Chatterboxdea

I have a full size treadmill with bars because I would also trip and fall, if there was nothing to support/catch myself when I trip. It is definitely worth it. I just know for some people a smaller one or one that will fit under a bed is more practical. I always get so cold after I work out if I'm still wearing sweaty clothes, so I almost always have to shower after I cool down. I feel like showering for me in the winter is the one time I am truly warm (I take boiling hot showers)!

I love comfort food when its cold so I want all the soups, stews and chilis. I also bought a Shepherd's Pie tonight for dinner, which I love, so I'm excited for that!

I have always spotted for a few days before my period; I look at it as my warning that its coming. It has calmed down some now, but for the first 3-4 months after surgery, my period was like when I was a teenager again. I had terrible cramps and a heavier flow; apparently there is estrogen in your fat cells and when you start losing weight, it releases the estrogen so it can make your periods worse.

Maybe think about buying a treadmill or other indoor exercise equipment for cold days; they have inexpensive or used one that's you can get at reason amounts. I have a treadmill and it get used in the winter and in the summer because I'm in Texas and our summers are over 100 degrees most of the time.

They discontinued the style. They are curvy skinny from Gap Outlet. I wish they still made them because they are the best pair of skinny jeans that I have found for people with hips and butts.

So this outfit is nothing special, throw on a sweater and some booties and it is pretty much what I wear to work every day. What is special is that these are my favorite style of jeans that I bought in multiple pairs and sizes. This particular pair has been hanging in a closet for years!! It takes a lot for me to lose weight in my hips and things but I’m finally able to wear these size 16 pants again!!! I have lost about 50 lbs and have dropped from a size 20 to a size 16!! And I am loving it! (After these are too big though, I’m going to officially having to start shopping for pants again!)

There were definitely days during Christmas time when I was eating close or at 1500, mostly because all the food was more high caloric than what I normally eat. It’s not an always thing for me but it happens on hungry days for me.

Pulled pork with a little bit of BBQ sauce and green beans. Ate almost all the pork and half the green beans.

This is where I went and they were great! https://www.limarp.com/en/

When it is cold, I don't want to go outside, I want only comfort/heavy food, and I don't want to drink water (because its cold). So totally get it! I try to drink more herbal tea so it's warm and cozy, but still hydrating. It's definitely hard, so allow yourself to do what feels good for you, while trying to keep healthy habits.

Happy New Year! So glad I have you guys to help me through this journey! I don't always start the new year feeling great about making changes but that's different this year because of surgery. I have always made some kind of goal or resolution to lose weight or workout more over the years and have always felt like I "failed", but this year, I think I'm going to leave weight loss goals behind and just enjoy the ride as I continue to lose weight. Even though I still have about 60 lbs I want to lose, having lost over 40 lbs has made me feel so much lighter and better in my body. I want to focus on the positives and not so much the long ways I still have to go, because that feels like thats how my life has always been, such as "I will do this when I lose weight..." or "I will buy that dress when I lose weight...". I'm tired of waiting and hope to live more fully and authentically this year. Anyways... I'm rambling. I'm just really wanting to change my mindset and focus on positives.

The husband and I had a little outdoor picnic because the weather was nice this past weekend. There is a place that does a grilled cheese of the month and I knew I needed it in my life! So we went. I didn’t take an after picture but I drank some of the beer and ate most of half of the sandwich; only like 2 fries.

@Justarwaxx I'm sorry you are struggling right now. I can definitely relate; with Christmas and also recently having my period, I overate, especially sweets. It happens. You have to remember that you are fighting years of bad eating habits and those aren't just going to change overnight because you had surgery. I know for me it helps, that even if I have made bad eating choices, I still log my food and feel better seeing that it's still not over 2000 calories a day, which in theory means I'm still below anything that would make me gain weight. It's not helpful to shame spiral, because there is no lesson learned in shame. You are okay. And tomorrow is another day and another chance to make better choices. I hope you are feeling better now.

I always explain to clients that there is a difference in people's brains between goals and resolutions. Resolutions: as soon as we mess up, we throw our hands in the air and say "I failed. I guess I won't try anymore." With goals, they are just monitoring growth; they allow up to get off track and come back to our goal again to continue working towards it. The new year is a great time to set goals, just know that motivation ebbs and flows, so you will probably get off track a few times this year, but progress is progress and baby steps are better than quitting. Good luck!

