feedyoureye

Just checking in.... had my first real "ride" last Friday... drove up the river road to the next county. One step at a time! Glad to hear the surgeries are doing well..... Kelly? How about you? My dad just got engaged... nice 87 year old lady, she could be a model! He like the good lookers! Anyway, we meet up with her family last night for dinner and a toast. They all seem nice. Hip armor is not my friend as far as looks go!

Keep in mind Bella, EVERYONE wants to get to 100%. Hi @feedyoureye...you are one of the few posters still on here from when I was first sleeved. How are you doing; weight loss, length of time, skin excess, loss of muscle, complications? It took me 3 years to get to my goal weight. Felt fantastic! Had a very difficult year.... lost my mom, my husbands dad and my darling dog of 16 years.... among a list of other things... and ate the greif. Not a ton, I did keep many good habits. I exercised and still do 4-5 days a week, semi fast one or two days a week, still work on protein first and all those healthy habits, vitamins, doing things I love, learning new things and checking in to my support family right here. I have gained 20 pounds, the skin is pretty good, I was losing hair for around 4 of the last 5 years, but that has stopped and my hair looks different, but returned at last... waist length and pretty thick again. I am a different person in some ways, older but wiser. At this time I have kept off around 70% of my Excess weight.... higher than the average statistically which is around 58% or so I have read. Coming up on 5 years in January, I feel like a success.... sure I wish I was still at 100% but I have to tell you, maintenance is a lot harder than losing for me... and I am around 100% better off than I was before the surgery... I don't know about you, but I never lost all I wanted to before surgery, and NEVER kept it off for that long.... this is the very best I have ever managed with the sleeve, and really changing habits.... exercise and support and the other tricks of the trade.... I only make changes that I am pretty sure I can keep... no desperate diets or schemes... just back to basics, drink more water, reduce carbs a little, protein first.... and when I am doing the best, I am logging everything in MFP, using the fitbit and going to the Gym and/or other sporty activities that I enjoy. I have taken up kayaking, birdwatching (walking in nature a bunch) , kept up with Belly dance (I started this a couple of years before surgery) walk with a group of adults with developmental disabilities twice a week, and just took up motorcycle riding at age 62 with the intention of riding to the Arctic Circle next year. I always had a life, but now it is more active, and I can't eat as much in one sitting which helps quite a bit. Maybe one day I will be able to commit to enough changes that I might re-lose those 20 pounds, if not, I am now 20 pounds over weight, not 90.

I think the bike does relate to horseback riding a bit.... a robot horse! Some of the same terms apply....like the saddle.... Of course the bike is not a live being... but I feel the wind in my hair ...and sometimes people say they "feel" like they are one with the right bike...

Not much, a few times. He was never really comfortable with it, we are actually doing it more the last couple of weeks. I just had a mindset change, got the lessons and bought the bike within three weeks. We both went on the bike to the country road, then he just hung out and took photos from high ground where he could see me most of the time. No time like the present!

Cathy, happy for your brother.... always nice to see a happy ending. I went and took my driving tests yesterday and passed, so went out for my first motorcycle ride on real roads. Managed not to crash. Had a blast! Craig and I hopped on the 650 and he took me to some country roads around 15 minutes from here where I was set free to practice. 40 miles per hours seemed like 60.... First day a success. Cheers all.... K

How about calling it "The Top 50 from Vets to you... with a bow on it" or "VAQs" Veterans Answer Questions My personal fav is "I am 2 1/2 weeks out and have stopped losing weight!".... followed by the 3 week stall talk. Prefaced by the admonishment of "Listen to your Doc and Nut" of course.

Glad your feeling better...

Sounds horrible! Time for the gastroenterologist.... I don't know if its the same thing, but I had migrating pains under my ribs on both sides for around a year... much better now, not sure why.... haha maybe weight gain helped!? Anyway, my doc said it was probably strictures from the surgery... in the right place and position dependent... when I sit and slouch at the computer for hours.... it would really show up.

Lisa, I find this statement darling... I so wish this was my experience... It is a romantic notion to me. For me, maintenance is almost the same as trying to lose weight before surgery..... with a couple of important exceptions. I have managed to change a few habits... 1. I come here to check in with people who will listen and have understanding. (thats you Cowgirl and most other Vets). 2. I made the effort to insert exercise and medical care into my life. 3. WHEN I keep track of how much I eat, when and what I eat and weight myself every day... I usually don't gain. The biggest difference is I have kept off over 65% of my excess weight... which is better than the norm statistically, and would have been impossible before WLS. The Vets who were here when I joined over 5 years ago were the bread and butter (sorry...) of my success. I was addicted to their comments.... I actually started at the very first posts here and read them ALL. (couldn't do that now....). I asked all the beginning questions that I couldn't find the answers for. I come back now for ME and the support I need including staying accountable.... that's why I'm the one who confesses my weakness and details of trials so much! My enemy is time passing without staying conscience of what I'm doing, successful or otherwise.... and paying it forward.... such as it is. I miss my old mentors that are gone. So happy to see them check in now and again.

