Rachelena
When You Can't Afford Your Health... Bah Humbug
Dec 12, 2010
As the holiday season is upon us, and everywhere you go the Christmas songs are playing, the world is usually in holiday spirits... As for me, all I have to say is "Bah Humbug". This morning I awoke to find myself in a familiar predicament. As we were sitting around the table eating breakfast my step-dad shared that he had been laid off from his job. Aside for the fact that jobs are scare to begin with, my step-dad is a Jeweler and with the passing of Christmas the Jewelry market essentially shuts down for the month of January. This means for us, that he has no chance of getting work til the end of January early February. Although my mom works, she doesn't make enough to cover the mortgage, the house bills, the food etc... We are all scared, especially me.For a period of time when I had my lap-band, my husband and I were living in an apartment we couldn't afford and we were lucky to have one meal a day. We just couldn't afford to eat. As a result, the small amounts of money we did have usually wound up being spent on pizza or fast food because it was way cheaper that buying salads, chicken, fish etc.. I remember nights where we would turn the apartment upside down looking for lost change to buy food. This led us to having to move in with my mom a year ago because we just couldn't keep ourselves afloat. Well, here we are again. My parents are talking about what to do if they can't make the mortgage and it just takes me right back.
Healthy food is sooo expensive and there is so little I can actually get down. I don't want to fill my sleeve wit Pizza and junk food. I want to succeed. I NEED to succeed. I am afraid I will no longer be able to afford my vitamins or my health insurance. I already had to give my license plates back to the DMV due to an old lapse in insurance coverage. The second one in the last 3 years. I am afraid I wont have money to go to the gym and its just way too damn cold to go out walking.
What do you do, when you just can't afford to be healthy? Well, I refuse to fail. I refuse to let this get me down. I can't be that person anymore. So I have come up with a meal plan that will have to work for me, until this passes... This too shall pass...
My New Meal Plan 4 of these meals every day:
Chobani Yogurt w SF syrup
Egg Beaters with Organic Veggies
Canned Tuna with I tsp on RF Mayo
Organic Salad with Tuna
Protein Shake made with Skim Plus
1 slice of chicken breast with 1 slice of part skim cheese
This will bring my weekly grocery bill for just myself to $45 a week or $6.43 a day. This is less than the cost of a value meal at the local fast food joint. It's Healthy, full of protein and vitamins and minerals and will help me succeed. I AM A WINNER!! Granted I would also have to add approximately $25 a month to buy protein powder but it just so happens that I have one tub at home to start with. So that will save me some money for now.
Whenever things seem bleak and you don;t know how you can move forward... know there is always a way. Clip coupons, shop online for the best deals before you visit the stores, so whatever you have to do to make this work!
Wishing you all a happy holiday season!
When The Food Just Wont Stay Down!!
Dec 10, 2010
*WARNING, NOT FOR THE WEEK STOMACHED!!So here I am... 8.5 weeks post-op and I am super frustrated. I have thrown up at least one meal every single day since Sunday. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday it was all three meals each day. I don't know what is going on with me... I was doing really well, I am NOT pregnant (so lose that thought pronto), and then all of a sudden BAM the bathroom is my best friend.
I must say I haven't been measuring my food and I have been on vacation, therefore, eating out a lot. Monday night it was the worst. I got that terrible I wish I could throw up feeling I have heard other sleevers talk about. It was the worst pain ever! I hope to NEVER EVER go through that again. I really don't think I am eating too much, but perhaps my food choices haven't been as good as they should be. I have voided eggs, chicken, fish and Cesare salad mostly. These are the foods I have been eating most of this week. I don't understand it... I am not eating cookies, chips, ice cream and I am trying really hard to be good but I am starting to feel like vomiting will be my life forever... Vomiting is the reason I got rid of my lap band. I can't take much more of this shit!
So I wonder to myself... After one of these episodes... is the sleeve like the band in which I am supposed to eat 2 days of liquid one day of mushies and try solids again every time I throw up? I was never told this by a doctor... have you heard different?
I asked a bunch of my sleeve friends a few questions about what has been going on and I wanted to share some of the responses I got. First I asked my friends what signs they noticed that told them it was time to stop eating, then I asked how to avoid overeating or vomiting.
Signs you should stop eating now.
