Creekimp13

My surgeon said he wouldn't operate until I lost 10% of my body weight. At 270 at the time....that was 27 pounds. Took me about five months...but I got it done. Gave up soda, kept a food journal. Walked daily. Worked really really hard. I know some programs don't lean on you to lose. Mine did. Best wishes to you! Baby steps!

If we look at the evolution of our gut, and our gut microbiota...we were not meant to eat animal protein heavy diets. Our closest primate relatives, chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas and bonobos...are omnivores who eat very little meat. Most of their diet is fruit, vegetables, nuts, leaves, bark...tons of fiber. Tons of plant matter. Tons of sugar..fruit, figs, honey. Tons of carbs. And a small amount of bugs, eggs, and meat. A very small amount. Like 5-8% of their diet. Interestingly....the people on Earth who have the longest lifespans and least heart disease and cancer....eat a diet very similar to our primate counterparts. Mediterranean Diet includes lots of complex carbs, lots of fruit and vegetables, nuts, olives, plant oils, fiber...and a small amount of meat, eggs, dairy. The bulk of daily calories comes from high fiber carbs. Thinking about the human digestive system, and the human renal and cardiovasuclar systems....the idea of doing an animal protein heavy diet that limits carbs... for more than a temporary period of time... quite frankly....scares the hell out of me for the future of my heart and kidneys. We just weren't built to eat this way. Dr. Atkins...of the Atkins high protein low carb diet died at 72. A medical report issued by the New York medical examiner's office a year after his death showed that Atkins had a history of heart attack, congestive heart failure and hypertension. His widow would not allow an autopsy.

My experience....is that Infidelity, by itself, is almost never the integral issue. Infidelity is a symptom of a bigger underlying problem in a marriage that isn't working. People in happy marriages don't cheat. Not to say there aren't marriages and couples who survive a bout of cheating...but it's a huge red flag that more is wrong than meets the eye. Without addressing the underlying issues, the marriage becomes doomed. Remember that 85% of people who get bariatric surgery get divorced. If you're "happily married" and cheating...you're either a massive narcissist, or are in serious denial.

I had a big hiatal hernia. They fixed it during surgery. I had a super easy recovery. If you get pain in your shoulder...I've been told it can be deferred nerve pain from the hernia repair.

Nice work, Beautiful!

This is a bizarre question to me. I really don't understand superficiality. I don't consider other people to be meat. Or sex puppets. That's the most simplistic silly view I can imagine, and I wouldn't want to live a life so limited. The most attraction I've ever felt for people in my life has been based on their minds, their creativity, their passion, their confidence, their sex appeal, their kindness, humor, decency. I can find about anyone incredibly attractive. Seriously. Physicality is insanely diverse. If you're limiting yourself to any particular type, you're missing out. I can find about anyone incredibly appealing. IF their mind is outstanding, if their ability to express themselves is immaculate, if we have commonality and trust. Finding someone with an amazing mind is so much harder than finding someone with an amazing body. Amazing bodies are a dime a dozen. So much of our perception of what's attractive...is informed by the people we are most impressed by and feel love and trust for.

Sometimes it's just shitty genetics. If you don't believe this....look at dog breeds. There are damned few obese sight hounds in this world. Most Labradors would eat themselves to death if given unlimited food. Terriers and huskies generally (but not always) can self-regulate a free-feeding arrangement and maintain healthy weight. Try this with dachshunds, bassets, cockers, or pugs...and they'll be round little foot stools in months. Any vet will tell you that some dog breeds are much more prone to obesity, and others are almost universally fit. Sometimes it really is just the luck of the draw.

Sports bra? Get a bigger one so it's not so snug...but offers some support and camouflage.

Watch FluffyChix posts. She's VERY into creative recipes and has a bazillion of them....and she just had her surgery a week ago. She'd an awesome resource for foodies.

When that happened to me a couple times...I found that breathing deeply and walking really helped. The deep breathing causes the diaphragm to push down on stomach and stimulate peristalsis. Walking just helps jiggle things loose and gravity helps. Breath deep and walk. It will help. Drinking liquids might make it worse. Did for me when food was stuck for a bit in the beginning.

Just suffer through it a day at a time. Was the worst part for me...worse than surgery.

Extreme eating wasn't good for you...and extreme exercise isn't either. (nor is extreme calorie restriction) Work on moderation and making loving decisions for yourself. Think of yourself as some other person you have to take care of. You'd never make them work out until they were sick, and you'd never overfeed them to the point of being unhealthy. Do the same for you. You're worth loving, thoughtful care taking. Moderation is normal and healthy. Make the new normal....more normal and less extreme.

I was never an exercise person. I mean...I like active things, but in the past ten years or so as my weight crept up....not so much. I started walking with a Fitbit in June. Super easy goal at first....and just worked up a little at a time. The water aerobics is an excuse to get into that incredibly hot pool! LOL Love that thing! And I figure, while I'm there, I might as well circuit train a little. Kinda fun to use all the different weights and stuff, and you do a little cardio before the circuit. Reading that, it sounds like I'm big into exercise...i'm really not. I just picked up the walking habit and like to swim. LOL

I walk about 7 miles a day and do cardio, circuit training and water aerobics in a heated pool twice a week. I'm on my elliptical a little each day. I'm COLD. All the freakin time. Exercise doesn't help...except when I'm doing it.

