Hello fellow sleevers,

just thought I would start a thread for all those who want to get to goal in 2012, regardless of where we are in the process.

I posted it the 'Slow Loser' thread, because that is what I am!! (I am not complaining by the way, just pleased to be a loser...lol)

For me to get there, I know that at 18mths out I need to be strict, accountable and have support from those in the same 'place', who understand that the sleeve isn't a miracle but a tool.

I have done well so far, but the weight hasn't 'melted' off me and since 6mths post op I have had to fight for each and every pound. At first it made me a little bitter, frustrated and I started to get into a 'dark place' about it, now the scale victory tastes sooooo sweet!

I have taken the month of December 'off'... I needed to rest from the constant worry of food, cals, water, carbs and protein... my head was spinning and I was starting to feel very frustrated and overwhelmed at not being at goal again. I needed time out!

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas period and I have eaten what I wanted and when I wanted it; this includes ALL foods, no food was off limit and I let my sleeve do its job! The quantity was low but I still enjoyed every mouthful. Interestingly, I found that my cravings were satisified very quickly... 1 or 2 biscuits/sweets, and so on, hit the spot, instead of 5,6,7,... you get the picture. Subconscious damage limitation? I don't know but I like it!

I have learnt a lot by doing this. I now know that I can eat a little more if I 'try'... I know that I can enjoy food again without feeling guilty and I know that food doesn't have to be the enemy. So, with all that, what was the outcome? Yep, I have gained 2lbs above my personal bounce! Oops!

I am not, in the slightest, worried about this because I KNOW what is the cause... sugar and salt! And this time, I am sure it will come off as quick as it went on!

So, what is the plan?

Per my surgeon's instructions: I am going back to basics... yep that ole one...lol

• 3 meals a day - no snacking.
  
• Weighing my meals between 6-8oz depending on what is on the plate.
  
• Protein first, followed by veggies.
  
• Plenty of water.
  
• A limit of 1000 cals a day.
  
• Continue with my exercise - boxing twice a week, gym in work 1-2 times a week (depending on work load) and walking my dog (just over a 2 mile circuit). The exercise is the only thing that I have stuck to in December... I actually enjoy it now!!
  

As a side note, and I ain't sure if my American friends can get this, but here in the Uk, on SKY there are a few fitness channels. I have recorded some aerobic workouts that are really good... they're free and can be done at home... this is saving me some money on classes and DVDs and if I don't like the workout I can delete and look for another!! Bonus!!

Ok, who is ready to join me on the final stretch to goal... hope on board and enjoy the ride my friends...

thanks ladies... I have an appointment with the doc on weds, booked it over three weeks ago! I will let you know what he says.

Meg - how did you overcome the thyroid problem? What other symptoms did you have/ are you having?

Lack of energy? Sleeplessness? Crap skin/hair/nails?

Hey Coops, yes to all symptoms--total lack of energy (felt like BLAH all the time), nails splitting, hair falling out by the handfuls. Underactive thyroid is one of the easiest medical conditions to treat--one tiny pill once a day. I take Synthroid every morning; generic, levothyroxine, is only $4 here on my plan, but my doc recommended that I stick to the name brand for better consistency in potency and formulation--it's still only $20 a month, which is the only prescription I have now that I've dropped the weight. Thyroid issues are FAST to diagnose, too; the blood work is easy. Just be sure that you request a "complete thyroid panel," not just a plain old TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), because sometimes only one part of the thyroid equation is out of whack, and the TSH doesn't always show that by itself.

thanks Meg,

I will defo put this forward when I see him tomorrow. The difference in body temp is really weird, it is like my thermostat is broken. One minute I am sweating and so hot I could be plugged in to the heating and the next minute I am freezing cold and basically feel so depleted of energy that I am like a floppy fish! Very strange sensation...

The worse thing - well apart from feeling exhausted all the time - is my hair

Lets hope that there is 'something' underlying that can account for this - I don't want to be 'ill' but I am certainly not right either... if that makes sense.

Coops. did you get your test back? My docs have been getting my thyroid tested for years, thinking something is wrong, but it never shows anything. I wonder if they did the broader panel.... Ill have to check....

thanks Meg,

I will defo put this forward when I see him tomorrow. The difference in body temp is really weird, it is like my thermostat is broken. One minute I am sweating and so hot I could be plugged in to the heating and the next minute I am freezing cold and basically feel so depleted of energy that I am like a floppy fish! Very strange sensation...