1. runny nose
2. deep involuntary inhalation
3. when your half cup/cup portion is gone. Don't go for another bite.
Note: Generally if you wait until you start to feel full to stop eating, there is a good chance you have already eaten too much.
Tips to avoid over eating with the sleeve.
1. measure your food
2. take one bite every 3 minutes
3. chew your food at least 30 times before swallowing
If anyone has anything to add to these lists please let me know so I can add!
Best Day of My Post Sleeve Life... SO FAR!!!
Dec 09, 2010
What a Day...
Yesterday was a crazy day!!! I cant even begin to fully describe it in words so lemme just show ya!
First I got all pertty to spend the day with my aunt and hubby... I was all excited that I was looking great, roaming around in 3.5inch high heel sexiness!Then the day just progressed... I went out for brunch and had this fabulous cobb salad, which was the first thing in 3 days I didn't throw up...
Then hung out with aunt and hubby for the remainder of the day til my flight around 9pm. I forgot to change shoes so I wound up walking around the airport in these crazy shoes and guess what... NO PAIN! No foot pain, no knee pain no back pain!!!!!Then I got on the airplane... Usually I don't even bother trying my seatbelt. I just throw my coat on like a blanket and pretend to be sleeping when the stewardess comes around so I don't have to ask for an extender. Well I figured to myself, lemme see.... and......
OH AND JUST IN CASE YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME...
 |
| Yep Thats right friends! NO EXTENDER!!!!!!! |
To make for an even better ending... the tray table came down fully as did the arm!!! I can finally fit in one seat on the plane!!! Happy!!!!!!!
7 Habits of Successful WLS People!
Dec 07, 2010
Many of us know the books 7 SUCCESSFUL HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE... adults, teens, businessmen, marriage people, etc... how about of SUCCESSFUL WEIGHT LOSS?
This article has been circling around the internet today and I felt the need to follow suit. I often wonder to myself... Is there one universal method. My first inclination is HELL NO. Then I read this article and started to open my mind. Just a little anyways lol
While I still maintain that there is no "one size fits all" plan, I have come to the conclusion that you can fit the plan of your choice into these successful habits.
Secrets of the Strong Start and the Successful
Track Food and Calories
Both strong and false starters ranked "food tracking" as the one action that made the biggest difference in their programs. 82% of strong starters tracked food every day vs. 65% of false starters, and strong starters were twice as likely to track their calories.
Whether you decide to eat 500, 800 or 1200 calories a day after your surgery, I cannot stress the importance of logging your food. After my Sleeve surgery, I was told by nutritionist I could eat whatever I wanted and that my pouch wouldn't hold enough to equal a substantial amount of calories.... WRONG!!! I found out early on that my most favorite coffee drink had over 47 carbs, wayyyyy more than 2/3 of my daily intake. At the time my body was stalled and I wasn't losing weight. Once I started logging my food I realized I had to rework my diet just a bit, the weight starting coming off again.Don't put certain foods off limits
Strong starters were less likely to label foods "good" or "bad" and forsake certain foods, and were three times more likely to use portion control techniques that supported consumption of unhealthier foods in moderation.
Labeling foods as good of bad, puts your mind in "diet" mode. As with all diets we have done in the past... you eventually "fall off the wagon". This is not a diet friends. This is life. If you want an Oreo every now and again, buy the 6 cookie pack and split it with someone you love. Don't buy a whole sleeve thinking you will have two today and two next week. You know damn well you're gonna eat the whole damn sleeve/box/bag!!! Maybe you'd feel better eating those 100 calorie Oreos... but I know one bag is just never enough and they don't have the creamy goodness in the middle!! Allow yourself those yummy goodies every once in a while.Spend LESS time exercising
On average, strong starters exercised for 30 minutes during the first two weeks; false starters for 60 minutes, suggesting that false starters burned themselves out.
Ok, I am not even going to lie... this one threw me for a damn loop for a moment... But I see what it is saying... Moderation... Again this has to do with putting your mind in diet mode... When we diet, it can become "All or Nothing" If we are going to lose this weight we are going to eat salad and grilled chicken all day and workout and drink 2 gallons of water and once I eat that first bite of carvel soft serve its ALLL out the window. You get into thinking, "It's all over", "I can't do anything right", "I'm never gonna lose this weight" yada yada yada. Lower your expectations to more realistic ones. Workout 30 minutes 3x a week religiously as opposed to every day for two hours for 3 months.Focus on both diet and exercise
74 percent of smart starters made both fitness and dietary changes from the outset, compared to 50 percent of false starters.
