Have U guys ever felt depressed ?

 This is kind of embarassing to admit  but  I don't think I'm  nearly all alone when I say that emotionally  this  new lighter  body  also carries a lot less EMOTIONAL padding than I'm used to ... 

Mind U I'm not really complaining ... but  persistent problems seem to come up that demand solutions  rather than passively hiding my head in the sand of excess food and  burying my pain ... ( and fear of confrontation and probably  laziness too )  .... 

Sometimes I just feel like  I am not  well equipped to handle these changes  ! 

maybe  .. well therapy IS the solution ...  much as I hate to admit it .   

Gosh  I hate to PAY  a friend to listen to me ...  thats what I picture therapy to be like .... but maybe its actually  something else entirely and I'm just PREJUDICED .... 


HMMM .  

Anyone have any happy stories  about therapy  - like finally losing weight  after seeing  a therapist ?    My Fattest part is probably my Hard  Head  ...Lol         cut That  off  .. I'd be at GOAL WEIGHT  

Yes, I know people who have been to therapy and gotten help for really difficult life issues, but you have to be READY for therapy or it won't help you at all.  I've been incredibly unhappy since having surgery but don't feel ready to ask for help yet, so I know how you feel.  Just wanted to let you know that you're not alone.

 ((((((((( Danielle)))))))   I'm so  sorry  Ure  feeling bad since having surgery  .    I went through  abut  6 - 8 weeks  of  mostly mental  withdrawals  too ...

and the funny thing is  whenever I push myself to a new limit ..say  limiting carbs .....  it FEELS kind of like im  starting over  ( in a much smaller way though ) 

So I can relate . 

I guess we're just sensitive creatures  lol .  

Just want U to know  I'm here  for U if U feel like venting  ...  no judgment ... hey its a LEARNING experience  for all of us .   We need  to FIGURE  this  thing out in a sympathetic environment  lol .... we DESERVE  that  .....

and gosh darn it  we're so used to harsh judgment , criticism and censorship ..we wont speak out ! 

well , guess what      Im gonna be a rebel and say its  NOT  always  Hunky dory  ...so what  ? 

I think if we talk about  what ails us and how we truly  feel .....  well  we just  might   learn  to cope a little better ... 

*cuddles n'snuggles n'love*

It's been a tough eight months, and it doesn't help that even 20 pounds heavier than my true goal, I am starting to look like a bobblehead (I kid you not).  It's just my broad-shouldered body type.  I look gross, despite hours at the gym.  I've actually been experimenting for a couple of weeks with something pretty drastic that I bet other WLSers haven't done-veganism!  And it's making me a little more optimistic because even after a few days, my health has drastically improved, so we'll see.  I know I'll be okay, just have to keep on trucking!

It's ok to have rough days.  That's part of HOW we cope!

 well  for what its worth  my neighbors were vegans  and boy did she have  a seriously rockin enviable  defined  bod  ....  just from GARDENING for God's  sakes ...  and in her Sixties !!!! 

I mean this chick  had abs  to die for ..... and great legs ... and shoulders.. and  arms.. ( and by the way the FOOD wasnt bad either  - we used to get invited over for vegan barbeques - read portobello mushroom caps  filled with cheese  ..... 

both she and her husband lookedan easy twenty years younger than they actually WERE too.... 

Well, thanks to my chub and sagging skin, I will never have a "seriously rockin enviable defined bod" BUT I can certainly have a healthy one!

Im not so sure about that .Danielle ... look at Brandilynn , look at Ms Gina... for goodness sakes U can even lookit lil ole VERY imperfectly doing this me...

I see the loose skin pulling in every day a little bit more ... ok its not PERFECT on my wost parts 18 months post , its not tight as a DRUM or as an eight year olds ' but darn it its not that bad . Sometimes I think our impatient perfection-demanding HEADS that our our biggest problems lol ...

I mean even if we had EVERYTHING we imagine we want would we truly be happy or would we be yearning for the next thing just out of reach ?

Have U given the 2% salicylic acid daily scrub / sun regimen an honest try ? because I really find it helps tighten the skin up significantly . ((((()))))))) big hugs Ava

Yes, I've done it.  My skin is really not that bad so I shouldn't complain.  I foresee plastics in my future one day.  After all, I DO live in Hollywood!

How has the veganism helped with your health? Have you been able to get enough protein?

Yes, so far so good, I'm getting enough protein.  I eat beans, rice, tofu, tempeh, and a mix of vegetables that are high in protein.  There are also "fake" meats like tofurky and soy burgers, vegan frozen meals by Amy's, additives like nutritional yeast, and vegan protein powders that are surprisingly palatable and don't upset my stomach like the whey does.  Since switching to veganism I have experienced no constipation or diarrhea, both of which I was having problems with before, no migraines, which I was getting weekly or more, and I feel energetic and more positive.  Also, despite getting more calories and well over 100 carbs (which freaked me out at first, I haven't gained weight and may have lost some.  My skin is clear and I just feel better!