Can you help me keep it going?
Dearest Mary, First let me begin by saying thank you. When I first found this board, you were one of the regulars and became on of the ones I looked up to most, because your posts were always so level-headed and real. I still appreciate that about you.
Next, let's just acknowledge, the farther we get from our surgery date, the more it becomes about what we are choosing than it once did. Of course, you already have fessed up to that. We always know what it is we're doing wrong. The problem is having the ability to change it. I don't know what the magic is. I never have.
But one thing I have learned from this surgery (and remember, I am about 3 months farther away from my surgery date than you are, so....I do know what you're struggling with). So anyway, the one thing I have learned from this surgery is that there are basically 2 reasons why I've lost weight this time. # 1: I couldn't eat a lot and what I could eat was low sugar and low fat. # 2: The key has really been: staying with it.
Of course I had to stay with it as long as I dumped to extremes in portion size, fat, and sugar. Unfortunately, I am less sensitive to these things now. I can still dump, but I can also handle up to 25 grams of sugar now with no appreciable problem - so that impediment is not quite the stronghold it once was.
But that other thingy...the staying with it thingy, is maybe the most important part. Before I had surgery, I would get discouraged when I 'cheated' and call the diet 'over' and go back to old habits. It's not so easy to do that now. I still have a very small pouch. And while it can handle greater degrees of fat and sugar, it really doesn't handle much more than about 3/4 cup of dense food (chewed consistency). (Now of course, I can eat a little more salad...but I'm thinking it takes a lot of chewed lettuce to equal 3/4 cup!)
I have another friend who had the surgery a year before I did, went from 320 pounds to 170 pounds in 13 months (150 # weight loss) and has kept it off for over 2 years. She eats carbs now. She even eats the occassional sweet and does not feel guilty about it. Because she says: 'a little bit of anything won't hurt you.' And you know what, I think she's right.
I say all that to say this: It's unrealistic to expect we are going to go through life never eating another carb or another bite of dessert, or whatever it is we think we must deny ourselves. But I, like you, have not yet gotten to where I want to go. And so, I tell myself on a daily (sometimes a minute by minute) basis: once you get to 150 pounds, we're going to add back in some carbs on a regular schedule. But to help you get there Connie, we're going to choose to forego carbs and sweets on any kind of a regular basis.
I want to stick with it. I have seen what the results can be. I also want you to want to stick with it. Yes, my weight loss has slowed down. I seem to be loosing about 5 pounds/month at this point. I know I could do better. There's no mystery to how it's done: At least 60 grams of lean protein a day, at least 8 glasses of liquid a day not drunk within 1 hour of eating, green carbs that are not starchy, and a little fruit thrown in for fun around the edges. I don't walk either, although, I thank God every day that I can walk now. But I just cannot/have not made the time for it.
The truth is Mary, we can do it. We both can. We still have the pouch. It still gives us the edge on portion control. Other things I've read about here that people use to get back on track include taking the 5 day pouch test. I think you could do a search and find it. It's what I plan to do if I ever hit a real brick wall. Also, on my journey I've learned that often, when I find myself wanting to stick some food in my mouth but my stomach really is not hungry is that I am really thirsty. But my screwed up brain interprets is as: feed me!!! You might try that when you get a little 'head-hunger' going on. I've found it to work extremely well.
And the other tool I am trying really hard to cultivate (with varying degrees of success) is the self control one. I struggle particularly in the evenings after dinner. I want to go to the pantry and get myself a cookie, or 2 single caramels, or a 100 calorie sweetie bag or some other thing I don't need. Some evenings, I go - hence the 5 pound/month weight loss recently. Other evenings though, I do a little self-talk. It often goes something like this: well, you can have it, but it's going to get in the way of obtaining what you want. Which do you want more connie? The caramel or to weigh 150 pounds for the first time in your adult life? You can have either one, but not both and it is entirely up to you. YOU get to choose. Noone is going to make you. Wouldn't you rather have another glass of water or diet cola and see if that won't satisfy you? Just try it. If it doesn't work, you can always go back and get the caramel. They're yours anyway, and they'll be there when you really need them. I promise you Mary, when I stop and think about it this way, I can almost always get past the urge to eat the caramel. Sometimes I have to go through it several times, to wear it off. Sometimes the drink really was what I was wanting.
