Sleeve, restriction...almost 4 years out (not to long for a holiday)

Well if you've been "following" my WLS highs and lows then you'll remember I posted on June 25th my STRUGGLES with feeling powerless for lack of a better word in this whole WLS scheme...I was lost and honestly felt like I couldn't find my way back.  I had been floundering for over 6 months just lost at sea.  I was truly in a world of Gilligan's Island of my own making.  I took a 3 month break from WLS and all the "protein" first rules to end 2010.  I spent the last 6 months of 2011 trying to "figure out" how to get back on track.  It wasn't until I REALLY reached out to my OH family that someone finally made it to my island to "rescue.  It wasn't until I really reached out did I realize that like Dorothy in the wizard of oz that "I had the power to come home ALL the time, I just had to BELIEVE."  Yes during that time I had lost faith in myself.  I lost faith in my sleeve.

Well thanks to a few special people Sublimate who provided me with a list of supplements to help with my cravings and detoxing and thanks to Frisco for his advice on my eating and thanks to myself for ACCEPTING that when I want to LOSE carbs (even from fruit) have NO business in my diet.

Oh yeah this post was about restriction.  Approximately 2 years ago, I made a T-Bone steak and measured it.  It weighed 10oz.  I sat is down in front of me and to my SHOCK I was able to eat 8oz of it.  I weighed the bone after and well that steak was 8oz of meat.  While that didn't make a big difference then over the last year I have given my restriction 8-10oz depending.  Meaning when I would do my meals (since I could eat so MUCH) I allowed myself about 4-6oz of meat and 4-6oz of vegetable.  I have been SET in that mindset for the last 12 months.  I would measure out my meat and eat that.  So after talking to Frisco his advice was simple.  He suggested UNDER eating my meals to check my SATISFACTION level on less.  Since I was doing so well I thought...what the heck.  So all this week if you've seen my Whatcha eating thread you may have noticed my "meals" didn't include my normal Meat + Vegetable it was just meat.  So that brings me till TODAY.  I made some Mahi Mahi and it came with a sauce..NOW normally I can eat MORE fish then anything so I figured ok Ms Shell you'll have 3oz fish, 1/2oz sauce and compliment it with 3oz lettuce & .5 tomato, for a 7oz meal.

I started writing this post because out of my 7oz meal I have over 2oz left over.  I can't remember the last time I felt so full I had to STOP myself from finishing those "last couple of bites."

What does this all mean to me and you....well **** I don't know I just know that the last few days of eating just protein and not eating to "full" has given me some serious restriction.  And reminds me that just because you may have forsaken your sleeve, your sleeve hasn't forsaken you and is just waiting for you to remember it's here to HELP you.  Just giving THANKS to all you guys...

Ms Shell

Thanks for sharing this, Ms Shell

So the steak did not stretch out your sleeve? ****ep hearing that on here).

Hang in there! It is good that you enlisted the help of others on OH, I find that many people on here with experience give better advice than so of the hired professionals we seek out.

I'm not sure who you are hearing it from (many people are scared when they go from 1oz to 3oz), but over time your sleeve matures, you will not (more then likely) be eating 1-2oz for LIFE.  Initally you have swelling to combat etc. 

Now it IS my PERSONAL belief that you CAN stretch ANYTHING overtime from abuse, hence how our skin stretches from us continuing to gain weight.  If I continued to OVER eat I have no doubt my sleeve would adjust to that over consumption it's just natural how the body in all it's majesty DOES adjust to what WE put in it.

 Thanks Ms Shell for being open and letting us newbies know that even if we fall off the wagon we can always get back on.  Too often, we see those who have reached maintenance and seem to never have another problem and yet, in the back of my mind at least, I wondered if it was possible to stretch the sleeve and become a backslider.

Knowledge is a great tool itself and knowing this will help us newbies to remember to stay focused and on plan.

Glad to hear it's working for you again.

Ms. Shell, thank you for sharing your experience. I really believe that we all have to find our way in this life-style change we have made. I have researched, and I continue to do so, but some of the most important "finds" have come from reading this board often, and testing out different theories on myself; to see what holds true for me !!

Each of our bodies deal with protein, carbs, sugar and fats differently, and each of us have to find out what works for us; at any given point in our journey with the sleeve.

For me, right now, I have found a good and comfortable eating routine that is working for me. Will it work for me next week ? Next month ? Next year ? Maybe not ! But I am totally committed to the lifestyle, what ever that is going to look like for me.

I really appreciate your sharing what is working for you, because I never know when I am going to need to tweak what I am doing to keep on being successful with my weight loss.

You continue to inspire me !

Everything changes so much and then bam it may change again.  So keep your head IN the game.  My big MISTAKE was taking my head out...even momentarily and "allowing" myself a break.  It's taken me 6 months and 20lb gain to come back from that "break."  No more breaks for me...

Ms Shell

Love all of your insight!  This is such a helpful post.  I know I need to focus on eating until satisfied and not full.  Thanks!

Ms Shell,

Your honesty is commendable. Your experiennce strength and hopes are well
appreciated. I am  estatic your on track doing well.  Its great to know the sleeve hasnt
forgotten.

I am very honored to know you and very proud of you.
Thank you for your honest share.  Your a wonderful woman.

Well thank you Doc Hollywood =)  We will meet soon on Tuesday I just know it!!