feedyoureye

I had some bad turkey neck a year after surgery, but 3 years later it is pretty good. I think time and my dance class helped! We do chest lifts that work your neck, and it really helped tone up what could be toned!

Good luck!

I was up by 8 pounds from were I want to be (bottom of my bounce range) and have really hit the 5:2 on fast days and trying to be pretty good on reg days. I have managed to drop over 2 pounds and am now only 6 from my goal. Yes Virginia, the 5:2 can work. I have been feeling some acid, I think my body is still pissed off at me for eating like a chocolate brownie loving piggy the other day....I must have had 7 of them... Chocolate in excess always is the culprit with acid for me. A little is ok..... Kelly, and Sar, DO hang out here with us, even if you feel like crap, I know when i feel like crap I have a tendency to stay away too, but these girls are pure GOLD. If one of us does not understand, the next one will, and we are here for you! That goes or you too Sheila! We are putting my moms ashes in the ground today. Lunch after.... so glad I did a good 5:2 yesterday!

Im in too.. I was going to start today, but had a big fight with hubby, then the boss brought a giant box of Crack.... make that brownie bites.... I did my best to empty the box. Going to a big dress up Gala tonight too... I will do my best to enjoy all the wine and treats! I get free tickets when I volunteer to be an "on air" expert at the Local PBS stations arts auction. Its fun! I consider my bounce range to be 170-173.... I am currently at 176.8..... and holding. I would love to get back to 170. What a difference 6.8 pounds make! Feel all Blubby.

It is so wonderful to have you guys here. Swiz!!! Glad you are here, even if just hanging out... I do that sometimes too, I just don't have anything to say, but want to be in the room with company. Its comforting. We are here for you. I miss Kelly too... and think of other 5:2 members gone by....Laura!!!! Whats up girl! Hope they are all well. I agree, the holidays are coming up and I don't want to gain on top of gaining! OK, weight in day... I guess we could do friday too. Im in! Anyway, I usually fast on Mon and The, and of course I am going to a big public radio arts Gala tomorrow night, MOn. they always have wine and treats. I will fast the rest of the day and try and keep it together... I will do it again on Tuesday if I have to! Cheers all!

I suggest you talk to her square on, nice but firm, next time she brings up the subject, that you would rather not talk to her about your BODY... If she brings it up again, say "I believe I already told you, I don't want to talk to you about my body" then smile and change the subject. State your boundaries then redirect.

You know... get back to basics, clear the house of junk, get back to measuring and logging your food, step up the activities. I do a semi-fast twice a week to maintain. If I stop any of these things I gain. I have recently lost my mom, and the stress of this and other things have thrown my practice out of whack. I have gained around 3-4 pounds over my goal range. Even though I have been snacking and eating out a lot the last two months, my weight gain has not been more because of the semi fast days (5:2: see pinned at top of vets forum) If I tighten up my other days to 12-1500 cals a day, I should be able to get the 3-4 pounds off in a couple of weeks. I did gain 22 pounds during year 2, and after trying lots of plans to get it off, found the 5:2 worked to get it off pretty painlessly.

So glad to hear from you, and get the update. So happy your dream job is in your lap at last! So cool. I am having a hard time getting the 3-4 pounds off above high/bounce, and soooooo easy to cram an extra meal, snack, crap into my day...Lets do a 5:2 challenge here? Like Florinda suggested.... Im down for it... my mom in law is coming to town in three weeks, and happy hour will be on for 2 weeks straight... and the holidays are close behind. Sounds like life is good. I'm down for a two week belt tightening with regular 5:2 twice a week. Wanna play that tune everyone?

chirp chirp--------chirp chirp--------chirp chirp----~

Thats the one Lynda

This is supported by other threads here but so well said. Basically it says, your gut microbes control your hunger for their own good, but not necessarily yours. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/831069?src=wnl_edit_tpal&uac=204266DY I don't remember if I needed to join this free medical research site or not to see this file... I love this site and get lots of interesting research results from several areas of interest.. including weight gain and WL surgery....

Yes, just count it all. If you read the book, one of the authors spread her calories out through the day, the other just ate dinner. They both lost some weight. I think if this does not work for you, then tightening up the lingth of the "fasting window" might do the trick. I found it worked fine for me though.

