Georgia

Sorry, Swizzly, didn't see your ticker

Swizzle, how much have you lost and how long did it take you?

Well, reading that at 6 years I would be up approximately 50lbs (53% EWL) according to averages is NOT an option for me. So gotta get this remaining regain off and learn how to maintain. Per the article referenced.

Well, I am happy to say that I have been able to whittle down about 7 lbs as of this morning. From my almost 20 lb Regina also, M2G. But it has been by extreme LowCarb and vigilance. I admit, though, I am not an exerciser. I do walk. Some. . I know I should get physically better fit but, honestly, I am so tired at times after work that the thought of it just doesn't feel worth it yeah, I know, I'd feel better. Lol. I feel really good with my Jammie's on in my comfy chair or lying on the couch! Ha! Think I might be battling a little depression also. Going to read the blog. Sounds interesting. As to grehlin, I think the jury is out on that. Some thi gs you read say it is not as reduced as first thought. I have wondered why if at the beginning you're to really hungry sometimes at all and as time goes on, hunger increases. Restriction is still strong IFyou eat correctly and not junk. I do think as the articles/nut said metabolism is altered. Gonna keep working it. I'm trying to figure out HOW once I re lose my gain what I can do LONG TERM to hold it! I know they have said that for your body to hold a new set point it must be maintained for a long period of time. Hopefully, that will be true for me. Anybody know what the longest timeframe we have on VSG is and how they have maintained? I'm coming up on 3 yrs 6-10. Happy weekend to all!!!!

Well, Girls, it is definitely eye opening. I, like both of you, don't really see how I can eat much LESS calories or protein and still be able to walk upright! Lol. And Feedyoureye, it is hard to believe that only 1350 calories AND exercise won't get the weight loss it should. That's why I am concerned for the long haul. Reading about having to be rigidly strict for the rest of your life is not appealing to me at all! I love the fact that at 3 years out I have been able to somewhat maintain but sure want to get back down to my original goal weight and maintain. Coops, if you find anything out about the leptin reset let is know. Well, since I had a dinner tonight with lasagna and bread along with homemade pie I'm side the scale will reflect tomorrow morning. ????Maybe ill try the Fastdiet. A month of Atkins doesn't seem to be much better although I think I have lost some inches because clothes feel looser even if the scales don't quite reflect what I would like them to be.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1105816 Link to New England Journal of Medicine homrone change article.

Evidently, because they are based on normal bodies and our metabolism has been altered. It really makes sense to me now. I kept thinking, "I've been stringently doing Atkins for a month and only 3-4 lbs down." Whereas before, I would be down probably 15 or more lbs. Given that I could STILL stand to lose another twenty pounds and be at a good level, it seemed strange to me WHY my body wasn't cooperating as before. So, I guess Coops, it's either go lower in calories and carbs to GET there and try to maintain long enough to make our bodies respond.

I'm finding this article kinda depressing and very TRUE! lol Janice Bridge, a registry member who has successfully maintained a 135-pound weight loss for about five years, is a perfect example. “It’s one of the hardest things there is,” she says. “It’s something that has to be focused on every minute. I’m not always thinking about food, but I am always aware of food.” “I think many people who are anxious to lose weight don’t fully understand what the consequences are going to be, nor does the medical community fully explain this to people,” Rudolph Leibel, an obesity researcher at Columbia University in New York, says. “We don’t want to make them feel hopeless, but we do want to make them understand that they are trying to buck a biological system that is going to try to make it hard for them.” HERE IT IS ---- The data generated by these experiments suggest that once a person loses about 10 percent of body weight, he or she is metabolically different than a similar-size person who is naturally the same weight. The research shows that the changes that occur after weight loss translate to a huge caloric disadvantage of about 250 to 400 calories. For instance, one woman who entered the Columbia studies at 230 pounds was eating about 3,000 calories to maintain that weight. Once she dropped to 190 pounds, losing 17 percent of her body weight, metabolic studies determined that she needed about 2,300 daily calories to maintain the new lower weight. That may sound like plenty, but the typical 30-year-old 190-pound woman can consume about 2,600 calories to maintain her weight — 300 more calories than the woman who dieted to get there A result is that after losing weight, your muscles burn 20 to 25 percent fewer calories during everyday activity and moderate aerobic exercise than those of a person who is naturally at the same weight. That means a dieter who thinks she is burning 200 calories during a brisk half-hour walk is probably using closer to 150 to 160 calories.