The worse thing - well apart from feeling exhausted all the time - is my hair

Lets hope that there is 'something' underlying that can account for this - I don't want to be 'ill' but I am certainly not right either... if that makes sense.

Hey beautiful woman! I'm looking forward to seeing your test results. We need some answers here too. we need to get on the right track to good health and dropping some weight......

Well, I went to see the doc, had a lil chat and apparently I had my thyroid tested in May and it was 'normal' but he didn't expand on that. I have to go for more bloods in the morning... they are doing a screening for hormones, thyroid and Vitamins. It will take a few days to come back and I have to book another appointment with him to discuss the results; so, probably in about 2 weeks time! The time waiting is so frustrating!

In the mean time I am not doing well at all. The sweats - hot and cold - are so debilitating! I feel weak and really unhealthy at the moment. my sleep pattern is awful and I wake up from 2 -6 times a night, each time I am covered in sweat. Awful!

i will let you know what happens... in between, if anyone has any ideas, please share them 'cos I feel like I am sinking! =/

i will let you know what happens... in between, if anyone has any ideas, please share them 'cos I feel like I am sinking! =/

I used over the counter progesterone cream every evening before bed... it took a couple of months, but my hot flashes went away... as well as broken sleeping habits, strange thought patterns...

this is the book I read to get the info... http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/0446671444

I see he also has an updated version, and another book on details...

that you are going through all this. I like feedyoureye's OTC cream. This is so frustrating that the medical profession can't find anything wrong.

blood tests are taken! The nurse had plenty too... felt a lil shaky afterwards! The results will be back in around 5 days. I have to ring at the end of the week to book an appointment with the doc to discuss options, whether they flag up anything or not!

FYE - I will have a look at that book - it is pay day soon, so I might indulge!! Thanks =]

Skinny-friend (lol) thanks for all your support... I think I would have crumbled by now if it wasn't for this thread! *hugs* (in welsh *cwtches*)

Healing energy coming your way! Can you view your blood test results on the website for your insurance. I have Kaiser and I can access my blood tests as they are done..... I love that function. Today I had a CT done on my abdominal area. I have pain in my left side and I think it is an adhesion. My left side is painful when I'm full and I have a pain in my back on the left side. will find out either tomorrow by my primary or next week from a surgeon whom I can't stand that is so arrogant..... I hope i don't need an endoscopy. The x-tech told me her sister had weight loss surgery, went out and bougth a brand new car and 2 weeks after the surgery, she threw a blood clot and died. This made me so thankful to be here.

Hey Coops,

I'm having hot flashes, too--it's the PITS. I seem to only have them during the night and after I blow-dry my hair in the morning--I guess the heat from the dryer sets one off? The worst are the ones at night--and I have more than 10 a night. I know this because I wake up every hour--as soon as I wake up, I feel a sort of odd fluttering in my stomach, and then I get a wave of heat that washes over me. I take off the covers and it dissipates in probably 15-20 minutes, but seriously--I totally understand the drained, frustrated feeling from lack of sleep. I still don't sweat with them, and I don't know why except that I just don't seem to sweat much at all any more, not even when working seriously hard. I confess that I consider that a solid benefit of weight loss, this being cold all the time during the day, but I wish things would even out!! I freeze all day and burn up all night. Yuck.

I've been trying some herbal stuff for a few days, but it isn't really working yet. I think I'm going to ask my PCP for a script for some topical hormonal cream to see if that can help. My brain isn't functioning really well these days--sleep deprivation!

I am not having hot flashes per se, but my sleep disturbances have gotten ridiculous. I am waking up for hours in the night time and I'm EXHAUSTED and overly emotional. Need to get some hormonal support...! My Gyn says I'm not actually in menopause...okay, fine, but I'm certainly knocking on the door. UGH NEED HELP!

Healing energy coming your way! Can you view your blood test results on the website for your insurance. I have Kaiser and I can access my blood tests as they are done..... I love that function. Today I had a CT done on my abdominal area. I have pain in my left side and I think it is an adhesion. My left side is painful when I'm full and I have a pain in my back on the left side. will find out either tomorrow by my primary or next week from a surgeon whom I can't stand that is so arrogant..... I hope i don't need an endoscopy. The x-tech told me her sister had weight loss surgery, went out and bougth a brand new car and 2 weeks after the surgery, she threw a blood clot and died. This made me so thankful to be here.