The point is, you don't have to be 'done' unless you choose to be. Neither one of us do. And I know you can do it. I know you can. I've watched your amazing journey for months now. You do have it in you to make it. Let me know how it goes sweetie, and I'm pulling for you!!
connie
Next, let's just acknowledge, the farther we get from our surgery date, the more it becomes about what we are choosing than it once did. Of course, you already have fessed up to that. We always know what it is we're doing wrong. The problem is having the ability to change it. I don't know what the magic is. I never have.
But one thing I have learned from this surgery (and remember, I am about 3 months farther away from my surgery date than you are, so....I do know what you're struggling with). So anyway, the one thing I have learned from this surgery is that there are basically 2 reasons why I've lost weight this time. # 1: I couldn't eat a lot and what I could eat was low sugar and low fat. # 2: The key has really been: staying with it.
Of course I had to stay with it as long as I dumped to extremes in portion size, fat, and sugar. Unfortunately, I am less sensitive to these things now. I can still dump, but I can also handle up to 25 grams of sugar now with no appreciable problem - so that impediment is not quite the stronghold it once was.
But that other thingy...the staying with it thingy, is maybe the most important part. Before I had surgery, I would get discouraged when I 'cheated' and call the diet 'over' and go back to old habits. It's not so easy to do that now. I still have a very small pouch. And while it can handle greater degrees of fat and sugar, it really doesn't handle much more than about 3/4 cup of dense food (chewed consistency). (Now of course, I can eat a little more salad...but I'm thinking it takes a lot of chewed lettuce to equal 3/4 cup!)
I have another friend who had the surgery a year before I did, went from 320 pounds to 170 pounds in 13 months (150 # weight loss) and has kept it off for over 2 years. She eats carbs now. She even eats the occassional sweet and does not feel guilty about it. Because she says: 'a little bit of anything won't hurt you.' And you know what, I think she's right.
I say all that to say this: It's unrealistic to expect we are going to go through life never eating another carb or another bite of dessert, or whatever it is we think we must deny ourselves. But I, like you, have not yet gotten to where I want to go. And so, I tell myself on a daily (sometimes a minute by minute) basis: once you get to 150 pounds, we're going to add back in some carbs on a regular schedule. But to help you get there Connie, we're going to choose to forego carbs and sweets on any kind of a regular basis.
I want to stick with it. I have seen what the results can be. I also want you to want to stick with it. Yes, my weight loss has slowed down. I seem to be loosing about 5 pounds/month at this point. I know I could do better. There's no mystery to how it's done: At least 60 grams of lean protein a day, at least 8 glasses of liquid a day not drunk within 1 hour of eating, green carbs that are not starchy, and a little fruit thrown in for fun around the edges. I don't walk either, although, I thank God every day that I can walk now. But I just cannot/have not made the time for it.
The truth is Mary, we can do it. We both can. We still have the pouch. It still gives us the edge on portion control. Other things I've read about here that people use to get back on track include taking the 5 day pouch test. I think you could do a search and find it. It's what I plan to do if I ever hit a real brick wall. Also, on my journey I've learned that often, when I find myself wanting to stick some food in my mouth but my stomach really is not hungry is that I am really thirsty. But my screwed up brain interprets is as: feed me!!! You might try that when you get a little 'head-hunger' going on. I've found it to work extremely well.
And the other tool I am trying really hard to cultivate (with varying degrees of success) is the self control one. I struggle particularly in the evenings after dinner. I want to go to the pantry and get myself a cookie, or 2 single caramels, or a 100 calorie sweetie bag or some other thing I don't need. Some evenings, I go - hence the 5 pound/month weight loss recently. Other evenings though, I do a little self-talk. It often goes something like this: well, you can have it, but it's going to get in the way of obtaining what you want. Which do you want more connie? The caramel or to weigh 150 pounds for the first time in your adult life? You can have either one, but not both and it is entirely up to you. YOU get to choose. Noone is going to make you. Wouldn't you rather have another glass of water or diet cola and see if that won't satisfy you? Just try it. If it doesn't work, you can always go back and get the caramel. They're yours anyway, and they'll be there when you really need them. I promise you Mary, when I stop and think about it this way, I can almost always get past the urge to eat the caramel. Sometimes I have to go through it several times, to wear it off. Sometimes the drink really was what I was wanting.
The point is, you don't have to be 'done' unless you choose to be. Neither one of us do. And I know you can do it. I know you can. I've watched your amazing journey for months now. You do have it in you to make it. Let me know how it goes sweetie, and I'm pulling for you!!
connie
p.s: If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got... 
Connie -
What a lovely, and insightful post. I am LISTENING! I am going to do that.
