JustWatchMe

Great job!

Now my eldest is sitting on a tarmac waiting for her plane to be de-iced. Gotta love Chicago winters. Not.

The salsa chicken was leftovers, and I actually just had a salad and was full, so I stopped at 800 calories for the day. Hard to believe I just typed that. Recipe for salsa chicken: Eight boneless skinless chicken thighs. One large jar of green tomatillo salsa. One or two packets of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix. I like two. Put it all in a crockpot on low for six hours. Serve with tortillas or rice. Yum. Yum. Yum.

I was told to avoid pasta in favor of protein choices. Not to say I never eat it now because I do. But that early out of surgery I was told 800 calories a day and make it protein based.

My pooch got his neighborhood walk today after missing it for a week due to sub zero temperatures. It was 27 balmy degrees this early morning, so back to walking it was! My goal for dinner is to keep it under 500 calories since my lunch contained Thai noodles and went over 600. So my plan is Protein. Salsa chicken and a salad.

Search relaxation on YouTube. I listen to motivational recordings on my lunch hour at work. I use a headset instead of earbuds.

Thanks, Arlene. I was afraid I wouldn't hear from her, but at 4am my time, I was already getting text messages from her demanding j remove the Facebook photos I posted of her kissing me goodbye. "Delete those photos NOW! I look awful!" That's my girl. All is well. I miss her already.

My dimples returned which makes my smile much younger. I do have a turkey wattle now but it seems to come and go. That sounds weird but I noticed that same thing happen on a good friend who lost 100 pounds years ago. I started to notice her wattle, but then a few months later it seemed to tighten up. So I'm hoping mine snaps back over time. No matter what, I look younger and happier than I have in years.

Sending cyber hugs to you.

Okay, it's midday in Madrid and she's at her host home, safe and sound! One down, one to go!

Good post, as usual.

Never ever ever give up on yourself !!!!

Ok so much for accountability for me. Totally blew right through my calorie goal. Aagghh! Ok, tomorrow is a new day. My daughter left for Madrid, and now I wait for a message after she lands. My other daughter leaves for her college tomorrow.

People use phone apps to time their bites. For me I just try to really focus on fully swallowing one bite before putting my fork into the next one. For me this is really hard to do. I was a fast eater. Also I find it really beneficial to interrupt my meal by physically getting up and walking. Like a bathroom break. About halfway into the meal. It helps my appestat recognize I've eaten something and that I'm not ravenous anymore. That five minutes helps me feel a satiety signal. I don't always do these tricks, but when I do I eat less and feel better afterward. Good luck!

Please post a link if you change topics. I hesitated to jump in but I need accountability too. Today I'm going to get through a hugely emotional day saying goodbye to my daughter who's studying abroad, and keep my calories under 1800.

Breathe. You've made a lifesaving choice. You've been through so much and you're still healing and OMG the liquids are hard. I was on liquids for six weeks. You can do this. Please cut yourself a break and be gentle with yourself. This is a healing process. But I guarantee that once it settles down and the weight starts coming off and you are able to move better and be more active, you will be so happy with your decision. We are here for support. My life has returned after walking around dead for decades. Congratulations. You've chosen life.

Today I will put my youngest on a plane for her semester in Madrid. I won't see her in person until mid-May. This will be a test for both of us. She's off to have the adventure of a lifetime with several good friends. She will grow up a lot. Momma here has a different test. Let it go. Let her go. Let go of worry. Let go of control. Trust in God. Trust in her. I'm so sad for me and so happy for her at the same time. My challenge is to not medicate these feelings with food. Oh, that wouldn't happen today or even tomorrow when I put my eldest back on her plane for St. Louis. My danger zone will be next week. Next week, when the stress is "behind" me. When both have safely landed and are settling in. When I can "relax". That's when the food and drink will call my name. It is always that way. I get through the stress, or the crisis, or the happy exciting event just fine. Holding it all together. Maybe even lose my appetite completely for awhile. No urge to binge. I've got too much to do. But afterward. In the vacuum of relief, or of restlessness, or of no feeling at all. Then I want to eat. And eat. And eat. Not this time. I'll be checking in here. I need all of you. I need my 12-step meetings too. I've been in this head space before, and it's a dangerous place without a plan and without a support system. Thankfully, today I have both. Thanks for being here and reminding me I am not alone and that I can do this.

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You sound too tight. Our bands don't stay at the same restriction level forever, because we're losing weight. I'd go for an adjustment and I wouldn't wait any longer. Throwing up often is a sure way to invite a band slip. So I've heard. I'm not an expert but that's what I was told. Good luck.

Dan, I would just like to say I'm glad you are better and I'm so glad you posted. It probably feels like you're starting all over, but you had great success with your band before, and you will again. My guess is that you would really benefit from a sit down session with the nutritionist. You'll walk away with notes and numbers and a solid plan. So much of this battle is fought between our ears. Don't ever ever give up on yourself. You beat cancer !! You can do this!!! Keep posting.

Congratulations and welcome to the banded life!! Keep posting and take good care of yourself while you heal. We're all here for you!

Please heal and be kind to yourself. You've been through a tremendous ordeal. Stay connected here and stay off the scale. Heal, heal, heal. Hugs to you.

Congratulations !!!

I've never been thin with long hair. I grew it out over the last few years. I'm in Onederland now, and unfortunately have thinned out hair due to surgery. I'm not happy with the way it's looking lately (gets stringy and droopy by end of the day) and I'm debating getting a blunt cut, maybe chin length. I'm having another very minor surgery (not WLS related) in January and I'm scared that the anesthesia will cause another round of hair loss. I'm wondering if shorter hair is more forgiving. Thoughts on a dramatic hair cut?

great idea!