Des0520

I've heard about this but didn't know it had a name. I've been calling it the caveman diet. My husband and I are doing this 21 day challenge thing to get us into some healthy and clean eating habits and then we are going to go for it on this type of eating. I've been reading a lot about eating clean and this seems to just make it easier. It's easier than you think to eat this way. Good Luck!

There is this place called My Fit Foods that offers healthy meals with all the convenience of fast food. And I don't mean the Wendy's version of healthy or the McDonald's version of healthy. I'm talking well balanced healthy meals with things like fresh fruit, fish, chicken, and fresh veggies. No additional sugar or preservatives. My husband heard about this from a friend of his that is a personal trainer and loves the concept of it. He actually goes there when he is in a rush and needs something as fast as a drive through. Anyway, my husband decides that he really wants to do this 21 day challenge thing they have. I am doing it with him because well, I don't want to live off protein shakes for 21 days and cooking for half of one is not something I can easily do. The challenge gives you 3 meals and 2 snacks a day and can come in small, medium, or large sizes. The menu is pretty much all gluten free and has more variety then I thought there would be. It is all prepared fresh and delivered multiple times a day to each location. We have to drink this liver cleanse thing (more on that later), every morning and eat every 2.5 to 3 hours. My favorite part, we have to drink 80 oz of water. Hmm 80 oz.........yeah, I'll work up to that. So last Thursday we went and set it all up. Got the info on the program, got our meal plans, and got our supplements (him not me). We picked up our food yesterday (pick up twice a week) and started today. He will be eating a medium size for all of his food and I get half of a small for mine. The liver cleanse things is cranberry juice, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and b12. I don't know that I'll be doing the full amount every day, acidic stuff makes me sick. So I didn't start off this morning too greatly. I didn't think it tasted too bad, but my husband thought it was disgusting lol. For the next 21 days I don't have to cook or plan a meal or worry about grocery shopping. (my silver lining lol). I'll post blogs on the food I'm eating and what I think about it and my progress each day. So far today I dealt with the liver cleanse thing, had an awesome breakfast, and have downed 20 oz of water. I had to stop so I can eat my first snack.

Ok so I've posted on the past and the fun stuff, now time for a current update. I'm 20 months post-op. I've been stalled at my weight for probably 4 to 5 months. Sucks I know, but I have no one to blame but me. Bottom line I got lazy and some bad habits came creeping back in. I haven't gained which makes me so happy, but I haven't lost either . So what are these bad habits you ask.... Not eating enough protein, eating unhealthy foods, drinking while eating, not drinking enough water, not exercising regularly, and not sleeping enough. So to be fair to myself I have a crazy schedule. I work full time and go to school full time. I don't have children, but I am the one that cleans and cooks and keeps our house in order. My husband isn't lazy I just have OCD when it comes to cleaning and he can't cook to save his life. Still that is no excuse to eat crappy, skip the protein, and not exercise. I should be able to work all that in. I just let myself be lazy. So now I am correcting all of that. We I've been increasing my water intake and setting alarms for when I can drink after I eat and working out. That's been for the past couple of weeks. I caught myself the other day sipping while eating and someone shared the applesauce video with me. I haven't done that since lol. I have this great fear that I will stretch out my stomach, so I constantly test myself with water. I can hold 6 oz of water. My dr says that is perfect and exactly where I should be. So I haven't stretched it. Whew! I haven't gone up in inches either or clothing size. I've maintained it even through my laziness. The biggest change has been my hair. Yes, my hair started falling out after surgery and yes, it has all grown back. Only now....it's textured (technical term from my stylist). Meaning somewhere between straight and curly. Just enough that if I brush it with a brush it frizzes. It's annoying to have to figure out how to take care of my hair now that it's different. Lots of trial and error. Also, I hit that magic 18 month time for when I can start adding to our family. My surgeon gave me a go and my other Dr is happy with my weight and my blood work. So the good old fashioned way of having kids didn't work. That was step one. Now we are on step two, Clomid round one. Hopefully soon I'll have updates of future sleepless nights, but for now I have no such thing. I'm just happy that I can try. Lesson's I have learned: It's a journey that is long and slow. Take it one step at a time. Don't get discouraged and don't give up. I didn't become fat overnight and I won't become a size 2 overnight. :wub:

Since I watched this I haven't had anything to drink with my meals. I was getting into that habit and this was all I needed to break it lol. I showed my husband and he was like hmmm well I guess I'll swat your hand if you try and take a drink.

