Sheribear68

I quite honestly don’t know what to think. Definitely the change is messing with her, and I’ve been very understanding because of all of the stuff she’s dealing with. At the end of the day though, it doesn’t take the hurt away. She’s letting other friends into her circle and allowing them to help and to be there for her. That’s the part that’s the toughest to deal with ATM. I’ll continue to give her space and feign ignorance as to not make her uncomfortable. But it still hurts

Fabulous attitude! I’m so excited to hear that you’re taking your first steps on this marvelous journey. Please keep us posted on how things progress

Here is an example of my typical work day (11 hr shift) meal. Loads of Protein and it’s easy (I can gulp down cottage cheese while on the fly and filling a jillion Rx/hour while not getting a single break). The Premier Protein is in the form of half PP, half iced coffee and I sip on that mid-afternoon. The coffee gives me much needed energy and the protein gives me stamina and keeps the hungries at bay when my cortisol levels from work are through the roof. Edted t add:   First column is fat, then carb, then protein. Not sure why it cut off on SS

Okay so I’m asking for advice ladies (and any men who might happen to be lurking) I’m learning that carbs freak me out. As in if I log over 20gm carbs in a day I’d probably cry kind of way. This morning I weighed 156.4– which quite frankly stuns me bc I struggled for 3 weeks to go from 162 to 159, and then I go from 159 to 156 in 4 days, but that kind of thing had happened before. Now that I’m under 2 pounds from goal, it’s becoming more real. One thing I know my brain won’t handle well is any kind of bounce once I get to under 155. I’m asking for help in transitioning. I don’t want to end up with any food phobias and want to stay focused on health first.

Ugh. Wrong photo loaded on previous post

Here is my progress report. Yes,there was a few week period of complete free-fall right after surgery and then slow and steady thereafter

Remember that each of us starts in a different place. Even if we were to find someone the same age,gender,height,HW, and SW, you STILL wouldn’t be able to compare yourself because there are so many many complicated factors and biological systems involved with weight gain and weight loss. I guess about the only people who could compare themselves would be identical twins, and even that could be dangerous. As of today I’ve lost 88 pounds PO and my surgery was 2-6-19. I know many in my February group who’ve blown me out of the water in number of pounds lost, but I’m less than 4 pounds from GW and couldn’t be happier with my progress. My progress was “slow,and steady”, but I’m almost there. I won’t quite hit GW by Saturday, and the story of this entire process for me has been falling short of monthly weight loss goals (I think in the 8 months PO, I’ve only hit a goal on time just ONCE) but I’m going to keep plugging away and working the plan. Guys, this is a marathon, not a sprint bc it is something that will have to be managed for the REST OF OUR LIVES.

Sooooo glad your hair is coming back! Woo hoo! Honestly I don’t think mine is coming back quite yet, but it also doesn’t seem to be falling out more either so I’ll take that for now.

Omg. Dear you are literally shrinking with each and every OOTD Lordy I’m glad my daughter hasn’t seen your posts bc she wants to adopt a new kitty every week. Problem is, she lives in an apartment with a 1 pet/ household policy and I know who would end up with them. 🤣🤣 The two I have are from her. Lol, can’t have a 3rd....or 4th... or more It is adorbs though

Thanks so much for the info. For someone like me who is completely triggered by both real and fake carbs (even small amounts of artificial sweetener can set me off) I’m leery of anything right now that isn’t meat, or dairy. I do some salad packs, but always have some vinegar and oil dressing handy if the dressing in the pack is too carb-ey. I’m still trying to fight off insulin resistance and it’s the insulin resistance recurring that worries me the most. I think the main reason I’m playing around with IF as much as I do is for that very reason. Okay, so goal #1 is to actually hit maintenance, then figure out how in the world to stay there.

So good to hear from you EmzBee! Hey I’m an October bday girl as well, although I surely won’t be turning 30! 🤣🤣🤣 However I will be turning 51, which is awesome because it will mark the first bday I’ve had since I turned 28 where I’ve had a normal BMI. I’m so happy that you get to start your 30’s like that because I spent my ENTIRE 30’s and 4’s. Obese and MORBIDLY obese. I love that you’re planning a bday celebration with activity and not centered around food. That will definitely help you reach that challenge goal.

Honestly the thing that’s scaring me most is the day my appetite returns. I’ve had moments, like when I’m fasting for >18-20 hours, but I’m talking about when my FOR-REAL appetite comes back. I think that losing a pound in a month where yours already came back is awesome work! Besides, you’ve lost down so far that losing even 1 pound is a way bigger deal than it used to be. I truly aim to reach goal weight this month. I’ve got just under 4 pounds to go. After that, I’d like to lose another 10 pounds while I settle into maintenance. I don’t care if that last 10 takes 2 or 6 months TBH, I just want to find a way to successfully transition from losing mode to maintaining within a 10 pound window mode (which is why I want/need those last 10 vanity pounds) I’m so sorry you’re in back pain, Anna.... that sucks to hear.

