VSGAnn2014

Good post, @@Kindle . I do a little of this in the bakery section of our supermarket. I think I'll do some more of this in other aisles.

Great article. I almost typed, "I think you ticked them all off!" But then I remembered one you forgot: * Take your prescribed Vitamins, minerals and other supplements. Seriously, it's a great piece -- describes the successful WLS lifestyle very well. Thank you.

Anyone who thinks long-term WLS success is based on a "single, silver bullet" solution like "just track your calories" or "just get in 10,000 steps a day" or "just eat 100 grams of protein" or "just drink 100 ounces of Water a day" or "just [insert your favorite single, silver bullet solution here]" will likely eventually get their comeuppance. What matters is all of it: calories, Protein, hydration, good nutrition, supplements, exercise, positive attitude, support, mindfulness, etc. And what also matters is what @@Andrew0929 has demonstrated in this thread: (1) noticing when something's gone haywire and (2) trying something different to fix it. So impressive.

That video is hilarious! Even better, it's clever. In the "love game" we can all use a little laughter. I actually think his model works pretty well for all genders.

What an AWESOME post by @@rickm . So, so thoughtful and full of good info for those choosing between VSG and DS surgeries.

If you're suffering from stress, consider finding a form of meditation you can practice daily. Over a period of months it can literally change the way you respond to stressful situations. Other ways of reducing stress: * Aerobic exercise (of any kind, but fast walking -- starting as slow as you need to start, but doing it consistently and, as you lose weight, a little faster, will help a lot) * Dancing classes -- the socialization with other participants and the high of the music are both great for your mood and state of mind * Doing whatever you can do to get 8 good hours of sleep a night. There are scores of articles online about how to sleep better (google "curing insomnia") * Establish clear rules for yourself about not trying to be the problem solver in everyone else's life. Put yourself first, literally. You deserve to become #1 in your own life. Avoid drama and those who generate it. Here's a saying I love: "Not my circus, not my monkeys." Learn it, love it, live it. Good luck!

Just grit your teeth. In the big scheme of things, this phase doesn't last long. There are more phases to come.

Well, gee ... you sure don't suffer from the "everybody else in my life is #1 but me" syndrome, not to mention that "I can do it better than anyone else, so everybody else get the hell back!" syndrome. . Do you? I'm only saying this because I recognize that stuff so well, since I was the World Champeen of both those syndromes for decades. (I have since retired that title.) And here's my kind advice: You need to stop that shit. Really.

Thanks to @@animallover1247 for posting the "food Addiction" article.

Jesus, what an asshole she is! Did you not know that about her before?

Sympathy. I totally understand.

Uh ... Not meaning to be harsh, just realistic, with this post. Unless you're 18 years old, and you haven't lost and gained weight several (much less many) times before losing weight via WLS, you aren't going to wind up looking like a swimsuit model when you reach your weight goal. BTW, most swimsuit model pix are airbrushed. About three women in the world look like we all think we deserve to look. I gotta say I think there are some unrealistic ideas of what we're going to look like at goal. Most of us have really abused the bodies we were born with. We've stretched our skin and under-exercised our muscles for the most part, some of us for most of our lives. And we have not fed them the most nutritious foods or enough Water. Some of us have damaged our joints and spine. We aren't starting with a clean slate. I say this really to say that we have so much to gain from WLS. But we should also be realistic about what we can expect as our best outcomes.

To many of the previous posters ... You don't know this yet and wouldn't believe it anyway, but you're going to get into single digit jeans. Really. I promise.

It's weird to hear the sleeve referred to as a "fad." I'm not sure that word means what you think it means.

If you're used to doing 12-15 miles a day, you're already a tough cookie. I think any freeze dried stuff is great. Likewise, Protein bars. And the aforesaid trail mix and Gatorade. Heck, even dark chocolate bars that don't melt easily would be great, too. Obviously, grazing is not an acceptable post-op lifestyle. But it's the way to go as a backpacker. You're not required to eat exactly the same things you'll want to eat at home. Big issue also -- plenty of liquids, more than the usual 64 ounces. This is always a challenge in desert environments, but easier in mountains that generate moisture. I notice you're not sleeved yet. I suspect you're imagining that your long-term capacity will be smaller than it will be a year and a half out. Yes, the first six months probably won't be the time to tackle the full Appalachian or John Muir trails. So focus instead on day trips during that period. Have patience. You don't have to prove anything to yourself or your husband. This will all happen in good time.

You can do all this with My Fitness Pal.

I've never used the myfatsecret app. But, candidly, I would never, ever, ever use an app with that name. It sucks.

I have now lost 100 pounds since my first surgeon meeting. I didn't expect to lose this much. It has taken 19.5 months. The last 15 pounds took 6 months. I now weigh 135 pounds and am holding steady here. Obviously, I haven't been what the newbies think of as a fast loser. But it was absolutely fast enough for me. It doesn't matter one whit how fast you lose, but that you lose and regain control of your eating and your health.

I hit goal 10.5 months ago and have remained normal BMI ever since. Actually I've lost 15 pounds since then, but very very slowly. Have weighed essentially the same weight the last six weeks. I, too, am confident, not cocky, that I'll continue to maintain. I think I'm one of *those* people.

Obviously: Drink alcohol, lose weight.

Lol

I still log most days 17+ months post-op. I've lost all my excess weight, but am still a maintenance newbie. I use My Fitness Pal. BTW, I think eating the same thing every day may be a way to lose weight well. But it's a dangerous way to try to maintain. It leads to boredom, bad nutrition, cravings and portion creep. Just my opinion. P.S. Logging without measuring food portions accurately can also lead to portion and calorie creep.

I ate too much and moved too little. And I had some bad habits. But I will remind everyone that our original stomachs used to produce a helluva lot more ghrelin than they do now. And our stomachs could hold a helluva lot more than they do now. Those changes are huge contributors to our current successes. Most of all, these changes have given us a lot of breathing room to build healthy eating and lifestyle habits. I think the gastric sleeve is a f**king miracle!

I think that's WAY too much information WAY too early on for an online dating site.