blondebomb

haha..I was "weighing food" for several months and logging everything! it was mentally exhausting me! for me I do well to get in 2 to 3 oz a meal and whats left (yes I always have left on my small plate) the dog is patiently waiting to get the rest! she knows its coming ! I eat protein 1st...always and my snacks are protein (raw pecans, cheese, cottage cheese, greek yogurt). I do like my chike protein powder coffee drink! after months of logging MFP I learned what I was eating and the nutrition and other count info..I have stuck with that. so I have backed off. for me it taught me. but its there a great tool if I need to go back to using it..

lol..luv it!

keeping short and simple ...I tried this earlier and I don't know if its working now or not! here it goes just uploading to see what happens..

@@proudgrammy well put! I'm sure all can agree at some point and time we can use a "emotional response"! its like the "fight or flight" response. I know for me since day 1 of surgery my "mind or thinking" changed "instantly"! it was as if the switch for food was flipped off! especially for me wrong foods. I give HI 5's to those still with kids at home, cooking and dealing with those pressures day to day. my kids are married. we have been empty nesters for 8 yrs now..I remember them days like they were yesterday. here I go again with the chatter box! anyways we are all here to cheer and to relate what has worked and what not works! great place to come for help and "sincere" input!!

it took me several wks to "realize" my full point or actually "comfortable" point. then stop. I had to put my fork down chew chew chew and then "get a sense" of how my tummy was literally feeling. I am 8 months PO and still go through this routine. usually I am safe with less then 6 small bites at a sitting. for the first 3 or 4 months I only got in 3 or 4 bites. take your time. I went through several meals where I over did it also boy was it uncomfortable!! I never have threw up but I sure fought it a time or 2! its a learning process...slow down! do the take a bite and put utensil down...that was the habit I stick with..

everyones differant thats for sure..I have hashis..Im on armour for thyroid. 1 side of thyroid is dead and shriveled up the other is enlarged..I was going back on forth from hypo to hyper...now stable on ty med..increasing my calories with non ff items and mainly proteins have worked for me. my plan is more ketogenic with high protein...so far so good. I feel for us with sluggish metabolisms . the ff/low fat/sf diet is what got myself where I was but this isn't the case for everyone though. have you had a complete thyroid panel done lately? I get mine done throughout the yr...just throwing this out there not for sure it'll help or not. I understand the physical limitations I struggle with several autoimmune diseases including fibro it can be brutal some days. I noticed you said a sf/ff greek yogurt? I have been settling for the chobani greek it was the lowest on sugar per serving organic and I eat the kroger carbmaster brands their really good. the chobani is what I make the hubs protein shakes/smoothies out of. I'll have one here and there but barely theres to much sugar for me. the only fruit I keep on hand handy is the green grapes their easy to have. Do you use MFP? maybe start using it again to add up everything and kinda see where your at? maybe? IDK...Im sure you are...just throwing that out there..do you think maybe cutting out the rice cakes even though you dont eat often might make a differance in not such a struggle? I can't have grains or white processed items they were my worst enemy for me. another suggestion thats all...congrats on maintaining I hope I'm as successful as you are! thats wonderful! keep us posted

honey I remember going through what seemed to be the longest month of my life. I did it! I understand. its normal. it gets better I promise each day that passes.after my 2nd wk I would bust into tears like I did going through PP depression. my hormones were everywhere. it passes. hang in there. I was several wks before I was able to get all required fluids. I ordered differant brands of proteins I wasted alot of money kinda (hubs drinks it now).. I added a teas of unflavored in soup, hot tea, coffee, yogurt etc...even if it was just a bite here an there I had protein mixed in with it. as far as shakes I drank the pure protein shakes..high protein very low in sugar/carbs if any...I bought so many brands I was stocked and threw alot out! theres a brand of flavored powders assortment that I bought that was full of protein but didnt taste like protein and they are really good. maybe someone else might know what I am talking about my kitchen pantry goods are packed up we are remodling so it looks like Im moving! sip sip sip away! dont beat yourself up. just stay hydrated and drink sips all day long...Im sorry your having some depression. I suffer from MDD and others I went through this as well. hang in there. your at the right place..I was questioning myself at the end of the 4 wks "what the h*** have I done?" then it vanished!! after the head games and the brain went through the withdrawls I was sooo happy I went through this. it has changed my life like nothing else ! its soo worth it! xx

