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I've gained a few pounds, but met with a dietician a couple of weeks ago and have already lost almost 10 pounds.  She was able to get me back on track mentally and helped me to remember some of the tools that I've forgotten - no liquids within 30 minutes of eating, 4 vitamins/day, etc.

I had PS over a year ago, with amazing results, but lost a LOT of blood.  I'd been having some health problems and heart problems lately and it was all related to my obscenely low red blood cell count.  I was put on prescription iron, self started myself on sublingual B12, and as of my last blood test, everything is normal and I am feeling normal.  

I remarried and have two new stepdaughters.  I am entering my third year of university in two weeks.  Life is so different than it was just over 3 years ago.  Life is so, so good.   

Wellll...

I really never believed that I'd be here, but here I am, 5 lbs from my goal.  This has always been my *first* goal, because at my height, 160 lbs is still "overweight".  Hell, with a BMI under 30, I'll take just "overweight" any day!

I feel great.  I look good with clothes on.  I HAVE BEEN EATING LIKE A RACEHORSE and need to slow down.  My portion sizes are still tiny, but I'm eating lots of carbs.  Starting today, I'm increasing my water and I'm going to cut back on breads.  I've been fluctuating 1.5 lbs, and it's annoying.

I shouldn't complain.  I wanted to hit my goal by my birthday, which is still a month and a half away.  I hope to reach my new goal, whatever that may be, by early next year. 

It's been a trip, really it has been. 

OH MY GOD I WEAR TINY PANTIES!

I saw them on the floor this morning and was like "whose tiny panties are THOSE?  And WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?".  Then I realized that they were mine!  LOL!

Phew.  I'm down another two pounds this morning.  I am still cutting out my p.m. snack and drinking water like it's going out of style.  In the past 3 or 4 days I have hit my daily water requirement every day!  I think I've finally found my harmonious water/food groove.  

AND...da dum...I CAN FIT MY GOAL JEANS!  My favourite pair of jeans - they are super old like from university.  Thank God that the wide leg is back in style!  Anyway, I can button and zip them without laying down (that old trick!), but they are snug on the waist still.  I'm guessing about five more pounds.

30 lbs to my goal!

I wanted to title this post "W00t!", but I overuse that lame expression.

So the scale finally moved!  I've lost 2 lbs in 2 days.  What did I do differently?  I got back on this board after several weeks' hiatus.  I cut out most carbs and re-examined my meals.  I wasn't focusing on protein.  So I started eating practically ONLY protein, and if not, I ate protein first.  And I upped my water intake.  I think  yesterday was the first time since surgery that I got 8 cups of water!  AND...I cut out my p.m. snack, making dinner my last meal of the day!

Finally!  Only 32 lbs to my first goal!  And then I SWEAR I'll be booking plastic surgery!

I haven't lost a pound in 10 days.  With each stall, I get nervous that maybe this is it; maybe this is all the weight I'm going to lose.  This time feels different because my eating habits certainly have changed.  I came to the realization that I don't dump on sugar.  Nothing has gotten stuck in a long while and I am much less careful with my eating habits.

It is no mystery that I am not losing weight.  I am beginning to wonder if this isn't a stall at all, but rather "maintenance".  In the past few weeks, I have eaten: sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, chocolate truffles, dark chocolate, grilled cheese sandwich, pizza, and rice stir fry.   

I want to lose another 34 lbs during summer to reach  my first goal, and 54 lbs to my final goal.  It's not going to happen at this rate, so today I have started my food journal again, and I think I'll take the leftover rice stirfry to my mother.

Although I hate the name, it's called "ONE-derland".  It's where I leave the 200's behind, and by God, it happened this morning.

It's incredible, is what it is.

-69 lbs!

I stole this post so that I can read if I ever eat two cookies ever again.  
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When our “RAH! RAH! RAH!” attitude is gone, the REAL work begins.  I knew this surgery was a lifetime commitment; that the journey would be long, sometimes arduous, and filled with bumps.  Weight loss and reclaiming of health would require more than just a small stomach.  And in the early post-op weeks, when you’re home from work and lounging in your PJs, you can devote all of your time and attention to planning your meals, increasing activity, and taking your vitamins.  Adopting the post-op lifestyle becomes your new job when you’re fresh out of surgery.  It’s fresh, it’s exciting and it seems so do-able!  “Whoohoo!  I lost 15 lbs this week!  Planning and cooking on-plan meals is easy!  I have so much time! I can do anything! Just watch me go!”

