FluffyChix

In my program, all those visits were good for a year. It's a factory job. Take 2weeks vaca and the do FMLA. I don't think they can legally fire you for needing a surgery. If they do then there'd be one helluva lawsuit! Sorry you're going through this dilemma!

Ok! Well great to fix that too then!! Congrats on all your hard work!

You guys look beautiful!!! So what's a ballooning of your esophagus? Did you have a stricture? (Glad surgery went well and you're feeling better today!!!) ((hugs))

I made the big haul on shrimp the other day. They were on sale and they were the big fat, juicy kind--already deveined and easy to shell. Score! So I splurged on a pound. I decided to grill all of them and skewered and cooked em up, mi-T-fine. F-I-N-E! And now I have them in a big ol' container waiting and ready for meals and set snacks. I also made a passel of fresh pico with avocado and lime. Holy guacamole crudo! So. Damn. Good. I am eating it for elevensies as we speak and the world just doesn't get any better!!! Oh hail mighty shrimp Your charred smoky flesh delights Get in mah belly.

I would but the Houston market doesn't carry monk fish. When we do it's about $23/lb. Isn't that so stupid? I love it though!

Dang it! You guys all rock. Thanks so much for the question and the answers!

Congrats!!!! Can't wait for the deets!

Good morning! This week I had my 6 month check-up with the oncologist, a 6 month repeat echocardiogram to check on the status of the fluid around my heart and the fibrous growth on it, and my 3 month visit with my lovely bariatric surgeon! Yeehaw! Talk about killing multiple birds with one stone!!! All appointments went great! My onc was tickled pink at the progress and thought I looked fabulous. He was so happy--I've seriously never seen him so happy and smiling so much! And he does truly love the idea of me getting down to stay between 140-145lbs. He said, "Don't regain!!!! Cuz that can mean TERRIBLE things for recurrence." So yes, there is that. LOL. My surgeon was so happy and all smiles. She's very pleased with the progress and the amount I've lost and told me to keep kickin' it and add weights as soon as possible. I won't know about the echo until my f/u at the end of May if there was an improvement in the ejection fraction or change in the fluid. So then, I developed a UTI and started taking Macrobid for the first time. Started it Wednesday. Holy CRAP! Can you say debilitating nausea? It's got so bad yesterday that I could only force down 43g of protein and 375 cals. And 30g of that was from a Premier shake. Hoooo doggey, this stuff is mean. I couldn't make myself take the second dose last night. NO vitamins yesterday either. I just couldn't even think of doing it. I also developed an itchy hivey patch on my arm yesterday--so I'm thinking it's not a good option for me. Called the doc's office this morning and am waiting for a call back on medication change. I'm betting he'll bring the Cipro which I'm not too pleased about either. OK, MORE medicine issues. Ran out of my calcium citrate capsules (doc says I can take them even though they are a blend of calcium citrate, calcium malate, and calcium carbonate with 85% of 1500mg coming from calcium citrate) from Solaray (Vitacost). They are so easy to swallow, and I take 6 per day for 1500mg total/daily. So I subbed the store generic of Caltrate (calcium citrate) Petites--but holy smokes, even those are huge and cause some scratching on the way down! Yuk! Big yuk! So I remember somewhere reading that you can dissolve your calcium honkers in liquid and take em as a shot. Elegant solution for a crappy problem! I think it's thanks to @James Marusek for this sage advice? Cudos James! So I did it and voila!!! Instant dissolve! I've had my first 2 today in my morning protein latte. They dissolve well, and are only slightly gritty but do-able to not have to swallow those horse pills! I have to take 8 per day to get my 1500mg (plus a little) as opposed to 6 per day of the Solaray combos. The petites are about .05 more per day. We'll see. She's doing labs so we'll see how I'm doing. All-in-all, good things! Oh, I forgot to post my 12 week dinner pic. Made grilled chicken for me and ribeye (on sale) for Mr. F. I tried a bite of steak again. I was able to tolerate it, tasted great, but it wasn't my favorite. Felt pretty heavy in Iron Will. So I will wait 2weeks or a month and see what happens then. 12 Weeks - Grilled Chicken, Grilled Ribeye, Steamed Broccoli w/WF Sesame Ginger Dressing, Avo & Tomato Salad 2 1/2oz protein, 1/4tsp EVOO, 1/4c cooked veg, 1/4c salad (avo/tom) Nutritionals: 217 cals; 25g protein; 9g fat; 8g carbs; 2g fiber; 6g net carbs; 2g nat. sugar

