gamergirl

Me. Right here this was me. And I still can't lose weight if I eat more than 800 calories. I think many women are just exactly like this and the disbelief we encounter is infuriating.

Anyone who thinks I went on to be a success can have whatever they want from me! So I have lost in small increments throughout. Somedays 0.2, other days 0.4 and yet other days nothing at all. I know, I could have just weighed once a week but I've weighed daily for years of my life. Only times I didn't, was when I knew I was gaining weight and didn't want to confront that. I think I didn't appreciate before hand that there would be mostly days with NO change, followed by a few days of weight changes. So really long "stalls" followed by some weight being lost. This month I lost 1.2 lbs. Two months before that I lost 1.6 lbs. Yes a MONTH which are the losses that most people here have in a week. And just to be clear. I eat between 800-900 calories which I track religiously and I try to keep carbs at below 50 gms. All my carbs come from veggies, shakes and bars. Apart from a handful of days, I don't eat junk. Those were my cheat days and I didn't have ANY cheat days until 8 months post op. From hanging out on this board during the early days and observing my thoughts are that the following of us lose much much slower: 1. Women (compared to men) 2. Autoimmune disease sufferers esp those who have inflammation 3. Those close to menopause or already menopausal 4. Over 35 yoa 5. Have birthed children 6. Hypothyroid I'm sure there are other reasons but I notice those because they all apply to me. Last month I hit 160 lbs and then 30 days of just no losses. I went up and down between 164-161 and I kept thinking it was because I had increased calories from 700 to 900 because everyone told me I needed to eat more. (Honestly I wish I had never listened to anyone who told me that because now, I am hungry for 900 calories. I've been trying for days to get my caloric intake down and I can't but that's a whole different thread). But the bigger issue is you go crazy during such long weeks with no activity or at least I do. Am I eating too much? Too little? Too many carbs? Should I do shakes? Has my body decided to stop? I spent more time logging different meals to see which was "more perfect" than eating! And I'm a fat girl! How wrong is that?? I wish I could just once and for all accept that I do not control my weight. I only control what I put in my mouth. I'm a control freak in many areas of my life and this area is no different. I expect my body to follow my timetable. Guess what? It gives me the finger more often than not. I posted here once about calculating excess weight lost rather than total lbs lost and I had to dust off that formula once in a while to keep me motivated. After 30 days the scale moved two days ago and I guess I'm starting to think I might lose the last 8-10 lbs. And here's the kicker. So I reach goal. Then what? Apart from maybe being able to eat a few hundred calories more what exactly is going to change? I still have to get up the next day, weigh myself and log, measure and track all my food just as I am doing now. So nothing will be different. Am I putting all this pressure on myself to hit goal so I can eat a few hundred more calories? Now how stupid is that? The head games are what drive you crazy, I tell you. And this is probably more detail than you wanted

Hey you! I've been watching you on MFP, getting skinnier and skinnier

Here are my four fav recipes. "Unfortunately" they are all dessert but they're high Protein low cal dessert so it could be worse http://twosleevers.com/?s=Unflavored+ I'm curious. Does fhr protein not denature when you bake it in the quiche?

I was hungry day 5. I was daydreaming about food I was that hungry. It's okay to be hungry IMHO. I mean, you haven't eaten in days, it's okay to be hungry. So don't worry and don't borrow trouble thinking you will always be hungry, etc. No you may not. You're just hungry because you haven't eaten in a long time, and that means you are "normal". yes there are some who feel no hunger but many of us do. Also know that this hunger is not like the hunger of before. This hunger is one where you are full when you eat 2 small ounces of food. You'll be all right. Oh editing to add one more thing. So your stomach is numb. You can't tell full from hungry right now. If you are eating things that you have been cleared to eat, then limit the quantities. If you are eating and you've been told not to eat, then that's a whole different issue. But your stomach can't give you "full" signals. My advice to you is to eat 2 measured ounces of food every 2-3 hours and no more. sip the rest of the time.

Thank you Jean! As to the RA, I think it's back because I "misbehaved" with my diet. I didn't think a little sugar and wheat was going to knock me off course. I guess now we know hunh? I'm back to re-thinking cheat days and what they mean for me now. Perhaps it only means more calories, not different calories and macros. Would love to hear how others handle cheat days.

I have RA and am hypothyroid ans I'm 9 months post op. I will say that the surgery has helped immensely. My thyroid meds are at a lower dosage. For 8 months my RA kept getting better and better. I then allowed myself one cheat day a week during which I ate grains and sugar. Bam! Two days later, my joints hurt again, I had to go back on shots etc. Stupid part is, it took me 2-3 weeks to figure out that the flare ups were related to what I was eating. So I would say the surgery does reboot our immune systems which are largely in the gut, the weight loss dies help on joints, the reduced inflammation in our cells does get better. But only if you do your part and stay away from the things that have historically triggered you.

It makes it easier in that if I eat protein first, I fill up faster which limits the damage I can do. At any given time, I don't think it could eat like before. I haven't tried but it wouldnt be possible. What makes I difficult perhaps are my expectations. Some days, It makes me mad that even after surgery and eating low cal, I can't just eat whenever and whatever I want. I still have to weigh, track, measure, and control calories. At first I wasn't hungry, these days I am sometimes hungry but can't eat unless I want to go over My calories which I don't. It's def much much easier now because if I do what I should, which is limit carbs and calories, I lose weight. Before the sleeve, I didn't lose weight eating 1200 calories. Now, I do lose and I avg around 800-900 calories. Just to be clear--best dang thing I've done for myself apart from getting married and having kids. No regrets. Bu I still have to be careful and so does everyone else who is maintaining successfully. The vets on this board said that. I heard them. I thought I understood and I did, intellectually. I just didn't understand from the heart until this month. It makes it a LOT easier. It just doesn't make it a given, unless you do your part.

