lzucks

I get most of my Protein from dairy—Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, Fairlife milk. Plus eggs, Protein Shakes, Protein Bars. If you eat dairy, you should be fine.

I only kept one pair of jeans from each size to stack on each other to take a picture. Otherwise - the fat clothes went.... good riddance. And I cut up the Lane Bryant card, too!

Congratulations on your new sport and your weight loss success. That is a great article you linked to also—thank you!

This BBQ Sauce hits the spot!!

I'm New York, and within the past few months - bleh. The lockdown didn't bother me so much as a concept, weight wasn't a problem for the first two months. I was VERY involved in a virus-related contact tracing effort that has basically consumed all of my time, and obviously the status of healthcare in America means that I've spent since mid-Feb bashing my head against a wall to try and make things happen and hitting political and insurance roadblocks and let's just go ahead and agree that being 20 feet away from the kitchen during 13-hour days when you can't leave home without wearing a mask is... not ideal for maintaining weight loss?
Long story short, I am a whopping 30lbs up on my lowest weight right now.
It's reversible, and in fact with some of the virus-related work finally getting traction (Americans finally stop living in denial, hopefully?) and being parceled off to other teams I'm actually seeing work hours go back down to a normal schedule, but I'm rebooting starting this week through Orgain Protein Shakes twice a day and one carefully planned meal, plus coffee, Water and a cheese stick. I've deliberately and proactively sectioned off my calendar to make sure I don't keep working until 8pm every damn night anymore. I have done terrifying things in Salesforce so now all of my spinning plates are in view at all times.
How did I get here? Well...
Stocked up in late-Feb when I realized that this was going to be a pandemic. Then tried to order once or twice a week from restaurants when it was clear they'd otherwise shut down, which meant a single dinner lasted three nights. Two months in, I started going to the store occasionally for simple human contact, usually ended up buying stuff I didn't need as an excuse to make the trip. By the end of the spring, the stocked-up stuff started to reach the end of its expiry date, which meant I had to eat it... You see how this spirals. I hate summer. Hate it. Seasonal depression (yes, it does exist for summer). Oh, and then this year it turned out I developed a sun allergy. So even if I did go out to exercise, I risked days of an itchy, poison ivy-like rash. Pool closed, obviously. Work stress. Firstly, trying to make sure I kept my team employed and occupied and engaged as they ended up stranded in apartments and parents' spare rooms in rural towns and assure them that layoffs aren't coming to get them. Secondly, all the virus work. Work happy hours at the start of the lockdown. I had maybe 3-4 drinks every MONTH before lockdown. But then everyone started having happy hours to stay connected, and about three weeks in I think the cocktail started representing the time you officially stopped work so we were all starting making it more of a daily ritual. And once you're having a drink every afternoon when you shut your laptop, you start having two on the days things are particularly rough, and now it's August and I have consumed a remarkable amount of calories via gin, tonic and cider and definitely need to change that pattern. Pandemic stress and constant, haunting thoughts about why I didn't get New Zealand citizenship when I lived there and could do it, dammit. Stopped wearing proper clothing. I vowed to keep wearing my jeans and nice work tops, and stuck to it for about two months. Then I realized that wrap dresses worked great on calls and were cooler. Then started wearing yoga pants (but not doing actual yoga!) and a nice top on calls. Over the last three or four weeks, I've worn zip-up hoodies on internal calls. So it was easy to ignore the weight gain. My wireless scale broke and it took me three months to buy a new one. Anyhow. The pandemic sucks, so many things about living in the US reality distortion field suck right now, but one thing I very much can control is my food intake so it's back to basics on that count. The grocery supply chain is just fine, I've bought a projector TV so I can lock my dog out of the room and do yoga with an image projected on a wall instead of trying to contort myself to do yoga via computer while battling weak wifi, and IT'S GOING TO BE AUTUMN!!! Also I'm taking a week off. Also one of my NZ friends is now living in Sweden, so we spend a lot of time WTF-ing at each other about our situation compared to our friends' situations.
How are all of you doing? Working parents, I am not one of your number but know that as one of your colleagues, I do not mind seeing your kids onscreen, totally understand you can't make that deadline, and basically just want to make sure you can make it through the week with 50% or more of your sanity intact. This pandemic has not fallen equally across all shoulders by a long shot, and anyone who's trying to make you stick to a Before Times schedule or gets ratty about "unprofessional" childcare complications can go stuff themselves.
**definitely not looking for any advice or encouragement here, and am in fact allergic to both unless expressly requested - just figured since this is a check-in I’d update on current state of play for anyone interested in comparison.

