Georgia

I think chicken is the culprit. It happens with the sleeve too. Chicken is so dense. I still get it "stuck" after 3 1/2 years

Do you ever use Greek yogurt for the dip instead, I'm not up on cals. Does sour cream have less? Also, have you ever tried the 100 cal packs of wholly guacamole ( I actually like the walmart brand better). It is excellent for dipping veggies in and a good fat. Yeah, I do the lower cal lean cuisine or smart one meals a few times a week too. Like 230 cals or so since I'm 3 plus years out. I eat Special K Protein cereal with soy or skim milk ( just enough to "wet" it. some mornings I love mini babybel light cheeses. 50 cals. And sometimes just grab a couple of these for breakfast.

I am so sorry to hear your struggles. It sounds like you have had a rough road. I can sympathize with the tailbone part. At times, I am I able to sit and driving is a nightmare. I was going to ask, though, what does your surgeon say about the capacity? It sure seems to be abnormal there are those on here who have been "resleeved" because of things such as this. Also someone mentioned DS. There is also RNY if you wish to go that route ( another surgery). With physical issues, I'm told RNY is the recommended when there are sleeve complications. Maybe somebody Can weigh in that has experienced this type of problem I also experienced periods of low blood sugar where I would get extremely clammy, almost pass out and blood sugar drop to 50 or so. Ice I cleaned up my diet some and got on a better plan and quit eating as much carbs, mine has leveled out. I know someone mentioned 5:2 and it has worked for many of us including those whose weight loss slowed or stopped and people like me, who reached goal, and regained some. I just hate that you have had this much struggle and turmoil to endure.

I take a picture of the lower weight on the scale and admire it!! Ha!! Good ideas. I am so far out now I am just in a lifestyle mode now and it is just "what I do"! My reward, seriously, is knowing I have CONTROL! I am so impressed with you, Girl! You've got your mind in a t good place for success!!!!

Yeah, cause that surgery only works in about half the cases. My friends husband had it done. No help at all.

Thanks, Fiddleman! And I like your new pic too!!

OD, I can't keep up with your "men!" LOL. I like the sound of the funny English Teacher. I think humor isVERY important.

Wish I had one locally. Got to check into that

That's why I recommend we all read the article about body fat versus thin and low BMI. One person lost to 125 with BMI below 21 and still had 30% or so BF. She started concentrating in reducing that percentage for heart and health reason put back on 20 pounds so still low at 145 and brought BF down significantly. I worry now that I am a "fat" thin person and I got into this for health since my Mom had AFib and other cardiovascular disease. I've got to really analyze in the next few weeks my overall diet and cut my BF and increase strength.

Fasting. 500-525 Feasting below or at 1200 I cannot eat above 1200-1400 or I WILL gain. TDEE is about 1375

5:2 uses the same concept but you are reducing input also. In effect, you ARE fasting 16 hours a day. On 5:2, most recommend the same but reduce your calories to 25% of normal TDEE. We use 500 or 550 thereabouts. It's what you make up your mind to do. I'm so glad to hear you are losing again. If it is working then it's YOUR plan. You are basically watching carbs too so following the 8 hour rule along with it allows your body time to work.

