MichelleInCA

Hi Chckadee80, great to hear from you. Congrats on your baby, and so sorry it was a rough time. I've been struggling - first no weight loss for nearly a year, and now slowly gaining. I'm freaked out! It's not meal times but compulsive snacking that is getting me. The odd things is I've been working out the most I ever have, 3-4 times a week at Orange Theory Fitness, a challenging 1-hour workout. So my pulse, BP, cholesterol, sugar, all that are fantastic. It's just the weight that is a bad metric, haha. I have a carb addiction right now - not binging, but enough sweets and carbs that it has turned the loss into a slow gain. I agree, the surgery doesn't cure the mental aspect. I thought I had that handled, but clearly not. I resisted the carbs for a year, then I started to falter. I'm glad your NUT helped you face reality. I don't have a NUT or any other support that I see regularly, and I haven't been back to my surgeon -- she is such a tough cookie, I don't want to face her! But I definitely need to get back to basics of logging and talking to someone. Your post has helped motivate me and I know someone I can start seeing. So I appreciate it and I look forward to hearing how it goes for you. 6 lbs in two weeks - I have never lost that quickly even right after surgery, so well done! It's not about perfection, but rather progress after all.

I'm at the same point as you, but I've been stalled for months! It's like this is my new set point or something. I too have carb struggles. Meals are fine, but it's those little snacks to get me through my workout or afternoon or boring work meeting... I've been upping my workout and trying to take the carb thing one day at a time. All we can do is keep trying!

Congrats on the pregnancy, that's wonderful! Let us know how it goes.

I've been stuck at about 70 lbs lost for quite a few months. I think I need a more aggressive exercise regimen. My work day is very sedentary. Trying to work up the courage for Cross Fit

Just back from vacation, and I managed to gain 3 lbs in 5 days, despite being very active. D'oh, time to face reality again! I hope you're doing okay. Regarding evening TV watching, I'm always net surfing on my laptop, so my hands are busy. I think I'd be obsessing about food otherwise, for sure.

I admire your honesty and how you're facing up to your triumphs and challenges., chickadee. I'm on vacation and have also been struggling with carbs for two days. Your post made me face that and I'm recommitting to it letting vacation be an excuse!

@chickade80 I live alone and Able to not keep temptations in my home. Also my closest friends are all doing low carb, cross fit, yoga, all that good stuff. If I came home to a fresh loaf of bread every day, I would have a really really hard time! So you have my admiration that you've been so successful in your situation. I hope the detox is going well!

Hi chicakdee80, I definitely get hungry, and I don't think it's only head hunger. I woke up starving at 4 this morning. I went back to sleep, of course, but the idea that this surgery ends hunger pangs isn't true for me. That lasted maybe a month after surgery. That's why I need a PM snack at work, or I can't think or get anything done. I also drink Water and SF gum, but it doesn't do the trick. So yeah, it's a struggle every day, and when I get by on 1/2 Protein bar I feel very proud of myself. You're not alone there. I also don't feel exercise has such a huge effect for me weight wise? Hmm. I feel much stronger and healthier, but I haven't seen a correlation between high-exercise weeks and weight loss. I don't know, it's sort of a mystery how it all fits. kpay10, wow, you have really blown the doors off this thing! Many congrats! I hope you're able to level off when you want to. Your pouch must be tiny - I can sure eat more than a few ounces at once. I can pound back a pretty large plate of cooked peppers and mushrooms for example! I bet your family and friends are amazed! If I can ask, how has your skin handled losing so quickly? I hear you about carbs. I added some low-glycemic index ones (eg a bit of sweet potato or 1-2 multi-grain pita chips) because my nut said it would help with hunger and exercise energy. I am also afraid to add many other carbs because of the craving cycle they might set off. OTOH I don't feel it has to be zero carbs. I seem to be able to tolerate a bit without going over the mental edge. I would also say that any given day, any one of us can start afresh. Yes, the further from the plan we've strayed, the harder it will be at first. But we've already shown how strong we are through this process. Just throwing in tiny bit of encouragement

