FluffyChix

Wow! I missed this. Awesome sauce! Congrats!!

Great topic! I'm still on the tail end of my honeymoon period (1st 18 months where we tend to "lose the most"), and am still not at my 3rd goal of 130lbs. I'm bouncing between 135-138 and have only seen 133 very briefly. Each time I bounce I think "this is it--this is where I'm stuck and where my body wants to be." And honestly? I'm not ready to have that conversation with myself and concede defeat. So I keep pushing and trying and working. Cuz It's not that I would "fail," but I set out to achieve my goal and although I'm not willing to die trying...it's important that I remain sharply focused. So honestly? I can't even go to the "maintenance" talk. I think it will look a lot like your bounce window and I think it's gonna include IF at least some point during the week. Is it obsessive? Probably to others it appears to be obsessive. I don't feel like I'm out of balance or control. But just as I hated being judged when I was MO, I hate being judged for my focus. Some of the women (who are not at goal and one who is on her second version of the surgery) in my local support group, tell me I'm "too intense" and too focused on goal and on a number on the scale...that I shouldn't weigh, measure, and log my food or weigh daily. They tell me that reaching a number on a scale and being defined by it is crazy town. But I disagree. There is comfort in "knowing data." If something in me breaks, I can go look at the data and will be able to spot where I'm going "wrong." It's cause and effect. But, saying this, I do allow myself to go out and cut loose sometimes. It's only ever one meal though and often not even a full meal. Then it's back to basics. I'm no longer terrified of being unable to maintain. I think I will be able to do that--but the trade off is that for me, personally, "mindful" "natural" eating is not a real thing--much like unicorns. I will always be on a diet. I will always try to weigh, measure, record my foods and weigh daily. And I'm pretty sure I will continue to limit my exposure to high glycemic index and high glycemic load foods. And I'm pretty dang skippy ok with that. One man's orthorexia, is another man's routine. I think the difference is whether or not it causes stress to the individual or if they use success or failure in that routine to beat themselves up and punish or self-sabotage. I don't feel that from my routine--only comfort. But others would and do imply I have "issues."

You don't happen to have kefir grains do you? I'm in Houston.

I have this one and like it quite well. Had it for years. But I would love an OXO one! https://www.knifemerchant.com/product.asp?productID=7510&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o3&scid=scplp7510&sc_intid=7510&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh6XmBRDRARIsAKNInDH335Fen5QJcfbrL8rNF6GObOJkKjS8GAhs45TQlvFmJiV8dZzMgzoaAj1eEALw_wcB

Glad you have the secret combo for the headache. Sorry to hear about your bp. That same thing happened to me! It was so weird!! It's been very low for a while, then went high. Wonder if the fasting raises our noradrenaline which spikes our bps? I think your snack sounds perfect size and like you didn't do much damage. You know Longo allows 500cals per day on his plan with up to 20g protein from plant sources. And it's higher fat too. And people still achieve autophagy and stem cell regeneration. That's why I'm thinking it will be ok for small food. And I thought it would help keep my bp down which it did. Also Krista Varady and Dr. James Johnson and Michael Moseley all to ADF with alternate day calorie restriction to around 500 cals. On the other days you eat a normal diet and take in normal quantities. All of their subjects showed improvement and weight loss. The eye is gross today. It's a stye. I've never had one. Never want one again. It's on the inside so at least you can only see it from inside! Outside it just looks red and puffy. I'll live to fight another day!

Sorry bout your headache! I think it's probably caffeine withdrawal. I hear ya on abstinence v. moderation. You cracked me up about trying to score fruit down on the corner! bahahaha! I don't do so good with moderation either. But for some reason, I'm ok with veggies and very tiny amounts of berries. But dang, any other carbs? Not so much! And I'm quickly figuring out roasted nuts are dicey for me too. But I'm ok with raw. Weird huh? I ended up eating lunch. Made a big ol' salad (arugula, spring mix, purple onion, cucumber, cilantro, raw pumpkin seed, and jalapeno tuna creation with WF Sesame Ginger dressing + ACV and garlic). Tonight will be grilled chickie book and broccoli with garlic. LOL. I hate when I'm sick, I use it as an excuse to give in and "coddle" myself rather than continue with my game plan. But both of these meals are healthy and still very within calories/macros. I just don't get the benefit of low insulin for as long. Oh well. I like Resetters, cuz they are all pretty supportive. And they each do variations of what works for them. Not everyone does FMD. And a lot of them do EFs. But I do like the rotation of fasting plans available there--especially the autophagy plan and also the ketobiotic plans. I could see myself doing either of those long term. Longo's FMD is hard for me, cuz I really miss that protein after a couple of days. Hope the Tylenol got rid of the headache and you're already feeling better and continuing on with your fast! I'm off to the V-E-T for him to look at my eye. Ugh, I hope it's just an eyedrop kinda visit. Don't want antibiotics.

