CowgirlJane

It is an intermittant fasting approach first studied for extending lifespan but can work to help get weight off. You eat "normal" 5 days and do a very restricted day 2 days - most consider about 500 calories during the 2 fast days. The key is having long periods of time with no eating, like you finish eating at say 7 pm and don't eat until midday the next day (for example, that next day is your fast day). It works. My opinion is that it is a useful technique for "veterans" who are trying to lose a regain or perhaps making that final push to goal.... but i would not recommend it to someone who is still losing well "in the honeymoon phase" post surgery. I did 5:2 when I was bouncing up higher than my maintenance bounce range and then it went so well, i decided to lose a bit more!

I had it all done at once which required me to go to Mexico. Local docs wanted to stage it over 3 surgeries which would have taken me about 3 years due to time off work issues. I am not recommending this route for everyone, but it has been amazing for me - love my results, loved the care and love having it all BEHIND me. I seriously need to get updated before and after photos but here is a thread with some info in it. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/285839-two-weeks-from-plastics-progress-so-far/ I attached a recent photo - I lost over 180# from my all time highest weight - 160# as a result of the sleeve. I had excess skin for sure! This pic gives you an idea of what is possible!

My surgeon said something to me that has been very empowering and stays in my mind as I live in maintenance... "You have the disease of obesity. Right now your primary symptom of excess weight is under excellent control but never forget you still have the disease of obesity." I think that viewing it this way, as a chronic condition that needs assertive management is the way to remind ourselves that maintenance is just as important as the losing ....

Bony Butt Blues...haha... nice problem to have!

More of a dog person. I have cute pix of my son's cat pushing the little dog off my lap - but on my phone and too much of a hassle to upload. Cat sometimes thinks he is a dog....

Love to hear everybody is getting back on fasting track. I am not allowed to right now....my friends would kick my"skinny ass" - their words not mine- but my version is back on track with vitamins, good hydration etc. Next is back to exercise! I met someone I like. He is fun, energetic, a little crazy in a good way, lives close by, available,lives a country lifestyle,actually wants to be with me. He has a boat and we spent an amazing afternoon on Lake Washington. We are both a little smitten I think. I am still sad about leaving Steven but I have been trying to exit his orbit for months so glad it finally happened. I love him but not in love....and done with his idiosyncrasies.... I am ready for a"real boyfriend" It is funny that once I said that out loud, that I was ready, my counselor cheered and the universe sent me Tino immediately. Even if he and I don't work out, I feel this seismic shift inside. I am ready to love again....a real love not the limited thing. Steven was what I needed in 2013 but I am ready for a whole new phase in life!

You look GREAT! Low carb, high intensity interval training and 5;2 have all worked great for me.

I have a tip for you regarding the anxiety. Once you realize that goal is just a number, that you will eat and live differently FOREVER that anxiety can decrease. I have lost another 18# since hitting goal in February 2013. For me maintenance is simply a slight variation (allow more carbs) on the losing phase. It's all about living a new lifestyle.

I had the band for 10years and was eating around and through it the last 7or so years....complete fail for me. I weighed 308 at start of sleeve pre op diet, 300 on day of surgery Dec 11 2011. I hit my goal of 158, losing 150# in Feb 2013, 14 months. I have been maintaining and currently weigh 140-142 range so I have been very successful. Sleeve vastly reduced appetite and capacity. Band I was often hungry but eating would cause pain so I ate alot of slider foods. I picked a sleeve practice that had great education, support and follow up. I know my results are considered excellent even for a virgin sleever and maybe not typical but I know it's possible. I went with the sleeve because there were successful stories lkke mine (ladies no longer post here) and I knew it could be done. Best decision ever.

Very normal....spend some time looking at before and after photos, read succese stories, do things that help you remember why you started this...keep your eye on the prize. Promise it gets better....

There is a whole forum dedictated to the topic of plastic and reconstructive surgery - lots of discussions and experiences shared there. I had a lower body lift (tummy tuck, but went around the back too), breast lift and implants arm lift and a "small" thigh lift. For me, pain was NOT a big issue at all. It was very well managed the first few days and never was an issue after that. Recovery however was long, slow and hard! It was 2 months before I had my life back and even longer before i was truly 100% Oh.so.worth it though! I got great results. Good luck!

