Babbs

Listen to these people. Each and everyone of these vets that just posted are part of the reason I became so successful. They know what they are talking about!

@@jenn1 President of the HOA? I see some violation fines in those jerks futures.....

I just stay away from people as much as possible for exactly that reason. I'm too old to deal with drama from people I don't even particularly like. This new philosophy has made my life so much easier.

@@j16 Here is Jamie's thread. VERY good information! http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/363681-beginners-guide-to-running-for-the-obese/

Because this generation got participation trophy's and god forbid you say anything realistic or non encouraging to anybody. Have you ever seen an x ray picture of an obese person? Their organs are literally being crushed by the fat. That's not healthy. It's kind of like smoking. I knew it was bad for me, but I wasn't going to do a damn thing about it until I was good and ready. I knew being fat was bad for me, but I was still relatively active and cute so until it actually started affecting my health, then and only then I thought "Damn this is gonna kill me!" Young people don't see the consequences until it starts affecting them.

Broken record time. How much someone loses depends on many factors. Gender (men lose SO MUCH FASTER) age, starting BMI, muscle mass, activity level, etc...you are absolutely not doing anything wrong. Your body is pretty much steering the ship right now, not you. Later down the road? Yeah, it will be all you. But not for a while. Here is why stalls happen at around 3-6 weeks out. It's science: A "stall" a few weeks after surgery is not uncommon, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs. of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when a patient is not getting in enough food, the body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. Then when 2 lbs. of glycogen is used a patient will also lose 8 lbs. of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs. that most people lose in the first week of a diet. However, when the body stays in a caloric deficit state the body starts to realize that this is not a short-term problem. Then the body starts mobilizing fat from adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But the body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. As it puts back the 2 lbs. of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs. of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though the patient might still be losing energy content to their body, the weight will not go down or it might even gain for a while as the retention of water dissolves the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

Yup, it happens. You have to help it along at some point by either reducing/upping calories and increasing activity to move things along because our bodies get complacent after a while.

Your restriction will not be as tight as a drum forever you know. Not being discouraging, just realistic. But you do you, and if you think it will be hard for you to fail, then go you!! I certainly envy you!

I actually live with a long time WLS person. My husband had the bypass 10 years ago this year. He initially lost 130 pounds, and has managed to more or less keep off 110 of it. He did have a 30 pound gain after he quit smoking, but with the help of medication, did manage to lose it again. He is fairly mindful of what he eats, but pretty much eats what he wants when he wants. He still has some restriction, but can certainly eat much more than years ago. I think the key to his success is they guy is ALWAYS busy. He spends very little time sitting around. I think he has been able to keep his metabolism ramped up that way.

From what I've seen, it's a little of both scenarios. Honestly, I'm trying not to overthink things too much. If I do, I'll get discouraged and start the "what's the point?" spiral into bad habits again. I think even if we gain a little years down the road, is sure is better than where we began, no?

@@pr_pitbullgrl I've always eaten too fast and take too big of bites. It's something I'm always trying to work on

You're still very early out. Heck, at 21 months out I am too. There are so many challenges that come up the further out we get. I don't know if it's a mental thing after hearing about the changes that happen at 18 months, but I'll be damned if at 18 months I could suddenly eat SO MUCH MORE and became super hungry. I could go up a pound or 2 and lose it within a few days before. Now I have put on about 2.5 pounds and it's not coming off doing the same things I did before. It's really quite alarming.

@@MargieW Expect a stall at around 3 week out. Don't panic! It happens to 99% of us and is completely normal. Google the Dreaded Three Week Stall to see why it happens.

He's kind of wrong. I know some people on here that have been maintaining thier stretch goal weights on 1800 calories (Ann, Jamie). Me? 1200-1400 max. Sad face. Just like with anything else, we are all different and have differing metabolic rates for a multitude of reasons. Some need more to maintain, some need less. Those of us who need a little less to maintain and even less to lose just got the luck of the draw I guess. There ARE ways to try to change your metabolic rate, obviously excersise is one. Anyway, like @@Recycled said, it is what it is.

OOhhhhhh ... if only I could drink ONE bloody mary anymore. {SIGH} Why can't you?

@@JenniferVSG2011 You've already gotten excellent advice, so just wanted to say "Hi" and welcome!

Hmmmm, no. We seem to be missing someone.....let me summon her. Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!

This ^^^^

You could add the flavorless powder fiber to your Water if you can't get enough with food right now? Otherwise, eat lots of salads with some sort of Protein mixed in

Great thread, great topic! Loving the discussions!

Oh boy we had an EPIC thread about this very subject about a year or so ago.

I have used them pre op and would have no qualms about using them post op under a doctor's supervision. In my opinion, whatever tools can be thrown at us to keep this disease at bay is alright with me. And I think McButterpants has or even is currently using them post op? Correct me if I'm wrong guys?

@@KindaFamiliar I heart you. That is all.

I concur with this statement. Most people not living in a third world country don't know what true "hunger" is. So there's head hunger and true "boy I haven't eating in a while and I'm getting hungry" hunger. I feel all who have had WLS suffer with the most is head hunger, and no doctor cut that out, unfortunately!