blashlee

I think when doctors and plans say no "snacking," they don't want you mindlessly eating or eating between meals when you aren't hungry. I've discussed with my doctor that I eat pretty frequently but I treat everything I eat like a meal. I sit down to eat it, I eat until I'm full and then I move away from it. I don't eat between Breakfast and lunch just because a clock makes me feel like I should. I eat when I'm hungry. Which is disturbingly frequent LOL

I don't know that you can safely use two birth control methods unless one of them is a physical prophylactic like a condom, diaphragm, or cervical cap. You can't take the pill AND use an IUD, you'll introduce too many hormones to your system. Unless the IUD is hormone free. I think you're ok with just the IUD. I have one and haven't managed to get pregnant yet (as I intend it to be for awhile!) and I don't use a secondary method because I'm in a monogamous LTR.

Went to my doctor yesterday for my 3 month post op visit. So far all's well. I've been cleared for pretty much all foods except for steak and pork, which come in month 6--i'm not much for either, so I'm not really worried about that. I'm down 77 lbs total, including my preop which started in January. My BMI is down to 30.4 (almost out of the obese ranges!), my body fat % is down over 20% from my first weigh in. I've been slowly gaining muscle (woo hoo!) each month. Having an easier time getting my liquids and Protein down everyday. So far no complications, no complaints, and no regrets!

She's definitely jealous. "Why don't men talk to me?!" That's your indicator right there. I don't have any friends that are "jealous" of my weight loss per say, and if they are they're not very open about it like your friend seems to be. However, I have had to deal with a friend who seemed to want to sabotage my efforts until I put her into check. I've been the "fat friend" forever. I've always been heaviest in the bunch, and therefore a non-threat to others. I've always been the friend who's down to go out to eat, or go out for something decadent. I can't be that friend anymore. When I started my WLS journey my friend would constantly want to go out and eat, and usually invited me to places where I couldn't eat anything. She doesn't want to share food with me (my other friends are more than happy to split meals because they know I can't finish anything on my own), and not only will she not share, she doesn't even finish her food! She's also disabled and she's been constantly asking me to make food runs and deliveries for her because I live pretty close by. I finally just had to check her one day. Maybe it was intentional, maybe she's just selfish as all get out, but I had to just let her know that inviting me to restaurants that aren't the healthiest options, asking me to pick up junk food for her, etc are all behaviors that are unsupportive to my weight loss journey. I don't think you should necessarily confront her unless she says or does anything thats outwardly hurtful or makes any attempts at standing in your way. If that happens, you need to check her and fast. Otherwise, it sounds like she's got a whole of her own soul searching to do. She needs to figure out why she's jealous of you and why she's so insecure, because her insecurities and jealousy aren't YOUR fault. You're just doing your thing to be healthy and happy and if she's your friend, she should be okay with that.

food addiction is a real thing. Your carb is someone's cigarettes. They quit and go without them for awhile, then they smell a cigarette or take a drag from one, next thing you know they're buying a pack (Chandler Bing FTW). It's hard. When I do eat carbs such as bread or Pasta, I feel an urge to keep eating them. So now I just try to avoid them all together as much as I can because it's a slippery slope. I agree with what @@MariaElena1983 said. Fill up on your Proteins first and then you won't have any room for carbs. I dunno about anybody else, but carb rich foods make me feel really really full in a bad way.

Sweating to death while I dry/straighten my hair. Having to stuff my body into shapewear and then have said shapewear clipped to my bra to stop it from rolling. Needing help with buckling my shoes because they're too tight. Bra extender. Needing to basically marinate my body in Icy/Hot or Tiger Balm after a workout because my joints hurt so bad. Untagging myself in unflattering photos after an event LOL Dont miss these things.

Make sure that they are all actual meals and that the other 2 aren't "Snacks." And also, eat them on a schedule when you're actually hungry or getting hungry, not just because they exist and you were told to eat them. Somedays (especially after a good workout) I am starving and feeling hungry many times a day. Other days (rest days usually) I'm not that hungry and normally eat maybe twice, with a string cheese or a yogurt in between to stop me from having any headaches. You're grazing when you run to your fridge, take a bite or two of something and then go away...then return 15 minutes later to do the same thing. If you're sitting down and focused on a balanced meal, comprised mostly of Protein, and you're treating it like a meal, then it's a meal.

I don't want to sound like a whiner LOL. I am incredibly happy and proud of myself for my weight loss and I thank the heavens above and feel incredibly blessed that I've been given this opportunity to improve (and extend) my quality of life. BUT. I don't like all the newfound "attention" that comes with the slimdown. At work, people who wouldn't have been able to identify me by name without seeing me are all of a sudden super interested in speaking to me, asking me about my weight loss, watching me eat and complimenting me. It is nice to be complimented, but I have to say, it's kind of showing me how superficial people can be. Why weren't you interested in talking to me or befriending me when I was heavy? My personality hasn't changed. I'm still goofy, ridiculous, and ever so slightly sarcastic and sassy... I suppose perhaps because this is all so new to me. I've never lost a substantial amount of weight, and certainly not since I've worked here. I'm pretty close to whatever I weighed in my later years of high school, so most people I associate with now have never seen me at this size. I guess it's new to all of us. Maybe I'll get more comfortable with it as I get further out and have maintained the weight loss for awhile, but for now, all the increased attention and interest in me and my body and my weight loss and my diet are just flatout annoying LOL I guess it's not a terrible problem to have...?