Yes, just count it towards your daily calories. I use a 100 cal protein drink in the AM on fast day.

sorry you are having a hard time, NOW is the time to turn things around though... it doesn't get easier the more you gain, but the sleeve will still work, you just have to work it. I have said it over and over, log everything..... including water and exercise.... maintain awareness. The Depo may be a big part of the problem. Ask your DR about that. Try the 5:2 if you haven't already. Find out about the details in the Vets forum, its pinned towards the top. Best of luck. I gained 22 and finally got it off. You can do it too, but start now!

Lynda, that link gave me a forbidden message! this area of research is huge right now... you can find all kinds of interesting research going on....

Im not sure if she is still on the site. Talk to your PCP, ask them to recommend you to the bariatric unit. If s/he will do that, then you are on the road. Lots of hoops to jump through, then it gets done.

Sar, I bet your looking fantastic~ The skin bikini is so strange, I can't picture where it came from... Sheryl, thanks for saying how I feel s normal. That actually makes me feel a lot better.

I drink decaf without negative effect.

I have been feeing a little flat and weepy. Plugging myself into the successful eating routine again to try and get the couple of pounds off. It seems like I am surrounded by upsetting events, having to do with my house, my neighborhood, my family, my art activities and success, my work and my coworkers. Just about every side. I am trying to do what I can and recognize I have no control over the rest of it. My MIL is coming over in a month... last time she was here I gained around 15 pounds (!!!) I really have to avoid that this time... she is a great gal, glad she is coming, but it is happy hour 24/7 around here when she visits. Not my reg. routine.

The xylitol used as a sugar substitute is poison to dogs, but no problem to humans as far as I know. Its the sugar sub used in sugar free gum as well.

Fermented foods are supposed to be really good for the "biome" pickles, sauerkraut, vinegar, and lot of different fibers. I have found a bottled fruit, chia Kombucha drink at Whole Foods, when I have the $$$ I buy couple of bottles. Its really yummy. You may have to join the site, and form a password. It is really easy to use now, they send me a link every week to topics of interest to me. I don't have to sign in... I must have checked off to stay signed in.

I did a fast today too... I see the scale going up too, have to get back in the swing. I hear ya Coops. Lets take it one day at a time. I am going to plan to fast two days a week for a while and see how it goes. I have to keep track a little closer on the rest of the days a week too.. I have been playing fast and loose with the food lately. I really don't want it to go up any more of the cloths will get tight. I am imagining feeling slim again, and getting into my clothing when it not quite so snug. I went out and bought cooking supplies, lots of veggies and veg protein sources. We can do it Coops! Even if its slow, we CAN do it! I walked about 3 miles today, took my vitamins and even though I was over by around 75 cals, that is a success for me.

Their other sugar free products look good too. Keep in mind that xylitol is poisonous to dogs.

Panic if you want, but the truth is, after a year, most of us can eat way more than you might imagine now. I can eat anything. I have to write it all down and keep track, because if I don't, then I will gain. I enjoy my food a lot. I have changed lot of little habits, like exercising regularly doing things I like, cooking quite a bit of my own meals, because I can make it just how I like, and I can control the content and keep it healthy. I plan Snacks, deserts and partake of surprise food almost every day. I write it all down in MFP, I use a Fitbit to watch my exercise, I took up dancing, kayaking, walking, birdwatching.... I am 3 1/2 years out from surgery, and 2 pounds above goal at this time. I just lost my mother, so I am being kind to myself about the 2 pounds, I know I can get them off with a few changes. You will be fine. Just keep in mind the sleeve may be doing it all for you right now, but later, you will have to bring your best game to the party, and the sleeve will back you up. Its only one tool of many later on.

sounds like you know what to do. I think it important to understand that losing 80 pounds is in no way failing. Really, if you stayed there the rest of your life, Im sure the Doctor would say you are a winner. First off, this surgery is mainly about health, (I like the "looks" side effect too of course) but IM sure your health is much better. I stayed at 16 for quite a while before getting down to a 12, which is not that small, but is just so right for me. My not so secret secret is TRACK. I track my movement too.... when I don't, I slowly or not so slowly gain. I do eat carb and straight out sugar Snacks sometimes, but I write it all down. The good the bad and the ugly. I keep going back to the wagon and try to eat clean over and over and figure that is ok. Its much better than giving up... which will land me back at 259 pounds plus. You can do it too. Eat a nice protein meal, then clean out the house of crap... or at least lock it up where you can't get to it. After eating clean for a few days it will get easier.... until the next time... then do it again. I am weak. I need to build it into my plan. When I get realistic, then I succeed.