xoxococojay

Yeah i do. And to make it worse my office is full of secret fat kids that bring in chick fil a Breakfast to share, candies, doughnuts etc. you name it they have it.

It got to a point where i just had to stop keeping Snacks at home and at my desk. I can't eat what i don't have. And i realize now that when i do that, it's because im bored so i find something else to do to keep me occupied.

Given your stats and your other health problems you should at least consider it. The fact that you're comfortable with yourself as is, is amazing but it's not always about looks. It's about health and feeling amazing which is why i chose to have mine. Plus i didn't want to deal with long term health issues down the road.

Most of us got to this point because we also struggled with diet. You'll go through your own journey and figure out what works for you.

Given your stats and your other health problems you should at least consider it. The fact that you're comfortable with yourself as is, is amazing but it's not always about looks. It's about health and feeling amazing which is why i chose to have mine. Plus i didn't want to deal with long term health issues down the road.

Most of us got to this point because we also struggled with diet. You'll go through your own journey and figure out what works for you.

See i'm the opposite. Nyc is 4 hours away from me and i'm dying to visit australia's gold coast! Great goal!

If your supervisor said something then you can totally go to HR. Because legally your supervisor just needs to know that you're taking time off for medical reasons. They don't need to know what you had done and they definitely don't need to broadcast your personal business.

Yes i get told this daily. I ignore them and keep going to the gym. I secretly just give them the finger in my head and keep moving. I don't see how someone who isn't a medical professional or dietician can think they're a weight expert so their opinion doesn't mean anything to me. I'm not even at my goal yet. I think they just see you looking so different or your dress size is so dramatically different that they need to adjust their perception of you in their mind.

In other words they used to view me as fat, now that i'm a normal sized person they seem to think i'm to thin or have an eating disorder when i don't.

Congrats hun!!! That's awesome

Precisely.
Surgeon, mechanic, plumber, carpet-layer, etc. ... I want the competent one with a fair fee structure. I do NOT have to have a new friend NOR a person who dresses well in a suit/uniform.
The only thing different to your answer is that I will also consider female experts.

I've got around 10-12 close friends, all retired like me (who have all known me since 1985/1990) and who have seen me live through slight overweight all the way to morbid obesity.
Two of them know I have had the surgery.
About seven or eight of them tell me to my face AND on near daily Facebook posts that I am losing too much weight and that my two to five hours daily exercise 27 days per month will kill me.
They implore me to stop.
I'm not sure what it is they worry about:
(1) that I am now no more obese than two or three of them?
(2) that I exist on about a third the food in public that I used to?
(3) that I exist on Water or only one alcoholic drink per evening when I am out with them?
(4) that my priorities have shifted since six months ago?
(5) that their wives tell them how much better I am looking?
(6) that a few of them are dealing with health issues other than obesity and I am winding my obesity and medications back?
I dunno!

I also plan on the plastic surgery to clear up loose skin and hard-to-shift visceral fat ... but only after 8-15 months of stable weight at (or close to) GOAL.
My surgeon said there is a tendency to rush to plastic surgery support too soon before one has had a few stable months at (or near) goal. He said that these people had a higher chance of longer term dissatisfaction and adjustment in his and his colleagues' experience.

I have been thinking about this and I think I will finally treat myself to the lion head tattoo on my back I have been planning. It will look better when I am slimmer and will be a symbol of my strength and courage through this all!

Once I reach my weight goal I would love to go to Italy for 2-3 weeks [emoji869]

I love this thread ....
When I get to my goal weight I'd love to go to NY. I've always wanted to go there. It's a long way from my home in Australia, and right now I wouldn't be comfortable in a plane seat for that long. While I'm there I'd love to go shopping, clothes in the US are so much cheaper!
I like the idea the poster above had about the Pandora charms for each 25 kg lost ... a great motivation when you have a lot to lose.

My final goal ... just participating in life more!

Two things...
A snow skiing trip. I've never been and have put off my wife's requests because I know it would be really hard on my knees at my current weight and I get winded too easily. A new family portrait.

