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Oh, and for the hunger...I feel it. I can't remember if I have always felt it or not, but I know it was earlier out that I did. That being said, right now anyways, it is not the same. Even on a fast day, I do not get SUPER hungry...you know the kind...where your tummy hates you. It has to be a long time in between eating to actual get a little rumble in the tummy. I eat because I like food!

Hooray! Sometimes I just feel like I am spewing bulls**t! But this is the one thing that I have really come to realize since having my surgery. Actually, in the week before my surgery, I had many thoughts about how I would deal with my emotions. In that week, I realized, wholeheartedly, that I was an emotional eater. And now that I have accepted it, I have tried to take steps to make it better. Do I still eat when I am upset, you bet! But I am trying really hard and have set up my environment that I can't just stuff my face full of junk when I am upset. Oh, and the clear head, I am there with you! I can't even get my kids' names straight sometimes, and I have a boy and a girl!

It does take a lot of strength to say, yes, I made a mistake, but I am accountable and I am here not giving up. I think in the past many of us (I know for myself anyways), if I started gaining, I just gave up. Boohoo, poor me. Now, I strap on my big girl panties, say its time to get my head back in the game. I don' t think anyone is a failure that is struggling to reach goal, or has had some regain. I think the only time that we fail is when we choose to give up.

I know how you are feeling. I have been struggling badly lately. Too much stress, too many holidays with bad food, and my inner food demon is running rampant. My only defense is keeping the Snacks out of the house. The one thing that I am trying to do (although, I will admit, I am not very good at it) is being gentler with myself. We all make mistakes, the most important thing is to forgive ourselves and move on. You can do it and get back on track! We are here for you!

Laura - thanks for thinking of me! I did have a snack and still came in at 438 calories. It was a busy day yesterday and I didn't feel much like eating. Didn't help the scale any though. FYE - I am sorry to hear about your mom and dad. It sounds like your dad is a toughie though!! You are an amazing daughter! You too Georgia! Cheri, I feel you. When meds mess with your system, it just plain old sucks a**. Are you done having kids? If yes, maybe they would consider a partial hysterectomy?? I am very lucky in that regards living in Canada as I don't even have that many problems (heavy, fairly painful periods, but nothing in between) and my doc suggested getting stripped to make things easier...so I could get it done tomorrow if I wanted. Hopefully if you keep pushing (plus your doc is such a freak about weight, maybe if you bring it up, she will gladly go the other route) Dee - Overall with the 5:2 I have lost, but I also see huge fluctuations in weight, way more than before. And lately, my weight hasn't even been going down after a fast day. Coops - that isn't that bad really! After Spain you were up something like 6 lbs and that all came off, this will too! Normal day for me today and, knock on wood, hubby is suppose to be coming home today. Have a great weekend everyone!

When you think about it, it really makes sense. I don't think any of us would say that we can still only eat what we ate 3 days post op. The good news in my eyes...if capacity was 4 oz 3 days post op, at 2 years out it would be 8 oz. Even if you say 6 oz and 12 oz, that is still a hell of a lot less than the, what, 60 oz that our stomachs normally hold. This stat I am ok with. And I agree with what everyone is saying. I think long term success has more to do with accountability than surgery. The surgery helps us get there, our heads keep us there.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone, it means a lot. I think I am actually going to try and give myself a little slack with eating at the moment (not slack off, just be gentler with myself...I really need to learn that more). Coops - sounds like an amazing vacation and good on you for the bikini! I don't think I would ever wear one, even if I get a Tummy Tuck. I always admire those that do! Laura - it so hard when our kids struggle. My son has ADHD and it hasn't been an easy road. It must be so hard for your son to adjust when they keep messing with his schedule. I hope things settle in soon! M2G - I will be waiting for the announcement, you are doing amazing with the 5:2, a superstar! Everyone sounds like they have been rocking it! I did fast today and I am only sitting at just under 300 calories for the day, so I might have a snack here. Thanks for being an amazing group. We might not "know" each other as far as seeing each other, but I really do feel connected to everyone here.

Yesterday was suppose to be fast day for me and I crashed and burned. I was doing good until I went to meet with my daughter's new daycare to drop off my schedule. She asked me if I wanted anything to drink, and I said no, but they ended up bringing me a glass of orange Tang, I think anyways. I didn't want to be rude, so I drank it, and it all went down hill. I have been feeling very overwhelmed lately. My husband has be gone for 2 weeks out of the last 3 (which I am not used to at all, watching my children by myself) and I am going back to work in just over a week after being at home for almost 7 years with my kiddos. I just feel very down and feel like crying. I have struggled with depression in the past (this weight gain that I am dealing with was from switching medications). I have been doing well not being on anything, its just been as of late. I started taking St. John's Wort, but only recently. And my eating habits are still very tied to my emotions. So as of late, I have not been doing well. I have been sticking to the fasting twice a week, but on days when I don't, I feel out of control. I know I have to get my head back in the game, but I am really struggling. I was happy where I was maintaining and I am frustrated that I feel like I have to diet to get these pounds back off. Ugh Sorry for my rambling. I am just feeling lonely and frustrated and, and, and. I am going to try and fast today to make up for the day yesterday. But right now it is only 8:20am, so I have a long day ahead of me!

