Globetrotter

I went to bed the other night at 176.6 and woke up in the morning at 179. WTMF!!!!! Four thin discs of sauteed baguette used for bruschetta can't do that ... can it?!! Because that is what I had for dinner that night. These had better be TOTM pounds but then I get paranoid that my digital scale, which runs on batteries, might have been running down and maybe the lower numbers were a false reading in the first place - aack! Need to get new batteries, take some miralax, cut out the carbs and weight myself the day after TOTM finishes. =/

Breakfast - half serving Tera's whey chocolate Protein shake, half serving Click espresso Protein powder. lunch - half of one cucumber, two radishes, with salt & pepper. One serving Oikos organic greek yogurt, one serving cranberry-almond-chocolate trail mix, Elite protein shot. dinner - Something protein from Mastering the Art of French Cooking, making it with a friend! Probably roast chicken with some kind of sauce, my portion will be 4 oz. + incidental sauce. Dessert - 2 TBSP artisanal spiced chocolate gelato/ice cream Water - working on it! Vitamins - dangit, must remember when I get home Exercise - maybe will go for a walk this evening with friend

Did you ever see the movie Juno? Allison Janney's character goes off on an a preachy ultrasound tech, it's really funny. Deep respect to you for not unleashing on her, I wouldn't have had such control! And bravo to you for nipping it in the bud - if I had known then what I know now, about heredity and so much more, I would have had this surgery when I was only 40-50 lbs overweight, maybe I wouldn't have lost my 20's. I haven't yet had anyone get sanctimonious on me about having surgery but I have now several times been in the extremely awkward and bizarre position of being considered an arbiter or "success" at weight loss; average size women now start -unsolicited- monologues at me about their own weight issues, anxiously describing their progams to me, as though my approval/opinion holds weight? I'm really not explaining myself very well here ... it's kind of like when someone makes a fortune from clever business strategies, everyone wants financial advice, or when you study medicine and become a doctor everyone gives your opinion on all things medical gravitas. It's really wierd to be in a coversation with several women and have them talk about thier diets and exercise regimes and ... exclude (?) me from ... participation in the conversation because ... I'm not a combatant in the trenches of weight struggle? Or so they think. I don't know and I'm really really not explaining myself well but, it's wierd.

Wow Keys, I'm gonna say it - this scares the $h!t outta me! You have been such an all-star, I guess this just proves that none of us is safe, that the sleeve was merely a tool to build the house but that we still have to watch out for termites! I noticed you mentioned that you had stopped logging your food, that seems to be the clincher right there, every time one of us (myself included) stops logging food, it spells stall or gain. In the almost year that Ive been on the board you've been an exercise maniac so I know that's not the problem, but I also know that you have had a more tolerant attitude toward carbs designating some as good and necessary because of your exercise. I'm sure that is 100% true, but regardless of how necessary, those carbs are just our damn gateway drug. I'll bet that if you log religiously for one month, do a 5-day pouch cleanse, and cut your carbs back to post-op levels, that weight plus some will just disappear. =)

Okay, this is depressing - I already eat/live this way and barely lose if I lose at all! I do not eat rice, potatoes of any kind, grains, bread, jam/jelly, syrup, white sugar. I cardio exercise 5x a week and I'm barely losing a pound a week, and that's not every week!

I haven't been married but I do still have my cheerleading uniform from high school - needless to say it is itsy bitsy. Can't wait!!

Luve is actually quite detrimental, as it only addresses the physiological results and not the underlying causes. I exercise (zumba, body pump, tango, pilates) about 6 times a week, I'm cutting back the carbs that have crept in, have become diligent about my vitamins protein count and water again, yet nothing. I've kinda always been a little smug over my innate sensuality and my ability to experience eroticism and now, I feel as sexual and have about as juicy a responce as prairie grass. =( =( And that situaiton with the old flame was AWESOME!! He was quite ... goal oriented, and fun was had don't get me wrong, but I know what my body is capable of and I was nowhere near even middle of my range.

low dangles aren't just for former fat men, I was with a man who was naturally very lean and he had a surprisingly baggy and lengthy sac, and he's not old. Yes, Breast-ees and testes have much in common. =D

I ve suddenly noticed that I basically have no libido. I came to this realization is the most unfortunate way; while getting steamy with a guy that I've wanted since high school. We had mad epic crushes on each other when we were kids and we finally had the opportunity to consumate - it's straight out of a movie! I was totally into it and into him and yet mid stride (so to speak) it occurred to me that I was not responding physiologically in my normal way. I didn't get nearly as lubricated as I ought to have, and my arousal wasn't really there. Since then I have been watching my emotions and physio responses and have become alarmed, nothing turns me on. Nothing is erotic or arousing, I hav always been primed and rerring to go and suddenly, nothing. It is depressing. I am 116 lbs down, 50 pounds from goal, age 29.