Well...during the act of exercise, you'll warm up. But no, it won't make you warmer when you quit. This is how my doctor explained it: Your body has noticed you're starting to starve to death. It wants you to survive, and it has all sorts of defense mechanisms to help you survive that it has developed over thousands of evolutionary years of famines, bad hunting seasons, bad weather, bad conditions. It has learned to survive when the calories dwindle. Heat is a MAJOR expense calorie-wise. So your body goes.....Need to keep your core and brain warm, but your limbs? Meh....we can turn the thermostat down a little and save some energy expense. You won't die from cold limbs. It's uncomfortable, but you'll live. The only way to warm up....is to eat more calories.....which is counterproductive during the losing phase. So what can you do? Invest in sweaters, cardigans, hoodies, and lots of layers. Take a hot water bottle to bed with you. Wear lots of socks. Take showers and baths. Down throws and blankets. Supposedly, when we hit maintenance, it improves.

Good job, Linda:) You're ahead of the curve!

I've watched every single episode of My 600 pound life at least a half a dozen times. I put them on in the background when I'm on my elliptical, or walking laps around the house, or just generally trying to be active. They keep me moving. I love that Dr. Now is extremely compassionate, but also really honest. I love that he gives people multiple chances, but also doesn't accept manipulation and excuses. Have seen some fascinating people try...and it's pretty hard to play him. He's a smart cookie. I get extreme satisfaction from him telling it like it is, and letting people know he sees through their crazy behaviors. I like that he keeps people accountable. He seems to genuinely care. He's like my adorable little imaginary weight-loss fairy god father. I think of him saying..."Creekimp, how is your eating habit?" when I'm struggling. Or..."You did well, I'm proud of you!" when the scale moves and I hit my next mini-goal. I know this post sounds totally goofy...and it is. This is a ridiculous post. A REALLY ridiculous post. But it's true...I just love Dr. Now. He inspires me. Think about dedicating your life's work...to helping folks who are so heavy other clinics won't work with them. It takes an amazing person to dedicate their lives to helping a population that other doctors are afraid to work with. I dunno. I just wanted to sing his praises a minute and admit my goofy secret.... One of my support people...whose no-nonsense approach helps motivate me every single day....is this reality TV doc who doesn't know I exist. LOL. Thank you Dr. Now. You're wonderful:)

Really brave post, Kate. Thanks for trusting us with it to help others.

Research two questions: What percent of people who lose weight through diet and exercise alone...maintain that loss at 5 years? What percent of people who lose weight with surgery...maintain that loss at 5 years? At some point, it becomes necessary to surgically overcome a metabolic set-point. I'm not saying it's impossible without surgery....but the odds are really brutal. Look into that data to make an informed decision.

I miss those 66 pounds (so far) like I'd miss an itchy pinworm infection:)

Fluff, you mean a 220 pound person who wants to be 150 pounds isn't gonna lose 50 pounds a month????? WHAT! Why the hell not??? Fluff! Where's my yellow brick road? LOLOLOL:)

Naieshait, you're gonna be ok, and you are losing weight. Keep clicking along and trust your program. The exercise you're doing is awesome, keep it up. So you had a damned cookie and chips. Everyone's going to experiment with junk again at some point. (Or close to everyone?) LOL. I sure have. For me, I kinda do test out riding that dragon a little....just to prove to myself that I can. Just to say...hey, I can have a bite of this and step away. I've got that control. It's important to me to do that. Some people think it's dangerous to do this and they avoid temptation completely. It's individual. I need to prove I can do it to feel in control. If I can't have a bite and walk away...food has won. Isn't that weird? For some people...if you take a bite...food has won. We're all different. But the key thing is....stepping away and not getting sucked into old habits. It can happen when we're feeling discouraged....so you really need to watch out for that! But you can do this. You're actually doing really, really well so far! Just gotta be patient. People who generally lose a little slower...lose a little longer...and at the end of 18 months, everyone loses about the same percentage of their excess body weight....if they stay on track and don't hit that slippery slope of bad habits.

Some of my loss is pre-surg (I started my diet in June)...but thanks:) I'm pretty happy with it:)

You got this. Sorry about your sis and grandpa....that had to be tough. Wishing you the best on your new start:)

My group did full liquid in two phases. Phase one was just protein drinks and clear liquids. We did this until we hit seven days. Then, at one week out, we added the yogurt, pudding and cream soups. As far as I can tell....bariatric surgeons have very little consistency on this stuff. Lots of different ideas out there. My personal advice? Do what you feel up to that you have permission to do. Take it slow. If you have nausea, slow up, drink clear fluids and protein drink for a while longer and give it time.