Unfortunately for us, this isn't easy... Most of us cannot get to the gym within the first 6 weeks of surgery and if you have complications, even more. I'm still dying to get back to the gym (I'm not normal... I <3 the gym!). Do what you can when you can. Move your body, walk the dogs. Always remember, exercise doesn't have to happen in the gym!Engage more with others/have a support network
Strong starters were more than twice as likely to communicate with other members online.
Just sayin... SUPPORT SUPPORT SUPPORT. Join a support group. If there isn't one, start one! I did and its the joy of my life in this community, what keeps me grounded and strong! Here are some links around the net to help you out.
Obesity Help
Gastric Sleeve
Lap Band
ON FACEBOOK:
Sleeve Pixie (me)
POSE LI ~ My support group
Bariatric Bad Girls Club
Bariatric Bad Boys Club
My Before Became My AfterWeigh yourself weekly, not daily
Most strong starters weighed themselves weekly, while the majority of false starters did so daily.
This one I definitely struggle with. I can see so many pros to weighing weekly instead of daily but I LOVE that quick fix! Although I must say Seeing a 5lbs weight loss at the beginning of the week would prob be more exciting then seeing a half to one pound weight loss daily. Then again, it can also lead to disappointment. If I think I did really well this week I may spike up my expectations and get let down when I step on the scale. I would just say, know yourself...Focus first and foremost on developing healthy habits, not losing weight
Most strong starters viewed their #1 goal as "building a strong foundation of healthy habits." A majority of false starters made losing 3-4 pounds in their first two weeks their #1 goal, which backfired.
Now here is something our surgeons never tell us! Why the heck not!!! This is a GREAT idea!! If we focus on developing those new habits instead of the numbers on the scale we are much more likely to achieve and maintain long term success. Again, this is not a diet. i can not stress this enough. This is the rest of our lives!
FDA panel approves Lap-Band for the LESS FAT
Dec 04, 2010
So all of posts until now have been happy, better yourself type posts. While I prefer writing those I feel posts like this one have their place and importance as well.
Today I read an article which stated that the FDA panel which voted on December 3, 2010, 8-2, voted yes to approving the lap band for lower BMI patients. This decision gives patients with a BMI of 35 and a BMI of 30 with 1 co-morbidity access to lap-band surgery. The previous qualifications across the board for weight loss surgery were a BMI of 40 (100lbs over weight) or a BMI of 35 with 1 co-morbidity (ie: hypertension, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea etc.).
I have to say, as a former lap-bander for almost 3 years, I am shocked, outraged and PISSED OFF!!!! Here is why: Lets start with how this whole ordeal came up to begin with.
"Allergan is looking for approval to lower those BMI cutoffs to 35 and 30 respectively. Allergan estimates that about 15 million Americans are eligible for the Lap-Band under the current guidelines, but that 27 million people would be eligible for the procedure under the new, broader classification"For those of you who don't know who Allergan is, they are one of the largest producers of the actual Band used in the Lap Band surgery. So who stands to profit from this decision... ALLERGAN and surgeons!!! What about the patients who can now have weight loss surgery... Well lets look at some statistics shall we...
In a study done in the US by Ren, Horgan and Ponce (2002) "115 (patients) have been followed for at least 9 months, and 43 have been followed for at least 12 months. A retrospective analysis of prospective data gathered from these patients is presented. The percent excess weight loss was 35.6% at 9 months and 41.6% at 12 months. The average body mass index decreased from 47.5 to 38.8 in 9 months and from 47.5 to 37.3 in 12 months."
There were 15 complications, in 12 patients, within the first 9 months alone, which required a second surgery. While this doesn't seem so bad, these are only results after a one year study. so at 1 year 10% of patients had a complication. Now lets look at a 10 year study...
In a study done by Suter, Calmes, Paroz and Giusti (2005) "Lap-Band was performed in 317 patients, average weight was 261lbs, and mean BMI was 43.5 kg/m2 (range of 34-78). 105 (33.1%) of the patients developed late complications, including band erosion in 9.5%, pouch dilatation/slippage in 6.3%, and port-related problems in 7.6%. Major reoperation was required in21.7% of the patients. The mean Excess Weight Loss at 5 years was 58.5% in patients with the band still in place. The failure rate increased from 13.2% after 18 months to 23.8% at 3, 31.5% at 5, and 36.9% at 7 years.
