ms.sss

Oh, if you look, you'll find quite a few posts about "excessive" exercising, references to "obsessive" activity, and dire warnings about the inability to sustain activity levels and the "inevitable" crash and burn as a result. Sigh.

Hiay @Healthy_life2!!! I've missed you around here ❤️ Sometimes I think losing the thrill would be nice, but most times I still like to marvel in it, 😂

I started having consults the month I reached goal (7 months post-op) with the intention of getting it done in a couple months. Turns out my doc was booked up, so I had to wait anyway. I ended up getting arm lift, breast lift and tummy tuck 6.5 months into maintenance (14 months post-op over all). In retrospect its good that there was a wait time because I ended up losing another 15-ish lbs by the time PS surgery came around. My doc did say that in terms of effect on results, weight loss results in more effect on results than weight gain. The reason being that scar tissue may not shrink as well as it expands. My PS was done in Dec 2019, and I'm supremely happy that I had it done. Having tight arms in tank tops and being able to go braless in a tube top is pure joy, lol. P.S. I had mine done in Canada, so I can offer no personal recommendations. I do hear that Columbia is an inexpensive and reliable place to consider though.

Bread baking extravaganza today. Shown below, French Bread & Pandesal (a Filipino bread roll). I also made buttermilk biscuits, but they ate them all before I remembered to take a pic this morning. I ate 1/4 of a pandesal roll earlier: 43 calories Also had an expresso martini beforehand: + 141 calories 185 calories total P.S. I really need to work on my portioning when baking. They are all different sizes, which makes calorie estimation difficult.

You know, now that I think of it, my BFF said almost the exact same words to me. She said, "You are on your way to being even smaller than me" (she is "normal" sized). It didn't occur to me until reading your post now that it may have come from a place of insecurity? I don't remember it bothering me at the time though, I just took it as a statement of potential fact. I love her to death, and I know she loves me back so maybe that may have influenced my reaction (or non-reaction, I guess) when she said it. Although I do seem to remember it pretty distinctly, so it must have probably hit some sort of something since I can remember it now, 2+ year later. I have yet to date to receive any flat-out perceived snarky remarks form those I hold dear. I had however, got a few annoying words/comments from some extended family members at family parties pre-covid. But they are not very high on my love list so it didn't much matter to me....more of an annoyance vs. an injury. But its been a while now since I've been this size, and its all par for the course now with all that I interact with. Like with most things, its just a matter of time getting used to a new normal.

My fridge is fully stocked again, but I'm eating leftovers to use them up. Salad: romaine & vinaigrette, cucumber, carrots, mozzarella, canned corn, figs, & avocado with last night's grilled trout and asparagus. I ate 2 asparaguses (asparagai?) before I took the pic. 458 calories for the whole thing. Will eat the rest later.

Now I wish I took progress pics of my face!

wowza! That's only a 3 week difference?!? There is definitely a noticeable difference. Congrats on the weight loss ❤️

Yeah, I wouldn't put too much faith in clothes sizes if you are looking to determine progress. I can fit into a 0 in some brands, and a 6 in others. I even fit into a pair of snowpants that were marketed as a woman's XL. Your tape measure is the most reliable indicator...and pictures! (especially wearing the same article of clothing)

Yeah, I would think that if one is looking for data on weight loss with the surgery, then surgery weight should be used. If you are looking for overall weight loss for a program, then use the weight at the start of your program. Counting the weight loss prior to surgery would skew the statistics. With that said, my surgeon used the weight at the start of my 2 week pre-op diet (235). But *I* use the weight that I was on the morning of surgery. Further, the baseline for goal weight was/is what my weight would be at a BMI of 25. I have read others use a different data point, like a personal goal weight (which could be either above or below a BMI 25 baseline for their height). So yeah, just another unreliable statistic if one is comparing oneself to others...

Like alot of others (and unlike probably the same amount of others, lol), I step on the scale every morning, naked, and after I pee. Been doing this now for 2.5 years. During weight loss phase, I use to weigh myself before and after a good poop just for funsies. Once someone mentioned they weighed themselves before and after a shower to find out how much their wet hair weighed...got excited at the thought and tried it out, but whomp whomp...my wet hair made no diff. 🤣 Now if you are the type to get anxious/frustrated/agitated at the natural fluctuations, then I'd suggest limit the frequency of your weighs...for those that are unruffled by it, weigh away! Plus if you weigh everyday and record it, you can make fun graphs and marvel at it in your spare time. Here's mine:

I do. But I’m only 2.5 years out. Its a little better than before, but definitely still around (dumping) (oh, and I’m a sleeve)

Just a suggestion, exercise/activity doesn't have to be going to the gym or running 5K or workout videos. It could also be just be gardening, giving the house a good scrub, parking at the furthest parking space, taking the stairs, walking the dog (or the neighbours dog)... One of my friends has weights strapped to her ankles almost all the time (not the best look in the summer, but it works for her, lol). Another one has a reminder on her phone to get up and walk around for 2-3 minutes every hour (I used to do this too, but the reminders started to get annoying so I turned it off. haha). It may not be "alot", but its something.

