What's on the menu today, RNYers?

Hi Pam!  I am from upstate NY.  I get my ground flaxseed from our local Wegman's supermarket.  I just buy whatever they have there.  Have a great weekend!

 

Good Morning Everyone and Happy holiday weekend (for most everyone :)

I am frustrated this morning.  I am definately in the middle of the longest stall since surgery (I was even up a lb this morning, which is crap b/c I only ended up eating 650 cals yesterday).  Anyways, I'm going to push through it.  I leave tomorrow for China/Korea and I've decided to take it as a good sign, force myself to step away from the scale for a week and a half and just focus on making good choices.  Hopefully the change in my diet will help get things going again.  It's funny how quickly my old dieting mindset comes rushing back in.  Even though I feel really good and am ecstatic with my weight loss so far, it's like this last 8 days has sent me into a tailspin.  All of the sudden I'm terrified this is it, I won't lose any more weight, I'll never reach my goal weight (this is a record that keeps playing in my head and I'm working like crazy to shut off).  I know this is crazy, but those doubts are still there.  Anyways, that was my little vent, sorry to be a downer on this lovely holiday weekend, I just figured I'd pour it out here so none of my colleagues had to hear about it on the 17 hr plane ride, lol :)

B - Siig's greek yogury

L - Chipotle (1/3 bowl)

D - Going out to a fish place, so likely salmon

V - Forgot to take them, I will catch up later today

W - On track

E - Got up early and did a zumba workout

Have a great long weekend!

OMG Dodgergirl I would feel the EXACT same way.  I really would.  I just have to validate that, first of all.  BUT I will also add that from the outside looking in, you have lost a FABULOUS amount of weight and are being SO super diligent at changing your lifestyle - doing zumba, running in place in the bathroom, eating protein forward, eating reasonable or even LOWer than reasonable calories...so your body is adjusting and the loss will continue.  I so don't blame you for having those crazy thoughts, because I would too.  But clearly you are not on a crash diet, you are living a whole new life.  Did the old you wake up early to do Zumba?  Did the old you spread a Chipotle burrito bowl (no rice) across three meals?  You are killing it and the scale will move - we are just reaching the time where our bodies cannot sustain such rapid loss.  I bet it's so much better for our skin and bodies to slow down anyway.  I know you will do great while traveling - I forget, do you wear a FitBit?  I found that to be such an awesome part of my recent trip - seeing how much I walked!  Even the day I flew home from Heathrow to Dulles and took a taxi both ways, I got in 6,000 steps!  Just in the airports!  Don't weigh yourself, have fun, and btw, you are so not a downer!  We all have these doubts - but I am here to tell you when crazy Dodgergirl gets the best of sane Dodgergirl and this is one of those times!  

Log in if you can and hopefully share some pics when you get back!  You are gonna do great!  

Thanks DC.  I swear, it's like my brain disconnects from my logic sometime.  I really do feel great, and I'm so happy with my results so far, but that damn scale can drive me crazy.  I've tried not weighing, but I notice when I'm doing that I let a chip here or there or a bite of this slip in.  It's stupid, but the daily accountability of the scale really helps.  I gained as much weight as I did b/c I avoided the scale like the plague.  Now, I just have to remind myself it's a tool and not let it send me into a tailspin.  Some days I'm better at that than others :)

Thanks for all of the encouraging words, and I do wear a Fitbit!  I hope my steps are off the charts like your were when you were travelling.  I think in a way this trip is coming at a good time for my mental sanity.  A forced scale vacation may be just what the Dr. ordered :)  I'll try and post pics when I get back, if I can figure it out on this damn site!  I will try and check in while I'm away...I love this post!

Yeah, OH apparently doesn't want people to post pics because it's the most CONVULUTED process.  Pam seems to have a better way than I do.  Maybe we can coerce her into typing out all of the steps :)

My brain disconnects from logic all. the. time.  The scale is insanity inducing.  I mean, how many posts I have read where people hide their scale, have their spouse hide it, put it in the trunk of their car...lol!  It drives all of us crazy.  Go enjoy Asia and hope to see you on here, updating us on your fabulous travels!