AJS for every 1 person that had complications are 99 of us who didn't. The complication rates are 1% on average. And while complications can and do occur without anyone being at "fault" the best you can do is follow all instructions closely, never ever cheat, and expect you are going to be in that 99 number rather than the 1 person. For very one that has had a rough journey here are 99 who had an easy recovery. Educate and arm yourself and then know that you are more likely to be just fine than not.

It's normal to feel anxious. Just don't let the anxiety stop you. Rather than focusing on the surgery, focus on visualizing your life after surgery. That Should cheer you right up because by golly, you're in for a great adventure

Thank you! Oh I can so relate! I don't want anyone knowin I had 80 lbs or lose! Somehow if I don't admit that, I wonder if my crazy head thinks they won't realize that?? I mean I look so different. But my neighbor asked me that unthinkingly, and she's of course skinny and gorgeous, and the best I could do was say "a lot!" But yes, I am proud AND I am ashamed. So I feel you

Kate, at first one thinks true weight loss is difficult and honestly, it can be. Then you realize the bigger battle is in wanting to be perfect. I don't know why we all want this. It's hardly like we were perfect before the surgery! But now, we all want to be perfect. And that's a toughie all right.

I'm sure you will! I am a very slow loser compared to some others so hopefully you will surpass me but even if you don't, lemme tell you, 70 lbs in 9 months doesn't suck

Hi there! It's good to "see" you again. My husband is at goal, but he too struggles with gaining and losing a few lbs still his downfall is grazing. He will start eating a little bite here or there and the weight comes back on in a hurry unless he clamps down on it. But he lost 80 lbs in 4-5 months (men!) and looks completely different! It's intersting how all this follows a pattern. Some of us who were sleeved at the same time had stalls, losses, discoveries, and frustrations all at the same time. Makes you feel less alone Have you posted before and now pics of yourself? I would love to see

Hah! Good timing then, eh?? Thank you, I feel pretty good and thanks for missing me We've been doing well. My husband is a skinny ass man now! It's weird. in a good way. You know it's never a straight line to success. Initially I felt GREAT because I was losing and my RA was in remission and everything was so freaking fantastic! But then the weight loss slows, and my RA came back, perhaps because I ate wheat and sugar on a cheat day, and I hadn't had a cheat day before then, and then I've been stuck and you start to lose hope. And then one day the stall ends and you're back in the game. Such a roller coaster eh? Nothing like before and afters or before and nows to get a girl to appreciate how far she's come.

Yes to both your questions. As others have mentioned, I think we lose it very slow. Over the last 9 months, I've averaged 2 lbs a week and I guess that's so much better than what I was able to do without the sleeve (Try +2 lbs a week lol!) that I'm grateful. My dosage for levothryoxin has also reduced over time btw. I've gone from 175 mcg to 100 mcg now and I suspect it could come down a little more.

Here's the link I was talking about, hope it helps you or others in the same stage: http://twosleevers.com/2013/12/tired-of-protein-shakes-nauseated-by-them-try-this/

Yay you!! I remember when you were still pre-op Congratulations!

OMG! What a difference! Good for you

I have lots of recipes for savory Protein soups on my blog because I too was SICK of sweet shakes. It's www.twosleevers.com. Search for "tired of protein shakes" and you will find hot and sour soup, chicken mushroom, shrimp bisque etc that we still use from time to time. Only savory protein I know that's ready made is unjury chicken broth and I drank so much post op they I never want to see it again

I had hair loss from 3 months to 6 months after surgery. Now I have baby hair "Mohawk" where it's all coming in and standing straight up. I have fine, thin hair due to thyroid and other problems so I went in to see about extensions to thicken it up. I was told it wasn't "bad enough" for that. My close friends noticed it after I pointed it out, no one else did. I worried about it more than I should have, in retrospect. I wish I'd not borrowed that mental trouble. I was so sure I was going to be bald! I'd say don't worry about it until it happens and even then, between shorter hair, extensions, wigs, etc, it's a non issue

It's so expensive but so delicious! I tried all kinds if ways to approximate the taste and we just gave up and bit the bullet. We make one for each of us in the morning for breakfast and enjoy it immensely.

Some of the things I ate yesterday. Almond butter chocolate fat bombs, and roasted green beans plus shrimp in a cream sauce Recipe for the fat bombs: http://twosleevers.com/2014/04/almond-butter-chocolate-fat-bombs/

At the risk of sounding harsh, ruining your sleeve is less of a concern than dying. You could cause a leak, a rupture or other bad things. Your tummy isn't healed. No turkey sandwich is worth weeks in the hospital. I have some soft foods on my blog that might tempt you at www,twosleevers.com. look on Pinterest and this site fir soft food recipes but don't violate the docs orders. Take care of yourself.

I'm struggling with this. Intellectually I know nothing will change when I hit goal except I might be able to eat a little bit more. I don't THINK my town plans to throw me a parade if I hit goal--although I could be wrong about that. That day will arrive and be like any other, and the next day I will still have to track, weigh, measure and plan. So apart from eating 300-400 more calories it will be life as I know it now. What's the big deal about this goal then?? Except...you know. It's a goal. Which means I must hit it. Sigh. The various ways in which we pressure ourselves for no good reason.