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...

Hi guys I have been lurking and considering joining in.

I am 14 1/2 months out (April 2012) and I have not had any weight loss for 10 weeks. I think that it is partially that I have taken my eye off the ball. So listening to everyone doing the 5:2 it seems that it gets you to refocus.

I do not have a copy of the book but have I got the 'rules' right. You fast (500 calories) on 2 days of he week and eat 'normally' on the other 5 days. There should be a 12 hour gap before and after eating on fast days eg. If you have Breakfast at 7.00 am on a fast day then you should not eat after 7.00pm on the previous day and if your last fast meal is 8.00pm then you should not have breakfast before 8.00am on the morning after the fast day. A Q do you only have 2 meals on the fast day or can you have as many as you want so long as you o not exceed 500 calories? Also can you exercise on a fast day?

Thanks for any help/ advice you can offer

Cathy

there is some flexibility in how it is done. The idea is it takes about 8 hours to use up the calories from your last meal... so anything after that gives the body a rest, and starts to convert energy from body fat. The way you said would work fine. You can get more details here: http://www.52fastdiet.co.uk/index.php?sid=951444da3ecc9484188abbd29627957a

I have my last meal/snack on a normal day at around 8pm or so...I have breakfast (Protein drink 8am), cut up veggies and hummus for lunch(11:30am) and a higher protein dinner with over half of the calories(6-7pm). I then stop eating till the following morning- regular day. It is working for me so far, I am only one week out. Some people only have dinner on fast day and use all the calories at once. You can exercise on fast days, you can read more about it at the 52fastdiet site. I still count calories and protein on regular days, and prepare my food for fast day the night before so I don't have to make it up as I go along in the face of a little hunger.

Oops no time for melancholically! When I struggle with this I reframe it to being totally grateful for dropping some lbs. it doesn't really make since at time and can be totally overwhelming. But you got this !

Ok I'm over myself a bit now. I don't know what was going on this morning. It's funny I stepped on that scale intending to see a gain after two days of celebrations only to see one of the biggest losses I've had since starting this.

I don't know I just lost it and cried it just was confusing this whole thing is confusing somedays!

Anyway I got out and faced the day wearing something I bought a couple of days ago in a smaller size.

A little sun some deep breathing and some shopping/ errand running put me back into the right frame of mind!

Today is a fast day, weighed this morning and still at 191.2, so I didn't "gain" back after my NORM day. Tomorrow I start traveling so I will be fasting unintentionally (military travelling-don't ask), I'll be living off some protein bars for at least 3 days.

I'm in ...thanks for the accountability!

I'm in ...thanks for the accountability!

Hi Unshakled! Welcome!

Quick question... are you talking about the 5:2 diet some of us are trying out right now? You were sleeved in March? I don't think the people here would recommend the 5:2 for fresh sleevers.... the sleeve will do a lot of the work for you during the "honeymoon phase"(first year) Most everyone here is over a year and have not reached goal yet....or is very close to it and slowed down to a crawl. Let us be the lab rats for this, and when you get to a year, if it has worked for us, you can jump in then! I am not your mom, or your Dr or Nut, but Im sure they would tell you the same thing...just my 2 cents. Best of luck to you, the sleeve is great and accountability is the best tool in the box!

Birthday Saturday AND Sunday with the folks. Had two pieces of cake on sunday, but only went over cal goal by about 300.... not THAT off track for a birthday treat..and yummy. Did wake up with a 2 pound bounce. I am changing my "recover" day from T-T to M-Ths... spread them out a little bit more. Its funny, I kinda missed the recovery day over the weekend. Off to work...

Hi y'all. I've been lurking for a while & I am joining the 5:2. I am 13 months out. Approximately 22 pounds from goal. I was stuck from January to May when I had my corset trunkplasty. I dropped almost 20 pounds after surgery (he removed 12 pounds) & I am still holding probably 3-4 pounds of swelling. The last week I am back to not losing weight so I want to try this & see if it keeps things moving. I will be doing fast days on Mondays and Wednesdays. I really want to get to goal.

Kristie

FYE... defo going to join you next week on the Mon and Thurs slots for fasting... feels like too long in between, but will stick with it for this week!

Coops and FYE, I agree. Might do 4:3 this week just to see if I like for a while til get back to goal. Like FYE, I'm liking the fact that I consciously eat less and can't eat more on NF days and logging everything has really kept on track. Good week to all. Lets do this !

