Healthy_life2

Time to bump the thread - Embrace the stall.

If your Dr. has you on it to manage type 2 then take it. You might be in a weight loss stall (they are normal) I wouldn't take victoza to "restart" weight loss. Work your plan. See embrace the stall below.

Sorry you are struggling, Thank you for your honesty. The work does not end after goal. Things may come up that people don't expect. No shame in asking for help. Look into therapy and support in NY (goggle it) Keep us updated and share how you are taking control of the situation. Anything we can do to support you...let us know.

@AngieBear Your transformation has been phenomenal. Its been great watching you int the OOTD. Can you believe how fast your weight loss has been? Fitness goals are a great way to transition into maintenance. Any races on your bucket list?

What I wish I knew before I had surgery five years ago. When vets told me you will be able to eat more as you progress was so true. Working on the mental battles of weight loss was not easy. Overcoming my behaviors was one of the best gifts out of surgery. They are not 100% gone. I manage them much better. I'm older 45 day of surgery - 51 now. All the stress over vanity was a bit ridiculous for me. Honestly, I look better not obese. My loose skin is livable and I have gained muscle weight lifting. It has filled out the skin a bit. I looked into plastics twice. I backed out both times. I am happy with my body and rock my old fart self. Transitioning to maintenance was not what I had expected.

You are not alone - Join the maintenance thread. Lots of support and information to stop your weight loss. The only reason you are still losing weight is you are eating weight loss calories and carbs. It's time to transition into your maintenance diet. Many of us have a hard time getting in our maintenance calories at first. You may need to graze your maintenance diet (eating several small meals) It may feel like you are eating all day. It gets easier to get them in as your restriction becomes less with time. Many of us lose muscle with rapid weight loss. Exercise on low calories can cause muscle catabolisim. Catabolism -- or the wasting of lean muscle tissue -- should be avoided at all costs. Not only do you get weaker and more prone to injury, your metabolism will slow, decreasing how many calories you burn at rest It's not a healthy look. Back off on exercise until you can get your maintenance calories and macros in. If you have a advanced fitness level, you may want to hire a sports medicine dietitian to fuel your body to support your calorie burn.

Training for a race in April. Brooks running shirt is my favorite. Sent from my SM-G930T using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm in a strange place five years out and maintaining. I'm not focused on being a bariatric patient. I no longer obsess about the"bariatric rules" It's because I live a healthy life out of habit. I identify more with the fitness community. I am ready to move on and hopefully continue to maintain in the years to come. I know I can always come back if I need to.

Trust your professionals and follow your own plan. Enough said.

Calories are not created equal. A junk food diet in weight loss calories vs healthy foods in weight loss calories. Google it. Sent from my SM-G930T using BariatricPal mobile app

I agree with you, If people invest in plastics they don't want to waste the money. They are more likely to maintain. I have an issue with ALL the statics on long term success rates. My surgeons office is a gold standard of excellence, They are required to follow patient five years and report to a national data base. Per my office, many patients stop showing up for yearly check ups after two years. The statistics reported are not accurate. This includes people with skin removal.

Sorry for the long response. Pre surgery, I don't think I had a sensation of full. Hunger and cravings were intense. Post surgery - Many of us experience times of real and head hunger. I'm not " really hungry all the time" Five years out, My hunger is manageable. It normal to have less sleeve restriction years out, ( my sleeve is not stretched or back to full size) I can fill the extra space with real whole foods, stay within my maintenance calories, and feel satisfied. There is no reason to eat weight gain calories just because I can hold more food. Only my experience, (you most likely have herd these things before) Real hunger happens when I skip meals, eat the wrong food, eat under my calories, and working out. Head hunger happens when I'm bored, around temptation or stressed/emotional. I know theses things about myself. I learned how to satisfy hunger when it happens. If I deny cravings, I just want them more. I keep healthy low calorie options for sweet and salty on hand. In weight loss mode, I avoid certain things. I cant stop at a small amount of chocolate or a bag of chips. *laughing* I know myself. My husband hides them from me. Life should be lived in maintenance. I have times I indulge, take vacations, and carb load for sports. Afterward, I have cravings and hunger. I eat my bariatric plan and carvings/ hunger go away. I eat dense protein, veggies and other items on my plan. (They stay in my sleeve longer than slider/soft stage foods) peppermint tea calms my sleeve I spread my meals out five/six a day, Schedule a protein snack before bed. Head hunger and night snacking -I keep a veggie tray and fruit in the fridge, I allow my self to eat as much until full. If I try to bargain for other items I know its head hunger.

Stalls and plateaus will happen. See embrace the stall link below. Read through the posts. Know that you are not alone. Exercise will compliment your health and weight loss. Exercise is a choice. Weight loss is more dependent on diet if you don't exercise.(I'm not encouraging sedation for those of us that have the ability to move) You are asking what you can do as exercise, Below are some options Do what is in your ability level. Walk in the house. physical therapy, They can help set up exercises for your limitations and avoiding injury. Chair stretching, chair cardio, chair light weight lifting, chair HIIT. I love Pahla B Fittness - If interested, Subscribe to her page. Look for her seated workouts. Wishing you all the best.

