courtoomp

I think I need to vent and a little encouragement. Saturday I did an African Dancing class...the first time I've done such an intense cardio workout in forever. It was amazing and so challenging and I kept up! But at the end, after the adrenaline wore off, I realized I had scraped all the skin off one pinkie toe and had a cut on the bottom of the other. Fast forward to today and I am having to limp as my macerated toe won't permit me to walk normally. I am worried bc I have become rather 'addicted' to my workouts. They keep my mood elevated and act as a natural antidepressant. Especially I long work days like today and gloomy weather, I feel I need it. So how do I cope? Take a few days off and let it heal or go ride the stationary bike or something? I hate that I am dependent on exercise for maintaining a positive outlook but I am. Thanks for any support. I realize this isn't a big deal, but I have a tendency to slip back into old habits (food, watching too much tv) when I don't get enough exercise.

Thanks aroundhky. I appreciate that perspective... Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all. I know you work out a lot. Ever struggle with an injury or setback that prevented you from working out? How much muscle and endurance you think I'll lose if take a week off?

Hahahaha I know it's not funny but I chuckled a little. Sleeve problems that others don't understand. I haven't puked luckily so not sure but I'd say don't count it. Hope it doesn't happen again!

Dammmmmn you look hot! And your skin lightened up which is interesting. Great job!

I wish I dumped sometimes. I can have any and all food with no consequences. Consider dumping from overindulging in sweets a blessing. I am struggling this week with too many desserts and wish I had something physical to keep my choices in check. I decided to do a week with no processed foods or excess sugars to 'detox' these simple carbs out of me. Damn, now I want chocolate

The only one I can tolerate is pure protein frosty chocolate with 35g protein that gnc orders for me. It's not even bad room temp. I drink one every other day or so on days I'm light on protein from my meals.

You have a great butt!!

Cowgirljane has it exactly right! Lube is a small price to pay for being confident enough to get it on without being self conscious! There are creams but I would start with your Obgyn and encourage your partner to just spend a little more time with four play! HAha

There are other threads on this just do a quick search. I drink every now and then and am three months out. I find I don't like to drink too much but there are ppl here who have no problem drinking plenty once all healed and cleared by their doc.

Interesting bc I find artificial sweeteners too sweet! My nutritionist and I have an understanding... Eat tasty food that is nutritious and REAL. I focus on using purer ingredients when I can. For instance, I'd rather get jam that has seeds in it and its ingredient list is fruit!...rather than a less caloric and/or sugary 'jam' that has 10 ingredients. That's just an example. I focus on about 80 carbs a day, >50 protein, and <30 grams fat. I do not obsess over this though and find when I focus on protein and veggies the numbers even out. And i have dark chocolate almost every day too! So my suggestion is to find a nut who can help you figure out a plan that works for you. Eat real food and listen to your new stomach...good days and bad days will be had but overall focusing on quality is def working for me (but may not be the key for you). Good luck!

Sometimes losing large amounts of weight quickly can cause damage to the kidneys and subsequent loss of Protein in your urine. No it isn't normal but adding breadcrumbs likely won't help anything. Are you taking a lot of NSAIDs like ibuprofen and such? Excessive protein intake can cause some 'spillage' into your ursine but prob not enough to concern your doctor. How much protein was in your urine? Best of luck and whatever the cause I'm sure you're in good hands with your doctor!

Why shouldn't you have eaten a piece of chocolate on Easter?! That's kinda what happens on Easter. Anyway, I have chocolate almost every day. Usually a piece of dove dark chocolate or two. But I also have a couple bites of whatever dessert is ordered at dinner. It doesn't affect me at all. If it affects you...sounds like it did... then it should be easy to avoid it if that's what you want to do.

You got this! Try logging everything you eat...not to be a crazy stickler, but to really show yourself what you eat. I log every day no matter how many cookies I have. I may not lose as much as others but I have a balanced and healthy relationship with food. Food is meant to be enjoyed and if you enjoy a cookie it's fine...just be accountable. But it sounds like you didn't really enjoy it but for a moment...dumping! So stop beating yourself up. You're human. You had a cookie, didn't kill someone. Yes refocus but also focus on the big picture and forgive yourself. Good luck!

I am trying to cut out the fake sugar. It's hard considering plain Water makes me nauseated. This unfortunate effect is new since surgery and hopefully will abate as time passes Until then, are there any simple powders or on-the-go packets I can add to flavor my water that don't have aspartame or sucralose? Just squirting lemon has unfortunately not stopped the nausea so I'm hoping there's some miracle product or suggestion out there. Thanks for any advice! Courtney

Maybe I'm the slow loser of the bunch. I'm 4'11.5" a shortie! Sleeves jan 23 Highest: 222+ Surgery weight: 204 Current: 176 So 28 pounds. Down from an 18/20 to a 14/16 so that's good. Keep it up January sleevers!