Lol! I love grilled okra. We have a great veggie basket for the grill and my fave is to load that puppy up with okra,garlic, and onions. Goes great with almost anything

OMG, that outfit! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

This is why carbs— even healthy ones frighten me so badly That’s something else I’m going to work on this month: my fear of healthy carbs

I am sooooooo going to check this out! About 75% of what I’m planning to donate is work clothing. Much of my casual stuff is barely good enough for the rag bag.

Aren’t Anna’s legs AMAZING? Welcome to this thread! It’s my fave and I LOVE all the looks,advice,and support here. Okay so this is a Uber-casual OOTD. This was from earlier this morning as I was heading out for my dexa scan. knew it was going to be cold, lol

Okay so I’m in! Personal goal: hit GW this month. I’m less than 5 pounds away. Surgery type: VGS on 2-6-19 Weight as of last Friday was 158.8. BMI 24.9 (finally NORMAL range) I’m going to choose anywhere abs Honestly don’t have a fave sweater bc this is my first fall PO. prior to this year, I didn’t have many sweaters bc I’ve always been so hot-natured. Gonna need to find a fave. How fun! Oh and because its October, I’m gonna put this here in honor of myself and all of my sisters who have battled, or who has had a friend or loved one battle this beast.

Wow. Okay so I’m having a dexa tomorrow, but only to check for bone density. Kind of a “baseline” for me to have on record. Saw my PCP last week and the dexa I’m having is covered by insurance. Can’t wait to see what kinds of data it provides and I’ll for sure talk to the imaging place tomorrow to see if I can pay OOP for something more like what you’ve had done.

Speaking of fashion, I spent a big part of the day finally going through all my stuff from years past. I’ve sorted and I’m kind of sad because I know the great majority will end up at goodwill. Not saying that’s a bad thing, but I really wish there was a way I could give it all (and I honestly wouldn’t ask for money for it) to someone just having surgery and a size or two bigger than my old clothes so they’d have some stuff to wear while they transition. I did keep one pair of size 22 pants and xxl top that I wore last year during the holidays. The pants I’m keeping bc I can remember not being able to zip them up easily last July when I hit my 10-year HW of 259. I had zero shorts, or capris, or dresses or anything. It was a billion degrees outside and I had crammed myself in these cargo-style ankle pants and tried to pretend I wasn’t miserable. I have a hard time remembering what I ate for dinner last night, but I clearly remember last July 4th when the realization that I’d gotten so fat that I had about 10 things to wear almost crushed me. I couldn’t wait for the holiday to just be over so I could start this journey. That was after almost 6 months dithering and researching WLS and deciding yet again to diet and exercise on my own. Cause you know.... that method was so successful for all of us. The top I’m keeping there’s a photo of me in it from Christmas Eve 2018. Probably one of 3 photos I allowed to be taken of me in the last couple of years. Anyway, I spent a lot of time going through all of that stuff which kind of felt like a combo between a root canal and counseling session with my therapist.

Okay so I’m totally behind the idea of a fashion intervention thread! okay, so I’ve ordered a new (new for me anyway, still pre-owned from eBay) dress  and 2 pair of boots. I’m impatiently waiting for both to arrive—fingers crossed they get here by Thursday— and then I’ll need advice on which boots to wear with the outfit.

Oh please be careful and stay hydrated! I did 3 hours gardening today with temps in the 90’s. Got slightly light-headed at one point because I hadn’t broken fast for the day and I was sweating like crazy so I had a whole 32 ounce Gatorade zero and now I feel like normal.

Congrats on being 3 weeks PO! You’ve officially gotten through the worst of it. One thing I did today was 3 hours worth tough gardening. It’s in the 90’s still here and I was able to get through all of the bending, squatting, lifting, raking, and clean up without wanting to die. This week I hit 100 pounds lost (from pre-surgery weight) and it feels AMAZING now to move in my own body. Still have 10-15 pounds to go and I can’t imagine how much better yet that will feel

This!!! 1. Get a therapist specializing in food addictions. Bonus points if you can find one who has had WLS. Whatever resources you spend on the therapist will be paid back at least ten-fold in future benefits. 2. Check out any podcast, YouTube video, news articles,book, ,etc you can find concerning WLS. I did research for almost 6 full months (including going to a couple of support group meetings) BEFORE I decided this was the route for me. I’m convinced all of my prep work led to the success I’m having now. 3. Check out threads like Fluffy’s headwork thread, the monthly challenge threads (don’t have to have already had surgery to participate), the IF thread (for ideas on how to use eating intervals to challenge yourself currently) and any thread that looks to have a fair amount of newbies and veterans posting. You can learn a LOT just by reading and taking in some of the lessons here. 4. Don’t give up on yourself. You have to be your biggest fan: your family can’t do it, your doctors can’t do it, none of us can do it. You have to find your “why” and it has to be bigger than any perceived love of food. Good luck with your journey. We’re here for you, but the hard work MUST start with you.

I’m also about to embark on the adventure of a complete clothing purge. Since I had my surgery in February, I still needed all the plus size winter/cold weather clothes. As my sizing and seasons changed, I started putting items in plastic tubs. Plan was to hang on til the now current season where all of those things will be marketable. Gotta go through a mountain of oversized stuff and sort into consignment pile, goodwill, and throwaway pile. It’s going to be both tedious and therapeutic