ms.sss

Yeah, more carbs helped me run longer distances, I think... Though you know, I am sort of loathe to admit it (seeing as i am still a self-diagnosed carb-o-phobic), but ever since I stopped doing ultra-low carb, my face looks so much better. My cheeks and under-eye areas have filled in and lost it's dark, hallow look. I no longer look like Skeletor, which is a good thing. I was looking OLD.

Me Too! (Man, I miss running ) Do you run outside?

@AngieBear...did you find the amount of food you listed difficult to take in? Also, yeah it will take a bit of tweaking to figure it all out (took me about 2-3 months). @chayarg HEEYYY!!! You got under 170!! YAAAYYYYY!!!!

Actually that 7pm entry was (sort of) a mistake...that was copied and pasted from another day (I corrected my original post). But yeah, I did eat that amount for a meal, just not yesterday (I think it was from last Thrusday...), though its worth noting that while it may be a lot in volume, its not really much in calories...just 277 calories for that entire 7pm meal. Also, I tend to take a looooooooong time to eat...maybe 45 mins to an hour to eat a "regular" sized meal. My weight generally bounces around 115 and 120. I've gotten as low as 109 (after PS), and as high as 122 (after vacation), but I mostly live in this range. I'm more comfortable when i'm in the lower part of this range (aren't we all?), and lately I've been living in the upper part and I'm trying not be be annoyed by it....

Yesterday Sunday, Feb 9 Maintenance : 5'2" / 1.25 yr PO Sleeve / 117.5 lbs ---------------------------------------- My insomnia issues continue, as is the late night eating (due to the insomnia). Its a wonder I am not falling asleep where I stand during the day as I am getting so little sleep these days. Am contemplating taking a sleeping aid tonite...we'll see. ---------------------------------------- 9:30am - 1 skinny tea latte + 1 pineapple tea 12:30pm - salad greens + vinaigrette + cucumber red onions + 3 oz roasted brussel sprouts + 1.5 oz grilled shrimp w/ 1 tsp crunchy garlic chili oil 4:30pm - 1.5 oz chicharron + 2oz gin 7:30pm - salad greens + vinaigrette + cucumber red onions + 1 fl oz pumpkin seeds + 1 oz roasted brussel sprouts + 1 oz grilled shrimp + 3.5 oz Korean short ribs + 1 slice prosciutto 11:00pm to 5:30am - 1/2 bag low-fat microwave popcorn w/ 1 tbsp butter w/ 1/2 packet white cheddar popcorn flavouring 1 oz chicharron 1/2 cup greek yogurt + 1 fl oz pumpkin seeds 1 sugar free lime ice bar 1 pineapple tea 1 Reese's Peanut Butter Cup ---------------------------------------- Totals: 2139 cals - 140g Protein 90g NET carbs - 120g fat

I have 2 arm garments and 3 abdominal ones. I wash the set i have on before i shower and just put a fresh set on afterwards. Im the worst about remembering to move my wash to the dryer, so i need the extra sets. im almost 8 weeks and i’ve been wearing all of mine at least 22 hours a day, every day (though there was a three day stint when i went compression-less due to experimentation AND laziness, but I went back to wearing them cuz TBH, i like them. Lately, i’ve started wearing a “base” tanktop underneath all of it, as I start to smell ripe if I get too hot or sweaty in these non-breathable fabrics. The cotton tank is easily changed out of if its not shower time yet.

I heart chicken wings. Though I can't seem to make them at home very well. I can't get the breading right... Yours look YUM though...(blue cheese or ranch dip?)

^^ Same. If you really want to go lowest carb/sugar go for champagne (the real, dry stuff).

I second @GreenTealael's Russel Stover sugar free chocolates (I loooooove the coconut one). ...and @Sheribear68, I call your 2 glasses of red wine and raise you at least half a bottle and a couple shots. ...and a 10-course tasting menu (which btw, is my favourite special occasion meal format of choice. Lots of variety AND little amounts of volume of food at the same time ) ...and I'm am totally wearing something slutty. Tastefully slutty.

