One thing I've noticed reading this board for a while, is that we've all got a lot of valuable insight. Some amazing success stories here. Some amazing works in progress. Really good people with some terrific advice.

But we all have a lot of prejudices, too, about what works and what doesn't, and what would really help people if they only listened! LOL

And there is nothing quite like being on a stall, or being hungry, or learning to cope without your favorite lifelong coping mechanism....to make you grouchy and indignant about why people stubbornly won't listen.

Can we agree that not even the doctors have this crap figured out to any kind of consensus?

Some of us have had terrific success with eating keto. Some of us eat a buttload of carbs and do great.

Some of us are exercise maniacs. Some of us are working hard to get to 5000 steps a day.

Some of us won't touch a taboo empty calorie treat food...because it's a slippery slope that shouldn't be tempted. Some of us feel the need to master eating taboo foods in moderation to prove that we are in control and have "conquered" food.

Some of us eat 600 calories a day. Some of us eat 1200 a day.

Some of us are ok with moderately consuming alcohol. Some of us are not.

Some of us are horrified by artificial sweeteners. Some of us use them by the boatload.

And here's the really shocking part:

People in BOTH CAMPS on all of these points...have been doing really well.

How cool is that?

The more I listen to all the different stories, the more convinced I am that there are a LOT of ways up this mountain. (Also cool!)

Here's another interesting question...

What's success?

For some folks, success is having a low normal BMI, and being an athlete.

For some folks, success is fitting a certain size, looking a certain way, feeling attractive, getting perfect plastics and looking like a model at the end.

For some folks, success is hitting some other goal. Being able to fit in an airplane seat, Being able to play with kids and be active.

For some folks, success is getting diabetes and blood pressure and other health concerns under control.

For some folks, success is weighing under 200 pounds and not sweating it much beyond that.

For some folks, success is being mobile, being independent, going back to work, and being able to take care of themselves.

There are a lot of different versions of what success looks like. And not everyone's gonna want the same thing.

What your group of doctors says....I guarantee you....will not be anything like what another group of doctors says.

There are no hard fast answers about what works and what doesn't. What we've got...are a lot of valuable personal experiences with a LOT of different programs.

All worth sharing.

But no one has THE answer for everyone:)

Sometimes I hear....but what about the newbies? Don't we owe it to them to set a good example?

No, we really don't. We owe them our honesty. And we owe them the credit they deserve...to do their homework, read a LOT of stuff, consider all the various opinions about everything.... and figure out what they believe and what works for them:)

Just my $.02

Opinions...as always....will vary:)

Nice.

Well one thing I do know. Ok, I know exactly three things.

The first thing I know for a fact is that I know exactly Jack sh*t.

The second thing I know is that I adore to baffle with bullsh*t.

The last thing I know, is when in doubt, I will absolutely pull sh*t outta my ass.

And what it all boils down to is I'm full of crap, and listen to my advice at your own peril.

That's not just you, Fluff....that's all of us:)

Ok, maybe not all of us.

(I fit your criteria, too.)

But like most people here ...I'm well intentioned when I try to impart my "wisdom" on the masses.

I guess I was just trying to say....take it all with a gain of salt (except you cause your ankles will swell!)....and look at all the collective experiences.

We're beautifully different....and very much the same.

Edited March 19, 20188 yr by Creekimp13

Many different plans seem to work, yes. The only thing that seems like an absolute is that the people who succeed have a plan, execute it as best they can, track their results, and hold themselves accountable. Slip-ups here and there, sure. Differences in approach, you bet. Creekimp and I eat very differently, but what we share in common is a that we follow a plan and give it a lot of thought and consideration and put real effort into making sure we stay on track.

Occasionally, people will say some very pleasant sounding stuff about "not worrying about all those numbers" and "just using your best judgment" ...and I have to bite my tongue not to remind them their best judgment made them a seriously obese person who needed major surgery to get their weight under control. Notice also how many of the "I'm not getting results!" and "I'm backsliding!" posts indicate the same kind of lack of plan and "going by what feels right" approach. This is not a coincidence.

There are many different ways to do this right. But they all involve putting in effort and holding yourself accountable.

Lots of roads to the same destination, but to get there, you have to get going, stay in motion, and follow your own map.

This thread is so important. Just the same for those who do not have surgery. There are different ways of getting to “goal”.
I’m just happy to be here, having made it this far. I have no idea how things will progress or how far I will go, the important thing is that I’m getting there.


Hw-378
Sw- 363 (2/27/18)
CW-334.2

Cashews are good for when you are full of sh*!!