Lynda (Iserno) posted this excellent article on another thread. Since most if us are losing the weight and getting to healthy BMIs this is very thought provoking considering that even at "normal" BMI and weight we could have up to a four fold increase in having cardiovascular disease if the percentage of our body fat is higher even if THIN! The Scales Can Lie: Hidden Fat New Study Argues Even Thin People Can Face Health Risks From Fat; It's 'Normal Weight Obesity' Even some thin people could be at risk for health issues typically associated with individuals who are fat, Ron Winslow reports. By RON WINSLOW Can you be normal weight and fat at the same time? That's the implication of a provocative recent report from the Mayo Clinic, which suggests that fat in your body can get you and your heart into trouble even if you don't look fat and if the scale tells you you're healthy. The Mayo researchers, led by cardiologist Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, have coined a term for the phenomenon: normal weight obesity. In a study that looked at data from 6,171 Americans with normal body size, as measured by body mass index, those with a high percentage of body fat were at significantly greater risk of future heart problems than those with low amounts of fat. Their bodies "behave like they are obese, but they are not," Dr. Lopez-Jimenez says. People don't have to be overweight to have excess body fat. Instead, these people have a higher ratio of fat to muscle tissue than do people with low body fat. Indeed, even people of the same weight, or those with comparable body mass index, which factors together weight and height, can have different body-fat percentages. Based on results of the nine-year study, as well as U.S. Census and obesity data, Dr. Lopez-Jimenez and his colleagues estimate that as many as 30 million Americans may fall into the normal-weight-obesity category, many of them unaware they may be at increased heart risk. The study "drills down on a population where we're making assumptions that everybody is healthy. It may well be that they're not," says Robert Eckel, an obesity and metabolic-syndrome expert at the University of Colorado, Denver, who wasn't involved with the study. But Dr. Eckel and other medical experts caution that the findings need to be validated with additional research. Big epidemiological studies such as the Mayo report are useful for spotting important trends and raising hypotheses for further inquiry. But they are not necessarily reliable for prescribing specific remedies for individual patients. Indeed, Dr. Eckel says he doesn't think the study's results mean people should have their body fat measured to assess their cardiac risk. Generally, a little extra weight around the middle among normal weight people should be a sufficient wakeup call, other doctors say. More research is needed to determine whether reducing body fat percentage in such people would lower risk of heart disease. Still, body-fat assessment is a common feature at many gyms. At Equinox Fitness Club, a national chain based in New York, members get a body-composition test as part of an initial assessment before they begin a training regimen. "This is a culture obsessed with weight, but very little attention is paid to the composition of that weight," says Geralyn Coopersmith, an exercise physiologist and senior national manager for Equinox's training program. Among some of the Mayo Clinic study's findings: High body fat among normal-weight men and women was associated with a nearly four-fold increase in the risk for metabolic syndrome—a cluster of abnormalities including elevated blood sugar and blood pressure. This syndrome is common among people who are obese and is an increasingly important precursor to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. For women, high body fat meant a heightened risk of being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease over the course of the study. Both men and women had a higher risk of abnormal cholesterol and men with high body fat were more likely to develop high blood pressure. The research suggests that body mass index, or BMI, the tool doctors and researchers often use to determine whether a person is obese, may fall short in some cases as an indicator of good health. BMI is obtained by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. People with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9—the range for the participants in the Mayo study—are considered to be normal weight under government guidelines. A BMI of 30 or higher indicates obesity, while people in the range from 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight. The overweight category in particular has generated controversy because many people who exercise regularly and are considered fit have BMIs above 25. Dr. Lopez-Jimenez says that measuring body fat could help identify previously unappreciated risk in the normal-weight population. He likens the issue to cholesterol. Total cholesterol below 200 has long been considered a heart-healthy target, but research has also shown that people can have "healthy" total cholesterol but low levels of HDL, or good cholesterol, and high levels of LDL, or bad cholesterol, that put them at heightened risk for heart attacks. Monika Sumpter, a 34-year-old training manager at Equinox Fitness in New York City, says she once weighed 170 pounds and had a body fat percentage of "a little over 30%," a high reading. She says she lost 45 pounds with diet and some aerobic exercises, but reduced her body fat percentage only to about 25%. So, over the past 18 months, Ms. Sumpter says she added strength training and other exercise to her cardio workout. Although she has put 20 pounds back on, her body fat percentage is down to 14%, she says. For consumers, conversations about body fat and body composition are more likely to happen during a workout with a personal trainer than at a doctor's office during an examination. The test isn't a widely accepted clinical measurement. And there isn't a consensus among medical experts about what percentage of body fat is "normal" or what level indicates higher risk. Some gyms have their own guidelines. At Equinox Fitness Club, trainers consider body composition and waist circumference—another indicator of body fat—more important in assessing fitness of many members than weight. The club's Ms. Coopersmith says that, based on data from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise, Equinox considers body fat percentages between 25% and 31% for women, and 18% to 26% for men, as "acceptable." Women with body fat of 21% to 24%, and men with 14% to 17%, are "fit." People who reach even lower levels of body fat are considered "athletic," she says. The findings of the Mayo study, which was published in November in the European Heart Journal, suggest that reducing heart risk requires increasing the percentage of lean muscle mass at the expense of body fat. That underscores the importance of exercise in maintaining cardiovascular health—including weight lifting and other resistance training, which helps build lean body mass. Eating a healthy diet is important in reducing body fat, too, but Dr. Lopez-Jimenez observes that if you only restrict calories, you risk losing an equal amount of body fat and lean muscle tissue and thus you could end up weighing less without significantly reducing the percentage of body fat. Sara Bakken Lee, a 39, a Mayo Clinic staffer, is stepping up her weight training as part of an intense regular exercise program in an effort to get her body fat percentage to 23% from about 26% in December. When she began to target body fat in her exercise program two years ago, her BMI was 26, just slightly into the overweight category. "I didn't like being in that category when I didn't think of myself as being overweight." Her body fat at the time was 33.7%. This December, after losing weight on a diet and continuing with a six-day exercise program, her BMI was 23.4, with body fat at 26%. "I'm in the moderately lean category, which makes me very happy." She hopes to reach a body fat level of 23% by June by adding a third day of weight-lifting to her workout routine. "If you're at a sloppy normal weight, that's not going to be good for you," says John M. Jakicic director of the physical activity and weight management research center at University of Pittsburgh, who wasn't involved with the study. "It argues that exercise is the intervention we should be targeting."

