Hi all,

I know I don't post on here as much as I would like but I do read posts almost daily. Many of you don't even know how much help you have been through my journey. I find it difficult to post replies without over thinking about saying the wrong thing. I will reach my 7 month post op date on the 21st of this month and have been at so many stalls lastings for 3 weeks plus lately. I started my journey at 220, my goal is 120 and I am currently at 162. I do my fitness pal and have begun obsessing at how much more I am eating than others and beating myself up about not being at 150 to the point of tears. My daily powerades and Gatorades make my carbs high but when I do the math over and over again I start to get frustrated because I feel like I barely eat but yet there it is in black and white alllll my calories for the day. Ugh. Today is my 2nd day going back to only liquids for the 5 day pouch test but I took bites of my sons meals both times I cooked supper so I obviously have no control so my goal is to keep on all liquids until I can truly say I did my FULL 2 days. I think I mostly am just wanting to share/vent or even update but I could use any advice you wonderful friends could give right now

I used to exercise at 3 days a week heavy. I have a trainer that I see at least once a week but my at home exercise has really slowed due to my sons schedule. I love the idea of diluting them though. What are your thoughts on skipping them all together if I in fact have a very lazy day?

I have no problem with dispensing with sports drinks all together, as long as you are getting all the hydration you need.

First, congratulations on your loss so far! 60 pounds is a great accomplishment, and I know you're feeling better. Gatorade has definite pros and cons. Obviously, the pros: If you exercise heavily, especially in the summer, you may want that extra sodium to help you stay hydrated. It tastes good. Cons: It tastes good because it's got a lot of sugar and some salt.

I agree with the poster above who suggested switching to Crystal Light or another sugar-free drink mix. I believe you will be able to meet your sodium needs (which are surprisingly small, by the way) with regular food at this point in your diet. If you eat any processed food at all, you're probably getting enough sodium in the form of salt--it's super hard NOT to get enough. I don't believe you need Gatorade to get that.

To stay hydrated, be sure you're consuming WATER--I like mine with Mio and some Torani sugar-free syrup added in (I make a kind of raspberry lemonade that I guzzle for ZERO calories). The salt and sugar in the Gatorade might not be "the" culprit in slowing your loss, but it might be making your body more susceptible to cravings for additional carbs--that's how that sugar thing works, right? When you eat it, your body begins to crave more of it.

I'm 100% sure you can do this! Taking bites of your son's supper isn't going to keep you from losing weight, ESPECIALLY if you plan those bites into your menu. It seems like maybe you're just tracking after the fact--do you plan ahead for what you're going to enjoy that day? Tracking is good if it's helpful for you, but I find that planning ahead is actually a bit more helpful for me, even at this stage (I'm at 15 months out, in maintenance), to be sure I'm getting the nutrients I need.

Hang in there--make a plan, ditch the sugar, and I'll bet you see that scale moving down almost immediately. We're here for you--keep us posted!

I'm with the others on the gatorade issue. My doctor and nutritionalist told me to only use Gatorade zero or preferably water. I find ice water in a glass more enjoyable than in a bottle. Also when I have times of thinking about food I find a project or something to keep me busy so I don't think about food. Seems to work well for me but I know everyone is different.

I would try to nix the Gatorade for a bit just to see how you are doing. I'm sure what your thinking is a lot of food, really isn't a lot of food. I'm not sure how much your consuming, but I eat about 800 calories and it's all food, no many protein drinks here. I'm not sure if were mfp friends but my screen name is steffo_2002 if you want to add me, as I have noticed there are a lot of people that skip meals, or drink a bunch of protein drinks, trust me I'm. It one of those people.

Remember to be kind to yourself. You have come a long way, and your life has changed a lot in the last 7 months.

Really giving a lot to think about. I love it. I will do this. Today is a much better day but reading these posts make it even better. Thank you!

Just as an aside... why so much Gatorade or Powerade? I've learned to be cynical thanks to a very eventful (former) career as a patient advocate. If the surgeon can't a) medically justify recommending those particular drinks' date=' or <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> offer an acceptable alternative, I'd be asking when he last went on a cruise or vacation on PepsiCo's dime?

But that's just me. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wacko.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

I have no problem with dispensing with sports drinks all together' date=' as long as you are getting all the hydration you need.[/quote']

Thanks for your thoughts! I think I'm going to do some research and in the mean time take a break from them

First' date=' congratulations on your loss so far! 60 pounds is a great accomplishment, and I know you're feeling better. Gatorade has definite pros and cons. Obviously, the pros: If you exercise heavily, especially in the summer, you may want that extra sodium to help you stay hydrated. It tastes good. Cons: It tastes good because it's got a lot of sugar and some salt.

I agree with the poster above who suggested switching to Crystal Light or another sugar-free drink mix. I believe you will be able to meet your sodium needs (which are surprisingly small, by the way) with regular food at this point in your diet. If you eat any processed food at all, you're probably getting enough sodium in the form of salt--it's super hard NOT to get enough. I don't believe you need Gatorade to get that.