And Kristie, welcome!

I am going to join in on this for the 4:3 days. I have a high bounce of a couple of lbs and it's frightening. I got in my head that I was in maintenance and everything went to heXX! So back on track. I know I can't relax on this ever. So tuesday, thursday and saturday will be my fasting days.....Got my hubby doing this too. He read the article on how this could help diabetes and he couldn't eat dinner that night, came home, drank water, didn't use his insulin and woke up the next morning with bs levels at 88. He's in now. Yayyyyyyyyyyy! Thank you so much. Now let's see if I can get back on track...

I really like the word "bounce" because that's what a normal weighted person does with their weight! It's not like they are 123 every flipping day of the week!

On that note I'm going to stick with the 5:2 over the 4:3 and at the moment and keep it at Tuesday, Thursday. I actually thought about Monday and Thursday to spread it out at bit but then I realized that tues & Thursday incorporate Wednesday a bit too. And there is something about that continuous flow that I think I like..

Ms skinniness wonderful about your husband!

I read a little about that and I think it's great if it works!

One of the reasons I had the sleeve was to get healthy enough to get off my high blood pressure meds even with them it wasn't being controlled very well my weight loss is good but being off the meds is GREAT! I don't have the impending doom type feeling of "I'm going to die anytime now" and that's is an awesome thing:)

I am going to join in on this for the 4:3 days. I have a high bounce of a couple of lbs and it's frightening. I got in my head that I was in maintenance and everything went to heXX! So back on track. I know I can't relax on this ever. So tuesday, thursday and saturday will be my fasting days.....Got my hubby doing this too. He read the article on how this could help diabetes and he couldn't eat dinner that night, came home, drank Water, didn't use his insulin and woke up the next morning with bs levels at 88. He's in now. Yayyyyyyyyyyy! Thank you so much. Now let's see if I can get back on track...

FYI- Research from the 5:2 website says:

For people who choose to fast more often:

* The weekly loss doing 4:3 is pretty much the same as with 5:2 at around 1lb per week (158 users)

and the 5:2 is easier to stick to.

FYI- Research from the 5:2 website says:

For people who choose to fast more often:

* The weekly loss doing 4:3 is pretty much the same as with 5:2 at around 1lb per week (158 users)

and the 5:2 is easier to stick to.

That is wild. I think the effect of fasting is what is working here, as the calories saved are not driving this if the outcomes are the same for 5:2 and 4:3. This is one of the reasons I do 18:8s on my fast days. Working well so far -- I'm at the end of my third fast day. I rely on eggs, dairy and chicken together with raw veg on these days... :-)

It's crazy to just lose 1 lb weekly whether it 5:2 or 4:3. I'm going to stick to the 5:2 days. I've also been learning about the role our Leptin Hormones that are our fat burning hormones play on our systems. Check this site and tell me what you thing.

http://www.thefatburninghormone.com/30-sec-trick2/?SID=23foods-dwnld-ar&Referer=http%3A%2F%2Fus-mg6.mail.yahoo.com%2Fneo%2Flaunch%3F.rand%3D131430244%26action%3DshowLetter%26umid%3D2_0_0_1_11404659_AE1K2kIAAKrwUaizugKTvHYci7E%26box%3DInbox&e=0

It's crazy to just lose 1 lb weekly whether it 5:2 or 4:3. I'm going to stick to the 5:2 days. I've also been learning about the role our Leptin Hormones that are our fat burning hormones play on our systems. Check this site and tell me what you thing.

http://www.thefatburninghormone.com/30-sec-trick2/?SID=23foods-dwnld-ar&Referer=http%3A%2F%2Fus-mg6.mail.yahoo.com%2Fneo%2Flaunch%3F.rand%3D131430244%26action%3DshowLetter%26umid%3D2_0_0_1_11404659_AE1K2kIAAKrwUaizugKTvHYci7E%26box%3DInbox&e=0

Love videos and cartoons! Right up my alley when it comes to learning! I agree with some of what he was saying in the beginning especially about changing up the calories because that's what the 5:2 is doing also. That's why I wondered after the first fast and eating somewhat normally the days after if I had been to strict with eating the same calorie, Protein carb ratio for the last umpteen months...

oh and eating whole foods I'm doing that for the most part because I'm lazy and hate cooking. So when I eat chicken it's usually just from a chicken that I boil once a week..

They lost me when they tried to sell me something though.....