Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Tuesday! Very cool here and it is supposed to get into the 30's tomorrow. The wind makes it difficult to do a long walk with Justice. I feel like he is going to be flapping in the wind at the end of the leash, LOL.

I booked DD's trip here in the 3rd week of February and also booked a 4 day trip home for me in early March for DS's 30th birthday. I asked him if he wanted to come here but not surprisingly considering his paranoia he preferred that I come there. I think he is pleased that I wanted to celebrate his birthday with him.

Not much going on here today other than a little laundry, having my robot run around, and finishing the 2021 version of my chalkboard backsplash in th kitchen. When I painted it a couple of years ago I wasn't sure I would like it and figured I could tile over it if I decided I didn't. But I still enjoy changing it once a year.

Interesting thoughts on WW. I guess I have always felt pretty positive on it as it is the only "diet" that ever worked for me for any somewhat extended time. After a while I know without tracking what I should be eating, but if I am not in the right frame of mind I ignore it. But that is true on trying to follow any type of educated/healthy eating pattern. For the first few years after my VSG, I was doing all high protein/low carb, but eventually that got old. Shifting to WW allowed me mentally to add more fruits which I think balanced my diet better. At the end of the day, it is my mindset that matters more than the food rules I am trying to follow.

Have a safe and healthy day!

Justice flapping on the end of a leash, ha!

Weight 192.6. Yup, 'twas the salt. Walked 3 miles last night and my hip is feeling it today.

I got my blood results back from the doctor and indeed, my iron levels are quite low, but no anemia yet. So iron supplements it is. Fingers crossed my hair loss stops soon.

Nothing official on tap today, which is nice. I'm going to whip up a green smoothie in a minute.

Regarding the WW discussion yesterday... I hope I wasn't too negative about it (though I fear I was!). I think it illustrates how an eating plan needs to fit not only your body and your taste buds, but your brain as well. It just didn't fit my brain. But
what works for me might not fit someone else's body, taste buds, or brain. No one size fits all when it comes to weight loss, even when we all have a sleeve in common!

Wishing you all well today and every day!

All great points! It's part of why I love this group as we throw around a lot of varying viewpoints and what works for each of us (or doesn't) in what frame of mind. It gives differing perspectives to consider especially if what one is trying isn't working.

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I think what you said about WW is exactly what I was afraid of but couldn't put my thumb on.

That being said, I think there are good points (pun intended haha) and bad points to any program.

WW is trying to "teach" healthier choices. I think they are trying to somewhat teach portion control but it appears to me that they're hoping to incentivize healthy foods and disincentivize unhealthy choices by their current points system. The foods that are encouraged are good choices for all of us to prefer. And if I didn't have a sleeve, maybe this is what I would need. I never could limit myself to the extent necessary to lose weight without the help of sleevie. But now that I have a sleeve, I need to practice portion control. On everything. But I would be wise to eat more of the "free" foods because not only do they tend to be lower in calories in the first place, they also tend not to be things I can eat into oblivion.

I like that keto pushes protein and embraces fat. But I don't think it's practical longterm to eat this way. I've heard people throw around the phrase "dirty keto" but I'm not even sure what that means. My understanding is you're keto or you're not.

Like DD, I really feel so much more satiated when I eat fat.

And I feel so much more mentally ok when I can indulge in the foods I like.

There are tradeoffs I"m okay with making and some I am not. One thing that happened when I had VSG is that my tolerance for not great food went way down. I used to eat almost anything. And I thought I liked it. That was, until, I was only able to eat small amounts of food. Even though now I can eat much more than in those first days, I know my capacity is limited. And I end up leaving a lot of food. I can pass up a day old donut unlike before. Buffet? That's garbage. I'd much rather just order what I like instead of spending each precious bite searching. And it also means that I don't want to waste my time on fat free cheese, sf pudding with sf coolwhip or whatever weird concoctions people think up to make it by on WW. That works for some but it seems like when I do that I still want the real...so I eat twice.

