Weight Loss Surgery - WLS June Chat

Thought I'd kick things up a bit in here ;)

How's everyone doing?

Even though banded, I still have to work on portion control, so that is my goal this week, to really concentrate on the ol belly and my plate.

Oh......exercise too ;)

How about you?


(boy do I need a fill, I'm hungry ALL the time)

Hey I like the idea of a June Chat thread for multi topics. Good idea! I just passed my 3 month post surgery date and am doing really well. I rarely have any problems eating (unless I eat too fast or too big a bites). I am losing at a comfortable amount & so far my skin has been able to keep up. It is so wonderful to be able to go for a walk & climb steps again. The biggest plus is that I am reducing medication steadily. Both my doc & I are taking away a little at a time. The High Blood pressure meds are nearly gone. I expect to be off them completely at my next appt. 6/15.

My greatest heartache so far has been not being able to wear my clothes. All my suits & career clothes have been cleared from my closet & will be given to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. I have my 3 month checkup this afternoon--will meet with the surgeon, RN case worker & exercise coach--skipping the dietician (long story on why).

How is everyone else doing?

WOWEE good for you Loodie, you know it makes me happier to hear about folks going off (or weening off) meds than WL itself. We all want to lose the weight but some times forget about the true meaning of why we want to do it and that means being healthy first. Congratulations!!

Aww that is hard when you have to throw your clothing out, but think of all the fun you'll have getting new stuff.

Good luck at the doc's today.

Hello everybody!! It's a beautiful June day here. Yesterday I worked in the yard...planted some flowers and ohhhhhhh it was so wonderful. I could bend over to put them in the dirt and cover them up !!! I haven't been able to do that in years. I'm looking at them through my window this morning, drinking my coffee, and feeling soooo good about it.
I'm still losing weight but it has slowed down. I'm about ready for it to stop now. I'm still a little concerned about it. I still have to work at not losing too fast.
I ordered an ab lounger last week. I hope it will help my sagging belly a little. I also ordered a lipo in a box so I can fit into all those new clothes Loodie !! I've emptied my closet 3 times now and I still a hard time with it. The old thinking kicks in and I think, what if I gain some weight back and I'll need these. But lo and behold I bought some gouchos the other day and they look pretty good if I do say so myself LOL. So.... off with the old and on with the new Loodie!!

Hello everyone, I finally start losing weight again I was at a stand still for about two weeks! I got my first fill about three weeks ago but it feels like its just starting to work. Im never hungry I have to force my self to eat at times because I can go all day without eating. When I got the fill I was still feeling hungry even first thing in the morning. Anyway Im excited that the number on the scale is going down! June is starting off great!!!

Good luck to all of you on your weight loss journey!!!

P.S. Loonie my greatest Joy has been not being able to wear my clothes!!!

Happy June!

I've started journaling again - not just food I eat but events of the day. I'm also walking (only 30 minutes) per day - which is way more than I ever did before. I'm in the 'bandster hell' :^: portion of this journey. The begining when you can eat just about anything, I have no restriction, and don't have my first fill until June 23rd - yes in 20 days!!! :carrot: So, I'm going on sheer willpower, which I have an incredible amount of (NOT) :s: and I'm actually doing pretty good. I have alot of support around me. Anyway, looking forward to getting that first fill and possibly feeling some restriction.

Hi Ladies:
I'm not sure what kind of monday this is b/c I'm in my cube Allergies are keeping me inside today! I fell asleep at 1:30 am this morning and DH awakened me at 2! ugh so I'm fighting sleep today and no coffee (no time for Dunkins and office coffee tastes like swill) one of my coworkers bought me a full fat Dr Pepper which i didn't resist :(
However i'm now feeling the consequences gas and incessant trips to the potty (sugar makes me have to go don't know why) so back to Soda free for the rest of the day and beyond.
Angela thats a great idea! I think i'll do that too
Lauderdale that is a great feeling! good job with the plateau
Magi that sounds like a great morning!
Loodie maybe set up a new clothes fund? My sister and I Love Clothes She had WLS in 2002 and while my closet benefitted from it I know there were times she was sad about someone else wearing her good stuff.
Thats awesome about the meds!
Leenie When did you get banded?
I spent about $180 on summer clothes from Target I got 12 pieces that I can mix into at least 24 different outfits
I was looking at some really nice and $$$ plus dresses for my cousins wedding weekend (i already have my one for the wedding) and a friend said to me umm Kier not the greatest investment considering what you want to get done in september. She was right and I know me and I 'd go into closet mourning for all my nice stuff.
Eh Lunch is almost over bbl!