I plan to get my belly button pierced because I always wanted to and get another tattoo in recognition of my weight loss but not sure exactly when I want to get yet.
I also want to get my boobs done because they are in a sad state but I don't think that's a realistic goal since we are not in a place where we can afford plastic surgery. I will need a Tummy Tuck some day too but we'll see.

I have a long ways to go, but when I get there I am going to go parasailing and horse back riding with my family.

Great question! I plan on getting plastic surgery as soon as possible, new hair cut, mani pedi, new wardrobe A whole new makeover

Some new titties.

I feel like crying guys! What an amazing journey of discovering myself and learning how to love me again [emoji173]

I swear by my vitamix and ninja because i love smoothies when i crave sweets i just add Protein to it.
I use my croc pot and air fryer all the time too.

I have food scales and george foreman grills too. I don't use them as much as i thought i would.

I love to cook so im that weirdo that buys anything i've seen on tv

Yes. I pick only low glycemic carbs...so I don't have sugar spikes that cause insulin spikes that cause rebound hunger.
I'm a big believer in balancing my animal Protein with plant protein, so I do complex carbs to achieve that...beans or peas plus brown rice usually. Great way to feel like you've had some comfort food while still getting your protein.
I make a really delicious vegetable Soup that I add wild rice and green pea Protein Powder to. Very filling, tastes delicious. Lots of phytonutrients from all the veggies, and you get complete amino acids (good protein) from the pea protein+wild rice.
I also eat animal protein in moderation. Love a good steak salad...but still a couple weeks away.
Tonight, I'm making chicken cordon blue. No breading. Just a smashed chicken breast with low fat swiss, low fat ham, and a little blue cheese. Protein extravaganza!

Pretty small amounts, too. They don't interfere with the total Protein, and calories stay between 1000-1200.
Had sourdough bread today in an open faced mozerella sandwich with basil and tomato...and sweet balsamic drizzle. OMG, so good!
A small one ounce slice of Sourdough bread has 80 calories and a whopping 4g of protein!
Here's my lunch today: 225 Calories 12 g protein
My afternoon snack will be protein heavy...I try to get at least 10-15g protein (often more) into each snack and meal.

I do:) here's a sample day from my week five plan that includes carbs:)

How many of you still eat good complex carbs and have never regained?
Which ones do you eat (personally i'm terrified to experiment with this on my own so i'd rather ask others)
Good complex carbs-
Brown rice
oatmeal
Yams
Sweet potatoes
Beans
Starchy fruits
Etc.
How much of them do you eat?

WLS Do’s and Don’ts

DO remove the word ONLY from your vocabulary. Ex: I’ve ONLY lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks… Now let’s look at this again without the word ONLY: I’ve lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks!! See what I mean? Perception is reality folks!!

DON’T assume you’ll never eat all of your favorite foods again. This is just an excuse your brain has designed to allow you to indulge. You WILL eat all your favorites again someday, just much less but find it to me more enjoyable. Which leads directly into the next:

DON’T do the “last meal” syndrome. You will only sabotage your weight loss you might have pre-surgery or set you back further from your ultimate goal post-op. This surgery is very serious and is for the serious minded. Use this time wisely to get the feeling of how life might be like post op.

DO learn all of the rules pre-op that you will endure post-op. Such as, no drinking with meals, using smaller utensils and plates, engaging in some type of workout routine, limiting your sugar and sodium intake, joining as many WLS support groups as you can.

DO Celebrate every single pound lost! Imagine one pound of butter. Yeah… that’s gone from your body forever. It is noteworthy and worth every bit of a pat on the back as any others that may go along with it.

DON’T compare your successes and losses to others. Chances are very high that you will only come out on the short end and only find yourself disappointed. Everyone’s journeys are their own…

DO keep track of your losses in many different ways than just the scale! Examples:

DO keep one set of your largest clothes you’ve ever worn. Make it a point to try them on, especially when you’re having a down moment. You will find this will really pick up your spirits! This is a real rollercoaster of a ride, and anything that will keep you positive is what you should do!