So we see at 1 year the average complication rate is about 11% and at 7 years, more than triples to almost 37%. This second article goes on to say that each year after the complication rate goes up by another 3-4%. so by 10 years this leaves, conservatively, 46% of people who have Lap Band Surgery by year 10 will have had one major complication, which will most likely involve a second surgical procedure. THAT IS ALMOST HALF!!!!! Is your head spinning yet???
Did you know?? Clinical success with the Lap-Band is considered to be losing 50% of your excess weight in 2 years. So for someone with a BMI of 30-35 they are only expected to drop 3-6 points on the BMI scale which is about 20-30lbs. The article that presents the findings of the 10 year study goes on to say, "Only 60% of the people who do not have major complications at 10 years out are successful and maintain that weight loss.
For those of you who aren't good with numbers, this means out of 100 people, who are all 5'5'' and weigh 265lbs, at 10 years post op from lap band surgery ....
46-49 of them will have had at least 1 major complication, and need their band removed.
25-30 of them will lose about 50lbs and maintain this weight loss (and still be considered OBESE)
20 - 25 will not have a complication or achieve successful weight loss with the band
2-5 will do fabulously!
Do you all see where I am going with this? No? Ok let me continue... Back to the article that got me all riled up in the first place... It states...
If the lower threshold is approved, the Lap-Band label would state that the device is only to be used in adults who have failed "more conservative weight reduction alternatives, such as supervised diet, exercise, and behavior modification programs."Ok seriously!!! Seriously!!! SERIOUSLY!!!!!!! SERIOUSLY!!!!!! What the F**K! Have we not all done this... Did you have to provide a diet history to your surgeon? I did!! TWICE! I gave in the same exact one both times and just changed the dates. So really... It's like the psych eval (topic for another rant) We know exactly what to say, exactly what to write, how to act, talk, come across, pull the blindfold whatever... Oh and by the way... my diet history.. I MADE IT UP!!! Who the heck can be expected to remember exactly what dates they used Atkins for 3 days in 2002? I can't... Unless you keep a detailed journal to reflect back on this is going to be made up. So I can say I have failed 347 diets in the past year but no one will ever know if its true. But lets forget this issue for now because I have an even more important issue...
Lets talk about the complications that people who need their band out face... Erosion, slippage of the band, esophageal scaring, adhesions and port and tube problems are the most common issues with the band. This Article I read about the FDA approving this procedure for lower BMI patients stated....
"The Lap-Band has the benefit of being adjustable and removable."Ok.. The band is adjustable, and you can draw your own opinions on that if you would like. I personally do like that fact. The lap band however is generally not a removable device. It isn't permanent, that's true... but it is not entirely removable. Removable suggests that your body will go back to the state it was in prior to the band being placed. THIS IS NEVER TRUE! You will always have adhesions and scaring on your stomach which depending on the severity may not allow you to revise your surgery or may limit your options. The stomach where the band was doesn't automatically spring back to open. I and many other previous banders threw up for a month or so after having their band removed!! If you were throwing up often while you had the band in, removing the device will not remove the damage you have done to your esophagus. So you can revise your band but you can NEVER remove it.
Just so you know... I didn't only write this because I'm super pissed off, I wrote this because I want all of you to care enough about your body to get educated and do the research! If you do decide to have a lap-band I will support you the whole way through, especially if you are making an informed and educated decision. If you would like sources feel free to post below and I will send em your way. I am not afraid to say I don't know or I'll get back to you, or point you in the direction of someone who would know.
Happy Chanukah!
Dec 03, 2010
Today is day 2 of the 8 day Jewish Holiday Called Chanukah (can you CH flem? If not, replace the CH with an H).
Chanukah is a time for family, celebration and joy -- and also a time for remembering the reasons for celebrating.
This holiday is often called the "Festival of Light" and to me, its a time of newness and a time to start over. On the first night of this holiday we thank God for sustaining our lives so that we could experience a moment of joy. It reminds us that life is a gift and helps us to appreciate when something good happens.