Hi there! I've been thinking of you guys so much this month as well and wondering how you're doing, so thank you for posting an update! 98 lb is remarkable, and it's vital not to lose sight of that! Your profile pic looks amazing! If you're like me, you wouldn't have believed you could lose this much ever, never mind in less than a year! My loss has continued to be very slow. I just hit 70 lbs today, but honestly I'm okay with that. I lost almost no weight (maybe 5 lbs) from December - March. I had to take a hard look at what I was eating. My 3 meals were all (usually) on plan, but I was in denial about two things: I was using regular sugared coffee creamer (yes, I have to have coffee, sorry!) and my 'handful' of almonds in the afternoon was closer to a cup (500+ calories!!). So I switched to sugar free creamer and 1/2 a Protein bar in the afternoon, and the weight loss started again. Let's hope it keeps up. The main thing was I had such a blind spot about what I really taking in, I guess because I really really don't like sugar-free creamer. I've continued to increase my exercise also in hopes of kick-starting my pokey metabolism. I usually do 5 sessions per week now. I started doing a Body Pump class at my gym, which uses light weights and your large muscles. And my friends convinced me to try Bikram hot yoga -- 90 mins at 105 deg F. I've done it about 10 times. It's so friggin' hot, but somehow I really like it. I think the heat shocks my system, and the postures activate digestion and metabolism. I'm slowly gaining flexibility and strength in different muscles. It seems to be helping me lose weight, although it's hard to know what affects what now. Even room temp yoga might be a good option for you given your foot problems. You do have to stand on one foot at times -- does that hurt? I hurt my right elbow pulling on a weight machine, it hurts like hell 3 months on. I guess I need to see a doc. I can't work out my upper body very much right now So what are you struggling with that's slowing your weight loss? For me, not losing can start a negative thought spiral of 'what use is all this!' but I find the support of family and friends, and their expectation that I'll never give up, really helps keep me going.

I'm a slow loser too. I'm about 6 months out and have lost 51 lbs. According to the realize site (great calculator!) I had a 50% chance of losing 64 lbs, so I'm a bit behind on that one. I've stalled multiple times, including the entire month of September! I think I've been 95% compliant with the plan in food and exercise. Ironically it's usually when I go off plan a bit (eg while traveling) that the stalls tend to break. Anyway you're not the only one who's losing slowly. I don't plan to give up until I'm at my goal even if it takes 2 yrs!

That's great, I'm sure it will go very well!

My surgeon was Dr. Pamela Foster of Millls-Penn Hospital in Burlingame/Palo Alto Medical Foundation. My surgery was at El Camino Hospital, not far from where I live. I would highly recommend both, although Dr. Foster is a pretty tough cookie. If you need someone warm and fuzzy, it's not her. She did a great job on the surgery, though, and El Camino has a great surgery education program.

I'm in the south bay and had surgery in April. When is your surgery?

I'm sorry you've been having a difficult time, miss mojo. At least you're still losing -- 72 lbs, I wish I were at that point! You should give yourself some love for losing at any pace! With emotional eating it could be so easy to even gain weight. I didn't succeed with the lap band so I know the fear and sense of failure. Starting over is a great idea. And if you're finding it really hard, it's okay to ask for help, either here or from a professional or friends you trust?! And I depend on a phrase I've heard in the recovery world: 'one day at a time'. Every day is a mental battle for me, to not eat foods I love/crave. If I thought about how many more days of this I have ahead of me, I'd go crazy. So I just focus on making it to bed time without blowing it. BTW since I started tracking on MFP I'm already doing better. Such a weird psychological effect!

Wow, you're doing so well! Size 16 is amazing!! As is a steady 3 lbs/week, my word. How do you eat under 800 cal -- do you get hungry? I get so hungry in the afternoon and late evenings especially. It's easy for me to eat 1000 cal or even 1200 if I'm not careful, but I think I'm nearly always below 1000. I guess I'll know now, with MFP. My doc told me to drink Water when I feel hungry, which I have been trying to do. But it doesn't really stop hunger headaches, sorry Doc! I started charting my food again yesterday, and adjusted the MFP goals to 900 cals, 80 g Protein, 68 g carbs, 35 g fat. I feel okay - definitely more mobile than before. I just need to see steady progress or I'm afraid I'll lose my will!

Hi ladies, how's it going? I was doing okay for me, but I've been stalled for nearly a month Maybe I've been eating a tad more, but I'm really sticking to the plan -- no carbs except veggies, no sugar, etc. I do eat red meat a few times per week just out of boredom with chicken. I work out 4 times per week, twice with a trainer. I'm pretty sedentary otherwise, although I'm trying to walk more even around work. I've had maybe 3 glasses of wine since surgery. Is that enough to stall me?? I had to go on estrogen pills for 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off because my hot flashes came back with a vengeance after the surgery. That probably doesn't help weight loss. I get hungry almost as bad as before surgery. The difference is I can't eat much, especially if I'm out with friends. I went to see my surgeon last month and she was disappointed with only 9-10 lbs/month loss. She wants me to get to 12 lbs/month. Wait til she sees I lost 0 in September, OMG. She said I focus too much on calories and to stop counting them, worrying only about Protein. So I stopped doing MFP, but I think I need to start again. On the good side, I've gone from size 26 to 22, and wow, that makes a big difference! Just bagged up a huge load of clothes that are too big and always will be! I hope you're all doing well -- would love to hear from you!