Thanks for sharing your story and fabulous results, Your primary care physician is not the deciding factor for plastics. You can also get a second opinion by another Dr. You may want to call your insurance provider to see if they changed their stance on plastics. Most insurance companies don't cover plastics. Many people have to self pay if they choose skin removal.

What? You are a vet. Thanks for all your help over the years.

Happy 2020!🍾 I'm five years post op. Starting weight was 254 Lowest 125. I maintained pretty easy in my first two years. My honeymoon ended when I had a regain in my third year. It was an emotional freak out moment. I came back to this site for support and worked the weight off. I maintain in the 130's. I give myself a ten pound bounce range to work up and down the scale. So far so good. We will see how I do in the years to come. I identify as a weight loss patient but, life is normal and mundane this far out. People no longer comment about weight loss. Most have no Idea that I was obese. I am vigilant about my weight. I indulge and take diet/exercise breaks. When the scale moves up, I go back to bariatric weight loss diet. I looked into plastics my first and fifth year out. I backed out both times. I'm done with people judging my body at any size. I'm comfortable in my loose skin *wink* I will never be a bikini model with the damage I did being obese. *I was not a bikini model before surgery.* Before and after.

Prohibition 1920's theme party last night. Loose skin showing and I didn't care *smile* Back on track after all the holiday indulging. Happy 2020 all. Lets do this!

Glad you found a long term sustainable way to eat. The work continues after goal, right? Keep us updated.😀

New year and new ten pound goal. Glad you came here for support. The work never ends, right? I'm five years and worked down a gain in my third year. Some threads on this site that may help you get back on track. We have a monthly group weight loss challenge. December is below. They will post the January challenge soon Doing the head work. May help get your mind back in the game. Intermittent fasting Food before and after photos (some are in maintenance mode)

Experiment with other carbohydrate foods that wont trigger old behaviors. Bagels trip me up. When I have them I crave them . They whisper sweet nothings to me *smile* I cant have just one. Its my addiction food. Carbs that don't trip me up are sweet potato. I add brown rice in stir fry ( a small amount won't bloat me) I eat flat out bread for pizza or sandwiches. (high fiber,low carb added protein) Hope you find what works for you

Wow, fantastic weight loss Stalls are frustrating. Keep working your plan and the scale will move again. The link below "embrace the stall" may help answer your questions. https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/351046-embrace-the-stall/

workout gear

Stability shoes work best for me. I invest in my shoes but I don't go crazy with price. Asics, Brooks, Hoka one one. I can find sales at REI, dicks sporting goods or amazon. Types of Running Shoes Neutral shoes: They can work for mild pronators, but are best for neutral runners or people who supinate (tent to roll outward). These shoes provide some shock absorption and some medial (arch-side) support. Some super-cushioned shoes provide as much as 50% more cushioning than traditional shoes for even greater shock absorption. Stability shoes: Good for runners who exhibit mild to moderate overpronation. They often include a firm "post” to reinforce the arch side of each midsole, an area highly impacted by overpronation. Motion control shoes: Best for runners who exhibit moderate to severe overpronation, they offer features such as stiffer heels or a design built on straighter lasts to counter overpronation. Barefoot shoes: Soles provide the bare minimum in protection from potential hazards on the ground. Many have no cushion in the heel pad and a very thin layer—as little as 3–4mm—of shoe between your skin and the ground. All barefoot shoes feature a “zero drop” from heel to toe. (“Drop” is the difference between the height of the heel and the height of the toe.) This encourages a mid-foot or forefoot strike. Traditional running shoes, by contrast, feature a 10–12mm drop from the heel to the toe and offer more heel cushioning. Minimalist shoes: These feature extremely lightweight construction, little to no arch support and a heel drop of about 4–8mm to encourage a natural running motion and a midfoot strike, yet still offer cushioning and flex. Some minimalist styles may offer stability posting to help the overpronating runner transition to a barefoot running motion. Minimalist shoes should last you roughly 300 to 400 miles.

Maintenance weight loss mode – down two pounds. Calories 1023 – 95 protein – 65 carbs- 25 fiber- 46 fat Breakfast 8 oz Egg white 1 oz Baby spinach 3 Grape tomatoes 2 cups Coffee 2 packets Splenda with fiber Lunch 3 oz Hummus and 3 oz sugar snap peas Dinner 3.2 50/50 salad spring mix 2 oz Pomegranate seed 7.2 Chicken 1 oz Sliced almonds .5 oz Hemp seed 1 oz Skinny girl raspberry vinaigrette Snack Dannon light n fit cherry Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon chia seed