New with some Q's

Hi everyone, This is going to be a bit sparatic. I just have a few questions and I've been off the boards forever.. kinda want to get a feel for where I am in relation to everyone else. Q#1: Alright, I am back on here because of my eating habits and desperate desire to BE HEALTHY. I wouldn't mind to shed 10 or 15 more pounds, but am also very comfortable with myself now. I am should add that I am a nursing mom of a 6 month old.. so things might be different for me than most.. but... What are your eating habits like? How many meals, how much are you eating? Are you drinking diet soda's(not that you should be), protein? My habits are horrible. I eat like every 2 or 3 hours (but I'm sure that's because I'm nursing and starving at that point), but I eat sugar (I'm being honest) and bread, rice and things I know I shouldn't be having. Is anyone else in this boat? Q#2: What kind of vitamins are you taking? I don't take any right now. I have always been bad... but I'm really afraid that I am killing myself by being neglectful of my health (again being honest and really seeking advice.. I know I'm not using this tool the way I should). Q#3: How do I start over? I want to be healthy, but I feel like "where do I even begin to make the changes?" I haven't gained any weight, actually if I eat protein more and drink more water I drop it really fast, but my concern is that I am abusing this awesome gift, and I want my body to have the nutrients it needs before I just die of like heart failure of something one day. Thanks in advance.. I really need to hear some helpful advice!!! Angelina 5'4" 253/149/135-140

Hi Angeline, First of all, you look terrific and congrats on your baby! As far as your questions - really, it sounds like you know what you need to do to be healthy. It's just a matter of doing, now. Easier said than done, right? Q1) I eat every 2-3 hours because if I don't my blood sugar drops and I start having problems. During the week, at work, I'm pretty regimented, pack my breakfast and lunch and snacks, and with school in the evenings, pretty much have the same thing for dinner every night - a frozen Lean Cuisine, WW or South Beach Meal. For breakfast I do yogurt or oatmeal and some fruit. Snacks consist of a cheese stick or some PB crackers, maybe a protein bar. Lunch is salad or some deli meat and cheese. Weekends are much harder for me - no planning, less structured, more grazing, lots more carbs... I'm pretty much in maintenance so I can live with that but if I see the scale creeping, I tend to be much more concsious of my weekend eating habits. Q2) Here's my vitamin regimin: Morning - 2 Calciums (500mg), 1 biotin, 2 Benefibers, B12 Sublingual, 1 Thiamin, 1 cranberry and 1 black cohosh (the cranberry, cohosh and biotin are optional for me, the rest is required) Lunch - 3 multis and 1 iron Night - 2 Calciums, 2 Benefibers Don't need to tell you how important vitamins are, particulalry now that you're nursing and have a little one to take care of. Don't mean to scare you but we lost a member of our local support group because she was bad about vitamins the first year - said she felt great, didn't need them. By the time she started feeling punky, it was too late. She died, essentially, of malnutrition- her body just shut down, little by little. You have a child to raise - figure out how to get into the habit and do it! Q3) As far as starting over, have you tried logging your food on Fitday? For me, when I feel like I'm getting out of good habits, I start logging my food for a week or so. Seeing in black and white what I'm consuming protein/carb/fat and calorie-wise helps me make better choices. Try planning your meals at the beginning of the day - it helps to stay on track rather than wait until you're hungry and then make poorer choices when you're just trying to find something to eat quickly. Of course, I'm not as far out as you, and I don't know what it's like to be in your shoes, but I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents. Have a great day!

I totally appreciate the input. I know the vitamins are so important.. I really just can't explain why I'm so lazy about them. I think being scared into being smart.. that makes no sense.. is what I needed. I'm sorry about the person in your support group who died, I definitely don't want that to become my fate. Thank you,. Angelina

Angelina, Definitely take your vitamins seriously, as Becky stated. I've seen bad things happen to folks that weren't taking supplements or who weren't as well informed on what vitamins to take. These are the basics that I take: Calcium citrate, 1500-2000 mg a day taking 500 mg at one time Magnesium (250 mg), 3 (1 take 1 with each dose of calcium to prevent constipation) Multi-vitamins, 2 B100, 2 B12 (2500 mcg sublingual), 1 Iron, 2 (not taken within a few hours of calcium) Vitamin C (500 mg), 2 taken with the iron for extra absorption I take extra stuff "just to be sure" and based on lab work. I take dry Vitamin D and Vitamin E. I take Selenium (I was deficient). I take Milk Thistle (for elevated liver enzymes). I take 2 Fiber Choice for fiber. As for eating... I'd go to South Beach type thing. Lean protein, vegies, fruits, good fats and whole grains. Try to cut down on the refined carbs and white sugar. Be sure to keep well hydrated too. Good luck! Kathy

