Maysters

Hey all! Sorry I havent been posting as much as I should be - but I do browse it once in awhile when I need a break from work. I am trying to lose 30 more lbs and I tried really hard for the past month to try a low-carb diet but my weight didnt change... in fact my weight hasnt changed in over a month or two... I know we are all just about 1-1/2 post-op. I just have a few questions: Is everyone at goal? (I still want/need to lose 30lbs and find it so hard!) How much do you want to still lose? Do you eat carbs? (I have a craving for these - I think I always will) Do you exercise? Do you count calories? Are you happy with where you are at? (I am comfortable where I am at - just know I can do better) Do you snack? Do you drink alcohol?

Is everyone at goal? (I still want/need to lose 30lbs and find it so hard!) Not quite, I'm about 13 lbs from goal but still working on it. I'll make it eventually, because nothing less is acceptable to me. How much do you want to still lose? At least 13 more lbs. Do you eat carbs? (I have a craving for these - I think I always will) Yes, but I mostly try to make sure it's complex carbs and try to not eat too many of the simple carbs. Low carb doesn't mean no carb and complex carbs are good for you. But I will occasionally have 1/2 a donut or a small bag of chips. You just have to make sure it's "occasionally" and not "often". Do you exercise? You betcha! I think it's very important to keep the exercise up. It's good for your muscles (i.e. heart) and it helps your metabolism. It's just plain good for you. Do you count calories? Nope, unless I'm just curious. I just try to eat a healthy balanced diet in small quantities. I try to keep track of my protein though to make sure I get enough of that in every day. I never write it down anymore, just mentally calculate it. Are you happy with where you are at? (I am comfortable where I am at - just know I can do better) Yeah, I'm happy but I'm not at goal so it's not acceptable to me yet. Do you snack? Yes, mainly on nuts or cheese, sometimes I'll have some SF ice cream or frozen yogurt. Do you drink alcohol? Nope but I was never much of a drinker even preop. Never liked the taste and it usually made me sick if I drank too much anyway.

Hi Melissa, Nice to see you again! Is everyone at goal? I reached goal a week or so after my one yr. surgiversary How much do you still want to lose? Id be estatic to be 140 but mainly stay between 145 and 150 Do you eat carbs? Yes, I find if I dont I get very constipated. I try to keep them healthy carbs but still struggle with the sweets Do you exercise? Sometimes, but not on a regular basis. I wish I could get back into the routine Do you count calories? Yes, everyday Are you happy where your at? Yes Do you snack? Yes, I have a mid afternoon snack and before bed snack everyday. I still have trouble with stopping myself after the night time snack but if I dont allow myself something I cannot go to sleep easily Do you drink alcohol? Since surgery I have drank twice. I was never a drinker pre op. Both times I did, it did not take very much at all and I hate how it makes you retain water the next day. Candy

Hi Melissa! You and I are in the same boat, sweetie - 30 pounds to go and a heck of a time trying to get it off. Here are my answers: Is everyone at goal? (I still want/need to lose 30lbs and find it so hard!) Nope, I now weigh about 166 and goal is 135 (I'm 5-2) How much do you want to still lose? About 30 or so pounds total, but I may not get there until after some plastics because I probably have 5 to 10 pounds of loose skin. Do you eat carbs? (I have a craving for these - I think I always will) Only "complex carbs" like fruit, some veggies, oatmeal, beans, brown rice, that sort of thing. No bread of any kind (although I will have a whole wheat tortilla occasionally), no white rice, no pasta, no sugar, potatoes in EXTREME moderation. I do like popcorn without butter, but that's a whole grain so its okay according to my plan. Occasionally, I will cheat with pretzels or wheatables, but I only get that urge once a month, if you know what I mean. Do you exercise? Yes, 6 days per week of cardio and strength training. Do you count calories? Kind of. I am doing Weigh****chers, so I count "points" rather than fats and calories. I am doing the "Core" plan so I only have to count points for the foods that are not "core" foods. I still count protein grams, though! Are you happy with where you are at? (I am comfortable where I am at - just know I can do better) NO! I don't like where I am at at all. I am extremely grateful for my progress thus far, but I cannot say in all honesty that I am satisfied or comfortable or happy with my appearance. My BMI is still in the obese range and I still see fat, fat and more fat. Do you snack? Not when I am "on the wagon". When I fall off, however, look out! I will eat everything in sight. Do you drink alcohol? No, but I never drank alcohol preop - not unless you count the wine at Holy Communion! Best of luck, Melissa!

