BrownDoesAll

Jane, I don't envy your decision. I too hate my "bat wings" I never wear short or sleeveless clothes. always wanting to hid my arms is a pain. I've never looked into plastic surgery. I promised my hubby I wouldn't do that. Sorry if this is a dumb question, I have not looked into this.. but is there no other way to get rid of the "bat wings"? I suspect plastics is the only way. Have you seen pics of the scars? What does your surgeon say about the scars? For my two cents if your getting the other parts pulled together then finish up with the arms, I wonder if you don't you'll look at all the other areas that were done, and kick yourself if you don't do the arms as well.

Jane, I don't envy your decision. I too hate my "bat wings" I never wear short or sleeveless clothes. always wanting to hid my arms is a pain. I've never looked into plastic surgery. I promised my hubby I wouldn't do that. Sorry if this is a dumb question, I have not looked into this.. but is there no other way to get rid of the "bat wings"? I suspect plastics is the only way. Have you seen pics of the scars? What does your surgeon say about the scars? For my two cents if your getting the other parts pulled together then finish up with the arms, I wonder if you don't you'll look at all the other areas that were done, and kick yourself if you don't do the arms as well.

Georgia.. chocolate is my favorite. I always end my day with some chocolate in some form. Either SF pudding, power crunch bar, piece of quest bar, or SF fudge bar. I have found that too much chocolate late at night and I wake up with a headache in the morning. We have to have some joys in life and chocolate is one of my joys.

Georgia.. chocolate is my favorite. I always end my day with some chocolate in some form. Either SF pudding, power crunch bar, piece of quest bar, or SF fudge bar. I have found that too much chocolate late at night and I wake up with a headache in the morning. We have to have some joys in life and chocolate is one of my joys.

Great Job! you guys are so close to your goals. Maintenance should be a breeze. Do you think you'll do 6:1? I had a good non fast day, like a normal Saturday my daughter and I go shopping. We are planning my Aunt's 50th wedding anniversary party, planning centerpieces, favors and other decorations. I wear a pedometer daily, and walked over 7,000 steps today. Ended the day with salmon and green beans. Will start tracking food daily including the extra's

Great Job! you guys are so close to your goals. Maintenance should be a breeze. Do you think you'll do 6:1? I had a good non fast day, like a normal Saturday my daughter and I go shopping. We are planning my Aunt's 50th wedding anniversary party, planning centerpieces, favors and other decorations. I wear a pedometer daily, and walked over 7,000 steps today. Ended the day with salmon and green beans. Will start tracking food daily including the extra's

I've been reading these group posts for a while now and I feel I know all of you, but forgot you don't know me. I'm 56 married with three grown children, my daughter and her 2 year old son lives with hubby and I, as well as my youngest son , yes the house is pretty full. I'm in the US born and raised in NY, but living in Cincinnati for the past 15 or so years. Was sleeved in Nov 2011 start weight 330 pounds, did really good for a while, lost 75 pounds and got down to a size 18. I'm not exactly sure when it happened, but I started feeling this was good enough and old eating habits creeped in. Hubby began brining home chips and chocolate ( my favorite things to eat ) . Well the weight stopped coming off. I was actually so busy with life , as I usually am, I was really fine. I watched the scale and am at least proud to say I didn't gain any weight. All of last year I attempted a few times to focus and begin the weight loss again, but nothing ever stuck. I would go down 5 and back up.. Recently I've really wanted to get it going again. Not exactly sure what has spurred it. I think the scale reading 255 is starting to bother me and I'm ready to get it going again. I read about 5:2 on the internet, read the book and was thinking about trying it. Then when I saw some of us ( sleeved ) doing it I was in. I fast on Mondays and Thursdays. My fast begins on Sunday night after my last meal (really trying to get control of the night time eating ).. I have protein hot chocolate for breakfast on Monday, then green tea or crystal light until diner Monday night. If I'm really doing well and in control, nothing again until breakfast on Tuesday. So most fast days are 24 hours, from 7pm till 7pm. I'm at work when I fast so its pretty easy.. I stay busy. I take a no cal salad to work on those days, just in case I need it for lunch. On non fast days I admit I don't really track , just eat normal. high protein, veggies and low carbs with small portions. I still use my small sized plates. The down fall is the darn night time grazing. The fast days are helping me get that under control. My sleeve still has restriction especially after fast days (I wonder why???) I can tell when I'm physically full and still get sick if I push it.. The tool works. Its the head that doesn't always work. I know if I eat too much at night I'll be nauseous the next day and that knowledge stops me most days.. Oh yeah. I'v been doing 5:2 for 5 weeks and have only lost 2 pounds. So I'm not doing something right. Well that's me in a nut shell. BrownDoesAll came from my life. I'm mom, wife, grandma, boss, faithful daughter ( I care from my mom ).. and I do it all with a smile.. Love my family , Love my life , and I love me !! ( well most days!!)

