Pam_2-06-2017

August 24th is a day that will change your thoughts about food completely, as an addicted person being concerned about sweets in December right now is a sign that you may have to work a bit harder on your addiction than some. Understand that this surgery is not a fix. It is a tool to help you keep your appetite under control. It doesn't help keep your head under control. Only you can do that. By December you will be able to eat whatever you want. But should you? Your relationship with food is getting ready to make a huge but wonderful change. My wish for you is that by December you will have stopped being concerned about what you can eat over the holidays and had built a relationship that lets you enjoy yourself and those around you more intimately. Merry Christmas Pam

8/3/17 - 172.5

OK..first....you look absolutely amazing! Congratulations on the progress you have so far. Stalls happen and they suck. I always try something different and it may or may not work:-) (exercise, more protein, less carbs) Your body needs time to adjust to the new way of eating and stalls are a "hold" time to do just that. Try to find other non scale victories like this awesome pic to keep you motivated through it. I am the queen of stalls. I had surgery on 2/6/2017 and lost my first 30 super quick. Since then I've lost 17 more pounds but I went from a size 18-20 down to a 12. Check out my weight chart. I am not building any cliffs of weight loss but a slow steady hill that I am descending. Slow and steady has also given my skin a chance to adjust to my weight loss as well. Take care.

Ok...so I'm down some weight. I'm the same person for the most part. Although my inside and outside feels pretty darned good right now. Problem: I feel resentment to all those people who treated me badly or differently based on my weight. Examples: My husband has been inviting me to go with him everywhere recently. He even mentioned taking me dancing once or twice. This is total shocker because he always said he didn't want to dance anymore because he'd "mess up his knee". We did so little together that it even feels weird to sit in his truck. I love him dearly and I know that he loves me but I always suspected he was embarrassed of me and I feel like it is proven. How can I not resent that? Years of unhappiness have just been confirmed. Am I being to sensitive? My best friend never calls me anymore. She was my eating buddy. I went to lunch with her a couple times a week and we would share so much. I miss her but she is no longer available to me. Am I being too sensitive? My "friends" feel perfectly comfortable calling me names. "The incredible shrinking woman", "skinny minnie". Each interaction starts with a weird introduction like that. I'm not sure if they are joking, trying to make me feel good or just being snarky. Am I being too sensitive? What strategies or thought processes have you used to forgive or not resent how your weight loss has changed they way people treat you?

Mmmmmm...you bet I can!!!

I've made my own bread for years. I have a countertop wheat mill and buy the whole wheat berries in bulk. The flavor is amazing and it's about as healthy as it gets. Whole wheat Flour, yeast, olive oil, salt, agave and water. I still limit myself. I have one slice toasted in the morning with an egg only a couple times a week. So yummy! I like grits but like outside said, there is little value to them. Unless you're the salt and pepper kind then add berries, nuts, chia seeds, etc. Or have cream of wheat instead. Not too much better but something.

This is the stark reality that I needed to hear. It is so easy to fall into the blame game instead of taking responsibility for my role in how the last 20 years have played out. Pam

7/28/17 - 173.0

1. It is amazing how we see ourselves as opposed to how others see us. We look in the mirror through a lens of years of negative self-talk. Stop looking at yourself and instead soak up what others say about you. If you only have 60 pounds to lose then there is no doubt that 27 pounds are noticeable...own it! 2. My stomach healed awesome! Be thankful for that. I was so bummed to think that I was taking a perfectly healthy digestive system and making drastic changes to it with the possibility of having food sensitivities, GERD and a host of other possibilities that I just never had to deal with. Thankfully that did not happen and I am super happy about it. 3. If your "normal" is like before surgery then say bye, bye to normal:-) A new normal will begin to emerge. My new normal is being able to pass every junk food restaurant without even once thinking of giving it a go. It is having the control to stop eating when I'm full and push the plate away while I concentrate on the amazing friends and family I am with. It is enjoying a hike with my husband and son. Now is the time to create a new normal for yourself. In no time you will be eating out, enjoying friends and family, and living an amazingly fuller, happier life because you are a new, healthier normal. I have ~39 pounds of the 80 that I had to lose. I love the way my body feels, moves and looks. Would I like tighter skin? You bet...but I'm completely ok with it just as it is now. Wow! What a revelation! Like I said...own it!!!! Take care.

7/21/17 - 173.5

@melty29 monitoryourweight.com I downloaded it from the app store.

Today I have moved into a class I haven't seen in my entire adult life. I left Obese Class I and am now just overweight with a BMI of 29.9!!! I am through the roof with happiness.

