sawyer77

I realized that I've neglected to answer your actual question! I only record my weight (in whole numbers) when I've had a loss. So: 1.5 weeks post-op: I had lost 16 pounds 3 weeks post-op: I had lost 17 pounds I'm really trying hard to not focus so much on the scale. It's very difficult. Because I will look and see that between 1.5 weeks post-op and now, 13 weeks post-op, I've lost 10 pounds and I get disheartened. I just have to remember this is a time for new beginnings, new learning, new health. I try to focus on that (and still track my pacing, too!) without getting frustrated. It's a challenge, but I've still lost 26 pounds and that makes me HAPPY! :smile:

My surgeon wants me to lose 50% of my EBW in the first year. So my goal (according to the surgeon) is to lose 40 pounds before January 2011. I've lost 26 and it's only April! I think I can lose 14 pounds before January! I have something important to tell you. I'm 13 weeks post-op today, and have lost an average of exactly two pounds a week. This is fantastic pace, and I'm thrilled. However, it hasn't always felt thrilling up to this point. I have had several stalls. I think I stall every two weeks and the stall lasts for two weeks! In this beginning period, before true band restriction, we're really lucky if we lose anything at all. I am working my butt off at the gym and running on the road. I am trying my hardest to make good food choices every step of the way. Until this morning, I hadn't lost anything since March 26th. So, go easy on yourself -- I KNOW you want to lose, I KNOW! But before you get several fills, it won't much be the band at all that's doing the work. It's all you, baby! You can do this! And I really do like to look at the percentage of my EBW. I started at 197, my doctor wants me at 122 but I have this 117 down as a preliminary goal just so I can look at my EBW as a round 80. I've lost 32.5% of my EBW (and 34.6% of my surgeon's listing of my EBW) and I'm only three months out from surgery! WOW. When you look at it like that, it's astounding. I go for my third fill tomorrow, and I CANNOT WAIT! Plateaus on the scale are no fun. I'm going on record with that!

Anne, That. Is. AWESOME! Congrats!

Trying to catch up with y'all! Leigha, glad you're getting the free fill! Will they unfill for free too, just in case? Like a hairdresser's client, go back right away and they fix? Heh. Oh, and your fat pic -- don't you love it! I love when people say I look like a different person, because I cringed at that person in the past, so I will take the compliment! Karen, hey -- I hear my voice in your post. I'm not as far along as you, but I'm tired of the stall! Fill on Thursday -- huzzah! Bobbie, how ya hangin' in? Anne, it's so good that you're getting used to waiting! ARRRGH, waiting is like the name of the game for me right now. I'm sick of seeing the same number on the scale. Denise, go you with the splurge! We need that once in a while. I hope things clear up with the BP issues. I am still giggling about the "hammered shit" comment. That's just awesome. Here's a pic I forgot to include in the last post. Me and my running buddy. We've done both 5Ks together, and plan to keep going!

So, I've not had a change in the scale since March 26th. Grr. I have my third fill on Thursday, so I'm hoping to see a change SOON. In times of struggle, I have to reach down/reach out to find something GOOD somewhere. So... NSV! Yesterday I ran my second 5K, and I beat my previous time. I felt so strong and powerful! My new record is 43:05, and I am so thrilled. I'm planning on a 5K every month to keep myself motivated and training. My next is May 8th. Three weeks! I also bought a bike yesterday (yay, tax refund!) so that I can commute to work (4 miles each way). My running buddy talked me into a 64.6 mile Bike-A-Thon in July also. Egads! Getting busy training NOW!

Do y'all have trouble with something like thin toasted wheat bread on a sandwich? I'm going for my third fill on Thursday, and I have already weaned myself off most bread, because I know it will become problematic, but I do like to have some egg salad on toasted wheat bread. It's not a problem now, but I can guess that it may be.

I take gummi multivitamins and gummi fiber supplements. I started out with liquid vitamins, but blech! The gummis taste good, so I want to take them. :cool: I chew them up well, and don't have any problems.

Recalculating... When possible, make a U-turn. Cracking up! Thank you for that way of looking at it! I'm laying in bed, feeling yucky and ill. Earlier, I "treated" myself (because I wasn't feeling well -- comfort needed!) to something I now regret. It wasn't a treat -- I feel awful! Jen's right -- a tiny 50-calorie treat is just the same as a 350-calorie treat. Blech! I'm taking a nap - gonna sleep this off and when the alarm goes off, I'm off to the gym to RAWR it out! :thumbup:

Thanks for all the feedback! Keep it coming! :thumbup: I'm VERY ready for my third fill next Thursday. I feel like I have not budged an inch!

