Question for my July buddies

You know it's funny- I actually drink soda--- and carbonated (sparkling water). I just make sure I drink diet CAFFEINE FREE cream soda or diet coke. I actually love fizzy water and could never give it up. Is that bad?

Oh I don't think it is bad, my surgeon recommends that we don't do carbonated drinks. I think there are a lot of different views on it if effects us or not. For me, diet cokes was my drink, but they made me crave sweets when I was drinking them. So I got off them totally just to appease my surgeon, but now they don't taste good to me.

Hi Deb, I to try to follow the 30 minute rule before and after food. The Protein rule for sure, Vitamins Yes me too. I am one compliant '20 monther'!! I get in the exercise mostly.. I walk, bike, bowl, .. and swim ( should be doing that more).. But the thing is I feel the important life changes that I have made are not one's that are about food or coffee. ( although those two are very big in my life..).. The changes are about the way I do everything now. And that's my point NOW I CAN DO EVERYTHING!!... Not that I do everything, lol! I do a lot..but I can do whatever I couldn't do before... Before was a bad place.. this a good place.... Before was a prison of my own making and this this baby is the life.. Even if I can't afford it, get to it, be young enough to wear it, be to old to figure out how to use it, I can still do whatever it is that it is... My life change would be this: I have no more excuses. I am not to fat, to tired, to old, to sick. to nutin honey!!!.. I am just part of the world... a regular joe. thats me... peace Mo

Mo, you are such a wise lady! I totally agree, there is nothing I can't do anymore and that is the best outcome of the past 2 years by far. Now I have to quit with the excuses and make the most of it. Yes, this is a much better place we are in now. Thank you! Any word on insurance and a TT?

As far as nutrition wise, my changes made before surgery were to give up soda. I too was a 6 pack or more drinker. Even though I drank diet coke, I knew soda would be bad for me. My drink of choice now is sweet tea, sweetened with splenda. I also tried to give up alot of my crutches, such as Little Debbie cakes etc. I just quit buying them. Post op, I still follow the no soda rule. I will have one very occasionally, but I only drink a few sips of them. They don't do anything for me anymore. I have started drinking coffee... 2/3 coffe with 1/3 steamed milk made sweet by Splenda. (my best friend LOL) I will drink a pot in the morning. This seems to be my new addiction. I always try to follow the protein first rule, etc... I also try to keep things around that I will snack on that are good for me. I go through stages where I will eat the same thing over and over until I'm just sick of it! LOL Right now I keep some crab dip made up and eat it on a few Whole Wheat Ritz. Before surgery, anything that said "wheat" would be a no no... now, it's my choice. I try very hard to follow the no drinking during eating rule, although I will confess that I will sip on some water sometimes, but it is literally just sips. You can't even tell I've drank anything out of the glass! My friends all think I'm wierd. Oh well! I now clean houses... because I enjoy it! How weird is that? Before I didn't even have the energy to clean mine! (although I still need a maid myself ) Organizing has become my addiction. When I crave something to eat, I get up and clean something... or get on OH and remember where I came from! I never sit and watch TV. The only sitting I do is in front of the computer. The best part about my "afterlife" is that I play with my kids! I can fit on the climbing things at the park and enjoy running and chasing the kids through the mazes. I swing with my daughter and play ball with my boys. I never really get tired, or hungry. I refuse to excersise. I believe this year though I need to do some toning. When I put on shorts the other day I noticed my legs didn't look as well as they did last year. Things seems to be sagging a little lower! LOL I can't break my excersise fear. Everyone I know who got "gung ho" on going to the gym started gaining weight when life changes prevented them from going, or when they got over the "high" feeling they had when going. My theory is that they got their body adjusted to that level of fat burning, and when they slowed down or stopped completely the metabolism changed and they started gaining again. I think my MUCH more active lifestyle is enough. I get plenty of cardio by cleaning and climbing stairs. Got a weight bench recently and plan on working on toning some areas, but not to a level where my body relies on it. Does that make sense? Probably not, but this is my current battle! I am still very active in my support group. We have a wonderful post-op therapy group and then our normal support groups for pre-ops and post-ops once a month. I believe that surrounding yourself with those who share your struggles helps you overcome and stay on a steady pace. I will most likely always be involved in support groups. Anyway, that's my thoughts so far....I've only had 1/2 pot of my coffee this morning, so I'm not "whole" yet! HUGS Kimberly

Hey Kimberly, thanks for your input. You have been very successful so you have a great story to tell. I really like my support group, I work nights so I can't go to the "regular" one my surgeon has, but we started a Sat. morning breakfast one once a month for the ones who can't do the evening class and we were about 5 at first and now have about 14 some weeks. It is nice to have a group that have all been through what you have, and understand. I have a hard time just sitting and watching TV cause I sit at work at a desk for 8 hours a day. But I do laundry and iron etc while I watch. But.... I don't have little ones to chase! Yours are so adorable!

Most of mine are similar, if not the same, to others that have been posted. -No drinking 30 minutes before or after a meal -No carbonated drinks (in fact I literally can't remember the last time I drank anything other than water) -No pasta -No soft bread (I may eat the hard crust off a piece of bread while out at a restaurant, but that's it) -I don't deny myself anything. If I want cake, I have a few bites. If I want chips, I eat a few. The key is not going out of control. The rest of the bag will be there tomorrow and the next day. Lauren Before: 281 After: 133

Lauren, thank you for the input. I read your profile and your pictures are amazing! You look fabulous! (Seriously if you have never peeked at Lauren's profile, check it out! ) so now I am going to be nosy, after reading your story and you left me hanging with the wedding dress photo, did you already get married? (I loved the dress! and the little black dress too! I wish my arms looked as good as yours!)

Lauren, I just looked at your profile and you are so lovely!! You look beautiful in your wedding dress.. Please update us and tell us whats happening.. all my love peace Mo

Hi there - I would say the biggest change that isn't your typical is that I don't "waste calories" anymore. If I take a bite of something and I don't like it - I don't eat it. I mean, I'm sure we remember the days of eating anything and everything whether we liked it or not (eggplant was always an exception to this for me - I hate the stuff). But the same goes for a "cheat". If I have my heart set on a donut or some kind of treat and I take a bite and its not as good as I expected, I will throw it away. That was something I could have NEVER done before WLS.