lsereno

I freeze leftovers in sandwich baggies. Easy to thaw and I add frozen to soups.. Lynda

I like the ranch dressing mix with Ff Greek yogurt for a veggie dip. The low fat laughing cow wedges are a good spread for sandwiches too. Lynda

I have to exercise or I suffer from depression. It's a sad state of affairs because I hate exercise, but that's the way it is for me. I walk 3 times per week for about an hour and feel even better if I throw in a couple of 45 minute strength training classes. I took an antidepressant for several years but after I began exercising, I was able to stop them and I felt better than I did with the meds. Mine started pre-menopause. I do think there is also emotional work to be done since I no longer eat my feelings. I found Cognitive Behavior Therapy the most helpful for that. Lynda

I stock the house with healthy on-plan foods and Snacks. Before each meal, I select from what I have on hand. I eat around a general plan: Breakfast: 1 non-fat dairy or soy milk, 1 whole grain starch, 2 oz. lean Protein, 1 fruit Lunch: 2-3 oz. lean protein, 1 whole grain starch, non-starchy vegetables Dinner: 3-4 oz. lean protein, 1 whole grain starch, non-starchy vegetables I have another serving of fruit as a snack sometime during the day and a treat in the evening before bed.

I cut regular mayo with fat free Greek yogurt if I'm using more than a tablespoon. Lynda

So excited to finally see this! Heard about it last summer and have bee. Waiting Ll this time. Lynda

I know my sodium is high. Mainly from ham and costco rotisserie chicken. When my mom is visiting, I cook chicken to reduce sodium and skip the ham. I'm too lazy to do that all the time though. Lynda

So I've been at goal for nearly two years and have all new clothes except my winter robe. It was kinda small on me at my heaviest weight and until this winter I hadn't noticed that it was way too big. I just wrapped it around me. Finally I noticed it was wrapping clear to my backside and asked hubby for a new one. We opened our presents a little early and it was kinda emotional taking off the last of my fat clothes and putting on my new robe in size small. The fabric is thinner too. I was shocked at how tiny I look in the robe compared to my old one. So in case you are wondering, even a few years out, there are still some mental adjustments here and there. I feel really pretty in my new robe, but a little vulnerable without my extra padding. It's funny because when I look in the mirror while naked or in any other clothes, I don't feel small, just normal. Here's to a happy and healthy 2014 at goal! Lynda

I had acid reflux. Lynda

I suggest using an eating plan to regain. During times of stress, I have to have a plan or goals don't get met. Pick a calorie goal, design a meal plan that meets it, and stick with it. For example, goal of 1500 calories per day. 500 calories before lunch, 500 before dinner, and 500 for dinner and evening snack. Use high calorie foods you enjoy, such as nuts, Peanut Butter, ice cream, healthy fats like avocado, and full fat dairy. You will probably need to eat three meals and three Snacks to get there. Lynda

Gretchen Rubin's (The Happiness Project) take on abstinence is to put it with a positive spin For example, now I'm free from french fries, not I can't ever eat a french fry: http://www.gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2013/01/want-to-be-free-from-french-fries-or-why-abstaining-may-be-easier-than-you-think/ Thanks for a thought provoking article. Great news to see you are at goal these many years later. You're my hero. Lynda

I take one daily and have for quite awhile now. I took them first six months, then didn't have much of a problem, but acid crept back in last year and I now take it daily. Certain foods and drinks will still get me. I still don't do tortillas, esp. flour ones and spaghetti gets me every time too. I rarely eat noodles and I think that might be it. Or maybe the italian sausage in my spaghetti sauce. Lynda

I eat rice now but it was quite awhile post-op before I could tolerate it well. I've forgotten how long, but I think it was after the first year. I generally eat brown rice, but occasionally I eat white rice too. Lynda