Today (and even the weekend, including Thanksgiving day), I said fewer "yeses" to the tempations and I already feel a bit better. I know it's in my hands and I KNOW what to do. I am going to keep going and I am going to lose. My doctor was very reasonable with a goal for me, and I want to make that goal.
I will try for 5 pounds a month. I think I can do that. Thanks for your nice words, Connie. I'll try to get back to posting more again. I think the comraderie and support make this board a tool I should continue to use.
Thank you so much.
Mary
What a lovely, and insightful post. I am LISTENING! I am going to do that.
Today (and even the weekend, including Thanksgiving day), I said fewer "yeses" to the tempations and I already feel a bit better. I know it's in my hands and I KNOW what to do. I am going to keep going and I am going to lose. My doctor was very reasonable with a goal for me, and I want to make that goal.
I will try for 5 pounds a month. I think I can do that. Thanks for your nice words, Connie. I'll try to get back to posting more again. I think the comraderie and support make this board a tool I should continue to use.
Thank you so much.
Mary
Mary
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you CAN do." John Wooden
I'm down 120 pounds - thanks to RNY! Working on the next 25. Then I'll tackle more...
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you CAN do." John Wooden
I'm down 120 pounds - thanks to RNY! Working on the next 25. Then I'll tackle more...
Mary..
My thoughts are with you all the way. I too am struggling.. I lost 155lbs putting me at 148lbs from the 303lbs I started with.. I know that most people think that is light weight for this forum but I am only 4'10" so my BMI was 63.3 to start.. I am still considered obese at 148lbs... but here is the problem.. I have gained 5lbs.. I lost it back last month but now am back up the 5lbs again.. so I am at 150lbs lost... I have struggled with this since September.. so NO weight loss in over 2 months.. aaarrrggg...
I had my 1 yr check up on November 18th and the doc said I may be done with weight loss... this has discouraged me so much.. but he says I have a lot of weight in loose skin.. about 30 lbs so I have to remember that.. but I am not seeing it.. I still feel fat and see fat.. I am in a size 10 jeans on good days and a 12 on bad.. but I wanted to get out of the double digits.. seems like my wants are not getting put first.. so here I am whine whine whine.. just wanted to let you know you are not alone..
I too have made a few bad choices the past month or so.. not so much with what I am eating but in how much.. I am getting into the grazing area.. I seem to always be hungry.. I have tried hot tea which always worked before for me and it does not do it now... Now I have tried to cut out all carbs except a few in greens.. but I cant seem to stop the grazing... I am at home alone most of the time.. and I think a great part of it is boredom.. I have tried to find things to keep me busy but I always seem to find myself in the kitchen looking for something to eat.. I tried to be good yesterday and I had a protein bar for an afternoon snack and then about 15 minutes later I went in and got hot tea.. I had not waited long enough after eating so after drinking about a cup of tea I had the worse pains ever in my tummy.. no throwing up..yet I wished I could have.. just horrible pain.. I know that the liquid swelled the protein bar and I was just miserable.. I had to lay down and just wait for it to pass... the whole time thinking I was stretching out the pouch that already holds about 3/4 to a cup of food... but did it deter me... no.. I was in there 2 hours later looking for dinner.. man I must be loosing my mind.. I know better than this and yet I am still grazing..
Today was a much better day.. first off all the left overs are gone from Thanksgiving.. never was any sweets but plenty of bad carbs in the dressing and mac n cheese and baked beans... I can fool my self saying that I am only having a taste but that does not help... the carbs make me crave more carbs.. so today was a no carb day and I have had a carb withdraw headache.. serves me right.. I am going to not eat ANY carbs for several days trying to get them out of my system maybe it will also curb the grazing too.. I hope so but it has been a problem way before Thanksgiving dinner when I wasn't eating any carbs.. oh well I gotta start somewhere..
I too can not exercise.. I was an exercise fiend when I started loosing weight.. I was walking 3 miles a day and riding the recumbent bike for 30 minutes and also some exercises on Wii and then when I could going to the gym for weight training and pool aerobics.. that was all well and good until my hardware in my back collapsed last May..I was not able to walk at all and had to do therapy to learn to walk again.. Thank God I can walk but I still have a lot of pain.. I have not since been able to do much.. I still lost weight from May to Sept because I was not over the honeymoon period.. but now I am past it and the loosing has stopped.. I am trying to walk on my treadmill but 5 minutes at a slow speed kills me for 2 days.. the 5 minutes every 2 days is not getting it.. I am going to try to go back to the gym and do the water aerobics again.. I did them when I was 303lbs and I am hoping I can do them now.. I have to get moving someway.. I am going to pain management on Thursday to have my initial visit to schedule the insertion of a temporary spinal pain stimulator.. if it works then I will have one implanted permanently.. until then I am trying to maintain and not gain anymore weight and trying to curb the grazing..
