LouiseC

Heh, I survive planks through sheer stubbornness alone!

You could do other an work, like lifting your legs, planks etc. lots of way to work all them abs without having to sit up :-) Yeah, shifting the pain is an odd turn of phrase! Focus on blasting it instead! Also, hot baths can be good and soothing.

Sorry you are having a rough time but know that this will pass. Life gets better from here on in :-)

So exciting! Good luck.

Oh you poor thing. I don't know if this will work for you but it has for me at times...meditation. I relax, get my breathing right, and focus on nothing but the pain with the intent of shifting it. I know this is a bit airy fairy, but it has worked for me at times when traditional medicine hasn't.

This really resonated. Perhaps TMI but recently during sex I caught sight of myself in the mirror and instantly started judging my floppy bits, the loose skin, the rolls. Fascinating that after losing 50 kilos I can still judge myself so harshly. I, too, get compliments on almost a daily basis. I also get attention from men that I didn't get before though I am hopeful that is more about increased confidence and happiness than simply weight. Because it almost hurts to realise just what I looked like. I see photos from a year ago and can't quite believe that was me. I am shocked seeing just how fat I got. And I view the old me the same way I am now seeing other obese people. With shock, with interest, with some compassion but, sadly, with a dose of judgement too. I notice how aware I become of what others are eating and I can see people as big as I was eating as I used to, mindlessly, unconsciously. It is troubling but I say nothing, I know there is nothing to say. I went through a stage early one post surgery where watching people eat actually made me feel sick. Now it can make me sad.

Oh I can relate to this! I fear I have become terribly vain because I end up staring at my own reflection in unusual places!

Hmm. Your intake of fats is almost non existent if that is an example of an average day. Have you considered adding some good fats to your diet and letting them do their thing? If we focus on all protein, carbs, and calories it can be easy to forget the essential fats we need to keep our motors running.

Avocados really are the most awesome food :-)

Hmmm, while there are claims about health benefits from coconut oil it is very high in saturated fats and low in monounsaturated fatty acids..... I use it in some cooking because of the flavour and high smoke point but it can't count as a MUFA, sorry!

Ohhhh we miss our spa, now that the nights are getting colder I regret not bringing it with us when we moved! Though we always went in, umm, without swimsuits

Colonic irrigation may be worth looking into. Worked for me. I also then realised I needed to focus on the bacteria in my gut and ensure I had the right balance of pre and pro biotics. Complicated business! I recommend a naturopath for ongoing management of constipation. I am not a fan of chemical laxatives, I think they do more damage over time.

He seems to be very insecure. Would he go to counselling with you? When men are insecure they often lash out at those closest to them. If you love him, and you want to be with him, I would recommend getting professional input into working through this together as this sort of insecurity can be toxic over time.

You look fantastic! But where on earth in NZ would you wear a bikini at this time of year? It will be December before you get me anywhere near swimwear

You may be doing these things already but here is what has helped me. Sit down to eat, at a table preferably. Put cutlery down between bites. Focus on chewing. Turn the television off, the distraction leads me to eat mindlessly. Practice being mindful at every meal.

I really wonder about the qualifications of some of these so called professionals people on this site talk about! The NUT I saw was very clear on eating as balanced a diet as possible, with as much 'real' food as possible. While the first couple of months were very calorie low months, the plan was to get to 800 calories a day by about 3 months and then by slowly increase to try and get to 1000 to 1200 by 6 months. The use of Protein shakes etc was only in the early stages for me. Early on I went for simple egg white powder rather than the confusing world of protein powders out there. I will still have a fruit smoothie with egg white powder, milk and yoghurt for Breakfast on occasion. I am a fan of real food, and whole food where possible. I avoid eating highly processed foods, bad fats, and simple carbs. My NUT supported this with recommendations to focus on good quality protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats. I have two exceptions, I love my wine and I love ovaltine light break! So there are my two simple carb vices! But I can enjoy both without going over my 1200 calories a day, and when I do go over I compensate with increasing my workout to use that energy before it heads to my ass for storage!

Lol, I just edited the post to get both course in there then saw your response. Two courses (both appetisers) I think pansies, violets and nasturtiums? I am not so good with flowers but it looked so pretty and tasted out of this world!

I had pansies in my birthday meal recently :-) At least that's what I think they were! Pansies and nasturtiums.

There is no. Is taking that difference, what outstanding loss in such a short time! Congratulations! You look fantastic.

Wow, you look AMAZING! I too sit here one year on and over 100 pounds lighter and marvel at how relatively easy it has been. What a year. Congratulations to you!

I think the tuna content may be less, lol, it is one of those little snack sized cans of flavoured tuna that I throw in my bag for when I know I am going to be eating lunch at my desk! 85g total but some of that was sauce and olives and sundried tomatoes once I opened it! I laughed to hear your dish was saucer sized, now that is more a meal my size these days! Perspective is everything :-)

Wonderful! Congratulations!

I was being tongue in cheek but clearly the humour didn't translate. I meant you no offence. In fact, I am saddened when I hear of others who do experience this sort of negativity and was attempting (and clearly failing) light heartedness in my response. But then I guess it shows how different people can be. I am fairly positive and breezy, tend to care little for what others may think of me or say behind my back, and that has meant I do live a pretty fantastic life because what I experience is overwhelmingly positive. I self paid for my surgery as an elective option when the only co-morbidity I had was apnoea. When I said before about the realities of my situation, that referred to explaining to someone how much I had yo yo'd with my weight, on the exercise and diet crazy cycle, for several years and how I knew I needed to get the sleeve as I just could not maintain any weight loss I had been successful with previously. I am a strong believer in the impacts of many years of abuse of our bodies leading to dysfunctional metabolism and disproportionate ghrelin production. So explaining this to the one naysayer did turn out in the positive for me. So apologies if I offended you, it was not my intent.