I certainly don't because I've walked in their shoes and I'll never forget what it felt like.

Aside from the sugars that can be in corn or peas, corn doesn't break down in your system. Corn is one of the only foods that goes down whole and comes out pretty whole. I've had some corn since surgery but I make sure to chew it very very very well before swallowing, and very little. Usually just in salsa or guacamole or mixed into meat. Early out post op corn is dangerous because it can block your new stomach connection. I would avoid it for sure for a while.

I've had nuts, but only cashews. They're more "buttery" than most nuts so when you chew them there's hardly any crunch left. I eat them with cheese to keep things soft. It's technically a "no-no" for me also but sometimes I need something small to take a headache or craving away. Sometimes I need some crunch, soft foods can get really boring.

That makes sense. I never really felt like I lacked confidence being heavier but I have been told that I seem happier so that could be it. I'm ok with compliments and positive comments but all the nosiness and increased interest in my life feels very intrusive though. I think that's the part I'm bothered by most.

I was just gonna say, she better keep her guard up around the inmates LOL It's so true. People didn't give me the time of day when I was bigger. Men who did were simply into big girls. Or told me I was "pretty for a big girl" (my all time LEAST favorite thing anybody has ever said, and its been said more than once). I don't see me as different. I don't think I'm a different person. I certainly don't deserve any additional attention simply for being thinner. I was just as fun when I was fatter! When people ask for numbers and details, depending on who it is and my frame of mind that day, I either ask for their size and numbered details or let them know that it's inappropriate to ask that kind of stuff. People just don't know when to draw the line. I'm hoping it either dies down or i get used to it. I'm a very social person and I love people, but I hate talking to someone and in the back of my mind feeling "This person wanted nothing to do with me 75 lbs ago, wtf does she want now?" LOL

I eat carbs, but I also exercise quite heavily. I'm training for a half marathon, which is 4 runs a week, and I strength train 3-4 days a week and have gotten into lifting pretty heavy. If I don't eat enough and if I don't have carbs, my body doesn't have any energy and I get lightheaded. Which is dangerous when you're lifting heavy weights or out on a run outdoors. Do I eat white bread and potatoes and cake? No. I get my carbs from fruit, yogurts, granola and Quest bars. The occasional whole wheat tortilla or wrap, but mostly I don't eat "carby" stuff because it fills up my pouch and I don't have room for my Protein. And I get a general "I don't feel so good" feeling if I overload on carbs, especially not the good kind. WLS aside, a low carb, moderate fat, high protein diet has been proven to be the most effective for weight loss and weight maintenance. I plan to maintain a LC/MF/HP diet as much as possible until my doctor or nutritionist tells me otherwise because it's what's working for me.

Depending on the cut of the shirt, you may want to try different bra styles. A standard bra is fine under a regular tshirt or tank top but once you get into broader necklines, halters, racerbacks etc you definitely need a different bra style. Maybe try a strapless that has removable straps that you can wear in different styles?

Correct. I usually put mine in my coffee or tea, or yogurt/cottage cheese. You can also add it to hot food and liquid but it needs to be no hotter than 140F degrees. You can see it, but in my opinion, you can't taste it. I tried other "unflavored" Proteins and it gave my drinks a vitamin/medicine after taste that I couldn't stand.

Isopure zero carb unflavored. No taste. It does change the color of the liquid you put it in, but not the flavor.

The coconut one is too sweet for me. I like Apple Melon, Icy Orange and Alpine Punch. The more you drink them the more tolerable they become.

