Chatterboxdea

@Justarwaxx I'm sorry you are struggling right now. I can definitely relate; with Christmas and also recently having my period, I overate, especially sweets. It happens. You have to remember that you are fighting years of bad eating habits and those aren't just going to change overnight because you had surgery. I know for me it helps, that even if I have made bad eating choices, I still log my food and feel better seeing that it's still not over 2000 calories a day, which in theory means I'm still below anything that would make me gain weight. It's not helpful to shame spiral, because there is no lesson learned in shame. You are okay. And tomorrow is another day and another chance to make better choices. I hope you are feeling better now.

I always explain to clients that there is a difference in people's brains between goals and resolutions. Resolutions: as soon as we mess up, we throw our hands in the air and say "I failed. I guess I won't try anymore." With goals, they are just monitoring growth; they allow up to get off track and come back to our goal again to continue working towards it. The new year is a great time to set goals, just know that motivation ebbs and flows, so you will probably get off track a few times this year, but progress is progress and baby steps are better than quitting. Good luck!

I posted this in my surgery date group: I feel like Christmas has been harder than Halloween and Thanksgiving as far as making healthy choices. I think Halloween, I still wasn't eating completely normal so it helped me avoid candy. Thanksgiving, I don't really like pie so that helped. But Christmas, there have been all types of goodies around (including the baked goods I made for my neighbors) that its easy to take a piece of a cookie or a little chocolate and not think much of it. I for sure eating less than I would have in the past and only taking a 1/3 or 1/2 of a cookie still feels like a win, but I hope I can kick this habit after Christmas, because I don't want to get too comfortable again with grabbing sweets when I'm craving one.

Amazing results @Sophie7713!!! You seem so happy and confident with your new appearance! Side question: for anyone that has done this surgery, do you continue to have arm scars? It seems like they really cut you open for this and I guess I would be interested in seeing a fully healed arm, several years out. Does anyone feel like they still can't wear sleeveless shirts because of the scaring?

Not only did we have surgery at about the same time, but we started at a pretty close weight and have lost the same amount (I had to google how many lbs was 21 kg; It's 46 lbs, which is where I'm at) so we seem to be losing weight at about the same rate. I definitely have noticed the weight coming off but it does suck sometimes to lose weight slower than other people. I'm glad your dr was supportive of how things have been going. I feel like Christmas has been harder than Halloween and Thanksgiving as far as making healthy choices. I think Halloween, I still wasn't eating completely normal so it helped me avoid candy. Thanksgiving, I don't really like pie so that helped. But Christmas, there have been all types of goodies around (including the baked goods I made for my neighbors) that its easy to take a piece of a cookie or a little chocolate and not think much of it. I for sure eating less than I would have in the past and only taking a 1/3 or 1/2 of a cookie still feels like a win, but I hope I can kick this habit after Christmas, because I don't want to get too comfortable again with grabbing sweets when I'm craving one.

Well go to Breckenridge, CO. It snowed every morning we were there!

I think someone might have said this before, but I was taking a bath the other day and it was crazy that I had (what felt like) so much extra room and needed more water in the tub than before surgery! I still early-ish in my journey and have lost 45 lbs, but I see/feel it in my body and the tub just confirmed it!

We went snow tubing on our trip this past weekend and I highly recommend it! It was so fun!!!

It is still super early on for you, but it seems like you are doing a great job; both with your protein intake and your weight loss. We all lose weight at different speeds, but it's about not adding foods in too fast to let your body heal and making sure you are getting all the protein and vitamins you need to keep your body healthy. Keep making good choices and enjoy the journey!

I'm not a doctor but I know a lot of medications can effect your appetite. I work in mental health so I know it's common for a lot of mental health medications. I googled your medicine and increase in appetite is not listed as a symptom, but it makes sense to me that if it has to do with your stomach acid, that it could impact your appetite (like it is breaking things down faster, or you had too much acid when you weren't on it, so now you are more hungry that it is more back to normal). Hope that helps.

Sorry I have been MIA guys! I was out of town for a long weekend for a friend's 40th birthday celebration this past weekend and work was crazy before that, trying to prepare to be out. @Justarwaxx I hope everything went well with your surgeon. I feel like I have been losing weight slower than most too so I get your pain and feeling of unrealistic expectations put on you. Just remember that your still losing and your journey is exactly that... YOURS and it's yours alone. @ShoppGirl I'm so sorry to hear about your struggles with cancer; I hope the treatments are working and going well! We appreciate you letting us in and sharing your story. It's great that that you are mostly feeling okay. I'm sure it has to be hard balancing managing your health in multiple ways at the same time. I'm glad we have this community to help support you! I went a little overboard with eating this weekend because there was so much food and alcohol; I think I did okay at meals but there was a lot of snacking. I am used to having my husband with me when I go out, because he is willing to split everything thing with me, though I had one friend that would do it sometimes. I didn't gain weight, but I also didn't lose any weight. I am trying to be super good today to help me get back on track and back in my normal eating routine.