 

But then, step by step, we move from surgical recovery back into our routines again. Lookout when real life starts stepping back in!  Jobs, families and obligations take over and our focus can blur and shift until we end up back where we started pre-op, but with a smaller stomach.  Old mentalities and habits return, even when we think we are trying our darndest to succeed and follow our plans.

 

For me, at 2 mos post-op, meal planning and preparation have almost disappeared.  I’m back to my fast-paced, super-single days of grabbing whatever is quick and handy.  Conscientious eating has given way to mindless meals in front of the TV.  I’m bored with fast and easy food, it doesn’t satisfy me, and it makes me want to snack MORE to fulfill my longings for more than nutrition.  I may be eating surgery-friendly foods, but the habits that got me to 300+ lbs are moving back in. 

 

Oh dear.  I’m THAT girl again.  Wait!  What???? You mean she didn’t disappear on the operating table along with my flabby stomach???  You mean I actually have to WORK at this conscientiously for….EVER????  Eyeballing portions and thinking ‘just this once won’t hurt’ isn’t good enough??????  uhnnnnnn….. i think i knew that once…. i remember reading that somewhere and nodding ‘yes yes, easy enough, i can commit. i’ve learned all this stuff, it’s stuck in my head. no way am i gonna get off track.  ’ 

 

Ha. Ha. Ha. Guess not. 

 

But hallelujah for the access we all have to information, guides, resources and the almighty kick in the ass to get us back on track.  Let me share all that I re-learned last night with you.

 

 From “Before and After…” by Susan Maria Leach

 “…This surgery is truly a medical miracle that can change your life, but it doesn’t do all the work for you…what many gainers have in common is that they never turned their life over to this surgery… and figured that they would be able to control their habits once they lost the weight…They are out of control because they never had control but thought the surgery would provide it for them with minimal participation. My advice is to go into this surgery knowing that it is going to take a lot of work and dedication to your health.  Know the rules, identify the boundaries, and be prepared to live without crossing them for the rest of your life… Finally,… train yourself to look for the good things as they unfold instead of the bad…Learn to love your new life, but even more important, learn to love yourself!”

Ouch.  I find reflections of myself in those underlined sections.  Do you?  Now how did that happen??? 

 

 

 

 From Barix Clinics “Guide to Good Health” 
(some of this may vary based on your individual surgeon/NUT advice, but the concepts apply to us all!)

On-Track Checklist:

 * I am utilitzing the 5/30 rule constantly, avoiding fluids 5 minutes before meals and at least 30 minutes after a meal. 
*I am avoiding liquid or mushy foods if they are not satisfying. 
* I eat meals slowly and stop when comfortable, limiting food intake to 3/4 cup of food at each sitting. 
* I eat six small meals a day. 
* I obtain adequate fluids (64+ ounces) mostly from calorie-free sources. 
* I choose mostly lower-fat foods. 
* I limit added sugars to 2 grams or less per serving. 
* I choose foods that nourish my body, not empty calorie foods like sugar-free ice cream. 
* My fitness program is optimized for my fitness level, including both strength training and cardiovascular training. 
* I follow my fitness program on a regular basis (5-6 times a week). 
* I limit emotional eating. 
* I plan ahead and have healthful foods available at work, home, while commuting or traveling. 
* I check myself by logging my food and activity periodically. 
* My attitude is positive, focusing on my improved health and enjoying the opportunities for lifestyle habits that support my health. 
* I am seeking out support as needed.

So, when your "RAH! RAH! RAH!" is gone… are you still on track?

I've lost just over 60 lbs in just under three months.  It's a trip, is what it is.  

While out with a guy today, the number of people who took it upon themselves to compliment me was embarassing.  I'm getting used to it; just not when I'm with someone like THAT.  So, blush.  But then while being chatted up by two older ladies in my church group, one of them said the words "too skinny". 

If she wasn't being heartfelt, I might have laughed my ass off.  My goal weight is around 50 more lbs, but I'm sure my frame could stand to lose a full 100, so I'm not anywhere close to "too skinny".