Having just straight up yogurt goes through me too. My nut told me to jazz it up...so now i have 1/3 cup fage and add a quarter cup of high protein Special K and a couple berries to mine. Sometimes i also do a tablespoon or half tbsp of flax seed. Almost can't finish it and sometimes don't but so nutritious and good carbs!

Ak mak are amazing. I can only eat one at a time but still get some Fiber and Protein plus they taste so much better than most 'healthy' crackers. They don't have them at my local grocery story but so at trader joes and whole foods. Not sure about fresh market.

Hahahaha. Awesome. Any candies or cakes. Obv. cheese which is unfortunate bc I like it and don't like meat all that much. Basically any carbs actually except ak mak crackers. For all you cracker addicts try them bc they have more Protein and Fiber and low on cals and fill you up! Great with hummus and tuna or chicken salad.

I am 2 months out an still don't know when I'm full. I so know when I am stuffed!...It feels like the food is in my esophagus instead of my stomach. But I find even if I get that stuffed feeling I can still suck in my stomach...as opposed to pre surgery when stuffed meant I needed to unbutton my pants! I don't get a runny nose or anything. What is this sixth sense thing you got going on? Did you gather this magical power after measuring food for a while?

I had awful pain for 2 days then moderate pain for about a week. The awful pain was like an 8 on the pain scale for me and was directly due to gas trapped under my clavicles and scapulas. Never thought air could hurt so bad. Required hydromirphone (heavy duty). But many have none or very little. I'd take a week of those pains again if it was that or no sleeve. So worth it!

I work out first thing in the morning and am struggling whether I should load up on fluids or eat Breakfast. I have tried both and either feel weak if don't eat or get a little light headed if don't drink! fickle body i have! What do y'all do and any advice from your nutritionists?

I had a vodka cranberry last weekend and didn't get sick or even tipsy. It seems like some people get drunk faster and some ppl it isn't any different than before surgery. For me it's the latter...so unfortunately I'm not as cheap of a date as I wanted!

I don't know about you, but food has long been a best friend to me. When my "real" friends weren't available or when I just didn't want to bother them with why I was depressed/sad/lonely/stressed yet again...I could turn to food. Always there to support me, numb me out to all feelings, and help temporarily turn off those damn self-critical voices polluting my brain. I knew I had a lot of food head issues going into this surgery. Accordingly, I have been seeing a therapist for eight weeks, twice a week. I am now moving to once a week. I started at my therapist's office thinking we would work on behavioral changes...you know, distraction and healthy habits to avoid bingeing. What I've found is that we've barely talked about food at all. Instead, we speak about WHY I turn to food...you know, core issues and all. For me, it's about loneliness and self-criticism. I am, as most of us are, my own worst critic, and I exert so much energy trying to control how others perceive me that I'm left exhausted at the end of my day...and food is there to nurture me in a way I haven't been nurturing myself (and in a way I haven't let others nurture me either). Enough of my psychobabble. I really wanted to start this thread to offer a safe place to discuss the emotional toll food has taken on us. And a place to discuss how our disordered eating is really a parallell too, and extension of, or disordered thinking/feeling. And further, to offer each other support as we grieve the loss of our good friend, food. I grieved super hard core last Wednesday at my therapy appointment. I was a hot freaking mess, and my therapist was the one who pointed out it sounds like I'm grieving. And she was right! I was so upset because I was feeling isolated from my friends and family AND didn't have my comforting binge foods to soothe me either. So I had to soothe myself (read a book, took a hot shower, wrote down my feelings). How do you get through hard spots without food to lean on? Wishing you all a nurturing day and hope to hear how you have dealt with the loss of your old best friend. Courtney

Hi everyone! I had a nutritionist appointment last Thursday where she told me to increase my overall caloric intake and especially my carbs. I was one of those die hards staying between 20-50 carbs a day. She told me to not worry about it. To add fruits and veggies and some whole grains, too. She also told me to get my Protein but don't obsess over it. She claims I am healed and dont' need 100g protein a day... for such a shortie like me 50-60 is perfect she said. So happy to rid of those nasty protein shakes! Well, since doing this for four days, I'm happy to report I think she was right! I have dropped 3 pounds since Thursday...in the 170s woop woop!!! This could be a coincidence as I typically do lose in a stair-step fashion, but I don't think so. It's been fun to add in some blueberries and raspberries and peppers, onions, broccoli. Funny how I've been missing this healthy food more than chips and Cookies (don't get me wrong...some days I crave these too!). Anyway, thought I'd follow up from my Thursday post to let y'all know upping my cals and carbs helped. The lesson I learned, however, is to add variety to my diet and not obsess. This is a lifetime process, and it's crucial for me to develop a healthy, normal relationship with food now. I've spent so many years dealing with disordered eating, and I'm ready for food to just be food...nothing more or less. Courtney