Yep. Call the RD. Mine didn't want me counting carbs (but she already knew I did that anyway). She only wanted me to do: 1. Protein 60-80g/daily 2. Low glycemic veggies (if there was room after the protein). 3. Healthy fat (just a little) I think I was eating between 300-500 cals about that time per day. Almost all of it was from protein.

The only time you fail is when you stop trying and give up. We're all just imperfect hot messes on a journey. Right? So the first 2 weeks are the toughest as you're aware. You just commit. One day at a time. Choose life. Choose health. Choose joy. Choose happiness. Choose lightness. Choose success. Every day, get up. Look in the mirror and rechoose those things for the day. Don't look back. Morale rarely improves with beatings. But, once you log in a few days of healthy eating and see the scale start to move again, and start to feel more energy, it will feed itself and you will gain momentum. You can do this! Log and post often. Log weigh and measure your food. Keep a MFP food diary. You can do this!!

Ha! Constantly! Good times, right? Short answer is "it may" a little bit. Mine has. But it took the fat being completely emptied out of the skin in that area for the skin to grasp...oh! Lemme go short on protein a few days and I'll use some of this turkey skin to recycle protein. Congrats on your successes!

Yeah I think this is totally do-able as a vegetarian. You just have to be smart about things. I do think it's harder to do vegan, but still possible. Lacto-ovo vegetarians would have the easiest time of it as do pescatarians.

Wow I'm so impressed! Congrats girl. You are an EF Beast!!!! WTG!!! Woooohoooooooooo 🍾🍾 You inspired me to keep going. I broke my fast last night cuz I started getting some eye infection. So I ate dinner. And this morning I just took a spoon of elderberry extract and 2 vitamin C pills. So my fast is fried. I was gonna go ahead and use the day to eat, but I think you inspired me again. Even though I took the meds, I will hold off on food until tonight if I can. My eye hurts like a some-b***h!!! I love Ozarka spring water and drink that exclusively. And yeah, water only...SMH. I'm not there yet. I just can't do it. So I will have: decaff coffee, plain, unsweetened, black decaff tea, unsweetened black (especially English and Irish breakfast teas) decaff green tea, unsweetened, clear decaff Earl Grey tea hot water with 1tbsp ACV (Bragg's Unfiltered) + 1 tiny wedge lemon (about 1/12 of a lemon) + pink salt--2 times a day water ************ If I just can't stand it any longer, then I will have a packet of Herb Ox Chicken or Beef Bouillon crystals in water. It's like 10cals and <1g carb. Zero protein in it, so it's not like the protein will break the fast. And I'm not worried about 10 calories. We gotta do what we gotta do to get through. You know?

You need to "go". So start the plan to fix that pretty immediately. LOL. Seriously. Don't wait. You won't feel "fullness" for a while--maybe weeks to months before your sleeve can really be trusted to talk to your brain with good information. Right now, it's way too soon for it, so like Greentea said, it's important to follow instructions for your precise point of healing. If they say: 1oz per hour, you do 1 oz per hour. Right? Varying liquids helped a lot. Also, if protein drinks are too thick, thin them down with Fairlife milk, decaff coffee, decaff tea. .See which temperature works best for you. I needed warm liquids and lukewarm temps for my fluids. Hot ones hurt and cold ones made me not be able to drink as much. Try ice chips, popsicles, etc if you need help getting liquid down. It will trickle better. Congrats on surgery and being on the losers' bench!

Amazeballs girl! You look like a million bucks! Congrats!

Ok, so how many of you little post ops are drinking liquids with your meals or immediately after? Show of hands please? How is it affecting your satiety? If you're doing that--stop those shenanigans right now! There can be only one Highlander! That is the path to WLS perdition and you are driving the bus! (*shakes finger at self...drivin' the bus to hell...*) 😯 Just gave myself a stern talking to and I'm grounded for a week.

