How is everyone doing?

I've not seen a lot of faces on here for a long time. Shelly, where are you? Are you ok? I know that Donna is on vacation in CA. But, where are the rest of you? We've got to keep this board going. WE're reaching our one year spot and we've got to really keep in mind that it's easy for us to revert to old eating habits the further we are out from our surgery dates. If you are having problems with grazing or eating the wrong foods, post here. That's what we're here for, to help each other out and to figure out what to do to get these issues under control. No one is perfect. This was a tough road to go down with wonderful end results. Let's keep those results that way and not sabotage ourselves by back sliding... We leave on Wednesday for San Francisco. First time I'm flying since Aug of 2000. I'm a bit nervous, as it's my way, but, I'll be fine. I'll focus on the kids and making sure they're behaving on the jets and all should be fine. It'll be a long trip for them. Hartford to Atlanta to SF. One week there and then back. Then, school starts! YIPPEE.. I am signing up for two water classes at the Y. We're family members and we pay 60 bucks a month and don't use it. They just switched to a new "water exercise and fitness exercise classes are now free, no additional fee"..SO, I'm there...five days a week, two different classes and I need to tone. I'm excited to get my life back during the day. Having the kids home all summer has been fun, but enough is enough! Time for the old schedule and routine to start again. Post here...this board seems to be shriveling up. We don't want that. Post successes, post about new clothes you bought, post about what's bothering you, just POST! Have a good Sunday. It's rainy here in RI. Not a beach day, for sure. I've got tons of washing and packing to do. For four, not just me! Isn't that the mom's way, all the time! Plus, I have to have the house presentable for my sister and husband who are coming to house and dog sit. grrrr paula

Hi Paula, I keep checking on here and not much going on either. Hubby and I went to AC yesterday Took about an hour to get there , we stayed for two and came home... He just wanted to go to the Borgata and get his "play money" and food voucher. So we played and lost ( duh) and ate. The food was good and the sweets were calling my name but I ingnored them... I had chicken, a little fish, string beans, just to taste. Hope you have a good time on your vacation. Sandy

Hi Sandy, Haven't been to AC in a while. Two years ago, we vacationed in Wildwood, and didn't even take the trip up there. We have Foxwoods and Mohegun Sun casinos about 30 min from us here and never go! I usually have one or two trips with girlfriends a year, but that's about it for my gambling habits! Mohegan Sun has a great mall, but expensive. I'd love to go to Vegas, again. Haven't been there for about 12-13 years. A LOT has changed. Talk to you when I get back from SF! paula

I will be posting some pics soon, I need to upload them. Last week I fit into 18 jeans, and yesterday I bought size 16 Rocky Mountains. I fit into them if I lay on the bed... WHEN I STARTED I COULDN'T FIT IN JEANS!!!!! NOT EVEN A WOMEN'S 30/32!!!! Yesterday went to Lane Bryant and got Bras, & underwear. The tops are too BIG for me now. YEAH!!! I bought a 14/16 dress. It looks nice, but I think that it will be loose soon, but they had NO SMALLER SIZES!!!!!! I haven't been this size since graduating in 1984!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need to excersize more, but working 50 hours a week in preventing that!! I am just exhausted.. I bought a size 12 shirt if arms are strechy... batwings are terrible....LOL.... In different size charts I am different sizes. My HIPS get in the way.. they are too BIG still.. or my waist is too SMAll... When I get the pics my daughter took I will post them.. Tanya 358/218/185

Great! I love new pix. It took me long enough to get one up. About a year! I need to get exercising more too. Tomorrow I'm signing up for the fall semester at the Y for two swimming exercise classes. Water walking and water aerobics. I'll get my kids on the bus, then head right down to the Y and work out. I'm glad that you're getting into smaller sizes. Doesn't it feel SO great? It's been at least 10-12 years since I've been in size 16's. I'm a good 16 on the bottom and about a 14 on the bottom. If I toned up a bit, I'd be smaller, I'm sure. I've lost all of my muscle tone and don't want my body to start eating my muscle, especially my heart. I love the Lane Bryant v neck tees that are longer in length. I've been wearing them all summer, and just bought 4 more for my vacation. I have them in almost every color! They have 9 % spandex in them and give a little extra umph and don't stretch out as much. But, like you, I'm in their smallest size 14/16! I guess some Lane Bryants sell a 12, but they are hard to find. I refused to spend a lot on undewear. So, I ended up buying a bunch of packs of Fit For Me by Fruit of the Loom at Walmart. They are stretch cotton high cuts and I LOVE them. And at 6 bucks for 3 pairs, is more my style!! Bras, I got at TJ Maxx... I'm so glad you posted. We need to keep this board alive. We'll be having some maintenance issues and need each other for support when they do arise. Show us some pix! paula

Hello Paula, Well, you want a post? lol I'm quite talkative when you get me started, you may be sorry! Okay, well, I've been really down in the dumps over my stupid choices since the beginning and just can't get straightened out. As a matter of fact...I wrote Donna last night and asked her if she could be my accountability partner. She is so great and encouraging and I am so desperate right now. Didn't realize she was on vacation.lol I just really need some advice. I have tried doing the extreme low-carb thing, since I've read that all meat & eggs dieters lose VERY quickly. I've tried counting calories, too. I just don't know what to do. It's VERY embarassing. Could you all do me a favor?? Could you please write down what you eat on any couple of regular days? That way I can get some idea as to what I should eat. I will try and imitate these ideas and MAYBE I can get some good results. I can't exactly tell you why I sabotage myself so much. I eat what I know won't agree with me, I eat more than I know I can handle, I drink with my meals, it's ridiculous. I know the rules, I've read tons of info on diets, etc. I would love to hear all your advice and input. I have a terrible tendency to not post because I'm too embarassed looking at all your amazing results. Congratulations to you guys! My gosh, such beautiful people. And you're right Paula. We DO need to keep up with posting on this site. It's our life-line. Even though I may avoid posting, I am always reading, reading, reading. You all are like an extended family. Thanks for all you guys do. ~Bless ya, Kelly