Today is my one year anniversary of having surgery. Not just one year ago today, but at this very moment I was in surgery in San Francisco. My last meal as a person with all of my original parts was homemade bruschetta. I have lost 114 pounds since that morning and there are times, often, when I am unable to grasp what that means. I am also more intimidated by my own decision to have surgery now then I was at the time of surgery. I had researched bariatrics for years before making the decision but sometimes now when I think about it I am alarmed that I actually did something so monumental. I have zero regrets, does any of this make sense? I am not to goal yet. The morning of surgery I weighed 294 pounds, this morning I weigh 180.8 pounds. 30.2 pounds away from surgeon's goal, 51.2 pounds away from personal goal. According to my surgeon I should have hit his goal by my 9th month so there are some frustrations but I continue to make an effort, be accountable, and progress in my recovery. When will I feel "normal"? Will I ever be un-selfconscious in a crowd? At what number will I feel like a thin/not fat person? How do I tell a potential romantic partner, do I tell a romantic partner? How do I react if someone tells a fat joke? As a currently fat person? As a former fat person? Not at all? And if I see myself as a currently fat person and speak to a fat person as a compatriot, will they think I'm a condescending ******* because they do not see me as fat? I don't have the answers to these questions yet. I am still excited about losing weight, very much want to get to goal, and am thankful that I did this, even if now that I am no longer super morbidly obese it is easy to recriminate myself with thoughts of, "oh I could have done this without surgery if I had been dedicated enough." And a very special thank you to the denizens of this site, and the site itself; without these arrows in my quiver I would not be celebrating this joy today. Thank you.

This is so depressing, I probably shouldn't have clicked on this thread right now, I've been in a glum funk since yesterday about a lot of things and this is just fuel to the fire ... Let's just say worst case scenario it is 5 years later and although a person has been diligent about changing their lifestyle, the stomach has still stretched out a lot and now the person is pretty much on a severe diet just to maintain. Can they get a "tighten" tune up? Resize the stomach back down to smaller? Is that possible?

I'm on board with the bloating/swelling notion, I "gain" exactly 4 pounds every TOM the week prior that goes away the week of. Also salt is a big culprit and summertime foods like barbeque and margaritas are high in sodium. You never mentioned what your exercise regimen is like? I'd say go one week of trying all the stuff we've mentioned here; fat flushing foods, low salt, extra water, exercise change up, and if after a week there is no change in either how you feel or the scale, then see your doctor. As for going on a diet, I am with you, "diets" are cruel and pointless. Of course, I don't consider cutting out flour-based carbs, soda, alcohol, etc. to BE a diet, that to me is just smart healthful living and taking care of my Self.

Wow, you just hit the nail on the head with one blow! I wear alot of structured dresses now and I wear good shapewear underneath so the breasts-waist-hips ratio is noticeable and pleasing to the eye (depending on the mirror I'm using). I haven't yet noticed any specific attention from males, I think, I don't know! When I do get attention from anybody, I have to remind myself that it isn't automaticaly negative. When I walk into a room or take a seat in a crowd I automatically feel that those around me are thinking mean thoughts about the size of me. I'm a size 12 which is perfectly average in America these days and yes I feel so much more confident, put a little swagger in my walk even, but I can't help but have a part of me that craves ... acceptance? approval? naked desire? I don't know, but I'm going to try to find this book you mention.

I did a body pump style class recently; we used hand weights, a heavy weight bar and a lighter weight bar, floor mats, & a step platform. This was not fun, this was brutal! Three days later I was still sore but I will be going back for more, I can tell this is the perfect workout - cardio, aerobic, & strength training, all rolled into one. Hurt so good!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the buck stops with Lunaire. Yes they are pricey but worth every single penny. The fit flawlessly, you wil never have to adjust a slipping strap, the breasts are molded perfectly, and they are pretty! Their "coolmax" underwire sports bra is the best bra I've ever worn. EVER.

