BobbyD

At sixty-two, my hair is taking a beating. I actually got a short haircut yesterday because of all the "fallout". So there might be something to the idea of, it's harder on the more mature folks. I am using conditioners but holding off on Biotin. Maybe I'll try the Telly Savalas look in a few weeks.

People told me to shop second hand stores till I stabilized but I tend to learn better through experience. I lost inches at a different rate than weight this time and I breezed from 42's to 36's in around a month. Therefore, I purchased a pair of 40x30 jeans that haven't even been worn yet as well as a pair of 38's.. Hmm....I'm thinking "I WILL NEVER LOSE PAST 36's", but I've been proven wrong before.

For the first time since my surgery (three months) I tried going to a buffet style restaurant. I was sensible and only got broccoli, green Beans and baked fish, thinking this would work. I was so enamored by the look and smell of the steamed broccoli, that I ate it immediately, (disregardeding my training of EAT Protein FIRST). Granted, I consumed it too fast. Then I had a bite or two of green beans. Thinking for a second and realizing I was getting that "feeling" I decided to have a few bites of fish. It stuck at the top of my tum tum. I was done. In other words, it was a disaster. I was sick for the next two hours, with fish oozing back up into my throat and making me sick. I learned a hard lesson last night. Protein first, and I'm not ready for buffet's yet, maybe ever.

I walk when I could drive, I take stairs when I could take an elevator, I use the elliptical while watching househunters, I walk the dogs. My goal is 10,000 steps a day (usually getting around 6-7000) 20 minutes on the elliptical ( many times only getting 15) 10 minutes on the weights (most times 6 minutes) and walking the dogs around the neighborhood (if it's warm enough). When I miss one I try to make it up on the other. I like choices.

I was sleeved in November, normally working outside and not paying much attention to myself. Yesterday however, I was at a meeting and doing a lot of note-taking. As I was writing I noticed my fingernails had ridges, all of them. It wasn't bad but definitely noticeable. I looked it up on the internet and it said not to worry, but possibly a lack of certain Vitamins. I am taking all the bariatric vitamins suggested by the NUT. Is there more to the story?

All I know is he got the part that made me hungry!!

For the last couple of weeks I've been substituting a mid-day meal with a Quest Protein Bar. Everything I read on them was positive until lately. It has minimal sugar and 20 g of protein, so I thought it was perfect for my 30 minute lunch break. Easy, healthy and no cleanup. While it looks good on paper, since I have started this new lunch experience I have NOT lost a single pound! I am still staying just under a 1000 calories a day, walking 6000 steps and living actively. Am I just in a stall or are Quest Protein Bars part of the issue?

I have had a steady drop in lbs since my surgery in November. Nothing too drastic, just methodical. A couple of times I have gone 3 to 4 days without moving the needle, but this time has been 11 days. Does 11 days of non-movement constitute a stall? I understand we are supposed to "embrace the stall" and I am fully trusting the overall plan. I just wondered what the general consensus was about defining the stall. At what point do you consider a lack of scale movement an actual stall?

Am I eating too little? too much? not enough real food? Please "weigh in" (pardon the pun). 6:30 AM Premier Protein Drink 160 calories 30 g protein 7:15 AM Water 16 oz 0 0 8:45 AM Water 16 oz 0 0 10:30 AM Yogurt Dannon Greek Lite 80 calories 12 g protein 11:15 AM Water 16 oz. 0 0 12:45 PM Egg boiled 70 calories 6 g protein 1:45 PM Quest Protein Bar 170 calories 20 g protein 3:00 PM Propel Vitamin Drink 16 oz 0 0 5:00 PM Yogurt Dannon Greek lite 80 calories 12 g protein 7:00 PM Water 16 oz 0 0 8:30 PM chicken breast/ 400 calories 25 g protein black beans/broccoli Totals 80 oz 960 calories 105 g protein. This is REAL CLOSE to what I am doing daily, sometimes eating tuna salad for lunch instead of a protein bar, and having different varieties for supper. What do you think?

I am doing this wrong. It might be from years of low self esteem, but I'm not getting the warm fuzzies from these comments. I am not used to being able to accept compliments and I don't know how to do it properly . Yesterday was a breakthrough experience. I was wearing new clothes that fit, and all day long at school (I teach) I was receiving compliments such as "Wow, Bobby, you're looking great, how are you doing it?" My reply would ALWAYS be something like," aww, its nothing 12,000 dollars can't accomplish," or immediately say, "I had gastric sleeve surgery", as if that was the entire story. No wonder people were looking at me strangely and just going "0h!" and walk on. I set myself up for it , and then was frustrated when they didn't continue to be impressed. I need therapy for sure. I had to diminishi my part in this and believe you me, it hasn't been a walk in the park. I don't know, rather than skew it one way or the other, I don't know why I can't just be forthright and honest.

When I started this journey I was in 3X shirts. A short 3.5 months later and I am in a Large shirt. It makes the stall seem less significant.

