gamergirl

I can SO relate! It took me two weeks of going over my self-imposed calorie limit because I was hungry to remember...doh! vegetables! you can eat those! Sounds stupid to think I forgot when I have eaten vegetables for years and enjoyed how they fill you up with so few calories. I was all Protein, protein protein. Sometimes I wonder about myself....

Here's what I can tell you in support of some of this, with a sample size of one. Two years ago I was misdiagnosed with lyme disease which I did not have. The treatment almost killed me. During three months, I lost 40 lbs, because I was unable to eat. I survived on a quarter of a Peanut Butter sandwich and half a Protein shake daily, and only because my husband forced me to eat. I came out of that experience with a RAGING hunger like I've never had before. No matter how much I ate, I could not get enough. Never EVER full. This from someone who had starved herself for years. I put back on all the weight and then some within the next five months. Think of that. I put on 50 lbs in 5 months. Clearly, no one can eat enough to put on that much weight with 3500 calories per excess pound on TOP of your BMR. My body was maximizing and hoarding every calorie I put into my mouth. So I ended up at my all time high weight, and a never-ending hunger. I know now that it was my body seeking homeostasis, and preparing against another traumatic starvation, but there didn't seem to be an end in sight. I had the surgery. I was hungry from day 3 onwards. But it's manageable hunger. Okay fine, that happens to most of us. Here's what else changed for me. For years I lived on 1200 calories and monitored. I went to fitday.com the other day and saw I have been monitoring calories since 2007! That's a lot of damn years. I have been vigilant about my intake for all those years. And I lost nothing. I was happy to just maintain. Now, I am vigilant about what I eat--and I lose weight. Granted 700 calories is a lot less than 1200, but still, I believe something has changed. Here is my non-scientific/pseudo-scientific hypothesis. The surgeon said I had a very big stomach. I asked him if I had stretched it and he said, no just big naturally. When I ate 1200 calories and my stomach didn't stretch with the food, I think my body believed it was starving and it sent me in search of more. Now, with a smaller stomach, the stretch receptors know I'm full. That is part of how satiety is achieved. If I am full, perhaps it thinks I'm not starving? I don't know. All I know is that for years I did the right thing and didn't lose weight. Now I do the right things (albeit with lower calorie levels) and I lose weight. How can it not be the surgery that was the catalyst for it? Mind and body are inextricably linked. Psychosomatic pain is still pain. Stress still makes cancerous cells grow. Maybe smaller stomachs change things other than intake? Also think of all those who give up diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. meds within days. DAYS of surgery not weeks. Something shifted in their chemistry. Rambling, thanks for reading

There's a whole thread on here on people who are doing c25k. I will see if I can find it but it says "Started couch to 5k" or something.

Yes butternut would be starchy as would be potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, Water chestnuts and beets. Some examples of nonstarchy veg are Onions, garlic, celery, leeks, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, broccolli, green, red or yellow peppers, cauliflower, green Beans, mushrooms and all greens such as spinach, kale. What I did was decide what "cuisine" I wanted today. If I wanted "mexican" I put taco seasoning and cilantro in my soup. If I wanted "Thai" cuisine, I used green curry paste and coconut milk. If I wanted "french" I used parsley, herbes de provence, and garlic. If I wanted "Indian" I used cilantro, garam masala and turmeric. If I wanted "italian" I used italian herbs, basil and tomato.That way, same soup but different taste I used chicken broth or beef broth for different tastes. I also varied the vegetables but the aromatics such as onions, carrots, garlic, celery and maybe leeks are what lend the basic flavor to the stock so be sure to use a good complement of those.

I have/had the same fears. Let me say this. If it doesn't work to help you lose weight, every doctor in the world will want to study you because you will be a medical marvel. I figured in that case at least I'd be rich and famous even if I was still fat. If you follow the plan, you WILL lose the weight. Keeping it off seems to be the bigger challenge because you have to keep following the plan until you die and that's not easy. Every single one of us has failed before. Surgery isn't ever the first option. So you're in good company there.

I love love love it on popcorn instead of butter, esp if you air pop your own. I use ghee which is equally good and use it for everything. Rarely use oil to cook with actually.

If it would help anyone, in my blog, I chronicled the first 10 days. You'll see what we went through. It's on www.sleevers.wordpress.com under Pre-op. My surgery was 8/2 so you can start reading from that date.