This is one of the hardest things any of us have ever done...but it is also the best thing we all have done for ourselves.. I am like you and do not want to give up and settle for where I am now..I still want to loose as much as I can before having the extra skin removed from the belly.. I have to be 18months out for the insurance to cover that.. so I have to wait until then.. I am praying everyday to get back in control and stop the grazing and stop the weight from going up any more and to get the 5 lbs back off and hopefully more..
I got on here today as I do most days lately to just read and see what all is going on.. I had no intentions on posting anything.. I do not want to discourage anyone.. I hated to admit that I am struggling and have gained the 5lbs.. but after seeing your post I had to respond .. You are and have been an inspiration to me and I know now that posting the struggles does not discourage others.. you posting your struggles has encouraged me to do better and try harder to get back on track.. thanks for posting.. we all have to stick together and help each other and sometimes I guess that means admitting when you are going in the wrong direction..
Thanks for the honesty and making me be accountable for what is going on.. I hope that you can find an exercise that you can do.. make the time for it.. make the time for YOU.... try the water aerobics classes or just simply go to the pool and walk back and forth and MOVE... try to make it a routine but don't get stuck in doing it so routinely your body get accustom to it.. mix it up.. upper body exercises help too.. I wanted to get one of those shaker weights but my back doctor says NO.... many have said they are great and fun and really work the arms.. I also have a few Richard Simmons exercise tapes for wheelchair bound people that I had many years ago when I WAS in a wheel chair.. they are great too.. keep looking and try to find someway to add movement to your life.. anyway you can.. I know exactly how you feel when you cant exercise because of the pain.. and I will pray for you to solve the problem someway..
Thanks for being you..
huggs..
My thoughts are with you all the way. I too am struggling.. I lost 155lbs putting me at 148lbs from the 303lbs I started with.. I know that most people think that is light weight for this forum but I am only 4'10" so my BMI was 63.3 to start.. I am still considered obese at 148lbs... but here is the problem.. I have gained 5lbs.. I lost it back last month but now am back up the 5lbs again.. so I am at 150lbs lost... I have struggled with this since September.. so NO weight loss in over 2 months.. aaarrrggg...
I had my 1 yr check up on November 18th and the doc said I may be done with weight loss... this has discouraged me so much.. but he says I have a lot of weight in loose skin.. about 30 lbs so I have to remember that.. but I am not seeing it.. I still feel fat and see fat.. I am in a size 10 jeans on good days and a 12 on bad.. but I wanted to get out of the double digits.. seems like my wants are not getting put first.. so here I am whine whine whine.. just wanted to let you know you are not alone..
I too have made a few bad choices the past month or so.. not so much with what I am eating but in how much.. I am getting into the grazing area.. I seem to always be hungry.. I have tried hot tea which always worked before for me and it does not do it now... Now I have tried to cut out all carbs except a few in greens.. but I cant seem to stop the grazing... I am at home alone most of the time.. and I think a great part of it is boredom.. I have tried to find things to keep me busy but I always seem to find myself in the kitchen looking for something to eat.. I tried to be good yesterday and I had a protein bar for an afternoon snack and then about 15 minutes later I went in and got hot tea.. I had not waited long enough after eating so after drinking about a cup of tea I had the worse pains ever in my tummy.. no throwing up..yet I wished I could have.. just horrible pain.. I know that the liquid swelled the protein bar and I was just miserable.. I had to lay down and just wait for it to pass... the whole time thinking I was stretching out the pouch that already holds about 3/4 to a cup of food... but did it deter me... no.. I was in there 2 hours later looking for dinner.. man I must be loosing my mind.. I know better than this and yet I am still grazing..
Today was a much better day.. first off all the left overs are gone from Thanksgiving.. never was any sweets but plenty of bad carbs in the dressing and mac n cheese and baked beans... I can fool my self saying that I am only having a taste but that does not help... the carbs make me crave more carbs.. so today was a no carb day and I have had a carb withdraw headache.. serves me right.. I am going to not eat ANY carbs for several days trying to get them out of my system maybe it will also curb the grazing too.. I hope so but it has been a problem way before Thanksgiving dinner when I wasn't eating any carbs.. oh well I gotta start somewhere..