Sorry have been out at docs appointments--more tomorrow--and then to a clients, and brunch and now a baseball game. So just quickly dropping in. This landed in my in-box today and I thought I'd share. It's a pretty encouraging article. I just skimmed, so will have to read it in-depth when I had time. But, I thought I'd share it. Please feel free to chime in and share your thoughts on it. Look forward to talking tomorrow. ((hugs)) Hugs all around and hope you are all having great days! Seize the damn day already. Right? Here it is: http://www.marcandangel.com/2018/05/13/5-hard-things-you-need-to-start-doing-for-yourself-on-hard-days/

Ok fixed I think? It won't let you clear the goal date-had to delete and place a new ticker. 😞😜 dang now it's not showing at all

LOL. What? Please show me cuz this dang new math u kids are using confuses me! 😝 Oh I see it! I was hoping by putting in an estimated goal date it would tell you if you were on track. Rofl. I thought I removed the date. Will go see! Thanx!

Good luck tomorrow! Take the whole bottle it's small. Trust me when I tell you, leave no man behind. Seriously. Don't do it. Clean as a whistle!!! It's happenin'!!!! YEEEEEEEE-frickin'-haaaa!!!!

Stole it from a FB meme. Hope I don't go to jail.

Gosh congrats to all you big losers this week!!! You're all doing so dang great! Here's mine: HW 287.4 (May 2017) SW: 222.4 (Feb. 20) Last week: 188.6 Today: 185.4 So, down 3.2 since last week, 37 since surgery and 101.2 overall. Another good week here. Had my 6 month oncology appt, my 6 month echo cardiogram, and have my 3 month with the surgeon tomorrow. PT is going well, and am consistently walking 1 hour per day. Feeling so much better all things considered!

I forgot to do my other meals for 12 weeks yesterday. Derp! Oh well! So here's a pretty standard lunch for me at 12 weeks: turkey swiss roll-up (Boar's Head) - (42g hickory smoked turkey breast, 26g lacy swiss-red fat/sodium, Lowensenf Extra Hot Mustard) veggies (23g rbp, 26g baby carrots, 33g peeled English cucumber) bari ranch dip (30g Grk ff yogurt, WF Italian, parsley, granulated garlic, bp) Nutrition: 169cals; 21g protein; 6g fat; 5g carbs; 1g fiber; 4g net carbs; 5g nat. sugars

I'm actually hoping/planning on 125lb, figuring a 10-15lb bump up that I might not be able to keep from happening--or maybe I will have control over it--I don't honestly know. I talked to my oncologist at my 6 month check-up today. He wants every last smidge off and for me to maintain without regain. So he would happily see me at 125lbs. I do not have a large frame, it's small to medium and I'm closer to 5'3" than 5'4" now that I'm shrinky-dinking. My range is about 108-145lbs as normal range. And he wants me in "normal" range cuz of the BC. So being at 120-125lbs puts me smack in the middle of normal. He doesn't know whether that is doable for me--or realistic. He just encouraged me to continue to follow my doc's plan and to keep up the re-conditioning and walking and then later lifting weights and strength training. He terms what I'm in as super-menopause. Cuz I take a cancer drug that is a hormone blocker (aromatase inhibitor) and it amplifies the menopause because as I lose my max fat, then I shut down as much hormone as possible in my body.