Well, I have been reading here, but not posting lately, just haven't had much of a chance. We were away last week, my husband is gone again for over a week, and I am getting ready to go back to work, so things have been a little crazy! I am embarrassed to say that I have let my eating get way of track. My holidays at my parents was terrible as food choices go. My mom always has junk in the house (this time, it was oreos and chips) and I had no will power. With the vacation we took, birthdays, and trips, I have let my habits slide back into old ways. So when we got back from holidays, I have been working really hard on eating clean and have been doing good for the most part. Not perfect, but much better. And I got back to fasting on Monday and came in under 500 calories. My weight has been holding steady between 4.5 and 5.5 pounds lost (I always seem to fluctuate). I am thankful that I did not gain any weight while away at my parents, but I know I was just lucky this time! I hope everyone is doing well. I can't believe summer is coming to a close. My kids start back in a little less than 2 weeks. My son is starting grade one, so will be going to school everyday now. And my daughter will be coming to preschool with me and then daycare. It is going to be a huge adjustment for everyone since I have been a SAHM for almost 7 years! Have a great day everyone!

Great articles FYE! It really does feel like the odds are stacked against us, but knowledge is power. The more we know, the more tools we have to continue maintaining and not becoming statistics!

Happy Birthday!! I am glad that you are feeling better and could enjoy your birthday!

A great article for everyone considering this surgery or those early out. I posted it on the vet's forum, but I thought I would move it here. http://www.obesityhelp.com/articles/6-things-i-wish-id-known-about-weight-loss-surgery/

Ok, I posted in post op, but I am not sure how to remove from here.

Yeah, I should probably move it!

M2G, thanks for asking! I survived the party with most of my sanity intact. It was hard to get pictures and be as involved as I would like to be without my husband around, but my daughter has lots of fun, and that is what matters. Today is suppose to be a fast day, but I am not feeling it today. I am feeling overwhelmed and stressed at the moment. I have been a stay at home mom for the last almost 7 years and I am going back to work in a few weeks teaching preschool. My hubby is going out of town again in a few days for a week and I am trying to figure out how I am going to get everything ready without the extra help. Well, I will just have to figure it out I guess. Anyways, I hope everyone has a good week. We are going away again to visit my family for a few days tomorrow, back on Friday. so we will see how it goes.

Nice Picture! It is always so nice to connect a face with a name!

WhooHoo!!

Cheri and FYE, I love your photos too!

For us slow losers, it is harder work, but keep it up! It took me 18 months to reach goal, and I know lots of people still losing 3 years out. The sleeve never stops working if you keeping using it!

Cheri, we just took our little ones to Despicable Me 2 a couple of weeks ago, they LOVED it (they are almost 4 and 6.5), so your kids will love it I am sure. And trust me, we hardly ever do anything either. Our little vacation was the first in 2 years other than trips to visit my parents. Most of my days are spent at home with my kids, although I do try to take them out to the parks, spray parks, and pools (in the summer anyway) almost everyday. FYE, I want to be on your vacation! Movie stars and fancy suppers, oh that sounds so much fun! And try not to worry about the weight and just have fun. It is mostly likely just bloating from eating things your are not used to. Dee, you are living life! Sure, you don't want to eat 2500 calories everyday, but one day is not going to hurt you. I am also in the moderation camp. I enjoy having treats here and there, and I allow myself too. I have spent the last almost 3 years working on not feeling guilty about eating a piece of cake (or something of the sort). The joy I have found with being sleeved is tomorrow is really a new day and I don't get off the rails completely like before. Laura, I was at Costco the other day, and they had Halloween AND Christmas stuff out already, are you fricken kidding me!! How are you not suppose to think about it! Last Christmas I gained 5lbs. I lost it in a couple of weeks of just eating normally. Going to try really hard not to let that happen again! Yesterday was my fast day and came in at 515 calories. It was a tough day and I really wanted to turn to my old friend food because I am feeling a little stressed and a little sad about my husband missing my daughters birthday. But I managed fine, so I have to give myself a pat on the back for that, right?! Have a good weekend everyone. My daughters party is tomorrow, so I have a lot to get done in next day and a half.

Thanks!

Oh, I like your new picture!

Oh salty stuff is brutal for me too! I always see it the next day on the scale.

Today is a fast day for me. Cheri, I never eat breakfast and always wait until lunch. I know you are diabetic, but if it works for you, I can't see it being bad in any way. So far, I have not eaten yet and have kept myself busy cleaning. It is my daughter's 4th birthday this weekend, so just trying to get things ready ahead of time. Got a call from my hubby though yesterday that he now has to work the weekend as well, so he is going to miss her birthday party. I know he is crushed about it, he is really involved with our kids. And I am crushed as well. Not only is he not here to be with us as a family, but I have to try and get everything ready on my own, including cutting my grass. Oh well. I know I am feeling stressed because all I want to do is eat something, but keeping busy has worked so far. Now I will make lunch for my kids, then eat something. Hope everyone else is having a good day. A lot of us are Thursday fasters, so here is to a good day!

Still here too! Still plodding along fasting Mondays and Thursdays! Started June 19th, down about 5 lbs.