mousecat88

Do you ever measure your body fat percentage and muscle mass? A lot of you may be muscle and not fat if you work out like you say. My trainer is 275lbs and a powerlifter and basically it's all muscle (but you can't see it - he doesn't look buff). And, honestly, I am a 5'3" female and I am told I need to eat at least 1100 a day just 6 months out from surgery given the amount of exercise I do (I get to about 800 before I am stuffed). Being a guy and working out a lot, it sounds like you need to eat more. I do feel hungry, but that hunger goes away since I stick to 5 small meals a day. I was also told the surgery "stops working" at 12 months or so and that the rest is up to you to ensure you don't regain. I think you do need to stick to a lower calorie, lower carb diet forever.... but tailor the calorie and carb intake based on how much exercise you are doing. Is there a trainer at your gym you can talk to? Mine is a wealth of knowledge. My trainer gets mad that I am eating "so little" based on "the hell he puts me through". lol. I just can't fit it in just yet. He wants me at 100g of carbs, 1100 calories, and over 100g of protein... my dietitian at the bariatric clinic agrees, given the exercises I do.

I am going to consult with two surgeons - the one who did my breast reduction doesn't take insurance for tummy tucks, but I still want to consider him for the arm lift because I trust his work. I have my 6 month appt on 5/6 and I'm going to get a referral for the bariatric office's preferential plastic surgeon then, too. I am working on gathering docs to take out a second mortgage to pay for the plastics so I need to start getting quotes. All of my excess skin is below the belly button, too, so that's good to hear, in case insurance won't pay because it isn't "severe" enough.

They were judgmental of me having WLS when I went. When my friend who was with me left the room one of the hosts said they discourage members from having WLS because "if I had just used OA I would have never needed surgery". I felt very uncomfortable. I gave my "story" to everyone and openly said I hesitated coming because I figured I would be judged as having "cheated" for having WLS, and the same woman who runs the group shook her head at me. I mentioned I no longer binge eat and the woman clapped, and then I said it's because I am physically incapable of doing so and she frowned at me again and reiterated to the entire group that she doesn't like WLS (in front of my face). There was also a woman there who said she loves OA and says it has helped her a lot and she's gone for 8 years... but has only lost 20lbs??? Also, they said they do not give advice - that's what I want. I don't want to sit there and listen to people read, which is what they did. I can't focus when people are reading; I don't learn well that way. Everyone just went around and read from the AA Book and shared their struggle for that week - and no one was allowed to comment or give advice on it. We just had to sit in silence and then thank them for sharing. It was just bizarre. Like sitting around moping about your weekly failure. I am happy it helps you, though! It's definitely not for me, however.

I would like to lose 52lbs and reach my goal weight by the end of November 2019. That gives me 7 months. Is that something that is achievable? My surgeon's office keeps telling me that my surgery is going to "stop helping me" soon and that my "honeymoon period" is over and it's really discouraging me. I am still losing weight at about 7-10lbs per month, so if I keep that rate up, I should get there. Will things slow down or is 7-10lbs in the "final 6 months" before the 12 month mark still attainable? My 6 months is May 1. What was YOUR personal experience in the 6-12 month period? I have this personal deadline because I want my brachioplasty in December to minimize my leave request and also get rid of the batwings forever.

we both have the same timeline. we can do it! Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

following.... because I'm at 6 months and have 51lbs left to lose. have lost 92... Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

Just got back from the OA meeting. It isn't for me. It was completely nonreligious and I gleaned that at least half the group were atheists. BUT, none had had gastric bypass and I did feel judgment. They said that they do not like the surgery because through OA if I had done that first and worked the steps, I wouldn't have needed the surgery and could have conquered the food addiction without medical intervention. They shared stories and talked about their struggles with eating now, but I don't share the same issues because this surgery has forced me into a healthy eating lifestyle. So our issues don't quite mesh. They are working on getting to where I already am by virtue of "cheating" and having surgery. I am looking for one on one advice with maintenance for when I have any weak moments. They do not give advice. They just read from the book (and I can't focus when someone reads) and share what they struggled with recently. But no one responds with advice. It seems kind of useless imo. Anyways, I gave it a shot. Not for me. Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

I don't feel competitive, but it's in my nature to compare. I know we are all unique and it is unrealistic to compare - but like someone else said, people talk about honeymoon periods and even my surgeon stresses the importance of losing "as much as you can as fast as I can" (which is probably a bad thing for them to do)... and it makes me feel a lot of pressure because I don't want to be a failure... again.... especially after, as my mom so aptly puts it... "mutilating my body".

