desertmom

Every now and then I see myself,thin!Mostly not. The things that started me on this crazy diet cycle when I was young only started showing now,3 pounds from goal..lol Saddle bags on my upper legs,eeeew! What can I do about it but have plastics? However,I have realized I have to wait with plastics for a year so that I can learn to accept myself,warts and all. O,and I have come to realize that thin is not a feeling for me.Its that moment I walk past a shop window and see myself.When I put on new clothes that is 10 sizes smaller. that is thin! The difference the next 20-30 pounds will make is huge thou.You just wait and see!

I must confess I've been obsessed and busy with this fat thing for so long that now that its almost done I often find myself wondering about the same thing.I recently decided my next "thing" (as weight was my thing) would be plastics.Started researching like crazy and then decided stop.Not to have a thing anymore.To just relax and smell the roses for at least a year.But to do everything I couldnt for so long.Go skiing.Maybe climb Mount Kilimanjaro in November,run a half marathon.Play league squash against much younger women. I do have a little restlessness that irritates my family though.So I am taking this year to become more greatful content with my really really great life! (ok,this is the plan...lol)

Hi,yes I had my band out last year and did the sleeve in March.Walked around with the band all those years self medicating as I was too ashamed to go back to the dr..lol Almost at the dr's goal.Would like to lose another 7 after that as I am not in a normal % bodyfat yet even though my BMi will be 24.8 at his goal. This sleeve gave me back my life.I also still love food.But great quality food.Not huge quantities and I also eat very mindfully now. Now I just need to learn to sleep...lol

I became increasingly obsessed with the fact that I was overweight as I got older.Was always either on a diet or eating like there was no tomorrow followed by more diets.It overshadowed everything else in my life!This became my life! In 2005 I had the band,became desperately ill for a year (lost 100 pounds because I was sick) completely unfilled,exercised like a maniac for 6months and regained it all. And to be honest,my obsession was with looking normal.Like most people.TO BE SKINNY!Yes I had comorbids but I never dieted to have lower blood pressure.It was to not feel so darn ugly all the time! Shopping is great now!And I do look normal.My kids tell me all the time that I am the cool mom now,that they still dont recognize me when I walk into a room.That I look so young (ok,they're my kids,they love me...lol) But yes,I did it to look better.And I do.Wish I wasnt too scared to fly to dr Himpins in 2005 to do the sleeve.I was still young then,waisted a lot of years trying to get thin so I could start living again!

I wish I had kept one thread going for the past 10 months with all my ups and downs with stalls. I dont really want to say this but,get use to this.I would only lose weight one week out of every 5 and even had a 7 week stall.Yet I have lost 130 pounds in 10 months.That is without the extra 10 I came home with from the hospital. And this thing about the math..lol...let it go,you'll just drive yourself crazy like I did. Again,having said that,I had to keep my calories around 800 and my carbs at no more than average 40 to lose weight fast.I didnt exercise and I still dont drink enough Water,am a tea addict! I have been on at least 100 diets in my life and have never lost the weight in the strange way that I lost it with the sleeve.There is just no explaining it but also no changing it,I tried! Good luck and be patient and do what you have to do!

Hi,may I still join? Am 3 pounds from dr's goal but I want to lose another 10 after that. So surgery weight 297 Current weight 167.5 Valentines weight 160 Crazy but I like a challenge! Thanks

I know.I did soy protein for the first month.After that I did fine on the isopure.I was not lactose intolerant per say for the first month as I could drink milk.But the Isopure gave me bad diaree.

Depends on what your dr says. I have a sf redbull every now and then when we play 2 hour round robin squash to give me enough energy to get through it.I open it the night before and put it in the fridge to go flat.

Protein powders did this to me as well.Whey protein to be precise.I bought some soy protein that I used for a month (tastes foul though) and in my second month I started drinking Isopure but only one shake a day.When I was on solids I started eating my protein even if I had to puree it to get enough.

I still get that at 10 months out. Had a sip,just one sip of amarula,a caramel liquer and I felt I was going to die.And it didnt happen a while after I had the sip,almost immediately I started feeling bad.Nausea,racing pulse and I was also up with a runny tummy for a couple of hours after that. Na-a,Im staying away from sugar.People can believe what they want about do we dump or not.I do!

O,and stay off the scale.Weigh once a week only! A7 week stall meant 35 times on the scale thinking my life was over....lol.Today I see the stress I loaded myself with and how silly it actually was.