Slim pickins' in my fridge & pantry this afternoon, so steamed some frozen edamame I found it the back of the freezer. 120 calories...ate it all (I need to go grocery shopping!)

@MarvelGirl25 I've been missing your pics of fab food! Those look awesome...I'm salivating for that steak and the veggie and pork stir fry 🤤

What's the brown crunchy looking stuff at 1:00?

Yep u r right...i looked it up and its almost double the milk fat than plan greek (9% vs 5%) and almost twice the calorie content as well! And to add insult to injury, it only has 5g protein vs. Plain’s 15g. But still unbelievably delicious 😋

I don't normally buy flavoured yogurt...I prefer to get plain greek yogurt and just add my own fixins. BUT...picked up this lemon flavoured one by request and OMG its delicious! Gonna make a sweeping declaration here and state that this is the best store-bought pre-flavoured yogurt I have EVER had. Yummer. 189 calories for this cup with 10 almonds...ate it all

Met up with BFF for a nice long hike this morning, and on the drive home, spotted a Popeye's, and thought, why the eff not. I'm in the mood for some fried chicken! (Especially since I am not a consistently good producer of fried chicken...YET). Ate a thigh piece with some Frank's Red Hot Sauce and a coffee martini before hand (not shown): 421 calories for all of it. Ate/drank it all.

Ok. @OAGBPal (& others)...I feel like I'm walking into a confrontation here so I want to tread lightly. I have a catholic grade-school upbringing, AND I'm Canadian so confrontation is my kryptonite!) I guess I just want to clarify where the perceptions that there is ordering around and telling others what to do comes from? I'm on these boards ALOT (and I mean ALOT), and I honestly don't see this. Which is why I was surprised (shocked, really) that someone is hassling @Creekimp13. I read opinions, suggestions, expressions of feelings and stories of a person's experiences. Sometimes someone will post something a little tone-deaf, but I don't see widespread maliciousness/bullying/pressure to be a certain way. Of course there was a thread or two that got pretty ugly. But these are the exception and not the rule. Obviously I don't see everyone's PM's*, so I dont know what is going on behind "closed doors". I dunno, maybe I'm naive, but I really don't see/read people "basically telling others to starve themselves to death to be 'okay'." on here. Honestly, the members on here I find to be very PG-13. Wanna see some real fighting/bullying/ordering/pressuring? Go on a Reddit board. Edited to add: UGH. Of course, as soon as I post something saying that I believe we all generally play nice on here, I immediately read a couple threads where we aren't. Sigh.

Well this is new one. And I thought I've seem/read everything already. I'm surprised there are actual people that would have the audacity to send messages like that. I'm glad you can let it roll of your back, but maybe you could report it case this person(s) directs their vitriol to someone who is not as thick-skinned? Just a suggestion. For what it's worth, in my insignificant opinion, I don't find you "outspoken" in an sort of negative way at all. You have your opinions yes (we all do), but you read pretty cool about it all. Granted, there are the few here and and there that come off as a bit abrasive at times, but you aren't one of them. Keep on keepin' on. ❤️ Regarding goal weights: its a personal decision. We all have different ideas on how we want to look/feel/etc, and how we want to go about it. What anyone else says is irrelevant (unless of course you are in immediate danger to yourself or others!)

Weird observation: in the couple months leading up to, and immediately after, weight loss phase my extra skin was all above my belly button as well, by the time i got around to my plastic surgery date (6 months later) the extra skim seemed to had moved down below the belly button. I suspect it had to do with the additional 12-15 lbs lost during that time? I dunno...

Small tupperware or glasslock containers! (to store all your leftovers/partially eaten food) Insulated water bottle! (to keep ur cold water cold or your hot water hot) Another water bottle with one of those ball mixer thingees for your (powder) protein shakes! A timer (or use your watch or phone)! (to time your bites or remind you to eat/drink/walk around) Fibre supplements! (to keep you regular...constipation sucks the bag) oh, and a fancy shmancy body composition scale so you can monitor your muscle mass/body fat percentages and not just weight! (might not be your thing, but just thought I’f put it out there...)

I basically give about 90% of it away. The other 10% the fam eats (there are 3 of them + me)....I also sometimes eat some of it myself, though there are lots of times I don't even have any of what I make. I just find baking therapeutic! 2 or 3 times a week, I go out for my "dessert fairy" delivery runs and drop and dash goodies at friends' and families' doorsteps...gives me all the feels 😎.

Take pictures! You may not see it the mirror, but seeing the difference of two pics side by side is hard to deny. I took pics every week for 7 months. One of my favourite pastimes back then was comparing the progress between pics. Also, I didn't get comments/reactions about weight loss until I lost about 60lbs....then the comments wouldn't stop for about a year (it does get quite annoying). By the first year into maintenance the comments basically dried up (thank goodness).