Honesty is the Best Policy

OK support group.  I am coming to you to discuss something that has weighed on my mind lately.  I do this simply because (a) you are my support system and I need accountability and (b) because someone else might need to hear it and (c) because I worry that keeping it to myself is the breeding grounds for denial.  Whether this is true I have no clue...  Several things going on lately.  1.  Hormone issues - irregular periods, birth control methods for the regulation of those hormones and periods which cause side effects 2.  I have added some foods back to my diet such as Fiber One cereal and double fiber bread.  This has helped my irregularity a lot!  3.  My body seems to be shifting in where the loose skin is/was.  Its defying gravity so to speak. 4.  My appetite and ability to eat just a tad more food has come back.  I think in part, from where I had the gallbladder surgery, it postponed my tummy from stretching or being able to accommodate the food that it SHOULD have at this time period after wls.  I relied heavily on shakes for protein.  Now I am finding I can get more solid proteins from food, which is good.  I will miss my shakes though! I love them. After saying all of that, I have gained 6 lbs.  I went from 118 to 124 (today 123.7).  This scares me.  Some of my pants don't fit good.  But, I feel great!  I think I had gotten too skinny and now I feel that my weight is good.  BUT...  my loose skin on my tummy is pooching out over my waist band.  Could it be hormones?  Could it be that I have not been logging food as regular and getting in too many calories?  Could it be that my body is shifting and I need to buy some new clothes to accommodate (HEY! An opportunity to shop)  It could be all of the above.  But honestly when I went to lunch bunch yesterday, I felt great because life is so wonderful.  I didn't feel bloated that usually comes with my period.  And as appearance oriented as I am, I felt like a feminine million bucks in my new pink sweater and yes its good to be a thin woman.  I used to feel so unfemine and yucky and unsatisfied when I couldn't buy hardly anything to make me feel pretty.. Yesterday though at the luncheon, I felt self conscious cause I had gained weight!  Everyone else lost weight and here I am gaining weight! What?  I wanted to tell Susan about it but we didn't have much time to chat.  She's always been the one I confide in with these sensitive issues.  I figured I would just "out" with it to you all cause honesty is the best policy after all. But, I am also scared because I am able to eat more food and I am going to scale back on the number of protein shakes I consume simply because, for the first time, I DON'T need them for my protein source anymore.  I once did!  So I guess its that time in maintenance mode where its time to reshift and refocus..  find out what works, what doesn't and tweek it again.  OOookkkk....  I'm at the end of my ramblings.  I could use a group hug .  But TODAY I am back to basics and going to rid myself of at least 4 of  these 6 lbs.  I feel 120 has been my magic #.

Well Melinda let me be the first one to (((((HUG))))) You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thanks for sharing- you are great. MElissa

{{{ Hugz}}}  You looked just wonderful yesterday. You look happy and yo said you feel happy for the most part and that counts for a lot. Gaining is hard and is very scary but now look at it this way you are more focused and have the mind set that you will not let it get out of control. I have faith in you and you will find what works best for you and stick to it. I am very proud of you !!!

Hey Sweetie......     You can let me share or you can let me not share.......  I figure you are gonna go with the high road because it is the most convenient.......    But I am gonna say....  I have a lot of into that will help you......   I will never in a trillion years ask one of our friends wehether they be Susan, Scott, Beth, Melissa, Juanita...misty...they are human beings with feelings and they deserve a whole lot more than that.........     So when you decide to sit down with me a talk about atll the struggles that all of us face not just a selective few.....    Then I would be honored to have a conversation of intelligence....   That you have so rightly deserved....  Until that point I would be servicing my comarared3s a huge injustice.......    let me speak to the chief or there will be no peace.....

I think the statement that you "feel great!" says a lot about what you need to do. You also state that you had gotten too skinny and now your weight is good. This could just be your body letting you know what your ideal weight is. I don't believe you had this surgery to remain on a diet for the rest of your life. I believe you, like most of us, had this surgery to be healthy. You looked wonderful yesterday. You glow from your smile to your entire countenance. You are healthy and thin. We don't want you skinny and sickly. Yes, there is a difference between skinny and thin. Some of that new weight might be fluid and that would make your pants tight. That will come and go as your body cycles each month and with the weather. You need to strive for the weight range that is going to allow you to get off that "need to lose a few pounds" merry-go-round for good.

As a newbie, I don't have the wisdom of what to eat. But I think that you look great and if you were too skinny then maybe your body is trying to tell you something. I really wish that you would see your GYN because it seems that you've really been having a hard time with your cycle. I had to have a hysterectomy at 26 and I don't use hormones but use a Progesterone cream that helps with a lot of my hormonal issues. Big (((hug))) sweetie. I hope I get to meet you next week at the picnic, I'll be there with bells on.

Melinda, you looked awesome yesterday. Didn't know that you was having such a rough time. You have always been so suportive and inspriational to me. I wish I could say something that would make you feel better. I guess it is like you said, it is time to step back a little and try to figure out what the problem is and try to correct it the best that you can. You have allready started by sharing all of this with us. I remeber how I felt after my last weigh-in, I was misreable and wanted to kick myself in the butt, but I still can't get my foot that high, at least not yet.....lol I hope you get all the answers that you are searching for. Big ole huge hug for ya. Cheryl

My dear friend!  I don't know the answers to any of your statements.  All I know is this...How do you feel?  If you feel good, then so be it.   I'm just glad that between my wife, and my friends (all of you), that there is someone to help keep me on the straight and narrow!  You can do it!  I just know you will be all right! I'll join in on this group hug as long as Bob keeps his hands where they belong!

I was talking to my parents today, and my dad asked "Are you taking a fluid pill?"  Then it struck me that Marilyn once had a problem with losing weight during a week because she had run out of fluid pills.  I am supposed to take one but never got back to it recently after the gyn re-prescribed it.  I chew all my vitamins and supplements but this one is very large and stinks to high heaven!  So I started back tonight .  I hope this will help...  I don't think its swelling or bloating cause I dont have that gross feeling associated with it, like "POP" if I just touch my tummy! You ladies know what I mean! lol I have logged every single food that has passed my lips today and I am determined to not let it get away from me...  thanks for being so supportive.  Like I have said many times, it will be a lifelong struggle for some of us... and at times its easy while at others, its not!

HUGS to you Also remember its summer and your water intake is increasing maybe its jus****er weight gain. You are looking great and you said you feel great! Remember to forget the scale its not about the #'s its about your health.

 

Smooches girl

Susan