Thank Cashew! Sorry about the sneeze!

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Aaah @Creekimp13, I want Alex to pin your post so that it is one of the first every newbie reads in perpetuity.

Unlike @FluffyChix I don’t pull much out of my arse - largely because these days it pretty much bursts out of its own accord. But you are right.

Having had gastric band failure and commenting on those threads sometimes I see it - people saying “is a band a good idea for me?” They get some “NO - mine was terrible, don’t get ever one, you’ll regret it” through to cautious “well, these days they are less popular with surgeons but some people get long lasting results” through to “mine is GREAT don’t listen to them, they have no willpower”. That must be confusing as hell, when you are seeking advice!

Unless we all remember we a people, seeking a community of others we have something in common with, giving hopelessly biased opinions based on our own body or brain responses.

If we all remembered that about other people here, we might see less of the indignant “she was mean to me!” responses, too!!

My plan is working for me. It is tracking what I eat and exercising. I have one day where I have a high carb count. Then the rest of the week I have a low carb count. This tends to work for me as I have the energy to complete my fitness goals.

There is not one way to measure success. Some it is being at a normal BMI, others it is reaching the muscle goals needed to be strong.

It all depends on what your goal is and how well you approach it.

Yes! I have been discouraged the past few weeks because it seems like a lot of people judging everyone else, when in reality, if we all had it figured out, we wouldn’t be here to begin with. One plan doesn’t work for everyone, and the key is finding what works for us.


Age: 37
Height: 5’6
BMI: 37
VSG scheduled for 4/16/18
GW: 160
MFP: Fit4LifeAR

Yeah I like to read other posters, sometimes their experiences help[emoji3], sometimes not[emoji20] but bottom line we are all individuals and that's just fine![emoji3]

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Asking for advice on the internet is like someone in an improv troupe asking an audience member for a suggestion to kick off a bit. When presented a with multiple options they're going to get many of the same things called out each time (Starbucks! Donald Trump! Your mother!) and they'll pick the one that's the most unique and stands out.

The problem with looking for consensus advice on the internet is that it's not a valid sample and everyone replying only has experience with a sample size of one, hardly valid from a scientific or mathematical standpoint. Complicating things is that all of us have different bodies and physiologies, so even though we may display the same symptoms, the root cause could be completely different and require a different approach.

There is "One Answer" for everything though...

It's whatever works for you.

Short,to the point , and true-- thank you Matt Z!

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3 hours ago, etc. etc. etc. said:

Many different plans seem to work, yes. The only thing that seems like an absolute is that the people who succeed have a plan, execute it as best they can, track their results, and hold themselves accountable. Slip-ups here and there, sure. Differences in approach, you bet. Creekimp and I eat very differently, but what we share in common is a that we follow a plan and give it a lot of thought and consideration and put real effort into making sure we stay on track.

Occasionally, people will say some very pleasant sounding stuff about "not worrying about all those numbers" and "just using your best judgment" ...and I have to bite my tongue not to remind them their best judgment made them a seriously obese person who needed major surgery to get their weight under control. Notice also how many of the "I'm not getting results!" and "I'm backsliding!" posts indicate the same kind of lack of plan and "going by what feels right" approach. This is not a coincidence.

There are many different ways to do this right. But they all involve putting in effort and holding yourself accountable.

Lots of roads to the same destination, but to get there, you have to get going, stay in motion, and follow your own map.

I noticed this, too! Which is why once I went back to soft food, I went back to logging because if "eyeing" stuff worked I wouldn't have needed a sleeve. I am still sort of amazed I can be sated on 800 calories but, when they aren't useless calories (junk food), well, that makes perfect sense. And today, I figured out how to get all my protein in while drinking less of those sweet shakes (more creative use of my Unjury unflavored and chicken flavored powders).

I'll confess, I am not currently logging although I have the My Fitness pal app. Why?, to be honest I have been pummled and jerked around on this journey that I almost felt like it didn't matter anymore. Once it really picks up speed, I meet the surgeon and the immediate staff personally, all I've met so far besides the seminar presenters is the receptionists at the front desk. I've looked over the pictures and bio of the 2 surgeons, I know which one I would prefer, but honestly,I'd take either one. I'll tell you guys later if I Got my choice,okay?

I just want a conclusion to this all, I started in August 2015 to seek this, I feel like I've wasted my valuable time tilting at windmills when I should have had my surgery and done. Hey hang with me, they say it ain't over until the fat lady sings.[emoji351] Well I'm not through yodeling yet![emoji354][emoji14]

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