Helping others is a deep well for finding satisfaction.

When I came back from Afghanistan I was 159 lbs, the best I've achieved post-op, and only then did I almost begin to see the glimmer of a body that I could feel proud of and confident in, and even then I was angry at my overhanging bulgy pudenda. I have that pain in my back still, I have a corresponding pain in the middle of my right side ribcage now, persistent. I have no appetite and feel constipated but don't think I am. I pretty much just drink coffee and eat a couple of bites of food when I get home, before collapsing in bed. Yesterday I drank several coffees, ate a small biscotto, and a few bites of salad. Without love, life has no meaning or purpose. I realize I am a slave to my chemistry, whatever enzymes or hormones or chemicals washing over my brain, there is no "true" emotion, it is all a result of the chemical cocktail bathing your brain atm. I am on an outstanding amount of Vitamin D, as well as B, as well as an anti-depressant, and I still feel totally hopeless and fatalistic. --------------------------- Chemistry can be a Bi*ch. So hard to fight. Perspective can be such a game changer... and our perspective seems immutable, and constant in the long moment... but that is the illusion of Mara. Every moment is charged with the possibility of change... Good? Bad? are both fleeting.... a fly thinks sh*t is the best dinner EVER. The sh*t has not changed, only the perspective. There is opportunity every where. The world is full of women who weigh societies perfect weight and hate their lives. Where does happiness really lay? Its the holy grail. Perhaps you need a spiritual journey?

Love that photo.. so true!

Its funny, I have been afraid of doing this for years, then I just over road the fear.... its still there in my body, but my mind just decided to go ahead and try to be as prepared and safe as possible. I'm buying the best armored gear that I can afford, and taking classes one and off before I go... Its a little bit of a "mid......make that late life crisis" I want to fit in at least one more crazy adventure if not more.... Me too ladies! Try it, use the cream Soups, it really helps you feel like you are full and satisfied. Its a crap shoot... I have been to one palm reader in India that everyone said was the best, and he was pretty spot on about the future. Only charged $2 !

Oh my! I have a knee thats going south... I will have to do something some day too.... Best thoughts your way.... check in and let us know how its doing! I would be nervous too.... its stress even if you are happy you are getting it "fixed". Best of luck dear! Well all... after 16 hours on two different bikes, and some class time, I have my field test passed and done. Now I just have to do the DMV written test and I will have my motorcycle license. My stress has gone down a bit after getting that done.... I still need to take more classes for sure, and practice practice practice! Shooting for the Arctic circle next year if all goes well.

Sleeve!!! So nice to see you again! I'm up a little too.....have done the pouch test twice and both time found it to be really good for a few pounds off and a fresh start. I focused on the thick hearty soups and that helped a lot to stay on track. Lost 8 pounds both times. Now, to just stay on track afterwords!

I am so jealous! It's really nice to get out of the comfort zone and see with new eyes for a change. Im looking forward to some adventures sooner than later as well. Italy! Would love to go there again..... So sad.... He was a good boy. Sometimes things happen that the men just cant fix, even if they will it as hard as they can.... So sorry Sheryl.... I have little Sukie buried in the back yard....I still go out and tell her I love and miss her, and hope her new life somewhere is good. Well, I took my first two motorcycle lessons.... and this weekend (today and tomorrow) will take the second two.... hope I can manage to get good enough to go through with getting my licence.... and LOTS more practice. I have been a anxiety ridden mess! Really trying to keep it calm and cool, applying extra measures and things are a little better. I assume its the motorcycle thing... even though I am having a blast..... I am on a mission to get to Alaska next year, and have a long way to go before I am ready.... getting my license is just the first step! We will be crossing Washington if I get that far.... perhaps we can camp in your yard Sheryl? Sorry I have been slack in checking in..... brain is FULL to the brim. Take care all.... I will checkin after this weekend and let you know if I need to go for more professional lessons or if I am ready to get my license!

Jorge, congratulations on your weight loss and keeping most of it off for 3 years! That 20 pound bounce is harder and harder to get off for me too... I keep trying though... really don't want to gain more!