Thank you Kathy, I am trying to get an idea of how to go about getting back on track.. I know I need to. I appreciate you giving me your vitamin regimen.. that's where I need to get started IMMEDIATELY! Angelina

I would take it one thing at a time. I too was trying to find a way to always take my vitamins and then I hit on it. Pick one thing you do EVERY morning. Then link your vitamin intake to that thing! For me, I like to sit down and check my email so I put all my vitamin bottles next to my computer so they are there staring me in the face lol. I have yet to forget to take them; I have added them to my morning routine. I belive that your vitamin/mineral supplement should be top priority for you. Get yourself taking them every day then start working out those not so healthy carbs. Especially since you are a nursing mom, your milk production is going to sap your body of the nutrients you AND your baby need leaving you with lower reserves. Please take care of yourself so you can take care of your little one. Kia

Kia, First let me say you look AWESOME!! And second.. YOU ARE A GENIUS! I totally am going to put my vitamins at my computer. I don't know why I never thought of that.. I'm on this thing at least three times a day.. it's my lifeline.. so I would absolutely have no excuses about not taking them. Thanks.. that's just a great answer. Angelina

Angelina I'm a "5 to 6 smaller Meals a day" type. So about every 3 hours. Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner With medium sized "Feedings" between them, And maybe later than diner as well if I haven't gotten in all of my protein for the day. No Soda. No Sugar, Pasta, White Bread, Potatoes, Rice... Mostly Eggs, Dairy, Meat, Fresh Veggies, Fruit, Beans of all kinds and whole grains... My Multi-Vitamins are "Fortify" a very cheap Kroger Brand that I augment with addition B1, Folic Acid, and the occasional Centrum Complete Chewable. Calcium Citrate supplement-1000mg with a Vitamin D, Prescription Iron (poly-iron 150), A B12 injection once a month. So Far, Perfect Labs! "How do I start over?" Start over. Make some "Drastic Change" And work your way back up to full dietary Complement. A member of my support group said she found herself In exactly that same predicament. The Dr.'s Recommendation? "Start Over!" He had her go back to a week of Liquids, followed by Pureed, the Mechanical Soft, etc... The plan was to Learn to use the Pouch. She had skipped the "Learning" part her first time out. The advice must have worked. She now has lost down to goal and said that- "Putting the Hard part of re-Learning how to eat at the beginning, Would have made the later part much easier." While becoming Obese we started Learning - What Satisfied Felt Like, How to Keep that Good Feeling Going, How to Stimulate our Pleasure Centers with Food, Etc..... By Viewing this Surgery as a "Re-Birth" and acknowledging that even at 3 years Post-Op, We are "Three Year Olds, " just Learning the most elemental of Habits, We can establish New Habits, Different from those that helped us get to be Obese. Yes? I do think it is the "Drastic Change of Life" that WLS affords us with That allows us a "Clean Slate" to fill up with all new choices As we draw out our New Lives. Just my Thoughts.... Never Too Late to start a New. Learn from your 6month Old. I'll bet staying "on schedule" keeps "Fussy" less of a Problem? Same with Us! Eat at fairly regular times, and keep to a schedule. That's kept my pouch from being fussy for 3 years now! Started 3 years ago at 385lbs, Been below goal at 179 or 181 depending on day of the week For over a year and a half. Hope this turns around for you easily and soon! Best Wishes- Dx

Hey Dx - it's me from the MS board - WOW, you always have such wonderful advice. I am 3 years out and have gained back about 50 pounds, on top of the 20 I still had to lose....I went through a pretty harsh anemia and fatigue the end of last summer and through the winter, but it felt like hunger - so I ate hoping to feel better, when I should have just GONE TO THE DOCTOR....So, now I am having to go back and learn to use the tool. You have such well researched words of wisdom, and I am going to try to use them and all the helpful hints and GET BACK TO LOOSING.....Thanks so much.. DeAnna.

Dx, You are a smart man. Thank you so much. You are right. Schedule seems to be a key thing. I eat worse when I don't have a plan of action. I think it's funny how I ask questions that I know the answers too.. now I just have to do it!! Thanks for the reinforcements. Congrats on your success and I am on my way to following in your healthy footsteps!