stcyt

okay... I know it seems like a weird thing to be happy about.... but I'm thrilled. I have been a painfully slow looser since surgery. The most I ever lost in a month was 10lbs (one memorable month). I work out 2x per day most days... yoga (harder and more intense than it sounds) and weights. I also hike and bike and almost never watch tv. I eat mostly Protein and my calories stay between 600-1100 per day. My loss has slowed to the point where I loose about 1/2 lb per week (some weeks its a whole lb!). I am .1 bmi points away from being "normal" still, and would like to loose 20 more lbs to end at a bmi of 21. I had come to accept that that might never happen, and that if it was going to happen in would take me 8 mos or so (to loose 20 lbs post gastric sleeve.... seriously!!!!). Its been depressing but I reached a place of acceptance. Got my 3 month labs done (I know I know... I'm 5 months post op) and everything looks fabulous... great Iron, b12, D etc. Only thing is I have hypothyroidism. We are going to check again in 1 month... but if its truly hypo... that exlains my slow loss, and if I get on some meds that last 20lbs will more than likely come right off. So.... I guess I'm excited about the news that my thyroid isnt functioning well. has anyone started thyroid medecine post op???? how did it affect your weight loss?

Its hard to want to be intimate if you don't feel sexy. I am not married, but I didn't even date anyone for about 10 years (yes... 10 years without it... till last night hehehe). I was "only" 50lbs overweight and I'm tall so I carried it pretty well....I was persued by some men who where definately great guys... but I just couldn't do it. I was just too disgusted with myself. I started dating someone recently.... fantastic guy and I feel so sexy now. I know he's looking at me and thinking I look good. There is no better feeling. I just can't do it if I feel like a bumpy lump. stacey

Good for you.... Amazing amount of weight to loose. I know what you mean about the sex appeal comming back. Mine is just starting to resurface (it feels great) by the way.... your english is great!!!! stacey

Thanks for posting. I'm at 5 months and I wonder alot where I will be at 7 and 9 and 11 months. I hope, like you, I can continue to loose slowly. I get very scared sometimes the the loss will stop. This month I only lost 3 lbs and I worked out like crazy (maybe I'm gaining muscle mass). I have 19lbs to loose and its soo soo stubborn. The problem is, I work really really hard, follow all the rules, exercise all the time.... and still only 3lb loss in 4 weeks. I am worried.... what if I slip even a little.... I might not loose at all. Well.... anyway.... enough about my stuff. Your doing great!!!! Even just a little exercise will go a long way. Just start slow.... don't push yourself to the point of pain... I believe exercise is about feeling good. take care... you'll be at goal before you know it stacey

Atkins makes a shake that is "latte" flavored. I just had to have something warm and coffee like in the mornings so I heated those in the microwave. At about 1 week I started drinking starbucks soy latte's. The soy milk was rich and soothing. If its the pick me up your missing... maybe try some green tea? Whatever you do clear it with your doc 1st. Good luck.... I know life is hard without coffee

I'm a lightweight and a slow looser too. I am almost 5 months out and haven't lost any hair, so maybe your right .... but.... my hair is really dry and feels like straw... no matter how much conditioner I use. My hairdresser told me yesterday to start fish oil supplements and start putting flax seed oil on everything. I hope it helps.

Hi sayray don't panic yet. Its pretty normal to be hungry in the begining. I was sooo hungry on liquids. Once you are on solid foods everything will even out and you'll have restriction. When I was on liquids I just felt like my body wasn't getting any nourishment. That being said.... FOLLOW YOUR DOCS INSTRUCTIONS.... its hard but so worth it int the end to have a good outcome. Once I was cleared for full liquids I pureed stuff so that my body could get what it needed.... The most satisfying thing I ate was 1/2 baked sweet potato 1/4 c. milk 1 scoop chiken flavored

I've heard alot of different things. The most consistant thing I've heard is 800, but really, your doc would give you the best input here. I eat between 700 and 1200 per day... depending on the level of activity. I have started lifting weights and feel the need to "recover" some days. I think varying caloric intake can help with stalls too. Some people seem to really love the low carb route... I don't feel well when I restrict carbs so I eat some complex carbs like steel cut oatmeal and sweet potatos. I really think though... if you don't want to count every ounce.... if you just follow the rule of Protein first...then veggies, you'll do fine. good luck stacey

