katesuccess

I think that's smart Nicey2u, and you may well not be getting enough. I hit a long lull and talked to both the RN who runs the program, my doctor and the nutritionist (it was a long lull!) and they gave conflicting advice. Doc said move more to an extreme, RN said stay down at 600 calories as long as possible (I'm two months out), and Nut said up the calories and back off the 6 days a week of exercising! SO crazy. I opted for a combination of doc and RN since that's who I'd have to go to if I need an appointment (Nut is out of pocket). BUT - if that's not working within two weeks, I"m going back up to 800 and lessening the exercise, like the nutritionist said. She thinks our bodies go into starvation mode and we need to nudge them back out. Sounds sane to me. Good luck.

What a wonderful idea! I love this - and you'll get to suggest any foods or beverages that are (or are NOT!) welcome at your party. I'm also thinking - if it were my friend or family member, I'd want to do a gift of some sort for the honoree, so be prepared to tell your parents how to answer that question when people ask. Maybe even choose a theme, like shops you can now go to, colors you now feel more comfortable wearing, massage, personal trainer hours, cosmetics makeover, hair re-do, or the like. And yes - GREAT incentive! Be sure to circle back and tell us all about it, Lisa.

These are great - and so inspiring! Thanks for posting them. My NSVs of late are: Getting a massage (I do two a year) and discovering I fit on the table without tucking my hands under my thighs to keep them from falling off the table! Noticing that even after a ton of extra steps today, my knees don't hurt at all going up stairs! Jewelry is better - rings I couldn't wear for years now fit (wedding ring included!) and necklaces that were too short and felt tight are now just right.

I like that idea, and it's basically where i'm sort of landing with all of this conflicting advice. I'm going to drop down to 600 for a couple days and then go up as you say, and drop back down, and see if that helps. Much to my surprise, I'm enjoying the feeling from working out and my walk/jog days, and both make me feel good, so i'm loathe to stop now. Also fearing i may never talk myself into starting up again! I'm not someone who's ever liked exercise - so want to stay with it while it's feeling so good. Thanks for your input lylabelle - always good to hear more calories suggested, but kinda scary too!

Thanks Whodat - I'm trying not to be too scale-focused, but also cognizant of the 'honeymoon' period of higher weight loss rate, and don't want to waste it if i can get better results. Also I agree that 41 lbs is good, but that's with my prep diet. Since surgery in April I've lost about 30 lb. The encouragement and experience you offer is much appreciated!

I'm slightly awed at you being able to do that! Some people can do that wonderful detachment from scale and counting and do just fine. For me, it's when i abuse latitude and the amounts creep up, along with my weight. It's possible I'm losing some fat and gaining muscle, and my measurements are incrementally smaller, but not much. My pants a bit looser in line with that, but not a size loss or anything. I've also read research suggesting we can't gain terribly much muscle in a short time. (Much as I might like to think so!) My daughter's gym has a tool to measure body fat percentage, so maybe i'll do that again for comparison if there's still no movement in a couple weeks. My concern is that statistically we lose at a higher rate and usually 85% of what we'll lose within the first year. My doc had said his patients typically lose about 30% of their excess by the end of three months from surgery. Not going to happen at this rate, and that's why i'm trying to hard to work this. I don't want to blow the opportunity of that window. Probably being paranoid or overthinking this stuff. Thanks for your help!

Sounds like a lousy time with your stall Kindle! Thanks for the reply about your experience. When you say you doubled -- what amount did you go up to? Two weeks ago they said to up my calories and i went from 650/700 to 800 and the scale hasn't budged. I'd happily cut back on the exercise, but i'm afraid it's part of what's making me feel better these days - so I may just try "Door #1" and decrease calories while increasing exercise. Groan. You're right - I just have to pick one.

