K33

I've read that weight relapse can happen between years 2 and 3. I am coming up on my second anniversary. We'd all love to be 5 # less than we are, and that is true for me as well. One year ago I was careful. to lose weight before my one year weigh- in and so I got down to 148. Since then, I bounce between 152 and 154. The only way I know that is because I weight myself every day. Now, OA used to discourage weighing in more than once a month (or, was it once a week?) But, I got fat from going unconscious about my weight. Truthfully, I do feel a bit of fear / terror that I will step on the scale and be 155. Wow, that does look crazy once I put it into writing! But, that is my drop dead highest weight, Spirit willing. When I eat several days of carbs, I can guarantee a 1-2 # weight gain. I used to track calories (like around 1200 a day kept me stable). But, I'm going to add tracking my volume of the food I eat as well. The absolute hardest thing for me is not drinking at meals. I certainly don't gulp, or drink a cup of water, but I usually take meds with meals so add another 1/3 of liquid to my meal. I don't get to support group much due to schedule conflicts, but am active on my Discussion Group. I am writing just to check in and keep myself accountable. BTW: I am 64 and take meds for hypothyroid and depression. I walk to the grocery store 2 - 3x a week as my exercise, and walk with friends when I can. Start weight 243, SW 214, CW; 154.3 Love to you all, TJ

Hi all, I am 13 months out. Still trying to drop "a few more pounds." (aren't we all?) I was living it up with carbs, I mean serious carbs every day. Like twice a day. Like I used to eat. And I stopped logging and weighing myself. I shouldn't have been surprised that I gained 4 pounds in 1-2 weeks. Gadz, that frightened me. So, I've been pulling away from the carbs and going through a bit of withdrawal, which I know will only last 3 days. Mostly get lethargic and depressed. (So what else is new?) What works for me is to focus on losing ONE POUND. After I get that going, I focus on the next ONE POUND. That feels reasonable, doable, and achievable. But,I would feel ashamed and defeated if I focused on trying to lose 4 pounds. Just a thought.

Follow you sutgeons recommendation, at least for six months , until your tummy jeals.

I recall that one teaspoon of sugar equals 4 grams of sugar. If I am incorrect, PLEASE let me know. When faced with a 16 grams of sugar in my drink, it gives me a reason to pause; can I imagine adding 4 teaspoons of sugar in my drink? Mostly no.

when I was in my rapid weight loss phase, I exchanged one pair of big pants for one pair of new pants on a monthly basis that I bought at Target inexpensively. As I grew out of a blouse, I did the same. The rn in my bariatric programs suggested buying very good undergarments after the first year, but I had to drop to three bras sizes before the year was up. it was such a relief to have a very very few number of clothes. They are all fit, this is in contrast to having one and one half times the amount of big clothes but all which did not fit and made me feel horrible when I wore them. I guess I'm headed down for another size real soon because my friend said I bought my blouse too big.

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I see the chance to describe how different we all are built. I am 5'4" and at 148# I am still in a size 12.

my surgeon is a man of very few words. But when he speaks, I listened. brief and to the point he said, ' Carbs got you to put the weight on in the first place. Exercise is how you will keep it off.'

I love the way I look people in the eyes, smile, and greet them with a big hello. Other people have noticed this, too. Why just today, a man told me he used to be afraid to talk to me because I was quiet and shy and he was afraid I would break down and cry. Now when I look at people and start a conversation, I feel a sense of freedom because I know for a fact they cannot reject me based on size alone anymore.

I miss club soda. However I think I drank it because I had GERD and did not know it. It helped settle my stomach. I miss being able to eat extremely fast, and eat so much that I fall asleep. I notice now I am more sensitive and my feelings are more easily hurt. Guess the armor of my fat served a purpose after all. I would do the surgery over in a second.

Twenty years ago I dropped to 111 pounds at 5ft 4in. You could see all my ribs on my back! I looked deathly ill. Ten years ago, I weighed 150 pounds through of OA. Today I am at 150 pounds, at 9 mos out. My surgeon did not give me a goal. I am very happy about that. It would be a way I would sabotage myself. I still have a large bra size (though I sag to my waist - LOL). I was 44 J (yes, you read that right) and am now a 35 H. My blouse size was 3x and am now down to a Large. Pants size was 22 down to a 12 now. I had my eyes on 135 # as a security blanket goal to prepare for the rebound which statistically happens between years 2 and 3. However, to keep my goal manageable, I've settled on 143 # as my new goal. 7 pounds seems manageable whereas 10 # does not. I can hear my surgeons short, but potent piece of wisdom; "carbs are how you gained weight, exercise is how you will maintain your new weight." Cheers, everyone, to all of us brave and courageous folks who made a commitment to take on a new way of life. Regardless of your weight or dress size, you are becoming more and more healthy with everyday.

U R A Q T. =)

You not only lost weight, you lost YEARS off of your appearance. I am sure people who haven't seen you in awhile are surprised, and might not even recognize you. You are awesome.

Rmc. Focus first on losing the 0.5 #. Then, you will be back into your bounce zone. Can you lose 0.5#?

I once did the math to figure out how to drink 64 oz of water per day. Taking into consideration the rules for not drinking around my 3 meals/day, I must drink 6 to 8 oz EVERY HOUR.

