FluffyChix

Thanks girl! So how do you do it with your vids of the cheering people? Is that from YT too?

CONSPIRACY THEORY So it's awefully quiet round here this week. My Spidey senses detect a subtle shift in the space-time continuum that I can't explain. I'm wondering if @sillykitty, @GreenTealael, and @sideeye are meeting somewhere and are also contributing to the melting of the polar ice caps?

Saw this today! Go back to your doctor's instructions for your "rest of your life food plan." Call them if you gain weight or stall out while following that plan to the letter. If that's happening, they need to know about it so they can help you. But if you're not losing cuz you aren't complying...then that's something only you have the power to change. ((hugs))

Thanks for that! Is that 4-5oz by volume or by weight? Cuz 4oz by volume is about 1cup of food depending on density of protein/veg. But 4oz by weight is about 1 1/2 cups of food by volume. 1oz of dry dense protein = about 1/4cup diced or ground. 1oz of al dente veggies is a little over 1/4cup. Depending on veg you can have 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 oz of al dente veg to make 1/2cup by volume (sometimes 3 oz, but that depends on how much you've cooked it, the density of the veg, whether it is frozen or fresh, etc). It kinda sounds like you need to maybe up the caloric value of each meal which is easy and hard. Adding 1tsp of oil healthy, or 1 ounce of avocado, or a 1/2oz sprinkle of nuts or seeds will add calories pretty quickly without adding a bunch of volume. Maybe up your snack volume/calorie load to more. Bottom line to me is this--according to my doctor and the VETS I've talked to about this: 1. If you are still in weight loss mode and still losing, you aren't eating enough calories/or the right macros to stop WL phase. 2. If you are still in weight loss mode and not losing--rather, you are maintaining--then you are flat out consuming too many calories or the wrong combination of macros, or both to help you lose the remaining weight (especially at your new body size). You are effectively in maintenance level. 3. If you are still in weight loss mode or in maintenance and gaining, then you are consuming too many calories or the wrong combination of macros, or both--for your present new size and activity level/health/metabolism/medication history, etc.

Saw this on The FB and thought of you @sideeye and all of us sophomores suffering from the post holiday slump!

Wow!! Congrats to you lady!!! Way to kick it back into high gear! re: post op regimen (It's sure amazing how our docs know what to tell us to eat! It's like they have this whole "weight loss phase" figured out or something. ) Every time I start getting tricky with their orders, I stall out (ahem, begin maintenance and stop losing...every time. )

Wow! Congrats!! And a scary and awesome problem to have all at the same time! Hey so describe your food routine like how many times a day do you eat? How big are your servings? Do you eat meat/veg/fruit/grain together in 1 meal? Do you eat compound meals that are comforty/casserole/stewy stuff or do you concentrate on eating protein (lean grilled) + everything is separate? If it were me, I'd maybe look at getting a functional RD or trainer who understands bariatrics. I'd want to make darn sure that the weight I put back on was muscle which means strength building. I've no idea how to do that! But we have some fitness gurus who do!!! @Healthy_life and @BigViffer among others who might be able to shed some light. Sounds like you're a lucky one who gets to have more calories than you're taking in right now!!! Wooohoooo!

Yep. What @KimTriesRNY said! We are so smart--we figure out very quickly how to outsmart our surgery if that is our true intention. So use the dream/nightmare as a warning for yourself every time you think of reverting back to "just one bite won't matter" behavior! Cuz the reality is that bite adds up and before long it will be easy peasy lemon squeezy to gain. It's ridiculously easy for me to put on 5lbs now (at 11 1/2 months). I have to be vigilant and eat/behave like a skinny person does. I've had to completely revamp how I treat food/portions/macros about 90-95% of the time in order to lose any weight at all. I have to strategically mix up my diet and confuse my body to keep my metabolism geared up and keep my mind from being bored to death with "being good." And it takes a lot of repeated work to learn to love exercise--but it's a critical element in long term success (IMHO).

Hey how do we insert videos here? Like how do you copy paste the original so you actually get the vid to play like you girls do? Me=techno idiot

Is it ok if we get excited for you!!!!?? Congrats girl! Way to get rid of stress!!!!

Holy moly!!! ((hugs)) I wish you a speedy recovery!!! Try to get the fluid in and walk/elevate, don't lay down flat until your chest clears. (But sounds like you know that!) Watch your temperature as well! So sorry to hear of all the problems and scariness!!!!

