Wednesday, August 30th

Shel, I'm glad you enjoyed my nurse practitioner's annual feedback, news, and advice.

That's so wild that a bodybuilder was injecting coconut oil to improve his muscle contours. What a nitwit!

Also glad to hear your Iowa weight has gone bye-bye. Amazing that we now have these get-back-on-the-horse skills, eh? I marvel over my ability to address vacations regains. Almost feel like a skinny person. :)

Ann-I think that feedback is so interesting! And I like it because it corresponds with so much about what I believe! First, my friend who is a dialysis dietician always worried about high protein diets. This mostly came up when Atkins and Southbeach were so popular. But I can see how the concern would translate to WLS community, especially those who are "keto" or very low carb (wrt kidney issues, especially). My sister is in med school and is also always talking about how more red meat consumption leads to higher cancer rates. There is just so much conflicting information!! I mean, a paleo diet does make sense! But then you also look at some of the longest lifespans and they have a very veggie-fruit laden diet with minimal meat (especially red meat).

Ultimately I think you have to choose your priorities and do what's best for you (my very non-medical 7 year out opinion). I will tell you that I have been going to my wls support groups and I've seen the regain struggle--and maybe moreso in the group of people who had a more "militant" take on things. They keep trying to go back to that post-op primarily protein diet and I'm afraid the dieting mentality is getting them further from their goal. At least I know that's true for me. I decided long ago that nothing was off-limits. Well, at least no large food groups. Because it isn't practical for me! To never have cake or mashed potatoes again for potentially 60+ years?! Absurd! And I know how I think--which what would happen is I'd invariably eat mashed potatoes, feel bad about it, get a second helping, realize it'd be stupid to start a diet on a Saturday morning, proceed to eat like crap for the entire weekend (eating way worse than I normally would have), try to start a new diet Monday morning, feeling sluggish and give into some other sinful food (like a granola bar), decide it's stupid to start a diet on a Tuesday morning....and 6 months later I've gained 20lbs. I know that sounds nuts, but it's how my brain used to think about food. The only way to combat this? To de-weaponize food. Normal people eat mashed potatoes!! Skinny people, even. And while I cannot grow too comfy using the term "normal", I do try to emulate more normal food relationships. Normal people know they're going to be eating cake, perhaps have a lighter lunch, save up some calories, enjoy it, and go about the rest of their life. And this is how I have tried to live. The difference is, that thinking doesn't come naturally to me. I do have to remind myself that not everything is an occasion to treat myself. And while nothing is off limits, I cannot have everything at the same time. Balance is definitely my friend.

I also think keeping tabs on what you eat is extremely helpful. Otherwise I have selective memory.

I'm also a believe in daily weighing. Otherwise, I get scared of the scale. And then I don't weigh for months on end. And then the scale is way higher and it becomes unmanageable.

I will say that even at 7 years out, my sleeve helps me. But it isn't a crutch. I can have a normal life. I'd almost liken it to resetting the game. How would I fare if losing weight were as easy or difficult for me as other people? I guess I feel like it evened the playing field for me now. Just like with other people, I can gain weight if I'm not cautious. I cannot eat everything I want to eat. But if I hit the gym and make healthy options, I can reach and maintain a healthy weight (whereas I do not think this was ever possible pre-wls).

Unfortunately I do think the consequences of long term wls are not as well known. Two people I know who are far out from surgery (oddly, my husband's ex-wife had rny about 11 years ago, and my aunt had gastric banding about 30 years ago) have had very severe issues with iron and have needed transfusions. Just from what I've read online it seems like this is less common among vsg'ers?

Well, all I can say is that still the best decision I ever made. Ever. And I am so so thankful and grateful I did it when I did. I know how much more living I've done over the course of those 7 years...almost wish I could've done it sooner. My step daughter had "bid day" yesterday for sorority. I can only imagine how different college would've been if I hadn't been plus 250. But no time to dwell on that. Too much fun to be had in the future.

BB, I love everything you said -- especially the need to "deweaponize food"! LOVE that phrase.

BTW, I keep forgetting how far out you are -- seven years. Respect!