The concert was amazing. I went to see Jason Mraz and it was one of the best shows I have been too. As for the protein bars, if I am going to be at an inside venue, yes, I will take one. This concert was outdoors and in the Texas heat a bar does not survive for long. BTW going to a concert and being able to buy a tshirt without having to worry about if it will really fit is awesome.

As I'm getting ready to head out to a concert tonight I was going through my checklist of items to take with me and thought it might be helpful to share the tricks I've learned for surviving a concert. Let's be honest, no matter how far from surgery you are, concert food is not good for you. I have no desire for beer, sticky frozen drinks, nachos, or anything else they can come up with. I'm talking the typical venue, not the nice House of Blues style with an attached restaurant. I'm heading to an outdoor concert and will be there for a good 4 hours. That means I'll need to eat at some point. You can't bring in outside food or drink, which is fine because they say nothing about powder. I generally take two baggies of protein powder (always have a backup). I carry a purse so it is easy for me to carry them. I will buy water and make my shakes while I'm there. I also take those water flavor packet things so that I can have something a little more refreshing if I get tempted to go get a soda. If you are lucky enough to go to a venue that will let you bring a cooler, you are golden and can put all kinds of goodies in there. Some venues will also let you bring in food if you have a card from your doctor (I've never seen said card, but I am told they exist and can be used to get smaller meals at restaurants). It isn't much of a tip, but not something people will typically think about. I learned when I went to my first concert post-op and was miserable. I was still on mushy food at that time.

I don't have that box Who the heck knows lol. I'll keep my little registered user thing. I just won't feel as special. lol. thank you for the info though.

My husband is going to get tested too. I brought home all of the stuff for him and he didn't go, so my nurse called him and started bugging him lol. That got him moving. I was lucky enough to be diagnosed before TTC and have been treating it for years, we just don't know if he adds to the problem.

My husband has asked more than once if I'll still like him when I lose all of my weight. It's amusing to me considering that I am the one losing the weight, not him and he is just as attractive as ever. After my surgery he was too afraid to eat in front of me. He didn't know how i'd handle it. Truth be told I didn't want it. The smell of food made me sick for the first few weeks. I didn't miss eating because the 2 oz of liquid made me so full, thinking about trying to put more in my stomach just made me cringe.

I was diagnosed based on hormone levels and sonograms. It can be very dangerous if it isn't caught, I had to have biopsies for cancer checking. It doesn't mean you can't ever have another kid. I know 2 ladies that are due any day that have PCOS and were able to use fertility treatments to have em

I've got to be blind. I can't find it anywhere under settings lol.

I can tell you that at 20 mths out the drive is going high. Makes my husband a happy camper. He wants kids and was fine and happy until the dr said sex every 48 hours lol. I haven't seen him bummed like that since he was told we had to wait until I got my drain out for the sleeve. But it does feel so much better and it's fun to try new things. I hope you have some fun

Congrats!!! I know how that feels.

I don't remember ever having anything like that. I would call your Dr just to be safe.

I would love to see her speak. House Rules was probably my favorite ever. I haven't picked up Fifty Shades of Grey yet. I'm sure I will. Sadly (I can't believe I'm admitting this) I've been reading the Game of Thrones books and I like them. It seems so geekish to me, I don't know why lol. I can't remember the name of the other book I have going, but it isn't that good.

Are you eating enough protein? I get that way when I don't, even this far out. Could be a lack of vitamins too. I know I had a problem with my vitamin levels at one point because I was taking the wrong kind. I just can't remember if I was nauseated. You might call your Dr and ask if you need to come in or ask on your next appointment.

I had 2 surgeries prior to being sleeved and I was scared out of my mind. I'd never had a major surgery like this one. I found this site and asked some questions and read through some things and realized that everyone has fears and everyone was fine. My BMI was close to 60 when I had the surgery. I don't know if that helps but we are all here to lend you some support and to help ease your fears.

Here is that video.

Let me see if I can figure out how to link the post here that has it in there.

I am reading a book that Jodi Picoult wrote with her daughter. I'm sure it's like teenage level reading, but I love Jodi Picoult and own every book no matter what it is. So I got her most recent release called Between the Lines. I got it yesterday and I'm over halfway finished. If I can focus and get my homework completed I'll have it finished tonight. The last one I had like this was that new King book 11/23/63. The one about Kennedy being alive and what it would be like. I'm telling you I read all the time. lol

O I have tons of cookbooks and recipes I've tried lol. That's a good idea there. I've only read the book my Dr gave me after surgery and it was just meh. I was thinking of everyday books and its only because I'm reading one I hate to put down. I'm one of those read 3 or so at a time people and I got one yesterday that has trumped all others and I wish I could finish it like now. I'll check out one of those other sites but for some reason I'm more comfy with people here than with random people on the web reading it lol. I think it's because we all share something in common.