Is everyone at goal? I am. I reached there at 14 months post-op. How much do you want to still lose? I wouldn't mind 5 more lbs to have a better "window" for bouncing. Do you eat carbs? I eat vegetable carbs and low sugar fruit. Right now, not doing anything else. I have too many problems with other types of carbs and I'm trying to figure out what my body will tolerate and won't so it's all trial and error. Do you exercise? Yes. 1.5 hours 4 times a week average. Do you count calories? No. Are you happy with where you are at? You batcha. Do you snack? Sometimes. Try to keep to my planned schedule. Doesn't always work. Do you drink alcohol? I've had 4 oz of wine since surgery and a few sips of Rich's Corona on occassion - that's it. I have elevated liver enzymes so until that is figured out... I won't drink.

It has been a long time since I posted anything. I was computerless for too long! Is everyone at goal? I am beyond my doctors goal, and beyond my own goal. I never thought weighing 162 was ever a possibility. How much do you want to still lose? - I would like to make 159 - just to say I've been there. Do you eat carbs? - I mostly eat low carb foods. I am pretty good most of the time. I do slip every now & then. Do you exercise? - I don't go to a gym, but I do walk often, ride my bike, etc. Do you count calories? - No. I haven't done that at all since surgery. Are you happy with where you are at? - I am very happy. I just worry a lot about gaining it back. Like it's too good to be true... Do you snack? - yes. unfortunately I do. I snack mostly on sugar free things, but every now & then... Do you drink alcohol? - very rarely - not as much as before surgery.

Is everyone at goal? (I still want/need to lose 30lbs and find it so hard!) Melissa, I'm about 34 lbs away from my personal goal of 199 lbs, which is still 30 lbs over what they say I should weigh. I've been stuck for about 4 months. I finally resorted to joining weigh****chers about a month ago, I'm down 5 lbs. How much do you want to still lose? at least 34 lbs. Do you eat carbs? Yes, but, I try to eat only complex carbs. Do you exercise? Yes, I average 90 mins a day for 6 days a week, religiously. Do you count calories? I enter my food into fit day so I know I eat around 1800 calories a day. Are you happy with where you are at? No. I love that I've lost 150 lbs, but, so want to be under the magic 200 number!!!! Do you snack? Yes. Do you drink alcohol? Nope. Lori 384/333.5/199

BIG BIG TYPO, Lori. You do NOT weight 333.5. Subtract 100 from that. Do not pass Go. Kathy

Kathy, Do you think that typo was a freudian slip because my brain still feels like I'm over 300 lbs???? Thanks for pointing that out. Lori 384/233.5/199

Hi there! Good to see you! I want to start off by saying you look wonderful. Your face just glows! Okay, now to the down and dirty.... At goal? Well, it depends on what you determine "goal" is... My surgeon said 170, no lower than 150. I fluctuate between 151 and 155 and have since about March. I would LOVE to see 149, just to say I did. Actually, I did, once, for a day, but I guess I'd like to hang out there a little longer... I'm having PS in December so I'm hoping once the swelling subsides, that's where I'll settle... Do I eat carbs? Yep, probably more than I should... During the week I do pretty well but weekends are often free-for-alls. On a typical day, I consume about 120-150g of carbs a day, but I still keep it to 30% of my caloric intake. My nut was never hung up on carbs and other than some blood sugar issues if I get too crazy, they don't effect me like they do others. Do I exercise? Off and on... Right now, it's on, because I've noticed my eating is a little more haphazard than I like... I tend to go in cycles with my eating and when I see it getting a little...uh.... ****y, I kick up the exercise again. Right now I'm walking not quite 1.5 miles a night, probably 3-5 nights a week. I need to start weight training again but haven't gotten around to it. Do I count calories? No, but I track them. I think there's a difference. I still log my food, on most days, on Fitday. I tend to average around 1200-1500 on weekdays, closer to 1800 on weekends... Now, if I log my food in the afternoon and I'm already at 1200 for the day, it tends to have an affect on what I eat for dinner, but I'm not 100% tied to it... I'm happy where I am... Like I said, I'd love to lose another 5-10 pounds just for a little more cushion, but I'm definatlely cool. I'm in 6/8 bottoms and medium tops - definately smaller than I ever recall being before. Do I snack? Yep, I eat every 2-3 hours to keep my sugars in check. I guess technically, you could say I eat 6 small meals a day. Do I drink alcohol? Yes, probably more often than I should.... a few beers a week, on Fridays. To be honest, it's probably what's keeping me stable and not allowing me to lose a few more.