Ok, so I bought a pineapple at Costco the other day (they were on sale!) and made 2 HUGE batches of pineapple water. I tried it hot, but seem to prefer it cold, so I poured the pineapple water into all these empty kombucha drink bottles we had and they are taking up a good portion of the fridge with them. I probably have about 3-4 weeks worth. Yikes. I'm on day 3 of drinking it (1 bottle a day) and don't see any swell decrease, but I have been waiting for my period to come so there is that... *crosses fingers and hopes for the best* #atLeastItTastesGood P.S. I made the mistake of eating some of the actual pineapple an got a really bad dumping episode. P.P.S. Ingredients: Pineapple rind, pineapple core, ginger root, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, turmeric, five spice, cayenne, erythritol-stevia blend.

double post

@chayarg, @Apple1, @Kris77 We got this ladies. It will be slower and more frustrating, but it can be done ❤️

Maintenance : 5'2" / 1.25 yr PO Sleeve / 116.9 lbs ---------------------------------------- Oops, missed posting Friday's food, so here is both Friday & Sat menus. I changed up my efforts a bit in terms of getting myself out of my rut. Focusing on physical & mental vs food intake. Exercise always makes me feel good, so am making sure to get some in (did two 1.5 hour walks each day), and going back to stepping outside to sit on the porch and do some deep breathing when I start to feel annoyed. I remember this did wonders for me when I went through my re-Quitting of cigarettes back in October. And yep, it still totally works. It's funny how I forget this every single time. Also, I need to make efforts to get more sleep in. I seem to not have not recovered from my week of not sleeping watching the Australian Open. I am continue to watch TV late into the night/morning, resulting in getting maybe 3-4 hours of sleep. This has to stop. #Move #Breathe #Sleep #andMaybeCutDownOnAllTheTeaLattes ---------------------------------------- Friday Feb 7 9:00am - 12:00pm - black coffee w/ stevia + 1 skinny tea latte + 1 pineapple tea 12:30pm - salad greens + vinaigrette + carrots + cucumber + red onions + 5 oz pan-fried chicken + 2tbsp avocado cream 2:30pm - 1 skinny tea latte + 1 ATKINS coconut chocolate bar + 2 oz chicharron + 2 squares dark chocolate 5:00pm - salad greens + vinaigrette + 2.5 oz pan-fried chicken + 2tbsp avocado cream + 1/4 cup vinegar coleslaw + 3/4 cup pineapple (btw the pineapple was a big mistake, I had made some pineapple tea with the rinds, so we had all this pineapple, so I figured, why not. This was the first time i've had fresh pineapple in over a year. I got really sick: first I got the racing heart and the nausea, then I barfed (like 3-4 times), then got really bad cramps, then I pooped, the cramps continued and I laid down in bed with a cold towel and passed out for 2 hours. #oopsies) 9:00pm - salad greens + vinaigrette + 1/4 cup vinegar coleslaw + 1 fl oz pumpkin seeds + 1/2 oz cheddar cheese + 1 oz BBQ pork loin + 2.5 oz pan-fried chicken + 2tbsp avocado cream 12:00am to 4:00am - 2 skinny tea lattes 1/2 cup Good North chocolate fudge brownie Protein ice cream + 1 fl oz pumpkin seeds 1/2 pecan butter tart 4 squares dark chocolate 2 oz chicharron At around 3am, I had a bout of foamies/slimies & diarrhea & overall bad feelings, likely due to the butter tart, but could have been leftover effects from the pineapple earlier... Totals: 2465 cals - 158g Protein 115g NET carbs - 153g fat ---------------------------------------- Saturday Feb 8 9:00am - 1 skinny tea latte + 1 square dark chocolate 12:30pm - salad greens + vinaigrette + cucumber + red onions + 1 oz bartlett pear + 2.5 oz pan-fried chicken + 3 oz roasted brussel sprouts 3:30pm - 1 skinny tea latte + 3 Sicilian marzipan pistachio cookies 6:30pm - salad greens + vinaigrette + cucumber + red onions + 1/2 cup vinegar coleslaw + 1 asparagus spear + 3oz grilled shrimp + 1.5 oz pan-fried chicken + 2 tbsp avocado cream 10:00pm - 1.5 oz dark chocolate covered strawberries + 2 oz chicharron Totals: 1468 cals - 89g Protein 82g NET carbs - 87g fat ----------------------------------------