To stay hydrated, be sure you're consuming WATER--I like mine with Mio and some Torani sugar-free syrup added in (I make a kind of raspberry lemonade that I guzzle for ZERO calories). The salt and sugar in the Gatorade might not be "the" culprit in slowing your loss, but it might be making your body more susceptible to cravings for additional carbs--that's how that sugar thing works, right? When you eat it, your body begins to crave more of it.

I'm 100% sure you can do this! Taking bites of your son's supper isn't going to keep you from losing weight, ESPECIALLY if you plan those bites into your menu. It seems like maybe you're just tracking after the fact--do you plan ahead for what you're going to enjoy that day? Tracking is good if it's helpful for you, but I find that planning ahead is actually a bit more helpful for me, even at this stage (I'm at 15 months out, in maintenance), to be sure I'm getting the nutrients I need.

Hang in there--make a plan, ditch the sugar, and I'll bet you see that scale moving down almost immediately. We're here for you--keep us posted![/quote']

Thank you so much for your reply!! I am super glad I posted

I'm with the others on the gatorade issue. My doctor and nutritionalist told me to only use Gatorade zero or preferably Water. I find ice water in a glass more enjoyable than in a bottle. Also when I have times of thinking about food I find a project or something to keep me busy so I don't think about food. Seems to work well for me but I know everyone is different.

I am going to give it up for a bit. Thank you!

I would try to nix the Gatorade for a bit just to see how you are doing. I'm sure what your thinking is a lot of food' date=' really isn't a lot of food. I'm not sure how much your consuming, but I eat about 800 calories and it's all food, no many Protein drinks here. I'm not sure if were mfp friends but my screen name is steffo_2002 if you want to add me, as I have noticed there are a lot of people that skip meals, or drink a bunch of Protein Drinks, trust me I'm. It one of those people.[/quote']

Many thanks!! Also for adding me on MFP. 800 is what I would like to avg but I get more around 1000 maybe quiting the sports drinks will make it possible.

Remember to be kind to yourself. You have come a long way' date=' and your life has changed a lot in the last 7 months.[/quote']

You're losing. That's the important thing' date=' right? How much and when are less important than the fact that you're losing. Try some of these things for the obsessing:

1. Write down the ruminating thought(s). Those repetitious phrases that echo round & round in your head, write them down.

2. On a scale of 1 to 100, rate how much you believe the thought to be true. (1 not at all, 100, totally)

3. Under that thought, write down anything - anything at all - that contradicts the thought.

4. Now write down as a percentage how much you struggled with these kind of thoughts before surgery & wls.

5. Carefully re-read everything you've written, and come to a conclusion about the repetitious thoughts.

6. Re-rate their accuracy based on the objective information you've gathered.

7. Visualize yourself shrinking the thought(s) into their proper perspective in relation to the truth of your life.

It takes mindfulness, but it works. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Lastly, I'd suggest you see a nutritionist if you're not already to discuss the "Always having a Gatorade in my hand" thing. Maybe this could maybe be translated into something more helpful (and healthful). You could also change up your exercise routine a bit (there's great suggestions in that forum) and you could try SuperBetter (as an app if you've got an iPhone or iPad, or online at www.superbetter.com if not) for encouragement and support.

Keep at it... setbacks and stalls are not failure. Giving up is.

CE[/quote']

This is really what I needed to read today. Than you so much for all the great advice.

Personally I think you look Fantastic!! Everybody here has already given all the advise you could need but I thought I would leave a note to say your doing great and you have come so far that you should enjoy life and your new look!

Take Care!

You're losing. That's the important thing, right? How much and when are less important than the fact that you're losing. Try some of these things for the obsessing:

1. Write down the ruminating thought(s). Those repetitious phrases that echo round & round in your head, write them down.

2. On a scale of 1 to 100, rate how much you believe the thought to be true. (1 not at all, 100, totally)

3. Under that thought, write down anything - anything at all - that contradicts the thought.

4. Now write down as a percentage how much you struggled with these kind of thoughts before surgery & wls.

5. Carefully re-read everything you've written, and come to a conclusion about the repetitious thoughts.

6. Re-rate their accuracy based on the objective information you've gathered.

7. Visualize yourself shrinking the thought(s) into their proper perspective in relation to the truth of your life.

It takes mindfulness, but it works.

Lastly, I'd suggest you see a nutritionist if you're not already to discuss the "Always having a Gatorade in my hand" thing. Maybe this could maybe be translated into something more helpful (and healthful). You could also change up your exercise routine a bit (there's great suggestions in that forum) and you could try SuperBetter (as an app if you've got an iPhone or iPad, or online at www.superbetter.com if not) for encouragement and support.

Keep at it... setbacks and stalls are not failure. Giving up is.

CE

Love this!! I may need to try this myself.