Maui Newbie lurking........

Aloha my new "experienced" WLS friends! Someone told me to come into the grads forum and lurk for a bit...I would learn a lot. Was that ever the truth!! I am just 7.5 weeks out of surgery and down 34 lbs. with close to a 100 to go. It seems like such a long, long way to go, but I read all of your posts and I am encouraged. Maybe I WILL make it down to my goal weight. I worry that I am able to eat so much without any feelings of fullness or discomfort. I told my surgeon that he must have forgotten to do anything while he was in there! I'm trying so hard to stick with the protein drinks and water, plus now venturing into things like shrimp with sauce, sugarfree chocolate and protein bars. Is this going to slow me down? I learned a lot before surgery from my classes, but now that I'm actually living the process, I'm worrying that I'm not losing fast enough. Thank you so much for being here. This forum will be what I strive to become......a loser at goal someday who is helping others either get there or stay there. We woman are awesome at supporting and loving each other!! Aloha nui loa, KarenS

I measured my foods for the first 9 months. That was to teach my new tummy what full was supose to feel like. It gets better... Darlene

Thanks, Darlene.......I just bought a little food scale, and am going to begin doing just that....weighing everything. I appreciate the tip. Aloha, Karen

In the beginning you need volume not weight to measure. 2oz of volume. like 1/4 cup etc..... Darlene

Hi Karen! I just wanted to wish you so much Good Luck and Success! You'll be reaching your goals before ya know it! I always measured my food for the first year too~still do sometimes, but its gotten so much easier to eyeball things now. I can't do protein bars/shakes b/c they caused me constipation problems. My advice is to just be careful with the s/f candies and things~I use them in moderation and have since I was about 6mths out~they work well as long as candy is not a trigger food for you. I'm a moderation girl, but I know alot of people have to use the all or nothing strategy to make things work for them~only you can decide that. I must say that you are WAY farther ahead than where I was at 7.5wks out, but for the first 8wks I was pretty sick with nausea and vomitting so I wasn't eating a whole heck of alot. Just push the protein, get in your fluids as much as you can and exercise when you're able too~you're on your way to so much success and happiness! Congratulations!!!!!! Tracy B 328/150 5'9"

Welcome Karen, I am glad you decided to post after lurking. LOL I have been here for years and I lurk everyday because I learn something every single day I read others experiences. Congratulations and welcome to the losers bench. When I look back not that long ago I was at 34 lbs lost and I never thought I would see my weight at 123 down from 213 but here it is 19 months later and I have been at my personal goal for 3 months...dr's goal over a year and he smiled when I told him where I wanted my weight to be...like it was never going to happen. So hang in there and be patient, you will be so surprised at how it goes. My loss was 1 to 3 lbs every few weeks to a month...was so slow I hated it because I kept reading how fast others were loosing but then I didn't have as much to loose as most and I had been doing pilates so I had allot of muscle and fat. Well in June I had my tt/butt lift and this Fri I will be having a slight breast reduction/breast lift....got a little botox and restalyne 2 weeks ago and I feel like 36. I say that because it was my thinnest and fittest year and its my daughter age now. So I am looking forward to hearing about your success. Good luck in your journey and come back to see us often. ~Ginny

Aloha Ginny....You are an inspiration to me! I will try and be patient, but knowing that the weight will eventually melt away keeps me going. I also have children in their 30's, and now two grandbabies, ages six months and 2 years. One of my reasons for wanting to get fit is so that I can enjoy my grandbabies as they grow up. I want to be able to swim and play in the ocean with them, to walk the beaches of Maui, to get down on the floor with them....powerful motivation. Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement. I treasure them. Aloha, Karen

My surgeon told us that we would not feel full until we were back on regular food. He said just eat what you're told to eat for the first six weeks. Once the dense protein was introduced at six weeks (steak, pork chops, chicken) I had the full feeling again. Be careful though because once you are on the dense protein if you don't chew well or eat even one bite too many it will be painful. I learned quickly why they suggested eating tiny bites and chewing it to mush. We all go through the "what if I don't lose" stage. Just hang in there and it will happen for you in it's own good time. Some people lose huge quantities of weight from the beginning, others lose slower but if we stick to the program we all lose the weight. I'm sure you could have gotten this same advise on the Over 50 board. Those guys are very knowledgeable. Best of luck!