KO, banded since October :D It was a quiet personal decision I made and I haven't told anyone until now. Well I'm not telling anyone they are gonna have to figure it out themselves ROFL !!!! I feel like I can now talk about it and help others. I'm losing very slow but thats my choice, I really don't want to go fast with the fills so my wl is very slow. 40 lbs to date and I'm thrilled with that. I am also going thru some head issues with my food... fun fun fun. My next fill is June 16th...long over due but I think emotionally I'm now ready (ready to make my food plate smaller w/out getting depressed about it).

Magi, your doing wonderful with your WL BRAVO!!!

Lauderdale, good luck with your fill, hope its your SweetSpot!

Angela hang in there, having the band and no restriction is mind bogling for those with out it....but I for one know that feeling only to well. Don't forget your first fill may not work but your on your way because the next few WILL!!

Oh well back to cleaning ;)

Hey Ladies Taking a break from cleaning my Mom's coming tommorrow!
She rocks but she also cleans my house which while too nice for words drives me nuts! my sis is having her corrective surgery tomorrow at 9 so prayers would be much appreciated!
Leens 40 lbs! that's fantastic. . .I totally understand not shouting it from the rooftops some people I have told have not directly said they dissapproved but they showed it. . .I say we're doing this for ourselves.
I hear you on the smaller plates! I'm trying to implement small changes so that big ones don't hit me like a ton of bricks
The perky nutritionist told me to try atkins or EAS shakes so thats the next implementation
KAshi shakes made me craaaaaaaaaave sugar
I'll leave those for DH!
back to work
Does anyone have Mary Poppins phone # I'd really love to clean her way!
:DKierie

Good Afternoon Ladies :hug:

Well I did good yesterday eating .........until (sigh) about 9 PM when I got out of bed and went for food :( bet I ate 400 calories of crap I didn't even want. Self sabotage you could say. I even exercised (shhhhhhhhhhh) LOL.

Anyhoo today is a new day, so far so good.

How are you all doing?

Today hasn't been a good food day for me. I did split lunch with a co-worker but we split a fattening pasta dish, so does that really count?? I'm not hungry at all but having some work stuff going on with billing, etc. which will inevitably effect payroll. That stresses me out for sure. Gotta make sure my staff get paid!! Tonight I"m going to try to just drink a protein shake and definately go for a walk.

Hi ladies! Today was a fairly good day for me. I'm on my "Friday", so I'm looking forward to getting a few hours of swimming in for the next couple days. Plus, the weather is absolutely beautiful. Perfect for walking!

I have a very nice lady named Angela investigating my insurance problem at Dr. Johnell's office, so I'm waiting to hear back from them in the next few days. I still can't do much until my six months' supervised weight loss efforts are up, but I did buy a few different protein drinks to try out. I haven't tried any yet, but plan on it tomorrow.

Hope everyone's week is going well!

I had a bad snack day (kind of) yesterday. I was hungry all day long--really hungry (not mind hunger). I ate more like 6 oz at each meal instead of 4, and then snacked last night on 1/2 c. berries & 2 c. popcorn. Considering I am only 3 mon. post op--that was a lot of food. Today was much better. I ate 3-4 oz. per meal & had ricecake for a snack this afternoon & 1/2 c. watermelon tonight. I went for a walk, so that helped get my mind off it. I just need to remember to MEASURE my food, eat at regular times, & write down what I eat. (Actually I put it in my tracking program on the computer & in my PDA).

On another note--I was in for my 3 month checkup yesterday. I had not planned to see the dietician (the emotionless one), but for some reason they got me in with the other dietician--who is really great. I learned more from her in 15 minutes, than the other one in 4 sessions. It was good! Now how do I go about switching permanently???? I'll have to think about that one. The next appt. is in Sept. for 6 month checkup.

Happy Wednesday !!

Loodie, switch to the dietitian you like... heck with the other one. I'm telling you, I've switched more doctors than you can shake a stick at and FINALLY I've found a good one. Go with your gut feelings (no pun intended lol).

