Healthy_life

Hi @betterL8thanever Your restriction from surgery with be tight for a while. Sip on a water bottle during the day. Keep it on your night stand at night. Getting food and fluids in gets easier as time progresses. It's all a learning process. Four years out, I easily get my water in and thirst is not an issue.

Fantastic achievement! Hope you and your son make this your new tradition. ?‍♂️ Be thankful for your health and ability to do great things. Love to hear about your next run.

Checking in: Challenge Starting weight: 132 Current weight - 133 Current weight lost: Losing or maintaining weight: Maintaining - New goal is to get weight down a bit before Dec 31. I found a perfect dress for new years. Fitness/exercise goal: Running season is over - Less cardio more weights Total weight loss at the end of challenge: (Post January 1st 2019) Check in: Tell us how you are doing - (How is your diet and exercise plan going? Any struggles? Stress level? What have you overcome? Any strategies that have helped) Survived Thanksgiving. I had a two pound gain that I am working back down. I have moved furniture, decorated the house for christmas and painted a guest room. I'm driving my husband crazy. This week I back to my normal gym routine.

Congrats on 61 down~!!! Ugh.... the questions and conversations that revolve around your weight loss. If you figure out a way to not talk about your weight loss let us know. It's out of most people's/family members comfort zone to see someone eating for health instead of pleasure on Thanksgiving. I'm having chineses food with hubby and adult son's. No cooking this year!

Great advice from @Kimmie K I learned the hard way. Try all clothing on before you buy. Things fit differently month to month. Be prepared to go through many styles and sizes. You will be left with an overflowing panty/clothing drawer. Other option is comando...*just kidding*

Fear, nervous, anxious and excited....Right? Many of us second guessed and had a freak out moment pre surgery. We understand. Just know that your surgeons team is going to take good care of you. I hope as your family sees your success and hard work , they will become more supportive. If they are saying these things out of fear give them time. Ugh...judgmental people. If they judge you on surgery they will judge you on other things. No need to invest your time trying to explain your decision/surgery to negative people. You don't need their approval. Wishing you the best, Jenn

my skin get dry pre and post surgery in the winter. for me its age not surgery.

I've tried every diet. Surgery has given me a long term solution. I'm four years out. Second guessing yourself as you get closer to a surgery date is normal. Dry loose skin or stay obese and have continued weight related health issues?........That decision is yours. How do you vets do it? Fear of dehydration - Many of us here can get our water in by keeping a water bottle on had and siping throughout the day. It gets easier and normal with time. Also, how bad is the skin after... really? You and I started with roughly the same BMI. I'm sharing my before and afters. In your opinion, Do I look healthy at a high weight or at my lower weight with loose skin? I can't afford plastics. Do I look depressed about my loose skin or overjoyed with my results? Physical appearance. Which picture do you prefer?

Do some research on surgeons overseas. Find what criteria you need to meet for surgery approval. Lower BMI with comorbidities may qualify.

My husband brought home an amazing pie that his co worker baked for us. It's on my counter whispering sweet nothings to me. Practicing self control.

I believe the coffee issue is due to acid in your new stomach. They want you to heal up and take it slow. Exercise is a necessary evil. Coffee or no coffee.☕

*laughing* Does size matter? ? (getting my head out of the gutter) I'm a sleeve. don't know what my bougie size is. Weight loss is changing behaviors and working your plan.

What has your nutritionist advised you to do? First stages of surgery: Concentrate on hitting protein goal (60 to 100) and hydration goal Don't worry about calories. Practice logging food to know if you are hitting your protein goal. Exercise. Weight loss stage: Nothing processed. Eat whole foods. Log, Keep within my calorie macro goals. Protein 60 to 100 grams. low carb and healthy fats. Hydration goal. Learn how to navigate the grocery store, cook healthy meals at home, and how to order at restaurants to stay on plan. Exercise. Maintaining: Add additional healthy carbs to slow or stop weight loss. She prefers low glycemic carbs (plant based, sweet potato, brown rice, and whole wheat) Is it helping you build lifelong, sustainable habits? Absolutely, I am four years out. Shopping and eating healthy are normal life routines. I don't feel deprived. Changing old behaviors is important for this to be lifelong sustainable.

Can you ask your surgeon for the size bougie you want?