Hello there and welcome! I think there are folks from all over the world here, and a good few from NZ as well! I did the revision from band to sleeve in April. The band wasn't working for me and I had some complications. In any case, this is a great forum for questions, support, and tough love as well.

You're not alone! I'm 3.5 months out and only 37 lbs. It's one plateau after another. I'm just staying the course and trying not to be jealous of the fast losers.

I'm so sorry to hear of your diagnosis, coming right after surgery. That's just unbelievable. But maybe if you hadn't had the surgery, they wouldn't have found the cancer until much later? I hope that turns out to make a huge difference in your treatment and outcome. You're in my prayers for sure!

My surgeon did the exact same for me, and I'm also able to eat anything now. White meat chicken, broccoli, all kinds of stuff I couldn't eat with the band. I also can eat more than the 1 cup the nutritionists promised. Mentally l have feared a bigger bougie will hurt my weight loss. It is slow, but I've always been a slow weight loser. It's all about the choices anyway. And I sure do get full a lot faster than when my band was unfilled. Thanks for posting -- made me feel much better!

That's amazing! You lost it so quickly, wow! Wish my scale would move that fast Awesome job, and I'm sure you're glad you took pics along the way!

Hey there ladies! Great to hear from you -- it really helps me to know how you're doing Regarding melon, I can't eat it either. It gets completely stuck and I have to throw it up. I think it's just too firm to go down the esophagus, which maybe can't exert as much force as it did before surgery? Also maybe it's too difficult to chew to liquid? I've tried a bit of melon juice with no problem, so I don't think it's the sugar. Anyway you're not the only one! Regarding exercise, I'm getting in about 4-5 workouts/sessions per week -- 2-3 after work during the week and 2 on weekends. I have a job but no one at home to look after, otherwise I'm not sure how I'd do it. I'm really tired after work too. But I have a trainer I see twice a week, so that keeps me accountable. If I don't work out in between our sessions, he can sure tell! I don't enjoy it much, although it's fun to get stronger in measurable ways. But yeah, I have to force myself. Once I get going, the energy comes back even if I'm exhausted when I start. All that said, you shouldn't beat yourself up! If you're sticking to your food plan and losing weight, then you know you're still progressing! I had a FitBit but I washed it and it doesn't work. I'm considering getting another. It is indeed hard to get near 10K steps per day. My average day was more like 6K. But then again it doesn't always detect workouts either. In spite of all my efforts, I'm stalled again, for a week now I also get quite hungry at night, so I'm having to really take it one day at a time as far as not straying. I have to admit I'm pretty sick of my protein/veggie routine. But as soon as I lose a pound, my attitude will change a lot.

I got the revision on April 30, and I'm very happy so far. Not only was my weight loss slow and small, the band gave me terrible acid reflux. I was up to 2 Prilosec a day and still having symptoms. The band kept me from eating perfectly healthy food like melon, while it let me eat as much as I wanted of things that weren't healthy, like ice cream. It didn't reinforce good behaviors. My surgeon unfilled my band last summer, which gave immediate relief but of course removed most of the restriction. I gained wait slowly in spite of working out, etc. My surgeon stopped doing bands in 2011 due to the high rate of complication and disappointing weight loss. She said many patients would develop a tissue 'capsule' around their stomach under the band, that she would I guess cut through during revision surgery. She'd watch the stomach inflate like a sail with the capsule gone. And, she said that happened in my surgery too. I will say I also had to go into the VSG surgery with a much better sense of how much my success would ride on my making the right choices and not 'cheating', for lack of a better word. With the band I expected it to keep me from eating too much of anything. On this second chance, I went in knowing it's about 50% behavioral, 50% help from the sleeve. I have thrown up a couple of times but that was from eating raw veggies too fast. I'm learning how to handle the sleeve now. You do get full quickly and you feel more satisfied than with the band. It feels more natural.

How is everyone? I'm finally losing at a faster pace, yay! From 1-2 lbs/week, now it seems to be 2.5-3. If this keeps up, I'll remain very happy. I'm not really doing anything differently, other than my workouts are getting more intense. I think it's just breaking through a stall at a weight I held for a long time, and just my body accepting this is a long-term regimen, haha. The surgery already seems like a distant memory. I'm able to eat just about anything as far as texture, even chicken if it's moist. My 'small' jeans are getting baggy. Could I be a size 20 in a couple months? Maybe, and that would be a first for the last couple of decades! Hope you're all feeling well and happy with the journey!

I also had a similar reaction to hummus. Is it too much oil, I wonder? Here's a great list of dumping syndrome symptoms. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dumping-syndrome/basics/symptoms/con-20028034 My doc also told me the term 'dumping' refers to the insulin increase, not the trips to the bathroom