DON'T keep any other fat clothes around. Get rid of them ASAP. You're never going to fit them again, right? So... off to donations they go.

DO take photos of yourself just before your surgery. Keep them close. Again, having a bad day? Look at them and compare them. As a matter of fact, take photos of yourself often. You will also find that the more you lose, the more you will want to take pictures. Nothing wrong with that!!! That goes with celebrating your losses.

DO take measurements of yourself often. Keeping track of all your inches lost will really keep you on the right track when your scale is being stubborn!!

DO reward yourself every time you hit a mini goal. Make some more worthy than others. I like to go shopping when I hit a goal, it is my favorite thing to do now.

DON’T let the scale define you. Great majority of us will endure many fluctuations and stalls in this journey. It is what it is… patience is the key here. Meditate and envision yourself months down the road at your goal. Smile, then move on!!

DO find out about measuring body fat! It’s more than just weight loss, FAT LOSS is the real goal here. Keep in mind that the BMI scale is greatly inaccurate and most Health Studies do prove this. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE) our body fat % ranges should be average: 25-31% for Women and 18-24% for men. Any higher is considered obese. However it does go more in depth, according to ages and more. Everyone has different genetic make ups, frame sizes and fitness levels... even a different ethnicity can post differences.

DO have many goals in sight. Having only one, especially a simple weight goal you will find can be difficult. Have many MINI goals along your journey, and more than just ones that involve the scale. Such as, clothing size goals, body fat% goals, fitness or workout goals, dietary goals, etc…

DO challenge yourself always!! Whether it’s a global challenge with others, or personal challenges... It will keep you motivated and always willing to go further than you ever thought you could!

DO have a mentor! Find someone that you can trust and confide in, and that you know has “been there”. Preferably someone you know in person. You will find many folks in your life who have been there, for obesity is worldwide now and there are so many who have been able to defeat this demon. It’s not easy! It quite literally is the toughest feat I’ve ever had to endure. I can say this too, my job will never be done. This is for life!
DON'T believe the myth that your tool has an expiration date. Yes, it's true you will lose the most weight in the first year and it's also true that the further out you are and the closer you are to goal, the harder it is to lose. However, as long as you keep up with your healthy eating and fitness routines you will continue to lose weight and / or keep it off in the many years post op. It all boils down to calories in vs. calories out.
DON'T believe the myth that having WLS will keep the weight off forever. That is our individual responsibility.

And finally…

DON’T ever beat yourself up! We all make mistakes, and dare I say not one person on this Earth is perfect. I try hard to be, no doubt! I always admit that I’m a perfectionist – but I’m far from perfect. I just try to be… The only thing you can do is pick yourself up, give yourself a pep talk, perhaps contact your mentor for reassurance and move on!!! Again, this is for life. Every day you wake up is a second chance.

DO look for solutions to your problems. Otherwise they will just become excuses.


DON’T EVER GIVE UP! I don’t think any explanation is necessary here.

DON'T expect the scale to post a loss every single day. As a matter of fact, don't expect it to move that much even weekly! Just keep doing all the right things and the scale will move in the right direction when it needs to.

DO expect to see fluctuations on the scale, both down AND up. DON'T lose your head over it either. This isn't a miracle cure and the weight isn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks. You have to keep pushing with healthy eating, some type of workout and getting plenty of Fluid.

DON'T let the scale define your journey when there are so many pieces to that puzzle!!!



Good luck to all of you. This journey is a tough one, but if you are here, then you believed in yourself enough to give yourself the life you’ve always dreamed of. YOU WILL BE successful. Always keep that in mind.

Add-ons by other experienced sleevers:

DO keep a list of NSV (Non scale victories) to reflect on when times are getting hard. Can you walk up 2 extra flights of stairs before getting winded? Cross your legs?" and

"DO NOT be afraid to change things if they aren't working. Stalls happen even gains happen. If you are on a long stall look at your eating and decided if changes need to be made. Utilize your tool!" -- Southern Sleever

DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.

DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you Celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it. -- SKCUNNINGHAM

DO roll with the punches!! -- fern