Brandnewme (BNM) enjoy your swimming and walking. I'm jealous ;)

Angela, just think, before banding you would have eatin that entire meal.....Great accomplishment wouldn't you say? Bet your doing wonderful !!! Part of the reason I wanted the band was to enjoy ALL foods but in small amounts.


I have a question (ok problem) and need your help / comments / answers.

Q- I do pretty good all day long eating, dinner I am getting better at. BUTTTTTT after dinner, I have an incrediable sweet tooth, I mean ravenous. I don't understand what comes over me but I'll put DD to bed, 8 - 8:30 pm, I'll even fall asleep and then around 9 - 9:30 I wake up hungry but only want to shovel sugar in my mouth.. anything sweet (really chocolate) WTF?

Why is it, that I wake up at that time and have such an awful craving for sweets, so bad that I go down stairs and gorge (1/2 a sleep). Why can't I crave it at noon, eat and burn it off... noooooooooo. Thats when I do my most calorie damage is at night.

Don't have sweets in the house... well thats true, and most of the time I don't so what do i do??? I'll look for anything to fill that void and that can be even worse than having what I want.

So my question is... does anyone have this problem at night, I mean wake you out of your sleep problem? I don't know how to deal with it anymore.
I've tried everything, even eating protein right before bed...but.


Any takes?

I've been sick with the flu for the past two days, feeling awful! I cant keep anything down not even a sip of water. I guess there is a bright side though I lost four pounds since Sunday!

Hello Ladies.. That's a nice idea to have this thread! Like you brandnewme today is my Friday and am ecstatic! *I guess I hate my job so much that I feel overwheleming happiness when I get 2 days off :)*

Well.. I have done kind of well after my surgery, am almost 3 months out.. But I have a confession, as of yet I haven't started exercising :( But I have an appointment with this extremely nice gym/spa that is waay too expensive for me but I just loved it so am gonna charge (bad, I know) in hope that I would stick to it. Yesterday I had an appointment with my surgeon and he told me to exercise and wipe that sick person look off my face, so that's one of the things that encouraged me. I also complained of feeling dizzy and he ran a bunch of tests on me (I asked for them he said it was dehydration and I knew it was true :)).

Anyway since I work in the hospital I checked my lab results today and I found that I might have hyperthyroidism (I don't even have any of the symptoms! If anything I was expecting HYPO) :(
The saddest part about this is that if I start treatment I might gain weight.. BoooHOooooo!

Leenie,

Boy, can I relate. I really get a sweet tooth after dinner and I crave either sweets or carbs (same difference.) I have done several things that seem to be working for me. First, I have to say that I have invisalign (invisable braces that are plastic trays that fit snug over my teeth to straighten them) which really helps me not eat between meals too badly because it's a pain to take them out, brush after every meal, floss, etc. However, a craving is a craving and with my addiction (food) I will go to any length to get my fix.

I've tried several things... brushing my teeth, the fresh sweet taste in my mouth helps, sucking on hard candy - not sugar free, hell it's only 30 calories, one isn't going to kill me or make me huge, i do eat sugar free jello and that helps.

I also wake up in the middle of the night craving food. I have gotten up in the middle of the night and pigged out, also half asleep. I have really just tried to be conscious of this behavior and make myself stay in bed. My partner also helps alot because I can wake her up in the middle of the night and she will talk to me, hold me, go for a walk with me, whatever it takes.

Hope this helps!

ok angela and leenie. i thought long and hard about your posts and actually did some research on the internet. this is what i THINK, or, perhaps more accurately SUSPECT.

there's something in the neurochemistry that's doing this to you. there are sleep disorders that make people wake up. cravings have been shown to be related to decreased dopamine receptors in the brain. something goes haywire in the serotonin/dopamine system in people who can't sleep. AND there's also a night eating sleep disorder that responds well to antidepressants.

so this is what i'm thinking. the relatively fast weight loss is known to affect neurochemistry - many people who have surgery become depressed. and stop it leenie, you may be losing slowly [as far as you're concerned], but frankly, your loss has been steady and sustained with only brief plateaus.

and you're both not eating all that much, so i suspect that you need a few more dopamine receptors in your brain. and, unfortunately, the BEST way to increase them is to EXERCISE. so, even though you're both busy busy busy people, maybe if you can fit in a walk at some point during the day, it might make a difference.

it's worth a try, at least.

and ANOTHER thing i'm thinking - and trust me, i doubt that anyone is looking at this or even thinking about it - people with the band have a stomach that's the same size as the bypass people, but all the digestive hormones remain the same. and since there's a complex interaction between the gut hormones and the brain signals that control eating behavior and cravings, i'm wondering if you digestive hormones are basically knocking on a locked door in your brain.

just a few random thoughts. fueled by a little bourbon.