Please don't think I am in any way pushing God or religion down your throat. That just isn't my style... If you believe in God, you do, if you don't, you don't. But I think the message is still relevant.
Today, we can be thankful for being alive. We didn't die on the table! We got our obesity before it got us. We won! Sometimes, life gets in the way and its
For me, my new light is cooking. I have learned that I love to cook and my creations in the kitchen taste way way way better than a microwaved burger from the local fast food joint. My blessing is my husband, we just shared our 5th year anniversary and I am looking forward to many many more! My Joy is you! My friends, my support group, my family. My happiness can only come from within myself. It will never come from children, dogs, coach bags, OH conferences, the number on the scale, the new tummy tuck or boob job not even from the great lost love affair. It must come from within me! Like a wick held within the candle wax, the flame is held from within.
So I'm on a mission! I want you to light your flame!! Get on in to the kitchen and get cooking!! Chanukah is also a holiday, as are all the Jewish Holidays, jam packed with FOOOOOD! Fried food to remember the oil that burnt for 8 days...
My favorite Chanukah treat is Sufganiyot, which in English translates to deep fried Donuts (usually jelly even though I don't like Jelly). Even though this treat is NOT deep fried it is still donuts and VERY YUMMY!
Shelly's Mini Chocolate Mocha Protein Donuts *This recipe has been reprinted for you with the permission of Shelly aka Eggface. It is my personal opinion, that Shelly is an angel and an excellent cook! She has saved me from Dunkin Donuts with her willingness to share recipes to replace the junk food I love. Everyone should check out her blog ~ The World According to Eggface Ps. Shelly, please come out with a way to make us friendly double stuffed oreos! Thanks!!!
Ingredients1 cup Almond Flour (aka Almond Meal)
1/2 cup Chocolate Protein Powder
1/2 cupMultigrain Pancake Mix
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Taster's Choice Instant Coffee Tube
1 Egg, beaten
3 Tablespoons Sugar Free Syrup (I used SF Vanilla)
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
1/4 cup Water
Super Groovy Mini Donut Pan
DirectionsPreheat oven to 325.
Mix all ingredients till well combined.
Spray Mini Donut Pans with Pam.
Fill 1/2 full with batter (batter is the consistency of brownie batter).
Bake for 8 minutes, remove from pan and cool on wire rack.
Donut Glaze
4 Mini Sugar Free Chocolate Bars (or milk, dark or white chocolate)
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Syrup (any flavor will do)
Nuke for 30 seconds or so till melted. Stir to combine. Coats 12 donuts.
For colored/flavored frosting: combine SF white chocolate & 3 drops or so of food coloring, SF Syrup and nuke for 30 seconds or so till melted. Stir to combine.
Dip cooled donuts into chocolate glaze and then into optional toppings.
Topping Ideas:
Crushed SF Candy (SF Candy Canes, SF Malted Milk Balls, SF Jordan Almonds)
Toasted or Untoasted Unsweetened Coconut
Crushed Nuts (Peanuts, Hazelnuts, Almonds)
Crushed Sugar Free Cookies
Peanut Butter Flour
SF Cocoa Powder
Happy Chanukah!!
Dr Amen: Scam Artist or Revisionary?
Nov 30, 2010
So this morning I awoke to a post on my Facebook feed in which Melting MamaChallenged us to take a quiz with her. The quiz was written by Dr. Amen or at least his clinic people.
"Daniel G. Amen, MD is a physician, child and adult psychiatrist, brain imaging specialist, bestselling author, Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the CEO and medical director of Amen Clinics, Inc. (ACI) in Newport Beach and Fairfield, California, Bellevue, Washington and Reston, Virginia."He also happens to be someone who's work I very much respect. I have heard him speak before and I have briefly studied his findings in grad school in my abnormal psychology class. He takes scans of his patients' brains and reads the scans of each person to determine a specific course of treatment for each individual. He works very heavily in the addictions field as well as with the elderly population and ADD children and adults.
There has been much talk of whether Dr Amen is a scam artist or "the real deal" but I am here to talk about neither. The reason I highly respect his work is not because of the ground breaking nature, but because of the ideas and principles behind it. I spoke in a previous post about weight watchers changing their diet plan every 5 seconds or so and how for some, the old plan works better and for others, the new plan works better. Why? Because everyone is different.