I found it and it is very thought provoking! I'm going to see about getting BF tested and improving it this year too!!! Thanks for this. I'm going to post in Research and Statistics.

Me too!

Have you tried the canula that fits under and in nose? I wore regularask and had no issues fe day one but my husband feels very claustrophobic too

I love your pic!!!

Y'all are all looking so good! Here is a before 250+ jun 2010 and after Christmas dec 2013 140 And yes! The sweater is too big! From size 22 to 4/6!

Lynda, what is the article titled? When I click it takes to main page and I can't seem to find the correct article. Thanks! I am interested in this as I am at 22.4 BMI and 140 don't know BF but I'm 60 and need to figure it all out.

I would advise you to take a deep breath and take one day at a time. To worry about NEVER eating carbs at this stage is like putting the cart before the horse, so to speak. I totally understand why surgeons and nutritionists say NO, NO, NO - because they also know who they are dealing with - those of us who overate ALL carbs and probably won't have the willpower at the start to limit them. It is a process of learning HOW to eat and lose healthily and using Protein to fuel that loss. Yes, once you are at maintenance you can have some carbs, i allow myself some on occasion but I rarely ever just eat bread, potatoes, rice or Pasta except in VERY small amounts and on a RARE occasion. All "whites" kinda went out the window and I've replaced them with healthy low glycemic carbs, whole wheat pasta, sweet potatoes, etc. The other reason as someone stated is that most of those are "sliders" for sleevers and yes, you WILL regain weight or stop loss by indulging in them because there is little or no restriction to them after a while.

So excited for you! With your healthy attitude, you can't lose! Well, YES YOU CAN!! And you will! This support group will be there with you all the way!!!!

I know this sounds crazy but my "go to" is Extra Lean Turkey franks, (50 calls each) mini babybel cheese LIGHT (50 cals) and 100 calorie guacamole packs with cut up green, red peppers and cucumbers as "chips." I also love homemade vegetable Soup and chili. string cheese. I also found EAS shakes that are only 110 calories, great taste and 17 grams Protein. I add a cup of coffee, ice chips and "nurse it" for a couple of hours. Also, the "Eggface" protein bites made in mini cupcake tins with eggs, cheese and veggies are great to have on hand.

I was going to say that since you are going to be on liquid diet at the beginning after surgery, i would recommend using some liquids such as Soups and shakes. I did the "soup" diet many times and it was super easy and no prep. Using the light versions of Progresso soups. I couldn't tolerate the shakes after surgery 3 1.2 years ago, but since have found EAS shakes that are wonderful! only 110 calories, great taste and 17 grams Protein. I mix with a cup of coffee and chipped ice and "nurse" it for an hour or so. Also, agreed - track, track, track! I would try to stick to 1100-1200 calories a day and no eating after 7pm. Once you get yourself started, you can do it! The hardest part is getting your head wrapped around it! You want the surgery- you can lose the 27 pounds!!!!!!

yep, i didn't do bariatric vitamins. My surgeon recommended Flintstone gummies!!! Ha! I buy the walmart brand gummy adult now and the chocolate chewable calcium/vit d chews as well as B complex.

Remember also they pump you full of gas during surgery and lots of IV fluids, it takes a while for all that to disperse also. I encourage you to stick to your plan exactly, get moving as much as you can and walk a lot. I think you will find that your weight loss will resume. Everybody loses differently, though. From here on, your sleeve will be a "tool" - not a cure. You will have to work at it too. Good luck and keep us updated!

Even when you know you have made a good decision, the "unknown" is always scary! I think you are going to do great! At 3 1/2 years out, I am STILL sold on my decision and VSG! It opened up new worlds of healthy living and accomplishments for me. At your age, you have a great life ahead! Keep us posted on how things go!