livvsmum

I couldn't believe your post because I swear I thought this was just in my head. I don't have it during the day like you, but a couple of times a week at night I get this. It is the worst thing ever and I lose hours and hours of sleep over it.

I'm also willing to help and answer any questions you may have. Even just check in with you and see how things are going. I'm 10 months post op and have lost 130 pounds. 278 to 148 and a size 4/6. You can check out my blog (in my siggy) for more info if you like. Feel free to message me :-) Best of luck to you!

That is fabulous! Figuring out the emotional side of all of this and our relationship with food is by far the hardest part of this journey in my opinion. It sounds like you are doing pretty great in that area! :-)

Yes. I definitely noticed my appetite returning around 7 months. About that time I also noticed I could eat more at one time and I realized (to my dismay) that I could eat pretty much anything I wanted without feeling sick. I struggled for a couple weeks after this all hit, but I also have noticed that if I stick to the basics (100 oz of Water, 70g Protein, no more than 35 carbs) those hunger feelings and cravings are greatly diminished. So sticking to the basics has been key for me. Also, I will enter all my food for the day into myfitnesspal the night before, cook it all up, pre-package it, so there is not any question about what my day will look like. When I've waited too long and have nothing prepared is when I tend to grab an unhealthy quick snack. I've found planning ahead also to be crucial.

Wonderful! I'm sure that your persistence will pay off!

Starting at 4 months post op (wish I had started sooner!!!) I began running. I'm currently training for a 1/2 marathon and my training plan has me running 3 days/week, cross training 2 days/week (cycling, elliptical, strength training), and 2 rest days. The biggest thing is to find something you LOVE. That is what will carry you through the days you are just not feeling it. For me it was running. For you it may be group classes or cross fit, or cycling....it doesn't matter. Just find what you love. :-)

Not too forward at all. I am an open book....lol. The situation with skin is that I am saving up for skin removal surgery. I wouldn't say I necessarily lucked out because I've been working my butt off in the gym trying to tone my arms and belly in particular, but sometimes all the toning in the world doesn't help when it is simply extra tissue. So, I have extra skin under my arms (wings) and my lower stomach. I think that I probably won't feel like this journey is "complete" until I take care of the skin as well....but I don't think it is something that people would look at me and say "Oh, she must have lost a lot of weight because look at all that extra skin"....know what I mean? I think it bothers me more than it is that noticeable. But it is definitely a self-conscious kind of thing for me.

Congratulations on reaching your goal!

My starting weight at day 1 of the 2-week pre-op liquid diet was 278.4. Today I weight 148.4. I still have a few more pounds to go, but hopefully one day soon I can report back that I am at goal! :-)

Thank you so much! I'm always humbled when people say they read the blog. :-)

Start: 151.4 Today: 149.4 Loss this week: 2 pounds. Not great, but I will take it seeing as I have been sitting at a stall for almost 2 months now. Onward to next week!!!

My surgeons office gave me one. To be honest though, I've never used one. If there is a healthy kids meal option I will order that, although most kids meal options are NOT healthy. Most restaurants let me just do that. Or I share with my hubby or kiddo. Or I order what i want and take the rest home and make 2 more meals out of it. :-)

I would say I started to have some after my 2-week post op appt and my surgeon said it was ok. I drink it black anyway, so it's not like I added cream or sugar or anything. I find a good cup of coffee or tea actually helps with cravings sometimes too.

You look amazing! Great job!

Oh! I also should have added just for clarification that I don't eat directly before a run or I get sick. I usually need a good 1.5-2 hours between food and a run.

Yes, I struggle with the same issues in my running. Before I do a long run I have to have some version of complex carbs. Some that others have listed here will work fine. Sweet potato, banana, whole grains, Peanut Butter on toast. They are not things I would add to my diet if I were not burning hundreds of calories on a run, but you have to fuel it from somewhere. Google bariathletes. There are lots of good things out there about nutrition for WLS athletes.

You know, someone else asked me this same question and it really gave me pause. Thanks for reminding me that I am the me I am now! I have no idea why I feel like the "real" me is not thin. I guess that is what I need to figure out. :-)

Thank you! You can add me to the new challenge. Starting weight 151.4 (enjoyed the 4th of July a little too much) Goal weight 135

I think that is what a lot of people don't understand. Sure, surgery gave me an awesome tool to accelerate weight loss, but it is still totally possible to binge eat, and eat complete junk..... Being and remaining successful and healthy requires a change of behavior, not just a change in size of stomach. And last time I checked, it wasn't my sleeve that was getting me up at 5am to go train for a marathon...you know? lol

Thank you! I think sometimes when it comes from people who have known you forever and know who you really are, it's hard to wrap your head around the fact that maybe, just maybe, they don't know you at all!

You make an excellent point. Just for kicks last week I calculated out the nutritional facts of a "day in the life" of the old me pre-surgery and put that side-by-side with a day in the life of the new me. There's no way I will ever just wake up one morning to realize that I'm eating nearly 4,000 calories a day and hundreds and hundreds of carbs, etc. It took work to get that abusive to ourselves with food!

I shoot for 70g Protein, no more than 30-40g carbs, and 100 oz Water. I don't worry too much about the sugar because with sticking to those three main goals, the sugar and fat is usually right where it needs to be. Same with calories. I don't really count them too much. I try to stick to my protein and carb goals and then the calories usually end up between 550-750.

You look beautiful!! Congratulations on reaching your goal!