Yesterday Thursday, Feb 6 Maintenance : 5'2" / 1.25 yr PO Sleeve / 118.0 lbs ---------------------------------------- I just couldn't get to sleep last night, and am running on a bit over an hour of sleep (and I'm not even watching tennis!). As a result ended up eating around 1am (I was actually hungry), and again at 4am (I WAS NOT hungry). Also, I am becoming a walking cliché: The lack of motivation to exercise and make better food choices aside, now I'm probably developing the makings of an alcohol transfer addiction. #selfDiagnosingMakesMeAHypochondriach. I am realizing that for the past two days now, I have actually been drinking not for the enjoyment of it, but for the sake of making myself feel mentally and physically better. This realization came to me this morning when I was contemplating about having a shot of liquor at 9am, AGAIN (I had a shot of lemoncello yesterday morning AT 9AM and then wanted some Gin this morning to "re-live" the good feels). Spoiler alert: I put the Gin back in the cabinet. But I wasn't happy about it. Whomp, whomp. Anyhoo, the blues continue, but I am making a concentrated effort to be less angry today. ---------------------------------------- 9:00am - black coffee w/ stevia + 1 fl oz lemoncello 12:30pm - salad greens + vinaigrette + carrots + cucumber + 2.5 oz roasted brussel sprouts + 1 leftover BBQ chicken lettuce wrap from the day before 2:30pm - skinny tea latte 4:00pm - Grande Starbucks Blonde Americano Misto w/ 1 pump of sugar-free vanilla 7:00pm - salad greens + vinaigrette + carrots + cucumber + 1.5 oz avocado + 5 oz steak 1:00am - salad greens + vinaigrette + red onions + 1/8 cup avocado cream (sour cream, greek yogurt, avocado, lime, garlic) + 1 oz blueberries + 1/2 oz havarti cheese + 1/4 shredded cabbage 1 oz bbq pork loin 4:00am - 4 squares dark chocolate + 1/2 cup Good North protein ice cream + 1.5 oz chicharron ---------------------------------------- Totals: 1561 cals - 92g Protein 87g NET carbs - 82g fat

Same ❤️ P.S. way to do 790 cals yesterday!...and you are a hero for calling your nephews "adorable" even when they wake you up at 5:30 in the morning

Haha, technically, chicharron is fried pork skin, fat & meat (think crispy fried pork belly). Sometimes its called cracklins, I think. (Different from pork rinds which is just the skin and kinda puffy like a cheetoh) It gets a bad rap as being super unhealthy due to its super high fat content (but really, sugar is waaaaay worse for you than fat is). I wouldn't recommend eating it during weight loss phase though, as its quite high in calories and not very filling. It does have a good amount of protein, but still...there are better choice if you are trying to lose weight. I find it a suitable snack in my own maintenance diet: decent protein, virtually no carbs....and sooooo yum.

@rs ... Le Sigh. It's annoying...I know what I need to do, but feel like I just don't care/not getting any enjoyment from projects/setting or achieving goals/etc like I used to. I can feel my anal Type A tendencies disappearing...and I find that I'm saying to myself "Why Bother?" You know, (I forget where you are located..was it Washington?) I think it was mentioned on another thread, but perhaps the recurring theme of the blahs and general malaise for many on this forum I have been reading on threads lately is due to the weather this time of year? (Well, plus we also had PS, so there's that). Maybe that is why we are having difficulty staying the course? Maybe we will feel better come spring? I am going to take your #onedayatatime hashtag to heart today. Eff yesterday, eff tomorrow, eff getting so pissed about my perceived inability to "just do it already". I am scrapping food and exercise goals today. I will do what I will do and be ok with it. My ONE SINGLE focus for today is to get to the end ofit without getting pissed at what I'm doing or not doing. Ya with me?