Oh Jiffy, I LOVE YOU !!!! I really do. :hug:

I sware, I fight this with all my might but some nights are horrible. I can go thru weeks and I don't wake, then I go thru weeks were it happens every stinkin night. WTH.

I'm gonna talk to my doctor about it.

Angela we'll get thru this and your partner sounds wonderful....your a lucky person.

This is why I come here you guys are awesome! Could we possibly cram more Brilliance into here.
I emotionally ate last night Donuts? Nope Bread Nope
Corn on the Cob no butter
and a chicken thigh
then we had dinner ugh
My sis's surgery went really well they started her on liquids last night
hopefully this is the road to no pain
and btw the quack who did her first surgery sewed her stomach to her liver in a corrective procedure
I'd like to correct him
Gotta Run
bbiab
Kierie

Hey Ladies,
I really like this thread because it holds me accountable for what I've done. I got banded on 3/20/06 and somehow during the mushy phase I got hooked on tortilla chips with a hint of lime (they are so good) and they have become my down fall and on top of that I am having a hard time getting in my protein. However, since being banded I have only managed to loose about 10 pounds (for a total of 30) and since my first fill 5/23/06 I've been maintaining which is better than gaining. Anyway, I don't think my first fill was enough so I will be going back for another on 7/14.

KO, thats some scary ch*t, I tell yah. I'm praying for your sister :grouphug:

Deborah the band is a fickle little thing, one day you can eat everything, next day one bite of the wrong thing and POOF! stuck. I love those lime chips, but don't buy them b/c I can eat the whole bag in 2 days. My problem is chocolate :(

Hang in there.

My Sister is Discharged she's already on Pureed food!!!!! I'm so relieved!
ok now I should do some work

Good Morning :)

So, anyone planning on doing any exercise this weekend? (who just said that?)
I have no real plans for the weekend except to find a helmut so I can go bike riding with DD, but thats about it.

You?

Hey Ladies
I had a good PT yesterday so hopefully I will feel good enough to move yesteray
ofcourse I told my PT about the Potential WLS
and he was grilling me about it and saying can't you just restrict calories
UGH! no I can't Ive Restricted EVERYTHING!
I left so angry
I've gone there 5 years and about everything else they've been great
but I hate when people say "can't you eat less and move more" I can eat less
but no I can't move more and you should frickin know that already
sorry it just ticks me off
On happy news Today is My Birthday and I'm 30! :D DH is suprising me with wherever we go for dinner and at least oen day this weekend we are going to the city to see museums!
bbl
Kierie

Happy Birthday Kierie
:hb: :gift: :gift: :gift: :hb: :gift: :gift: :gift: :hb:



Sorry you had a sucky PT chat.... he should be slapped.

:woo: :woo: Happy Birthday KO :woo: :woo:
Have a great time this weekend and enjoy.

Now, as far as exercise goes. I really need to increase it. Of course my doctor said "The more you exercise the less you have to diet". Better said than done for me. I did buy a 2 pound hoola hoop a couple of weeks ago that I am trying. It just is not as easy as it was when I was slimmer and younger. But at least I am trying. I am also going to try and increase my walking. Wish me luck.

I've been very stressed at work lately. Yesterday I bought a box of those evil "100 calorie" doritos. I ate the whole damn box. "100 calories" became freaking "500 calories."

I can't eat a plain tortilla. I can't hold down a salad yet. I can't eat pasta or rice or just some plain untoasted white bread. Cheese makes my tummy do a bad dance. Even soup that has rice starch won't stay down. But I have no damn problem eating chips.

I also chewed a whole wad of sugarless gum yesteday. I just put almost the whole package in my mouth. While my doctor has never said that I couldn't chew sugarless gum, I know that it can be dangerous because you could swallow it.

I know that WLS is just one tool, and perhaps our greatest tool and greatest obstacle is our own noggin. Lately, I've come to realize just how much I have relied on food in the past to lessen my stress. I need a new way to deal.

I've been walking 3 miles a day, but last night on my walk I bought the chips. I guess I got to leave my money at home. Any other thoughts?