Chilo1 - missed you girl! I'm so happy to be back in the forum, sharing with my VSG team! I've recently returned to the boards with some postings about this very topic, the frustrations and mainly fear that have come along with my one year anniversary (14 July). I was spinning out of control with my carbs and although I wasn't gaining, I had stopped losing, plus I was suddenly experiencing hunger and what appeared to be the ability to eat normal portions, I freaked out!! But my order of protein bullets arrived in the mail, I got into a good rhythm of my zumba classes again, and lo - 5 pounds down in 4 days! I am now fully on board the wagon, preaching to all and sundry - IT IS ALL ABOUT THE PROOOOOOOOTEIN! =) Once I got back to eating 80+ grams of protein a day and less than 50gs of carbs, my "capacity" to eat vanished, as did my "hunger". I had also fallen prey to what I call "revenge of the cheap ****"; cheap snacks tend to have way more refined sugar, carbs,and corn syrup in them and they f*** you up, fast. Also, I suppose that in some way, it is finally paying off that I have been an incredibly slow loser during my first year, depressingly frustratinlgly slow. Because now, there is no sudden slap in the face and obvious end to the honeymoon, I just keep on being the slw-a$$ loser I've always been =). Hey, I don't mind being the turtle, so long as I finish the race. =) Keep the faith chilo!

Haha, hi! Yeah I went on vacation then moved and started a new job. It's been a bit of a struggle with food and carbs, see my "one year anniversary" post in general sleeve discussion. Though I did just break a 2 month stall, went from 184 to 179 in 4 days because I reigned in my carbs and got back to the gym but Im thinking I need to be back here on VST more because I clearly need my support network.

Hi everybody, I am approaching my one year anniversary, 14 July. I have lost 111 pounds and am still 33 pounds away from surgeon's goal, 54 pounds from personal goal. I haven't lost anything in over 53 days. Around that time I started eating carbs again, baguettes from the bakery, chocolate, croutons, rice in my sushi. A month ago I began driving from CA to KS it took over a week so no exercise. Then it took a solid week just to move into the house so, no exercise. Then I started my new job which includes a commute so, no exercise. Finally at the end of my 2nd week of work I went to the gym and went to a zumba class but I am still making bad choices with my food, chocolate coated tea biscuits, chocolate in many forms but I genuinely think that more than my choices it is my volume that has become bad. Suddenly, I am able to eat normal portions!! The other day I ordered a lettuce wrapped cheeseburger - I was able to eat the entire thing!! Granted, it was half for lunch and half for dinner but still, time was when one bite of burger would have had me sliming and staying the hell away from ground beef. Suddenly I am able to eat 2 scrambled eggs without stopping when once half of one egg would have filled my like thanksgiving dinner. I don't know what to do my peeps. I'm afraid that I have stopped losing and am really afraid that I will begin gaining. A supply of Protein bullets has finally arrived in the mail so I will have much better protein intake and I will no longer purchase any carb products for the house or order any in a restaurant AND I have made time in my schedule to exercise daily from here out. But what if it isn't enough? What if I'm just not going to make it to goal? How could my short body want to still be fat? Because, at 5'3", 183 pounds is still fat.

In the 500 years that we've been wearing specific garments that can be categorized as "underwear" we have only worn snug "underpants" in the last 50 years. For the previous 4-500 years they were always very loose legged "drawers" or "pants". I wonder if rates of infections rose significantly after the switch. I try to stay with cotton that is loose enough to "breathe", plus I have the loose skin and fold to deal with now so any panty cuts into my flesh. Spanx bike shorts are airy and smooth and streamline you, if I could find a female version of the boxer brief I would be all over that. For "boudoir adventures" a plain pair of cotton boyshorts drives the men crrrazy! =D

This is hysterical. But in all seriousness, I do have this problem as well and sometimes it can be funny like, "woah hello there!" But sometimes it can actually be painful, not to mention that it looks just awful. Nobody in the world wants the dreaded Toe so unless I am willing to wear really thick and stiff girdle panties =( I have to wear tunic length shirts with pants, just like I was still fat!! Also BTW, anybody have the problem of bruised hipbones from the waistband of lowrise pants? I'm still fat (179) and this is already a problem.