LOL. No I was actually tattling on myself for accountability. I need to quit that crap! hahaha. Ok, let's stop doing it, right?

TY. LOL. I guess this proves we're just a bunch of chatty cathy's with way too much time on our hands. *snort* It's a dubious honor. Right? What it really means is that everyone else needs to step up and start posting like hoes!

Wow! What great news about the fam and the guy! That's outstanding!!! And wooohooo on meetin' Mama! Remember when you wondered if there was a problem that he wasn't gonna introduce you to her? SEG over here! Are you nervous or excited? Yes, I think the constant vigilence and continued compliance with logging food will help keep us honest. Let's make a pact to never let our group quit logging and weighing daily. Mkay? The funny thing is, I don't drink beer very often...only during the summer and usually just a small Michelada--cuz of the cals and carbs. But it was hot, we were at a music festival in our small town, and beer over ice sounded good. It literally took all day to drink 2 lol. Me=cheap drunk. But I did love the fact that each was only 95 cals and about 2.5g carbs. LOL on being "that guy". *raises hand too*

By the way, I want to show you what you can look forward to down the road. Cuz this time you are in is temporary. This was lunch. I made a recipe of cauliflower cloud bread sliders and made a leftover grilled salmon bahn mi sandwich with crisp and ice cold veggies as the side! I couldn't finish it, but ate about 3/4 of it and had a few carrots and cucs leftover. But it was so good. I'm full, satisfied and have a happy belly! No food angst. Deeply nutritious.

Brilliant!! And super idea about putting the pics in. I didn't know you could do that! Very cool.

I'm sorry you are having a tough time. I second @ProudGrammy's advice. Give your pouch a second chance! Work on your head right now, not healing from another surgery. Weightloss after a revision isn't a slam dunk. Go to therapy. Go to group sessions WLS support groups locally, go to OA (overeaters anonymous). Find a way to get your head back in the game and refocus on losing your present regain. Go back to the basic rules of your forever diet from your surgeon. Many vets here lose all of their regain! You can do it!

Sunday morning breakfast. I call this, "Ode to GreenTealael." (Of course there were no afters, we don't need to stinking afters!)

Sorry you are struggling! And for the RA dx! I'm not a VET yet, so can't give you vet-like response, but want you to know I think you're on the road to getting it figured out!!!!

Maybe you just didn't recognize MB? How old is she now? She probably has more wrinkles than me, even! hahahaha! Wooohoooo and we all know you Ken is anatomically correct!!!! Bonus! And speaking of Ken, how is that whole "thang" goin? What's the latest and greatest news? Anything? ((hugs)) Boobs as the price of magic. But so glad Santa is bringing you a couple of "whole new bags" ! What a Christmas pressie! Right? And I think your weight really looks beautiful on your body. You have a gorgeous figure. And you know, down the road if regain "does happen to us all" that you would likely settle around 140ish pounds. So this may not be your forever body--but as a temp, it's a smokin' hot one. Right? And yes, you know, I really don't know where I would be without you guys! This journey would have been filled with uncertainty, unknown, loneliness from lack of commonality, and ungrounded. This forum shows me that there is hope in Veteranville--that it is possible to maintain this weight longterm and that weight gain doesn't "arbitrarily" happen for the most part. It is almost 100% caused by some level of recidivism in our choices. But with tight observance of our weight/diet and having a weight window, any little mishaps can be dealt with at the 2-5lb range. I think you said, "Never again spending a year on weight loss?" Or maybe it was @Biddy zz 🏳️🌈 who said that? But it resonates with me and keeps it in perspective. And I wouldn't have it if it wasn't for this forum!!! So glad your business meetings/dinings are going easier for you and that you are still in solid maintenance because of it!!! When you say 4oz of semi solid food, is that volume or scale measurement? And I'm assuming 3oz solid protein is by scale? You know me...always trying to make sure I don't have a football sized pouch! Cheers to your diet soda. I thought about you yesterday. We were out at the park all day at a festival and I had 2 Mich Ultras for the day. I raised a bottle to you. Did you see me? *snort*

That's Dr. Longo for you! You go girl. It looks beautiful!!! Dr. L.'s "fasting mimicking diet" style isn't low carb, it's super lean, clean, plant based food. You could use that one week a month or quarter to maintain! Congrats!!!!

You are a work in progress. It's all normal. You don't have to "be a better bariatric." You are already good enough now. ((hugs))