Recent Posts
Topic: RE: Can we talk about food please
Well I have wondered this also.....What am I eating compared to the rest of you....
Here is my day!
I get up at 5:45 to walk at 6. I walk/jog 2.5-3 miles 6 days a week.
About 9 I have an egg with cheese and onion usually. Sometimes I eat a protein bar, depending on the day.
In between breakfast and lunch, I eat a TBSP of Peanut butter.
Lunch is usually some kind of protein. Rather a 3 ounce chicken breast of some tuna salad. If I have the tuna salad, I eat 2 triscuits along with it. Sometimes I eat like summer sausage with a bit of cheese, and also a couple triscuits. I buy the reduced fat ones. I also try to get a bit of veggie in here too.
In between, I eat another TBSP of peanut butter.
For supper I eat around 3 ounces of meat. Rather it is chicken or lean butterfly chops, once in a while hamburger (Or I make taco meat and add cheese, some fresh veggies and toppings) With all my food I ALWAYS eat my protein first and then I eat other. Whether it be veggie or a couple bites of potato. I can never eat more than a few bites though, especially after eating my protein.
Around 9 is a hard time for me. I get hungry. So, I either eat another TBSP of peanut butter or a handful of peanuts, or a bit more summer sausage with cheese. I figure the protein is better than snacking on chips or popcorn like I used to!!
I have to eat the peanut butter because I cannot tolerate the taste of anything sweet. Otherwise I don't get enough protein and this way, it adds about 10 grams per day! I can't stand protein drinks or any kind of sf pudding or sweet tasting things....It just doesn't set well.
I drink mostly water, fruit2o and Diet Snapple Peach tea. Once in a while I DO drink a diet coke with lime and it has never bothered me. I have NEVER tried anything with sugar in it, but I did try SF pudding and ice cream and they both made me feel clammy and sweaty, like the dumping syndrome, so I haven't tried again!! Sometimes it isn't easy, especially when my kids are eating halloween candy or a donut or something....But I figure, I didn't go through all of this, lose 155 lbs so far, to gain ANY back...I know sometimes you do gain a bit back, but I am trying so hard to do as I should be.
Have a wonderful day all and I can't wait to read the rest of your responses!!
Teresa 
Topic: Reflections & thoughts at 1 year
One Year!! 
Well, as I come up on my one-year anniversary on WLS I am awe struck by the changes that have been made.
First of all, the most obvious, a 100 lb weight loss since my surgery day and a 112 lb loss from my highest weight. I went from a size 24 (although I claimed to be in a 22) to a comfortable 12. I have lost a total of 56 inches from my body.
My health is great. I got my blood work back and everything is in normal ranges. Except my thyroid, which I knew would be a little out of whack and has nothing to do with my weight; I will always have a thyroid problem.
My home life is wonderful. Even though Don loved me regardless of my weight, he now always tells me how great I look. And I have more energy to do all the things we enjoy. I still have some back issues but I think it is more of a hereditary thing, since everyone in my family has back problems.
The other thing I have gained from this is such self confidence. I didn't realize that I had stopped seeing friends because I didn't want them to see how much weight I had gained. I think it was a sub-conscious thing. But looking back now I realized what I was doing. Now I call up people I hadn't seen in a while and get together. I make an effort to go out and meet people. I also stand up for myself more at work and in public areas. Before I would kind of stay away for conflict so I wouldn't draw attention to myself, now if I know something is wrong, I speak up. No more hiding in the shadows.
Some people feel that the surgery is the easy way out. If people really understood what I went through they would be wrong. Not only with the surgery itself and the complications that I went through but the decision to have it. To have to admit to myself and others that I was obese and that I needed serious help to fight it is a very tough thing to do. If people knew that I have to have to watch what I eat at every single meal, that there are certain foods that I will never be able to eat again, that if I don't exercise regularly I risk gaining the weight back again. If people knew that without this surgery the quality of my life was going downhill fast. That my health was in jeopardy and I couldn't fix it on my own. No matter how many diets I tried or how much exercise I did I couldn't do it on my own. And to admit that is a very difficult thing.