Ok,just as a bit of perspective. I left the hospital 10 pounds heavier than the day of my surgery.At 10 days out those 10 pounds were gone.I have had several long stalls,ine which lasted 7 weeks. But I have also lost 130 pounds in 10 months and am 3 pounds from goal. What Im trying to say is rework your expectations sooner rahter than later or this process will be very difficult for you,and yes,I also thought I would be the one to lose fast and not stall...thought people were cheating..lol Do what you have to do.Stay on plan.Dont focus on the scale.You will reach goal way faster than having unattainable expectations and the disappointment that goes with it that makes us fall off plan. I also had the fear that I wouldnt lose more every time I didnt lose.I think it is kind of normal after many failed diets.But know that this is different.Just keep thinking with your head and not your emotions for a while at least. I can guarantee you 3 things. 1.If you stay on plan and if are very honest about that,you will get to goal. 2.If you stay on plan and are like most of us,you will stall.You will doubt yourself and the sleeve but being on plan usually makes us realize there is nothing more you can do,just hang in there and wait it out. 3.If you relax and lower your expectations (as to how regular/fast the weight loss should be) this will be much easier for you than what it was for me...lol Now,start thinking of the yummy food you'll be eating soon and good luck with your journey!

I love second chances and new beginnings,if it wasnt for that I wouldnt have been around today. Enjoy your new life together with your "new" husband. Ps.the scale will still become your friend and make you smile,every time you get on it.Just give it some time to get to know the new you...lol.They are sometimes slow to warm up to changes...lol

This is a very difficult situation to be in.My housemate of 20 years (we have been best friends forever and we are both single by choice) somehow got that the sleeve was going to help me to get thin.When I had the sleeve she started low carbing,got a personal trainer and worked her butt off.Swimming,cycling ect ect.She is so tiny,4'11 and have dropped 30 pounds.She is just about 6 pounds from her ideal weight now.I never realized that there was a little bit of a competitive edge between us outside of my whipping her at squash all the time...lol This has really helped me because she use to be a terrible enabler and also very much in denial that she was getting bigger herself.Now though,she is a little hurt every time someone notices my weight loss and not hers.But when some says,aaa,you've lost so much weight,I will just say yes we have havent we? And usually people realize immediately that she's lost a lot too.She likes this as dieting was very hard for her.She couldnt stay on a diet for a full day once in 20 years...lol.She's been my best friend and cheer leader for a long time.Now we can cheer each other on. Also since I started talking plastics,she all of a sudden have a hang up about her arms,which looks great by the way.So for now,I am quiet about my plans to make me look nornal again until she doesnt feel like its a competition anymore.And she is a VP of a huge company,smart lady,she will figure it out for herself at some point. But your approach is correct.You will just have to share the bigger joys of losing with us...lol.Just like I kind of have to immediately get the attention back to my friends when someone starts fussing about my weightloss in order for my bigger friends not to withdraw,you will just have to be sensitive until she figures out what she needs to.And being the smart woman that she is,she will.She just needs to get there herself,just like we had to. I never realized that normal people have the exact same hangups and insecurities that overweight people have.And ageing doesnt help either.

And I do think overweight people have more issues like depression and passive agressive behaviour ect ect.....BEING FAT SUCKS!Nothing good about it.Nothing nice about it,nothing great about the way fat people are treated. But I was born fat,nearly killed my mother and scared the dr to death.When asked if the baby was feeding the dr was told she's devouring (spelling?) the mother!10 pounds 7oz! Now,did I get depressed because I was fat or fat because I was depressed? Well,I was on diet practically from birth,mocked,bullied,rejected,hurt beyond measure because I was big.I have developed a self loathing and rejection of myself that can only be regulated with my mind not my feelings no matter the amount of therapy I've had.I suppose I am an extreme case but overweight people have been hurt or rejected because of that at some point.Yes,I did develop so MHI because of all this. This is difficult subjects without one answer.But dont go away because you pushed some buttons.And dont take this too seriously.it is interesting to see how people interact when the gloves come off.I like your research articles a lot.It is very informative.

