A list of some of my favorite advice that helped me over the last 18 months.

So this is a just a post about reflecting back on the tidbits that helped me make it to where I am today and taking a moment to appreciate all that this process and the people on this board.  If you are a newbie perhaps something in here will help you too.

1.  Ruggie- he pointed out in my very early days that my husband and I were enabling one another to constantly overeat.  Looking back, I don't know how I missed that because it was a huge, huge issue for us.  If I had not recognized that for sure I would never had made it to goal, and my husband would not have been able to lose his 90 pounds (not sleeved).

2.  Frisco- in the early days a few thing**** home that I needed to read.  No feeling in the stomach newly sleeved, so beware and  measure everything.  If you have not read his post on the pyloric valve look it up and read it.  I had no idea.  Under eat your sleeve (still hard for me because I  occasionally still eat too fast and the signal doesn't have time to catch up to the brain).

3.  Carbs slide.

4.  Eat your protein first and don't drink when you eat.  Very important in order to not get hungry too soon.

5.  Carbs.  Ok, this is a hot debate topic particularly between Frisco and I.  I think we both can agree that carbs trigger cravings and hunger.  Where Frisco and I disagree in how much is Ok.  Just find your path to success on this, be honest with yourself, and don't make excuses when it comes to carbs.  Research the glycemic index and how too many carbs at one sitting flood your system with insulin which triggers the cravings, hunger, and stores fat.  Personally, I eat carbs and alternate 15 net carbs and 30 net carbs at meals, and this has worked great for me.  Many others need to keep it under 40 carbs.  Just find something that works for you.

6.  Find something to do to distract yourself when you feel like eating.  Way back when somebody posted a list that I kept on the fridge for a while.  Here is an example of it, but not the same one.  http://bingeeatingtherapy.com/2011/02/02/101-things-to-do-instead-of-binge-eating/ 

7.  Exercise.  Acbrown is my hero.  

8.  Go to support groups if you have that available.  

9.  If you fall off the wagon, crawl back on.  

10.  Don't freak out over a stall- it happens to all of us.  Just stay the course and keep yourself on plan.  

11.  Don't expect to lose it all rapidly.  It is the cumulative total that adds up.  See my ticker- not huge numbers each month, but add it all up and it is a huge number.  At about the 3 month mark I was lamenting that I didn't need surgery to lose at the rate I was.  The difference though is that with the surgery it is easier to not quit because the restriction helps you through the falling off the wagon episodes and obviously portion control.

12.  Don't let yourself feel like you are doomed to fail.  If you had a bad choice, bad day, or bad week- whatever, remember that it is a brand new day with a brand new opportunity to make the right choice.  Work yourself back to the right path.  For some this means cold turkey, for me typically at my weakest times I make goals of small adjustments each day for a few days until I am back to where I need to be.

13.  Don't judge others.  You were there at one point, or will be soon.  Empathize with others.  It may be obvious to you the mistakes others are making once you are experienced, but you need to decide if you are going to support or write a post that is not going to help the other person and instead just  a platform for your need to vent, ridicule, ride the high horse, etc.  We have all had a rough go at this otherwise we would not be bariatric patients to begin with.  Some people need a drill sergeant- that is a type of support.  Nobody needs to be belittled.  Try and be patient when the newbies post a question that had been answered a million times already- if they knew the answer they probably would not be posting it.  (Newbies, look for the search button on the top right and type your question in there- chances are you will find a million posts on it.  But post the question if you want- somebody will help!)

14.  If it is working keep doing it, if not adjust.

What advice have you found that has been the most helpful??

Thank you vets for informing and helping me.  Thank you newbies for helping me to keep my head in the game.  

Peace.

Awesome advice and well said!  It also keeps my head in the game to read this type of post...

The only thing I might add would be to ALWAYS get your water in and take your vitamins DAILY!

They seem so minor, but in actuality, both are very important to your health.

Peace to you Happyteacher and good to hear from you!

Deb

Oh- yes for sure on that.  That one is so ingrained in my now I don't even think about it.  Good to see you back around the boards a bit again!

Thank you for this wonderful and succinct list!  There is no substitute for experience.  Thanks for sharing yours, and thanks to everyone who is so generous with their time and experience!

At only four months out, I need to print this and post it for those days when I encounter these situations -- LOL, and I have encountered most of them!

great list. always something to remember, or something new to learn.

Excellent recap and summary. Thanks!

Great list for those of us just starting out!

Thank you!!

Thank you for sharing our journey...great post!  

Wonderful message ! You are one of my favourite people on this board and I look forward to your sane and awesome advice !

Ok! Love the list. I am 2 months out from surgery and find this helpful. Question though... who is Acbrown?