Invis, your doing great, don't let a slip up get you down. I'm the same as you, I will buy the very thing that keeps me from losing weight chocolate, cake crap. IMHO its called addiction... we just have to learn how to handle it.... If I ever figure it out, I'll let you know, but in the mean time, we just have to keep truckin. WTG on the 3 miles whoot!!!

Deb, hula hoopin COOL !!!!!! have fun.

Jiffy - Ok, somehow I missed the research you did on the waking in the middle of the night and pigging out disorder I have. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. :hug: I was just re-reading some posts and there was one to ME :D ...

I've been doing that since I was a kid. Thought I was self medicating because my father is a nut and well it was just ugly... I'm already on anti-depressants and have recently incorporated walking at night. I have only had one episode of this since my surgery and it was when my lovely mother brought peach cobbler over for my partner to eat - yeah right...i pigged out. i've since ask dear old mom to please not bring that 'crack' into my house. she's been very supportive as well.

i'm a lucky, lucky girl!!

Good Morning,

I had an ugly weekend eating... got sick with the flu/cold and couldn't stop stuffing my face.. OY VEY!!

I'll be better... promise.

How are you guys?

I had a pretty good weekend. I tend to do better when I have people around me who get what I'm going thru, vs. being at work or God forbid, driving past the fast food restaurants.

We started working out together this weekend. My partner joined the gym I've belonged to forever so we could go together.

Last night I was feeling deprived so we went for a Sunday drive - top down, beautiful day. It got my mind of food!

Leenie, I feel your pain. Great idea about taking a drive, Angela.

It's been a mixed weekend for me. I was stuck in the office most of the weekend. I took some long walks to help me get my mind off of work. Yesterday I walked a total of 6 miles! I guess I was really trying to get my mind off of work. I've been eating some junk food though. I turn to food when I'm stressed. I'm trying to turn to exercise instead, but the little demon in the back of my head keeps telling me that some chips won't kill me, particularly since I walked so much.

I bought a scale this weekend, which I don't think was such a good thing. I bought it because I thought I could hold myself accountable for all of the crap I've been eating lately. But the scale starts at two pounds. It's wrong off the bat! I weighed myself yesterday morning and I was at 198 (I didn't bother adjusting the two pounds, because I figure it's probably wrong anyway.) That was the first time I have seen under 200 pounds since high school. By the evening I was 200 pounds. I was 200 pounds this morning too. I think I might take the scale back. The nurses at my doc's office tell me that I shouldn't have a scale because his scale is the most accurate and that scales can be misleading. That's what I've believed since my surgery. But I feel I need something to scare me out of this pattern I've been establishing.

How do you all feel about the scale issue?

When I stop looking at the scales I know I'm in trouble. I weigh almost every morning (except when I'm on the road on business that is) and it keeps me focused. Even when I don't want to be.

I weigh every morning before I eat or drink anything and every night just before I go to bed. I have a weight watcher's scale and it's right on the money with my doctor's scale. I dare not trust myself !!

I too weigh myself each morning, right before I step in the shower. I have a digital scale that measures in tenths & it is usually really close (within 1 pound) of my doctor's scales (I go to 3 different docs). It also was really close with WW, when I was going there. I too know that I would be out of control without it--If I am not losing at a steady pace, I know it is time to monitor more closely the type of foods that I am eating. (Carbs kill me)

I also weigh myself every morning before I shower and eat. I went to a seminar a few years back and the speaker suggested it, so that the pounds can't sneak up on you. I have a digital scale that is very accurate and close to my doctor and WW. It also calculates my BMI. It can also be annoying because I've been gaining and loosing the same 4 pounds for the past 3 weeks.

I've decided to keep the scale. I'm going to a doctor today, so I'll find out what I truly weigh. I've been trying to get a new primary care physcian, so hopefully this guy will work out.

Last night I stayed at work until 8:40 and I forgot to bring all my vitamins to work with me. I tried to take most of them at once last night. That's 4 iron pills and 2 vitamin A. Huge mistake. I threw up about 2:30 in the morning.

Last night I told my friends about the surgery and they were really supportive
the one who i know won't be supportive is out of the country and what she doesn't know won't hurt me. The Drs office called insurance yesterday so now I have to wait a month!
Do they ever turn down people who are "The perfect candidate" that's what the shrink called me
I'm nervous!

I weigh every morning too. It really helps me 'behave' and keeps me motivated as well.