I am 8 months PO and I still only get about 4 or 5 tiny bites in. I was still getting about 3 or 4 at 4 months on! dont push it. I had days that food was not appealing and I took a few bites anyways. solids were differant then liquids for me. I was doing shakes , small yogurt as in just a few bites at a time, few spoons of soup for 4 or 5 months. I don't push it and I have not even had a NUT visit since having surgery. I had a protocol print out of diet with limits on portion sizes we went over and that was it. Im 8 months and still only get it in maybe 6 small bites depending on what we're having. I control my portions. BW has come back perfect. I was buying the protein drink mixes also so I would get my protein even if I was drinking it and I bought unflavoured protein powder and I would add a teas in everything! whether it was hot tea coffee, pudding, yogurt soup etc...you get the idea!

the dr's are looking out for you! I went through the second guessing myself clear up to the end of the 4th wk PO!!! yes I did!! But I wouldn't trade it for nothing now!! it works! my GERD started improving after the 4th month. I took nexium until. now I'm off..I pop a rolaids when I need something now which isnt often. I hope you get feeling better..Iv had over a dozen surgerys over the yrs major surgerys. this was the best! ou'll thank yourself months from now. but its your decision..do what you need to do for you.. keep us posted!

here!! I go through spurts! I'm 8 months PO and some days are worse then others

I totally agree @JamieLogical. It is VERY valid to discuss the whys and why nots. What I do NOT understand here is who the OP has such a beef against (besides me, for reasons I am also unclear on). What is ridiculous about the process? I am genuinely curious. Is it the the approval process? If so, is she railing against her employer who chooses the insurance package or the insurance company whom she also seems to be defending when she states that someone (I am not clear who) is just "trying to get money from" them via the process. Who exactly is making her feel "like a lab rat"? Is it the doctor? The insurance company? The process? Again, I have no problem with discussing why someone would or would not go through this process. I have discussed and debated this topic many times and like I stated earlier, I support anyone/everyone who makes this decision no matter what they conclude. That said, there are a lot of highly inflammatory accusations in the original post as well as name calling and rude behavior from the OP in subsequent posts. I disagree that it "took a bad turn" as I think it started out that way. Perhaps I simply misunderstood the OP's original intent in her initial post but I certainly think she cleared up any misunderstanding there might have been in her follow up. She proved me right, in my opinion. @@LipstickLady I'm with you on this..If I had made the decision NOT to go through this why not just stay off this site? and be over it? Im starting to think something was said maybe or denied bc of maybe not meeting the criteria? IDK...or maybe fear did get the best . I wish them the best..:/

@@alwaysvegas your comment was exactly what I wanted to cover. I was up to over 12 dx's..I am 51 and I understand. My life I feel like has been given back to me I wished to goodness I could have done this on my own but the 30 some yrs proved that it was impossible for me and that this was my time! denial and fear of being FORCED to make these types of lifestyle changes for LIFE can and definitly scare some to just stay the path their on . I had my scarey moments but I knew I was stronger then my fears I had to shut their mouth up lol !! (so da speak) ty for your comment.

wow...I don't even know where to start. the "process" to find out whether or not a person is emotionally, psychologically, mentally able to go through the life saving change this type of "tool" gives a person is "necessary". its NOT for EVERYBODY. wasting 30 plus yrs of my life in a fat suit and yo yo dieting only to be short lived and regain 10 20 pds more @ time I lost does more harm on the body then good. the words my hubs said to me was " it takes courage and bravery to reach out for help when obviously all other avenues have been exhausted". ones who have exhausted all other avenues this is a wonderful tool the rest is up to us personally to follow it. its like any other diet out there ppl still have to follow a strict protocol in order to succeed in losing and then maintain. this tool makes you relearn the limits. thyroid disease hashis and insulin resistance made it impossible for me. everybody is differant in circumstances. I was in the system for 3 months from start to finish and I was on cloud 9 that I was only out 150.00...ins paid 100%. to me that was a blessing! I don't understand the thinking on your comment on the ins and getting money(I'm not sure the exact wording that was used) but anyway...the process is particular. a person has to meet the proper criteria in order to even be approved medically by dr's , the mental evaluations going through the educational classes..I put in everything I had to get everything out of this experiance and relearn in what it will take to be successful. Im sad that you had this attitude ..this process sure does let a person realize if its definitly for them personally or not...its hard work ! its the toughest thing I have ever done in my life . wish you the best...best thing I did for me and my family. adios!

