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Oh, and in those first few months, I was a psycho! I almost drove myself crazy comparing to others as it seemed everyone was losing faster than me. I had to let it go for my own sanity.

Oh, I like that idea! I also will take deli black forest ham, lay some onions, pizza sauce and mozza cheese inside and roll up. Then I either microwave for fry in a non-stick pan until the cheese melts. Yummy!

Oh, I am no angel! Now that I was down, and then have gained a few back, I am a freak about it!! Only more recently have I been trying to relax a little and not obsess so much about it. I am like you, I am having a hard time transitioning back to losing when I was happy in maintenance. I was much more relaxed the first go around!

Um, liver....to each's own that is for sure! Cheri and Laura, I am sorry you both had such hard days. Not easy for sure. I am a stress eater, and, in the moment, it makes me feel better, then afterward I feel like ****, so I think I need to find a better outlet! Oregon, you are doing so well!! The countdown is on to get that damn cast off! Oh Dee, does your hubby always text you pictures of food, I think I would strangle my hubby! Yesterday and today are normal days for me. My weight is dropping down, now at 5.4lbs lost. This is my losing week, so I am hoping to see some lower numbers before it starts to get wonky around ovulation...sigh Just baking some muffins for my kids since it is a rainy day here. My daughter's birthday is coming up, so I am hoping the weather turns around so we can have it outside! Have a great day everyone!

I will be completely honest, I never really tracked how long any stalls were. I know the longest one was between 2 and 3 months (that's right, months, not weeks). I actually thought I was done losing and was a few pounds away from goal. But I was actually ok with that because I never dreamed I would even reach my goal as I had never remembered even weighing that amount. When I did start losing again, I was shocked and ecstatic! I am also a only lose for one week out of the month person. And I always bounce up a few pounds around TOM. It used to freak me out because I thought I was gaining until I actually realized what was happening. I never paid attention so closely to my weight before surgery, I never noticed the changes in weight through out my cycle. After the first 6 months, I just started rolling with it and not stressing about it so much. I was happy eating the way I was eating and slowly losing. When I stopped comparing myself to everyone else, I was much more at peace with this whole process. Sometimes you have to let go of what you thought it would be like and embrace the way your body works.

My heart is breaking for you. I am not sure what illness, but my Mom was diagnosed with MS in 1999. I will be honest, it is not an easy road for her. And you are so far from home, it is difficult to get the support that you need. I know it is not the same, but everyone here is sending big hugs your way.

Wow, congratulations!

Great information FYE! I have actually heard of fecal transplants before, related to certain diseases, but I have never thought of it in relation to bacteria. I did read a lot about fermented foods being extremely good for your flora (pickles, saurkraut, etc). I am going to have to read all the articles you posted. Thanks so much for doing the leg work!

Hugs, first of all :wub: And good for you for opting to go for a run instead of eating, you are a much stronger person than I am. I can tell when I am stressed because all I want to do is eat, even it if upsets my stomach. I am still working on battling that demon!

Its true, stress makes it more difficult to lose weight, along with lack of sleep. GT, you gave Coops heck for negativity. I think 1600 calories is pretty reasonable. Please try to be kinder and gentler to yourself :wub:

M2G, that is amazing, congrats on that fantastic loss! And that is great too, Coops! And I agree with Globe, give yourself a little compassion. I actually think there are a lot of us that need to do that, myself included! I also hate that stupid BMI chart because I am also in the overweight category, and it drives me a little batty! Cheri, I am so happy to hear about your hubby being home for a bit longer. I cannot fathom how difficult it must be to be a military wife. The longest my husband has been gone for any stretch was a week, and that was difficult...and I know that he is safe, not fighting wars. Yesterday was my fast day and it went well, I came in at around 525 calories. My weight is still sitting around the same, so I am hoping for some loss in the next while. Have a great day all of you Tuesday fasters!

I agree about the greek yogurt. Some of them are loaded with sugar. Make sure you are eating one that is sugar free, or, like Oregon said, buy plain and sweeten it yourself (that's what I do).

You know that is a lot of milk, isn't it! I've never been a good proof reader! Don't you have holidays to go on!

I never, ever told my husband how much I weighed either...are you kidding!! He is not a big guy, 5'7" and weighs 163lbs, so to get to the point that I weighed less than him took a while! I never wanted him to know how big I was at my biggest, and it was pretty tough when I first did. But now he knows, and he knows how much I weigh. And now that I am trying to lose again, I tell him my ups and downs. That being said, until I posted my weight just on this thread, I would never post my weight either, and still rarely do. And I don't keep it on my ticker either! I still have an internal struggle, feeling like I will be judged for my weight in some way, and, honestly, feeling a little jealous of the people that so easily get down to under 130lb (I am only 5'2.5"). Well, enough about my crazies! Congrats M2G, that is a fantastic weight loss. I am still sitting at 4.2lbs lost since starting on June 19th. I am honestly starting to feel a little frustrated, but I also know that if I maybe watched a little closer on regular days, I might be more successful.

