lsereno

Another thing is the fast weight loss releases a ton of hormones into your system. You will feel better soon. In the meantime, get in your fluids and Protein and walk. It helps. Lynda

Before WLS, I promised myself a bike if I could get under 200 lbs. I got close, ordered the bike and promptly gained 20 lbs. back. But I rode the bike anyway. It's a lot easier with more than 100 lbs less of me. I guess goal is a good enough gift on its own. But I had lots of gifts and mini goals along the way. I was just looking at the list the other day. lynda

Are you kidding me? The car is a goal gift? Sorry but you're gonna have to pick me up next time we go to the F2F support group, or at least give me a quick ride before we call it a night! Lynda

Wow! You look great! Congratulations. I do think it is good to visit the past now and then. For me, it took awhile before I "saw" myself at the new weight, so I would look at my pics and not see the difference much. Now, I'm like: Who was that - oh! It's me! Lynda

OK! It's on the list.

My vote is for tracking. You can make it as easy as you'd like. I keep a white board on the fridge and periodically track calories, Protein, and Fluid there. Early out, I used a little notebook with times foods, amounts, and fluid intake. When I switched to the white board I used it every day while in Weight loss mode. Now at goal, I only track when I feel out of control or my weight hits 137 (2 lbs above goal). I have been at goal about 15 months, but I'm still learning how to eat to maintain. Lynda

Well when I look at that picture I see a skinny, good looking woman who is in a mood about something! Keep working on that self talk. It's just mean! Take a good look at your pic: You are rockin' those collarbones! And to top it all off, you are an inspiration and rock to so many here! I think you know my fav thoughts on this, but I'll say them again: What would you tell your best friend? (Thanks cognitive behavior therapy!) You can't hate yourself thin. (Thanks Elina!) Self soothing doesn't have to be self-destructive. (Thanks Writer Girl!) I do think as the years go by, the food cravings are going to lighten up. At least, that's what I keep telling myself. I know it's true about cigarettes. I quit in 1991. I still want one every once in a while, but it's not like it was the first few months and years. Lynda

Not sure the answer, but I have heard this same thing on Obesity Help VSG forum where there are also a few that are 3+ years out. We have so few people that are more than 3 years out and still at goal or trying and still on the boards, it's hard to tell. The general thought seems to be around year 3 it gets harder to lose the weight if any creeps back on. I've been wondering if it is because we actually have some malabsorption because they food passes so fast through our tinier sleeve and that as time goes by, the small colon gets more efficient at pulling nutrients from this food. I've been looking for studies that back that up, but I haven't found any yet. Lynda

Yeah I have avoided a blog for the same reason, but I recently started one here so I have one place with answers to frequently asked questions. It saves me time from hunting up a previous answer. I think a blog with helpful info is good even if isn't frequently updated or even if it is later abandoned. I've posted in the What did you eat today thread and will be posting there for a few days till my weight is back at 135. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/79628-what-did-you-eat-today/ Thanks for your help. Lynda

Deleted accidental second post of same info

OK, I've been eating too much of something. Weight is the top of the bounce range today: 137 (confession: I ate two ballpark hotdogs, 1 oz. BBQ chips, and 1/3 C. chili with cheese and onions instead of my planned dinner last night) So today, it's all good, no junk. 895 calories and 74 grams of Protein. And I will be tracking fluids. When I get back to 135, I will be tracking in maintenance a little better to see where the problem is. I know some people don't want to think about food this much, but I am grateful to be at goal and I'd rather think about food now than think about it after I have more to lose. B: 1 slice WW bread, 2 oz. 98% fat free ham (110 calories, 13 g. protein) S: Iced Decaf Soy Latte (I use Starbucks instant decaf, mix with cold soy milk and then blend with a few ice cubes.) (9 grams of protein) L: 1/2 cup chopped lettuce, 1/4 cup chopped tomato, 1 green onion, 1/4 avocado, 2 oz. low fat turkey lunch meat, 1 slice WW bread, toasted and chopped into croutons, 1 T. light ranch dressing mixed with 1 T. Fage 0 (235 calories, 13 grams protein) S: I cup watermelon cubes (80 calories, 0 grams of protein) D: 1 Bistro Sensations chicken Sausage, 1/3 ear corn, 1/2 cup sauteed summer squash cooked with 1 t. olive oil (195 calories, 16 grams protein) S: shake of 1 cup Fage 0 Greek Yogurt, Splash of OJ, 2 strawberries, splash of Water, and Splenda (150 calories, 23 grams of protein

