November 2023 buddies

[brandycsiz 38]

you look amazing!!

[ChunkCat 673]

Thank you!! You guys are awesome!

[Meisha 14]

Great job, @ChunkCat! So proud of you!

[ZeeGee 40]

Hello Everyone,

Been MIA busy with work and being a mama of 4 but I have been working on myself and that's been a non-negotiable for me. I am attaching a picture of me when I started the surgery appointments to today. When they say this isn't easy they weren't joking but I've fallen in love with the process.

Hope everyone else is doing well and @ChunkCat you look amazing babes

[SomeBigGuy 105]

Congrats on all of y'all's progress! Looks like everyone is doing great!

[Italiano26 26]

You look awesome!

[brandycsiz 38]

I am about 4 months post op and for some reason I have gotten off track.. I don't know if it is because I am free to eat anything so I am pushing my limits with sweets, my gym time is getting less and less, I am forgetting my Vitamins. Things are getting out of control quickly... please tell me I am not the only one that this is happening too.. I honestly had no idea that this would be like a full time job keeping track of everything.. Tonight I get back control of this but man this is way harder then I thought it would be...

[SomeBigGuy 105]

@brandycsiz - I think its pretty common. I've deifinitely gone off track, mostly due to other health issues and stress outside of the surgery itself. I was able to walk several miles without stopping in December, then after getting Covid (and I'm assuming long-Covid now), if I go more than 3 miles in a day or try lifting weights in the gym, I get physically ill for 2-3 days afterwards. I keep walking 1-2 miles in the evenings after work, but the lack of progress and regain of weight is very discouraging.

I tended to stress eat before, and to be honest, the surgery was a success because at least it limits the amount I tend to binge on when having a bad time. I still have those cravings, but at least now I can drink 8-12oz of Water and delay eating. I'm probably on track with my diet 3-4 days per week, but have been overdoing it or eating too many calorie/carb-dense foods when I have an off day or when I see family, who aren't the most supportive. My mom likes to drop off Little Debbie cakes and other Snacks on my porch twice a week as she's driving by, and it's straining our relationship because I throw them away immediately, and she sees that as me being ungrateful and disrespectful. I am 6lbs heavier than I was around 8 weeks post-op, so its really getting me down.

After covid, I developed some issues with my heart rate. It drops down in the upper 20's to low 30s in my sleep and my blood pressure drops too low, but if it get it past 100bpm, my blood pressure spikes, and I get dizzy and almost faint. I'm trying to get in to see specialists, but I can't get in with a specialist for 5+ months just for initial consult. I have to drive 3+ hours to another area to try to get in sooner, but I burned all my leave time for the year with Covid in January, so I can't take the days off to travel.

Edited March 27 by SomeBigGuy

[Italiano26 26]

20 hours ago, brandycsiz said:

I am about 4 months post op and for some reason I have gotten off track.. I don't know if it is because I am free to eat anything so I am pushing my limits with sweets, my gym time is getting less and less, I am forgetting my Vitamins. Things are getting out of control quickly... please tell me I am not the only one that this is happening too.. I honestly had no idea that this would be like a full time job keeping track of everything.. Tonight I get back control of this but man this is way harder then I thought it would be...

I feel like I have been pushing to see how I can tolerate sweets as well! April 1st is a new month on Monday! Let’s reset and get back to the basics. We can do this and enjoy your Easter 🐣

Edited March 28 by Italiano26

[ChunkCat 673]

You look amazing @ZeeGee!! And you look STRONG!

@brandycsiz You are not the only one. LOL I went on vacation for 4 days for my birthday and managed to gain 6 lbs! Logically I know that I didn't gain 6 lbs of fat, it is mostly Water, but it still panicked me and made me feel like my progress was stunted for the month... Part of it is my fault though. I was eating out for every meal so that means more sodium and more carbs. I wasn't hydrating well. I didn't hit my Protein goals. And the bed was awful so I wasn't sleeping well. Life happens!

I took yesterday to feel depressed about it and panicked over breaking my surgery. LOL Then this morning I got up, made a Protein Shake, and had lots of protein for lunch (baked chicken thighs and green beans). I made a tall glass of sour watermelon flavored water and am plotting dinner. Carbs are under control. I slept in today to help offset my sleep debt. And tomorrow when the weather clears up I'll be back walking...

The issue is not that we get off track sometimes. The issue is that in getting off track we lose hope, start to get down on ourselves, and want to eat a whole cake. 😂 But if you know better, you can do better. So gently but firmly course correct in the ways that you can each day. Make steady improvements back towards your goal. And see these acts as self care rather than harsh discipline. In this, as is with most things in life, our journey is much more important than our destination. Journey well my friends. We can do this!! 😍