It's great to build each other up. All the struggles, hard work. All that we have overcome. Brag away!

I'm sure you are scared with a BMI that is in the underweight range. Might be a good idea to contact your team.

First stages are rough. I hope you will be feeling better as your diet progresses to soft foods/real food. Hang in there.

Did your dr or dietician look at your food intake? What do your calories and macros look like at 4.5 months?

177 pounds down! Onward!!!!!! Minor set back. First gain on the scale can mess with you a bit. Don't beat yourself down. Dust yourself off and get back to plan. Be consistent. Crazy to know how fast a gain can happen. I eat off plan, It shows up on the scale three days later. A little motivation for your day.

What is success with WLS? We have different goals, medical issues and ways of working our programs. The goal is healthy even if you don't get to a goal number. Reach for the stars, be your own awesome!

Your weight loss in the months to come will be unique to you. We are more than the statistics. 40 to 60% are the stats for weight loss. Nothing has to be set in stone as a goal weight right now. As you get closer to your surgeons goal weight. You can decided if you want to press on to your ultimate goal. "So for any of you that have reached your ultimate goal weight, or you went above and beyond the 60%, please share your stories, tips/advice, input, exercise/diet regimens? I want to fully prepare for this mentally before diving in physically. I don't want to feel discouraged before even having my surgery" You may have times when you feel discouraged after surgery. Stalls and mental battles Etc. Keep connected with support form bariatric patients. We are here for you. I am four years out. 5'5" 254 high weight - 234 day of surgery. six months 140 - I went on to 130's My motivation and perspective came from my mother. I watched her battle cancer. She knew she had months to live. I thought of her each time things got hard. She would have gladly traded places with me for my weight loss struggles. I was driven to make the most out of my surgery and life. Surgery is work. None of this happens over night. You earn each pound. The sum of small things repeated day in and day out will get you where you want to be. Nothing magic - I followed my eating plan and guidelines. Learned to log my food. I stayed consistent. I discovered a passion read all things bariatric, nutrition and fitness. It was eye opening. I learned food is fuel and not for comforting stress/emotions Exercise was a necessary evil. It developed over time into something I enjoy Exercise: Let no one interrupt your gym/exercise. It's time you carve out for yourself. Use it to process life's issues and overcome the mental battles that may surface with WLS. My first year: I dedicated an hour five /six days a week. I started with walking. Then the elliptical and a bit of weight lifting. I increased the resistance and weight as I got stronger. Over time my workouts evolved Into biking, distance running and lifting. Food: Log you food. Make sure you hit your calories, protein and carbohydrates for the day without going over. Get temptations out of the house, Grocery shop and cook your own food. Congrats on your upcoming surgery, Jenn

Yes carbs are energy. No one here is on a 100% no carb diet. Many of us have a low carb plan. If you eat over your carb goal for the day it may slow or stop your weight loss. Best to listen to your professional medical advice. Call them and get clarification. You are paying for them. Get your money's worth?????????????.? Ask your Dr. Dietician give you a carbohydrate intake range. Find out what carb food sources are on your plan ( Not all carbs are created equal) Wishing you the best, Jenn. Side note: You are going to get many responses of "what you should eat" from strangers in a chat room. Most mean well, but they do not have your medical history etc that your surgeons office has.

First month out. It's ok to have a freak out moment. Take a deep breath.... Keep working your plan and give this time. Here is a link about stalls. Your not alone. https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/351046-embrace-the-stall/

Please add your current weight in your responses. Thanks! Challenge Starting weight: 132 Current weight - 132 Current weight lost: Losing or maintaining weight: Maintaining Fitness/exercise goal: Less cardio more weights Total weight loss at the end of challenge: (Post January 1st 2019) Check in: Tell us how you are doing - (How is your diet and exercise plan going? Any struggles? Stress level? What have you overcome? Any strategies that have helped) Family stress! Keeping my stress/emotional eating in check. What doesn't challenge you does not change you. Its time to get out of my comfort zone at the gym. My goal is a booty in 2019.

Fantastic loss. Love that you are a bit smug in the gym. You worked hard for that. Pretty crazy to think all this change happen in six months, Right? Some days you will want to pinch yourself l......Thinking this is all a dream..lol Congrats!