ms.sss

It’s been sooooo long since I’ve posted something on here as I’ve basically been living out of pj’s and sweats for the past 3+ months. Today I put on something that is NOT flannel, fleece nor lycra! (It’s laundry day, and I had to put on something clean lol) I remember when I was so psyched to be able to fit into these size 6-ers and wear them out...and now they’ve been delegated to stay-home laundry day back-up pants.

“Almost”? Looks like you DID go, lol. What a FEAST! I soooo miss restaurants 😭

What are the potatoes stuffed with? ...and what is yellow on them? Sauce?

Holy smokes! What a diff 4 months makes! Your arms and traps are wicked ripped 💪🏼 Lookin’ seriously 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥, Jake. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Beef empanadas! (Butter pastry stuffed with seasoned beef, carrots, sweet potatoes, onions and sweet green peas). I had all the filling and half the outer crust of one of them. Also, ate all of my side caesar salad (romaine, 1/4 tbsp caesar dressing, bacon & grated parm...no croutons for me). 307 calories in total.

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what is “flat peach”?

Yum, all right! Now im gonna make stuffed chicken breast tomorrow!

Oooh those little lettuces are so cute!

Lunchtime! Romaine w/ vinaigrette, spinach, carrots, feta, mint leaves, pumpkin seeds & a snack can of tomato and onion tuna: 201 calories.

Started with just walking around the block a few times a day on Day 2. But it really started in month 3. I tried lots (and lots!) of things for about 2-3 months, looking for something I enjoyed and thought i would keep at: weight training, zumba, salsa, tap dancing, rock climbing, walking (which eventually turned into running), swimming, hot yoga, spin classes, lol. I would say I was doing maybe 1-1.5 hours of some sort of exercise every 2-3 days during this period. Intensity varied, depending on the activity: from low (walking, yoga) to high (spin class) Turned out I love running and hot yoga (swimming is good too). Haven’t gone to the studio nor pool since Covid, but these days I run at least 5K daily. Sometimes twice a day. This is quite a 180 for me, as for reals, I was the epitome of couch potato pre-wls. I mean, I would get winded going up a flight of stairs! (Btw, it also turned out that I detest weight training, but I do it anyway) ...and no, I didn’t find that starting regular exercise made me hungrier (i didn’t really start to feel hungry until a couple months into maintenance?). Though I do remember that I started to really want salt. Probably I wasn’t replenishing with enough water... So this is my VERY long winded lead-up to sharing this semi-pro tip: Find something (anything!) that you like to do and start doing it as early as you can muster. By the time u get to maintenance, it will be a no-brainer part of your life and it will help keep u there. Plus it makes u feel good...and when u feel good, you look good, and will have confidence oozing out of your every pore, that it will make others around you want to barf...lololololzzz. P.S. I also recommend strength training as soon as u are able, even if u hate it, just do it, as it really does make a difference. When all your fat has melted off, your hard earned muscles will see the light of day and it’ll be all good. ❤️ Edited to add: Correction: I haven’t gone to the studio nor pool since before my PS in December! I just haven’t been BACK since Covid. Pools are open now, but I’m wary of going back at this time, and I have no idea when the studio will open up...

I don’t consider myself a vet yet (20 months post-op last week), but I credit my weight loss to: of course the surgery, but also to being very strict about calories and ultra-low carbs (>25g NET carbs a day). And to a lesser extent, daily exercise. Starting at 235lbs 2 wks before surgery, I reached goal at 7 months post-op with a loss of 108lbs at the time (I dropped another 17lbs after that...I’m 115 now) I continue to stay away from most carbs (bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, etc), but I love me some dessert, so I will occasionally indulge, lol. I also run almost every day and force myself to do 20-30 mins of strength training daily (i admit, i hate it). I also still log/track everything I put in my mouth and weigh myself every morning. I hope to maintain this weight for the super-long term, but only time will tell, I guess. In the meantime it’s working for me, so its all good. I think so long as you keep the on top of things, for like FOREVER (and understand and accept that this is your new normal, and not just a temporary thing) one could reasonably expect to achieve and stay at goal (give or take 10 lbs) Good Luck!

Still working on that watermelon...today’s lunch: Romaine, carrots, watermelon, feta, pumpkin seeds, mint leaves and spicy vinaigrette: 154 calories.

If i had a Trader Joe’s in my country, I’d gladly wait in line all afternoon 😭

Yeah, you will notice that EVERYONE will seem to want to comment on your weight loss. It does get annoying. How about an all-in-one response: “Thanks for noticing, I’m working on it!”

Mini Brie-Cranberry-Cashew Tarts (can’t really see the brie, but it’s in there!) I had one. ...right out of oven, #curunchyMeltyYUM 60 calories each.

YEAH, sister! P.S. The meat pic is my favourite, natch. LOL.

✊🏼 Same, same, same here.

Ah, I see. Have you already put in the request and been denied? I have read of some members who have successfully navigated the appeals process after denials...but not necessarily for this same instance, though. But then again, the appeals process may just take longer than 6 months....

Hi! Did you gain the 40 lbs just during COVID (i.e., in the last 3 months)? Maybe book an appt with your PCP...perhaps it may be due to an underlying (or new) medical condition?

Not sure if you want to go this route but its an option: Insurance should cover the hernia repair without any waiting period. You can get the hernia repair now (or sooner), to at least address the pain you are in, and then complete the 6 months and get the WLS.

LOL...most things in life are better naked...

The evolution of a watermelon...

I used to looooove Biscoff Cookie Butter. I would make cookie butter, nutella & banana sandwiches. Ah, how times have changed. 😜

YES. I went from a 7.5-8 to a 6-6.5 On the bright side I got to buy new shoes, lol. INCLUDING tall boots that I hadn’t been able to wear in YEARS.