Dr. Amen does not see his patients as addicts or old or ADD, he sees them as people; As individuals, and knows for each individual person there must be an individual treatment plan. If you have 10 patients addicted to cocaine, I can guarantee you that NA alone, will not work for all 10. It may work for 2 or 3. Maybe 4 or 5 of them need to go to an outpatient treatment program first. Maybe some of them need in patient treatment for 30 days or 6 months in order for them to find the strength/motivation to stay sober. Each Person is different. The circumstances that drove them to begin using cocaine is different as is the amount they use, who they use with etc etc etc. So why would you think "one for all and all for one". We are not musketeers, we are people!
The same with a food addict or compulsive overeater. We didn't ALL get to the surgeons office because we sat at McDonald's our whole lives. Some of us did... many of us weren't even fat our whole lives. Go figure?
Personally, I was born 9lbs and nothing has changed. Every single person in my family is over weight on both sides or has been at one point in time. Genetically I was screwed from conception!! But my genes aren't the only reason I am sitting here writing this blog... I have learned behaviors that got me here as well. For example, I used food as a reward AND a punishment. Whenever I was younger my grandmother, whom I lived with, used to tell me, "You're Punished!" My punishment was always to watch TV or rent a movie or eat or something enjoyable. She never did this maliciously or with the intent of making me 391lbs, but that message has stuck with me throughout my life. In my family, for graduations and birthdays and anniversaries, we go out to eat which taught me that food is something you do when you are celebrating. It's not conscious, by ANY means... but it is what it is.
Maybe for you, your parents wouldn't let you have dessert until you licked your plate clean. So you joined the "clean your plate" club. You stuffed yourself to the gills, expanded your stomach just for a few cookies or a piece of cake. Do you still do that?
For those of you who eat in secret... you have your little candy stash in the night stand by your bed or the drawer at work or maybe even the glove box in your car? I am willing to bet when you were younger your parents told you you couldn't have candy and junk food so you would sneak it. You would stop at the corner store on the way to or from school for that $0.25 candy didn't you? You don't have to tell me. But you know your own scenario. Even if you don't realize it yet.
So if our beginning scenarios are all different, then why should our treatment be the same? Why is it some patients make it out relatively OK with no therapy and some lose their damn minds?! Why do some make it to goal and stay there forever and others regain, revise, and restart?
We are all different. Sit down today and figure out why you walked into your surgeons door. Not because you were sick on 500 medications couldn't walk etc etc... While those are valid reasons for having surgery those are just symptoms. Those reasons wont keep you on track. Figuring out where your behaviors come from, dealing with them if they need to be dealt with and changing your thought patterns and actions forever will!
Buddha Body Yoga
Nov 28, 2010
Hey there ladies and gents! I have developed a recent interest in starting a yoga class.
"Yoga is an ancient system of breathing practices, physical exercises and postures, and meditation intended to integrate the practitioner's body, mind, and spirit."I have been nervous about starting due to my size and physical capabilities, especially with all of the pain I have been having due to my recent surgery and complications.
I am not the kind of person who is ashamed of my body or has low self image. In fact, if you know me, even a little, you KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I happen to think very highly of myself.
My fear comes from my need to be good at things. I know I have horrible balance and couldn't hold a warrior stance or tree pose for more than a few seconds... My Wii Fit taught me that quickly when it yelled at me for moving too damn much. But, in keeping with my theme of changing the way I think and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, I have started a search for a "fat friendly" yoga studio or even a yoga class for fatties in which the poses are adapted for larger bodies.
My search led me to posting on my facebook wall for any suggestions from my fellow WLS friends and one posted a link to an enlightening article. Wouldn't ya know it.... Fatties can do Yoga too! I am excited to start this new venture. Once I am cleared for full physical activity I am signing up! Who knows, maybe I'll even see you there!?!
Weight Watchers Does It AGAIN!
Nov 28, 2010
My mom came home from WW this am and told me they have changed their program YET AGAIN!!
They are now taking into account, protein, carbs, fat and fiber... Sound familiar to anyone?? Sounds a lot like us... no? Well maybe you don't track your fiber... but I do :-)
Weight watchers changes their program, about every 2-5 years... Every time claiming a new and improved, healthier, more balanced program. Is it ever ACTUALLY improved... maybe. But I'm not here to bash the good ole WW. This new change in their program did get me thinkin' though...