Beautiful people - Florinda and Jack! I agree with the vanity sizing rant. My size 6's are falling off now... frankly the small tops (well, some smalls don't go around my boobs, but otherwise smalls fit) and 2-4 pants are fitting me. I find that incredulous for someone with a 29-30" waist and 37" hip. When I was 22, and got down to 144 pounds (I weigh 140 now) I wore 9/10s and was surely NOT a small. I also notice - and I thought it was a Seattle thing - so many people going around in yoga pants, PJs and other not really clothes. I think getting fat and miserable is a reasonable diagnosis of the situation. Do remember though that as a formerly obese we are "heavier" then our size. My friend Steven declared me a "skinny chick" based on looks not weight and most people guess i weigh in the 120s not the 140s... heavy bones, heavy organs I guess.

I don't miss it... but I did for awhile feel a bit exposed/naked/noticed without all the fat.

No way to predict it, but when I was younger i lost 85 pounds and the excess skin wasn't bad. I am late 40s, lost over 150 and definately benefited from plastics!

I take the gummies for the same reason - they don't bother my tummy so much. They aren't as good as real bariatric vitamins but I am doing the best i can...

Sounds more like heartburn to me. Sometimes excess acid presents itself in weird ways. It can feel like a strange hunger, a burning feeling, an uncomfortable unsettled feeling. I don't know what a leak feels like but i think most people initial experience feelings of "not right" like they are overall sick rather than stomach pain but maybe someone who experienced a leak can pipe up on that one.

I think it is great advice that if the scale drives you bonkers, only weigh monthly or weekly. In my case, a bounce here and there does not create emotional response but is rather an easy barometer for me. I weigh nearly daily and pay attention to trends rather than a single day. food tracking is an excellent idea for most people, but I did it for a FREAKING LIFETIME pre WLS and got fat doing it. My NUT recognized that for me, food tracking created emotional triggers, feelings of deprivation and stress over if I am doing it right etc, so my weight loss actually accelerated when i stopped tracking. I mentally count Protein and carbs (loosely) instead. I realize this is really not a good idea for many people and most should track to maximize their losses. AS you say, it is the recipe that works for us as individuals. I do think that it is great value to share the story with people just starting out or struggling though - so they can get some ideas on the best road to success!

Thanks Star... I have been floating in the 140 to 142 range for a month or two. I stalk too..haha.

Strange...never heard of this one

Coops - are you thinking about doing arms still? If you need it, I highly recommend a breast lift too. Wow, makes your appearance alot more youthful! I had the small thigh lift and it worked for me because my worst problem was fat pockets on the upper inner thigh. My thighs are still an ugly area but given that huge noticable scar with the long lift, I am pleased with my decision. Lots of middle age women have ugly thighs so I am in good company but no longer have those globs of cellulite and extra skin rubbing between my legs. The arms have been amazing though. People see my arms and don't even notice the scars unless i point them out or am doing something that makes the underside super obvious.

Are you talking about a CPAP? I used to use one too and only gave it up after pretty significant weight loss.

Once you are post op and in regular foods the reason for low carb is to maximize your weight loss. If your NUT didn't give you an eating plan, ask for one. If you can't really handle low carb, ask her for a plan you can live with. Mine was more moderate carb ( I went low carb later, on my own). I wouldn't add a banana to a Protein drink. If I felt the need to I would slice it into 4 parts, freeze 3 of them, and use 1/4 banana at once. The key is portion control of healthy carbs like fruit. I eat alot of egg beaters, veggies, meat, fish, seafood of all types, lettuce, brocoli and other low carb veggies. The only "fruit" I eat daily are berries as they are lower carb and lower sugar. I don't eat rice, Pasta, bread and most fruits on a regular basis. Sounds strange, but I have lost my "foodie' inclinations and am not bored by food, not particularly interested in it it either. That did NOT happen immediately though.

PDXMan, that is a great post. I will share my "lessons from the other side" -2.5 years post op as well when I have a bit more time. What I will say is that it isn't "one size" fits all but there is a great deal to be learned from people who have been successful. When I was pre-op I studied the most successful people on this forum, listened to my NUT and surgeon and exercise advice.... and I really believe that being open to their wisdom and advice is how I have been able to maintain a loss of over 160# - weighed 140 this morning...woohoo (and I do disagree about the weighing monthly only,one of those individual things, but more on that later!!!)

I asked for best advice from my NUT and it was mentioned above....SMALL portions! Eat till no longer hungry dont strive for full. The first 2 months eat by the measuring spoon and clock because you can't yet trust the hunger signals. I am 2.5 years post op and maintaining and think small portions is why I have good restriction.

If you do low carb you don't eat a whole banana. What phase are you in?