CowgirlJane

Julia - what kind of trail rider are you? I ride horses pretty much exclusively a trail rider these days! I think Quest are the most palatable for the nutrition profile. Premier Protein bars don't taste very good but are high protein. I think Protein Bars are fine, but I give my standard warning to not let them become too much of a "habit". Over time, I realized I was sort of abusing them, using them almost like a candy bar substitute - I like the Quest ones that much. Quest bars are cheaper if you can find a special and buy them by the box, but I learned that I can't have something that tasty in the house, in large quantities and not expect me to eat 1-2 per day which is just more than I need. When my weight loss stalled around 7-8 months out my NUT immediately zeroed in on my behavior with those bars and she was right. Now, I do sometimes use a quest bar as a meal substitute, but I buy 1-2 to have on hand, not one or two boxes.

Welcome! You should start a thread and introduce yourself to everyone. Those steriods are bad for putting weight on, I have confidence you will get this regain off now that you are well. In general, I have been really healthy too. I thought maybe I had caught a mild cold until it became obvious I could no longer ignore the chills and fever and body aches. So this is always an interesting question. I am much better today but I had basically 3 days of overeating (compared to my normal) and then yesterday I was hardly hungry - almost like a balancing out day. Today, so far, I feel normal. I think my body really did want more food. I felt AWFUL and could not even muster the energy to do my easy go to foods. After eating the greek yogurt in the house I found myself eating the old easy carby foods. You know, a little cold Cereal by the handful. There was some disgusting microwavable mac and cheese thing I buy for the boys that I even ate (Easy Mac or something). That was absolutely atrocious and I will never buy that for them again now that I have sampled it. My son brought home a pizza and cheesy bread. Because I was feeling so bad, I wasn't making proper meals. I think this can be a good reminder for me how important it is to "eat right" because once you start wandering down a grazing, haphazard way of eating - anything can happen. Good news is that now that the fever is broke and I am just left with a cough, low energy and a stuffed up nose, I am back to eating my normal way and feel no desire to eat that crappy good. I really think alot of it was just that grazing/never quite satiated/don't feel good enough to address it properly thing.

Some of us went through some pretty wild emotions the first few months post op. I believe it is largely attributed to the hormones released out of the fat with rapid weight loss. What I tried to do is not make any big decisions. Sounds like your big decision needed to happen... but my advice is to just stabilize for a bit because it is normal to feel pretty chaotic even if you don't have big changes. Sorry you are having to go through this.

I tried a fitbit and it registered "activity" when I was sitting at my desk. I think everytime I fidget or reach for something it registers it. I declared it bogus and returned it for a refund. I suspect the old style pedometers are more accurate, but people love their fitbits! Anyway as a person with a desk job, it is frankly hard to get 7 miles in without going for a run which my knee can't do... Well, I have regained nearly 5# since being sick. Still in the 150s but dang it! That was fast. I got so hungry and felt too sick to cook so I was eating crap like breakfast cereal and even had pizza. I am much improved but still coughing. What I know from others it is easy for this flu to become a secondary illness so being careful to not overdo it as I recover. I did stop by my friends where my horses are living temporarily. I am not sure, but I think they might be trying to set me up with someone. I like the idea of meeting someone through mutual friends but he is the brother of my good friend (male) girlfriend. So might be too close because if things dont work out, I am definitely the loser in that situation (girlfriend's brother triumphs palpal I think). Given the nature of these things, factors like this must be considered! I dunno, maybe I am reading it wrong because he didn't actually ask me out and in fact was not even directly flirting but I still sorta think something is up. Well back to work after a fairly crappy couple of days. Watched several odd and not widely known shows from Netflix. witching and bitching - group of idiots (with a child in tow) rob a bank and try to flee only to be trapped by a coven of witches. Spanish film, action, dark comedy, battle of the sexes, secrect gay lovers, psuedohorror,and subtitles all in one! Four Lions is a British film about some Pakistan men living in London who decide to become terrorists. It is funny,sad, and oddly sympathetic. I don't mean you sympathize with the acts of terror, more them as people. And how funny is it that they go to Pakistan to train, only to accidentally blow up their mentors on day one? Ok, I have a thing for black comedy. My friend is a firefighter and he told me over 50percent of the people in that career were messed up adrenalin junkies who wanted an in control way of experiencing that chaos...firefighting being perfect for it. I thought those young men in the movie were really "seekers" and fell into this by accident but could very well have become firefighters or something like that instead.