Good luck! Did you already post before and after pics? I don't want to miss them.

Oh. My. Gawd! Woman, that is an amazing transformation! You look fabulous. Congrats!

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I've had three flare ups this month which I only realize because I'm doing the challenge and every day I can't exercise reduces my chances of meeting my goals. But on the other hand, I'm more active on the days I don't have a flare up so I'm trying to see the positive in that. It's also possible I'm overdoing a bit. Who me?? No! Hard to believe right?

My heart goes out to you. I don't know if this helps or if you will feel I am minimizing your concerns which is of course NOT my intent, but every mother probably feels a lot of what you are feeling. My sons are 23 and 13 and although the older one is self-sufficient, we're extremely close. I too feel he is too young to lose his mother. And of course, the youngest is way, way, too young. If I were to die, their lives would change forever and not for the better, in the short term. I worried that I was having a "vanity" procedure and that I could die and leave my children motherless. We all worry about that. As you said however, sometimes we have to take some risks to reduce the certainty of what lies ahead. Yes surgery carries a small risk. But obesity carries risk for sure. As parents, all we can do is balance risks to protect our children. You've made arrangements for him. You're getting surgery so you can be around longer for him. That's the best you can do really. Also, I don't know what your belief system is, but I felt that if it was my time, then it was my time no matter what I did. If the universe had other, better plans for me, then I would come out if this safe and sound, and not be a burden to my children in my later years. Hang in there. You're doing the right thing. Sending you a big hug.

One of the things I remember about the early days is that the change between one day and the next is drastic. Just because you have trouble with water today, doesn't mean you will have trouble in two more days. The speed of healing is amazing. So know that it changes quickly. Second thing, there's a lot of tiredness,discomfort and our hormones are all over the freaking place. Depression, snappiness, all that is common. Try to rest a lot, sleep as much as you can, and know it will pass. Don't think his is how you will feel forever. You won't. Third, I was so so hungry after day 3-4, I dreamed of food constantly! I was on clear liquids but what I really wanted was a grilled cheese sandwich, some rice and some kabobs. Why those foods? Heck if I know. But I did! That too passed fairly quickly. Just accept that as part of the healing process. The first month is a time of very rapid change so buckle up, keep your chin up, and get ready for some exciting times ahead. And I do mean get ready. Get yourself emotionally ready by trying to be as positive as you can. Let go of the regret and get ready to embrace new experiences. You all just had major surgery. You're not going to bounce back as though nothing happened right? You would have some of this with ANY surgery. Except this one is going to help you get so healthy, you will love your life. Hang in there and know, it changes.

MFP lies like a dog. It tells me daily how in 5 more weeks I will be at least 10 lbs down! Yeah yeah. Hasn't happened yet. I go by net calories but if I'm really low and really hungry I eat a little more. Don't typically eat back all of them.

Hi there! I just created an autoimmune support group for us! Please follow and post there. I keep losing this thread because it's not in a forum. I sure hope to see all of us there. Here's the link http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/groups/show/269-autoimmune-sleevers/

Hi there! I just created an autoimmune support group for us! Please follow and post there. I keep losing this thread because it's not in a forum. I sure hope to see all of us there. Here's the link http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/groups/show/269-autoimmune-sleevers/

Hi there! I just created an autoimmune support group for us! Please follow and post there. I keep losing this thread because it's not in a forum. I sure hope to see all of us there. Here's the link http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/groups/show/269-autoimmune-sleevers/

Hi there! I just created an autoimmune support group for us! Please follow and post there. I keep losing this thread because it's not in a forum. I sure hope to see all of us there. Here's the link http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/groups/show/269-autoimmune-sleevers/

Great! I started a discussion there for us to introduce ourselves.

Hi there! I just created an autoimmune support group for us! Please follow and post there. I keep losing this thread because it's not in a forum. I sure hope to see all of us there. Here's the link http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/groups/show/269-autoimmune-sleevers/

Hi there! I just created an autoimmune support group for us! Please follow and post there. I keep losing this thread because it's not in a forum. I sure hope to see all of us there. Here's the link http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/groups/show/269-autoimmune-sleevers/

Don't worry most of us don't either. I vaguely know it's English and I have expanded my vocab by googling some of it. Burpees apparently have nothing to do with socially unacceptable noises. Just set a goal you think you want and the rest of us will cheer you like we cheer Andy.