Here you go, Coops, Feedyoureye and others!! (from the NYT article) There is no consistent pattern to how people in the registry lost weight — some did it on Weight Watchers, others with Jenny Craig, some by cutting carbs on the Atkins diet and a very small number lost weight through surgery. But their eating and exercise habits appear to reflect what researchers find in the lab: to lose weight and keep it off, a person must eat fewer calories and exercise far more than a person who maintains the same weight naturally. Registry members exercise about an hour or more each day — the average weight-loser puts in the equivalent of a four-mile daily walk, seven days a week. They get on a scale every day in order to keep their weight within a narrow range. They eat Breakfast regularly. Most watch less than half as much television as the overall population. They eat the same foods and in the same patterns consistently each day and don’t “cheat” on weekends or holidays. They also appear to eat less than most people, with estimates ranging from 50 to 300 fewer daily calories. Sigh!!

At almost 3 years out, no regrets. NONE! I had no complications except minor ones for a short period like extreme tiredness, lightheaded, some sliming and up chucking because I are too fast or ate bread (ALWAYS got stuck!) but I'd do it again tomorrow. Yes, life food wise as you know it is gone and that "high" of indulging is gone but isn't that WHY we do it? Because we couldn't do it on our own and our health suffered? Life is good. Even on the days the THOUGHT of eating something turns out to be "not so much!" Lol. Yep, when I put on those size 8 and 10 skirts I can deal with the rest! Smile

Just found this. I'm from Conway. Used Dr Gibbs and Baptist. Had Fed BcBs and paid 250 Dr. 300 Hospital. Total bill was $32,000!! No problems. Lost 100 lbs and reached goal in seven mos. almost 3 yrs out. Have regained small amt over past year and working to lose it by low carb. Tough to lose once you gain! And you CAN eat all the snacks you can get down! Lol. Watch the "sliders"! Love my sleeve. Would do it again tomorrow. Went from 250 to 150.

And um, is it and when you LIKE to eat your gummy prenatal (yes, prenatal for hair growth) because they taste like candy and are sugar coated? ????????????????????

Anybody got a really good idea WHY we don't/can't lose these dadgum (good old southern word) pounds once we reach goal/setpoint? I have always lost weight easily and DID even lose quickly with VSG. I regained over a period of months 12-13 lbs and boy, it's like pulling teeth to get these things to go away. I have religiously (well, maybe one small slip here and there) truly been rigid with low carb and I have, on a GOOD day, lost 5 lbs in a month. And today, 3 lbs on a BAD day! lol Down 2, up 2, down, up two, down one, up two. You get the picture. Even though I am really at a somewhat normal weight/BMI 24.9 right now, it looks like I could STILL lose weight again after 3 years like before. What do you think happens to our metabolisms/bodies that changes this so drastically? I mean, if I even have a BITE of something with high calorie/carbs it seems I lose the ground I have fought hard for in a MUCH shorter time frame. Ha! I know you all have the same issues. We've discussed. But really??? Is my body so rigid now that I'm going to have to be this strict for LIFE to be able to MAINTAIN??? Yikes!! I say this with some humor because I am "okay" with where I am, I'd LIKE to get back to my low bounce area and hold it but seems like it ain't happening! (and I want to be at the same weight I was last year when I went for my annual with surgeon. lol) Peace!

Why are we not supposed to take cortisone?

