CowgirlJane

You know what I love about this forum... maintenance really scared me when I was losing weight. Now, I have all these others to get support from, give support to, and just keep myself focused. It may come as a surprise to those of you that regained a few pounds... I am MOTIVATEd and INSPIRED by you. You regained a few... not a few hundred...LOL. You are taking control and working back t where you want to be. I hear that "normal" (non obese) people do this! It is that ongoing ownership of maintaining our health/weight/good eating habits that i have never mastered before. I feel for the first time... this might be possible. I might really be able to stay in the range of normal over the rest of my life...not just the rest of this year.

He went to pennsylvania this year for some sort of national racing thing. I was visualizing it more like endurance, you know, hours long. No, it is like 30 seconds of high speed downhill craziness. I don't think this guy plans to die in a nursing home....LOL Like I said, it has been educational for me as i have never really been around jock types and have certainly never been one myself. I work out, I go on horse back rides that last all day - over say a long 4 day weekend... riding 6-8 hours a day through the mountains. I know not everybody could do that, so I pat myself on the back for what I have accomplished, but it is a little saddening to know that all those DECADES of not taking care of myself properly has not given be the best foundation for true fitness. It is okay, we all start where we start and just keep working it... Oh, BTW, I started my day with a Julian Michaels Ripped in 30 Days DVD so I am feeling good again! I don't know what was wroing with me yesterday that I felt like Jello.

ok, another thing I have done is buy low carb pancake mix, and modify the recipe. I use some vanilla protein powder, and egg beaters. add water and for some crazy reason it turns out delicious. It is a comfort food and moderate carb - top it with a bit of greek yogurt and blueberries and it is heavenly.

Which of the Ostrim flavors do you think are best?

How is it I never heard of this ProtiDiet hot cocoa? This is exactly what I need.... love warm, love cocoa, love low carb, need high Protein. Premier Protein which is my favorite - I have developed an intolerance for it and have to limit it to less then one a day or risk diarrea. I assume that intestiinal issues also mean I am not digesting it well, so I need to find a new favorite. this cocoa looks like a good one. I bought a "rush" Protein Drink at a super supplement last night. It tasted like a freaking milkshake it was soo good. It is a premade one. It is definately time for me to shake up my protein routine...haha. I still like my Syntrax nectar protein but it simply does not "fill me up" like the Premier does. I use it in recipes and sometimes drink it, but i may as well be drinking Water for all the satisfying it does....

omg... that made me laugh laugh laugh. My sorta boyfriend...haha... he is an insane mountain biker and is decidedly a he man she hater on that topic. Told me in no uncertain terms that I just can't keep up even on the easy bike rides - because there are no easy ones in his world. sheesh. And he is way older then me too - damn he man! In all seriousness though, knowing him has been an eyeopener in terms of what fitness can do for you. He is ... 16 years older then me and you would never ever guess it. He has been lean and fit his entire life and wow, when most people in their 60s are wearing sweaters and watching TV he is flying down the mountainside on his bike (or skis in the winter). What a difference staying active makes in the quality of your life.

I don't like coconut. Probably one of the few foods I actually DON'T care for...haha.. me, the queen of will eat just about anything. But that link made me hungry...LOL. It is better to not look at food porn for a recovering junkie. Chimera, I didn't realize you are just across the Lake from me - i am in woodinville. Once I am back driving again after my plastics it would be fun to meet some local sleevers. You look to me like you are pretty close to goal for sure! I feel great today - the first bacon free day in what seems like forever. And in all seriousness, even though he is my EX Sig Other (XSO for short!) - I am really worried about his eating habits lately. A story for another day, but he has fallen off any kind of wagon. He is not obese or even fat, but has other health problems that require a very healthy diet. sigh. I have no more influence over him then I did when he alledgely loved me, so I don't say a word.

When you lose weight rapidly, that fat releases stored estrogen and who knows what else. It triggers alot of emotions. I am not sure how long that happened for me... it came and went. I had a few surprises.. i had gone through menopausse early with relatively few symptoms. After I lose about 120# I started having SOME menopause symtoms because my estrogen finally dropped low enough to experience them! Who knew? All that fat... no wonder obese women are more prone to breast cancer. Later on in the journey, I went through alot more emotional ups and downs related to body image... rapid changes... the body changed faster then the brain did. It has been a rollercoaster at times, but all in all - really good. Just remind yourself to stay calm, take a breathe, and know that just like a teenager, sometimes it is the body chemicals causing havoc! Meditation, yoga and some things like that can help center you if you feel like you need some non food coping strategies.