I posted this in my surgery date group: I feel like Christmas has been harder than Halloween and Thanksgiving as far as making healthy choices. I think Halloween, I still wasn't eating completely normal so it helped me avoid candy. Thanksgiving, I don't really like pie so that helped. But Christmas, there have been all types of goodies around (including the baked goods I made for my neighbors) that its easy to take a piece of a cookie or a little chocolate and not think much of it. I for sure eating less than I would have in the past and only taking a 1/3 or 1/2 of a cookie still feels like a win, but I hope I can kick this habit after Christmas, because I don't want to get too comfortable again with grabbing sweets when I'm craving one.

Amazing results @Sophie7713!!! You seem so happy and confident with your new appearance! Side question: for anyone that has done this surgery, do you continue to have arm scars? It seems like they really cut you open for this and I guess I would be interested in seeing a fully healed arm, several years out. Does anyone feel like they still can't wear sleeveless shirts because of the scaring?

Not only did we have surgery at about the same time, but we started at a pretty close weight and have lost the same amount (I had to google how many lbs was 21 kg; It's 46 lbs, which is where I'm at) so we seem to be losing weight at about the same rate. I definitely have noticed the weight coming off but it does suck sometimes to lose weight slower than other people. I'm glad your dr was supportive of how things have been going. I feel like Christmas has been harder than Halloween and Thanksgiving as far as making healthy choices. I think Halloween, I still wasn't eating completely normal so it helped me avoid candy. Thanksgiving, I don't really like pie so that helped. But Christmas, there have been all types of goodies around (including the baked goods I made for my neighbors) that its easy to take a piece of a cookie or a little chocolate and not think much of it. I for sure eating less than I would have in the past and only taking a 1/3 or 1/2 of a cookie still feels like a win, but I hope I can kick this habit after Christmas, because I don't want to get too comfortable again with grabbing sweets when I'm craving one.

Well go to Breckenridge, CO. It snowed every morning we were there!

I think someone might have said this before, but I was taking a bath the other day and it was crazy that I had (what felt like) so much extra room and needed more water in the tub than before surgery! I still early-ish in my journey and have lost 45 lbs, but I see/feel it in my body and the tub just confirmed it!

We went snow tubing on our trip this past weekend and I highly recommend it! It was so fun!!!

It is still super early on for you, but it seems like you are doing a great job; both with your protein intake and your weight loss. We all lose weight at different speeds, but it's about not adding foods in too fast to let your body heal and making sure you are getting all the protein and vitamins you need to keep your body healthy. Keep making good choices and enjoy the journey!

I'm not a doctor but I know a lot of medications can effect your appetite. I work in mental health so I know it's common for a lot of mental health medications. I googled your medicine and increase in appetite is not listed as a symptom, but it makes sense to me that if it has to do with your stomach acid, that it could impact your appetite (like it is breaking things down faster, or you had too much acid when you weren't on it, so now you are more hungry that it is more back to normal). Hope that helps.

Sorry I have been MIA guys! I was out of town for a long weekend for a friend's 40th birthday celebration this past weekend and work was crazy before that, trying to prepare to be out. @Justarwaxx I hope everything went well with your surgeon. I feel like I have been losing weight slower than most too so I get your pain and feeling of unrealistic expectations put on you. Just remember that your still losing and your journey is exactly that... YOURS and it's yours alone. @ShoppGirl I'm so sorry to hear about your struggles with cancer; I hope the treatments are working and going well! We appreciate you letting us in and sharing your story. It's great that that you are mostly feeling okay. I'm sure it has to be hard balancing managing your health in multiple ways at the same time. I'm glad we have this community to help support you! I went a little overboard with eating this weekend because there was so much food and alcohol; I think I did okay at meals but there was a lot of snacking. I am used to having my husband with me when I go out, because he is willing to split everything thing with me, though I had one friend that would do it sometimes. I didn't gain weight, but I also didn't lose any weight. I am trying to be super good today to help me get back on track and back in my normal eating routine.

I think these are all good tips! That being said, this is the rest of our lives. I don't think its okay to label things good and bad and never allow yourself to have "bad" foods. Yes, it's hard to process carbs, but what is life with no mac and cheese or ice cream for the rest of your days. Its about finding the balance. Let yourself have the comfort foods, but in small amounts and in moderation. At least, I feel like this is the aim for me; I'm really bad (I'm very good at it, it's just not always healthy) at all or nothing thinking, and it inevitability would lead me to over indulging, rather than just allowing myself to have a little occasionally. Just food for thought.

It can definitely be a hard cycle to break. I hope the cravings go away soon, but if you have extra carbs one day, just walk a few extra steps to balance it out.