learn2cook

I went through a pork chop phase, venison, ground buffalo, salmon. Lobster was the best. Right now I’m mostly eating chicken, fish, and veggies. I missed veggies so much!

I can tell you as a woman that breast fed and produced barely enough milk, the hunger is beyond imagination. A whole large pizza with tons of toppings was one meal! The hunger was that ferocious! Those hormones take about a year to reset and now you are evaluating your goals. I agree with the above, start with your team. Journal to weigh pros and cons of more surgery or weight loss. Honestly, after month three I realized the rest of the weight loss is entirely up to me. Surgery is not a magic bullet. Weight loss is work no matter how you do it. How hard and consistent is really up to you.

Yes, this happened to two different women at my church and they both had healthy babies. Just follow orders and vitamins. Congratulations and you can do this!

I found a therapist this way too! I had to look closely at styles of therapy and where they went to school. I picked one that had mentored with one of my son’s teachers. You can find a therapist based on location, topic, and style. Most therapy is telemedicine now so maybe locations are not so important. I would think cultural would be very important!

A menopause book I read a while ago suggested rubbing iodide in a 2 inch square on your belly. If it gets absorbed within 2 hours your body needs more iodine for your thyroid which regulates metabolism. I could be off with the time, but the solution is to repeat the iodine each day until it takes 6? Hours to absorb. I just eat dried seaweed. It does help, but slowly.

I would really consider what your real goals are, 160 seems realistic. Many on here have said the last 10 are the hardest. I wouldn’t try anything extreme unless you’re going to do it the rest of your life to keep it off. Look closely at what you could shave off of food. Could you eat one less bite at each meal? Could you mix up your exercise routine? They body responds when we try new things. Have you met up with TOPS or WW? Do you have a group or friend to have a friendly competition? Sometimes I watch 70lbs of life on YouTube. She has an online Weightloss challenge. I personally just broke a stall by reintroducing rubber bands on one lifting day, leaning into keto, and now use a noise machine for better sleep. Hopefully I’ll get your problem of the last 10 by next year. Good luck.

One lady in my WLS support group loads up her day in the beginning. She puts collagen in her protein drink. She has a Gatorade zero when she first wakes up, while she’s still in bed.

I love kayaking, canoeing, swimming, basically anything in and on the water that’s quiet. I’m working my balance endurance up through yoga to balance board paddling.

Yes I’ve experienced it too, but I was blaming arthritis which I do have. If I lift heavy weights I pay for it in the joints. I’ve been trying to lift less with more reps until I get stronger for the heavier weights. Yoga seems to help the most. The heat pad helps with stiffness too.

I think dating depends on your interests, geography, and your sexuality. I see you are in Alaska. Men outnumber men 4/1. If you like women, finding one will be more difficult. Between technology and Covid, most people date online first, so the chances of meeting someone are much higher, but you have to do some fine sifting. Work dating still happens but can be extremely awkward or a possible lawsuit. I haven’t found any more navigation problems post surgery with dates. I’m still picky and turning inappropriate men and women down. They don’t care if I eat less than them!

I used to say I was built like a polar bear and could tolerate the open windows in classrooms in the winter! Lol

I would contact a bariatric therapist on your team or any therapist you can get your hands on. Everyone needs help these days so finding any therapist will be a bit of a challenge but worth the effort. It’s true that weight loss is 90% a mind game. When I get stuck, it’s a strength to ask for help. You’ve already shown strength by asking for help here. Keep us posted on your discoveries.-Meg