Welcome, you have done great so far! I hit the "doldrums" at around 8 months.... I lost very slowly. very very slowly for a few months.. and was in danger of not really meeting my personal goals. It is a GREAT time to get motivation and support from people a little further out. Later, if y ou wish, i can share more of my personal experience getting "fired up" again but for me the first thing was deciding what it was I really wanted. I faced my own ambivelence... I had gotten just under 200# and was comfy. I could do the physical things I craved, my health issues were vastly improved, I looked a million times better but still had a nice comfortable protective layer of fat, if you know what I mean. I didn't realize that i had resistance to getting slimmer, but when i faced that, the rest started falling into place. I think we all have our own "headspace" about our goals and there is nothing wrong with that - but realizing that I didn't really feel entitled to becoming an attractive, feminine looking woman and realizing that i was a little scared of that - it was an eye opener. And yes - it has had consequences but I am happy with the new person I am still in the process of becoming... transforming.

I am so cold right now. I feel like I am becoming weaker, like I just don't have the same energy for high intensity workouts. I can't tell how much is physical and how much is mental. I swear, I am having hard time opening up heavy doors like at public buildings. I remind myself that I have lost an amazing 10 pounds in the last 6-7 weeks. Most days, i am doing pretty low carbs - which can sap your energy. I am doing pretty well with anxiety, but i am just over a week out from MAJOR plastic surgery and I am worried. I think things are getting to me. Most of the time, I am doing okay, but my boyfriend cancelled plans on me for tonight due to work - I won't see him again until next week. I don't really need him, but, it was like a distraction I guess. With that distraction gone, I seem to have allowed myself to sync into my low energy power saver mode. tomorrow will be better!

I find my self examination on this topic to be very interesting. In January, I had my 1 year follow up with my surgeon and he declared me at goal (20# heavier then i am now) and that I should consider plastics, I had a fit body under the skin etc. I hadn't really thought about it until then, like I never thought about myself deserving to look good. I got surgery to save my life, not for vanity reasons ... but his thoughts intrigued me so I went for my first consult. I cried my eyes out... they photo you nude, pull and prod on your skin and point out flaws you didn't know you had...LOL the first one I think is a little trauma for most people. anyway, i started to develop a real loathing for my extra skin. I remember laying in bed and realizing I had a big wrinkle of skin down the side of my thighs... basically, laying on the bed next to my real thigh. It startled me even! LOL I had plastics scheduled in May but due to a variety of reasons - me panicing over the surgery, my Ex Sig Other (and support person) going through illness and death of his brother - it was like I was going to just implode over it so cancelled. Over the summer, I just stopped thinking about it. I felt good about my body in clothes and just basically started to appreciate the good things and became much less "bothered" by the extra skin. So, come late August it was time to decide if I was gonna do this thing or not.... so I rescheduled and went through some real anxiety moments (I am a medical phobe and this is a big deal surgery - Lower body lift and breasts and arms!). At some point, I got my anxiety well under control via yoga, meditation, wearing compression garments and just kinda slapping myself on the face. "Either get over it and do it or just cancel". I decided I really want to do it and stressing over it is counterproductive. So, the last few weeks as my anxiety is reduced to a very manageable level - not requiring medication or anything. I am actually looking forward to gettting this DONE! I have positive images of how i will look, having a good recovery all those things. I just realized last night, two weeks before my surgery, that my skin somehow seems apalling again. It is like my brain has flipped into gear "lets get rid of this". Last night i was laying in bed and looking down at my abs, by tummy skin is so wrinkled, it looks like a sharpei dog or something. i carried ALOT of weight around my middle and now that is where i have pretty bad excess skin too. I was looking at the wrinkle creases and they even turned a little red. I guess I flop around so much I don't get skin irritation since the wrinkles get to move alot...haha. Anyway, I am in a pretty good headspace emotionally, but find it somewhat fascinating that my brain has completely shifted gears into being bothered by the skin, thinking that it really is worth the negatives of plastics and that I am so excited to see how it will turn out. I am actually visualizing the surgery day in a positive "lets go get this thing done" kind of mindset which I have NEVER EVER felt toward any medical or dental procedure. I am also working hard to keep my expectations realistic, but I am healthy and reasonably fit under that skin so feel like I have a very good chance at getting wow results. I hope so anyway.

LOL 3rd day in a row of freaking bacon cooking. Another fast day.. and all I can think about is eating bacon. I am actually not eating that crap right now - I am getting ready for major surgery and I know that junky food can cause even immediate health ill effects. That is the reason so many heart attacks on Thanksgiving for example. Anyway, damn it.

Read my siggie line about transformation. I really believe that "goal" is not a stopping point, it is just an element of a journey. Managing weight, living healthy - it is a lifelong thing. That is a big mindset change for me. I think that is the #1 reason I ALWAYS regained after hitting goal... like "I am done with THAT crap now".... LOL. Never done.. always doing my best to maintain and improve my health and enjoy and love my life.

our BMIs are similiar - to some extent there is a "coming to peace with it". I love that I am in the low 150s instead of the upper 150s now, but, my life was just as good with those few other pounds. Having said that, i recommend CHANGING things. Try the 5:2. Change exercise to low duration, high intensity. Look up high intensity interval training.