He told me to portion out 2 baby carrots to have in between my meals and put them in a filing cabinet away from me so I have to get up if I want to snack on them. He is full of good advice that I never follow. LOL. He also said sugar-free mints (I am a gum swallower). I am just so petrified of *accidentally* snacking on Taco Bell. lolll. I'm going to this OA meeting and I'll see how that goes.

Why did you stop taking it? They gave me my Lexapro in the hospital after surgery. For the first few weeks after surgery I was really emotional and everything was off-kilter, but then went back to normal. (My normal "just super anxious but not insanely cry-y" self) Your new feelings may be temporary and you may need the Cymbalta again. I'd definitely ask your psychiatrist if you should have stopped taking it.

I talked to my trainer about this yesterday and he said I have an issue with undereating now and I told him that I am scared to start snacking throughout the day because it's not a good habit to pick back up. He said it'll be fine if I just eat like a few carrots in between my 5 small meals, but then I was like... but it can easily lead to me snacking on junk and then I will hate myself for doing that. It's such a slippery slope in my mind. He said my worry is good, but I took my worry up to level 10 and it's preventing me from eating things that are healthy and that I SHOULD get more calories in due to the intensity of my workouts. I just don't feel mentally comfortable doing that. I'm scared I will slip up and not be able to stop myself, or slip up and feel REALLY DAMN BAD and get really depressed. He said I am probably wanting to snack not so much because of bad habits coming back, but because I don't get enough macros in for the amount of work I am doing and my body is craving more food.

There's no meetups in my area - I live in a kinda rural place.

As a recovered post-surgical ulcer patient to you, I hope you're feeling better. I assume you're on Carafate? I was on it for about 12 weeks and it eventually helped me feel so much better. I have an extra bottle of it.... just in case something starts to feel off. lol.

I was never formally diagnosed because I never openly discussed my issues with food and didn't disclose that issue to the surgical psychologist. But when I had the surgery, it basically immediately resolved... because you vomit your brains out and physically can't binge eat anymore. The desire was there for a short time, but then I had unrelated complications and dumping from other things and knew if I binge ate I would be in so much horrific pain that the desire to do so was suppressed.

Whaaaa? How do they know if there's a problem without labs? lol. You could have a vitamin deficiency without any symptoms (like I did with Vitamin D).

Talked to my nutritionist and she said not to worry about the prealbumin and that my actual protein intake is a better indicator and she thinks I am doing fantastic. THANK GODDDD.

I struggled a LOT in the beginning getting protein. Like, I would get 20-30g a day. At my 3 month appointment my prealbumin levels were at the lowest end of normal. I since upped my protein and consistently get 80-90g a day, sometimes higher. Every day. Without fail. I got my 6 month labs back just now and now it says I am protein deficient!??!? WHAT THE HECK!? I can't physically consume any more protein! lol. Seriously, it's all I eat basically. What am I supposed to do?

I just got back from my psychiatrist and she said to give it a try and see if my surgeon has referrals (which they don't). If it doesn't work, she will pitch my problem to the team there and see if a therapist will pick up my case. No one there deals with eating disorders, but EVERYONE deals with substance abuse disorders (yay, West Virginia) and addiction is addiction so someone may be willing to try to work with me.

That's what I am worried about. I want like common sense, real-world advice. I don't believe in the giving yourself over to a higher power thing or that "once an addict always an addict". I also feel like 12 step programs deflect personal responsibility. My friend is in school to become a therapist and has to attend a support group for her class so I think we may go on Friday just to see what it is like.

I got checked at 3 months and 6 months. Then at 12 months, and then annually after that. I did have a two week and one month visit, though. I actually had a lot more visits because I had complications, but the two week and one month was regularly scheduled to check incision sites, etc.

Arghhhh this is crazy. I just don't understand how they are LOWER than when I wasn't getting even 1/4 of what I get now. Stupid body.

I can't have Genepro because it has whey in it. Like, wtf though! How was my protein HIGHER when I wasn't eating any????

You are never too old to want to look and feel confident. Go for it! ❤️

Slow Jogging International! That is amazing. lmao. My coworker is trying to get me to participate in a 5K Saturday and this is going to be me.... I love it.

After my last appointment it took 3 days for my approval to come back from insurance. My surgery was scheduled out for 5 weeks or so. Would have been sooner but I pushed it back due to work.