Hey girlies, whats shakin?

Friday I go for my 3rd fill...egads LOL. I'm hoping this is my Sweet Spot (hate that term lolol) that the bandsters all talk about. I think I'll call it my artifically sweet spot (less calories).

How's everyone doing?

Trying to hang in there today. I've had two doctors appt in the past two days. I'm in One-derland! Woo-hoo! The trouble is the two docs scales are different. Yesterday I weighed 199. My scale at home, which is off, pegs me at 200. Today I went to this other doctor and I weighed 196, but my home scale shows 200 still. I think the only scale I'll really trust is my surgeon's. I'm going to just say that I'm 199 until I find out for sure at the end of the month.

ETA: I was just thinking. Back when I first got my driver's license I lied about my weight. The weight I lied about was 196. I was well over 200 even back then when I was 17. In the 15 years since then I have only gained 4 pounds according to my license! So getting past 196 is kind of a magic marker to me. I literally cannot remember the last time I was my goal weight of 170. I know I was in weight watchers in high school, but I think the lowest I got to was 180. I think.

I have been losing but I think I need to have a mid goal because I feel like It will take me Forever to reach the weight loss goal I set for myself! My doctor told me to stop weighing myself everyday cause it was makin me crazy, I weigh twice a week now and that is perfect for me because this way I always see a decrease even if its just a pound.

Good Morning :)

I just had another fill (OUCH) so I"m at 2 cc's in my 4 cc band yikes !!!!! so far the doc is pleased with my WL. Its slow but he said its perfect. I agree, I'm not in a rush but at the same time I want it OFF !!! ya know lol.

How is everyone? got any plans for the weekend?

Hi LAdies:
This weekend will be action packed again (June always is)
Tonight we have a rock concert at the Garden State Arts Center
tommorrw we're going to PA for my Sis' birthday sunday fathers day lunch
sunday night pass out!
Now I have the exciting task of editing groceries!
Leenie does it hurt when they're filling you?

Hey KO,

Who are you seeing tomorrow at the art center? Sounds like a fun weekend.

IMHO the needle doesn't hurt its when they are pushing your tummy and feeling for the port that makes me sore. It goes away fast, but makes you feel tender ya know. Doc's can numb you but I always pass on that stuff because it doesn't hurt that much for me to want it. Are you going for the band or bypass? sorry...brain fart.

I'm going for the bypass actually I'm just curious I'm one of those people that needs to know things I'm a discovery family of channels Addict
I'm seeing Nine Inch Nails tonight

Good Morning,

Any plans for the weekend ladies?? Nothing for me planned except to get DH something for Fathers Day and tomorrow we will be visiting FIL and my dad's grave, but thats it. I promised DD I would have cake for her prek graduation today, so I'll let her pick out a fancy cupcake at the grocery store today. You know what a full cake in my house will do and where it will go so I can't have that especially now after my fill. To tempting.

How about you ?


KO 9" Nails.... I am old.... can't tell you one song of theirs but I know they've been around for a long time. ENJOY

HI Ladiess
Leenie have fun at the preK graduation I bet your DD is so excited!
The concert was great I'm hurting today from all the dancing and luckily we weren't the dorkiest people there!
I'm weening myself off crap food! I bought DH frozen Pizzas b/c he doesn't cook for himself
and i got some healthier choices for breakfast light and fit smoothies some kashi crunch and fruit in fruit juice I know its sugar but its not crappy sugar and its portable
I'm going to make a quiche with a crust made of FF Refried beans and use southwestern egg beaters and some "ranchero" frozen Veggies
i figured that would be some good protien to try out
hopefully if DH's headache goes away we're going up to see my sister today
gotta run
Kier

I've been working like a maniac and have booked myself an ridiculously busy month in anticipation of my surgery. I want to feel very much at peace with taking time off and to work in my home office for a bit. I'm also still struggling with the food thing since I've decided to stop any further weight loss efforts pre-surgery. That's hard. Really hard. I haven't found a point of balance yet, that's for sure.

Good Morning,

Hubs I forgot (brain fart) when is your surgery date?

Nothing much going on today FIL's and cemetary, cleaning, etc. Just enjoying the HOT HOT day oy!

Hope you all are having a great day.

July 17.

