Beach Lover

Well I haven't been on her for so long and it is good to read all of your posts! My surgery date was actually June 7, 2013 I have been out of town but for some reason I really wanted to share a little of my journey. I started this journey actually 2 years before I had the surgery. It took me that long to make the decision that once I had my surgery I would never turn back to my old eating patterns. Making such a change to your body was something I took very seriously and played the head games for 2 years. You know..........You can do this just eat right, exercise stay with the program! I was at the gym 3 times a week and trying so hard. I managed to lose about 25 pounds then my mother passed away. I kept up the same routine same eating patterns and despite all I gained 10 pounds back and finally said "That's it!" I knew I needed the help and made the decision to have the surgery. When I started the 2 weeks of liquid diet before surgery I had my answer to my biggest problem. I was a carbaholic that was the biggest insight into who I was and what was controlling me. I knew then and there I could no longer eat useless carbs. They were and are still a drug for me. Have you ever noticed when you eat a good piece of bread, cake, chip etc. it makes you want it more? It calls you from the cabinets and the frig......."I'm in here so close just come and have a few more!" Damn carbs!! I still fight this but know myself so well now I know what trigger foods to avoid and what I can treat myself with on an occasion. I am not anti carbs just the bad ones that pull you in. Avoid them! I haven't been the best at exercising but I do go twice a week during the school year (I work at a high school) and swim and bike ride during the summer. My goal weight was 160 pounds and I had a secret goal of 150 pounds. I knew I was going to make the 160 because I wasn't changing my body without a good outcome if I could help it. The day of surgery I weighed 293 pounds and today I weigh 149 pounds. I have been able to maintain this weight pretty easily (no boasting) and am amazed and give all the glory to God and my sleeve! When I returned home from my 3 week trip I had only gained 7 pounds and knew it was mostly bloat. By the end of the first week home it was gone and I marveled at how helpful this surgery actually is! To this day I still do not have hunger pains.........Thank the Lord!!! I know when my body is in need of food because I get an empty feeling or show signs of low blood sugar but that doesn't happen to often. Only if I am really really busy and honestly forget to eat. No eating disorder here.......no worries I still love my food! My body definitely has wrinkles all over the place and one day when I win the lottery I will have some surgery to fix myself up. The funny thing is when I was on vacation and was carrying some Water weight the wrinkles in some areas were not as bad. This is how I knew it was water weight. I missed my wrinkles and was happy to get them back because I felt back on track. Proof of being where I was supposed to be. Weird!! I still get a runny nose when I get full and can eat about 8 ounces on a really good day. I eat a high Protein diet with a lot of veggies and fruit. I have become a gluten free organic eater it made the difference for the last 5 pounds. I do love a Crown and diet organic coke or glass of wine. I didn't have a drink for about a year or more after surgery. This is one thing I caution everyone with. I quickly caught myself enjoying a drink in place of carb foods and put a stop to that. I thought well there is little calories and carbs in a Crown and diet coke so I will be okay and I didn't gain weight but drinking should just be kept at a minimum. You could easily fall into a really bad habit. For some reason eggs are still hard for me to eat I can't eat more than 2 on a really good day. What is up with that? Scrambled eggs........Really!! I take my Vitamins religiously and my blood work has come back great.......very grateful! One of my favorite treats is a cup of coffee with my half of a Premiere Protein Drink and some hazelnut creamer. It's a great middle of the day treat. I am still the person I was before surgery but with more confidence, self awareness and energy. I will protect this new person and body with all vigilance. The true answer to this surgery is getting to know the authentic self, recognizing your triggers and fixing them. Be it personal issues or food issues such as mine. Easier said then done I realize this full on. When I was on the liquid diet I put a whole new spin on being a bitch............My family was ready to run away! Every once in awhile I will go to a restaurant that overwhelms me and I tear up and get mad but I do not stray from my eating patterns. I know myself......... I would rather be mad for a few minutes than go down that slippery slope of gradual weight gain from getting addicted to carbs again. This was pretty long so if you hung in there and read the whole thing........Thank you!! I'm not perfect by a long shot and I'm sure there are some that would criticize. Please don't this is my life and I am feeling pretty darn good about it. I wish each and every one of you the best and brightest of outcomes!!!!

LOL, they are just some denim capri's with some fancy bling on the back pockets.

Hi Sweetmini, When you say you have hunger pains are they the same hunger pains as before surgery or is more of an empty feeling? I have a carb addiction and found this out when I did my liquid diet before surgery. If I eat the bad carbs they draw me into craving them like crazy. I have pledged to stay away from carbs that trigger my addiction and that has helped me greatly for the last 3 years. I'm not bashing carbs I get plenty from veggies and fruit etc. just not the chips, breads, pastas and Desserts. I don't know if this will help you but you might try staying away from them. Try not to beat yourself up this will trip you into a spiral down. Those are the same thoughts we had before surgery and they are the ones we now have to keep at bay and remember the power of our pledge we made to ourselves. We all get weak from time to time and its tough we all just have to power through it and it will get better. I definitely have the same anxiety and I have to depend on myself and that does feel scary sometimes. Not gonna lie! I wish you the very best!!

I flew a couple of weeks ago. First flight nothing and this was the metal detector. My flight home was the body scanner and I set it off. They did a scan of my body with a wand and checked my hands for residue. They think it was the bling on the back of my capri pants. No big deal. I would rather them be cautious then have a tragedy.

Thanks KristenLe! I am about as real as it gets!

Hi VSGAnn2014! Thanks for the good words. Looking at your ticker tells me you are doing a fantastic job!! Support is the best thing ever, I was on this site religiously for about 2 years and then fell into a confident routine and just kept on living life. It is good to get on and read everyone's posts and remember my journey through what they are going through. I will check out the link. Thanks!

I didn't have any alcohol for at least a year after surgery. But I do know people who have some at like 4 months they seem to be okay but be careful it doesn't take much!! Also, I like Crown with diet coke and found I was replacing it for foods because of the low calorie, carb count. It was like a dessert treat and I quickly put a stop to that. That is a slippery slope I don't want to go down.

Can someone send me the link if there is a Halloween Challenge. Please and thank you,,,,

I have been out of town for the last few weeks so I haven't checked in like I normally do. I have stayed the same at 150 nothing exciting at least I didn't gain!

Stayed the same 150.

Holy Moly!!!! I lost 3 pounds this week!!!!!!!!!!!! Was 153 now 150! Doing the happy dance right now!!!!!

Stayed the same 153..........typical slow self!

Stayed the same 153.

I'm in. You can start me at 153 with a goal of 150. Hopefully I can go past that but I just lost 3 pounds and I might end up going back to the half pound every other week. You never know I can adjust it if it is going well.

Is there another challenge after this one? If so, I am in. Thank you for all of your effort it is truly appreciated!! Happy 4th of July to everyone!! Never mind I found the link!! :)

Whoop Whoop lost 2 pounds this week!!! Was 155 Now 153! ) Happy 4th of July everyone!!

Stayed the same 155 Goal 154

Hi! I'm missing your goal weight. Thanks! Sorry about that! My goal is 154 and I am hoping I can do it but it takes forever to lose much at this point but I am a happy girl!

Finally lost another pound!! Was 156 Now 155!

Forgot to check in last week and late this week! I stayed the same! 156 sorry for being late with this.

I'm in for sure! I am so grateful for these challenges! Thank you!!!

Well I managed to lose 2 more pounds and marry off a daughter this weekend! Was 158 Now 156

Stayed the same 158.

Stayed the same 158.