I too can not exercise.. I was an exercise fiend when I started loosing weight.. I was walking 3 miles a day and riding the recumbent bike for 30 minutes and also some exercises on Wii and then when I could going to the gym for weight training and pool aerobics.. that was all well and good until my hardware in my back collapsed last May..I was not able to walk at all and had to do therapy to learn to walk again.. Thank God I can walk but I still have a lot of pain.. I have not since been able to do much.. I still lost weight from May to Sept because I was not over the honeymoon period.. but now I am past it and the loosing has stopped.. I am trying to walk on my treadmill but 5 minutes at a slow speed kills me for 2 days.. the 5 minutes every 2 days is not getting it.. I am going to try to go back to the gym and do the water aerobics again.. I did them when I was 303lbs and I am hoping I can do them now.. I have to get moving someway.. I am going to pain management on Thursday to have my initial visit to schedule the insertion of a temporary spinal pain stimulator.. if it works then I will have one implanted permanently.. until then I am trying to maintain and not gain anymore weight and trying to curb the grazing..
This is one of the hardest things any of us have ever done...but it is also the best thing we all have done for ourselves.. I am like you and do not want to give up and settle for where I am now..I still want to loose as much as I can before having the extra skin removed from the belly.. I have to be 18months out for the insurance to cover that.. so I have to wait until then.. I am praying everyday to get back in control and stop the grazing and stop the weight from going up any more and to get the 5 lbs back off and hopefully more..
I got on here today as I do most days lately to just read and see what all is going on.. I had no intentions on posting anything.. I do not want to discourage anyone.. I hated to admit that I am struggling and have gained the 5lbs.. but after seeing your post I had to respond .. You are and have been an inspiration to me and I know now that posting the struggles does not discourage others.. you posting your struggles has encouraged me to do better and try harder to get back on track.. thanks for posting.. we all have to stick together and help each other and sometimes I guess that means admitting when you are going in the wrong direction..
Thanks for the honesty and making me be accountable for what is going on.. I hope that you can find an exercise that you can do.. make the time for it.. make the time for YOU.... try the water aerobics classes or just simply go to the pool and walk back and forth and MOVE... try to make it a routine but don't get stuck in doing it so routinely your body get accustom to it.. mix it up.. upper body exercises help too.. I wanted to get one of those shaker weights but my back doctor says NO.... many have said they are great and fun and really work the arms.. I also have a few Richard Simmons exercise tapes for wheelchair bound people that I had many years ago when I WAS in a wheel chair.. they are great too.. keep looking and try to find someway to add movement to your life.. anyway you can.. I know exactly how you feel when you cant exercise because of the pain.. and I will pray for you to solve the problem someway..
Thanks for being you..
huggs..
Teresa S.
Beginning Weight 303 Surgery weight 236 Amount lost by surgery date 67lbs
Starting BMI 63.3 Surgery BMI 49.3 Goal Weight 125 Goal BMI 26.1
In Order To Change...a Caterpillar must have the faith of a Butterfly
Thanks, Theresa - It IS the carbs and the grazing that has a hold on me. Today I was better, but that still leaves a lot to be desired. I start out good, and have great intentions, but then I get hungry (mental or real) and want to just SNACK.
I'm getting better about it, and we are in a similar situation.
I appreciate the encouragement!
I'm getting better about it, and we are in a similar situation.
I appreciate the encouragement!
Mary
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you CAN do." John Wooden
I'm down 120 pounds - thanks to RNY! Working on the next 25. Then I'll tackle more...
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you CAN do." John Wooden
I'm down 120 pounds - thanks to RNY! Working on the next 25. Then I'll tackle more...
Teresa - I wanted you to read Connie's reply to your post and I didn't know if you got a notification that she replied.
It is an EXCELLENT reply and I'm taking it to heart.
Mary
It is an EXCELLENT reply and I'm taking it to heart.
Mary
Mary
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you CAN do." John Wooden
I'm down 120 pounds - thanks to RNY! Working on the next 25. Then I'll tackle more...
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you CAN do." John Wooden
I'm down 120 pounds - thanks to RNY! Working on the next 25. Then I'll tackle more...
Hey Teresa! Good to see you. You, like Mary, are another one I've looked up to along the way in my weight loss journey. And so, it isn't terribly surprising we are all finding ourselves at that fork in the weight loss road when the effects of the surgery on our weight loss are no longer as profound as they were in the beginning.
