lisafrommassachusetts

I am so impressed with your honesty! I think it will help many people as they get ready for this major change.
I am almost a year out, and I find I have to work hard every day to not fall into my old eating habits. I know by now some of these habits should be second nature, but I have 60 + years of bad habits to break.
A couple of things that have helped me: I try to always have an easy Protein, that I like the taste of, on hand, so when I need to eat something it is not horrible! The key for me is to have it taste good! For me those Proteins include: Rotisserie chicken salad, Hard Boiled Egg with a little salt, Siggi Yoghurt, Kibo chips and an OZ. of cheddar cheese.
I also have found a herbal tea or 2 that I look forward to with some fake sugar (I use Stevia because I can't stand the taste of most of the others). I have a large mug (24 oz.) and I make tea every morning and sip on it until it is gone. That has really helped me regulate my mealtimes while I am working remotely every day!
Finally, I took the advice of many and find a reason to move every hour, even if it is a 5 minute walk in the neighborhood or even around my house if it is raining! That way your metabolism remembers we aren't in a coma! lol. When I am on work calls I pace around the house, which confuses my dogs and annoys my family, but it keeps me moving. I am lucky because I love to hike, something I had given up on when I was heavier. If there is an activity you enjoy, even if it dancing to one song on the radio, or doing some calisthenics for 5 minutes, or walking in place during tv commercials, it will help up your metabolism and improve your mood.
Before WLS, by a couple of years, my lifelong problems with anxiety, which I always wrote off to work stress, or just general irritability, got diagnosed. I take an anti-depressant with an anti-anxiety component, and after a couple of months on it I felt like a new person! Not for everyone, of course, but mental health care is HEALTH CARE.
Good luck to you! I hope you find a good counsellor who understands disordered eating, and who understands WLS.

Today I "unsubscribed" from Lane Bryant emails! Although they served me very well through the years, no more plus sizes for me.
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I'm sorry that this may sound unkind, but I promise that's not my intention, but I also think you may need to see a psychologist. Preferably one who specialises in food addiction (I have seen a few who specialise in addiction that havent been particularly great) but I've just started therapy with a lady who specialises in eating disorders and it's been really helpful.
It's made a world of difference already. I only did it because the people who I know who regained a significant amount after their surgeries have all said that they wished they'd taken care of the mental side of things too.
Or failing that, I'm always around for a chat.

I really hope you manage to overcome this.

Also, how is your thyroid?

Folks, do the site and this thread a favor and click the "Report Post" link in the upper right hand corner of New&Improved post.

2020 holidays are going to be very different! I usually host 25 to 30 people; We did a backyard brunch with 12 people back in mid-October so we could see some of the extended family that usually comes knowing we would not be able to host during Covid. We will be 5 people; me, my husband, my two adult kids and my son-in-law. My daughter and her husband are moving back to NYC December 1 (they rented an Airbnb near us for the last 4 months) so we won't see them again until spring I bet.
I decided to order Thanksgiving for 6 people from a local restaurant; my daughter is vegetarian and they are a vegan/vegetarian friendly restaurant. The meal includes a turkey breast and a bunch of yummy sides including vegan butternut squash macaroni and cheese, whatever that is! lol. Our Christmas will be only 3 of us, my adult son and my husband and I. We usually host 18 people for Christmas! We are using Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving as "fake Christmas season"; getting our tree, decorating the house, watching Muppets Christmas Carol (our family tradition), opening one little present each and having our traditional Christmas pancakes on Sunday morning. My daughter and SIL just bought a house, so their real present from us was some household stuff, delivered to their new house, and my son is moving into a new apartment March 1st, so we are getting him a new bed. We agreed that we would like a donation in the families name to our local foodbank as our present from the kids this year. (and grandkids, we want grandkids, but no commitment there....).
Christmas Day I am sure will feel pretty isolated. We are doing an extended family zoom with all my brothers and their respective spouses/partners, my nieces and nephews, and the grand nieces and nephews. That many people on Zoom is very chaotic, but we are going to sing "The 12 days of christmas" (everyone has an assigned day) and Silent Night, as we usually sing carols when we are together. (we are almost all terrible singers, btw).
I am about to go fully remote, again. I am missing my friends, missing my family, my colleagues, and I feel scared and overwhelmed at times. I am actively trying to focus on gratitude, staying in the moment, and appreciating the connections I have with so many dear people, albeit in a new form. I am also trying to get outside for walks as much as I can, and have invested in a warm and waterproof pair of walking/hiking boots and bought some thermal under things in my new size. Chasing the endorphins and Vitamin D.
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! I'd love to hear how other folks are planning for this year, both from a food, health and mental health perspective.