I just had an awesome lunch worth reviewing. Mahi burgers from TJ's. I sauteed mine, toasted an english muffin, light smear of light mayo on one side, 1-2T. of corn salsa (also TJ's) on the other, slide of colby jack cheese, 2 tomato slices, piece of curly lettuce. I'm guessing it was 350-400 calories but very filling so far. I couldn't eat any sides with it. And it felt like summer. I fancy myself with Liz, by the ocean, perfectly manicured toes. But the sandwich will have to suit for now!!

I may be by the ocean, but the manicure on my toes is pretty amateur (self administered)

Lots to think about again today! Cecily, I don't think you were too negative at all. All viewpoints are valid. One thing WW did/does for me was articulated by Liz. I also did my initial post sleeve eating high protein/low carb. The first year or two, I couldn't have eaten my protein and an apple if I tried. I was in the habit of eating a bite or two of veggies at most. (And I generally love veggies). And like BB, I did become much more discerning about what I ate because I could eat so little. My restriction was so awesome the first 3 years, if I wanted to treat myself to the occasional decadent food, I couldn't begin to overeat.

But almost nine years out, I can eat more volume, and I do have room for more fruits and veggies (and sadly, for me, I can better tolerate things like pasta, that I simply couldn't before. In fact , I preferred not being able to eat them.) I can eat an apple, or orange, even a whole grapefruit! But I was really trapped in that protein, no fruit (carbs!). Now I try to think about adding some veggies to my scrambled egg, or having a side salad, for a snack even. I need those low calorie, high volume food to round out my meals now, so I can eat smaller portions of more calorie dense food.

BB I am in complete agreement with you on fake food. (Well except sugar free torani syrup, I consume a lot of fake sugar). Low fat is an abomination in my book. I'd rather not have cheese if it's low fat. Cool whip is not food.

Another thing I need to confront is my metabolism. Peps your point that exercising during weight loss could protect metabolism gives me extra incentive to get on that Nordic Track while I wait for better weather. I can feel my strength has waned. And I fear that all my dieting for the last 4 years has got me nowhere. I've spent weeks and weeks at a time eating 1000 or 1200 calories a day, with nothing to show for it. When maintaining, I'm eating between 1400-1700. On crazy days I can get up to 2000-2500, but that's very rare. Like Christmas, or lots of cheese and wine. So maybe I need to stop with the 1200 calories for awhile, concentrate on exercise and delicious whole foods, and heal my metabolism a bit.

So yesterday, I did just 10 minutes of Tai Chi for stretching and balance, and 15 minutes on the Nordic Track. I commit to doing that 3 more times by Sunday evening. Baby steps. And I'm making chili with lots of yummy veggies and beans for dinner.

Onward.

Greetings All

Not much new here except that it stopped raining. Went to Safeway yesterday which was horrible in the rain. My pants are too long so they get wet in puddles. But at least we don't have 3 feet of snow like people in the midwest and east. I don't miss that. My niece and her boy have a snow day from school.

Not much food thought going on in this house. I do have steak and mushrooms for tonight which is fairly VSG friendly. Unlike the lasagne from costa we have had for the last 3 days. At least when we have that I have a reasonable portion and that is all.

I truly hate fake sugar of all kinds. If I can't have sugar, its a no go. I always hated the protein drinks right after surgery as they tasted so sweet.

I actually think WW sounds like a pretty good plan. Trouble is that I am in no mood to follow any more rules. And I don't have very many being a retired person. What worked best for me was tracking my food in a little old notebook but I just can't seem to be bothered.

Being 11 years post op I sure notice the difference from even 5 years out. I can eat most anything but modest quantities. Its totally ok. I don't feel bad if I can't eat a giant restaurant meal. But then again I have not been to a restaurant in ages. Oh well.

Stay warm and safe all. No vaccines for us yet but we are in the next tier up. Teachers are getting shots first which I think is totally appropriate. Diane S