But you said your doc told you recently that your weight loss 'might be over' now. The FNP at my surgeons office said something like that to me early on after surgery and I'll tell you, it devastated me until I had thought about it long enough for it to **** me off. She said, 'get all you can in 18 months, because after that it's over.' Over? Weight loss??? Like, people who've never had weight loss surgery can't/don't loose weight???? No way. That was garbage, and I encourage you to put what your doc said in the garbage too. Your weight loss does not have to be over!!
Listen up girls....and hear me with your whole hearts please....we knew when we went into surgery that it was just a tool. It was not the magic bullet and we knew there would come a time when it's effects would not be as drastic as they were in the beginning. But we also knew it would give us the booster effect we needed to get over that first seemingly insurmountable 100 - 150 pound hurdle ( I mean, we're all on the BMI-over-50 forum....we all had more than 100 measley pounds to loose). We also knew, (and I know we did because I remember us talking about it) how we had to use that 'grace period' to learn different eating habits. And WE ALL DID learn different habits!! We really didn't have any other choice did we??
So here we all are, on the backside of our first major weight loss following RNY, and it's slowed down. We are now absorbing nearly every calorie we ingest if not every nutrient (which is why we loose slower and yet still have to take our vitamin supplements). So now is the time when we really have to work at it. Everything worth having is worth striving for isn't it? All the free stuff in the world is never appreciated as much as that thing you worked your A** off for is it?!!? Remember and return to the basics!
When I know I've been getting too many carbs, and I do begin to crave them, I cut them completely out for 3-4 days, and the cravings become more managable. They don't go completely away because they're not all physiological. Many of them have psychological origins. Stress makes me want a tootsie roll.....go figure.
Just please, please, please, don't put all your eggs into the basket of the RNY. It's wonderful. It's fabulous...It got me to 192 pounds and I will always be thankful for it. But I can take myself on down to 150 pounds if I stay with it and work what I've learned. And please don't let anyone tell you, there comes a point after surgery at which nary another pound can be lost because it's a lie.
So...that's my soapbox. Know that I wish you well and hope you have exceptional success with your continued journey. Take care sweetie! connie
But you said your doc told you recently that your weight loss 'might be over' now. The FNP at my surgeons office said something like that to me early on after surgery and I'll tell you, it devastated me until I had thought about it long enough for it to **** me off. She said, 'get all you can in 18 months, because after that it's over.' Over? Weight loss??? Like, people who've never had weight loss surgery can't/don't loose weight???? No way. That was garbage, and I encourage you to put what your doc said in the garbage too. Your weight loss does not have to be over!!
Listen up girls....and hear me with your whole hearts please....we knew when we went into surgery that it was just a tool. It was not the magic bullet and we knew there would come a time when it's effects would not be as drastic as they were in the beginning. But we also knew it would give us the booster effect we needed to get over that first seemingly insurmountable 100 - 150 pound hurdle ( I mean, we're all on the BMI-over-50 forum....we all had more than 100 measley pounds to loose). We also knew, (and I know we did because I remember us talking about it) how we had to use that 'grace period' to learn different eating habits. And WE ALL DID learn different habits!! We really didn't have any other choice did we??
So here we all are, on the backside of our first major weight loss following RNY, and it's slowed down. We are now absorbing nearly every calorie we ingest if not every nutrient (which is why we loose slower and yet still have to take our vitamin supplements). So now is the time when we really have to work at it. Everything worth having is worth striving for isn't it? All the free stuff in the world is never appreciated as much as that thing you worked your A** off for is it?!!? Remember and return to the basics!
When I know I've been getting too many carbs, and I do begin to crave them, I cut them completely out for 3-4 days, and the cravings become more managable. They don't go completely away because they're not all physiological. Many of them have psychological origins. Stress makes me want a tootsie roll.....go figure.
Just please, please, please, don't put all your eggs into the basket of the RNY. It's wonderful. It's fabulous...It got me to 192 pounds and I will always be thankful for it. But I can take myself on down to 150 pounds if I stay with it and work what I've learned. And please don't let anyone tell you, there comes a point after surgery at which nary another pound can be lost because it's a lie.
So...that's my soapbox. Know that I wish you well and hope you have exceptional success with your continued journey. Take care sweetie! connie
p.s: If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got...
You are absolutely right, Connie. I got notified of your reply, so I'll make sure Theresa sees it, too, if I can.
I like the idea of cutting out the cravings by doing protiens. I did the 5-day pouch test recently and it did help a bit with curbing cravings - but didn't last long enough. I need to get it going seriously again. today was better.
Thanks for your encouragement and support.