I’m in the same boat. The holiday season threw me off. I will also admit to getting tired of feeling cold and tired, so the extra treats during holidays kept me toasty. I’m trying to get my weightloss groove back without being too extreme. So I looked back at my logbook. I loose weight when I drink all my water. I got back into it this week. I loose weight when I track my food. Still working on that, I was doing well half of this week. I know I can do better next week. I know I loose weight when I plan my meals. Gotcha, that took more effort and shopping but I did my planning and prep. Ok now I remember I loose weight when I switch my exercise up instead of the same old routine. Gotta plan that, think heavier weights, new class, new machine at home? What else could help me/you? Maybe more micronutrients, or vitamin D, or a phone call to friends or family, or a hobby to keep those hands busy, guitar, or crochet, a massage, I don’t know what makes you feel fulfilled or relaxed but I’m going to try them. I’ve lost 115lbs since Sept. 2020, but only 43lbs since surgery in Aug. 2021. I’m 5’4 or 163 cm and I’m half done with the weightloss phase. Oh yeah, my co-workers told me of an ax throwing place near me because people are so angry at covid, they go to this place to throw axes at stuff in a room! I also heard of a place that lets you smash stuff for 30 minutes for a fee. There’s pumpkins and dishes and stuff like that there. I like going to baseball batting cages and hitting balls, but they’re closed in the winter. Start googling ideas!

Congratulations on meeting a milestone for New Years!

There seems to be a lot going on with this relationship with Emily. Your life overlaps in many places so if it’s not what you think it is, your life will be very unpleasant for a long long time at work, at home, and with friends. Your relationship is also relatively new. Are you normally someone who is a good judge of character? Or are you someone who quickly latches onto someone new only to be disappointed? I told people on a need to know basis because the WLS was such a new thing of hope for me, I didn’t want a know nothing to crush my dreams. Now that the deed is done and I’m feeling more confident, I’ve amended my hernia story to a few co-workers because I felt like I needed to have a more forthright honest relationship with them. It was the right move at the right time for me. Only you can speak for yourself. Keep in mind we are still in a recession and interest rates are climbing. Where your money comes from may be a big deal. A true long term friend will understand your reticence to share everything all at once with so much at stake. Maybe you two are life partner material, only you know. Best of luck on all of your life changes!

Until 4 months out, I ate about 600-800 kcals. Then the hunger signals came and I listened. I just kept logging, but not stressing about it. I eat about 1000-1200 kcals now and the weight still falls off. I’m in Christmas maintain mode until tomorrow but it my goal is to listen to my body. I read the Biggest Looser article too and was shocked/not surprised by the lasting results in long term weight loss for very restricted eating. I don’t want any more fads. My program emphasizes protein first, water, veggies, and it there’s still room, fruits, oh and go to group meetings online.

Stuff happens and we all spend time refocusing, congratulations you made the first step by reaching out! Then just make one more step like remembering your water. The act of drinking water reminds me I’m taking care of myself, replenishing my emotional fuel. I agree with Jaelzion, call your team. Add one step at a time so it’s not overwhelming.

Wow, you worked hard and it shows!

When I eat with others, I try to distract myself from the food by listening and talking with others. When I’m alone I distract myself by looking at my phone. I purposefully put my fork down between bites and distract myself to make the meal last. Yeah, I joke that I’m learning anorexia habits, but it’s true. I also purposefully distract myself by pushing food around on my plate to look like artwork when out at a restaurant. All weird but it slows me down.

I’m not a doctor and it sounds like something a doctor should see. I would want to rule out blood clots or diabetic neuropathy. Have you been moving about every hour while awake? I would see your doctor.

As my grandmother likes to say, “It can only get better from here!”

It looks like you’re doing great! It is part of my plan for continued weight loss to join WW when I get closer to goal and need more encouragement and accountability. I also plan on following my dietitian’s macros instead of WW if they don’t match up. Bravo to you for finding a sensible solution that works for you!

Congratulations on your surgiversary! My elderly aunt says you “look strong like ox.”

Real meaningful weight loss is a head game. It tests our resilience and adaptability. Most of us don’t know we have so many emotional areas to work upon in order to reach our goals. I’m with ShoppGirl, and I too didn’t realize how much I was emotionally eating. There’s nothing to finesse. Just be you and ask good questions because you are curious about finding real long term health. Also, three hours a week is only 1/2 hour a day. That’s a stroll around a parking lot or a park, marching in your house, dancing, or a bike ride. It could even be broken into 3 ten minute strolls per day. Just getting up from the couch to move during TV commercials would qualify.

I use the free Lose It app for food, and track water on the free Fitbit app. I usually can keep track of water with my 32oz bottle (.95 liter) two fill ups and I am done. I find vitamins wherever they are available because supplies are so variable now.