Need some love

Stacy, that averages out to 20 pounds a months.  When have you ever had that kind of success before?  You are doing great!  Just keep up with the dietary guidelines that your doctor set out for you.  I would definitely stop drinking while eating.  I know I have done that some, but I stopped too.  It definitely allows me to eat more.  Also, be diligent about measuring your food when you are home.  As was posted above, measure for volume, not weight.  It really does make a difference. The other thing to think about is exercise.  You didn't mention anything about that.  If you are not currently exercising, I would start.  If you are, maybe it's time to shake things up a bit?  Go slow and be careful.  You can do it! Take care. Ellen P.S.  Give me a holler sometime when you're in G-vegas.  We can meet up again.

Hi Ellen!  I am so happy to hear from you!  I really miss your posts and encouragement!  Yeah, not drinking is hard, but I will stop that.  I don't measure my food.  I just scoop it out on to a small plate.  I will also start that.  I bought all these measuring cups and a food scale.  I think I need to put them to use.  I have joined a gym.  I used to go atleast 5 days a week, but I got burned out.  I go only 3 times a week now.  I can walk 2 1/2 miles.  Then I do the machines to work my muscles.  Guess what.......I actually ran.  I started out running maybe 15 seconds, then about passed out and flew off the end of the tread mill.  Yesterday, I started jogging and no****ching the timer, and when I got really winded and looked down, I had ran for 3 mins.  I was so proud of myself.  I do need to get back to the gym, it is just laziness.  I think I will try to change up what I do at the gym so it will be interesting.  I really want to see you again.  I hope things are going well for you.  We will meet up soon!  Take care and thank you for always being there for me!  Take care!

Yeah, I'm not on like I used to be.  I work 40+ hours a week, am a full time student, plus have all of my family responsibilities.  It's a lot, but I am so grateful for the energy I have now to do this.  It would have killed me pre-op! 

I slowed down somewhere around 3-4 months too.  But I'm still losing, usually 2 pounds a week.  I'd say your results so far are excellent!  So you deserve to pat yourself on the back.   My Dr said that you can't actually stretch your pouch, but you can stretch the stoma, which is the new connection between the pouch and small intestine.  If the stoma stretches, that means food passes through your pouch much more quickly, leaving you hungry sooner.  I doubt that you've stretched your pouch or your stoma this soon out. Now...time for the tough love.  You need to look at this first year after surgery as an opportunity to learn new habits.  The restriction and mal-absorbtion of RNY will not last forever.  The people that don't change their habits in the first year or 18 months are typically the people that struggle with re-gain.  So, it is critical for long-term success that you do 3 things (all of which were mentioned before me, but they're important.)   1-Follow your Dr & Nut's recommended serving sizes. 2-Stop drinking with your meals.  You're selling yourself short by doing that.  If it's just too dry, take a tiny sip of water mid-way or at the end, but that's it.  Your best bet is to not even have anything at the table with you. 3-Exercise!  It doesn't matter what you do, just get up and move.  That will help keep your weight loss going, and keep it gone! Hang in there...it sounds like you're doing great so far, but you want to keep this thing going, and maintain once you get to goal.  So, focus on braking the old habits and making the new ones!  Good luck!

Thank you for sharing!  I didn't know about stretching the stoma.  Yep, I agree.  It is all bad habits.  We have to break them while we can.  I am going to start measuring, stop drinking, and excercise more!  Thanks again for the help!