The 30th was the seventh anniversary of my VSG surgery. I had my daughter take a picture f me in one leg of my old shorts to commemorate the occasion.

Thanks for proving exactly who i thought you were ❤

Worrying about my bra breaking while I'm away and if I will be able to find my size and a regular department store

As a two time weight loss surgery patient, you truly don't understand why people gain weight?
Everything you just posted could have been said about you or any of us. Didn't we all hear "Just eat healthier. Just exercise more."? How did it feel when you encountered that type of attitude pre WLS? Was it helpful or motivating in any way?
Even in Rants and Raves, what is the reason behind this post? The only point I can see is to feel superior to others. Reminds me the the post from earlier this month, "STOP MAKING EXCUSES." It's the same myopic point of view and lack of empathy towards others who may be struggling.

I am thinking about staying right here at the 185 mark for a while. For me, maintaining my weight, and knowing how to do that is important. So yes, I am still considered obese. My BMI is 34 unless you look at the age BMI and I get to be 33 BMI - I have lost and regained and then re lost weight.
Started the journey at 320.
Lost over 140 pounds
Gained back 40 in 10 years
Lost 35 in the past year.
Just bought myself clothing in a size 16 petite. Not plus size anything. If I had wanted to hem pants, I could have bought size 14s. Not hemming pants. I walked into Kohls knowing I couldn't try on clothes. I bought 4 pr of capris and 2 pr of slacks all for work. mix and match with 10 tops and 2 light weight jackets. ALL on major sale - all guessing on sizing - needed to return 3 things that didn't look right for me.
I am good for now. Will learn to maintain this weight within a few pounds either way. And feel like it is a huge success. I feel good. I am eating well. Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, good Proteins, some carbs, and a treat or two .... Using my tool 10 years out.

with a 100 lb loss, you're going to have loose skin. I lost over 200 lbs and had a ton of it. Although I eventually had it surgically removed because it drove me crazy, it was very easy to hide in clothes. Nobody knew it was there other than me and my husband. And like the above poster said, given the choice, I would take the loose skin any day over weighing almost 400 lbs again. ANY FREAKING DAY!!!
People on here are probably getting sick of this picture, but this is me BEFORE I had the skin removed. See any loose skin? Trust me, there's a ton of it under those clothes - esp on my torso. I just wore "control top" leggings (or standard jeans) and long-ish, slightly oversized tops. Ta da! Skin disappeared!

Thanks for this recipe @sillykitty. I used to travel to Minneapolis a lot and miss this soup. Will be making it myself now!

Working in the days of COVID-19. Did an angiography in full gear later. FFP-3 mask, face shield and all. *sigh*

🏆 HEALTHCARE WORKERS 🏆

Thanks for this recipe @sillykitty. I used to travel to Minneapolis a lot and miss this soup. Will be making it myself now!

Thanks for this recipe @sillykitty. I used to travel to Minneapolis a lot and miss this soup. Will be making it myself now!

I eat them too! Didn’t when I was in weight loss mode but in maintenance? Yes!

I eat them too! Didn’t when I was in weight loss mode but in maintenance? Yes!

I eat them too! Didn’t when I was in weight loss mode but in maintenance? Yes!

I eat them too! Didn’t when I was in weight loss mode but in maintenance? Yes!

Sending our courageous friends love and support for being on the front line during this pandemic and for being selfless. You are valued, loved, supported and respected 🙏🏽🙇🏽‍♀️💜

First time posting here!
Gastric bypass was June 26, 2017
I’m 5’5
Left picture - 338 pounds
Right picture - 158 pounds

Been a while since I have been on this forum and so much has changed-in a good way! I reached my (adjusted) goal weight. I went back to school. I have a new career (as a baiatric-focused personal trainer) and I'm excited about my future. Although lots has been derailed because of the virus, the accomplishments are still there and my business will thrive once the fitness industry is able to rebound. For now, I do my coaching virtually and keep up on my fitness by working out with my team via zoom. It's a crazy time but still full of possibilities! I'm so sorry some of your surgeries are being derailed- that is a tough pill to swallow I'm sure. I hope everyone stays healthy and strong. Be kind!
BEFORE, Aug 2018
AFTER, this week, me and some of my badass fellow trainers

yes - PLEASE! One of the nice things about being on here is I get to get AWAY from politics!

@BayougirlMrsS, why don't we leave politics out of the discussion and focus on health and support.