Hi Mason,luckily dr Al Taie didnt mention the alcohol thing to me at all and somehow I didnt get a booklet from him.?.lol. So I am having a G&T every week.Now I havent followed the threat after I posted as I felt ignored...lol...so I dont know which side of the fence you are..lol. Myself,I am 75% of the time low carb,20% moderate carbs and 5% of the time I say whatever.Having said that in 10 months I have had 1 alcoholic drink once a week,a bite of a donut,a quarter of a big tasty (minus the bread) a slice of my kids pizza (UAE size not USA size) a little swiss chocolate,a bite of my kids ice cream,a bite of cheese cake,a bite of carrot cake.I have been to at least 40 friday buffets (torture in the beginning I might add) prefer to eat out rather than eat at home.I am low carb some days and higher some days. In these 10 months I have lost 130 pounds,had some loong stalls (7 weeks while low carbing) AND I HAVE MADE PEACE WITH food and with myself.I still freak out every now and then when I think I might regain in the long term but I know its just the old me trying to get attention..lol. My housemate ,MD of a company working 16 hour days very often,have found though that low carb is fantastic for her.She has lost 14kg's (gone from size 16 to 8, not US sizes UAE sizes..lol) and she has better memory,more energy,her skin glows,she says she feels alive when she is low carb.She was a real chocoholic before.When I eat like her,I am moody,feel like I have fluff between my ear instead of a brain,am sleepless,constipated and NOTHING can convince me to exercise,too tired all the time. We also had a third lady staying with us for 6 months.She is a diabetic that had a kidney transplant.She is tall and skinny despite her anti rejection meds that gives her a huge appitite and despite being restricted in her Proteins.She eats huge plates of food though.Really bulks up on veggies and salad (I mean a lot of food!) little Protein and about a quarter of her food is carbs.She walks every day of her life to help control her sugar and she doesnt cut anything out of her diet. 3 different people.3 different issues,3 different results.YOU SHOULD SEE US COOKING!We've had to learn to really respect each others way of eating and we all admire each others persistance in trying to find out what really works best for each of us as individuals.We are all happy,well adjusted and free from the burden food use to be for us. (ok,I still worry some times,but they keep me grounded) At this point I couldnt care what anyone thinks or says about my eating,I am a raging success IMHO and that is all that counts.I have found what works for me and that is what matters. Now,I will try to read the whole threat...lol

Who was your surgeon?

Hallo Vicki I am a fellow UAE resident,much older than you and from South Africa.You seem to be doing great!

Prevacid seems to not help for many people.This does sound like acid.Bug the dr for a different PPI.

Acid,even without heartburn,causes incredible pain.I had this with the band.On my stomach radiating through to my back.Also,it caused gastritis which also is extremely painful. Now,while you work on your plan of action,I would go and get carafate and start drinking it 3 times a day for a few days at least.Then,I think you need a much stronger PPI.Prevacid did nothing for me and I am now on Nexium which have resolved the pain and hunger issues.It seems hard to believe acid can cause this much agony but believe me,it can. You need to just make an appointment with a different dr.My physician helped me resolve all these issues as we dont hwve follow up with our surgeon here in my country of residence.Having acid like this will cause Barretts Esophagus which in turn can cause esophageal cancer in the long term.Deal with this now. Be proactive.You dont have to live like this and it might be easy to resolve these issues.Also,dont eat or drink any acid forming food or drinks.You would be surprized how many alkaline foods you can find.Just google it. As far as protein's concerned,you need it pronto.Go and find samples of different Protein powders.Not Meal Replacements.Protein powders.Dilute them with one and a half times the amount of liquids the container says and sip it slowly over a much longer period of time.Mix with Water. Now,go,see another dr.It will change your life.I have a friend whose gyne helped her with her acid issues.Dont give up.keep knocking on doors until one opens.

I really just hope that we will all stay around or come back to post our long term success with whatever plan or non plan we have been following.Maybe if more people did post about their success with carbs or without carbs that might give a better indication as to what really works.And losing this weight is the least of any of our problems,keeping it off seems to be sooo much harder. Now,Im going to search for these bashing posts as I only ever see the complain posts about these posts and I really did think my hour on the forum every noght covered all the threats!

See I dont have an issue how each individual loses weight.I always say find what works for you! But,what I see from regain longer term,if our food habits havent changed and we can eat more,we will also eat more bad stuff.So,for myself,a little treat here and there is ok.But it is still very much the exception,not the rule. And when my carbs creep up and I crave food all the time,dropping them right back for a few days really helps! I am on OH as well and I really dont see the crazy talk against carbs here the way I see it there.I also see people stand up against the bullies way more often here.Maybe I am thick,I just dont see these posts,dont know how I miss them.Certainly didnt see the one about the mac and donuts. I am curious though.What did you answer them when they asked about grazing and snacking getting the best of them?

Hehehe,I started putting less and less food on my kids plates,until they reminded me thry have normal stomachs and I dont! I really worried that they would gain weight if they ate that much. But in 10 months since I've been sleeved my 20 year old hasnt gained anything and my 11 year old gained 3 pounds,quite normal dont you think? Now,I remind myself to back off.I am not normal anymore and they are!

Can you drink Protein shakes?

Are you on a PPI?