I agree. Survey says, "Ten month slump!" Only mine lasted about 2 1/2 months. You do need to shake things up in your life. Do something just for fun! Do something involving people and interaction! EXERCISE! Get physical. Get your blood pumping. Do cardio! ha! Breath deeply, multiple times a day. Check out 4-square breathing. Create a schedule for yourself filled with goals. Reach those goals. Make them about fitness, more than about losing weight. Shop thrift stores and buy cheap clothes! I bought a Calvin Klein gorgeous blouse for $1!!! If I grow out of it? No worries! I paid $3 for a pair of Ralph Lauren jeans that are too big now. But I got 3 months of wear out of them. See? So you can still have nice things! But mainly, unpack! Get organized!!!! You will feel better if your nest is in order and gives you happiness and comfort! Everything in its place! And shake up your diet! Get rid of the crap. Get it out of your house! Start tracking, create a diet game. It's why I'm constantly changing what I'm eating! I have to keep boredom out of the equation! You got this girlie!!!!!! And sure part of it is SAD and January. Go get some bright sunlight!!!!

what is it??? looks so crunchtastically delish!!

Give us an average day menu with macros, maybe we can throw out some tips that might help? Include if something is low fat/low carb or diet versions! Congrats on being at goal (or below)! I think from what I've read, that you may stay "low" in year two but then for no reason in year 3, begin to gain again. For me, if I am not losing, then I am not gonna worry about exceeding my goal. I might instead look at totally maximizing my food/vitamins/minerals, so I feel more energy? ((hugs))

Saw this on "The Facebook" and wanted to share. For those who find themselves hungrier than normal and or craving at 6+ months out...Don't dispair. I swear this is true (at least for me). I find if I can bring my carbs back into balance then my cravings go almost completely away as my blood sugars/insulin stabilize!

Great article @Alex Brecher!! Thanks!

Awwww!!! @MIZ60 I'm so sorry to hear about this. Saying prayers! Love the pics and her family is beautiful. I know you are all hurting!!! ((hugs))

I'm sorry you are struggling and happy you've had an "Aha moment" and posted about it. I've been saying this from the beginning of my personal WLS journey. If we don't get right in the head, the surgery--which face it, it's not magic bean surgery--is not gonna do all the heavy lifting. We are such crafty, smart, surviving specie(s) haha, that we WILL figure out a way to outsmart our surgery. What I still hear however is more magical thinking coming out of your mouth. Tomorrow, nothing will be different. You will wake up, resolve to mystically "do better"/"be better" etc, but guaranteed by 3-5pm, you will break and go for the fix. There is NO magic in this process. No WISHFUL thinking. Unless/until you accept that your success depends on being accountable for your actions, and decide that will make concrete changes that are actionable, you will continue to despair and the beatings will continue until morale improves. Honestly, the ONLY way to confront this issue we ALL face is to have a great plan. In your case (and in many of our cases, the key to the plan needs to include strategic partners: surgical team (who needs to know you're struggling and doing things you aren't supposed to do, bariatric counselor/therapist, RD), reading books on ending these self-defeating behaviors whatever they may be, making a concrete check list you USE and follow faithfully each day, decide on zero tolerance of going off-your checklisted plan, and being content that it takes time to correct behavior and weight. It also takes a physical plan for exercise. Then you have to DO YOUR PART. You must log. You must weight foods. You must PLAN. You should maybe think about weighing daily, measuring monthly. Check things off your list. I doubt seriously that you've stretched your pouch. Most likely, what has happened is that your pouch has matured which carries with it a natural "opening" or relaxing of your tum, which means you "CAN" eat more. It doesn't mean you "SHOULD" eat more. If you go back to your rules and follow them, you should begin to feel your restriction again. Set your rules! 1. No more than 1 cup of food at a meal by volume. 2. Eat dense, dry, lean protein first (60-80g per day). 3. Eat al dente or raw veggies. 4. No meat lube, sauce, compound meals that are highly caloric. Keep your food separate! It will hang in your pouch better and provide nutrition without a bunch of added calories you don't need. 5. Cut your carbs to 20-30net carbs (carbs - fiber) per day. 6. Aim for almost zero sugar. 7. Drink your water (100+ ounces per day. 8. Don't drink your food! No liquid calories. 9. No eating/drinking 15 mins before and 1 hour after 10. Exercise daily. Try for 10K steps each day. 11. Take your supplements. 12. Get a real life support group and attend regularly. 13. Come here and get involved and on the BP facebook group. 14. Above all--see your doc, RD to get a plan for success. AND get a referral to a bariatric counselor. 15. Consider joining OA. I wish you success, health, and a good life. I don't mean to beat you while you're down. I'm trying to make sure you don't waste any more of your honeymoon period spinning your wheels and participating in a giant fantasy.

Ahhhh The Poo Chronicles... Good times!

((awwww hugs my sick, sweet friend!))

Only my hairdresser knows for sure... And Mr. F, my family, all the bazillions of people they've told despite me telling them not to, and the entire world now--since I told my family. But who's counting? I'm STILL not the poster child for bariatric surgery awareness. )

Good morning! @GreenTealael Look what you are making me do! Next it will be kale! 😯 I give you breakfast: Matcha, Greek yogurt, protein drink, blueberries, almonds, poppy seeds (no chias), lemon fresh squeezed, vanilla liquid stevia.

I'm such a copy cat. I just ordered this from Vitacost!