FluffyChix

DONE! I swear, that's who I thought it was. And I was stumped like dayum, why does she look tight as crap at 137 but looks like she has a tiny bit of bloated tummy at 123? I was scratching my head tryin to find my way out of a paper bag! ROFLMFAO!!! Good job!

This. No truer words...

Gosh! You look amazing! Congrats on 5 years of maintenance and for changing your life! You're so smart to nip this in the bud at 10lbs. Ten lbs is so do-able! I totally get the fear of regaining it all and failing weight loss! It's a real risk for the rest of our lives. But I do have to believe that we are not doomed to regain. In almost every case of regain we see, there is a reasonable explanation for the regain--with a rather simple solution. Usually it's a result of us backsliding into old habits, old food preferences, life stress, emotional coping tools using food, depression, change in exercise quantity/intensity, differences in total daily activity...etc. @Healthy_life2 gave you very awesome advice. It really works. I've seen so many vets come back with regain who subsequently lose it by going back to their forever diet following WLS and following the tenets of their docs. The tools still work, we just have to remember that the program works and we have to work the program and help our tool! Hope you will stick around and post with us. This is a very informative, helpful, and fun place to hang out!!! Your journey will help a lot of us as we watch you take your control back.

Had surgery at 9am and was out by noon the next day. No complications from my RNY. I'm in the US, so think it's a max of 2 nights assuming no comps.

Oh wow! Can't wait to hear what the first reading is!!! And now running to read about the Dexa and implants. 😕

What's so funny about tracking and logging everything, is that people who don't do it, imbue the action as onerous and painstaking and grueling. In reality, because I've populated my frequent foods, favorites, personal foods, and recipes in MFP, it takes about 5 minutes per day to see what the game plan is for getting my protein in. And it's a very reassuring and comforting feeling that actually frees me up from having to think of food all day. If I know, for instance, that it's Tuesday, and that means I'm gonna try to do an 18:6, then I know: 1> Afternoon snack is gonna be a big ass smoothie with 30g of protein in it and some veg and fiber. The end. 2> Dinner will be flank steak tacos made with my psylli wraps with avocado and tomatoes. 3> Bedtime snack (if eaten) will be a sf popsicle. For me, that's not boring, or grueling. It just simply "is". You know? And the payout is that I know and can predict how my body will react to those nutrients and values.

Well I'm properly shamed and schooled. Thanks. Now I'll know how to go on with my life. And no worries, you've just become the first person I've blocked. LOL.

Count them and don’t do the 30/30 unless your doc or RD specifically told you that you couldn’t count them or that u had to apply the 30/30 rule! ((Hugs))

Ok so they should tell you protein shakes, broth, sf jello, sf popsicles, and ice ALL count toward your liquid goal and you don’t have to do the 30/30 think. Cuz it’s all liquid!! ((Hugs!!))

Congrats!! Fabulous job!!

Excellent article!! Thanks for sharing that. LOL on never having @ms.sss six pack abs. I know!!! *wailing* But we can dream right? LOL Specially since plastics will only be happenin in my dreams. *le sigh* So I will just have to be envious and yet happy for these ladies who have all worked their keester off!!! I am maintaining though...that is a good point. I don't feel like I'm being overly restrictive. I have way more monkey bizness meals/days now--especially on weekends. But then on weekdays, I'm back to beeswax. Yeah I hear ya, it could be all of those things, especially constipation/bloat! And BTW!!! You look as fanfreakintastic as @ms.sss!!! Totally gorgeous with an enviable figure!

Haha Agreed! I was like..."Dayummmmm! I wouldn't even look that good at any of her weights AFTER PLASTICS!" *snort* Still laughin my butt off over here! But I do bring up the diff in low abdomens too...I have noticed, since adding back some very limited maintenance crap, that even though my weight is low (at 133 this morning now at 131.6), my tummy/hip measurement is slightly larger than it was when I weighed close to 140lbs. I can only attribute it to the question I'd posed to @ms.sss. I think that even adding my treats and the occasional wine or booze, is giving me more insulin response and I'm gaining weight in my lower abs from it. Thoughts?

Hahahaha! I thought that was @ms.sss! Damn better reading comprehension skills needed today! TY for letting me know!!! Apologies to Ms.SSS!!! She and you are still two of my heroes I'd be thrilled and happy to grow up to be when I grow up!

Let me start by saying you look ABSOLUTELY amazing!!!! What a gorgeous figure!!!! In any of those 3 pics (they all look diff), but you are gorgeous!!! So wild how subjective this is, but I think you physically looked leaner at 137lbs. Question for you...had you started weight loss shenanigans with food/sugar and booze at 137lbs? Cuz you look like super low body fat on the right. It looks like you have abdominal padding (tiny bit more) on the left. That could be explained by bigger insulin responses to food...puts the fat storage first, on the lower abs.

Yes, it's very common. What does the doc advise?

Absolutely. This is me. For that reason, I made a pact with myself and Mr. F. that no matter the day, our day starts early enough to get 30-45 minutes or an hour of exercise in and done for the day. That way, there is no guilt if we're beat. But if we can do an extra 15-30 minutes after dinner, then it's a bonus day. Takes a lot of pressure off too to do it when you're fresh and have the most energy.