I thought I described where they are in my costco...apologies if I didn't. I posted pix too because if you ever have to ask where to find something..it can be a life saver! chicken skewers and the stuffed chicken patties are both fully prepared/cooked food found in the fridge in the same general area as the sandwich meat, sausages, that kind of thing - near the deli. I buy the frozen chicken tenders (boneless, approx 2-3 oz chicken breast can cook from frozen) but I have seen the packaged chicken breast somebody mentioned about 2 aisles over from the skewers. The refrigerated meat section. I think it gets confusing because they have more grocery store brands of sandwich meat, cheese etc in a refrigerated case in a different section of the store -over by the freezer. The items I am describing are near the fancy cheeses, fresh sauces, salamis, hummous etc. -over by the roast chicken and deli.

Just trying to be honest, you don't sound like a picky eater. Lots of people have a list of foods they eat routinely. I am so NOT a picky eater but my regular rotation isn't that much longer than yours. How about try adding some new veggies or a different way of preparing a veggie or chicken? The title of your post implies even you agree that eating"next to nothing" for 2weeks might not be healthy behavior - particularly given the reasons you mentioned. Having said that, I try to listen to my body and eat a bit more or less depending on the message. I cant tell if that is what you are talking about or if it's more food control type issues. If you look at it objectively, the difference is clear...one is healthy and one might not be. I recognize you felt 'LL did not understand you and perhaps I don't either.

Georgia- funny story about. MIL. It's either laugh or cry.

Note to self: next year, get a flu shot. I awoke optimistic..no tylonol for 6-7 hours and normal temperature. I was hopeful fever had broken. Now I feel horrible again which is sign fever is returned. It hurts to blink. I am tired of being in bed. I have a charlie horse/sore muscle in back that is killing me. I am fine but these are times when I wish I had someone to comfort me. Youngest is away for weekend oldest is germphobic. Reality is most men are terrible caregivers but my ex was at his best in situations like this. I miss having someone who acts like they care if I live.lol.

I have said it before...not the easy way out, the ONLY way out.

Ok.. it's officially the flu per my doctor. I never get fevers as I run cold but I am having to take drugs to stay under 101. Do not feel good..

I love all this too..my most recent is a used apparel shop that specializes in true designer clothes. I wear a much bigger size in these labels but the clothes are fabulous...I just don't look at the size tag. It is insane to put on a fully lined dress that was originally 500 bucks and it fits like it was made for me. Oh lordie, my shopping habit might be getting fired up again! I love clearance racks and stores like Ross. Nordys Rack can still be pricey but I bought a sweater there that just "makes" the outfit. I thought $60 was alot to pay for a sweater but it is my "go t o" piece so very worth it. .

So, I think WLS is a very good choice, but I do still cringe a bit at the very young, and even more so, the not very overweight. I get they have their reasons, but I sometimes feel that the serious nature of this business is not well understood. I am not talking about the direct surgical risk - I mean the unknowns of altering your body for a lifetime. For me, it was that or die young. If one of my sons (who are not obese, but one of them is slightly overweight) decided to do it, i would have a very strong opinion against it for them. Young people have metabolism on their side and genuinely believe that if anyone can make without surgery it is young people, particularly lower BMI. They are a good audeince for the "lifestyle" type programs like 20/20 that work on changing your healthy habits wholeistcally. I knew it was bad when the 2 year program i reached out to wouldn't take my money. Told me I didn't have a prayer without surgery- I was too obese for too long - my body had been changed by the obesity. Their honesty was one of the kicks in the gut I needed to revise from my failed band to the sleeve.

Studies I read (this was 3 years ago, so check for updates) that as much as 30% of sleevers need to be on PPI longer term. A few need to revise to bypass since it so severe. The thing is, it spikes between years 3-6 post op. I theorize because by then people are more likely to overeat/eat too fast. I never had GERD or reflux until i was banded and it was the combination of restriction with overeating/eating too late that did it. Other than the first few months post op with sleeve I have not had excess acid and knock on wood that continues. I thought long and hard about it. This is my SECOND WLS, I don't want to revise again! I decided to take the risk and so far no regrets (I am 3 years out) but it is one reason I really watch portions. If it is a real worry for you - look into the bypass - it is one of the benefits of that surgery.

I can't tell from what you have posted... but it looks to me like you have lost alot of weight relatively quickly for a woman... the body does seem to need to "catch up".Closer you get to goal, the slower it goes. I was losing like gangbusters still (by gangbusters I mean 10 or more pounds a month which is really good for a woman) but then i still had a lot to lose! It took me 14 months to lose 150 to get to goal. I had to change things up a few times to make that happen.