Mary
I like the idea of cutting out the cravings by doing protiens. I did the 5-day pouch test recently and it did help a bit with curbing cravings - but didn't last long enough. I need to get it going seriously again. today was better.
Thanks for your encouragement and support.
Mary
Mary
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you CAN do." John Wooden
I'm down 120 pounds - thanks to RNY! Working on the next 25. Then I'll tackle more...
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you CAN do." John Wooden
I'm down 120 pounds - thanks to RNY! Working on the next 25. Then I'll tackle more...
Thank you so much for forwarding Connie's message to me.. I was not aware of it until you did that.. I appreciate that so much..
Both of you are so inspiring to me and I have already started to get back where I need to be.. I have lost 2 of the 5 lbs already.. and I am not craving carbs like I was..
I am so thankful that you posted this and got this ball rolling for me.. I needed a little inspiration and I would up getting a lot..
thanks again.. and thanks for being such a great OH firiend..
huggs...
Teresa
Both of you are so inspiring to me and I have already started to get back where I need to be.. I have lost 2 of the 5 lbs already.. and I am not craving carbs like I was..
I am so thankful that you posted this and got this ball rolling for me.. I needed a little inspiration and I would up getting a lot..
thanks again.. and thanks for being such a great OH firiend..
huggs...
Teresa
Teresa S.
Beginning Weight 303 Surgery weight 236 Amount lost by surgery date 67lbs
Starting BMI 63.3 Surgery BMI 49.3 Goal Weight 125 Goal BMI 26.1
In Order To Change...a Caterpillar must have the faith of a Butterfly
Thank you so much Connie for your inspiring words.. I really thank Mary for forwarding this post to me.... you are so so right.. I appreciate the advice and I really am trying to get out of this rut I am in.. I am so glad that I came back on OH and started reading daily and writing this post just may have made the best change in me...
You are right about what the doctor said.. he made me feel like no matter what I do I cant get any more weight off of me.. REALLY.. I am only a year out and I see no reason that this will not continue to work.. I have been the one not working it lately.. This is a lifetime tool and I know that.. I know that a lot more is up to me now to watch every bit of food that passes my lips... I am once again started to log every morsel on paper.. I had stopped doing that.. I am counting the calories and the proteins again.. and water water water or tea tea tea.. (herbal)
I think that as people started to tell me that I didn't need to loose anymore ( I know that is because they have not seen me at this weight and are shocked and they think I am fine now) well I am not fine.. I still need to get to my goal.. When the doctor told me that I may be done loosing, I used that as an excuse to really stop working hard at loosing.. I am not happy with my doctor at all.. I do not like the comments and I do not like the blood work he ran either.. He did not check any vitamin levels other than B12 and it was down 400 pts and he was just fine with that.. no checking on D or A levels or B1 levels.. or anything else beside calcium.. My liver enzymes are still elevated and he was ok with that ( the gastroenterologist is not) and my iron is still low.. yet he says all is ok and I'll see you in a year.. ?????? Well I think God had different plans for me... I found out by going to Paducah Ky yesterday to Pain management that The hospital there has hired a Bariatric surgeon from Pennsylvania and she starts seeing patients in February.. I talked a long time to the nurses and their dietitian and found that they were astonished at the lack of blood tests that were ran on me.. She will accept me because I was an original patient there in 2008.. that is the clinic where I started my journey originally.. and it is a great hospital with lots of experience in bariatrics.. so I think I am going to change to her. The comment by the doctor I have now was really an eye opener.. as well as him giving me different answers to the same questions that were asked 6 months ago. ?? I think this change is meant to be and I hope it gets me back on the right track medically.. I have been tossed around to 3 different surgeons and I am really thinking it has hurt me so bad.. Maybe this is the home where I need to be...
Well as far as my diet now. .I have cut out almost all carbs except the few vegetables I eat.. It has only been three days but I can already feel the difference.. I am not hungry as much as I was.. I am not craving the carbs.. and I have stopped the grazing.. and I am already down 2lbs.. so I am encouraged now to go back to working the tool the way I need to.. I can't wait to get the 5 lbs off I gained (3 now) and start the loosing again. I was only 24lbs away from my original goal...
Now for the exercising.. .I was told yesterday that they are indeed going to put the implantable pain spine stimulator in.. and They have started the ball rolling.. They have to get pre-approval from the insurance first.. I have gotten recent labs faxed to them so I don't have to do that.. I have to go for a psych consult for approval just like we had to for the gastric bypass surgery.. I have that appointment on Monday ... I am hoping to get the temporary one implanted this month... and not have to fork out the deductible I have met already for this first part at least...they have to test it to see if it will work for me and make adjustments to the strengths and get it where it need to be for me to function without pain.. after they achieve that then a permanent one will be implanted for life... I am really hoping this will get me back to walking again without pain.. I am sure the exercises will help boost my enthusiasm to work work work the tool...and work work work on my health for my future...