Cathy, http://5daypouchtest.com/ this is the plan I "follow". I put that word in quotes because being a vegetrian, I improvise a bit. As you see, there are a few recipes that don't look like "diet" fair at all. fatty, creamy, Soups that resemble stews included in the first two days... I make something like that... I don't formally count calories while doing this... I make mushroom soups, spit pea, bean soups, and even a fake meat and potato stew this time... I also include Protein Drinks for Breakfast. Even though it is not very low carbs, it is lower than what I normally eat, and I find I jump over the carb monster in the first two days, then I just eat more firm Proteins as the days go on. I can try and try to get back on a plan to get the loss going again, and I have to say, this plan gets that going for me.... I like it. When I stop eating this way, I will gain the weight back.... but Im going at it with the intent to keep more of the principles in place. I have lost 7 pounds in the last week, my pants are looser (hurrah) I have lost quite a bit of my head hunger, and find myself wanting to eat because I actually need to.... I have not been strict about it... I did make chocolate (gluten and sugar free) mug cakes the other day that were delish... and drank a half of a Margarita and some champagne last night at a big party at the local Museum, and still lost a half a pound this morning (I did dance for almost 3 hours...). We have had no bread in the house this week... I say its worth a try, and doesnt have to be too strict... eat the hardy fair, it helps keep you feeling satisfied. Sheryl... I went through lots of therapy... some conventional and some not... My issue was pinned to being born premature, and put into an incubatorfor 10 days. My mom was told that I would not survive by the Doc... she was afraid to bond with me, and I was left mostly to the nurses. I "remember" through hypnosis, the cold hands and rubber gloves.... feeling like I really wanted to live when I was born, then was confronted with this cold and sterile environment.... My mother and father loved me very much, but I was just a little detached with them. I had the idea that they didn't want me to be warm and huggie... Mom used to tell me that I didn't hold my hands up to be picked up by her...which made her feel like she wasnt wanted by me, that was not true, but I didn't know that. I still have some insecurity about being able to be friends with people... just like with my family, I love and feel attached, but do not reach out readily. I don't want to be a bother.... I have grown out of this quite a bit, and reach out more... but the drop of insecurity is still there....drugging myself with food was filling that insecurity for sure... and still rears its ugly head. I can almost always trace my impulse eating to emotions.

How did your Nut visit go on the 6th?

Thanks...

... by the way, where is the post about the 2 1/2 weeks and I can eat anything at?

Craig is going to get me a Suzuki DR650, which is suitable to use as an adventure bike. If I really like it, I will get a "personality" bike, like maybe a classic Moto Guzzi or something like that. The DR650 has almost a cult status among some groups... a reliable and easy to ride work horse, on road or off.

.Hi Feedyoureye, can I ask what your stats are? And if you don't mind, you're age? Just curious. I love how involved you are on the sight after five years and still doing so well. Sometimes when the newness wears off so does the enthusiasm. I'm 53 and I just never want to go back to where I was. I'm pretty sure I won't but this just reaffirms this is a lifetime journey SW 260 lowest weight after surgery, 170 (took me 3 years to get there) stated goal 170-173 bad year where my mom died, my little dog died and developed bone spurs in my right knee.... current weight 195 still working on it... would love to get the weight down a bit again... I am a vegetarian, I am currently 62 years old, 5'9", large boned. I take a bellydance class twice a week, walk twice a week, and kayak or hike or something once a week. I do not do very low carbs, never did.... I do take my Vitamins, don't always drink enough Water but keep trying to, when I use fit bit and myfitnesspal I am more successfull than if I do not. I do a partial fast twice a week (the 5:2) I still want to answer the call to adventure and I'm going to try and get my motorcycle license next week. You can never fully forget that you need to keep on track. Its boring, disappointing and unpredictable.... I fall off the wagon weeks at a time, but I really try not to forget... and get back on track. I don't want to make change that I can't keep doing... that leads to yoyo. so, no fad diets. No cutting out things I like completely. I try to eat more veggies all the time, find things I really like that make me feel good and are really healthy choices. I try and drown out the crap eating with lots of good eating. This forum is my society. When I leave it, I start to forget where I am.

I'm back. It appears I just dropped out for a couple of weeks. I did go camping in Yosemite for 4 days, and again to an adventure motorcycle conference (camping again for 3 days) just over the hill from Yosemite valley in the home of the "Mother Lode", Mariposa. I got back 3 pounds heavier, at 199.8.... what a shock.... at least it wasn't 200! I got onto the 5 day sleeve test right away and have lost 5 pounds in 4 days... hope to keep up some better habits.... Hubby wants to lose 50 pounds... he is a newby weight losser.. and is glomming onto all the crappy weight loss plans like God is talking to him. He wants me to go along with them, but I really have to do it my way after trying so many diets in my life. Sarah, so happy to hear the promising news about your dad.... I love hearing about the knees and the hips.... my knee is going off..... the cortisone shot is mostly worn off... I think I will try the lube shot next... and my dance teacher is ramping up exercises to get my supporting muscles in better shape, bless her heart! Florinda, you must be sipping coffee right now, on some ancient street.... having fun? Sorry I have been gone so long... Cathy, Coops, Denise, Sheryl, Kelly, Sarah, Florinda.... Crazy news? Im going to take classes to get my motorcycle license next week. One step at a time... if I feel ok about it, confidente, I will take more lessons, then prep for some adventure motorcycling... maybe to Alaska. Adventure. I never thought I would do this, and here I am doing it. At 62. Go figure!

I find it is difficult to keep weight off with WLS as well, probably for the same reasons it was difficult before surgery, however there is still a much better chance to keep some weight off with surgery, which puts us ahead. At nearly 5 years, I have gained about 25% of my lost weight back (it took me 3 years to get to goal). Having a really hard time getting it to budge... eat between 700-1400 cals a day WHEN I LOG. I still exercise 4-5 days a week. This is still a big success for me, compared to my many efforts in the past. At this point, even with all that, I have still lost more weight than my Dr. originally thought I would.