That is incredible .... it must feel great to look down and know ALL THAT IS GONE! So, some of my friends have talked to me about recovery.... no horses, no excercise, no playing and running around doing stuff for weeks! Since I am having even more extensive surgery, it will be quite a recovery period. I have tried to brace myself...LOL. Treating myself to a tablet so i can stream movies and TV shows right in front of my face over the wifi. Been thinking of those books I have been meaning to read. I have told myself over and over again that it is "ok" that I lose muscle definition over the 6-8 weeks when I am not allowed to exercise. It may take me MONTHS before I have full energy back. What I am trying to avoid is the emotional "down". I tend to have that reaction to surgeries anyway - I think it is the drugs. combine that with my high energy lifestyle being put on hold for 2 months or possibly longer... well... there is that risk. I have been doing alot of reflection, seeing a counselor and have a plan... what else can we do???

That is rude and mean! They probably just arent used to seeing you thin. Maybe it came off your face making you seem thinner??? Sometimes it takes a bit for the shape to reditribute. I lost my initial chunk of weight sorta fast but getting to a normal BMI has been very slow so I havent had that happen. Nobody thinks I am too thin. I wasnt sure it was a compliment tho when the guy I date said something like "nobody likes model thin; its better to fill out your shorts with a curve like you do". Hmmm...I think he told me I am still fat as I was climbing on my bike this summer..haha At some point we have to be content and pleased with our weight and bodies no matter what others say or think.

My opinion is that it depends largely on the state of your relationship BEFORE you lose weight. My EX sig other and i lived like roommates for several years before I lost weight. I hoped that my losing weight and becoming attractive would change things. All it changed was that I was unwilling to keep living that way. He had zero interest in my changing looks or successes. I had lost 125 pounds when one day i asked him if he noticed i looked different... that is the level of indifference i am talking about here. There is alot more going on, but bottom line, we are officially split, have been for awhile now but are still living like roommates. He is moving out next year, delay due to financial and other reasons. He is a good man, but apparently our relationship has been dead for awhile, I was just the last to know. I don't really blame this on me losing weight. I have woken up and smelled the coffee is all.. and it took weight loss to do that.

It was tactless and insensitive. When I was over 250 I used Water aerobics as my main exercise. It is true that I quit it to get more challenge... but I would never "dis" someone of normal weight for doing it. It is fun and if you really push yourself you can get a great workout at ANY weight. I think the reason they have this bias is that from the perspective of a fit person, the curves workout is "lightweight" and not the best use of THEIR time. Doesn't mean it isn't AWESOME for the target market and I totally agree improved your health and fitness for all those years! I used to be a member of living well lady back a hundred years ago. I remember the day that I hit where there machines just didn't have enough tension on them for me to get an effective workout. Still, the LWL got me from being 200# and out of shape and down to a normal body weight before I switched to a "real gym" and was surely NOT a waste of time for me.

Ok, first off, I am not convinced of how accurate the scales are for bodyfat. My scale told me 29.1 and now today it was 28.5. Quite a drop in less then a week, right? I think yours at 26 is well within the range of normal so I dont think you should be so ... worried about it. I mean, working out over the next months or years will slowly slowly transform that percentage. It doesn't mean you need to lose more weight... just replace some fat with muscle, right? That really sucks about the burgary Swizzly - that would tick me off endlessly!

Day #2 of bacon in the am. If you hear on the news of some crazy lady in the Seattle area beating her ex to death with a package of bacon, you will know why you haven't heard from me.

Georgia - that is so exciting!!!! This morning I weighed 151.7. I had to check 3 times, I couldn't believe it. I am measuring my progress in .1 of a pound that is true, but just being really under 155 is amazing to me. I sometimes feel like my fast days aren't "perfect" because i don't track calories i always think I eat too much, but in truth when I actually do them, I have a loss. Anyway, I feel just so thrilled.

I too am knock kneed... plastic surgeon told me my thighs would always touch. Key is to find clothes that make me look voluptous and not like I have thunder thighs. My new bodyfat scale says I am 29% fat too...normal range for my age but all that working out... I had hoped for a little better..haha. lets sing along to the Carole King hit shall we..."we're so vain"

I did very poorly with the band - lost about 70# never getting under 200. since I revised to the sleeve, I have done great and feel that it is far superior. You CAN eat around any WLS - all require some effort, compliance etc BUT, the sleeve is a great tool. Take a look at my before and afters... my before was with a lapband...

My comments were geared to the "mature" sleeve... it is true that you need to use much caution in the early weeks and months - follow surgeon guidelines!!!

ok, some of this is perception - I thought i looked older until about 20 people all told me, at different times and places that I look 15 years younger! I hear people do injections and stuff, what happens is you lose upper cheek fullness which gives a bit of a drawn look. I don't have wrinkles, but I definatley have that. When I smile, it disappears, so keep smiling. I am doing plastics on my body in 2 weeks, maybe in the next few years i will consider doing injections or fillers or whatever it is they do for the face.