Thanks Writer Girl! I would love to be able to find all your wonderfully written posts in one location. Would you consider starting a blog here and copying them to your blog? I missed this topic the first time around. It's especially timely for me today. I'm at the top of my bounce range and I have cut back and re-evaluate how I've been eating. I'm sure all of the behaviors you have so aptly described are to blame. Lynda

Any lowfat meat, fish, or poultry is good. I've listed a few of my favs below, along with the other high Protein foods I enjoy. 1% Fat Cottage Cheese: 1/2 cup has 81 calories and 14 grams of protein Fage 0 Greek Yogurt: 1/2 cup has 65 calories and 12 grams protein 98% Fat Free Ham Lunchmeat (Costco brand) and many other low fat lunchmeats: 25 calories per ounce and 5 grams of protein Most cooked chicken breast meat: 46 calories and 9 grams of protein per ounce Dungeness Crabmeat: 30 calories and 6 grams of protein per ounce Cooked Shrimp: 25 calories and 5 grams of protein per ounce Dennison's 98% Fat Free Chili (now marketed as Fat Free Chili): 1/2 cup has 105 calories and 10 grams of protein Anderson Split Pea Soup with Bacon: 1/2 cup has 70 calories and 5 grams of protein Frigo Lowfat string cheese: 50 calories and 7 grams of protein BabyBel Light Cheese: 50 calories and 6 grams of protein eggs ( I don't like eggs but I can't leave them out of this list!): 80 calories and 6 grams of protein Soy Milk or Non-fat Milk: 8-9 grams of protein and 80-90 calories per 8 o Beef Jerky: Obertos is 80 calories and 13 grams of protein ounce.

Deconstruct the recipes to take out the starch. For example, make the Pasta sauce, but use less oil and don't serve it over pasta. Up the meat content (whatever it is so it's more Protein dense). Lynda

shrimp, crab, crawdads: any of these should be on the appetizer menu. Order something your honey likes so he can eat the rest if you can't finish it. Enjoy an iced tea or still Water with a splash of cranberry juice and a squeeze of lime at a restaurant if you are full. Have fun! Lynda

Not sure who in your family is not on board, but I took my Mom to a support group and to one of my surgeon appts pre-op. She was scared of the surgery and that helped settle her fears. Lynda

Well I'm happy to say that I'm back to my regular AM schedule and have been since around 8 months out. Right after surgery, I had diarrhea and then when that went away I was often constipated until I could eat enough to get some fiber in. I had a brief fling with Metamucil but I hated drinking it. I relied on Colace during the constipation phase. Lynda

Maintenance mode. Weight was 136.5 this morning B: Soy Latte, then about an hour later 1 slice WW bread, 2 oz. 98% fat free ham, 1/2 large yellow peach (22 grams protein) L: 1/2 cup chopped lettuce, 1/4 cup grapefruit segments packed in Splenda, 1 green onion, 2 oz. diced pork chop mixed with a little Newmanns Own Lowfat Sesame Ginger Dressing, 1 oz. Special K whole grain crackers (17 grams protein) S: Iced Decaf Soy Latte (I use Starbucks instant decaf, mix with cold soy milk and then blend with a few ice cubes.) (9 grams of protein) D: 1 Bistro Sensations Chicken Sausage, 1/3 ear corn, 1/2 cup watermelon cubes (16 grams protein) S: 1/2 cup ice cream