my heart goes out to you...SMH :/

girl..I didn't read everyone's comments but just what I have read what you posted to me in MY opinion you can take it for what its worth and I might add I was in a marriage that even though my x wasn't controlling but he made little comments throughout our 20 yrs of so called marriage (which was 1 sided relationship) he ALREADY had no respect and a true love for me as a person and he made the comments to me that he "would LIKE to be able to see my ribs" after giving him 2 beautiful kids I actually felt the guilt and shame and I internalized and it really took a toll on me as how I viewed myself. it took yrs believe me for me to open my eyes to what was going on with HIM. I'm not suggesting ANYTHING but I had alot of MEDICAL issues that PREVENTED me to keep weight off and I yoyo'd for 35 yrs or so! it made HIM feel good to put in them nudges so da speak. I accepted him I was committed to him for life until everything blew up in his face. sounds like to me he truly has issues even with himself I don't intend to judge plz don't take this the wrong way I don't even want to sound like I'm attacking thats NOT what I want to accomplish here, but If I was in your shoes you already can't "seem" to win for losing if you know what I mean in your relationship. I would take your money and invest it in yourself and get my feet back on the ground with or without his blessing or support! your miserable if you don't and it will change your life for the best believe it or not! then time will tell what he decides to do. I have known a few men like that over the yrs. there is hardley ever anything a women can do to please a man like that (Im sorry men!! Im not saying this is all men I know theres a lot of good men so plz don't take offensive) but I was married to a man that in his mind "he THOUGHT he was trying to impress others" he was off his rocker! the mind set he had was NOT right. do yourself a favor and love yourself. I don't know if you both have tried couples therapy ..we tried it and he wasn't willing to make the needed adjustments in his head and EVERYTHING that was wrong with his reactions to ME was all my fault! uhh NOT! have you had a complete thyroid panel including the reverse and I mean ALL thyroid panel? I hope I have helped you in some way or other. If money is not the issue here go and do the best thing you can do for yourself and yea you will hear all the negative garbage and cunning cutting down remarks but ya know sounds like he is already been doing that and its not going to change and it will only beat you down that much more...I really hope you guys can work thru this but sometimes a women has to do what we need to do with or without others support! keep us posted! I would do it again in a heartbeat!

awww thanks everyone! the downloading part last night was having a tantrum..lol..didn't want to work! so by midnight last night I was going down fast I had another post written (I was windy as in talkative mood) last night and low and behold after typing all that and finally understanding how to do the pics the system just wouldn't cooperate! lol so I did a simple post to see if it would just before I closed up and it did! I just dropped in quickly to see whats new gotta leave to run some errands its dang cold outside again! had a dr app got there and ALL my cards, DL, INS, etc..was NOT in my pocket! talk about lost! came home I hid it all from myself in another purse pocket! hate when I do that without realizing what I do! I'll be back later tonight I appreciate the kind words and comments! I still wear 14 in pants and believe it or not even when I was 110 pds I never wore below a 9/10..yea that good ole "child bearing inherited hips"! as my lonnnnnng ago ob/gyn dr said to me in my teens! ugh...just what a teen wants to hear..you have child baring hips...but..it is what it is! so it will shock the pants off me if I do end up wearing smaller then 9 and ya know I really don't care! whatever happens happens! I do "see" a younger look in appearance (others have said the same thing to me) I wish my insides felt like it..getting there! pain is getting more manageable and I do keep my dr app's for everything going on inside...thanks again! catch up with y'all later!

hang in there on that stall! mine lasted 3 to 4 wks but it will move!! Ive steadily continued until now! I am trying to figure out how to post pics this isn't easy although it would if I knew what I was doing! lol..