Since I do not eat "real" carbs - bread, potatoes, rice, anything made with flour, the carbs from the Click aren't punitive. And if I just want the coffee mocha taste I can just sprinkle some Click on the top of a chocolate flavored protein shake, like how they dust on cinnamon at a coffee shop, and that's less than a pinch which is negligible. Yum!!

You are in luck!! Click brand Protein powder makes a mocha blend that has 12 grams of protein per scoop. A serving is 2 scoops and has the equivalent of 2 shots of espresso. Mix a scoop with a scoop of chocolate protein powder, top it with some SF whipped topping and you wouldn't know the difference between it and a starbucks concoction. awesome!!

I threw away the tea biscuits and the only carbs in my house right now are from goat cheese, greek yogurt, and raw nuts. Some a$$clown brought Krispy Kremes to work yesterday, AND pepperonie pizza. Yes, I ate one plain doughnut and yes, I ate 1/3 of a slice of pizza. BUT, I stopped. I know that's not much of a triumph but it could have been much much worse, you all know what could have happened. I could easily have eaten several doughnuts, the whole slice of pizza, but I didn't. I've danced intensely for several hours the past two days and will attend a Zumba class today. As I mentioned, those protein bullets arrived and I've started up with my protein powders again in the mornings. I am getting back into the positive habit of journaling my intake in my online food tracker and taking it one day at a time. I never put much stock into that whole 5-day pouch test but it does make sense to try to zero out the carbs for a period to reboot my system. What with the move and all I'm just feeling lonely and vulnerable in this journey right now.

I'm so glad I saw this thread. I've recently begun a new situation; new job, new city, new house, no family or tangible social network nearby. So I see myself wanting to fall back into bad yet comforting habits. Curling up with DVDs and food, or books iand food, you get the picture. Thank goodness the gym on post is free and they have zumba classes so that will now be a daily part of my life again but I know I am not getting in enough protein or water, I have slacked on my vitamins, and my carbs are insane - easily above 70g's a day (they should be 30). I started the moving process exactly one month ago and since then have not strenuously exercised on a daily basis. Also, I am approaching my one year mark and my restriction seems to have up and disappeared and I am genuinely scared, I'm frightened. I don't want to get lulled into a sense of false security, just because I can wear clothes from normal stores now. I am still fat, I am 54 pounds over goal and have not lost any weight in 55 days. I'm just feeling a little panicky.

So I haven't been around for a long time because I've been on vacation. During this vacay I have lost about 15 lbs, though it should be more like 30, =(. However, now that I have crossed the 200 lb divide, joined the century club, and started dancing, my changes are happening more often and are way more noticeable; more changes have been apparent from 200 lbs to 185 lbs then in the previous 75 lbs. My constant comment since surgery 10 months ago has been that I did not recognize the changes taking place. Though I know of course that I am much different then I was, it is difficult to recall whether or not I was able to do a particular thing or not. I find myself, for example, scratching a shoulder blade or tying my shoelaces and I think, "was I able to do this? I don't remember!!" Here however are a list of victories that -I think- I did not have/was unable to achieve before: push ups lay on my stomach on the massage table with my face in the doughnut without feeling like I'm going to suffocate. sit on the ground with both knees drawn up AND my arms around those knees. wearing a size 12 PETITE J Crew cords styling my own hair without breaking into a sweat. putting my napkin on my lap and having it stay in place. having a lap. cheekbones lay on my back without being suffocated by my own breasts. hipbones. slipping the pilates ring around my thighs. going to the thrift shop and being able to pick up things for just a few bucks instead of being forced to pay $50 for a poorly made tacky polyester shirt at LB or Avenue. Being assessed by female strangers on the street - being seen as enough of a threat that they reach for their male companion's attention.(!!) 36DD on the tightest row of hooks, from a 42F on the loosest row AND spilling out of the cups. walking miles and. NOT. EVEN. NOTICING. JOGGING. hugging people and really being in the hug. You VSG homies know what I mean. discovering, quite for the first time in my entire life, that I have a REALLY GREAT A$$. (thank you pilates, thank you tango). Name brands - The Gap, J. Crew, Macy's INC, Ann Taylor, Levi's. These are a few of my favorite things, Thirty-five pounds until surgeon's goal, fifty-five pounds until personal goal, eventual plastics (arms! gut! tatas!), and slow as molasses, but a beautiful journey that I would not trade and that fills me with gratitude. Thank you VSG family, thank you surgeon, and most of all, thank you Self for taking the risk. =) =)