I am forever grateful to Dr. Hamamji and his staff for the wonderful program they have created there at St. Joes. They change and improve lives with every surgery performed. I am very thankful to my wonderful, loving and extremely supportive husband who has been there every step of the way for me. Through the bad times (and they got real bad) to the great times. For telling me how much he loves me no matter what I weigh. I hope he knows that I did this for him as much as I did it for myself. I wanted to be able to grow old with him.
I am thankful for my family's support. I know that they were very nervous and scared for me. But they know that things turned out great in the end. And now my sister is looking into this for herself and for the sake of my nieces' future. For my friends support, just knowing that people are out there wishing you success is a wonderful thing. And finally to the support I get online. The boards are amazing. I wish one day to meet those who have gone on this journey with me.
I know this journey is not over for me. This is a lifestyle change that will be with me for the rest of my life. I know I still have to work very hard every single day to ensure that old habits never come back. So for anyone who says this is easy....TRY IT!!
Well, as I come up on my one-year anniversary on WLS I am awe struck by the changes that have been made.
First of all, the most obvious, a 100 lb weight loss since my surgery day and a 112 lb loss from my highest weight. I went from a size 24 (although I claimed to be in a 22) to a comfortable 12. I have lost a total of 56 inches from my body.
My health is great. I got my blood work back and everything is in normal ranges. Except my thyroid, which I knew would be a little out of whack and has nothing to do with my weight; I will always have a thyroid problem.
My home life is wonderful. Even though Don loved me regardless of my weight, he now always tells me how great I look. And I have more energy to do all the things we enjoy. I still have some back issues but I think it is more of a hereditary thing, since everyone in my family has back problems.
The other thing I have gained from this is such self confidence. I didn't realize that I had stopped seeing friends because I didn't want them to see how much weight I had gained. I think it was a sub-conscious thing. But looking back now I realized what I was doing. Now I call up people I hadn't seen in a while and get together. I make an effort to go out and meet people. I also stand up for myself more at work and in public areas. Before I would kind of stay away for conflict so I wouldn't draw attention to myself, now if I know something is wrong, I speak up. No more hiding in the shadows.
Some people feel that the surgery is the easy way out. If people really understood what I went through they would be wrong. Not only with the surgery itself and the complications that I went through but the decision to have it. To have to admit to myself and others that I was obese and that I needed serious help to fight it is a very tough thing to do. If people knew that I have to have to watch what I eat at every single meal, that there are certain foods that I will never be able to eat again, that if I don't exercise regularly I risk gaining the weight back again. If people knew that without this surgery the quality of my life was going downhill fast. That my health was in jeopardy and I couldn't fix it on my own. No matter how many diets I tried or how much exercise I did I couldn't do it on my own. And to admit that is a very difficult thing.
I am forever grateful to Dr. Hamamji and his staff for the wonderful program they have created there at St. Joes. They change and improve lives with every surgery performed. I am very thankful to my wonderful, loving and extremely supportive husband who has been there every step of the way for me. Through the bad times (and they got real bad) to the great times. For telling me how much he loves me no matter what I weigh. I hope he knows that I did this for him as much as I did it for myself. I wanted to be able to grow old with him.
I am thankful for my family's support. I know that they were very nervous and scared for me. But they know that things turned out great in the end. And now my sister is looking into this for herself and for the sake of my nieces' future. For my friends support, just knowing that people are out there wishing you success is a wonderful thing. And finally to the support I get online. The boards are amazing. I wish one day to meet those who have gone on this journey with me.
I know this journey is not over for me. This is a lifestyle change that will be with me for the rest of my life. I know I still have to work very hard every single day to ensure that old habits never come back. So for anyone who says this is easy....TRY IT!! 
Topic: My Last Supper...