I read SOME of the thread and not all...I remember what I went thru the first 4 wks. I just kept it to myself. my mind was SCREAMING for a bite of a juicey burger or a bite of pizza! I had the thought going thru my mind " what have I done?!" this is what my surgeon told me some DO go through! I no I hit the "like" on a few comments and I did so bc I can relate to what your feeling or thinking?and I also at the same time KNEW what I had to do to get thru that mental thinking. (you wouldnt have typed it if you didn't mean it, right?) I understand. he told me this first 4 wks are the toughest! and it was for me! going through my preop psych classes yes they addressed this also! some think of this and just don't say anything ..like I didn't. deep down I knew I did the right thing I just had to push through it! its a road with bumps and then there is POT HOLES!!! but the "NORMAL" protions that you mentioned thats what got me soo fat and then on this website! everything is king size anymore. well maybe not everything but the "normal" portion sizes that we really should be eating if I ate them to begin with (alot smaller portions then what is served) just maybe I wouldnt have been almost 300 pds. I lived in TX for 20 yrs..believe me EVERYTHING is BIG in TX! lol...best food and thats where you can really eat to your heart's content. (just a figure of speach)..theres alot of great suggestions on what I did read. spring is offically sprung!! winters are hard. you've been through a drastic physical change. the mind is really pushing you for the junk its craving. it did me! but shortly after that 4th wk it was gone. my cravings disappeared! it does get better! hang in there! you did a wonderful thing. stick to your protocol! you have to do your part. drink your water get your protein. take some deep breaths. call your NUT if you need to. after that 4th wk was over I flipped to the other side..seeing others eat like I used to make me disgusted with food choices I was seeing others eat! while others were bringing mountains of salads from the bar I just sat and played on my phone looking like I was busy and I just really had to focus on my choice and dealt with it. I really had to work hard at not crinkling my nose at others piles of food. that was definitly NOT portion control! now I am in total control and it works! pretty soon as long as you do your part them numbers will keep going in the right direction more often then not! hang in there! summer is on its way!! xx

theres alot of factors that can influence numbers. but you can expect 50 to 80% ...I was down 80 some by the 6 month mark. I am 8 months an over 100 now. I used to obsess on the numbers on the scale I had to stop! I watch it but not as bad as I was! I just follow my plan and it works! May will be my 10 month and I go to chk in...

@@TammyDTM hi there..I still take plaquinil. I have only used the pred maybe less then 2 wks in the last 11 months (if my memory is correct) I have been scared to take it bc of the weight issue. thats just me. so I use alternative methods of pain management. the plaquinil helps termendously. Im no hurry to stop it bc I went thru a few months recently (within 4 months) that I was doing well to remember to get my second dose in. I was only getting 1 in its 200mg and man I was in soo much pain I couldnt hardly move got like the tin man! I thought geezzz I am in a bad flair! well it was bc I was only getting in half of my dose. I had to put them both out where I could see what I needed to take thru the day and I started feeling much better! I also changed from pill form on the D3 to organic liquid it has made a TOTAL differance! my swallowing solids is getting harder and harder. but the liquid is doing so much better. Iv been on pill form D for yrs but there was too many fillers and it wasnt affective..now its doing wonders! I stopped the pill form magnesium those are horse pills lol! they were impossible to swallow! I ordered pure magnesium oil and spray that on my muscles or feet or where ever and OMGoodness! what a differance! I have soo much more stamina energy yet at the same time I still pace myself...I do get really fatigued on exertion and I mean when I have my really good days I go and go and go and then I it hits me I have to recover. thats just the life of autoimmune..ugh..but over all I feel the best now despite some of the diseases. I feel more in remission now or milder in symptoms then I have in 15 yrs! I do keep pred and robaxin (muscle relaxer) on hand for emergency if I get desperate but I haven't used them. I see my kinesiologist 2 to 3 x a month get a message the same day total diet change organic as much as possible and grass fed meats if all possible. I have stopped my nexium few months back only need a rolaids occassionally I took nexium for yrs! I do take folic acid and biotin there really tiny so I can swallow them pill form still. I do take armour thyroid I will for life. I am glad you found me! this has been the decision I ever did (except for breast reduction 15 yrs ago) lol...your on the right road. but I believe some things can be controlled with the right foods and I mean by eating a non flammatory diet. night shade veggies promote inflammation as well. google. when you get to the point where you have more options of foods and can tolerate you will be able to see a differance. I am 8 months PO and my treat has been a piece of the 70% organic chocolate with coconut. thats my thing. I break off a square which is tiny and Im good! I have lost consistantly 1.5 to 3 pds a wk...you do have something to look forward to! although us lupies are at differant disease degrees. I do have kidney involvment , and several other organ issues but Im stable and really feeling so much better and I know the plaquinil is helping. I dont care to stay on it. but my meds have went down indeed! taking more then alternative route now days as much as possible. hang in there!!

this was major surgery...my internist told me it takes about months for tummy to heal. your body is using most everything to heal. it took me 6 months to start getting my strength back, literally. its going to take time. its a process. keep up the fluids and Protein as much as possible. pace yourself if its possible. hang in there..

when I was ready for yogurt we get the carbsmart at krogers. everything else had to much sugar. when the carbsmart is out of stock my next choice is chobani the plain. as far as drinks I buy a water enhancer at a healthy living market that has stevia as the sweetner. comes in a few flavors. I also kept organic regular juice around and dilute 50/50 that was me I diluted a little more then my program called for. otherwise I drank and still do caffeine free ice tea and I use stevia . In the protein shakes I tried so many the only one brand that didnt hurt my tummy and wasnt to sweet to me was the pure protein shakes. has many flavors. very few carbs I know it has a differant artificial sweetner but I put up with that sweetner for a few months till I was able to handle more solids. it took me almost 3 or so months....many days I didnt care to just drink. my shakes were accounted for fluids so I was getting both in. hope this helps..