As for you.... you have really inspired me to get back on track and stay there and be patient and to continue to use the tool I was given no matter how hard the work ...I thank you so much.. you are, and have been, a great inspiration to me all along.. I appreciate your comments and I welcome you anytime to get on that soap box because you did a great job...
I know I CAN do this and that I have the support that I need right here on OH from the best friends I have ever had... Thank you for being one of them...
huggs......
You are right about what the doctor said.. he made me feel like no matter what I do I cant get any more weight off of me.. REALLY.. I am only a year out and I see no reason that this will not continue to work.. I have been the one not working it lately.. This is a lifetime tool and I know that.. I know that a lot more is up to me now to watch every bit of food that passes my lips... I am once again started to log every morsel on paper.. I had stopped doing that.. I am counting the calories and the proteins again.. and water water water or tea tea tea.. (herbal)
I think that as people started to tell me that I didn't need to loose anymore ( I know that is because they have not seen me at this weight and are shocked and they think I am fine now) well I am not fine.. I still need to get to my goal.. When the doctor told me that I may be done loosing, I used that as an excuse to really stop working hard at loosing.. I am not happy with my doctor at all.. I do not like the comments and I do not like the blood work he ran either.. He did not check any vitamin levels other than B12 and it was down 400 pts and he was just fine with that.. no checking on D or A levels or B1 levels.. or anything else beside calcium.. My liver enzymes are still elevated and he was ok with that ( the gastroenterologist is not) and my iron is still low.. yet he says all is ok and I'll see you in a year.. ?????? Well I think God had different plans for me... I found out by going to Paducah Ky yesterday to Pain management that The hospital there has hired a Bariatric surgeon from Pennsylvania and she starts seeing patients in February.. I talked a long time to the nurses and their dietitian and found that they were astonished at the lack of blood tests that were ran on me.. She will accept me because I was an original patient there in 2008.. that is the clinic where I started my journey originally.. and it is a great hospital with lots of experience in bariatrics.. so I think I am going to change to her. The comment by the doctor I have now was really an eye opener.. as well as him giving me different answers to the same questions that were asked 6 months ago. ?? I think this change is meant to be and I hope it gets me back on the right track medically.. I have been tossed around to 3 different surgeons and I am really thinking it has hurt me so bad.. Maybe this is the home where I need to be...
Well as far as my diet now. .I have cut out almost all carbs except the few vegetables I eat.. It has only been three days but I can already feel the difference.. I am not hungry as much as I was.. I am not craving the carbs.. and I have stopped the grazing.. and I am already down 2lbs.. so I am encouraged now to go back to working the tool the way I need to.. I can't wait to get the 5 lbs off I gained (3 now) and start the loosing again. I was only 24lbs away from my original goal...
Now for the exercising.. .I was told yesterday that they are indeed going to put the implantable pain spine stimulator in.. and They have started the ball rolling.. They have to get pre-approval from the insurance first.. I have gotten recent labs faxed to them so I don't have to do that.. I have to go for a psych consult for approval just like we had to for the gastric bypass surgery.. I have that appointment on Monday ... I am hoping to get the temporary one implanted this month... and not have to fork out the deductible I have met already for this first part at least...they have to test it to see if it will work for me and make adjustments to the strengths and get it where it need to be for me to function without pain.. after they achieve that then a permanent one will be implanted for life... I am really hoping this will get me back to walking again without pain.. I am sure the exercises will help boost my enthusiasm to work work work the tool...and work work work on my health for my future...
As for you.... you have really inspired me to get back on track and stay there and be patient and to continue to use the tool I was given no matter how hard the work ...I thank you so much.. you are, and have been, a great inspiration to me all along.. I appreciate your comments and I welcome you anytime to get on that soap box because you did a great job...
I know I CAN do this and that I have the support that I need right here on OH from the best friends I have ever had... Thank you for being one of them...
huggs......
Teresa S.
Beginning Weight 303 Surgery weight 236 Amount lost by surgery date 67lbs
Starting BMI 63.3 Surgery BMI 49.3 Goal Weight 125 Goal BMI 26.1
In Order To Change...a Caterpillar must have the faith of a Butterfly
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