Ok. First don't hate me. My protein latte is like the most simple thing in the world. But sadly, you don't have Premier Protein do you? Do you have any RTD drinks that are zero sugars, low carb, protein drinks that you like? Cuz if so, then it's pretty simple dimple. Also, can you order SF Torani Or SF Da Vinci Syrups? Cuz if so, then you can make a crap ton of flavors. I drink them hot in the mornings and now that it's a scorcher, I'm having them in the afternoon or late evening as my snack to finish my protein needs out for the day. They are oddly satisfying and refreshing over just ice cubes, crushed ice is even better. Frappacino is divine--but I'm fairly lazy right now. Sorry not to razzle dazzle. LOL. But these are my "easy button" drinks. Oh and we just brew our favorite blend of decaf which is a blend of 3 different coffees. Can't tell you which ones, Mr. F. is the barista around here. I will pour any leftover coffee into a jar and save in the fridge for ice coffees. So convenient! Basic Latte: 6oz decaff 1.5oz Premier Protein 3/4-1oz SF Torani or DaVinci Syrup 8.5g Miralax (generic - optional) Basic Iced Coffee: 3-4oz Premier Protein 6-8oz decaff 1oz SF Torani or DaVinci Syrup 3-5g whole psyllium husks (NOW! brand) (optional--start VERY slowly if your doctor says you can have this) ice (I fill the glass up, then add the PP, the sweetener, and top off with coffee. If adding the psyllium, will stir that into the mix before the ice, then pour over the ice.) Great Combinations: Bananas & Cream with Coffee (SF Syrups: cinnamon vanilla, s'mores, vanilla, marshmallow) Chocolate with Coffee (SF Syrup: chocolate, white chocolate, bailey's, peppermint, cinnamon vanilla, s'mores, marshmallow) Vanilla with Coffee (SF Syrup: see any for the chocolate + pumpkin spice) I'm sure there are other combinations, but those are the syrups I have and that I've tried. The Bailey's and the white chocolate syrups are SO damn good! In the old fat days, we would mix those syrups together with vodka and cream to make white russians. So good. So deadly. LOL. ********************** Ok, so now about the losing. I think I would start adding calories. And the way I would do that is to start slowly adding a couple hundred cals in 100cal increments until I start seeing a cessation or slow down of loss. I "think" the body is supposed to establish its own level of equilibrium when you reach your new low set-point. That's theoretically supposed to be the "end" until the magic 2-3 year mark when you start gaining. I have no idea if this is reality--these are just from anecdotal stories I've heard and read. I think for you where you are, 750cals might be on the lower end. I'd want to maybe be up around 850-900 right now with only 7lbs left, but I personally would not want to stop losing yet. I do want to be about 15lbs below where I want to end up and want to stay there for a couple of years until the natural regain stuff starts. I want to end up around 140-145 on the high end of panic mode. After a year, the fat reapportions itself so that you fill out again and don't look drawn. I would do that by adding fat, as long as you are getting most of your food from protein and getting your 60-80g of protein per day (probably more on the 75-80g per day rather than the 60g per day end.) And if your carbs are low (<40-50g per day), then the best thing will be to add fat. But you don't have to do fat bombs! It's small switches! 1 tsp of olive oil is about 120cals! 2tbsp of peanut butter is about 200cals! 1/4 avocado is around 100cals. 1/2oz of almonds is about 90 cals. Using whole milk cheese rather than 2% will be 100cals/oz rather than 60-80cals. Fattier cuts of meat rather than super lean will make a diff quickly and should still be tolerable. So in no situation would I need to be adding a fat bomb or bulletproof coffee. All of these things will add calories and add to satiety without adding volume. Right now, I'm maxed on volume too and am happily at 650-800 per day depending on my protein choices and if I have any nuts or nut butters or avocado for any meal. Once I reach my goal, I also intend to start experimenting with things like fruits/root veg and winter squash in small quantities/beans/legumes/brown rice, quinoa, low carb tortillas, stuff like that. Cuz my plan for maintenance is to hopefully see what calorie level puts me in maintenance. The way I'm sure it's cals versus blood sugar and insulin is to get my calorie levels up by fat. Cuz fat is not supposed to raise blood sugar as much as other foods. Once I know where I am, then I can re-apportion macros. I will always want to meet my protein goals. Then it's a matter of balancing your carbs and fat cals out with the remaining cals for the day once you have your protein needs accounted for. You might want some higher carb days (which will mean you have to lower your fats). Or you may want to just keep it where you know you're comfy and aren't losing or gaining. For me, I will want to know how high carb I can eat before my bg meter starts rising out of the normal range-and without wt. gain-then I will use that to determine my carb threshold for maintenance and the fat will fall to the level it does to remain iso-caloric. You may choose to have a couple of "huge cheat days" where you eat freely what you want, then take it back down to a 800-1000cal level for the rest of the week. So many variations! And as long as it doesn't jack with bgs or insulin, you can determine the type of maintenance works best for you. Hope that helps? I am personally gonna see where my body takes me down to once I'm firmly at around 850 cals per day. If it takes me to 125, then I will begin to formulate an escape plan cuz I know all too soon it's not gonna be about losing, rather about stopping regain? But I'm just a schmoe on the internet! So don't trust what I say! Do your research!!! And of course, all of this is null and void if you become a serious exerciser! Cuz then your needs are different and I've NO idea how to address that with myself! That's def a Jess and Jenn and Big Viffer, Mike question! And I will read and learn. Cuz I'm pretty sure you need a crap ton more cals, and maybe even more carbs, etc! To me, their scenario feels way more complicated and challenging to keep them out of starvation mode!

Fabulous! What an inspiration! Thank you and huge congrats!!!

Ideally, that is my plan...

TY sweetie. You are each so kind and affirming! Thank you. I'm enriched by each of you. I hope you all will post freely here--anything you want! Your rants! Your raves. Your happy updates and struggles too!!! Let's just make this a safe zone to be demented. Of course, for me, we all know it will be a very short trip!

@newself Now you made me cry! I'm verklempt.

Range 140-145lbs (5'4") = Highest acceptable for me, personally.

I you, your RD, AND 'Murica! Yes, in THAT order! Bahahahaha! And we're weight loss twinsies! Guess we're testing if your RD's formula for success is repeatable in an n=2 evidence based setting? hehe.

Yep.

Excellent article. Thanks!