Stories like this keep me real. Thank you for sharing. I KNOW I am doing good, but little things are creeping in early. I used to have a pickle for the 'crunch". Now guess what? Three pickles. Not much right? Well, also my omelet at night has gone from one egg to two. I'm having a Jello that's only 10 calories, but I'm not bothering to log it.(or the pickles.) Its little things but I'm only 3 months out. What about later. I know I can't be so strict that I say "to hell with it all" but I must keep vigilant. I didn't pay 10,000 dollars out of my own pocket just to set myself up for failure ONE MORE TIME. It's all good, just keeping it honest.

I guess I am fortunate. I can eat almost anything. I have a hard time with tuna fish salad because early on, I tried to eat a double portion. I brought it to work and didn't want to waste it (old thinking). So other than overdosing on that, I can tolerate anything in moderation. If anything, I find myself eating too fast. I need to learn to SLOW DOWN, chew 20 times, and then swallow. I have felt really stuffed, but haven't thrown up since week 1. I am almost 3 months out.

Don't get me wrong. I AM GRATEFUL for my new life. However, I was told by my surgeon that his price was all inclusive. Now I self payed, scraped scratched, borrowed and suffered financially in order to get the money paid. Now, I keep on getting bills, one from the surgeon and another from the hospital from the day of the surgery. I am a bit frustrated as it adds up to another 500 bucks. It doesn't sound like all that much, but I'm already 11,000 into this and was orginally told 10,000 max. Should I protest, or just suck it up and realize it was the best decision I could have made?

It all depends on your personality. I for instance, am too easily swayed by those choices. I wish I had more self control, but I've chosen to learn from past experiences. I'll be forced to change some situations that I used to normally enjoy. No more "all you can eat buffet's, as the temptation is too great, no more going to the pizza Hut because my willpower will eventually fail me. Maybe not the first time or even after that, but EVENTUALLY I WILL BREAK DOWN. I always have. The sleeve didn't change that. I must change inside, and at 3 months out, I am going to hold off on temptations. That being said, I WILL try a cruise (next year)

Believe it or not, I really like Kosher baby dill pickles. They are flavorful and crunch. Give me all the things I need to get through with only 5 or so calories per pickle

I had been on a constant Quest to maintain a healthy weight since I was 20 years old. I began gaining at about 17. This life long battle has seen me balloon up and diet back down many times in my life culminating in 5 major transformations. (40 lbs or more). Every time I thought I had lost the weight for good. Every time my weight came back, usually in 6 months or so. At around 55 years old I decided the battle was futile and I'd just be satisfied with "the way God made me". That was the point my weight really got away from me. At 61 years old, instead of being overweight at 240, I had ballooned to 270 and moving on up. At 275 I KNEW I was in trouble. I had sleep apnea, had been on crutches twice in 6 months due to knee issues, pre diabeted, elevated blood pressure, and general depression. Because my BMI was only 39.5, my insurance wouldn't cover, but I made the decision to self pay. Like my regular doctor said (he had the surgery as well), it's like a car payment. It was the best decision I EVER made.

I can easily drink the Premier Protein shakes. I drink one religiously every morning. Around mid afternoon or a bit earlier, I indulge in a Quest bar. With these two supplements I have reached 50 grams of protein. It makes it much easier to hit my goals with this help. Luckily for me, I like both products. food wise, I am consuming lots of tuna, chicken, boiled eggs, and black Beans, to reach the remainder of my protein goal.

It might be my yo-yoing, maybe my age, but whatever, this time around I have loose skin. When I was 25 and lost weight, everything popped back into place. When I was 45, pretty much the same. The three times in between, ditto. However, this time, at 62 it seems like the relentless hands of time have stepped in. I have quite a bit of flabby excess around my belly, extra skin under my chin and neck. It's a small price to pay for health and a chance to keep this off permanently, but it is indeed a consequence. Another issue I am having this time, is a significant amount of muscle loss. I am trying to exercise in order to minimize the loss, but it is happening. I am getting my Protein and Vitamins in, and consuming 900-1000 calories a day, so maybe I need to up my weight training. I have been focusing on walking and the elliptical these past few weeks.

I get it from my own family members who know how hard I've fought this battle. "DON'T GET TOO THIN" they say. They are the very same ones that said "I wish we could do something for Bobby, He's sooo heavy and can't seem to lose weight". I have told them that my surgery was well thought out AND irreversable, so I will get smaller yet. I fully realize they are going to say thing like 'You look Gaunt" or "Your face is soo drawn". My solace is that I feel so darn good now, with no CPAP machine, working knees, great sleep, good sugar numbers, good blood pressure, that I will accept the concern and try to help them understand. I like what has been said, that people who never knew us would think we look just fine.

I know ME. I am afraid to get into the "crap" game. Twice I have felt like crap because I over-ate on tuna salad, (a double portion because I didn't want to waste it,,,, uhh yea, right) and bbq pork burnt pork tips,,,, oooh soooo gooood. I am just concerned that once I start having that first handful of chips, or samples of Cookies that I will be off and running. That is so much of a predictor of my past behavior that I am not willing to chance it at this point. Maybe there will be a day I can do it, but for now, I'm going to do my best not to put myself in that situation.

My doctor asked for my word to never drink alcohol, smoke, or drink carbonated drinks. He said he prided himself on a very high long term success rate, and those issues caused him issues in the past. Therefore, I should not drink, smoke, or have cokes ANYMORE. I still cuss a little.