A year ago tonight, I was eating my "last supper" before the day of bowel cleansing and then the next day was my surgery. Funniest thing is, that darn meal was so frigging important to me and I can't for the life of me remember what I ate! LOL All I remember was that later that night, I read on the main board about not ever being able to eat Chinese food (MY kind of chinese food...sweet and sour chicken and fried rice!!) again and seriously considering ordering myself a second late night "last supper" of chinese food! LOL Anyway, here I am, a year later and I still eat everything I ate before surgery, so guess I jumped the gun on fear of never eating like a normal person again. Isn't that ironic? We thought we'd never get to eat normal again, but in reality, that's what we really are doing now isn't it? Eating like everyone else in the world, just not enough to feed a third world nation anymore. Oh well. Just thought it was funny that I can't remember what my last supper was a year ago!! Guess it really wasn't as important as I thought, huh? LOL What a difference a year...and 120lbs less pounds...makes!
Erica
258/138/130ish
PS: Still eating my sweet and sour chicken and fried rice and loving it! Only now, I eat a couple pieces of chicken and a few bites of rice 2-3 times in the last year
Topic: RE: Question of the Week 11-13
I had a pedicure done and bought a new outfit. Size 8 jeans!! Yay! they fit great.
~Angel 
255/222/130/120
255/222/130/120 Topic: RE: 1 year check in.... WHOooooooo Hoooooooooo!
It is hard to believe it's been a year, and the support of everyone in the November group has been so helpful:
1. How much weight have you lost total? 80 lb since surgery (98 from highest wt)
2. How many years ago were you at the weight you are now (how old were you)?? Don't remember 15-20 yrs ago?
3. Has weight loss made a difference in your career?? the way you get treated by strangers??? by friends???? by family???? Not treated differently but people notice and comment and that's been nice and motivating.
4. If your total weight loss now is all that you achieve... are you satisfied with that??? disappointed??? pleasantly surprised that you have achieved what you have??? I would be satisfies, but a little disappointed as I'd like to crack the 100 mark and get down some more and I think uping the exercise will help.
5. When you sit down to eat, if you serve yourself, do you take up a portion that is very close to what you will eventually eat??? overfill your plate??? have to go back for seconds I'm pretty good at the food thing. I take home a doggie bag when I go out and don't usually overeat (too uncomfortable!) or go back for seconds.
thanks for the support
308/230/?
Jan
Topic: RE: Can we talk about food please
Hi Laura,
can hardly believe it's been a year!
7am Kashi Lean (3/4-1c) w/raisins (1/4c) and skim milk (2/3-1c) or
eggs or oatmeal
7:45a coffee and 1-2 low sugar bisquits
10:30 1 stick of low-fat stick cheese
11:30-12-ish sandwich (turkey breast, tuna fish, etc) or salad w/ same
4p-ish protein bar (or 1/2 the lunch sandwich)
7:30p protein,veg (this is my smallest meal)
I'm not so good with exercise and would lose more if I exercised more.
good luck Jan
Topic: RE: Food Journal?
Hi Jen,
I was keeping a food journal and now just keep weekly weight and anything unusual. I just put in what I ate, you could count up protein or just put the food down. It does help to make you more aware of what's going in!
good luck,
Jan
Topic: Food Journal?
Do any of ya'll keep a food journal? If so what exactly do you write in it?
I started one yesterday because of the poor choices I have been making. I can see how many proteins, carbs and calories I am taking in. It is helping me make better choices because I have to put it on paper and actually look at it.
I decided to write down my feelings during the day too. Maybe it will help me realize what my trigger foods are on those days that I am an emotional eater.
I just wanted to see what everyone else was putting in their journals... your ideas will help me out a lot. I am trying to take control of this!
Thanks to you all! 
Jen
Jen Topic: RE: Question of the Week 11-13
My husband and I went and had our pictures taken. They turned out great. We are also going to the Beach... Myrtle Beach... in South Carolina for Thanksgiving/anniversary of my surgery. We are going to shop and enjoy our time together now that my quality of life is so much better.
Congratulations to us all!
What are you going to do Mrs. 3M?
Jen
What are you going to do Mrs. 3M?
Jen Topic: RE: Question of the Week 11-13
I decided to have some portriats done. Since I really only see the difference in pictures, I might as well have some professional ones done.
Most Active
Recent Topics