Congrats on signing up for that run Ava! Can't wait to hear how you like it. Nice too that your NUT has had surgery - that would make a huge difference I'd think. Seems like they're always size 4 or smaller, no? Not that size is an issue, but hard to feel like they understand when i'm sitting across from them at 250 lbs, and they don't half fill their desk chair. My straightforward plan isn't so much so now. The Nut and RN at my support group said the exact opposite - less exercise and more calories. I just posted it on a separate thread in hopes of getting some help. I'm hating not having a good plan! I use a Fitbit One and i love it. Super strong clip so i never even come close to losing it, synchs on it's own, quite accurate (i've tested milage, stairs climbed, distance and steps - all check out so far!) and it's so discreet. I clip it on the inside cup-edge of my bra, so I can reach in and grab it and turn it to see where I am pretty easily -- or take it out altogether. I was going to sign up for the Fire Dash here (5k with fireman-like obstacles!) but it's over $70 per person, and i just can't swing that for both myself and daughter. I'll look for just a fun-run though and get signed up.

That's great Ava, and I would kill to lose 4 pounds a week! Sorry you've seen it slow though, I guess it does for all of us. I had my two months check back yesterday andd tour talked about Paleo and uber-intense working out. Nothing definitive enough youth. So I emailed the RN who runs the overall progra and asked her more specifically--she was great, and got right back to me. She told me that the nutritionist (who bumped me up to 800 cal/day) tends to want people to eat more, but they always see weight-loss moving faster if you can keep down to 600 cal a day or thereabouts. So, that's my plan. Also the doc was pleased at my couch25K and gym work--said he has seen good results with a big major overkill workout keeping heart rate in higher range the whole time, once or twice a week--so intense that I could not expect to recover those calories by eating. Okay--I love a plan! So this morning I did theC25k and kept going for two miles to my Breakfast date, then turned around and did two more miles back. I now have 16000 steps and can imagine doing this once a week--maybe twice at times.

I'll add my woe to the voices here today too - I'm 8 weeks out now and have 'only' lost 31 pounds. That's just not near enough! It's going so slowly i can hardly stand it, and my doc's suggestions sound too extreme for me to manage right now. (Two hours a day working out before Breakfast and/or go Paleo diet. Nope!) I never go over 800 calories a day, and always get Water and 60-70 g Protein. I can't believe it's this slow. Really!

Hmmm. I see possibilities here. Smaller and redesigned svelte figure, and smaller redesigned chic office maybe? I agree about taking those things that make it all work (frog, etc.) but then find a great new piece of art that's YOU and claim the space for whatever new benefits it might have. I DO get how hard it is to lose the extra footage and absorbing the punch of it is NOT fun. I hope you discover some wonderful new aspect to it, and end up feeling okay about it. By the way, if it's smaller now, maybe ask a personal trainer to help redesign your workout to fit? I bought a knock off version of a TRX setup at our FredMeyer (like a big Target) and am thrilled with how much I can do with it in a very small space.

Seriously - trader joe's! Or the meat department of a BIG grocery store. I have a package of lean turkey meatballs - just nuke 2 or 3 and done. Packages of Babybel light cheese, eggs (buy hard boiled by the half dozen at most big stores now - and i make skinny deviled eggs). also in the meat dept or deli case buy a large bag of chicken breast strips and add them to anything. Nice think i noted after surgery is that i'm not so picky and such a glutton for all the rich stuff. So a simple dinner is fine. Go on a seek-find mission at the store and take pics of all the easy things you spot so you can make a list for later trips. Also be SURE to read blog and recipes and ideas on The World According to Egg Face - it's great for this! Hang in there - you can do this. It really takes some and some adjusting, and you're brave to take it on.

I felt sick to my stomach and intestinal cramps after eating beef for the first time, and again once when i took Miralax (ick!). The best thing for me was piping hot black tea (morning) with a bit of stevia, or hot herb tea like Camomile. Sleepytime is a fave, and it has mint in it too which (as said above) really helps. There's also one called Tummy Mint that works well. Finally, when i'm low or really feel just down, I splurge and have a cup of Aveda Tea (yes the hair and lotion people -) it's absolutely fabulous tea, and even helps tame any food cravings i have while it buoys my spirits every time. Food wise - a couple small slices of a banana often help settle your stomach - so does plain no-sugar applesauce, and i like it warmed up. My stomach calms right down with that! (Remember giving sick kids the "brat" diet of banana, rice, applesauce and toast?)