Yeah, Feed, I'm going to incorporate some fruit in soon like southbeach. I can't live without fruit. Do you ever get bloated from so much wheat? I imagine , though, your system is used to the way you eat and adjusts accordingly. I think about the fact that I want to just not THINK about eating and lifestyle all the time which if I had just not allowed myself to self indulge in so much junk I wouldn't be re-losing the same pounds. Lol. But, it is what it is. I know now what can happen even with the sleeve and once I feel comfortable that I can maintain what I've lost , I'll allow myself some leeway but try HARD to not do this again! Have a great weekend!

I cannot wait for pics from you both!

I'll be honest, Girls, I get EXTREMELY jealous when I read these! lol I really don't have a big "apron" but I do have the results of 2 C-Sections, a Hysterectomy, and losing 100 lbs AND being 59! lol I really, really, really want a TT but it's not in the cards right now. Very happy for both of you, though! Really!!!!!!

What I'VE noticed, is the trend for more and more people with a smaller amount of weight, no health issues etc, getting sleeved. Maybe some of the problem with regrets. If you have not faced a lifetime of being overweight, severe health issues, etc, it might be tougher to not have some regret. As for me, I don't have a SINGLE regret. I am 2 months from being 3 years out. Lost 100 lbs in about 8 mos with little effort on my part. I did not have hunger, stalls of any kind during that time and only suffered some hypoglycemia/lightheadedness. Now, I'm trying to lose the 15 lbs Ive regained over the last year or so; which means YES, you can regain, yes, you DO experience hunger later on (even though they said that magic grehlin was gone! lol) and yes, junk food literally SLIDES down the throat very easily and quickly! lol That said, it is NOT a magic bullet - there is work involved in keeping it off long-term and there is definitely a life change for the old way of eating for enjoyment. Because unless you are downing a bag of powdered donuts (which I can VERY EASILYD0) you still have great restriction and usually I only eat a few bites before I'm "done!" I had a great surgeon but that was about it. I didn't have any support afterward except offered a support group through a hospital once a month. No nutrition follow-up (one pre visit) etc. What I found is that I easily reached goal - I easily handled the changes - but after a period of time, I realized that "head wise" that junk food addict was still there! Ha! Again, I have NO REGRETS! I have been at the same weight basically for three years now - no sleep apnea, no High blood pressure, no medications at all. Still wear size 10 and happy with it. It's what you make it!!! Good luck to all.

I can remember those days! I DID go out to eat - and was trying to "hide" the fact that I had had the surgery! lol I did do a lot of pushing food around but refried Beans became my best friend at Mexican Restaurants. Soup at others. THIS TOO SHALL PASS! Many a time, I excused myself and went to the BR to "slime" or even throw up. But, I admit, because I was losing so quickly and enjoying the loss, I was able to deal with it okay. I did not have nausea at night, but I did get extremely light headed and one night got up from bed, passed out, cut my lip open and woke up to my husband shouting over me! (smile) Again, THIS TOO SHALL PASS. It's like other things in life - we learn to "deal" or it takes care of itself at some point. You will NEVER be able to "eat out" and enjoy FOOD (and that's really the problem, isn't it?) like you did and that's why we all wound up fat and sick. But, boy, you CAN feel great is those smaller size clothes, and the compliments you will receive along with the much improved health. Hang in there, Girlfriend! THIS TOO SHALL PASS!

Okay, friends, I just copied this from another topic. I watched the video and OMG, i will BE making this! Pasta made from chicken! NO CARBS, gluten free, low calorie. And EASY. Here is the link http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/rocco-dispiritos-pasta-al-pomodoro/

I WILL be making this! So easy and looks fantastic! Have you tried it yet?

Maybe you don't right now, but when you get down to around 170 or so, you will. Now, I tend to carry all of my weight "up top" (apple shaped) Never had a butt of hips per se. So I tend to STILL wear looser fitting tops and go for bigger sweaters until a friend said, "Stop that!" Buy YOUR size now! lol But I sure like putting on my pencil skirts now and find that I can't bring myself to wear even an A line skirt because I FEEL fatter. (head stuff !) Hang in there! But just know that even now, almost 3 years out and basically been at goal for about 2 years, I "think" of myself as a fat girl. WE do it to ourselves. Others see us differently. Good luck!