Babbs

Okay, a little tough love here. You started at 230, and now are down to 168. That's over 60 pounds! That's a lot! You need to focus on the fact that the surgery has enabled you to lose over 60 pounds, and now you need to keep it going. I have a feeling looking at your past posts that you are relying on the surgery alone to lose weight. I'm afraid it will and can only take you so far (hence the 60% of excess weight loss statistic the surgeons tell us to expect). You have to work REALLY HARD after that initial honeymoon period to get to goal. What does that mean? It means no grazing, unhealthy snacking like Cookies, crackers etc, ONLY getting your carbs from fruits and veggies, tracking and measuring portions, 64oz of Water, Protein first, then veggies if you have room, and move more! It sucks, but it has to be done to get where you want to be. This is now my life, and if I want to continue to feel amazing and wear a size 6, this is what I have to do. Now, the choice is yours....do you want to get to your weight loss goal or not? It's all about how bad you want it. Get back to basics, and make it work for you!

At 13 months out, I can eat about 4-6 Oz of Protein (depending on what it is) and up to 3/4 cup of veggies. That is almost exactly what the Weight Watchers requirements are per meal (minus a starch). I remember Weight Watchers measurements on our hands...ie 4oz of meat is roughly the size of a woman's palm.... I eat 1100-1300 calories a day, and I assure you I'm happy, healthy and thriving. Americans eat far too many calories. That's why we are all fat.

I think you look great. Thin, but healthy. Nice muscle tone. I think you do run the risk of looking too thin if you lose too much more.... Good job on the weight loss by the way! I still shake my head in astonishment how people who had surgery several months after me have already made goal and lost so much more!

1. Go to the store 2. Buy chicken, fish, lean beef or pork 3. Buy frozen or fresh veggies Prepare and eat. Repeat.

One of my favorite sayings: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results". I stopped the insanity of yo yo dieting for 25 years and decided to do something that would give me a fighting chance for different results.

This will get you started...she has many more! I'm sure if you do a search for "pumpkin" on her website, you'll get a plethora of ideas. http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2015/09/flavors-of-fall-pumpkin-spice-protein.html?m=1

@@chickenmommy25 I would think any additional education would be great. Boot camp or not. But I really came in to say I like your user name. Made me smile.

@@lauraellen80 I'm finding myself doing that with a size up now that I'm pretty much in maintenance. I know statistically people gain 5-10% back within a few years, so I think I'm mentally preparing for that "what if". What are your guys' thoughts about that? Get rid of them or hold on?

@@HeidiA Yup, your doc is correct. It's one of the reasons the surgery works so well. I RARELY ever feel true hunger anymore. Some still do, but just between you and me, I think it's head hunger.

@@kanaud Now this is someone who's got their shit together! PERFECT answer!

Holy cow @@laguerr13!! Amazing progress! You could fit a whole other person in your old scrubs with you! You are doing so great!

Yes. Or at least you won't mind it as much... I still nitpick myself in pictures at 147 pounds and a size 6. My brain still needs to catch up with the reality of being thinner. But that's a whole other thread

I felt the same way when I was on liquids (I was on liquids for quite a while). I really started to wonder if he really did the surgery when I would never get full! That all went away the first time I tried refried Beans and could only eat 3 spoonfuls

Work on yourself. Don't worry about what you want from some man. I guarantee if you concentrate on what you want and what your kids need out of life, you're going ton have the "right" kind of men lining up to date you. A strong, self assured man likes a strong, self assured woman and mother who knows she doesn't need a man to make her complete.

@@jess9395 It's funny you say that about gastrectomies. I've heard that's how this surgery started for weight loss. Someone was like "Wait a minute? You mean when we cut out 85% of someone's stomach, they lose weight?? Who'd a thunk it?!"

I remember feeling that way, too. Although I was still following a high Protein, low carb diet pre op, I wanted a craft beer before surgery. So we went to dinner, I had a nice steak, loaded baked potato and an amazing craft beer. Now going on my 14th month post surgery, I could have a beer if I wanted. But I choose not to because of too many carbs and bubbles. It's not like you won't ever be able to have your favorite foods again. It's the fact that hopefully you will choose NOT to because you're dedicated to the surgery and changing your lifestyle in order to lose the weight and KEEP it off. By the way, I recently was in Reno and saw an In and Out Burger. That used to be a big treat for us, too, as we don't have one in our state. I didn't even consider it. It just didn't sound appealing anymore. I also lost a pound and a half while I was in Reno UNHEARD of before surgery!

Good for you! It drives me crazy when people refuse to get rid of their old, frumpy clothes that don't fit! It REALLY drives me crazy when people still wear them! I found as I was shrinking, wearing clothes that actually fit and flattered my figure gave me the motivation to keep it going. You feel great, too!

Wow. I've been at 1100-1200 for months. I guess it goes to show we are all different. There are days I only get 800 for sure. But I also know when I'm not eating enough, I stop losing. Like I said, we're all different.

Jeez @@Elode, you only eat 800 calories? Like...every day or does it vary?

Stalls suck! Especially your first "Three Week (or Two) stall". You lose a shit load of weight and then BOOM. Your body slams on the brakes! It's just making adjustments after the large amount of weight lost. With this stall, you just do more of the same and ride it out. Happens to everyone. You will probably have another at some point. Then another. And the scale will do the 1-2 pound "bounce" as described above. Our bodies are these wacky, wonderful, complex things that like to fluctuate weight wise. You'll get used to seeing it. You'll also be able to read whether it's a true stall or just wacky fluctuations. Subsequent stalls will have to be dealt with by doing adjustments with diet or excersise. You'll find this process isn't as simple as "calories in, calories out". We are complicated creatures!

I'm still learning the balance thing right now too. I'm in the process of figuring out what I can and can't moderate. Chocolate I'm finding is a no no sadly. Maybe some day, but not today....

Understood. It's hard, but you'll get there post op. I pretty much deprived myself the first year to get to where I wanted to be. The closer I got to goal, the more I loosened up a little and started moderating some foods in preparation for maintenence. You'll be able to have a handful of popcorn at the movies someday, as long as you learn to moderate those things as just very rare treats. I also abstain from some things because I just can't moderate certain foods. It's a balance that has to be learnt.

@@AllisonK1986 I go to the movies all the time without eating popcorn or candy. I'll buy a Chai tea and sip it during the movie. Hopefully you will get to the point where food isn't the focus of everything you do in life. It took me a while, but I'm there. I focus on the moments, the company I'm with, and the experience. It's just so freeing not being a slave to food anymore. I can honestly say I eat to live, not live to eat.

42DD to 36D. I'll always have big boobs no matter how much weight I lose

@@Yaberhoo False. Caffeine is not a diuretic. You would have to drink a shit load of caffeine for it to dehydrate you. That's an old wives tale. I've drank caffeine since a month out from surgery and I've done just fine with fluids and weight loss. Just sayin.