Greetings Happy Maintainers

Think about it. Are we happier people without that weight? I sure am but I also changed a lot of things in my life some years ago as well. But I am not happy about being up a pound to 137.5. Didn't eat poorly yesterday and tossed out half of my dinner so who knows. (ok there was part of a chocolate bar that was a gift but it sure wasn't a pound worth). But the old me would have stuffed the whole thing instead of just eating a couple of squares. (See BB's post on nothing off limits which is also Devon's view)

Well the new refrigerator arrived and we tossed a lot of mystery meat from the freezer as well as other science experiments. The arrangement will take some getting used to but should be fine. Those guys just picked up the old one with straps and carried it out and brought the new one in the same way. Jeez.

Glad you are getting into this group Duffman. Keep it up.

Nantucket is so charming Liz. Maybe someday we will go there.

Lots of good comments yesterday and today. Ann thanks for sharing your information. I agree that increasing fruits and veggies is a good thing for all. The alkaline diet is supposed to be anti cancer and thats high veggie.

BB good analysis of the mashed potato mentality and how you can talk yourself into behavior that results in weight gain. I did eat some mashed potatoes on our LA trip. But I am not going to make any. I agree that no food or group should be off limits. Like Ann, we should try to get more veggie servings in. Good on you Joey for having the home grown tomatoes. I envy that. Might have to get a little greenhouse but hesitate to add to all the junk in the yard.

Since we had to wait around yesterday for the refrigerator guy I spent time organizing my mother's papers and gathering stuff the accountant needs. I should get a little money so methinks DH should have an electric car as the car he has now almost qualifies as an antique.

Chicken for dinner tonight. Many undiscovered packages of chicken now known in the freezer. Diane S

Liz, your vacation spot looks wonderful.

Great thoughts over the past few days.

Welcome Mike!

Wt 220 Eating is consistent.

Brother and SIL returned to pick up their RV. We made my brother a couple of sets of dominoes. My mom plays so I made some oversize with large dots so she can see them better out of scrap corian counter top material. She liked them. Biked a little on Friday. Worked on the tractor again and mowed the yard during the week end. Took my 86 y/o mother to the eye doctor, Monday. No injection, yea! She is almost blind but still manages to not only sew but formed a sewing group at her retirement complex to sew dresses and shorts for the needy in Africa and India. They have sewn over 200 so far. Fortunately she has very little trouble in the memory dept. The social interaction there is a Godsend. They also croche mats from plastic walmart bags for people to sleep on in Central America. (So thankful for my mattress.) Tuesday, returned to Little Rock to have the A/C repaired after the parts came in. They said it would be $680 and it was... plus another $110. I never could figure where the extra charge was. I knew I wanted the A/C so I just paid it. Dealers, Booo.

Thanks for being here! David

David, your mom and her friends are awesome! Living life to the fullest possible. That's all this is about.

Weight was up yesterday, but some major bathroom productivity brought it back down within a pound plus of acceptable for now range.

De-weaponize food... YES!

High protein diet = constipation. Constipation = taking softeners. No softeners = passing the Rock of Gibraltar out of my ass and screaming and writhing in pain.

Protein diet with fruits and veggies and grains = bathroom ease, no constipation, no softeners, rarely screaming in pain while on the toilet.

Hmmmm..... which is more as nature intended? Well, a varied diet works for me.

My copper level has plummeted. Low normal is 70. I'm in the 40s. Never, ever been this low. Drat! Hope it's not due to either of my new meds. Waiting for Bariatric Doc to read results and comment. Somehow, I bet it won't happen unless I point it out. GP already read all results and responded. He's waiting, too, to hear from Bariatric doctor about the copper level. I am religiously back on my copper supplements. (I got how shall we say, less than regimented about taking my extra B12, calcium and copper supplements during the summer months after taking the initial morning handful.) Paying the price, I suppose.

Feeling very tired after Back to School Night last night. Airedale pups are 6 weeks old today and the daily work is really ramping up. I felt like I had been given a gift from God above when I awakened to find not a single pup had pooped during the night. Such a delightful rarity! LOL!

"High protein diet = constipation. Constipation = taking softeners. No softeners = passing the Rock of Gibraltar out of my ass and screaming and writhing in pain."