It took me 3-4 months before I could feel the PO "full feeling". So I never "chased" that feeling. I went and still try to go "by the book" meaning, I go by my doc's and RD's prescription for food volume and protein quantity per my stage. At almost 19 months, I'm on my forever diet plan which is 1 cup of food by VOLUME per meal total. And daily I must get between 55-74g protein. I must also get 100+fl oz liquids daily and take my vitamins and exercise. Every dang day. So. That's the life plan. For you, 12 days PO, you may only be at 1oz liquids every 15 minutes. You MUST trust and follow the doc and RD prescript for volume. Cuz volume is king. Forget about chasing the full feeling. At that volume, it would be legit that you would experience hunger every hour or two. Cuz in full liquids you're probably getting in about 350-400 calories per day. Nowdays, if I experience hunger between meals, I KNOW it's cuz I'm thirsty. So I ALWAYS drink first. I can drink about 6-8fl oz of water very quickly before I say, wow! My rule forever is hydrate with water first and if still STARVING in 20 minutes and can't defer, eat a hard boiled egg or raw veggies. Something low reward and <100cals. Oh and BTW? I still don't chase the full feeling. I try with all my might to stop at 1 cup per meal regardless of whether or not I'm still hungry or no longer starving. Hope that helps.

Congrats! That was quick!

You should be fine. Reactions to the contrast are very low. It makes you feel warm in your who-ha area and maybe in your tummy but it isn't alarming. It literally takes only a couple of minutes. They'll start an iv. That's the worst part, but it's not a big deal. Good luck! It will be awesome to have that baseline scan!

Do you take metformin?

Ohhhh! See I can't think of avocado as a sweet treat. I can think of it as a thickener and healthy fat underlying a chocolate berry smoothie though. It replaces banana! I will try your avo sweet smoothie though. Maybe this weekend. But the green smoothie is ball busters awesome!!! It's almost like a green gazpacho maybe? So so good. You can even add a spoon of greek yogurt if you want. I just use water. But you can do any kind of milk or liquid that you want. Sometimes I use hibiscus tea as the base of it.

Daily Water intake = A+ : I get 100+ oz of fluids per day from all liquid sources Daily Protein intake = A I get exactly what I target per day cuz I pre-plan my day of food based on what I know I will be eating. Food choice = A+ I adore my KISS meals that we eat about 80% of the time. I crave clean food and love how I feel after making great choices, whether that's eating in or eating out. Flexibility = A+ I never plan for cheating. I think we're human. And no one can be a 100% perfect ever. So the cheats take care of themselves. Cheats happen. So no need to plan an organized one. But when a cheat does happen, then I go with the flow and enjoy the hedonistic pleasure of it all. When it's done, I don't beat myself up. I just get back to TCB. Portion Control = B+ I still struggle with the concept of whether I should be eating to my pouch volume, or staying at my doc's and RD's prescription for me. I know I have a larger capacity and could eat more than most people here. I just don't let myself do that very often. And the times I do eat 1 1/2-2cups of food (mostly with salad or veggies), then I feel guilty even though it's all legal and healthy food. I don't want to stretch my pouch or injure my stoma. Mindful eating = B+ : I really do try to think about my choices in the moment and the big picture. I also try hard to make mindful selections. But I need improvement in savoring each bite and slowing things down. Exercise = A+ I feel very proud of my daily exercise habit and am starting to use bands for toning and doing quit HIIT routines which will help me build muscle. Vitamins = A+ I'm very programatic and have my times down for when I take daily vits. Self image = C- Dysmorphia is a *****. I see myself as heavier than I am, especially if bloated and not poopin like a princess. The dysmorphia really forks with my self-esteem. But I am doing serious head work on this and I have a great support system that is helping me improve. Mental Health = A I feel very strong and healthy and happy. So blessed and thankful/grateful to live this new life. What's not to love. Relationships = A I feel that my relationship with Mr. F continues to grow and evolve in love and respect. Family and friend relationships have continued to be stable and happy. Self care = A I may have swung too far in the self-care department. Ha! Trying to not think of myself and care so much. I have been focused on losing for 3 years super-intensely and in healing. Now I'm focusing on how I look. Now that I'm in maintenance, it's time to turn my focus outward toward helping others. Love the post!!

hahaha! I sure hope a sf popsicle is ok anytime. I'm really just trying to address the habit of feeling like I'm entitled to feed cravings at bedtime. Just trying to train the dragon (hypothalmus=aka lizard brain) Can't imagine a sweet avo smoothie! What I do for "green" avocado smoothies: 1/4 avocado (about 2 oz) 1-2 oz baby spinach (fresh) 1-2 oz cucumber fresh lemon juice/zest (lots) 1/2oz celery (optional) garlic s/p cilantro scoop of super greens powder (adds a little tart sweetness)

You are NOT a slow loser. You’ve lost 4.85lbs per week over the last 7 weeks. You are above average!!! Ave loss is 2-4lbs per week.