Oh, and my husband doesn't like frozen food either. It's OK with me. Lynda

Hi Goochman: Take a look at some of your fav recipes and see if you can cut it way down, using only the meat and sauce. For example, chicken fajitas. Instead of making a big batch, just make one breast or couple of thighs, using the same seasoning. Then add a couple of bites of complimentary veggies if you have room. Sauteed summer squash with onions and cherry tomatoes? Or maybe just a little tomato sauce and a few meatballs? When I was early out, for dinner I generally grilled or sauted some kind of Protein with sauce, and threw a few veggies in the pan at the end. Individual chicken breasts (you already got this), but the same for chicken thighs (more moist), pork chops, fish fillets, frozen shrimp, and ground beef. Frozen vegetables: a few of my favs are roasted peppers, peas and carrots, whole green Beans, pearl onions, butternut squash cubes (can shake out just as much as you need). Fresh vegetables you can buy in small quantities. My summer favs are summer squash, lettuce, spinach, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers. I just use a tiny bit. I use a mandolin slicer on the summer squash and cut the cherry tomatoes in half or quarters. I buy the fresh spinach and lettuce from the bin so I can buy just a handful. Shelf stable sauces and condiments, such as soy sauce, sesame oil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar,Sriracha, or sweet chili sauce. For sauces that aren't shelf stable, but the smallest amount possible because it takes a while to use them. If you are eating starches, I like the Minute Maid brown rice and quinoa cups. Each container in the package has 1 cup. I use 1/3 cup at a time to add a grain to meals. oatmeal is great for the mornings. I eat 1/4 cup dry cooked with a little more than 1/2 cup Water. I also like whole grain crackers because they stay fresh better. Now that I am further out, I also enjoy whole grain bread. But it was a long time till I could eat it or the oatmeal. For lunch, tuna, lunch meat, low fat cheeses, and protein dense Soups are all good. Lynda

Amy, love your new profile pic. Lynda

No, but they are easier to find with only one chinny-chin-chin for them to hide on. Once you pass a certain age, I strongly recommend a magnifying mirror and a good pair of tweezers. Lynda

I have to admit, I sometimes just ignore posts where the person says " I've been eating <name the bad food> and I'm in a stall." But if I do reply, I try to answer in the kindest way possible because you can't hate yourself thin. I think you can provide a helpful answer without being mean or an enabler. But I haven't seen anything you've said that was mean. I also avoid fights. That's just me. I'm a runner, not a fighter. So if I provide a helpful answer and I get pushback, I don't get in a huff. Even if the OP is not ready for the info, it might help someone else. Lynda

Maintenance mode. Weight was 136.3 today. B: small peach, Sara Lee Whole Grain Mini Bagel, 1 oz. Harley Farms Soft Goat cheese, 1/2 tsp honey, 1 slice lowfat turkey L: 3/4 c. homemade chili (meat, Beans and tomatoes) S: 1 C. Lettuce, tomato, and 1/4 small avocado salad with dressing of 1 T. mayo and a little lemon juice, 1 oz. pretzels D: 3 oz. lean pork chop, 1/3 c. sauteed summer squash (includes 1 tsp olive oil), 1/3 cup mashed sweet potato S: 3/4 C. Fage 0 Greek Yogurt with Splenda and 1/3 c. blueberries, 1 oz. pretzels

If your surgery was done correctly, the sleeve is only going to stretch so much. Yes, it is better to keep it smaller so you eat less, but even if you eat more, it will only stretch so much. That is why everyone is addressing the head hunger, slider foods, and grazing. Those are the issues that will cause the weight loss to stop and regain to occur the fastest. My thoughts are with you jograves. One thing you might do is make a list of things you find soothing. When you are tempted to eat, look at your list and see if something there won't fill the need instead. My list includes calling a friend, applying lotion lip gloss and perfume (the good smell and feel really does me good!), playing a computer game, drinking a cup of tea with splenda, and playing with the dog. Lynda