I haven't been on here much at all the last 4 or 5 months. No need to beat a dead horse but as so many are saying, some of the posts just got old. I am not sure if it is the same when I started this journey almost 2 years ago or not. I read every word a vet offered and was so grateful for all of them. I am 8 weeks post lower body lift / arm lift and struggling a bit with my food addiction and just this morning I thought "Hey I am 18 months post-op RNY. I qualify for Vet forum posting!" So anyway just thought I would pop in and say hello.

My struggle is either I will binge on bad foods or get busy and not eat enough. I am still so very thankful for the miracle of WLS but I definitely need to figure out the "healthy living" part of it all and switch my focus off the actual weight (though that is much easier to say after finally losing my last 10 pounds of stinking swelling after plastics).

Anywho, thought checking back in might be just what the Dr ordered and as @InnerSurferGirl has suggested before, perhaps it is tine for me to investigate OA...

Hope all is well with you all!!

Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

glad to see you back - I was just thinking about you today. i'll send you a PM

Welcome back! The forums aren't the same as they were a year or two ago...which is why we have the private vet's forum now. A bit of a haven.

I'm only 3 week post plastics and I'm fighting the swelling. Weight keeps swinging up and down. I'm not paying much mind to the scale since I can see and feel the swelling. Only time will help. I'm itching to get back to exercise but simply working 4 hours right now wears me out. I go back full-time next week which I'm sure will wipe me out.

Entering this third year has been interesting. I noticed a few bad habits creeping back in so I'm trying to be more mindful. I used my plastic surgery as a "reset" time and went back to basics - even Protein shakes - because I was trying to get in as much protein as possible. I felt SO much better eating that way. No fast food. No junk. Just homemade meals and high-protein Snacks.

My husband and I are hoping to do another Whole30 on January 1. It is a lot of work but always helps tame my Sugar Dragon when it gets out of hand. Thankfully I've been really good the last 3 weeks so it shouldn't be too difficult to cut Protein Shakes out since they are the only sweets I've been eating besides apples.

What is your plan for getting back in control?

HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

what's this vet's forum? How long post-surgery do you have to be to be considered a vet? (I'm 18 months out - but not really feeling like a true vet yet)

@@KristenVSG2014 - I was told I should wait longer to do my plastics. I realize now that I probably should have (but have booked the next one for February so I am a bit hard headed). Having said that, I am not sure I have a real plan other than making sure I am meeting with my counselor regularly (which I wasn't able to do when I was away for plastics). I see her again Thursday and we have been talking about strategies, one of which was tracking. I was so faithful to it for probably 18 months (including pre-op) and I just cannot get back in to it. Some sort of mental block. I might look up Whole30 (I have heard of it but not fully sure on details). Something like that might help get me back in to healthy eating. Meanwhile, I am generally making sure to drink my Protein shake every day again (though I missed it today of course...) Appreciate the support. I know I will get back. Oh and BTW, I just last week and week before (7 and 8 weeks post-op) dropped the 10 pounds of swelling weight I had gained so definitely stay off the scale! It will only make you a anxious (or at least it did me).

@@catwoman7 - Your reply went in the Vet's forum. Not sure of the rules exactly but at one time this summer, I understand 18 months post-op was going to be the qualifier. Others can correct me if I am wrong, but my understanding was that all board members could see our posts but only those over 18 months could post / reply. @@LipstickLady - is that right?