TheRealMeIsHere!

I hated going to the gym, at first. What made it better, was I put on headphones, with some really upbeat music, and lip synced to every song! I'm in my own little world, if someone chooses to judge me, I know that they have NO IDEA where I started, and how much weight I have lost. Most people are so concerned with themselves, that they are not judging you. They may have something, that you don't even notice, that they feel you are judging because it is so noticeable to them. Plus...the endorphin rush after a good workout, is AMAZING!!

AMAZING!!! What a difference 8 months makes. You even have a waist now! Go you!

I was searching for the same. Someone recommended egg white powder. I tried the plain by Jay Robb, It has only a slight taste. When I add it to a smoothie, I barely notice it. You do want to mix the powder in a blender, if you add it to liquid.

I too, LOVE iced coffee. Have you tried making your own? I mix instant coffee with Water. Splenda and fat free 1/2 & 1/2. You could try adding the Hershey syrup to the 1/2 & 1/2, coffee and Splenda, stir well, then add the water . Another option would be using skim plus (for more protein) and little or no water. Once in a while a Dunkin Donuts version, won't kill you (as long as it is not a trigger food) You may even be able ask them to make it sugar free and add you own fat free 1/2 & 1/2.

Inches can go down, even when pounds are not. There have been several weight loss stalls where I went down a size or 2. If you are exercising, you are probably getting toned and muscle weighs more than fat. Those two things can change your body shape, even though you weigh more than you did at that size, previously. Either way, AWESOME!!

Good for you! You have earned bragging rights, Nate.

I'm not a BIG pasta person, but...once in a while, I would like some. Is there a pasta/pasta substitute, with VERY few carbs, and higher in protein? Carbs really Wreak havoc on my weight loss, so the fewer, the better.

I've hated working out all my life. I decided to try going to a gym. During the free trial period, I made myself go EVERY day. I was afraid that if I skipped a day for any reason other than illness, I wouldn't go back. A free session with a trainer, set me up with an easy routine. At first, I was dragging myself there, just wanted to 'get it over with'. Then it became something I enjoy. I now have a membership and go, willingly 6 days a week. The 'high' I feel afterwards, from the endorphins, is AWESOME. My energy has soared, it is easier to do the right thing, food wise, because I feel so much better. This worked for me, hopefully you can find something that sparks you to get back on track.

I just found some products made by a company called Dixie Diner. They are VERY low net-carb, high Fiber and high Protein. They have Pasta, bars, shakes, puddings, macaroni and cheese, baking mixes, etc... http://www.dixiediner.com/index.php?lPath=31 If you have tried them, please let me know how they are.

Feels awesome, doesn't it? I'm down 119 and have almost ALL of the same experiences. Keep up the good work. Some of my other NSV's are: I eat to live, not live to eat. food used to be something I would obsess about, order out, spend a lot of time preparing. Now...I think sometimes that something would be good, but then I move on, it does not become an all consuming desire. A funny DUH moment recently. I began going to a gym, every day, a month ago. When leaving the gym, I would think 'hmmm, I smell Chinese food'. Two weeks later...I notice that there is a Chinese buffet next door, actually attached to the gym 2 doors down!! A year ago, I wouldn't have noticed the gym.

Plain fat free Greek yogurt with Splenda and...unsweetened cocoa powder, any extract you like, lime juice or strawberries etc... 1 cup FF ricotta, 1/6 cup powdered milk, 1/3 c Water and 1 T. FF/SF pudding mix (vanilla and cheesecake are my favs.) Blend all. You can also add extract or cinnamon or nutmeg. FF ricotta, season like you would for stuffed shells and heat it with a little sauce. FF refried Beans heated with enchilada sauce and cheese FF cream of...soup and tuna, blended. Just some things that I have tried that I really enjoyed.

Plain fat free Greek yogurt with Splenda and...unsweetened cocoa powder, any extract you like, lime juice or strawberries etc... 1 cup FF ricotta, 1/6 cup powdered milk, 1/3 c Water and 1 T. FF/SF pudding mix (vanilla and cheesecake are my favs.) Blend all. You can also add extract or cinnamon or nutmeg. FF ricotta, season like you would for stuffed shells and heat it with a little sauce. FF refried Beans heated with enchilada sauce and cheese FF cream of...soup and tuna, blended. Just some things that I have tried that I really enjoyed.