Sounds like good advice - and I have to say, I've never once regretted doing what my doc said in terms of protocol. Each case is different of course, but erring on caution's side sounds wise. Hang in there - with a loss that significant you'll do great and maybe skip the dreaded 3 week stall. I sure wish I'd lost that much my first two weeks!! Way to go!

Matt1912, I gotta say I LOVE a man who knows that "no elbows on the table" rule!!! And yes, I'm also a recent inductee to the Booth Please Club. Such a nice nsv! I'm 5"4" and 53 I was sleeved April 29 at 277 Currently at 246 Goal is 145 (I said 150, doc says 145...we'll see.) And - I feel like I'm not losing as fast as I'd like to be. Hard to imagine with 800 calories a day, 60-70 g Protein, daily exercise and strict adherence to plan I can't lose at a better rate. Sigh. I'm happy with what I've lost, don't get me wrong, I just can't imagine how i could do more if even this slow rate of loss slows down any more, as people say it does. I asked my doc yesterday, and he said his only real suggestion to spur it on was either to start working out for two hours a day before Breakfast (Eek!) or go Paleo. (No cheese or chocolate? I don't think so.)

lunch today is curry chicken salad with craisins from the deli, but since it had more dressing that i'd use, I came home and dumped in more chicken strips, doubling the meat and halving the mayo affect. I chop it up a bit and spoon it onto lettuce leaves for an easy wrap. Today I added some chopped tomatoes too. CAREFUL though if you mix foods like this, as you need to be sure you'll be able to eat all of your Protein. I only do as many as I can eat containing my full 2 ounces of meat. Prepping more wraps than i can eat means i don' tknow if i ate enough protein before the lettuce and tomatoes. Tonight's dinner is crabcakes. I can't eat a whole one, so I buy two at the fish counter and reshape into three. Perfect!

SO sorry you had that experience - Have to say that's pretty close to some of what has happened to me. I've lost a similar amount of weight, and yet pants size isn't moving--in my case I think it's because i'm losing in places that don't help you shift sizes. My hips and rear are smaller, but my waist hasn't changed that much, and pants depend on my waist to get buttoned! And of course now my pants look sorta comical being baggy-bottomed and getting longer (less roundness to hold them up!). Hang in there - you'll shift and realize the waistband itself is sitting low one day and realize you're now a size (or two!) smaller.

Just an emergency thing I keep on hand, and in the car: You can buy small packages of shelf-stable milk (looks like juice boxes - on the aisle with powdered milk most often) and keep a shaker/blender bottle with a few emergency baggies of Protein powder in the car. The milk I bought last week has a "use by" date of September 2014! I keep on at work, one at the back of home frog and one in my car. Also you can get a cup of ice to add to it anyplace pretty much. You could literally shake this up in the bathroom of a restaurant before a meal even - so you don't feel like a milkshake is your only option. So sorry that happened to you! Ick.

Woohoo! YES!! And congratulations! Seriously, that one deserves the big parade - and good for you and all of your hard work paying off. Sixty three pounds is amazing, and I'm hoping you feel every bit of fabulousness. I'm looking forward to that day myself eventually. Nice!!

I love my fitbit one - if I can help am happy to try. I've had it since February and it's great. Syncing with my fitbit goes between both my home and work computer, my ipad and iphone and the device. I sound like a gearhead, but it's really for me to travel easily and make my work simpler. Once home i only use my devices mostly to check Bariatric Pal and Fitbit! My only struggle is trying to print out my food log for my doc, but i imagine i'll find a workaround. Anyone have suggestions? I tried linking to myfitnesspal but it didn't transfer earlier data. Bummer.

I think you are definitely on the right track looking to set your own goal weight, Goeff. According to the (near useless) BMI chart, even at 1:50 I would still be quite overweight. I got to 151 and I looked somewhere between just right and underweight. My daughter is a personal trainer and we talked about it last night--she says the fitness industry really hates that chart, and according to it, she is overweight by more than 10 pounds... yet she has less than 13% body fat and is not heavily muscled. So, all that said, take into consideration how fit you are thinking to be or a reasonable body fat number of clothing size rather than a pound number alone. Perhaps your weight goal could be a "try it on and see how it fits" goal.