I'll do up a blog post about how to post pictures here in the forums. I've been meaning to get back to my "how to work with pictures" blog posts and finish up the series.

Dodgergirl, hope you have some fun along with everything else on your trip! I understand your frustration with the pause, it's nuts how much it affects us. But after being so overweight and going through surgery like we have I think it's perfectly understandable how emotionally invested we are in seeing that scale go down. And it will, hon! Keep to your program as best as possible, and when you come home you'll be pleasantly surprised by the result. Look at Emily, she dropped weight after her recent trip to Ireland and England, despite her concern about how to keep on her plan. She's a great role model!

Have fun and let us know how you're doing, if you can.

My surgery's in just 5 more days and I'm SO stoked. And nervous. LOL I've been working out at home with Jillian Michaels, and it's true that she inspires cursing with every meeting. :) 

Great news this morning! I'm under 300, my high weight was 323 and now I'm 297.6 - so SWEET! I feel like these protein shakes and jello are really doing something besides making me starve. (I'd giggle, but that's a serious statement. I'd kill for a burger right now, but I know I'm worth better than that.)

So menu for today:

Breakfast: Iced Latte Bariatric Advantage shake.

Lunch: Chocolate Bariatric Advantage shake.

Dinner: Strawberry Bariatric Advantage shake.

*thank God for variety, because I was starting to hate chocolate and that would be sacrilege. 

Snack: Jello & a sugar free popsicle 

Exercise: Jillian Michaels aerobic tape (can't think of the name of it, but it makes me walk funny for a day or two with all my new muscle awareness. That's what they should call it: Muscle Awareness Program.)

Vitamins: done and done. :) Those shakes have a ton - anyone else ever tried them? They're the best tasting of any I've tried, IMO.

So that's me, DC. Cheers!

YAY, Amber!  Welcome!  OMG so excited for you!  Five more days and your whole life will radically change.  I am excited for you :)  And very impressed that you have lost 25+ lbs before surgery.  I had so many "food funerals" that I reached my all-time lifetime highest weight just in time to start my two-week pre-op liquid diet.  Now those are pounds I have to work hard to lose.  I really regret that!

Do you have to have Bariatric Advantage shakes or can you choose?  A lot of people on here enjoy Syntrax Matrix and Syntrax nectar shakes.  I order from mybariatricpantry.com and I have also heard good things about Nashua Nutrition.  Tastes really do change after surgery, so hold off on stocking up!

Does your plan call for liquids, then full liquids, then soft foods, then regular, post-op?  Mine was pretty liberal - I did clear liquids for 2 days, full liquids for 12 days, then into food (no pulverizing chicken in the blender for me).  Plans vary.  You are going to feel so good - I was 297 lbs in mid-Feb and now 244 so imagine how you will be feeling as summer comes to a close.  You will be feeling incredible.

Glad you are here posting and excited to get to know you through this thread.  Have an awesome weekend!

Pre-op the surgeons office was very specific:

Pre-Op liquid diet

3-4 protein shakes - surgeon has their own brand  - do not add any fruit or any type of food  - stevia or Splenda are ok  - 22 g of protien  -

Amber, you're doing so well pre-surgery that you're going to rock it afterward! Sounds like you have the right mindset going into this. I'm with DC, I did the food funerals thing, and in retrospect I probably wouldn't have changed it but I do recognize that it would have been easier if I'd lost more than I had before my surgery. I'm committed, though: this weight didn't get put on me overnight, and it's not going to come off overnight either. And it's less that I'm dieting (HATE that word!) and more that I'm changing my eating habits to be healthier for the rest of my life.

Good luck in advance for your surgery! Let us know how you do when you can. It's funny, I get almost as excited for other people to have their surgery as I did for my own.