ladybug1nc

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I was able to sit comfortably in economy class! Buckled my seat belt without problem! Walk all over Venice (still need to build strength) but overall I could not have done that a year ago. I am  so happy I had this surgery! Now I am down 160 pounds 

I am over 8 months out now and can say that I have been full circle. I was eating snack foods - inappropriately. I was eating all the time again (just not as much as I used to be able to). Now I have come to realize fully that if I want to lose weight and keep it off it is best to eat when hungry. Wow. What a revelation, huh?!

I don't understand what it is with our chemistry but there must be some neuron that sends pulses through our brain that says 'eat. eat. eat.'. It is one of THE most difficult things to overcome. I truly have learned how to eat - all over again. The scale is moving in the right direction. I am exercising every day. If I truly want a snack-like some cheese and crackers, I plan for it by eating less at supper or lunch to enable myself to fully enjoy the flavor-otherwise it is just eating to eat and not having the appetite is somewhat depressing-just like it used to be.

There was a time when I would have told people "don't do it!". I know someone I work with who still says that it is a "chore to eat". She is quite thin. I don't believe she is the average person - I have met many who underwent the surgery and she seems atypical. The 'don't do it' phase lasted only about a month or so. That was when I could hardly take a bite or two of food and was full - or would throw up or gag. It becomes easier over time if you just wait. I can not eat the same amount as I used to  but that was the point! Part of the problem was going out to eat and having too much food left over (eating it for days, okay?). Or, fixing food in the quantities I used to fix it in and seeing all the waste. Now I have adapted to making just enough to eat if it can't be frozen - and even if it can be frozen just enough to make a few individual meals so that I don't end up throwing so much away because you can only eat so much of something before it becomes old news and freezer burn sets in. The point is - is that food, even though we need it to live, should be enjoyable. For a while this surgery made it unenjoyable. But now, with a gained perspective I am enjoying flavors again-and understanding how much I can eat and adjusting portions accordingly.

Sorry to anyone who tried to keep in touch with me. I really had some problems with my left side. Found out after an upper GI and an endoscopy that they can't find any reason for the pain I was experiencing. However, I have been prescribed Prilosec and the pain has gone.
Been having the 'purple blues' as my sister used to call it. Don't know why-that's what makes the blues such a dark color. 
I am going to Europe in August. My weight loss has slowed - even though I am exercising. I probably have been eating too much - but still nowhere near what I used to, so it doesn't make sense. I am determined to continue to lose though. 
Sorry again. Sometimes I am bad. 

 I am sorry for not posting more but it doesn't look like anyone missed me! (actually makes me feel better) 
I suffered with left pain side for so long and it seems that my doc has finally found the problem. she prescribed Prilosec and since taking it no more left side pain.
I am still going for an endoscopy to rule out an ulcer. I already went for an Upper GI which showed no hernia-no leak. 
Weight loss has slowed but I am not always eating right and quit exercising because of the pain. Have to get motivated to get back to it as I am going to Europe in August! YAY!!!

I don't know why but these days have just been busy. Maybe it's because I have more energy and am able to do more. I tend to not sit around the computer at home-and am too busy *(here) at work to do this most of the time.
I am doing better all the time except I have started snacking on some not good snacks-and know that it needs to stop. I saw someone eating some Cheetos dipping them in ranch dip and it looked good-never did that before-so I got some-and last night got the munchies....and ate and even though I could not eat as much as I would have been able to, I ate a good amount and then felt unbelievably full and not well.
I have turned to apples and bananas with peanut butter today, and also - bought some Cheezits which actually are very good-much better than the Cheetos and actually have three grams of protein per serving which is quite ample. So...
And I am still exercising-just 15 minutes a day-but plan to work my way up to at least 30.
Hope everyone is doing well!

I am sorry to all my friends for my absence. I have just been so busy with the holidays and work-need and want to get back in touch.
Doing very well right now - getting better about chewing my food-eating is easier most of the time.
Also began exercising and toning, and weight continuing to come off.

Ate too much party mix-easy going down-badddd for the pouch.
This was yesterday. I also didn't drink water-drank too many diet sodas. Gained 2 pounds water weight.
Today, doing better. Maybe I learned my lesson.
Kind of down-not really depressed-that the weight isn't coming off faster-but then I have to think that even losing 53 pounds in a couple of months is a great feat.
I have more energy, sleep better - (once I get to sleep-that I have been having a problem with). I have also been having very weird bad dreams.
Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

Well, Dr. Classen wants to check on me at least one more time in April. I hope I have lost a bunch more by then. He said to keep doing whatever I am doing, because I lost 30+ since my last visit with him.
I am doing better. I think a major difficulty is getting used to not being able to eat as much. It doesn't compute with my brain. I take a couple of bites and all of a sudden I feel full-but it isn't really full "full". So, I have to take time, eat slowly, chew chew chew-all things I am not used to doing. I was used to inhaling my food-half chewed at best sometimes-and the faster my gullet was filled the better.
I still can't eat bread-I don't know why. I can get a croissant down sometimes....but I don't see to want bread. Pasta is okay-
I am going to "try" to start riding my recumbent bike this weekend. I want to try to minimize the loose skin as much as I am able.

I am doing better every day. Some days are still the same-hard to eat-but for the most part I am eating better and not getting sick! I find, too, that the more I eat the more I lose.
Going to the surgeon again today-hopefully for the last time.

Yesterday I walked around my office building, which is about a block. It was the first time in a long time that I could go so far. I lost another two pounds, too. I am still having difficulty eating-but it comes and goes. Last night I ate spaghetti, and it went down well and even tasted good. 
I just can't get much in-as much as I think I should - and it takes really eating slowly...which is much more difficult than it sounds.