Can I switch places with any of you guys above. Huge gathering outside by the pool and this guy gets the job of cooking
5 Huge Turkeys - My college kids want two bacon wrapped two smoked and one friend
Pounds of mashed potatoes Massive pans of stuffing and casseroles and of course all the bread
Now lets add a table of Desserts to the list!
But you know what. I am a chef and my kids also are getting older, So i can not wait to cook it all for all our family and friends! Because what you all said above is the most- Great Memories that i will remember and they will remember and pass on to there kids - So get my ramekin ready for T-Day dinner a whole 4oz at a time, Nice thing is i can pick all day while doing it.

2020 holidays are going to be very different! I usually host 25 to 30 people; We did a backyard brunch with 12 people back in mid-October so we could see some of the extended family that usually comes knowing we would not be able to host during Covid. We will be 5 people; me, my husband, my two adult kids and my son-in-law. My daughter and her husband are moving back to NYC December 1 (they rented an Airbnb near us for the last 4 months) so we won't see them again until spring I bet.
I decided to order Thanksgiving for 6 people from a local restaurant; my daughter is vegetarian and they are a vegan/vegetarian friendly restaurant. The meal includes a turkey breast and a bunch of yummy sides including vegan butternut squash macaroni and cheese, whatever that is! lol. Our Christmas will be only 3 of us, my adult son and my husband and I. We usually host 18 people for Christmas! We are using Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving as "fake Christmas season"; getting our tree, decorating the house, watching Muppets Christmas Carol (our family tradition), opening one little present each and having our traditional Christmas pancakes on Sunday morning. My daughter and SIL just bought a house, so their real present from us was some household stuff, delivered to their new house, and my son is moving into a new apartment March 1st, so we are getting him a new bed. We agreed that we would like a donation in the families name to our local foodbank as our present from the kids this year. (and grandkids, we want grandkids, but no commitment there....).
Christmas Day I am sure will feel pretty isolated. We are doing an extended family zoom with all my brothers and their respective spouses/partners, my nieces and nephews, and the grand nieces and nephews. That many people on Zoom is very chaotic, but we are going to sing "The 12 days of christmas" (everyone has an assigned day) and Silent Night, as we usually sing carols when we are together. (we are almost all terrible singers, btw).
I am about to go fully remote, again. I am missing my friends, missing my family, my colleagues, and I feel scared and overwhelmed at times. I am actively trying to focus on gratitude, staying in the moment, and appreciating the connections I have with so many dear people, albeit in a new form. I am also trying to get outside for walks as much as I can, and have invested in a warm and waterproof pair of walking/hiking boots and bought some thermal under things in my new size. Chasing the endorphins and Vitamin D.
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! I'd love to hear how other folks are planning for this year, both from a food, health and mental health perspective.

It's such a wonderful feeling not to have to shop in the "Big Girl" stores or order plus sizes anymore!

Today I "unsubscribed" from Lane Bryant emails! Although they served me very well through the years, no more plus sizes for me.
Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

@Deb9386that's a NSV to really be proud of! Hooray For you and your health!!!

Siggi's yogurt, especially the vanilla and cinnamon and pumpkin spice. 15 grams of protein! and it satisfies my desire for "a little something sweet."
Kibo's chips (I get mine on Amazon). 7 grams of protein; I bring them for lunch frequently to eat with tuna salad or chicken salad instead of any bread. I usually eat 1/2 the bag at lunch, and then save half for a mid day pick me up, with a piece of fruit.

Hello all- everybody is just sooooo different it gets confusing what might be right for each of us. I feel almost weird admitting I eat 1200-1400 calories a day depending if I exercise. My carb intake is 60-75 NET grams- usually 25 grams of fiber and 90g of Protein. I am currently at 164 pounds when I’d started at 235 in February. I lose about 4 lbs a month now and my nutritionist said it will start to be even less now as I get close to goal (153lbs). More carbs and calories seems to work for me otherwise I’m too faint and weak to operate. I do choose the healthiest carbs possible. I think part of my reasoning is a work out a lot. 5x/week walking, 4x/week spin class and 3-4x/week strength training. I did just have foot surgery today though... can walk for 3+ weeks so I’m going to cut carbs and stay on the low end of calories while I recover.

I read this as a request for feedback on her question list.