I swore off shopping during my pre-op. I was losing weight pretty quickly (down almost 50 lbs in 3 months) and knew it would just be a waste of money to buy any new clothes. So when the Lilly Pulitzer for Target collection launched, I didn't even wanna look at it because I knew I would shop. Well...that turned out not to even be an issue because before I even woke up that morning, the Target website had crashed and most stores looked like a tornado had come through and picked up all of the Lilly items. So I moved on with my life LOL I went to Target today for cleaning supplies, face wash, and a trash can. That was all. Of course, I had a Cartwheel for 15% off one of their brands of women's apparel, so I thought whats the harm in taking a look? Maybe I'll find a nice maxi dress to transition around in. I walk by the women's section and see a very familiar print of white and green. Could it be? No...there's no way...is that...that's a piece of Lilly Pulitzer for Target. I'd recognize that cheery print anywhere. It's a jumpsuit I had coveted when sneak peeks of the line started showing up online. I picked it up and found no flaws or marks or tears in it...how could this possibly be here?! I check the tag and it's a standard XL. Well, I usually need an XXL at Target, and that's not always a good fit. I usually have to go to their plus section and I almost never find anything. This item is not stretchy. And it has a zipper. At this moment, I am terrified. Me and zippers don't have a pleasant history. I take it to the fitting room, hang it up and examine it again. If it doesn't fit AND has a tear, then i'll feel better because I don't want a torn item anyway. There's not a single mark or tear. Suck it up Ashlee. Try it on. I put one leg in...I put the other leg in...I pull it up and it actually passes my hips. I take a deep breath (actually I sucked it in is what I did LOL) and pull it up the rest of the way. So far so good. But does it zip?? I reach behind me the best I can and pull up that tiny white zipper. And it stops. OMG. I KNEW IT. IT DOESN'T FIT. I turn around to see where i've stopped and lo and behold...i've zipped it all the way up. This thing fits. And not only does it fit, it fits damn good! It's a wee bit snug at my chest, which tells me I've got a little room to make so I can wear this thing out properly. Even though I've sworn off shopping, I absolutely cannot walk away without this item. According to the girl working the fitting room, a woman had returned the item last night and since they no longer have any of the collection in stock, there's no where to properly hang it. So it was mixed in with "similar" colored items. I wasn't even gonna go to this particular Target today, but I didn't feel like going to my usual Target closer to home. So if I had to analyze it, I'd say that the good lord above compelled that woman to return that jumpsuit and then led me to that store on purpose so that I could find it and realize that I have shrunk my way down to standard sizes! In the words of Ice Cube...today was a good day. PS if you read that whole story, you're my hero. Sometimes I feel like storytelling.

My IG is tinytummy_biglife

There are a lot of things at thai restaurants that aren't sweet. But that means you have to watch out for spicy :-\ I usually get chicken satay and ask for the peanut sauce on the side instead of on the chicken. Or a small order of tom yum or tom khar Soup

It happens. A loss is a loss. There've been weeks where I don't lose ANYTHING and then there's weeks where I lost 5 lbs. If you're not eating enough your body will hold onto fat for energy, you may be in starvation mode.

@@MamaDDDD "How do you do it!! LOL i just saw my doc the other day and he suggested branching out with soft foods and seeing what works yet every tine I chew something... And I CHEW CHEW CHEW it feels like I want to puke. One or two bites. So upsetting Has eating foods slowed your loss? Are you getting your fluids in?" I assume this was for me. Don't confuse how many foods I can eat with how MUCH i can actually eat. It's very little and sometimes it can be very frustrating, especially on a day where I'm behind on Protein or at a meal where I very much enjoy my food. I eat small things several times a day, but not actual meals unless I am physically hungry. I'm not usually very hungry until dinner time. Dinner is about a half cup of food or less, and I rarely finish a serving of anything. Everything i eat is soft. It takes me about 20 minutes to eat and I'm particular about how things are prepared. Veggies are overcooked, meats are mixed with some sort of low fat sauce or greek yogurt to keep them moist, and I cannot and do not eat and drink at the same time, it hurts and i get too full. I take small bites, and chew chew chew. Some foods haven't gone down as well. Anything too dry or too dense makes me feel yucky and sometimes it will come right back up. My weight loss is steady, I'm averaging about 3 lbs a week. It is slower than it was when I was fresh off the operating table and not eating, but that's of course because now I'm eating more. And I'm eating more because I'm also exercising A LOT. At least 5 days a week. Cardio and lots of weight training. My body needs food to run and lift weights. If I don't eat enough, I get headaches and dizzy sensations when I exercise, which is dangerous. After I exercise, I'm very very hungry. If you're getting in your liquids and protein and taking all of your Vitamins, technically your body can subsist on that alone. It is frustrating not to be able to eat, but don't push yourself. Try soft foods, try Soups and add Protein powder, try yogurts/cottage cheese and see how those things work. It's possible that maybe you dont like soft foods because of new texture issues. I have texture issues and some taste issues now that I've had surgery. I used to love boiled eggs. Now they make me wanna vomit.

I'm 10 weeks out. I eat a lot of yogurt, cheeses, chilli, hamburgers/turkey burgers with no bun, soft cooked veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, steamed carrots, cabbage, and mushrooms so far), sushi with no rice, cottage cheese, fruit, eggs (but i don't really like them so much ). I get chicken, black Beans and cheese from mexican restaurants/Chipotle. And soft grilled fish. I still am not supposed to have raw veggies and no fruit with a peel or anything that's very stringy. I can't have steak or pork/ham yet, but I do eat soft cooked bacon and turkey bacon.

How rude. Especially for a man to do to a woman. People think that commenting on your weight loss seems well-intended, but it can be really embarrassing and make you feel incredibly "on display." At least that's how I feel when someone brings it up in such a splashy way. You notice? Small compliment and move on. Don't ask for figures and sizes or anything of that, you're going too far.