Shae

I'm in... SW: 186 CW: 186 GW: 175 This will put me 30 pounds from my ultimate goal of 145. That is still an "Overweight" BMI (I'm 5'2") but I look and feel my best at that weight (if I'm remembering right LOL!). It will also bust the statistic that you can only lose 55% to 60% of your excess weight because that will put me at 74% of the weight gone. Right now I'm at 64% gone.

I surpassed my goal by one pound. I hate that the weight loss has slowed down so drastically but at least I'm still going down. Besides, my skin seems to be keeping up with me for the most part and I don't have a ton of loose skin everywhere, just a little here and there. I'll take the slow pace if it means not needing plastic surgery once I reach goal. I just hope it stays that way and I don't wake up one day with droopy skin all over!

I'm in... Challenge start weight: 197 lbs Current Weight: 197 lbs Easter Goal Weight: 187 lbs

I made it!!!!!!!!!!! I weighed this morning and I am 197.2 lbs!!!!!! Yay!

After talking with my doctor and my pharmacist, the dosage of the medicines were changed. My Strattera increased and the Lamictal is the same mg but given as two time released pills rather than one. I should have thought of this because I have to take two 20mg nexium rather than a 40. Weird how it works but it works. I take them at the same time. I'm feeling like myself again. Thanks to all for the advice.

Checking in: SW: 212 GW: 197 CW: 200 Onderland Here I Come!!!!!!!!!!! I believe that I will make this challenge!

Bryn and Dorrie, Thank you so much for your words as they describe me to a Tee!! Especially the part about self sabotage for no apparent reason. I guess it's sort of like I'm scared to be a normal weight person. I spoke to my husbaqnd yesterday and was telling him some of the things I was struggling with. He sort of gets it but having only had the problem of not being able to gain weight, he can only understand at a topical level. I find myself eating when I'm not hungry (not bad foods, low fat cheeses, fruits, lunch meats, veggies, etc) and eating faster so I can get more in (devil be damned the consequences of feeling miserable for a few hours). Sometimes I think I must be half insane because no sane person would do this to themselves. I just don't know how to stop. I finally found a support group in my area but I have to wait until Feb. 9 for the first meeting. Although, unless someone else has found a solution or at least some tricks that worked for them, what good does misery sharing company actually do? I'm at a loss here as to how to combat the issue, especially since we know what we are doing is bad for us but seem helpless to stop. Just know that you are not alone and that if I find anything to help me, I will certainly share it just in case it could help you too.

I am experiencing the same issue. I have found that Olay In-Shower Moisturizer works wonderfully. I even use it on my face without breaking out.It's fairly inexpensive, convenient and available in an auto-ship from Amazon. I swear by it because I just don't have time to lather up with lotion in the morning after my shower so I just do it in the shower. I agree that we are eating way, way less fatty, greasy foods that use to keep our skin lubed up (acne prone for some of us). They also caused internal issues that we no longer have to worry about! Yay US! But Water intake is a factor as well. The more we get, the better we look.

I have an appointment on Feb. 7 to discuss my meds. I don't crush, chew, or open any of my meds and the Strattera only comes in a time release capsule. As far as I know, any ADD medicine for adults is in tme released form. I will talk to my doc and see what my options are. Maybe since I am not digesting enough of the medicine, I may need to have the dosage increased. Thanks to all of you for the input!!

I tried searching for this but have found nothing on this site... Does anyone notice that their medications are affecting them differently? I am almost three months out and am noticing some things that could be the result of my meds. I take Lamictal 200 XR. It is a seizure medication but it was prescribed to me for it's off label use as a mood stabilizer. Pre-surgery, it was my magic little pill. As time passes it seems that it is becoming less and less effective. Could it be that maybe I am not absorbing it as well as before or not as much as before? My emotions are swinging more and more often and with broader swings. I also take Strattera for my ADD. Pre-surgery, the dosage was great. Now, I feel scattered and almost the same as I did before I started taking it. Again, maybe I'm not getting all the medication? Both of these are timed release medicines and I wonder if the sleeve causes them to release more slowly and then "get rid of" the rest that was not digested. I know these are questions for my doctor but I thought that maybe someone had experience with timed release medications. Any insight would help.

I have the same issues but label mine as a food addiction. I am (still) looking for a psychiatrist in my area that works with food addicts. Do you have anyone around that can distract you when you feel this way? My husband has been through the ringer with me getting upset when he asks me if I'm hungry or if I just need a fix. It's difficult to deal with and I have no answers as of yet. I know what you are going through and it is not fun to want to eat all the time when you know that you shouldn't. Sometimes, thinking of my hospital stay (which was not a good experience) is a good deterrant... other times I try to go for a drive or go sit outside. I have discovered (rediscovered) that I love working puzzles. They work as a distraction almost too well. I don't think of anything else except the puzzle - not eating, drinking, going potty, cooking dinner, appointments, etc. If you can find a distraction, that may help sometimes but I would recommend seeing a professional that can help with therapy.

So I bought some sugar free candies to have a "sweet fix" without getting all the carbs. But the package counts sugar alcohol as carbs. Are these carbs the same as regular carbs as far as weight loss is concerned or do they only affect your blood sugar differently? I guess a better question would be if I am trying to stay below 40g of carbs a day, do I count these as part of that total?

I would love to hear some responses too.

My switch, unfortunately, did not shut off. I have times where I catch myself eating even though my sleeve is not hungry or drinking with a meal so that it goes down better and I can have more. I still think about food a lot. Granted, I think about it less in that I don't think about supper when I'm eating lunch but about an hour after eating, I am thinking about it again. If I feel like I didn't pack enough lunch and Snacks for work I get anxious and think about it all day. I get anxious about what and where we will eat if we have a shopping day planned. I could go on and on... I am both happy for and envious of those of you who had your switch turned off. I think my weight loss would be further along right now had mine been removed.

Fighting it works most of the time but not always and it works less and less. I guess I have to find a way to fight it that works. I try to do something with my hands or go for a drive. I recently started putting puzzles together and it is helping a bit. I get angry with anyone who says "Are you really hungry or are you just craving that?". It's very frustrating when you know that your behavior is destructive but feel helpless to stop it.