Happy Hot Summer to everyone!

Sooooo....it's the middle of June and it's 108 degrees here in Chandler, Arizona! Hot! Hot! Hot! How is everyone doing on their weight loss this summer? .... I've recently started working for Dr. Terry Simpson (again)...he's a lapband surgeon here in Phoenix. My first day on the job I scolded everyone for having naughty stuff in the kitchen and told them that I had gained 20 pounds last year while I was working for there! Sooooo....we've all organized an office weight loss challenge! It's great and keeps me honest! LOL! We are weighing in each Friday morning...and, I've lost 18 pounds of my 30 pound regain! .....12 more to go! ... I"m 3 1/2 years post-op and had a hard time with keeping the weight off after my honeymoon period had ended.... It's a lifetime battle and I'm determined to see the 130's again this summer!!! Anyway...here's my plan: I eat South Beach Lifestyle every day but on Tues, Weds and Thursday of each week I do like straight protein (DETOX) to make sure my body stays in ketosis and to jumpstart my weight loss. On those 3 days I do NOT count calories so I look at it as kind of a break actually. On the other days, I count calories. What types of eating plans are the rest of you doing? Have any of you had any regain that you've had to worry about yet? Huggggz, Joyce in az P.S. Thanks bunches to all those *****sponded so warmly to my post about losing my friend to WLS.

Joyce, always glad to hear what the long haul looks like! The reality, etc. I of course am still pre-op. But I suspect not for long. I have bloodwork, swallow barium, scan gal bladder today. And on Friday see the surgeon one more time. Well that is if all the paperwork gets together in a timely manner. I suspect I am one of those that could become inclined to regain, so appreciate all the advice I can get. Plenty hot here in Texas, but not 108, thank goodness! I have lots of days, when I prefer not to leave the house, and that was never the case in my younger years. But then when I was young, I lived in Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Hawaii so had better weather to deal with. The cost of living is cheap in Texas, but the climate is horendous. Linda

Hi Joyce, Is Dr Simpson no longer doing the Duodenal Switch? I remember corresponding with him several years ago while I was fighting my insurance to cover the DS when they said it was investigational after they readily paid for it for many years. At some point, I had heard that Simpson was no longer taking out of state patients. I had actually given Dr Simpson's name to my brother in Phoenix, who finally decided upon wls after seeing my success, but sadly it was not to be ... my brother, at age 48 had a massive brain hemorrhage last year, caused by years of obesity, hypertension and Type II Diabetes. I had the DS with Dr. Gary Anthone 18 months ago and except for the same six pounds that I keep gaining and losing - not sure if it is because of that time of the month or what - but with the malabsorption of the DS I probably won't have to struggle with regain unless I overload on sugar and carbs. With the hotter weather, though, I am being vigilant about drinking LOTS of water so as not to get dehydrated. Good to hear you are getting everyone back on track at your office ... such a good leader! Watch out ... you'll probably get called as RS pres, LOL! Laurie

Hi, sorry it took so long to get to you. I still struggle to get the rest of my weight off. I even regained some and have to get rid of that as well. I am very concerned about this. I try to do a low carb diet. The only way I can seem to maintain is to limit myself to 20 carbs a day. Not much is it. I tried the South Beach plan and got nowhere. Maybe I will try to do both like you have been doing. Grins, Kaye

Hi Joyce, How are things going with the weight loss challenge at work? I didn't realize you worked with Dr. Simpson how cool is that. I hope you are still doing well with your weight loss, I know it can be hard, but you can do it. Amy