Congrats to you too deveg! You are correct. In no time at all. Feeling giddy thes days:-)

Tina, I am so sorry you have to start this very difficult journey so far away from your support. It must be difficult but I hear so much strength in your post. You can do this. I am nearly 6 months post op and almost all my concerns have faded away. I feel so amazing the little idiosyncrasies I deal with now are minimal. I do not feel real hunger. This is something I am grateful for. Early on I had lots of head hunger but to this day I don't have any symptoms of hunger. This has enabled me to stick to my eating plan so well. This group is the only support that I receive. It is an amazing resource and I feel like it is sufficient for my needs. I do not have a support group in my area and I live in a small town. I can't even go to a local therapist because everyone in the neighborhood will know I need a shrink:-) By about three months out I started to feel "normal". I could comfortably eat 4-6 ounces of food and enjoy a dinner out with friends without feeling like a weirdo for only eating a few bites. In short, you will be fine. Without a nutritionist it is hard. A simple formula I have learned for success is 60-100 g of protein a day, no more than 25 carbs, and 64 ounces of liquid each day. Early on I couldn't reach 60 so for now make it a goal that you are trying to reach. The 64 ounces can include the liquid you get from shakes, coffee, tea, etc. At 4 weeks this can be done but for me I needed at least one protein shake a day that had 30g of protein. Take your vitamins...so important. I know you will do great! Take care

Nearly 6 months out and I'm down 45 pounds. I'm a super slow loser but I'm still over the top excited about my progress. It is unfair to expect your body to just drop all the weight so quickly and life is happy and skinny. I wish it worked that way. Your body is a well oiled machine designed to adjust during times of fast and famine. Every so often you'll stall to give your body a chance to adjust to the new eating habits you are forming. This journey is a marathon not a sprint. When we're in it for the long haul, any loss is a good loss. I am averaging 2 pounds a week which is a healthy and sustainable level of weight loss. You're doing great and will continue to lose weight since you're sticking to the plan. I can't wait to hear from you in 4 more months. You will change your perspective and you will be so happy with your progress. Take care

You look amazing! Congratulations!!!

7/14/2017 - 174.5

So excited for you! Congrats!

You're doing great. As long as the numbers are headed in the right direction and you're feeling great all is well. Don't stress on the speed of weight loss. It will happen. Enjoy the ride.

February Sleever here: I can eat most anything except a steak (not good) and fried potatoes (good:-). I can hold about 5 ounces of food comfortably. If I take one bite too much I get all these weird sounds coming up that are really embarrassing. With dense food I eat less and I avoid sliders big time because it is difficult to control portions with foods that go down easy. I occasionally will still drink a protein shake in the evening if I haven't gotten all my protein in for the day. I don't count calories but track 60-100g protein and 50g carbs a day. I started out at 25g carbs but incrementally upped it to 50g and am still losing. I really have no appetite so eating has to be very intentional. I log all my meals but am not regimented about measuring and weighing anymore. I was at the beginning because I couldn't really gauge a portion. I do weigh or measure new foods. There are still days that I only get about 800 calories but I make sure I get my protein. Most days I am getting about 1,100 cals a day. I don't eat breads or sugar at all. At this point it feels like I am eating normal portions. I don't feel like I didn't get enough like I did early on. That was all mental more than physical. Take care

7/7 no change :-/

Head hunger is powerful. I have zero physical hunger. I eat because I'm supposed to but I never feel the sensation of hunger. Early on I had crazy head hunger. I couldn't tell if my body was truly hungry or just craving crap, so each time I felt hungry I ate. I only ate what I was allowed on the phase I was in. So hungry?, drink some protein shake. Hungry? Have some yogurt. Now, hungry? Find some dense protein. I still have occasional cravings for bad food. I am now in the habit of feeding that craving protein. It gets easier to resist that pull.

I never really cut my food into tiny pieces but then I haven't tried steak yet and I'm 5 months post op. I really just practiced chewing my food thoroughly. I started doing that pre op when I learned my surgery date. I was surprised how little I chewed before surgery. Crazy.

This journey is a series of one stall after another. As long as the trend is downward all is good. I am 5 months post op and down 45 pounds. Seems like I'll go a bit without losing and then one day I wake up down 2 pounds. As long as your staying true to your plan you will drop the weight. 55 g of protein is not enough but I remember early on I had a hard time getting my protein in. As you heal you will be able to eat more and that helps. I shoot for 60 - 100g a day. Most days I get closer to the 100 mark. At 1 month I was lucky to get 40g. Congrats on your surgery. Take care

I started drinking coffee after 2 months post op. I drink a medium roast coffee. 2 cups each morning with premier protein caramel as a creamer. Yummy?