I haven't tried that brand, but many seem to taste like coconut. My favs are EAS AdvantEdge RTD shakes, and Designer whey-Chocolate, Vanilla almond and strawberry, (They do NOT taste like coconut) have yet to locate the chocolate caramel peanut butter but sounds delish!

I found a website that has a Pasta that is SUPER-HIGH in Protein (26gm), and only 3 net carbs, has anyone tried it? It's pricey, but would last a while as I only eat small portions. http://www.dixiediner.com/skinni%C3%82%E2%84%A2-spaghetti%C3%82%E2%84%A2-carb-angel-hair-pasta-p-234.html Also found these bagels http://www.westernbagel.com/products/the_perfect_10/perfect_10.php http://www.vivalowcarb.com/mirico-everything-bagels.html

Sometimes it is a little 'al-dente', shouldn't be actually crunchy, though, maybe wasn't cooked enough? At home, you can try it, to compare the texture. Just cut in 1/2, scrape out seeds, put face down on a sprayed cookie sheet and bake at 350* till you can stab it easily, then scrape out the strands with a fork. It is not exactly the same texture as pasta, but should be tender strands and you can top it with anything that you would put on pasta.

Good for you! AWESOME loss, great maintaining, You've been slipping up lately, but are getting back into it, good job! I admire that 2 lbs was enough to get you back into the right mode. I hope I can be that disciplined.

I have been told to keep my carbs VERY low. Protein to carbs is supposed to be 3:1. So those pastas have WAAAY more carbs than I am allowed. I was hoping there was a pasta out there that had mostly protein, and few carbs. Wishful thinking, I guess. I appreciate the suggestions, though.

I've tried both. I add zucchini, cut to the size of ziti, to repace 1/2 the pasta in baked ziti. I slice zucchini or eggplant to replace most of the pasta in lasagna. Spagetti squash with whatever your favorite sauce is, is AWESOME!! I've used lean ground turkey to make homemade meat sauce, meatballs, chicken,shrimp, turkey or chicken sausage etc... Ruby Tuesday even has a spagetti squash side dish or entree. They are also wonderful, if you explain that you had surgery and can only eat small portions. They will let an appetizer or side dish count as your meal, then salad bar for $2.99 (or whatever it is with a meal) One waitress even brought a container to take some salad home, saying that I had hardly eaten any and I am paying for it, might as well get my money's worth.

Right after waking, I was in alot of pain. As soon as they gave me pain meds and hooked up the beloved pain pump, I was fine. Even slept on my stomach, that same night. Incisions felt like mild bruises. I haven't heard many people say that the incisions were very painful. I did not have much gas pain, I did alot of walking the halls, though. I had pain when swallowing my tiny sips of Water. I was trying to not take my pain meds too often, that was my mistake. Once I began taking my pain meds EXACTLY as prescribed, I was able to get all my liquids in, virtually pain free! By day 4, I started spacing out the doses, by day 6 or 7, did not need any. So, you see, that the first few days are the worst part of the recovery, but far from the worst you've ever felt. After the initial pain upon waking after surgery, the worst pain was inside, about 5 or 6, BUT...only when I sipped and only for a few seconds AND...only if I didn't take my meds. You will be fine, good luck! Keep us posted.

Could it be Steristrip? My doc put sutures that dissolve. then steristrips over the incisions.

How do they taste? I've tried shirataki noodles from the grocery store, they had a rotten fish smell, EWWW! I definitely want to try these, though, if they taste/smell ok.

Even carbs from vegetables, melon and berries halt my weight loss and even can cause a 2lb weight gain, overnight. My NUT said not to eat any fruits/veggies for a while, so I'm sure that the carbs from whole wheat Pasta wouldn't be any better.

The trick with chicken breast is to cook it just till done, not a moment longer. Condiments like fat free gravy, light mayo, salsa, etc... help, plus, of course, chew, chew, chew.