let me reintroduce myself

Tia,

At our support group meeting this past month, we talked about "commitment" and what it entails on this journey. 

It takes commitment on our part to jump up on that table and say, yes, reroute my innards so that I can achieve a healthier life, however, the real commitment is one that we must make to ourselves on a daily basis and involves changing the habits of a lifetime, in order to maintain a lifestyle of "successing", which is to say that success, is continual, so long as we walk this earth, we are in some process of it, not ever acheiving it until we are done here. 

So make a commitment to yourself to get into good habits that you can and will continue to adhere to regularly for the remainder of your life.  Not saying anyone of us is perfect, but the beginning sets the stage for what is to come.  Don't cheat yourself, that's what matters most, I would not consider what you are saying as "anal" and besides at this stage anal might be a good way to achieve some long lasting changes. 

Sounds like you are in a mode of "successing" today!  I also want to applaud you for being honest as that kind of accountability will take your far.

Enjoy your day!  Laureen

Thanks for all the support, and advice. If you have anymore feel free to share....
Thanks a bunch
Tia

Hi Tia,

Let me take a slightly different tack than Kathy and ask...  WHY do you feel you are doing a bad job?  (fess up!  are you testing your pouch with things you shouldn't?  not walking? not getting your water? or ???)

And what is your surgeon's specific plan (they are all different), so we can help advise you along those lines...

We'll do our best to help!  Welcome to the board!
Karen

Hello Karen,

I will fess up,no secrets when asking for help !! I have used no sugar added frozen fruit for my protein shakes for the past few days.I am not supposed to have fruit yet ,but I could not get in the protein any other way I had tried . Fruit smoothies are working so I have 1-2 per day and use just a few peices of the fruit.

I had a sugarfree cookie yesterday,and 3 days ago I had a tiny piece of broccoli.

I do walk, but not enough

There are my confessions.

The plan I am to follow is this, I can have pretty much anything except starchy foods fruits and veggies.and of course the usual things like fried foods and carbs.

I check in tomorrow with the NUT

Tia,

Sounds like you're struggling with getting ENOUGH (and the right stuff) rather than getting too much...   Adding in NSA frozen fruit is a good strategy if it helps you get in the protein and if you're paying close attention to portion control... and if you're logging it and counting it.  The problem with fruit in general is that it's very high in carbs and natural sugars and for some folks will cause dumping.  But if you're sticking to a portion like half a banana added to your shake, or a few strawberries, that's probably going to work for you early out.

Broccoli rocks... yummy, chewable into small pieces, high in vitamins, low in cals and carbs... but if your surgeon's plan doesn't allow it, treat it as off limits at this point. 

I'd be more than willing to bet that the sugar free cookie, though, is WAY off limits... and if not, think about it this way.  You're working right now to break addictions that you've developed over a lifetime.  Addictions to things like sugar and refined flour products and fats.  In order to break an addiction to prevent cravings and binges, you have to abstain from the addictive substance.  Certain "trigger" foods are called that because they can trigger the addict behaviors - binging , hiding/hoarding, etc.  For many of us, sugar free baked goods are trigger foods especially early out because they carry both the psychological load of their sugar-laden counterparts AND the addiction of the refined flour.  

SO let's focus on the good stuff - you're early out, you're asking for support, and you're developing the sense of what you need to do to stay on track... that's GREAT.  And this is a marathon, not a sprint.  Taking measurements once a month will help you continue to see progress as your body changes, even when the weight doesn't change all that much (as you get farther out, fat conversion to muscle is more in balance and muscle weighs more than fat, so you'll be losing inches but not weight).  Patience is the key... as Dennis is fond of saying, we didn't get fat in 6 months, we're not going to change our lives and get skinny in 6 months.

Take the journey a step at a time and a day at a time.  Get the exercise as much as you can - challenge yourself each day to go "one driveway" farther on your walk, or to do it just a bit faster than the previous day.  Make movement something that you view just like brushing your teeth or taking a shower - part of your daily "body maintenance" routine. 

Stay positive and stay engaged - we'll all be here for you!

Hugs!
Karen

Tia, be honest with yourself and your NUT. Don't hide anything and the 2 of you will be able to make sure you are on the right path.

None of us are perfect, we all have one thing or another that we have troubles with. It's just important to recognize them so we can be aware and accountable.

Lots of protein, lots of fluids, lots of walking or exercising.

Hang in there. This journey can be tough at times. Hold your head high, remember why you went through this, and commit yourself to succeeding. We are always here for ya!

Thanks for the support. I am honest with the NUT and the DR. they can't help me if i am not. And neither can you guys , so honest I am .

Now holding my head high , I will have to practice that one.
Thanks Tia

Tia, one thing most of us suffered with as obese people is self esteem issues. So having confidence in ourselves isn't easy. Hell, I STILL have self-esteem issues.

Confidence in yourself will only help you in this journey but I know it's not easy. You have to find a little here, and a little there and before you know it, you will be feeling so much better about yourself. It takes time and it's hard to look at ourselves sometimes. We have all been there.

Don't beat yourself up.

You've already gotten really good advice.

Just to put it in perspective - 23 pounds since date of surgery is about 3 pounds a week.  When was the last time you CONSISTENTLY lost 3 pounds a week continuously for a bunch of weeks in a row?  Go ahead and hold 5 bags of sugar or flour from the grocery store and walk around with them for a bit.  That's basically what you have lost already.

Do your measurements monthly.  They might not show drastic changes right now - but they will down the road and you will be happy you did!

Logging - DEFINATELY a good habit to get into.  If you can't figure out exactly how much protein etc you are having in each serving right away that's ok....just write down what and how much you eat.  MEASURE IT OUT.  This is key early out :)  Stick to a 1/4 cup or 1/2 cup depending on your nuts guidelines.  Also, make sure you are taking the proper amount of time to eat.  You should be eating over the course of 20 mins or so.

Stick close - always lots of good support and advice around here.  And yes...we are pretty much drama free which is always a good thing!

Hang in there - the first couple of weeks and even months can be challenging at best!

Pam

Something I've done in the past if not able to eat an entire piece of something is to weight it out, bones and all, and then what ever is left including bones and all weigh again and the difference is the portion.  There are many websites that give you nutritional info about the items you eat by weight.