Oh, of all things that are glorious in my world it's chicharron (meat AND fat!!). And this pic is of the honest to goodness fresh stuff *drool* Now I have to go buy some pork belly and make some. The packaged stuff currently in my pantry has officially lost its lustre.

Jane Fonda was/is smokin' hot. Barbarella, anyone? ...as is J.Lo...the 2019 update version of her iconic grammy dress was like jaw to the floor. ...as is every single person with the confidence to show em what they got (real or enhanced, lol)

I think they are both awesome. In my own humble opinion, clothes (or lack of them) doesn't define class. The way one treats others unlike themselves does.

The past couple weeks I am feeling first hand what I think is the whole "letting things slide" conundrum that some WLS folks go through in maintenance. Fist, I get that what I'm currently going through is directly related to my PS recovery, but shi*t happens, and it could be anything really, just something in life that throws you off track. Anyway, I am getting/got a good reminder I am not exempt from backsliding, and I need to keep on top of things if I want to continue to enjoy the fruits of my WLS labour. I have increasingly been feeling like crap which makes me want to just lay down and be still and let the grass grow on me. I am saying eff it, when faced with food decisions and more and more making the less than optimal choice. In an effort to nip this in the bud, I stated forcing myself to go outside and at least walk (I still don't want to run due to my sore boobs & armpit and fear re-RE-injuring them) and doing some lower body strength training (which I hated before PS, and still do, dammit). I realize that this stupid PS recovery has kept me from doing so many activities that I enjoy and making me super annoyed. I really need to find a bunch of other activities I enjoy that I can do given my current state, STAT. Edit to add: Mr., who has noticed me sinking into crappiness, offered up a quick vacay somewhere sunny, but I can't even go into water AND I would look like frankenstien's monster with my still red incisions IF I even took off my compression garments and silicone tape, which I wouldn't anyway. This post should probably be in the Pity Party Thread. #sorry.

I have to say though that my tummy tuck allowed my stomach muscles to be visible. I knew they were under there cuz I could feel them, but the TT set them free, so to speak (well, at least the upper ones, the lower ones, if any, are obscured by my preggo-tum). I can see some muscle definition on your own tight tummy. For kicks, maybe do like 50 situps and you will probably see them get more pronounced cuz they are so close to the surface now after your LBL. P.S. I understand if this is not up you alley, LOL.

...and Jennifer Lopez is FIFTY! wtf.

From where I was looking at it, I didn't get a sense of contempt nor disdain from GreenFeather's post. But of course I read it through a different lens, so how I received/reacted to it would be different. I find one of the inherent problems with this forum (and any forum, really) is that even though we always say don't compare, it's still being done and this often wrecks havoc on the mental state/feelings/self-assessment of the compare-r, especially if the comparison results in a self-finding that they are somehow lacking (real or perceived). And while the constant statement of "Everyone is different" is said over and over again, members will still offer advice/opinions based on their own experience. And works both ways: the reader can accept or reject said advice (with varying degrees of agreeably or vehemence) based on their own experience. With that said, I try not to take things personally on here, especially because it is difficult at best to determine intention and tone from letters and words on screen. I disagree with a good amount of stuff on posted here, and I may say so on occasion, but I figure its not my job (nor my inclination) to change people's minds. I offer only my opinion or experience, and they can choose to take it or not. As I do the same with them. But again, that's just me. And to borrow a line from @Healthy_life2: Off my soap box. ❤️

Actually I was talking about your header photo...the one with you wearing hat at the shoreline with rock cliffs behind you? Is that a recent picture?