Good to hear from you @Lily66! I read about some folks who are only eating 600 or 800 calories after this long and I am amazed. I am losing slowly (very slowly) but mostly steadily. I feel so much better, I am wearing size 12 to 14, and my daughter jokes I have Benjamin Button disease. I have not returned to the gym since surgery (Covid), but I really, really need to do some weights. I own weights (2 lb and 3 lb); I bought resistance bands thinking I'd like them better, I have downloaded an 8 minute work out, and a 12 minute one...I have done everything but actually DO THE DAMN EXERCISES! lol. But with winter coming fast I need to get my heart into it. You sound like you are in a great place. I'm with you, if it stops here I am beyond grateful. I'm eating healthy, and keeping my Protein high. I have also enjoyed a glass of wine on a few nights by the fire! Life is good, all in all, except for the whole 2020 being the worst year ever. Continued good luck to you!

So today makes 8 months for me. Its the first month with under double digit losses. Sqeaked by with 11 last month but only managed 6 lbs this month.

Congratulations! You look great! What has been the biggest benefit so far? Favorite "go to" meal or snack? Best NSV?

I've always been overweight. I honestly can't remember a time when I wasn't. But it's crazy how when you're a kid, you're not fat, obese, or whatever, you're cute and chubby, and the extra weight that you're carrying is no need for concern. But as you get older that quickly changes and you're no longer perceived as chubby and cute, and the extra weight has become a major problem, not just for yourself, but for others as well. I wonder if any of you can relate to this. I've struggled with my weight my entire life. I know many people say this and it's as if they're just talking, but I've actually been the biggest person in my class, school, church, etc. It was rare that I would see someone that was just as big as I was, if not bigger. I've tried different diets, exercise plans, supplements, nothing has worked for me. If I did lose any weight, it was a short-lived accomplishment. I've struggled with deeply rooted insecurities that only further fueled my horrible relationship with food. I have struggled with anxiety and depression for years because in my mind I could never get to that perfect weight or body. Just a constant battle with myself for most of my life.
It has taken a great deal of trial and error for me to get to where I am today in how I see myself, physically and otherwise. I have come to love myself and my body and I feel that there's nothing wrong with loving who or how you are physically, mentally, spiritually, and yet you feel the need to change a part of you. I believe most people would associate this with insecurity, but I beg to differ. I believe that it is the reasoning behind the decision to change that makes the difference. While I have learned to love and appreciate my body for all that it has done and continues to do for me, I am also very aware that carrying over 200 pounds of extra weight is not healthy for me. I want to have children one day and I don't want to put them or myself at increased risks because of my weight. I don't want to be at an increased risk of high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes, or congestive heart failure. These things run in my family and I don't want to be next in line. I want more for myself. I haven't went swimming in years, but I remember how good it felt to feel weightless in the Water, how peaceful and serene it was for me. I view this surgery as an opportunity to experience life in a different way. Even though I can walk or run at the weight I currently am, I know that my body will feel a lot better walking and running with less weight being carried around. Even though I can go swimming now, or travel the world just as I am right now. Simple things such as "will I fit in this seat? Will they have clothes my size? Is there going to be a lot of walking, etc...". I don't think many people understand the daily struggles of an obese individual. Yes, we're all aware of the "health concerns" associated with being over-weight. But not many people are aware of those small things that affect us daily such as standing for extended periods of time, back and body aches, getting winded or out of breath easily, etc.
I've made the decision to have gastric-bypass surgery as I'm confident that this is the tool that I've been missing to help me finally be successful in my weight-loss journey. I'm nervous and excited, but in the end I know this is the best decision for me. I'm interested to meet anyone who would like to go through this journey together, no matter where you are in your own journey. I'd love to hear from you all and know how you're doing and if I can be of some help to you, even if it's just a kind word. Good Luck! And Blessings to you all!

I just don't understand all the resistance to wearing a mask. Even if it only PARTIALLY helps, that's better than nothing.
It's such a simple thing and it should never have turned political.

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+10000000000000 on all of the above
WEAR. AN. EFFING. MASK.

+1
All of the above!

Please please always mask!! There are a lot of us that are high risk and they really don't know the long term effects of covid. Masking isn't a big deal and everyone, everywhere are wearing them so it's normal ... at least here in Michigan. We all buckle our seatbelts so what's the difference? We do it to protect ourselves and others !

I was going to say something, but...
That hits the nail on the head. You realize you made a mistake and you're taking care of it. You're a human. It's okay to screw up once in a while, even more so since you've acknowledged it and are willing to keep trying.

Just a wild guess on how you could do such a horrible, horrible thing...
You're human. And I'd bet you make killer Cookies. And you got caught up in the moment.
And you are getting right back on the horse. THIS is the lesson.
We should all screw up once in 4 months.
You will be OK,
Tek

Today I "unsubscribed" from Lane Bryant emails! Although they served me very well through the years, no more plus sizes for me.
Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

Today I "unsubscribed" from Lane Bryant emails! Although they served me very well through the years, no more plus sizes for me.
Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app