I've stayed the same, but it's TOM for me, so that's a victory in itself! :thumbup:

Guilty! Though, I always add in an asterisk because I know that it's awesome pace and something to be very happy about. I embrace your challenge! Now, if we could just get rid of the word "diet" as a deprival/derogatory term, and use it as the "diet" meaning what we eat to live...

I was nauseous all night after my surgery. It went away by the next morning, thank goodness!

I am hearing you guys say what's on my mind! I'm 11 weeks post op, and going for my third fill in two weeks. I'm trying to break out of my plateau -- looking back at my weekly patterns, I'm drawing the connection between weight plateaus and my pre-TOM/TOM. Argh. Not fun, but at least I have a bit of an idea WHY, at least. Garrrr! On the bright side, my second 5K is in 8 days! :biggrin: Yay!

Wow, Leigha, what a GREAT post! :mad: Good for you! I need to get over to my parents' house -- they said they have a spare bike for me to look at. I work only 3.5 miles away from home, so I have no excuse not to be riding to work. I LOVE this visualization. How perfect! Thanks for the reminder. You are right. :biggrin: This is great! Someone on YouTube said their surgeon told them to do the same -- put the fork down for 5 minutes between each bite. It was working well for her. I'm so glad you found something that may help your pain! WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW! Go, you! This is an awesome accomplishment. (Don't you feel awesome, like the queen of the world?!) I have 40 pounds to go before I hit normal. Right now, my goal is the 10 for the Mothers' Day Challenge, then 4 more to get out of the Obese category. I'm so happy for you! Thanks for a great post!

This actually sounds a lot like my surgeon's rules for after a fill. I think the 5-day pouch test is just what I need right now. Sometimes (especially during a plateau!) I think your body needs a change to jumpstart/restart your metabolism and clean out your system. I suppose it's similar to calorie rotation -- keep your body on its toes -- no ruts!

Wow, I've missed a lot! Bobbie, Betsy, Stacie -- I'm thinking of you all. This thing called life -- it's not an easy ride, is it? :biggrin: Betsy, I have fibromyalgia also -- I was diagnosed several years ago. The meds they gave me all made me GAIN, and quickly! Boo. I stopped those medications, and now find that exercise is the best medicine of all. Guys, I have been having a fight with my scale for weeks. I'm not giving up, but I just want to scream! ARGH! I feel like I'll never get below 172! I don't get a fill for another two weeks. What to do? Hmm. I know why this is happening -- I've been so busy that I don't feel like I've been able to devote myself completely to my mnemonic for my surgeons rules: PWVSES - I call it "People Without Vests Sink Every Summer" - *Protein *Water *Vitamins *Snacking-NO! *Exercise *Smoking-NO! I run that list through my head on my good days, and feel guilty about that list on my bad days. Lately I've been forgetting to take my vitamins, not keeping track of my protein, I know I haven't been drinking enough water, not been able to exercise as much as I'd like. I have two very important projects due in a week at work, and I am stressed out! I am running with the No Boundaries group early tomorrow morning, and I hope that will get my butt back in gear. I just feel like a barrel full of excuses right now! Wahh! I want my positive self back. Where'd I go?!

Nice! I'm going to Marlton twice a week for the No Boundaries program at the Fleet Feet store. Are you a runner? I'm always looking for other runners/wls people!

Thanks! I'm struggling with motivation right now. I really let the scale affect me, and I know I shouldn't. :biggrin: I'm playing around with the same two pounds for about two weeks now and it drives me mad! My third fill is in two weeks -- I hope that helps!

Wonderful! It feels so great to get out of a slump! :smile2:

I'm in Atlantic County. You? :thumbup:

Sorry! It was probably me! :thumbup:

Exciting -- thanks for making the spreadsheet! I'm going to be watching my Protein like a hawk this month! :thumbup:

Thanks so much, gang! I definitely need to do stuff like this (post videos or photos) when I'm not seeing movement on the scale -- keeps me motivated. I love looking at other folks' pics, too -- hint hint! :thumbdown: