katesuccess

Thank you for the suggestion – I've done it once or twice. Though now that I think about it I usually charge my runs on Google pedometer and do my plan, but when I've done and out and back with a goal in mind I did go farther! I think I'll do that at least once a week – definitely good advice. ????

I to started about six weeks out from walking and used a couch to 5K app to ease into it. Now I run three times a week and go to the gym three times a week – most days my mileage is about 2 1/2 to 3 miles. It's been great fun to do a 5K and last month a 5 mile trail run. I don't run four times or competition so much asked to see how I do and to have fun working towards them as a goal. So I have to say it has been great feeling how good I feel when I run and how good I feel being able to be a runner now. I have to admit I am a slow runner – and for the first six months I called myself a "jogger "because it felt like fall fabric I thing to say I was a runner. I'm over that now, and it doesn't matter if you're mile takes 20 minutes or four minutes – it is still a mile! Above all take it slowly and listen to your body and get fitted for GOOD running shoes at a running store first!!

Not that you need to hear from one more in this camp, but I am surprised my saggy skin is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I'm 53 years old, starting weight 287, and have lost 114 pounds. I don't know if it helps, but I put Jergens firming lotion on my arms and neck most days, and on my thighs and tummy when I remember. None of it shows when I am wearing my clothes at all, (and I like things close-fitting now that I am smaller) and I'm quite comfortable wearing a tank top to the gym and don't find that I feel like I'm gathering up loose skin when I put on pants. I did buy a good spanks one piece for dress occasions when I want to be sure things all look smooth – but I hardly ever feel the need to wear it. Yes, we are absolutely all different, and yes – drinking tons of Water and taking the fish oil, Biotin, regular exercise, etc., makes a big difference for most folks from what I can tell. My thought is that in the end if you do all of those things you can, you will be surprised how thrilled you are with the multi-dimensional results. I also think its important to stay self-aware and continue to love yourself. Honestly, I found that this surgery and the changes it has brought has only deepened and improved that sense of healthy self and joy in my healthy new body. I personally went into this knowing my insurance would not cover plastics and I was unlikely to ever be able to reasonably afford that. If I did have enough of a windfall to cover it, I'd likely rather have a trip to Europe with my husband.????

Wonderful! I applaud your taking 'the high road' in your letter and not insinuating that WLS is superior or bashing BL results (although you justifiably could have done so). I searched the web the other day for any sort of follow-up comment by him or the show's producers, or any sort of apology, and found no response whatsoever--so I'm willing to bet it is unlikely there will be one now either unless it feed the ratings. Just the same, thank you for doing this!! Kate

Damn girl - you're amazing! I'm so happy for you, and SO inspired by your new fleet-footed life!! I took up running in this WLS journey too, and while i'm only up to five miles so far, i've had great fun running in some trail runs, etc. My goal is to some day do a marathon, but I can't seem to get the miles up that high yet. I'm still at 173 (down from 287!) but i'm a good bit older than you, clearly! Anyway, just wanted to chime in and thank you for being an inspiration, for sharing your great success, and for reminding us all what fun we get to have in this new way of life. Gread job @jinxxy5!! Kate

I'm in agreement with the above posters @queenwendy - and so happy for you to have made such great progress this year! Way to go!! Our stats are similar from what I can tell. I'm 5'5", and was sleeved 4/29/14 at 287lbs (53 years old - not sure about you). I'm now am 173--BUT until this past week I'd also had a stall of about 6 weeks with only maybe a half pound loss, and it was making me really frustrated. I feel your pain, girl! You already know to LOG THAT food and PLAN, plan plan and suck down lots of Water. I keep around 750-800 calories but let myself go over with a half Protein shake if I get to the end of the day and am still under 70 grams of protein. After that long stall I found my frustration was allowing me to get lax, and leading to thinking things like, "well, i'm not losing anyway, one more (4 more?) Hershey's kisses won't matter" -- but of course they do, and they add up fast. As soon as I started really tracking every smidgeon again and planning and disciplining myself to only have one small square of dark chocolate each night, keeping under 750, also upping the intensity of my workouts,I started to lose again, and have lost 2.5 lbs in the last week. Since I eat almost no starchy carbs I'm finding it helps my satiety to up my protein to closer to 80 gms per day too. It's also possible that the present loss i'm experiencing is just what my body was ready to do. Studies now show that, particularly for women, that whole calories-in/calories-out thing is crap. Women apparently have far great metabolic flexibility and so our bodies efficiently adjust to living on less, so changing it up or being patient while the bod gets ready to lose again are about all that seems to factor in. Hang in there, and don't get too bummed about it. That 105 pounds you lost is GONE, gone gone! Stop by the grocery store and check out what FIVE 20# bags of potatoes looks like in your cart -- it'll make your day! Or pick up that much weight in the gym some time, and think how incredible it is that you're not carrying that around any more. Great job on your hard work! Kate

You get a backache from a long drive - because your fat no longer fills in that lumbar support need! I have to get one of those pillows now I guess. You try on multiple outfits in the morning to find something presentable, but this time ruling out all the TOO LOOSE outfits instead of the too tight ones! (Yay!) LOL - you can't make the recliner sit back upright just by leaning forward any more! I have to reach up with both arms and pull now. Too funny last night as hubby saw me trying to get up.

I'd love getting several of my mail-order things in one locaton! My picks would be unjury Protein powders, Calcium Citrate Chews (I think they're from Bariatric Advantage) and maybe Quest bars too. Also books that are especially helpful or even vetted for WLS folks would be nice. I liked yours, Alex, but a few I bought were just awful and not worth the time or money. Good not-too-expensive skin firming cream? Laptop Bento lunchboxes! Good idea.

So good to have this for incentive - thank you for doing it! This morning I'm 173.5.

Sometimes I can be way more competitive than I'd like to admit when it comes to things like weight loss and my beloved. Perhaps she's worried you'll do better than she's done, or lord it over her a bit? Fear of being told/shown how you do this differently if it works? Also lots of people are worried about their spouse no longer needing or wanting them or being attracted to them - my husband is really THERE sometimes, and it makes me sad. He said ti last night as we watched a My 600 lb Life last night about the guy afraid his wife would no longer need him to be her caregiver. Hubby said he worried about my not needing him, and I had to remind him that I'm with him because I love him and I WANT to be with him - not because I'm afraid not to be, or that I'd be unable to care for myself without him - that's (unhealthy) codependency in my opinion. Maybe share some of your own concerns with her, and remind her that doctors are all recommending different things, and you're going to follow his/her advice as best you can because s/he is the professional you're having to entrust your WLS self with. Occasionally thanking her for the input (even if not really needed) wouldn't be a bad thing either. We women like to be 'helpful' -- at least I recognize myself in that! Good luck, and I think this'll get better as she sees you continue to love and cherish her just the way she is and you are - no matter what.

I think it's a metabolic flexibility thing. I've been reading a lot about that lately, and how men's and women's bodies process and use foods so differently from one another. Reasearch is showing that women are more 'metabolically flexible' than men apparently. Our bodies adjust to new ways of moving and eating, and hang on until the siege is over. Then when we keep staying with our plan, the bod eventually gives in and starts losing again. It's definitely NOT been "calories in-calories out" for me AT ALL! I stalled a whole month at 177 while eating 850 cal per day (no starchy carbs at all!) and plenty of protein AND running three times a week and hitting the gym lifting 3 times a week. Made me nuts. Now it's starting move move again...slowly. Hang in there. Lots of folks have had good results changing it up a bit with calories or amounts and such.

I did a bit of sleuthing and calling around - then visiting - until I found a good consignment shop that sold BOTH plus sizes and regular sizes of nicer clothes. I too need to dress professionally, and it was great to turn in an armload of clothes from good designers and upper end brands, and then turn and shop the Eileen Fisher rack or similar! It's a bit farther than my small town, but a few minutes extra drive makes it a fun excursion too. Good luck, and Congrats on needing smaller things!

They're great! I also got my fitbit pre-surgery when I first started trying to walk a bit more, and it's been great motivation and encouragement. I"m another who clips mine to my bra, and several people have gotten them where I work because of my rave over it. Got one for my husband too, only he's sort of less into it, but he still loves it when he's working his plan! You can 'friend' people too, and see how your steps match up with theirs - also encourage each other that way.

Way to go!!! That's a great accomplishment, and I'm so happy for you to have hit this major goal - good on you!

My daughter's comment (she's a personal trainer - so looks at me differently) was "Oh my gosh - Mother, you have no ass!" Then she proceeded to add lots of glute work to my workout. LOL.

Good grief RJ! That's awful - what a witch! In my field I often find that any conversation I have with someone who is going through some personal angst will be all about their issues, even if we never talk directly about them! --i.e. "How was the concert?" "It was awful and the musicians weren't playing together and the conductor seemed disconnected" -- translation upon further conversation with her was really: 'my kids are a mess and going off on their own directions and my husband is cold and oblivious!' ABSOLUTELY no excuse, I'm just saying this sounds entirely about her crud and nothing about you. I've read so many of your posts and SO enjoyed them, and there's nothing evasive or hiding in the way you present yourself, and for someone who's not spoken to you in so long to think she knows anything about you....well, I repeat, it's all about her! Your success and perseverance and very real attitude has been an incredible inspiration to me so many times, and I find I smile each time I see a new post with your lovely picture on it. And what a giving thing to do such selfless work for the Heart and Stroke Foundation! You rock!! Kate

For those salty cravings, I'm finding the wasabi flavor of seaweed Snacks at Trader Joe to be fabulous. They also do a sesame one that's good - but the wasabi curbs the salt craving somehow. Love these! For sweet I always crave chocolate, so half a chocolate chunk Quest bar is my go-to snack. I also allow myself one tiny square of dark chocolate each night if I've been staying on plan and have points left over -- okay sometimes even if I've been a bit lax.

I'm in, my starting weight is 177 and my goal is 155 - ambitious for me since my loss has slowed to a stop this month, but I'm optimistic and ready to work harder at it!

Make a list of your questions, including asking how long each phase is. Typically they count them from the day of surgery. Call the surgeon's office and tell them you have a few dietary questions, and go through the list ready to write as you go! USUALLY Clear liquids include broth-type Soups (no chunks, no creamy ones) clear juices (like apple but not OJ) and some of those Protein drinks like Isopure (which I hated personally). And yes, most of us had a very short time on clear only. Ask the doc's office - maybe you'll talk to RN or nutritionist - what phase you should be on given your surgery date. Then be sure you ask how long that stage and subsequent ones should be. My experience is that they're happy to fill you in because it means you're trying to be compliant about your medical advice and weight loss. Hope it goes well!

I'm in! Thanks for starting this. I missed the Valentine's Day one, so glad to have a new goal! I'll post a goal weight at the start date -- when is it? Kate

I am struggling with Water intake lately too. Oddly I can't drink ice water nearly as easily and it seems to affect something like a closing up of my gut when I do sometimes. I'm fine with slightly less chilled water, hot beverages, and such - but I'm seldom moved to want those. Hot tea yes, but a cup or so - it's not something i'm inclined to drink a whole big thermos of. I"m trying to do those flavored drops in water that's less chilled, and that seems to help some. And yes, sometimes a straw if just what I need, especially in a venti passion iced (tiny bit of ice!) tea at Starbucks. Kate

I hear you guys too, @iamblessed1225 and @AvaFern - ! I was sleeved April 29 2014 and have lost 110 pounds and cannot get below this current weight of 177. I fluctuate a pound or 1.5 either side of that, but have been stuck there for around 8 weeks. Driving me nuts and making it hard to keep to my plan when I see no weight-loss results. Yes, I take measurements and Celebrate other goals like those on a run or the gym, but I really want to get to goal, and that's still 32 lbs away. Sigh. I eat around 750-800 calories a day, and no starchy carbs at all. A couple days on liquids might shock the system into letting go again, but then be sure you go up again and keep getting enough Protein and calories meanwhile. Until then, know that you're not alone, and you're in good company here! Let us know how it goes, okay? Good luck!

When I get cross with hubby about posting pictures of me on Facebook--not for the usual "I look so awful and fat in that picture!" reason, but because I wanted to post it myself! Hah!

I found things pulled off my fingers or arm (lost bracelet!) in jackets - sorry you lost something special, but how lovely a response from your beloved!

My first reaction was an adamant "hell no!" - but thanks @@aSleeveStory, for making me think it out. Just this morning I realized that it now takes me a good deal longer to get dressed because my standard has risen from "good enough to get out the door and not look horrible " to "gosh I look good!" The latter certainly takes more time and thoughtfulness, even though I have far fewer clothes – and this morning I was wishing I had that extra time--DEFINITELY not wishing it enough to go back there – ever!!