As you read these forums you will find your heartfelt fears are shared by many. I would encourage you to look at the big picture questions. Example, you will likely be unhappy not being able to turn to food for comfort.. do you welcome that big "upset" because you want to change? I liken it to the "bad boyfriend" who really gives you nothing in exchange for your devotion...but isn't so easy to walk away from. I am older and by the time I had my surgery I was so "over" food as a friend (lying, false friend) but it wasn't always easy..old habits fight back on their way out the door. Through the process I discovered it was easier for me to give up overeating than it was to give up obesity. Interesting..I NEVER expected THAT! I think this is why I went through more turmoil after goal than before. I am 3 years from surgery been maintaining my transformed body for two years now...it is so worth it but the real journey is much bigger than weight loss.

Man, I am having trouble shaking this cold. I started feeling a little off beginning of week, but quite sick by Wednesday. Wed, Thurs I went to bed uber early - basically worked half days... rest, fluids, low stress. In my past experience, by now I should be feeling better and just shaking off a stuffy head. Well, I am coughing alot, bad headache and the chills have returned... darn it! I don't really want to spend the weekend in bed alone with my netflix and pupster.

I was signing up alone when a girlfriend decided she wanted to go. We are traveling as solo travelers tho, not sharing a room. In the theme of when it rains it pours, another friend wants to travel to Europe this fall. I haven't been in 1 years so I am game. Trying to guide the trip to places I haven't been but we shall see. We get together next week to plan. Complex as she is not an American but working toward ut so she has to check out visa requirements.

I don't live in MA, but travel there for biz. Meetups are very local, you just have to search for one.

I think you will find even people who don't achieve an ideal weight get significant health benefits. I lost a CPAP,my A1c is way down (was inching toward pre diabetes), no more blood pressure meds. My other blood work was always good, but my cholesterol has gone from good to unheard of outside of Japan (that was a joke but my point is beyond excellent). Since I work out my resting heart rate is 59, which is considered quite fit for a 50year old woman. In spite of my current cold, I am sick much less and just generally look and feel much younger than my age.

I admire your handling of this but I think you are also giving her too easy of a pass. Anybody trained in medicine in the last decade must surely recognize the obesity epidemic and how few can manage it without surgery once morbidly obese. I have skinny ass friends who are Barbie doll types, not medically trained who were more understanding than this doctor in training. I do not think I need to have blocked arteries to understand the need for bypass, I don't need to be a diabetic to understand need for insulin. I don't buy the premise that only obese people can understand. Again, you did the right thing completely but don't ever think a medical person has any permission to judge you just because he/she isn't obeses Sadly in my life the least supportive people are obese. My skinny friends were over the moon for me. A very trim, polished and georgeous senior executive at my company congratulated me privately after I maintained for a year. She guessed (but no big deal) I'd had WLS. Her comment to me was she'd seen plenty of people have massive weight loss but so few maintain it. She was very very complimentary and she is a stick by my standards. I am fine if people are indifferent to my health journey but they don't get a pass just because they are skinny.

Band was far more restrictive yet I was still hungry. Sleeve was quite restrictive at first, but 3 years out it just feels like a normal, smaller tummy with far less hunger.

You have done great so far...a sign you will be a success! I don't mean to be negative, but with a BMI of 50 (I started over 50)... do you think you can sustain to get to a healthy weight and then maintain it without the surgery? I couldn't. If you have doubts about the sleeve- give it one last go on your own. I personally needed to be at rock bottom to really accept the permanent..no turning back decision to be sleeved.

3 years out and my life is so much better! It is wonderful to no longer be driven by hunger 24/7. It is amazing to feel so good. It's almost surreal to realize I dont look half bad either. I have to watch what I e at, work out.. I don't have any real issues or side effects except I don't tolerate rich food (ice cream for example) very well. I am more prone to digestive issues but they are mild and do not impact my quality of life or social life. I am not exactly sure what you are asking about...specific questions?

#1 premier Protein chocolate #2 Premier Protein strawberry They are $25 for 18 pack at costco, but they regularly have $5 bucks off specials. #3 - really can't stand any others to drink but I do use Syntrax nectar vanilla bean to make protein pancakes and a few other creative solutions Syntrax is a good product, but it does not satiate me and mixed with Water does not taste that great to drink. Mixed with milk it suddenly becomes high carb so it just doesn't suit me.

I cannot fathom the "pressure" of being on reality TV post weight loss surgery with so many people watching. This is just another reason i intensely dislike these shows. It is freakshow circus like. I am very impressed by the ones that come through it successfully - not sure I could.