Woke up this morning and realized that acknowledging I'm scared, like freaking scared isn't a bad thing. It doesn't mean I'm feeding into a negative outcome, just to admit that out loud. So that's my Sunday revelation. Its ok to say it out loud.

oh my, yes, hubs! admitting what's going on is the ONLY way to deal with it. honest! it's a hard, hard lesson for us to learn. in fact, if ya'll will allow me a sweeping generalization, it's the single hardest lesson that we have to learn.

after all, if we'd been able to admit what we felt, instead of eating the emotion, there's a good chance that we wouldn't have needed surgery in the first place!

the longer i walk this path, the more stunned i am that it's not really about the food. it's about what i'm feeling and why the first reaction is to eat something instead of dealing with it.

it's a major change. and it's led me into some odd situations [like being angry, and instead of eating, having a 45 minute rant under my breath!] or crying on the way to work because the alzheimer's mom is going down the tubes quickly and there's nothing i can do to stop it. in the past, i would have stopped for bagels, doughnuts, snacks. whatever, to deal with this. and now, i simply cry.

Very insightful post as usual Jiffy. I think I've always had the 'belief' that I had to hold my thoughts in check. That just 'thinking' something could materialize it. Sometimes that's true. But sometimes that gives my 'thoughts' WAY too much power, kwim? I mean, I believe that thought, belief, intention IS extremely potent. But life is larger than just my intention. The synergy is far beyond just 'me'.

So, that means that I've often suppressed my feelings so they wouldn't form 'thoughts' I wasn't comfortable with. But... they always come out sideways anyway don't they? You see, when I had my cancer first diagnosed, and then shortly thereafter the pituitary tumour I became acutely aware of how my thoughts were impacting my health. Its complicated. I did a lot of work with guided imagery and allowing myself to 'see' how my thoughts were contributing to my illness. Since I had opted for no surgery on the pituitary tumour, and was determined to find an alternative course of treatment I began to hold my thoughts and intentions quite under scrutiny.

So what does this have to do with food for me? I suspect it has to do with mindless eating. Like the only way I COULD eat without guilt, without emotional agony was to just do it. Feast or famine. Wow. I just surprised myself with a fundamental truth! My God. The feast or famine part. THAT is such a huge truth!!!

I better go think about this...

I love who you are Jiffy.

Hugs to both you hubs and jiffy. Your words are really ringing true for me this morning. Why the hell do I always reach for something to put in my mouth to comfort me? My brain knows I need a new way to deal with all the crap in daily life, but there is a brainless part of me that won't let go of my bad habits.

Letting myself feel the fear and deal with it instead of numbing myself with food or for god sakes, shopping lately, is the only way I'm ever going to change.

I love reading science fiction. One of my favorite books was Dune. There was a good saying in it, it may be kind of cheesy, but it goes:

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

All of this is so true. I realize that this is the one topic that scares me the most. I hold all of my emotions in until I pop. Which I know is not good. So you ladies are right because if I knew how to deal with my emotions then maybe I would not turn to food everytime I get stressed, depressed, or bored.

This also reminds me of a book that I have not been able to get myself to read. Probably because I feel it is all about me. The book is called "Battlefield of the Mind: Winning the battle in Your Mind" by Joyce Meyer. I know I have issuses that need to be dealt with in order to go any further in this journey.

Thanks ladies for the insight and help.

I am on the phase of my eating plan for the year of 4 oz. per meal. Still 71-85 gr. protein daily. Here is my dilemma--I am no longer losing at a steady rate and think it has something to do with the eating. This phase allows some snacks--popcorn, rice cakes, lf/sf pudding, fruit. I seem to be more hungry than normal. I have discovered that the mini rice cakes (ranch, apple-cinnamon, nacho cheese, etc.) are really good & take away the yearning to crunch something! & now I have a tendency to crave those.

I know I read someone here (I think Jiffy or Hubs) post what the portion & daily gram amounts should be for carbs but couldn't find it. Another question--are the carbs in fruits different?

I also know that mentally I need to jar myself back to reality. Having lost nearly 1/2 of what I want to is such a good feeling & the ability to walk & fit into smaller clothes has me content, but I know that I shouldn't be.

