Happy one year and 4mos to me

[134andhappy 38]

Hi everyone! I was plicated last year Feb 15 - it's was my valentines day gift to myself - with Dr. Ortiz in MX. I am now 144 and still wearing a size 6ish ...Not long after my surgery when I was in the zone happy and losing weight and at 139- 5lbs away from my goal I fell in love! In the beginning I was soo good about my eating I didn't care that person needed to adapt to my eating habits- so much he lost 15lbs w out even being plicated we called of the Love plication lol. I refused to care to much about what he was doing I was too worked about keeping my momentum going. Well lil by lil you do start using love as your excuse to get out of that zone- and sure enough my will power became less and less the girl who once wouldn't touch as much as a table spoon of carbs was eating a full slice of toast and sometimes waffles- all sorts of things I had restricted myself to so that I would lose the weight - and lil by little 150 creeped up. The relationship ended but not with myself. I am now at 144 and back on it- trying harder than ever to get to that 134 goal - and back into who I was full of momentum and energy and dedicated and steadfast with my vision and dreams. What I learned from that experience was enormous and I cannot take it for granted - this plication as everyone says is just a tool and I love my tool- I love that I have the ability to behave in a way I would have otherwise not been able to do with food ever before in my life - it's willpower and the evidence is in the quantity - I'm back on a low carb diet- I still try to buy all organic and I've also done some bouts of juicing because it really really works - cold pressed juicing is a plication persons dream- you don't have to worry about food and you have all your meals ready at your disposal- wish they would have been so readily available when I was first getting started and only having Soup. The cold pressed juices are usually not cheap but what's the price of health? and remember the amount u would regularly be spending when you ate normal. My restriction is good- I just wish it was more but it's just not natural - I wish I was still just bites away from satisfaction but I am applying all I've learned to this renewed commitment to reach 134 and drop these last 10lbs. I'm excited again and although the weight it's t dropping at a rapid rate like in the first 6mos of surgery it's still much easier than ever and I feel great - so here is a random list of recommendations - things I've learned along the way and hopefully will build good positive momentum to help us all reach what we really want - wether you're making a decision or just looking for a fun rant lol here it goes

I don't think this is for everyone and possibly not for anyone with more the. 50lbs to lose

I think this is the best decision I've ever made

This is just a tool quite frankly 20% plication 50%food quality and 30% exercise - this i apply after the first three mos since I'm sure you could weigh this out differently it's just my experience. Working out was a huge component of my successes and of my ability to bounce back into my skin with resilience

Spend money on quality foods your body will thank you

Eat only from the perimeter of the supermarket - you have no business going into the isles - what you need is not in a box or can

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Don't berate yourself or weigh in everyday - you'll only lose momentum

Find things you love to replace food

Your hunger doesn't go away- I still find that I could eat every two hours a small snack or soup or juice

If it doesn't fly, swim, or run- don't eat it - exceptions are fruits and veggies and low glycemic foods berries and salads

Eat Protein and salads first you will not have room for carbs

Drinking and eating is a pain still till this day I have to remind myself that I can't do it

Enjoy the things u love but in moderation and don't let the sugars and carbs creep in after you've done soo well on your post opp diet

And nothing tastes as good as skinny feels

It takes a lot of will power to make it everything you want this surgery to be- eat right and exercise you now have quantity control USE it!!!

And love yourself because when you do the relationships come and they come fast and fun and hit you like a train and the ride is so worth it but don't lose the focus because in the end the only one responsible for your happiness is you

So far that's all I have- hope everyone enjoys a wonderful Father's Day and although I did not include all the details this journey had its own ups and downs but far more ups than downs - you just have to keep going - and looking back I realize how much fun the journey has been - and how little by little you can get back to that exhilarated feeling you have in the first few months- mind over matter!!

Cheers to a HAPPY and Healthy 134 soon to be 128 lol