As soon as I read your post, I was thinking the same thing as BTB, it might be the whey. I agree with soy protein as an alternative. You can also get egg based protein powders. Another alternative would be a hemp based protein powder. I can't tell you a kind as I have never tried any of them. But there is some stores you can go to and they will give you samples to try. But if you are having troubles with other dairy rich foods, it is most likely a lactose intolerance. My husband is severely lactose intolerant. He can eat cheese and have very small amounts of milk in his milk, but anything else and he has horrible stomach pains. Good luck finding something you like!

Wow, everyone is doing so well. And a point that should be made is none of us have gained since starting 5:2, so that has to count for something! Today is a fast day for me and it is a good thing. We had a busy weekend and were out eating a lot. I feel so bloated so I am happy to have the fast. I drink a ridiculous amount on my fast days to keep from feeling hungry that it really flushes everything out! Cheri, you have done so well, you should be proud! Coops, I would get your levels checked out again. Even though I am not in that stage, I have heard that your periods can stop and start sporadically before it finally stops all together. I know that it does not help with your weight loss goals. Hang in there! Have a great week everyone!

Wow, everyone is doing so well! Congrats to FYE and Laura for breaking new territory! That is so exciting! Fast day yesterday was going well, then went bust and ended up at 650 calories, but I am still going to count it. I got a little sabotaged by my husband. He wanted to go out for a drive with the kids to check our a new bridge that was just completed and then wanted a treat. I wanted to go to Dairy Queen because their fudge bars and orange bars are low calorie and would have kept me within my limit. But we decided on McDonald's because it is a lot cheaper. I got a small cone, which clocked in at 230 calories. Yeesh! I knew it would be high, but I didn't think that high. Oh well. My weight is still staying down at the moment, 4 lbs down total now. I am looking forward to the next couple of weeks because that is when I always lose. Today has been a normal day for me and so far so good. Maybe fairly healthy choices and haven't been craving anything crazy! I just got back from my vacation. And you know what, I just threw caution to the wind and decided to enjoy it. I ate so much everyday it was ridiculous. I was scared to weigh when we got back, but I actually had lost a pound while on vacation and it has stayed off. Who knows, maybe my body just needed the break (it sometimes is like that). Hope everyone has a great weekend. We are going to a parade tomorrow and then fishing the next day with the kids! And we will roast hot dogs and marshmallows, and I will enjoy them!

I understand how frustrating that could be. Have you had a endoscopy or swallow to make sure your surgery was done correctly. The other thing you could try is the 5-day pouch test. It helps to "find" you restriction again. The other thing you might be interested is joining our group that is following the 5:2 lifestyle...regular eating 5 days a week, fasting of 500 calories twice a week. Give it a try and see if it works for you. It has been working for a group of us, and even helping find that old restriction that some of us thought went missing!

Complacency is a dangerous road to follow. I am not saying that you can never have a more relaxed approach, but if you become completely compliant, I can guarantee that you will fall back into old habits, and not only will your weight loss stay stalled but you will start to gain. Any WLS takes a lifetime of being diligent. What that means is different to everyone. Some people need to continue to track everything. I always watch what I eat and weigh daily. You also have to find something that works for you that you can sustain for a lifetime. And don't give up! I was a slow loser, losing 55lbs in the first 6 months, and then it took me another year to lose the next 25lbs. You can do it! Get your head back in the game, find something that you know you can stick with and find your groove!

That is amazing! Congrats Laura!

I agree. What I was told is to be at goal for year before plastics. Your body does change a lot, even if you are not losing weight. For me, in the back if my head, I always had a fear of regain (well, still do). I wanted to be at a stable weight before deciding on plastics because I didn't want to go through it all only to start gaining weight. I have been a fairly stable weight (within 10lbs) for probably close to 18 months. Now, I would get plastics tomorrow if I could, just a matter of finances.

I was not lucky enough to have a little triangle of anything! Buck naked, arms pointed this way and that for pictures, and then buck naked in front of the surgeon. Although, I have to say getting to see my naked pictures would have even been worse...that is just cruel!

That would be a interesting consult!! At least I didn't have to worry about that during mine. But I have to say, even after having 2 babies and countless yearly exams, they did not prepare me for a plastics consults. I didn't think they would take pictures either. And when they did, I literally started crying in the office I was so scared and embarrassed about my body. The good thing that came out is that he told me a had a really good shape to my body and told me I was the perfect candidate for plastics. I can't go for a couple of years yet just because we do not have the funds right now. But eventually! And Laura, I would let you take the thighs this go around, but I get everything else and I am not sharing!! Sorry everyone else!

My heart breaks for you. I gained weight because of a medication I started taking (7 lbs in 3 weeks) but I was able to just quit taking it and the weight gain stopped. It is not as easy for you and it very much sounds like your body's hormones are out of whack. Can you have it removed or do they have to be in place for so long?? After I quit taking B/C to get pregnant with my first son, I never took it again because it had messed up my body so badly. But I know that is not an option for a lot of women. Oh, I had also sent you a PM about getting your thyroid checked...not sure if you got it or not, but it might also be something to think about if you haven't already. Just a thought. Keep us posted, I am thinking of you!

Congrats everyone, you are all doing do well! Today is my second fast day of the week and I am feeling pretty good about it! Weight is still bouncing around, but it is bouncing at the lower end since I started 5:2 and I am happy about that! Have a great day everyone!