I eat bread. I live in Nor Cal, home of fabulous bread. Early out, I ate a few bites of crust as an occasional treat. Later, when I could tolerate the soft inside part, I ate a small piece as a treat occasionally. Now that I'm far enough out I can eat a well-rounded diet instead of just Protein and a bite or two of veggies if I'm lucky, I often eat whole grain bread (1 slice) as a Breakfast or lunch sandwich. Lynda

Congrats and Happy First Sleevisversary! I do love our online group. I think it's partially because it's worldwide, so there are many more viewpoints than the handful I get at F2F meetings. Alex does a great job of finding articles and info on WLS and sharing them too, so I always feel up on the latest. Lynda

I went to my nieces graduation about four weeks out. My suggestion? Eat before you go. If the host likes people to bring things and you're cleared for some foods, bring some kind of party food you can eat. Shrimp cocktail or crab cocktail are good options. Don't sit by the food. Chat up family and friends. And if they know, be prepared for lots of questions, some quite silly. One of my friends told me "I thought you had weight loss surgery" I could tell by the look on her face she thought it meant having a lot of fat cut off in the operating room. We had a good laugh over that! Lynda

My stomach was swollen and sore post op for more than a month. I didn't even wear pants around the house. Just a gown and robe. I did wear stretchy pants outside Lynda

I am almost three years out and I eat whole grain carbs. I couldn't eat more than a few bites till somewhere after year one. Everything sits pretty well now except flour tortillas. Even a few bites is too much. But I often have a sandwich for lunch on one slice of whole wheat bread. I and often eat 1/4 cup oats cooked in 3/4 cup Water at Breakfast. With dinner, I often have 1/2 cup of brown rice, sweet potato or irish potato. I occasionally eat white bread, pizza Pasta or white rice. Lynda

One word. Fruit. I think it was a naturally thin child and teen because we never had junk in the house. We always had fruit. No sweets, chips or soda. I know now it's because my mom gains weight easily with that stuff around, but when I was little, that's just the way it was. We did eat junky food, but only while out or at a party. Lynda

Yes, that's one of my keys to success. I don't bring in what I can't control. I have a few food items that just scream my name if they are here. If I really want them I eat them while out. Or, I have it at hone when giving a party and send the leftovers home with someone.

Maybe you can call and get a prescription for the shingles med over the phone. I don't think it would hurt you if you don't have shingles. lynda

Just keep working it. I don't recommend having much wiggle room. For me, wiggle room lets me overeat till I hit the new high weight I've decided is OK for me. Ever vigilant, ever at goal is working for me so far. If I'm not vigilant, I'm not at goal. I still love to eat junk and snack between meals so I have to keep an eye on that behavior so it's a treat, not a day to day thing. Lynda

Not sure on the device apps, but from your web browser, click my photo next to my reply to view my profile. Once there, click the Galleries link on the left side to view photos I've posted. Lynda

I'm 5'6" and 135 now. I wear a size 6 or small in most clothes from Target, Walmart, Macys, and Ross Dress For Less. I'm small boned and small chested but I do have wide hips. You can see how that weight looks on me in the pics in my gallery. Everyone is different. I would follow your post op plan and evaluate you goal weight again as you get closer. If you are comfy with a goal of 175, set that as your goal and when you get there you can decide if that's where you want to be or if you'd prefer to lose more. My Dr. told me that once we get to overweight BMI it's more important to our health to exercise than get to a lower BMI. She had some chart that showed overweight BMI people who exercised were healthier than normal BMI people who didn't exercise. Lynda

I'm 5'6" starting weight 254 and I've been at 135 almost two years. At 19 I weighed 118. I set my goal weight higher because I'm nearly 60 and I didn't think the smaller size would look good on me now. Your starting weight is higher so I suspect you may have more weight in extra skin when you get to goal. Mist doctors are happy if you get to overweight BMI. 135 puts you at 21.8 BMI squarely in the middle of normal. I followed my plan closely, eating lean Protein, nonfat dairy, no starchy veggies and fruit in that order. I didn't eat any grains for several months following surgery and when I do eat them it's mostly whole grains. In maintenance, I eat around 1200 calories per day. Lynda