Medicare advantage to California Kaiser covered all but one night stay in the hospital. What a bargain at $250

Medicare

I thought it only fair to give everyone an update. My surgery was August 5th 2013. up until the day of my surgery, I gave myself permission to back out anytime. my surgeon was excellent, my recovery was flawless, and I managed to stay on the ridiculous trail of liquid mushy hat we must all consume so that our stomachs will heal around months four, which coincided with my ability to eat normal food, my weight loss stalled. Well,.l not exactly a stall more like a stop. I enjoyed being able to eat again then around months 7 I realized my 1 year was approaching faster than I had anticipated.I panicked that I was sacrificing my window of opportunity to lose wt for sense pleasure. once I started eating Protein, drinking enough Water at only the appropriate times as well 20min walks until I started to sweat, I dropped more wt in 10 days than I had durinf the prior 3 mos. Once I saw the magic returning, I really committed. I believe our journey requires us to reconnect many times along our path. Today I had 1/2 a slice of Apple pie. when I eat too fast and forget I have a small stomach., my stomach actually hurts. I have been tolerating a sore stomach for so long that I figured that's just the way it is. but when I followed the ritual of protein first then fuits or vegetables, and pay attention to my stomach, I don't overeat and I don't have pain. Oh, I have released 80 # from the start of my journey. 60# since surgery, and hope for 10 to 15 # in tje next 3 mos and will be satisfied.

9 mos out for 63 yo

My surgery was August 5th 2013, 5'4", Age 62. 230# the day I met my surgeon, 214 # DOS, today 154# down from size 22 pants to size 12. So either down 60# or down 76 # depending on the starting point date. Once I switched to real food in month 4, my weight loss crept along, losing only 10# in the next 4 mos because I stopped being serious. In retrospect, I think I was/am afraid to meet my own personal goal of 135#, and afraid I would be hungry at 135#, and want to eat my way back to 143 # (where I would be size 10). I once wore an 8 but you could see my ribs front and back. 115#. Ick. However 135# would give me room for 10 percent cushion for predictable rebound. My surgeon never set a wt goal for me, thank goodness. Now I wish I had been more serious to take advantage of the window of opportunity the 1st 6 mos provided. I once got to 150 thru OA, felt discouraged for not meeting my goal, and binged my way back to 185. Logical, eh? My hunger is starting to return this week. I could tell cuz my stomach doesnt hurt anymore. Altho vets tell me the wt loss will continue past 1 yr, I anticipate it will be slow going without making changes. I am eating too much starch, and not enough veggie and fruits. Sometimes my meals are Protein and starch. Period. I can easily get in 48 oz of Water a day. It's the last 16 oz that's challenging. True to what my program tells us, by drinking 64 ounces I can't eat as much. I was sick/fatigued the last 5 weeks. My depression is returning. My research tells me lack of carbs and resultant serotonin contributes. I think I will check in with my PDOC for a med adjustment. I KNOW that if I even take a 30 min daily walk, it jumpstarts my wt loss to at least 5# a month. By doing the math, it just now occurred to me I could reach my personal goal for the last 19 # before my anniversary. I appreciate the opportunity to write down my thoughts. It helped me get clear on my goals and what I need to do to reach them. Are you disappointed you aren't yet at goal, and what will be your new plan to get there in your own time frame, Cheers!

I second Jay Robbs Protein powder. it is disheartening to see so many products containing stevia which I think tastes awful. I have a bottle of natural lemon extract. When a Protein Drink is too sweet, I add less than a teaspoon of the oil and everything tastes better

Kitt3000 I do spend more time online. I read ferociously when it comes to bariatric pal posts. I am addicted to checking the time, but mostly because of the restriction of drinking around Meal Time. I am NOT drinking more caffeine before pre op, but I do have one cup per day postoperative. And finally, my addiction to dogs is intense and I have no plans to give it up. There is nothing like rubbing the belly of a dog or scratching their head behind the ears.

Continued. Two close friends are natural healers and I felt they would have judgment against it. When I finally told them, I think they were a bit surprised and hurt that I did not trust them enough with that information. People who I know to be big mouths who pressed me for information how I did it, I told the truth: I changed everything in my life including what I ate and the level of exercise I did. Only one close friends surprised me with her reaction." You as are just going to gain it back!" Tho hurtful to hear, I'm glad she said it because I have a reason to prove her wrong. LOL. When I meet new people who I did not know before, part of me wants to say" Hey I used to be obese. Would you have liked me as much then?" obviously I still have some resentments to work through. And truthfully, sometimes I am shocked more people don't care about how great I look. Then I realize they truly were my friends before and don't care one way or the other what I look like.

I use discretion and my intuition to decide who to tell and when. I waited to tell my close brother until 2 weeks before surgery because I knew he would try to talk me out of it. At first he was angry I had not told him sooner but when he realized his anger stemmed from lacking the opportunity to talk me out of it he sort of laughed in recognition. He later confessed he did not want me to have the surgery but is very glad I did and told me it was the best thing I could have possibly done for my health. I did not hesitate to tell my obese friends because I wanted them to know there is an option for them and that I was available to talk to them if they want more information. My psychiatrist was against it saying it was extreme and why not eat smaller portions and exercise. Hahaha. Gee I never thought of that before

In your experience, is it just part of the body finding its new set point; is it from eating more cuz you can? Is it returning to old habits cuz you're bored with the food plan restrictions? Is it a return of hunger after the stomach is acclimated to its new performance, and ghrelin increases, and why is it I read many vets wish the could lose "another 10-20#"? I am 5.5 months out, when I have WL starts slowing down.

Ask for a line by line accounting for every single charge. You will find mistakes as well as outrageous fees, but stay on them. Keep track of who you speak to, the date and time, and summarize the info after each conversation.