A normal day eating for me is:
Breakfast-(7 a.m.)-3 oz. lf/sf yogurt, 1 oz. smashed fruit (melon, banana, peach, etc)
Mid Morning Snack-(10 a.m.) - 15 gr. protein supplement (Nectar lemon ice tea)
Lunch-(11:30 a.m.)-2 oz. FF cottage cheese, 1 oz. sf canned fruit, 3 oz. deli turkey or ham
Mid Afternoon Snack-(1:30 pm.)-20 gr. protein (Nectar Lemon tea), fruit (1/2 c. melon, 1/2 orange, peach, banana, etc)
Dinner-(6 p.m)-3 oz. meat (pork chop, chicken, fish), 1 oz. vegetable or fruit (usually fruit).
Night snack-(8:30 p.m.)-mini rice cakes (1-2 servings) or LF/SF pudding & sometimes SF jello.

ok loodie. i got news for you. it's the fruit! there's no difference between rice cakes and fruit, as far as carbs are concerned. AND the emphasis should be on low-glycemic carbs. not on rice cakes.

not more than 15 grams of carb per meal.

sooo, having said all that, and i'm sorry that i'm not being more tactful here, but i have so many deadlines today -

bottom line: LOSE THE FRUIT and NEVER eat it without protein. USE VEGGIES INSTEAD. and instead of the rice cakes/pudding/jello, have a SMALL serving of fruit with some protein - [fruit and cheese, fruit and cottage cheese, fruit and plain yogurt with a little protein powder - yogurt and cottage cheese have carbs as well and THEY ALL COUNT!]

Yup. The fruit jumped at me too. And if you do eat fruit ONLY something like berries. And I wouldn't mash any of it. Take the time to chew chew chew. It will give you a better sense of fullness and stay with you longer than puree, whenever you can. And one more thing... veggies don't mean things like peas, corn, sweet potatoes and anything loaded with carbs.

You're also better off eating a really good quality multigrain bread toasted, in moderation than rice cakes. If you put some cheese on that, or nut butter, or smoked salmon... you'll feel very much more satisfied. You can also opt for a good, multigrain cracker too.

Puddings and jello are a disaster even if sweetened with aspartame and for GOD's sake stay away from that! Did you know there was a very large study of nurses who used only aspartame and no sugar in one group, and only sugar in the second group. Guess which group gained weight. Here's a hint. It wasn't the group that used only sugar.

Thanks--OK got it cut down on the fruit, rice cakes, etc. I need to count carbs as well as protein. I'm not sure what low-glycemic carbs are, but I will do some research.

Jiffy, thanks for taking time away from the deadlines to answer the question. Tactful is not necessary with me. I appreciate straight answers.

Hubs, My Weight Loss Clinic's eating program goes in stages for a year & I don't get breads, beef, or apples for 10 months after surgery--only soda crackers. The sf puddings I have are sweetened with Splenda--Isn't that supposed to be better for you than aspartame or nutra sweet?

low glycemic carbs are those that don't cause a major rise in insulin levels, followed by a CRASH. now, it's possible to eat a high glycemic carb and have no problems, but it requires that it not be eaten alone.

as a GENERAL rule, if it takes some chewing to eat, it's a good choice. if it's a 'melt in your mouth' food, like chips and watermelon, it's probably not a good choice.

low glycemic carbs: any berries [like hubs said!], sweet potatoes, not white. brown rice and other whole grains, not white crackers, most veggies are low glycemic, but not peas. carrots are best eaten as part of a meal. winter squash is an excellent choice.

Hi Kids :hugs:

Rough week, sorry I can't play much. But I'm just checking in to say hello and that I'll read/catch up on saturday.

Love yahs'

Hi all my WLS buddies,

I've been a very busy Chick, but thought I'd stop in and say hello. I'm coaching softball, watching softball, breathing softball and eating softball (very low-carb, high protein you know). I've been so busy that my workouts have suffered some, but for some reason I've lost about 10 pounds. Go figure!

On Monday, I'm going on vacation! Woo hoo. A cruise, and I've never been on a cruise. I even bought a dress - ohmigod - a dress. I look pretty good, except that it's sleeveless and I have real arm issues, so I bought a shawl thingie too. If I can figure out the complexities of shawl/scarfy thing wearing, I'll be in good shape.

Talk to you all when I get back!
Chickadee
Down 94 pounds and feeling darn proud!

I was approved!!! and will be getting RNY on Sept 8th :carrot:
I'm excited and nervous but mainly excited!
I'm home today so I'm trying to get alot done Bbiab!
Kierie

Congratulations Kierie !!!!

Chick have a wonderful vacation and congrats on the extra WL whoot !!!!! ;)