are not lacking any nutritional elements that could cause you problems.
8. Are you still taking lifelong Vitamins like B12, Calcium Citrate or any other Vitamins your Bariatric Doctor put you on? If not, you will want that nutritional panel to inform those decisions.
9. No grazing.....this is where most people start to have weight gain. Eat your 3 meals a day and try to avoid snacking. If you are one of those people like me who has reactive hypoglycemia, then have 5 smaller meals.
10. Avoid sugar, potatoes, Pasta, rice and bread. Same thing with any prepackaged processed foods. Get rid of the junk and stick to good quality Proteins and veggies and fruits. Once you hit goal again, then you can introduce some whole grains back into your diet slowly until you get to a good maintenance schedule.
11. Try to get some exercise even if it is just walking daily.
These are the things that I will do if I ever start to regain my weight. It really is getting back to the basics.

I ordered a Water bottle from MyHydrate.com. This bottle keeps track of each 8 oz. that I drink, by lightning up. When I finally get all eight buttons lit up, it plays a congratulatory melody. It also chirps in an hour if I've not taken a drink. This bottle has helped me to stay on track with keeping myself hydrated.
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I had a sore throat right after surgery and into the next day. Mine may have come from both being intubated and having a small hiatal hernia repair. I existed on ice chips and small sips of the melted Water. Didn't eat anything until after I was given the leak test. Had a lot of nausea, but found out it was coming from the pain medication, which I refused to take afterwards. So, all in all, I am 5 days post-op. Since going home, I only take plain Tylenol for pain and only twice a day. I'm truly blessed with my speedy recovery. My family and friends say I don't act like someone's that had surgery. Just take it one day at a time and move, walk, sit up and take small sips at a time. #feelingblessed
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I had a sore throat right after surgery and into the next day. Mine may have come from both being intubated and having a small hiatal hernia repair. I existed on ice chips and small sips of the melted Water. Didn't eat anything until after I was given the leak test. Had a lot of nausea, but found out it was coming from the pain medication, which I refused to take afterwards. So, all in all, I am 5 days post-op. Since going home, I only take plain Tylenol for pain and only twice a day. I'm truly blessed with my speedy recovery. My family and friends say I don't act like someone's that had surgery. Just take it one day at a time and move, walk, sit up and take small sips at a time. #feelingblessed
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Good Friday all!!
I am on the other side! Had surgery 7-6-16. All went well. Slept most of the day on 7-6. Very groggy. Liquid intake is improving daily. Still not at goal, but getting better. Just going to rest and focus on my liquid intake.
Congrats to those who've been sleeved and those getting ready to be sleeved.

I have a cup that keeps track of each 8 oz that I drink and when all eight lights are lit up signalling that I've reached my goal of 64 oz. It even plays a congratulatory melody. It also beeps if I haven't taken a sip in an hour. Google MyHydrate ifinterested in purchasing one. Really helps me stay kn track. Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App