Okay lets all check in....

Newbies and Oldies...check in tell us what's up with the world of food and fitness. Food....starting to taper off of it. I need to be at 1400 calories and I'm closer to 1800. I need help to get 400 more to not hit my mouth. Some days its harder than others. Exercise....I have only been doing my mind the last few weeks. School is much harder than I thought it would be. Takes alot of my time. But I have time slotted for tomorrow....back to the gym!!!! YEAH. So what are you guys doing? Any new routines you would like to share with an old head? Debbie

Hey Debbie, checking in here too. FOOD: Still doing pretty good with this. I think sometimes I am eating too much, but when I feel full I do stop eating, but there is always that feeling of there is still food on my plate, or that just tasted so good, maybe just one more bite. When I have given in I regret it immediately. The discomfort that I feel isn't worth it, so I am trying to put the fork back down and step away from the food. EXERCISE: Not getting any it is extremely crazy right now at work and I am working a lot of hours so when I am not working I am sleeping. Unless you count a certain "s" word, then I am burning up them calories.... I can't wait until April 1st and for the weather to get nice again so my butt is back outside walking again daily. I miss it. Take care Deanna

Food giving you discomfort is a good thing. I don't ever seem to feel that anymore. Not sure if its just that I don't push the envelope like I did or I don't have that feeling anymore. I need to step away from the sweets. I don't have them much but when I do I do.....I so wish I dumped on things. What a curse. As far as exercise...I totally understand. Its hard to fit in everything we need to do in life. But we made time in the beginning of surgery....was it because we could not do much of anything else then? Come on Spring....I am ready for some Gardening activities!!!! Don't do too much of the "S" stuff .....doesn't burn off enough calories in my book. LOL Hugs and Fleece Blankets Debbie

Hi Debbie, This is a great thread.... Food - well I am still learning so I'm measuring out my portions and prepacking for lunch and walking away at from the food at dinner. I still have days where I can't get it all in. Exercise - Is going great, I use our work gym 3x a week and use resistance bands at home 3x a week. I still have enough exercises that I'm not bored with it yet. I too can't wait to get outside and walk, it was such a big part of the beginning of my journey. Michelle

Howdy Michelle, Its good you are learning the portions thingy....stay with it. Its so easy to get away from it and get into trouble. Portion control and what your eating is definitely the key to keeping the weight down....another important key is exercise. We have to be good at both...there is going to be times when we are not soo good and we have to not beat on ourselves when that happens. Keep up the good work..... Debbie

Hey there Debs!!! So good to see your shining face again! I will play, but I don't guarantee it will be fair play! LOL I am currently struggling with a 4 lb gain .. ACK!!! Usually I am on top of things and won't play around with more than 2-3 lbs. Seems that one extra pound or two made a lot of difference for me. Try as I might, it is not budging! This won't stop me though ... I will continue to plug away until it is back off. In the interim, I feel totally and completely fat once again. Logically, I know 4 lbs does not take me right back where I started, but when I look in the mirror, I see it just the same. I feel bloated, pudgy, my stomach is the first place where weight goes and trust me, I feel it right now. The pants are tight. I find myself running my chubby, swollen fingers through the closet to find the biggest and baggiest I can muster up. Hmmmm ... am I trying to hide once again? At any rate, at first I thought this was strictly a post op problem, but the more I talk to others about it, the more I find, it is across the board ... not just us posties, but about half of America (if not more) struggle with the same problem also. Soooo does this finally prove that I am in fact normal? LOL I "think" that the root of my problems lie in the fact that things have been above stressful as of late ... once the stress dissipates, the weight will likely fall back off. In the interim, I will continue to eat on plan, exercise, and push the protein and vitamins.

I have come to the conclusion that STRESS is my problem too! Its been so stressful for me these last six months....I wonder will it ever get easier and will the stress leave soon. I am ready to be grounded again. I miss the grounded me. I feel like I am all over the place these days. I am really in the rat race. I am glad you are here. I like it when I am thinking....and thinking of what is going on with me is better than thinking about all the other stuff. I don't think I would have ever said that before surgery.....I like me. I want me to succeed. I want to be able to get the weight off too! I got the I WANTS today huh! Glad you came to play.....and I don't care if you don't play fair....as long as you enjoyed the play! Your Twin Debbie

Hey Twin, it is really good to see you here also!!! Here is my take on the wants ... sure beats the pants off the "I simply don't care anymore" don'tcha think? LOL Keep reaching for the stars dear lady and I will keep reaching with you!!!

Hi, I'm on my last week of mushies. Yesterday I really struggled with head hunger. I was not hungry but I was bored. Thank goodness for sugar free hard candies. I'm making my 64 ozs. and 60 grams without a problem. No exercise to speak of. I have resistance bands so there's no excuse. But I wll get a workout today. I have a meeting in Wilmington and the parking garage on Shipley doesn't have elevators. I'll have to park on the roof so that means three floors down and back up. I think this thread is a great idea. I love knowing there are others out there in the same boat. Have a great day, Kathy

Kathy, Watch the SF candies....they become a substitute for us and a crutch. I am talking from experience. Limit them as they are calories and later in your journey you will be greatful that you started that habit early. Hope you had a good workout at the parking garage. Keep up the good work....and soon you will find the other phases of this journey and hopefully they will be enjoyable...... Debbie