Cecilia

I have lost 30 pounds since the surgery, and 50 overall (50 to go). Here are my favorite non-scale victories: Being able to cross my legs! Being able to sleep on my stomach again! Being able to run without pain in my hips, knees, and feet! Being able to shop in the Misses section of the store!!!!!!! Being able to do a sit-up, or paint my toe-nails, or tie my shoes without my belly causing all the air to whoosh out of my lungs! So pleased to be able to share with all of you!

I soooooo hear ya! There is one secretary here who, for lack of a better word, is a nosey-parker and a gossip. Today she asked me if I rode my bike in to work again. Me: yes. Her: And how did that go for you? Me: Fine! Her: Did you take a longer route? Me: Nope, just the usual one. Her: And how was your ride home last night? Me: Fine. Gorgeous weather... and on, and on, and on... WHY must she interrogate me like this ALL. THE. TIME?! It's noseyness under the guise of concern and casual conversation, but it is nevertheless intrusive and IRRRRRRitating! LOL! I know, I know, I'm probably overreacting, but I know you all understand. Sometimes you just want to be left alone!

My latest pet peeve? The guy at work who speaks authoritatively about WLS. Yesterday: Him: How's it going? Me: I explain. Him: Oh, I see. Well, enjoy this phase. The first six months are the honeymoon period. After that it becomes a struggle, and I just hope you don't become one of the ones who have the weight come back after a year... Me: Did you have the surgery? Him: Who me? No, no! I never could! I love to eat too much! Me: Grrrrrrrr!

I have heard of special massages that promote the flow of lymphatic fluid back into the circulation system. And anywhere you promote circulation is a good thing!

That's my stomach, my butt, and my upper arms. I spend a lot of time poking it and wiggling it. It's so weird. Reminds me of a birthday balloon you find behind the couch three days later. Wrinkly and soft. LOL!

Good God! I read your comments right after SoccerMomma's comments about loose skin, and I thought your *actual crotch* was bagging! LOL! I caved and bought new pants when our unit secretary said I looked like a little kid with a poo in his diaper. Charming.

True confession time: I actually *gained* two pounds back. Or that's what the scale says. I'm probably just retaining water because I've been cheating with salty snacks and not getting enough to drink to flush it through. So anyway, I had a heart-to-heart with myself today. "Self," I asked myself, "what gives with all the crazy wrong eating? The bag of jaw breakers you bought the other day, the popcorn and chips at work, the TWO cookies?! What--are you *trying* not to lose weight?!" ... and the answer came to me crystal clear. "Of course." I think something snapped when everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY from the hair dresser to the check-out lady at the grocery store, to the housekeeping staff at work comments on my weight loss. No matter how nice or supportive it is, it's flipping overwhelming. Then there's the trip to the Cities last weekend (that's Minneapolis/St Paul for you non-midwesterners) and hitting four consignment/Savers type stores and loading up on clothes, some of which already feel loose (yes, even with the 2-lb weight gain). And finally, I'm sure taking all my "fat clothes" to a resale shop here was the last straw. I'm "shrinking" as one coworker put it, and I just want it to stop for a while. I want to catch my breath and get used to being this size before I get smaller. I look at my poor daughter, 15, who weighs what I did a year ago, and it's shocking. Was I *really* that big? I was! And now I'm tiny compared to her, and I could shop from the regular women's sizes at the store, and I ran two miles with no pain or shortness of breath, and the whole thing is just a little bit too much. This realization has put me back on track somewhat. I've bought my own high-protein snacks for work so I'm not tempted by the starches (which, BTW, make me nauseously gassy) and I'm indulging in canned fruit when I want to get my fill of sweets, but I need support. I need you all to reassure me that we will get through this together, because going from a size 22 to fitting --tight, but zipping up!-- into a pair of Misses size 16 pants in just two months is making me a little crazy. Love you all, and hope to hear from you. If you're experiencing anything like this, please share!

Hang in there, hon! We all have our days. I felt like that all weekend. It's like my stomach decided that everything I was eating was rocks. Ugh. You've been such a good sport through all your ordeals in the early days!

Yaaaay!!!!! Keep up the good work, girl!

Oh, wow! Congratulations!!!

If you're new to running, definitely start with the Couch-to-5K Zombies, Run! app. It's a very slow and gentle transition from walking to running. Definitely doable!

I confess that I've all but given up on trying to get as much protein as I should. I try and make sure I have protein in every meal, but I"m so done with shakes... I try to get two cups of milk in per day, an egg or two, my work lunches usually have 10-18 grams of protein, and supper usually some left-over with protein in it. But I felt like I was force-feeding myself when I tried to get all the protein in.

Is there anyone in a size 2X who is interested in a pair of plain black, just-above-the-knee compression shorts for running in? I will mail them to you. They are super comfortable and make running so much more, well, comfortable. Even if you're just starting a couch-to-5K program, you'll appreciate them!

My first real race in 18 months: a little 2-mile run in which half the participants were elementary school children. I finished last, (half walking half running) with an average pace of 18 minutes, but it's still faster than sitting on the couch.

Definitely put food on your plate. Then you could say you just aren't that hungry, or you feel like you may be coming down with something and have lost your appetite, or you're just getting over something and don't have any appetite...

Take heart... it's counterintuitive, but the littlest bit of exercise (walking around the block) will give you more energy than you had the day before. If you do this a few days in a row, you may be inclined to walk around the block twice the next day, and so forth. As for your thyroid, that can DEFINITELY have an impact on your energy level. I was hyperthyroid (metabolism going great guns) the year before my surgery, and I couldn't get off the couch. Again, doesn't make sense, but there you have it. Baby steps is what I recommend. We all need exercise as a part of losing weight and keeping it off.

You got the ticker on! And I love it! LOL!

Ever since my days of Atkins low/no carb'ing, I'm a firm believer in the idea that you *can* eat "not enough to lose weight." It seemed like every time someone was stalling out, all they needed to do was increase their calories, and the weight loss started again. Sort of goes against the whole "a calorie is a calorie" thing, doesn't it? So happy for you that you've lost so much weight!

Way to go! I am craving a leafy green salad like you have NO idea! I'm so jealous!

Yaaaay! It feels good, doesn't it?

Yes you are, and your ass-hurt = firm ass!

I agree with your doctors. You can burn just as many calories walking as running, taking some variables into account. The thing is, I LOVE to run! I will quit when my knees start giving me trouble, but I'm a low-impact runner anyway, if there is such a thing. ...Just checked online. There is a ton of information out there on low-impact running! And here I thought I made it up, LOL! http://www.lowimpactrunning.net/ <-this is exactly what I look like running, but with even shorter strides, about 3 per second.

You just gave me the inspiration I needed to get back on the ball! I was out of town for almost a week, and although my SIL took me on crazy 4.5 mile walks two nights, it's not the same as training to RUN. I was about to do day 2 of week 2, but had lost my motivation. I work crazy hours Wednesday and Thursday, but I will run on Friday and Sunday, and you can hold me to that.

Upper right of the page, click on the drop-down arrow by your name, and go to My Tickers.

You're in good company, ladies. Two months and 30 lbs.