Why is it when i was goin to Weight Watchers 3 years ago they upped my intake from 35 points to 42 points claiming it was not the way to go, did I continuously gain weight while others were losing? Was I doing it all wrong? Was I eating my heart out and just not journaling properly? MAYBE!! But no... I wasn't cheating (yet...). I had changed my eating habits according to their "NEW AND IMPROVED" plan and it wasn't working. I remember talking to my leader Lauri and asking her if I could go back to the old program and sure enough the next week I lost weight!! But wait a damn minute here... How is it that old, out of style, non-improved program was working and the new shiny one wasn't??
The answer to this debacle my friends is that, there is no such thing as NEW AND IMPROVED dieting... Different strokes for different folks!! Weight Watchers 2007 may be great for my body while Weight Watchers 2010 may work better for my mom. Our Bodies are different. They respond to foods differently.
Fast Forward to my post op life... I have found that every doctor has a different set of rules. A different dietary guideline, amount of daily calories etc etc. Does that mean my doc is better than your doc? Heck NO!
When I had my lap band I was told 800-1000 calories. I didn't lose an ounce. I was working out 4x a week and lot losing an ounce. I upped my caloric intake to 1400 calories per day and Ta Da! The weight fell off. 20lbs that summer alone!!
You have to find what works for you. Experiment with your body. See if you need more calories or carbs or protein than your doctor thinks you need. Maybe you need a lot less than your doc recommended. If every patient followed the same set of guidelines without taking into account their BMR (the amount of calories you burn when in a resting state), as well as the speed of their metabolism, their weight (a person who is 400lbs cannot and in my opinion should not be living on 500 calories), etc then we wouldn't all be successful. We would be frustrated.
I am not saying you should start a riot at your surgeons office or anything like that but I am going to DARE you to take charge of your body and health. I double dog dare you to find what works best for you; To learn whats going on with your body and take charge!
To our health!
I Gained A WHOLE POUND Over Thanksgiving!!
Nov 27, 2010
So here we are friends and Thanksgiving is over. All the preparation, cooking and table setting is done. The dishes are washed, the pants are unbuttoned and the scale is not your friend today... What now?
I spent Thanksgiving picking at my grandmother's amazing food all day. I made sugar free trifle and citrus glazed salmon with avocado salsa. I never even ate a bite of the healthy, bariatric friendly food I made because by the time it was ready, surprise surprise, I was stuffed.
To my surprise, the next morning I stepped on the scale as I do every morning, and I had gained a whole pound!! ONE WHOLE POUND! MY LIFE IS OVER! I'M A FAILURE AGAIN! THIS IS NEVER GOING TO WORK! I GIVE UP!!! That is where my mind used to go. Every time I stepped on the weight watchers scale, every time I went to my previous surgeon for a fill and didn't lose. I was "all or nothing" girl. I am willing to bet that this description relates to you too... or at least it did at one point in your life.
We, you and I, can make a pact right now. We can decide to act play a different tape when the scale isn't being so friendly. Are you ready for that? I am! Now is the time... Ready, set... GO!
Say this out loud to yourself.. Post it on the wall next to your scale and don't ever forget this!
"If i get on the scale today, and I don't like the number I see. I will get off the scale and continue with my day. I will say to myself, "Life happens. I am not a failure. I am a success. This is not a diet this is my life and I am entitled to indulge once in a while. Today is a new day and a fresh start and I am worth it!"
This is my new attitude. I am DONE with dieting... This is real life my friends. I will have my sleeve forever. As you will have your tool forever. If I choose to eat a few more calories then I should on a holiday, birthday, anniversary or when I go away with my family and I gain a pound or two or dare I say it...FIVE POUNDS... guess what? Life goes on. I will tighten the reins the next day or week and the weight will be gone. I refuse to deprive myself of food forever. If I want a bite of a cookie on my birthday then so be it. I will manage, not suffer, but manage the consequences.
I implore you to adopt this new attitude of LIFE and living it to the fullest of your ability. I believe in balance. Balance does not mean perfection it means enjoying both the good and bad in such a way that neither have a hold of your actions, emotions and reactions.
I wish you all a very happy holiday season filled with love, family, friends, life and balance!
About Me
Hicksville, NY
Location
32.2
BMI
Surgery
10/18/2010
Surgery Date
Nov 06, 2007
Member Since