CONGRATS!!!! your on your way!!! happy for ya! it'll go fast now...get prepared

I forgot to mention..diabetic..resolved. off of nexium now for almost 3 months. relearning when to stop eating and actually having a full feeling took a few wks , its a learning process. I didnt get fat the first 30 yrs or so by NOT stuffing my face when I wanted to. I used food to fill many emotional and psychological needs. when you get your tummy size a baby size it doesnt hardly take much to get full. and thats all I need. I take liquid pure vitamins and minerals and I had a complete BW panel a few wks ago and it was perfect. My iron and ferratin had actually way improved since this change! anemia issue I had all my life..way above. do I have my lupus, polymyalgia, fibro , hashi and the list of dx's? heck yea. but they are under control better now more then ever. My D3 went from a 6 to 100! better pain management. I use topical pure magnesium oil and what a differance as well. just the changes I made and its worked for me. everyone is differant. when the tummys smaller less food...less food results in weight loss! believe me it works! I'm done...I thought these were important enough to mention I wanted to share...

I really am afraid to say much bc I don't wanna tell anyone else yay or nay but me personally I got to the point where I was sick and tired of being trapped in a fat suit and it constantly weighing me down. I had been on every diet known to man and I had already wasted 35 or so yrs of my life trying I refused to to waste another minute! I had been thru talk therapy for 10 yrs and the diseases of dx's had hit over 12 I was willing to make the necessary changes I needed to make to be a better person mentally and emotionally bc for me my weight I carried around made me miserable and depressed! I had internally negative self talk myself and therefore used food for comfort and it was a visious cycle. 2 yrs ago I got off the eating myself into comfort frenzy got answers to some underlying food addictions reasons for eating and turned things around myself got off processed sugars and bad choices and still coulndt lose a pd when only consuming less then 600 or so calories a day. I had thought about WLS 15 yrs ago but never dreamed I was BIG enough in my own mind for Ins to pay for it. I never did see myself mentally as a big person boy was I in denial! hitting the scale at my highest at almost 275 2 of my specialist talked to me that the benefits OUTWEIGH the risk and the surgeon they both recommended he was the best in this tristate area death rate is less then 0.16% (or less) I was like man getting my life back at 50 yrs old an elliminating some diseases I could get around alot better less meds being alive and able to do things more with my hubs and grandkids my kids and me being proud of myself for making the needed changes and eating to live and not living to eat...life has a whoke NEW meaning for me. depression is gone I can't stop smiling Im in a happier place mentally emotionally and not to mention buying a heck of lot smaller and cuter clothes!! cleaned out my closet now 3 times!! best thing I have ever did for ME!! yea I was scared as hell 2 wks before the questions going thru my head you start to double questioning yourself believe me!! been there done that! I was approved within 48 hrs and in surgery within 14 days and that was only bc I needed a wk before to prepare myself physically. this is a tough lifestyle change...but when a person has reached their breaking point and is ready believe me you'll know it!! I was WAYYYY past ready!! my life is now beginning even though I have already raised my kids and their gone married with families of their own. some need to do this to be able to be the best they can be while young and rasing their families. that wasnt my time. the past 5 yrs was the worst for me and the biggest I got. I refused to live that life any longer. I only told 3 ppl...my hubs, and 2 Bff's..not even my parents . I am 8 months PO and still know one else know's theres enough neg thoughts and opinions and I wasnt about to hear them. my decision and fortunatly my hubs is my number one fan and biggest supporter! whatever I chose he backed me up. I am over 100 pds down and its an amazing feeling!! I hope this helps ya but this is my journey. first month is hard...especially mentally and emotionally it was for me. you go thru head hunger withdrawls. some have it maybe some don't. my surgeon warned me. if you can get thru the first month you have it made. he was right on target with me! I would do it again in a heart beat!! Best wishes ...