Kelly, You DO NOT have to do this alone. We ARE HERE FOR YOU! Did you ever read my Maintenance diet and water loading post? If not, I will send it to you. It's my surgeon's requirements for all of his 6 mo + post ops and if you follow these directions, and do the water loading, it does work. You didn't mention anything about execise. Do you get any at all? I'm the first to admit it, I hate to exercise, and did very little to lose 126 pounds. BUT, I did at least walk. When I did, it was a good pace and about 2 miles. Start to walk slowly, don't over exert yourself so you don't get discouraged and get that metabolic rate up! It works. I started walking with my kids every night about an hour after dinner and I lost 3 lbs last week. In a typical day, I eat: B: 1/2 south beach bar, or, south beach frozen breakfast wrap, or, 3 oz cheese or an egg S: piece of fruit or protein shake L: 3 oz tuna or dense meat w/ salad S: 3 oz cheese D: 3-5 oz dense meat like steak or chicken, sauteed or grilled veggie like squash, green beans, etc S: low carb yogurt, SF popsicle, RF wheat thins w/ some cheese Lots of water thru the day. I've found that I've been lax in getting my water in. I basically make my meals protein first...3-5 oz of the meat, a pack of tuna, steak, a chicken thigh or two, one pork chop, then I incorporate the veggie, and rarely have any carbs. Once in a while I'll have a little bit of spaghetti that I've prepared for my kids or a bite or two of their mac n cheese. Sometimes, if I really go off...I'll eat pretzels, dumped on Pringles last week, so, I'm not craving those anymore! Too much fat. One or two cookies, regular, not SF...I am not tempted to eat the whole package anymore, it's just not me anymore. I get the sugar aversion after a few bites. YUK Did you see a psych counselor that specialized in eating disorders prior to your surgery? If you can talk to a therapist that has knowledge in eating disorders, they can probably point you to some things you're doing wrong and get you back on track. I know the woman I had to see for my psych eval works right with my surgeon, so, I know she's there. Check it out. Even the dietitian can help get you back on track. Do you have support groups in your area that you can attend? They are a real life line for some, also. Mine are far away, so I don't get to go often. That's why I'm always on here! The one thing I learned is, I just can't have it in the house. I take my kids out for ice cream instead of having it in the house. I don't load them up with lots of junk food anymore and they both lost a little weight this summer (they're skinny to begin with) This tool we've been given, also came with a lot of behavioral tools too. And we have to use them. If you have a bag of chips or other offending food, eat one or two bites, then crumple the rest up, throw it out and cover it with dish soap so you can't get back at it. Use small saucers to keep your portion sizes small. Get a digital food scale and weigh everything. You can do it. It just takes some getting used to and once you're used to doing it for a while, it becomes a way of life. Paula

Dear Paula, Hi there. Thanks for the support. I'd sure appreciate the Maintenance Diet. I think I read the water load...just drink as much as you can 15 minutes before meals?? My email is: [email protected] As far as exercise goes, I manage to actually make it up to the Y about once a week, which sucks, but it's usually on a Monday, when I think I'm REALLY gonna do it this time, ya know? Then motivation fades. I love to walk but haven't done so since it's been so hot. Not much, about a mile a night, but I love it. Now, the weather is starting to cool, I'm going to start back up. Congrats on YOUR loss! So, eatting-wise, I won't buy the frozen breakfasts (too much $) but otherwise, you'll eat one egg or three oz. of cheese? The menu sounds very doable and you get 3 meals and snacks per day, which is good. Do you count calories? Just curious. As far as a therapist, I had a feeling that would be suggested.lol Well, I don't have insurance anymore, so that's out. This board is as good as it gets for me. You know, I read on another post a sec ago that someone? I forget who, thought they were not liking all the attention they are now getting. I feel that way too. It bugs me because I'm so uptight with the opposite sex. Eye contact is horrible! It's strange, you'd think I was sexually assaulted at some time in my life, but that simply isn't true. But I hate long looks from men, really makes me feel uncomfortable. So, being my own therapist, I imagine the sabotage has something to do with that. Thanks for all the tips, Paula. I really appreciate them. I'll just have to keep on trying and not give up. I wrote down your daily food menu and also found Dame Tooters meals and she said she lost 175# the first year, so I'm gonna be trying to implement your alls meals into my life. They sound pretty easy and reasonable. I'm glad you mentioned fruit as a snack and cheese as well. I knew cheese was good for us with the protein and all but wary because of the fat. Anyway, I'll stop rambling now. Thanks again. ~Kelly

Hi Paula, Hope you have a great vacation. It's going to feel so different this time being able to do things. Have fun. I'm just like you with getting ready. I wait for the last minute and I too, always have to pack for everyone. It's tough. Now the kids are grown so they can do their own packing but I still have to do the washing and ironing. UGH!!!! I only got to the gym once this past week. But this week I promise will be better. That Y program sounds good. I took a glimse of my thighs in the mirror this morning and oh my GOD! They are so shriveled and everything else. If I ever go swimming I'll have to wear spanix knee length shorts. It's funny - when I did Optifast 15 years ago my body went right back without sagging skin. but this time - I'm older (52 years old) and the ole' body just doesn't snap back any more Well, Have a great vacation. Can't wait to hear about it. Today's our day off & I'm hoping to take a ride up to Foxwoods today. We haven't been there for a long time so that will be a nice day trip. Have a safe and fun trip and ENJOY YOUR NEW BODY!!!!! Koukla