Mine is by Clearsky - didn't see the free one you all are talking about when I looked it up. I just looked for the highest rated couch25k and when it looked comprehendible to my non-running brain I went for it-hah! Oh well, $2.99 is not so big a deal, and I like format so far. I didn't realize I miss spoke when I said it pushed you to do two minutes jogging in week two, it's only 1.5 minutes this week with varied times in recovery, then next week it really varies starting with a couple of 2.5 minute jogging sets, interspersed with two 1.5 sets. I'm glad I have a week before that one starts! I will admit I started this couch to 5K mostly to give myself goals to work towards in being able to do a 5K soon, but also largely to nudge my weight-loss along. It's not working!!! Help! I cannot believe I have been doing that alternate days with working out at the gym (not fiendishly, just a basic 30 minute strength training that includes warm-up time on the treadmill) and yet for the last three weeks I have bounced up and down two or 3 pounds without any net loss. I swear I think I am going nuts it is so frustrating. Two weeks ago the nutritionist suggested I might not be eating enough and bumped me from 700 cal to 800. It does not seem to have helped. I do take my measurements, and they have changed slightly so I know I'm not gaining fat when my scale bobs up and down, but good grief this is hard. Anyone have ideas or suggestions?

I'm feeling that too ejjohn! I've also lost "only" 30 since my surgery on April 29 - and ten more in pre-op. My two month check back is this week, and I'm sure going to ask why mine is coming off slower than I'd hoped for, since i'm being scrupulous about the rules and limits. Aurgh!! I know 30 is great, and more than I'd have lost without the sleeve, but still, hard to be patient and excited when others with similar starting weights are losing so much more. Caparison is unavoidable, since we're all working towards losing weight using surgery as a tool, and each working on our given programs. I'd have an easier time accepting it if I were bending the rules or my doc had given broader leeway on calories or something, but heck - I'm alternating gym work every other day with doing a couch25K alternate days, and staying at 800 calories! Oh well, as I say, more than if I'd not had the sleeve, and i'm thrilled to have lost those hard-won 30+10 pounds!

I agree - good to know we started together. It IS hard to wait that day in between, but then it's my day to (try) to do strength training, so that helps. And I do five warmup minutes on a treadmill before hand, plus hitting my 7000 steps each day walking. So, the full app just keeps going. The free one stops at day ten or so I think. At least mine did. I decided it was easier to go ahead and do it for a sense of commitment too. I'm on day 1 of week two as well (today) and it did two minutes of jogging and 1.5 minutes of walking for four repeats, then one minute of each for two more repeats, plus warm up and cool down minutes. Each day is about 28-32 minutes on mine. I do find some days I feel like I could just keep going, but then the little voice at the end says, "See you in a couple of days" and i'm reminded that i'll be less likely to have pain or injury if i take it in a good slow pace like this. Oh - the other thing the paid app allows is for you to choose male or female voice for your coach. Music - I like oldies that have a good rhythm and a good 'message' or encouragement. Yes, "Pretty woman" is on my playlist! Hah. But i have some newer things too, and a few slower calmer ones. I set up three workout playlists, one is a bit longer for walking days, one a bit shorter and has more of a certain type (strong woman vocalists mostly - and now that i think of it some who are now getting closer to my age like Cher! I AM getting old, but she's a great inspiration of someone who has aged well I figure). GREAT that you're doing yoga at the gym - my gym has a class but it's pretty bad. I used to go to a studio and loved what it did for my stretching and how my body felt. Let me know how you'r eliking it!

I did that too, leaving in place foods I know my husband likes, but only the ones that are not temptations for me! It was liberating, and felt like another good step closer at the time. I began the pre-op diet the next day, with a clean conscience and a very clean kitchen and pantry. The great thing is, as hard as it is to throw away ice cream and treats and wonderful breads and pastas, pretty soon you will be doing the same purging in your closet. Only then (for me) I was getting rid of large dark shapeless outfits that are not purely because they fit and did not clean, but very little of it was actually attractive. Now I get to shop my old clothes out of boxes, and find that three fourths of that wardrobe no longer fits my optimistic attitude and approach to closing--so much about is going to Goodwill too. Good job cleaning your pantry and setting yourself up for success!!