Hey Skinny... nah, I can't access any of my records online... I don't have private insurance... here in the UK we have the NHS... it is a little different to the US. I nearly peed myself when I read about the x-tech's sister... I am hoping to change my car soon - I hope that isn't an omen!

Ladies, thanks for letting me know that I am not alone in this ... I haven't had a good nights sleep since August and it is taking its toll on me. I just feel so crappy all the time, even my 12 yr old son asked me if I was ok!! Whe I asked him why he said that, he just said that 'you're not yourself mam, you're quiet!' - bless him... I must be different for my kids to notice.

On the topic of kids, my daughter, who is 14, is off to New York tomorrow... Can't tell you how envious I am! She is there for 5 days with her school... she has such a jammed packed schedule - the whole trip is simply going to be amazing!

Meg & Swizzly - doesn't it drive you crazy! With the lack of sleep, do you find your body aches and is sluggish! I have no energy and I haven't exercised for weeks... not good. I am also waking up really thirsty... I must drink at least a pint of Water through the night! That doesn't help cos I need to get up to pee! A vicious circle!

We break up for half term tomorrow... a week off work - well at least a week away from the school. I have some marking to do, but I intend to take things easy - in saying that, I might try a session at the boxing gym, to see how my back manages.

Is anyone eating more? Over the last week or so, I am starting to get hungry! I don't think it is head hunger. I think I am eating more too... I don't want to go back to weighing everything, but I need to keep an eye on portion sizes... am I on my own with this?

I know I have said it before, but I really can't believe that I have been in a stall for a year... especially when there is more of me to go... there is defo fat left on me that I really don't want to carry around anymore.

I really don't know what to do or to change to get things moving... it is really weird, and my doc seemed surprised too! Oh well, at least I am not gaining - just bouncing 2-4lbs up and down and up and down... I suppose that means the scale is moving...hahahahaaa!! Ok, so that wasn't that funny, but if I don't laugh I will cry!

Coops -- yes, it drives me mad on a daily basis. I HATE doing without my sleep. I feel...*grim* all the time, with bouts of downright temporary depression on top of it. It is awful.

I have been taking a single tablet of Excedrin PM (I got it in the US) the past two nights and that has helped. But I know I can't rely on it longer term. Maybe I will just use it here and there to try and get like six hours of sleep in a row at least once or twice a week.

As for the diet/exercise part... Well, I have been hungry the entire time, my appetite never went away. It's not head hunger (I don't know what that is, apart from the desire to eat a naughty snack when I'm stressed and tired, and then it's clear I'm not actually hungry, just snacky and agitated), it's just regular old hunger. That said, I have been following this blog: marksdailyapple.com on the advice of a good friend who is also a doctor, and I've subsequently eliminated wheat from my diet (it's been about a month now) and upped the amount of fat I eat. I have not cut out sugar or wine, maybe they're next on the list, but not yet. Baby steps!! But just with cutting out wheat, I've felt much better than I did before. And by adding in a lot more fat, I feel more satiated by food and my hair and skin have gotten a bit better as well. I've lost 2kg since I started this, so...let's see where it goes. (Oh, I also read a book called Wheat Belly [like a beer belly, but caused by wheat...very interesting as well], which makes a lot of pretty wild claims about wheat, but also makes a bit of sense too.) My stomach has gotten flatter from all this without me doing any particular abdominal work. I admit that I've been eating a whole lot of chocolate lately -- way more than I ever did pre-op, so that's quite odd. It's my single biggest vice these days, apart from too many glasses of wine a few times a month. And yet, I still suddenly dropped 2kg after not losing (and also gaining a bit here and there) for months.

Also: I've been having bowel problems (since before surgery, but have gotten worse since then), and I happened across this book called Fiber Menace (SOOOO counterintuitive that I had a hard time even believing it at all...!!) and have also been drastically reducing the amount of fiber in my diet (particularly indigestible fibers). IT HAS HELPED ME SO MUCH. I honestly can't believe the difference.

So between those two things, it is offsetting the perimenopausal/sleep-issue things a bit. Thank god!! I should add that both the wheat elimination and the fiber reduction took some time to take effect, and both had a difficult phase where things got worse before they got better. But I'm becoming a believer on both of these. (Also, my grandmother is celiac, so a gluten sensitivity might be a factor as well, though I've not been tested for that.)

Oh -- and the paleo/primal thing (like the MDA blog above) also gives some really good insights about exercise and how much we actually need, and what kinds. It has changed how I obsess about the gym...! Good stuff, at least good food for thought and new things to try.