Your both right!!.. focus that's what I need.. so let the tracking begin

Your both right!!.. focus that's what I need.. so let the tracking begin

Thanks for having me. I have followed this group for a very long time. You ladies are like family and that is so supportive and encouraging. I'm hoping this will help me focus with a daily check in. So thanks for having me. I think most know I"ve been on 5:2 for 5 weeks and have lost 2 pounds. Feel like it should be more, but working at it.

I'm two years out and eating anything I want. My portions are smaller and I always start with protein then veggies.. I have an occasional dessert. Stay focused on this time of the plan. You'll lose the most amount of weight during these next 4 - 6 months. I wish I had been more controlled during the beginning like your in. I promise your gonna be able to eat normally..just not as much as you used to. For example tonight I had steak and broccoli sugar free chocolate pudding for dessert.

Follow the advice of your NUT and surgeon.. stay on the planned phase.. don't move up in food phase until its okay'd. Most of all.. for the first few weeks don't worry. If you stick to the plan.. you will lose weight. Your body is recovering from surgery.. things are changing. Try to relax and concentrate on feeling stronger to you can begin to excersise. You will be really surprised at how quickly the weight and inches will fall off. Word of advice.. when it does start moving stay on track.. now is the time to lose the most amount of weight you can. Relax.. and stay on plan.

Finally, I can post in the vet forum. I read these posts nightly and are all inspiration. I've recently gotten back in the game. After surgery in NOv 2011 and losing 75 pounds, I'm ready to keep it moving again. After struggling with my weight for years and years, the surgery was a blessing for me.. got me down out of the 300's.. I'm proud of myself for keeping the 75 pound off, but its time to use the tool, focus and get out of the 200's .. who's with me?

Kristie.. your such an inspiration from 338 to 180 way to go.. Please, Please see this as an accomplishment..see that journey as a success. Join me in the 5:2 plan.. That plus your aggressive workout, I'm sure you'll get to your goal. BTW.. I'm sure you hear this a lot.. you look marvelous!!

M2G Yes.. I've been doing 5:2 and in my 5th week. I've lost 2 pounds since I started. Fast days are mostly easy. Lots of green tea.. I think if I stick with it i'll be well on my way. My first focus it to control the night time grazing, really bad habit I have to control for the sake of my long term health. I've sent Laura-ven a message asking to join the group.

My Thursday fast day was fine. Fast days are still easy. Start the day with hot chocolate protein drink, then green tea when I feel hungry. then around noon or 1PM I have a no cal salad.. just the greens and a small amount of dressing. That fills me up and I'm good to go until diner. I'm pretty busy at work so I typically don't think about food. Then when I get home I'm good with diner, I cook for the family. Last night was delicious salmon, easy to cook, no fuss.. along with noodles for the hubby and green beans . Easy . I had my fill of salmon. Watched Scandal..one of my favorite TV shows!!.. drank some Diet Green tea.. Should have been the end of it.. BUT NO WAY!!.. for some reason the brain said.. gotta have something else.. What else can you eat.?? What else can you eat?? Good planning for me.. I don't keep a lot of junk foods in the house. What little does come in.. my family has learned to hide from me.. which is great. outta sight , outta mind. But those darn Power Crunch bars are always there.. The are protein 12g, 10 carbs, but 200 calories. Not good to add on my low cal fasting days. But they are CHOCOLATE.. one of my weaknesses. So my brain says.. Okay.. you've been so good, have half and save the rest for later. I do that.. I get the taste in my mouth of the chocolate.. and Its all over.. Half becomes the whole thing. (brain.. you've been good.. this wont be bad). The whole then becomes a small bag of cheese gold fish. Salty always follows sweet. Then sweet must follow salty and a perfectly good day becomes a fail!!.. Then I am frustrated and angry with myself. The good news is.. God gives us a new day.. A day to start over and try to get it right. I am trying.. God knows I'm trying. Just gotta keep working on the evening brain thing. I'm going to try to join the 5:2 group. Those ladies post daily. check in with each other..Maybe that will help me, trying to be accountable to someone. When I get the urge to snack at night, i'll try to post. Just say no Brown!! Just say no!!..

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm looking forward to joining the 5:2 group. Just sent my request to Laura-ven. Hoping a daily checkin will help keep me on track. My daughter and I took new pics last night, and I should begin to celebrate and acknowledge the achievement. My profile pic is pretty old. Looking at the old me makes me sad, so I'm gonna change my pic to look at the current me. Stay in the now.. and keep moving. Now if I could just figure out the right combination of eating that will get the weight loss started again. I eat high protein , veggies and low carbs. I still eat small portions. I track my food, but not all the time. I now the night time grazing is a factor. Working the 5:2 is helping me gain some control over that. I figure one thing at a time. That's my current focus.. Following the 5:2 plan and stopping the grazing at least two nights a week. Then I'll work my way up. Other ides? except excersise. that will be the very last resort. The last piece of the puzzle. Oh Gosh!! not the gym!!