I think these are all good tips! That being said, this is the rest of our lives. I don't think its okay to label things good and bad and never allow yourself to have "bad" foods. Yes, it's hard to process carbs, but what is life with no mac and cheese or ice cream for the rest of your days. Its about finding the balance. Let yourself have the comfort foods, but in small amounts and in moderation. At least, I feel like this is the aim for me; I'm really bad (I'm very good at it, it's just not always healthy) at all or nothing thinking, and it inevitability would lead me to over indulging, rather than just allowing myself to have a little occasionally. Just food for thought.

It can definitely be a hard cycle to break. I hope the cravings go away soon, but if you have extra carbs one day, just walk a few extra steps to balance it out.

Wagyu is expensive steak; so I had my 1 oz and I was good for meat pretty much. The cocktail went okay. I definitely think alcohol hits me more, but I don't know if that's the sleeve or that I haven't drank in 5 months. I didn't drink the whole cocktail, but it was nice to go for dinner and drinks, because I feel like that was something I was missing out on, not being able to drink while I'm eating.

I hope everyone was successful during their holidays! I actually lose a couple pounds this week, so huge win, when this would be the time I gain weight (from Halloween to Christmas).

Last night, we had an early birthday dinner for my husband's birthday and he always wants to do a nice steak dinner. I actually tried Wagyu for the first time because you could get it by the ounce and I figured that would be perfect since I can only eat a little bit anyway. It was delicious!!! It was also my first time having a cocktail while eating dinner. It went well but I didn't finish it and gave the rest to my husband. We also did family style sides so I could just eat what I wanted and we boxed up the leftovers. I forgot to take pictures because it was so delicious! But I wanted to share anyway.

This weekend has been pretty hard getting back on track and not wanting to eat everything. I have had a couple days that I had 1500 calories, which feels like a lot but I also think I only ate when I was hungry; I have been snacking on nuts recently to stay away from carbs, but they do have a lot of calories and fat. Last night, we had an early birthday dinner for my husband's birthday and he always wants to do a nice steak dinner. I actually tried Wagyu for the first time because you could get it by the ounce and I figured that would be perfect since I can only eat a little bit anyway. It was delicious!!! It was also my first time having a cocktail while eating dinner.

I feel like I did well at my meals today ( we had 2 Thanksgiving dinners today), but I got so snacky tonight, which probably wasn’t great. We don’t have any leftovers though so tomorrow, I’m back on track.

Good job! I'm not going to say the hardest part is over, because it's not addiction for a lot of people is a continual struggle. What I will say is that alcohol is a depressant, so by giving it up it could effect your life in so many ways for the better. Less depression means more happiness, more willingness to interact with people, more ability to workout and want to take care of yourself. All things to help in your sobriety and with your weight loss journey. Good luck to you in this time of change; change is never easy, but it's worth it.

This reminds me of the year I got my wisdom teeth out right before Thanksgiving and all I could eat was mashed potatoes that year. ? I think someone has already said this, but because with volume because that does sound like a lot. I would also probably skip the cobbler filling because its more than likely has a lot of sugar, which they don't recommend so soon after surgery, and I had to be careful of berries that soon after. At 7/8 days, I was only drinking water, protein drinks and soups/broths.

I don't think I ever had a strict plan for myself other than limiting carbs, sugar and fried foods. I'm excited about Thanksgiving; I'm just planning to get a small plate and try a little of everything. We have 2 meals on Thanksgiving because we see both mine and my husband's family. I threw up for the first time since surgery last night. I think I just ate too fast and maybe didn't chew enough; it felt like it was stuck in my chest. So it was a good reminder to slow down and that I'm not completely the same as before surgery.

When I got my top ear piercing, I specifically got it on the side I don’t sleep on as much, for just this reason.

Epigenetics are crazy fascinating! Like your ancestors went through a famine and now your body is programmed to receive/keep food nutrients differently or your ancestors ate a lot of a certain food so you can tolerate better than most. It's crazy! People have believed that what they did in their life did not affect their kids genetics, but we now know thats untrue.

There are a ton of great running belts; they tend to have various sizes and are more sturdy. You might want to check those out.

I am 12 weeks/3 months out. It wasn't my best weekend as far as carbs, but I also don't think it was terrible; it was my highest calorie count since surgery at 1500. The next day, I just tired to really focus on protein and low carbs. I did go walk today and got in a little over 2 miles so that feels good to be more active again.