I have 11 in random places. I haven't had any shrink or look funny and I've dropped close to 100. But the one on my right ankle did move forward a half inch. It now looks off center. It's really going to depend on where you are putting it and how much you are likely to lose in that area.

So for a quick catch up on things from previous forum entries, I have my first post about me, my return home, the drain removal, and a quick update. This is all the stuff I posted about at the time and didn't remember until I read them again. Comments made on those post from today are in purple. From Sept 16, 2010: Starting to Freak Out My name is Desiree and I set my surgery date for October 4th yesterday. I've been on a journey of working to lose weight for a couple of years now. It all began a few years ago when I destroyed the cartridge in my knee and had to have surgery that put me on crutches for 6 weeks and I couldn't put any kind of weight on my leg. I decided to seriously work to lose weight then and was at my heaviest which was 342. I recovered from surgery and starting working with a personal trainer and following a strict diet. I lost several inches in 3 months, but not enough to count on the scale. While working with my trainer I once again tore up the same knee, only a different injury. This time it the cartilage on my femur and had a hole 1-2 inches in diameter torn into it. This equaled another surgery and this time 8 weeks on crutches with no weight allowed. I had considered the bypass and band off and on for several years but was always uncomfortable with rerouting nature's plumbing and having something plastic that required upkeep in my body. That all changed after learning about my stupid knee injury. While waiting for my 2nd knee surgery I went to a seminar for surgery. I found out all the requirements for my insurance company and started working on them. I found success with a non surgical doctor in the same office and put off the surgery part. Due to recovery time I had a stall in my dr visits and had to start over three months later. I had gained back most of my weight while recovering but over the next several months of starting back up I had dropped 30 lbs. I was happy and all was going well until the pain in my knee came back and I couldn't work out. I was told I have stress fractures in my knee caused by my weight and the thinner cartridge in my knee. The doctor said I need to lose weight more quickly so he recommended surgery. I consulted with my weight loss doctor and next thing I know I'm waiting on insurance approval. It was fairly easy because I'd already had the dietician visits and the psych evaluation. My surgery date is less than three weeks away and on Monday I start a two week diet of no fat, low fat, no meat. I'm starting to freak out and trying to find answers to all of these questions that are suddenly popping in my head and I do not like what I have found online so far. Then I found this site. I'm looking forward to sharing my journey with everyone and putting to rest some of my fears. I was scared for nothing! From October 6, 2010: Just Got Home Just got home today from my surgery. I was sleeved on Monday and other than the 4 hour delay it went great. I went in so hungry and still have yet to get hungry. The gas pains have not been bad but the soreness is bad. How long should I expect to be sore? Did anyone else pull their pain ball thing out at home? Did it hurt? And one last question, did anyone else have problems eating cold stuff like the popsicles? FYI Cold stuff doesn't bother me as much now but something warm makes me check to see if I spilled it on myself every single time. My original Drain Removal post was like everyone else's, me asking if it was going to hurt because I was freaked out by it. From October 14, 2010: Reply to my original post after having the drain removed. It didn't hurt at all. It felt like a suction cup being removed by my stomach and a little weird feeling when it made its way out but no pain!! Other than that the visit was fast and easy and he was pleased with how I am doing. Thank you again for all the help From February 22, 2011: Long Overdue Update This is long over due, but I think it's about time. I'm now almost 5 months post op and I've lost 62 lbs. I think I've hit my first plateau but I think that's because of the working out. I've been doing great and still amazing myself with foods I now like. I'm down 5 sizes which is such a great feeling, I can wear my prom dresses from high school again. I am struggling with hair loss, and I always get in my protein and take my vitamins, but I was told it's expected. My husband and I are planning our first vacation ever and after 6 years I think it's time. Little nervous about wearing a swim suit on the beach and flying on a plane, I've avoided that from fear of not fitting in the seat. I'll get some pictures and measurements posted soon. This was my last update and I never posted my measurements lol.

I'm in a posting frenzy lol. I have 20 months worth of updates lol. Don't worry I'll just do one for how I am now. Then it will be all new going forward. Thank you for taking time to read it