I have been following the 5:2 plan for eating, and recently shed 2 pounds. Strange experience.. I had a great fast day on Friday.. Fast days are not really hard for me, when I'm at work. I stay so busy time goes by and cups of green tea or crystal light get me through until the one meal for diner. If I get hungry before that I eat a salad with a bit of protein. The strange part was the next day. Saturday is typically a shopping day for my daughter and I. We simply love the malls and shopping.. or just looking for things we'd like to buy. Recent trips have been to find a dress for a 50th wedding anniversary I am hosting for my favorite Aunt and Uncle. Normally I put on my sneakers (gym shoes) and can walk and walk and walk. I wear a pedometer daily my normal step count is about 5000 steps a day (I am an IT manager and typically sit at my desk most days) but on Saturdays I typically average 9000 steps easy with no problem. However this Saturday I was in pain, total agony after 5,000 steps. My knees were killing me!! I could not explain the reason for the pain. I had not felt like that since before the surgery in 2011 when I weighed 330 pounds. I've not had knee pain for over two years I'm not sure what caused that.. I can only attribute it to water retention in my knees. Still I will forge on. More determined than ever to get under 200 pounds. Making my goals 10 pounds at a time. .

Totally the same for me. I am a rock star during the day. I can say no at work ( most times ) to the donuts and goodies staring me in the face all day. I can say no to the impulse buys in the check out line at the grocery store . But when I get home its hard to say no after hours. After I've eaten a good healthy meal, protein and veggies, then waiting 30 minutes for something to drink ( yes I still follow that rule too ) , then around 9pm something crazy happens and I go into the kitchen and must put something in my mouth. Why do we do that? Why does our brain wanna do that. URGH.. so frustrating.. If I could get past that hump, getting these next 50 pounds off might be easier. So Mokee.. I am right there with you and I'm sure 100s more of us are too.

This time of the year is the time I really enjoy cooking. I'll do my typical US thanksgiving Turkey, stuffing, veggies, cornbread, sweet potatoes, gravy all the good stuff. The hard part for me is the tasting during the cooking. I know I said once on a previous comment.. stop tasting or only taste once. Thanksgiving diner is my exception.

I think your body needs protein all the time. are you asking when do you know your physically hungry.. that's much harder to know. I've learned to eat on a planned schedule then allow myself the occasional protein based snack. Anything in between the scheduled times to eat is head hunger and try to avoid that. Any one agree?

Glad to hear your not freaking out.. stay strong.. stay focused.. keep that attitude and follow the plan..you'll do fine.. Good Luck!

Entering week 5 of the 5:2 plan and my focus to move down. I've started feeling like a failure, having had the surgery almost two years ago and still I weigh 255 pounds. If I had it to do over again I would have kept going once I hit that first 3 month stall. I would not have settled for size 18.. now a comfy size 16 dress. I'm still satisfied with not having gained any weight. But now I am focused to keep going down. 255 pounds is not a healthy weight for my age.. heck for any age . So the focus is back on. Having had the surgery I have better eating habits (except for the night time grazing when I'm not fasting). I still eat smaller portions. I still keep carbs low. It's the head and mind battles. Well facing another day.. its Thursday and I fast today. I'm focused

Its been 3 months and 33 pounds down since by sleeve. I feel its going slow. but I am in the mind of slow and steady wins the race. As long as the number and my size continues to go down I am happy. However, I wonder if my family is as supportive as they say they are. Yesterday my hubby, a bit overweight himself, proudly bought in a platter full of chocolate and vanila cupcakes. These cupcakes were given to him by a mom he teaches karate to. This lady often gives my hubby backed goods, which in itself is another topic. When presented with this plate full of goodies, I asked, "Dear why would you not leave those in your dojang (karate school), there is a fridge there and you could share those with your students and other moms", to this he replied, "I thought you'd like some". Then began the discussion of my journey to a smaller, healthier, happier me, which did not include a plate full of cupcakes. No sooner did I finish that discussion with hubby and he agreed to leave these goodies from where they came. My son came home and happily presented me with a large chocolate chip cookie from the place he works. I LOVE LOVE those cookies and had not had one in a very very long time. So as I was eating that delicious cookie (I had lost all will power at that time), I had to explain to my son, Ilove you for thinking of me, you know how much I LOVE LOVE these cookies, but please don't bring anymore home. I have no will power against these and really want to complete my weight loss journey. Now. I ask you is this sabatog? Does my hubby and son (the only other two living in the house at this time), want me to go back to the old ways. Maybe they were happier when I was brining in these type of goodies. I must admit the pantry is no longer stocked with chips, cookies, brownies etc. Now they find more fruits and veggies and anything no carb I can find to snack on. Maybe they really want things back the way they were?

Loving the smiles. Way to go!! Stay strong, stay focused you'll make goal In due time!!