Awe globetrotter... I hate to hear about your struggle. I know exactly where you are... it sucks so bad when that mindset creeps in. I can't weigh because I'm devestated all the time. I start feeling defeated fairly frequently... but.... when its all said and done... I continue to loose weight.... slowly.... but it goes. I promise, if you just keep plugging along it will happen. Sometimes I think its hard for us to take in the reality that we are going to be successful... most of us have had so many failures by this point. I agree about upping the calories though... my weight loss seems to slow when I don't eat enough. Hang in there. Stacey

I've thought about the lips.... how great to always be rosey. Was it very expensive? stacey

I'll be curious to hear what others have to say. I too like protien bars but most are loaded with sugar. I eat atkins bars alot. they are very low carb.... but I'm kind of sick of them. I don't even mind the carbs... I just dont want the sugar. good luck stacey

I think its really normal. I toyed with the idea for a bit... thought I would get the band becaue of the reversability...then learned about the band complications and settled on VSG. That night I had horrible nightmares about my stomach being cut out of my body in the most gruesome fashion. I wouldnt trade it for the world now.... but yes... I had some trepedation.

WOW JANE... you did it!!!! You must be so happy. Well done!!!!! you deserve it stacey

hey feedyoureye... thanks for the input. Its nice to know that the sleeve and vegetarianism can be compatable. Stacey

On the contrary... I think I'm kinda weird for being freaked by it. I just can't really help it. On a rational level it makes perfect sense to me.... its my gut that has a reaction to it.

I get to feeling kind of lethargic sometimes and when that happes I reflect on what I've been eating and I usually come to the conclusion that I'm not eating enough. Particularly not enough carbs. I add some calories and start feeling much better. I hope your strategy works. take care stacey

yea... I'm going to check out the seitan and your recepies. Thanks tiff

I hate hate hate stalls. I'm sorry you guys are dealing with it (i had to get rid of the scale because it was so upsetting). Stalls make me absolutly crazy.... but I promise... after all the distress and fears of failure... you will still loose weight. Maybe not fast... but you'll loose. My hope is that in a year we will all look back at our posts where we talked about our fear of failure and have a good laugh at ourselves. Now.... next time I weigh myself I will probably post that I am a failure and that I wil never loose all the weight.... you guys will have to set me straight. hang in there..... we'll be laughing this time next year stacey

thanks tiffiykins.... I think I'm going to try a little asian flare.... I guess I'll see how I do stacey

okay.... I know nothin from nothin when it comes to cooking. :biggrin2: I bought this great organic mix at the farmers market. Its like a dried Soup mix or something. The guy said just stick it in the crockpot with some spices and enjoy a great source of organic plant Protein. Sounds great but what the heck kind of spices. :confused1: It contains: Barley wild rice oats lentils green peas yellow peas adzuke Beans mung beans anasazi beans Any ideas how to make this delicious? thanks stacey

I got that way off and on for about 6 weeks. I think I just wasn't taking in enough nourishment. Now I eat more... not too much more... but I am learning about what my body needs and getting better at listening to myself. Also its easier to eat than it was in the begining. Eventually all that weakness and dizzyness goes away... hang in there stacey

I don't know the answer, but I really don't see why not. There is no malabsorption problem and you can eventually get all your nutrients from food. You might try pm ing tiffykins.... if I understand correctly, one of the reasons she got the sleeve is because she wanted to have a healthier pregnancy. shes a wealth of info and I bet she knows a lot on this topic. good luck stacey

my family own a cattle ranch LOL!!!! I remember my parents quit taking me to the pasture when I was pretty young, and I was never allowed to go to acutions like my sisters because I became too distraught.... the thanksgiving when my dad shot a deer and had blood stains in the bed of his truck and I wouldn't come out of my room still provides a great deal of laughter for my family at holidays. That and the thanksgiving when I was in college living in a vegitarian co-op and we invited our families to a meal of tofu turkey and miso gravy (individual turkeys sculped from tofu... with a corn chip stuck in the top like a rooster) I'll probably eat fish... havent had that type of reaction to shimp and salmon yet. I suppose thats good, because I do really worry about my Protein intake. thanks stacey

thanks.... man o man my triceps need some attention

I get the plain chobani yogart and add my own fruit. I'm scared that there's extra sugar and stuff in those ones that have fruit already in it. Am I just being neurotic?????