Is it a 'Happy Monday'?

Where to begin....

For those of you that survived the weekend without any serious complications- you are all Olympic Champions!!  .

For the rest of us on the Ethiopian Bobsled Team- well.... we still need some more work- and practice.

I guess we all need a reality check in what's important. As important as weight loss is, I can't think of anything more important to me then my kids.  For those of you who don't know- last week a 'floating school' sunk off the coast of Brazil.   The Schooner based out of Halifax was full of high school students from Canada.  Much to every-ones pleasure- and surprise all 64 students and staff was rescued Friday and Saturday.    I was listening this morning to one of the fathers being interviewed when a plane full of rescued students arrived back in Canada.  I had to chuckle because I would have the same attitude when he said that the first thing he said to his 16 year old daughter was "I love you and you won't be out of my sight till your at least 40!".   I can't imagine the horror those families have gone through .. waiting.. when they heard that the emergency beacon was activated and it appeared the ship sank.

Anyway- back on topic- No excuses- I wuz a bad boy!  Interesting weekend - My youngest turned 8 this weekend, and it was also his first confession!  I don't know- maybe because they are both starting to grow up- a little to fast for my liking.  I was weak.   Anyway- had some bd cake from Dairy Queen (I used the logic it was ice milk- so how bad could it be?)  I did have a small piece of bd cake from McDonald's- during his party yesterday.  My water intake was bad all weekend- I really need to get my life in order- lol.

No excuses- that was yesterday- today is a new day- I will be increasing my fluids and back to very little carbs today... I hope.

We talked a bit about carbs- good vs evil- I think we all agree- we need carbs, but the question is- where do we draw the line.  Fruit- good, but banana's bad?  Why?  It has potassium, right?  How bad can it be? Veggies- the same thing.

I think it's great that many of you are posting- and commenting- please don't stop.  I think it's important for us to be held accountable for our mistakes and we 'fall off the wagon' so to speak.  It's more important that we are able to move on, get past the mistakes and think about today- and the long term goal.  I would rather be held accountable to you guys, then - umm.. well... umm.. my scale.  You guys are far more forgiving.. I hope- lol.

Just curious- what are your long term goals?  Really?  For those of you that have reached the idea weight- was it what like you thought it would be?  I know this battle, this addiction never really goes away- we are stuck with it, hence the fighting the battle- one day at a time.   Is anyone creating a goal for themselves, weight wise during this little quasi-social experiment of ours?  If so- how much do you hope to lose?

Long term I want to maintain my ideal weight.   That is 131 lbs or less, but never to see the scale above the 130's again. 

In the year since my surgery my diet has always been under control.   A treat or high cal day is balacesd against exercise and low cal days, usually in advance.  Nevertheless, I am a persistent weight gainer despite rny. 

I have rapid spurts of uncontrollable gain that are tough to loose.  Its real fat, no****er flux.  I've been repeatedly told by doctors its just the way I'm made.  Then I further complicate that with meds I will need for life that cause weight gain, big sigh.  Nutritionist have been useless.  Doctors say I'm doing ok despite my challenges.  This is just not good enough and makes it hard to stay motivated. 

So good carbs vs bad?  For me bad is anything that works against my weight loss.  Any fruit is evil even in moderation if I am in a gaining cycle.  When I'm loosing, a post workout banana is a good carb.   I find high fiber and low digestible carb foods like dreamfields pasta do not impact my weight as much as fruit and higher carb veg like corn.

My weight loss in impossible to predict.  I want to loose this last 20 lbs.  However, sticking to plan and exercising like a county lock up prisoner, I've only lost 8 lbs in six months because of weight regain.  Even without the regain I could not loose 20 lbs in six months.  Very frustrating.  If you do the math, I should have made goal long before Thanksgiving. 

I'm going back on thyroid meds this month.  Perhaps then I will loose a consistent two pounds a week.  One can still hope. 

All you can do is your best.  My gf also takes meds that makes weight loss difficult.  What's important is you don't stop trying- and you lead a healthy lifestyle.  I will have have to look for dreamfields pasta - is that a brand name?  What do you do in the form of exercise?

Brian 

Dreamfields is a brand name.  Two oz dry equal 5 net carbs, 190 calories.  That's a big serving for me post op so with protein half is enough.  Most supermarkets carry it now next to the regular pasta. 
 
Workout is usually six days cardio and strength.  Min 1 hour continous cardio at 70-85% max heart rate (interval training).  Type varies: running, stair master, elliptical, stationary bike.  Strength, I alternate days for weights (free or machine) and calisthetics/ mat work (push ups, crunches, leg lifts, planks, etc, etc).  I'm pretty consistent.  I'm 48 and I've been at it since 13. 

I also do yoga, pilates and belly dancing for variety and flexibility.  Exercise is the eay part for me.  I just kept doing what I'd been doing.  I was back in the gym about ten days post op with my surgeon's blessing.  He hands out exercises to be done post op from the hospital bed.  He has had rny too so he knows what we go through and what we are capable of achieveng. 

OMG girl- 35 years is a long time. You seem to have it all covered...lol.  What would you suggest for someone starting to work out after surgery?

You need cardio and strength to get started.� If you've never exercised start with 20 min a day.� Alternate cardio days and strength days six days a week.

No gym required.� You can ge a good start from a beginner's Leslie Sansone walking dvd or the couch-2-5k program online (you can even run in place in doors).�� Crunches, straight, reverse, clamshell types; push ups, modified types; squats; donkey kicks; planks etc.� All are easy to find online and in magazines like Self and Prevention.�

Once you're comfortable, add five minutes a wee****il you are doing 60 min cardio straight at 70% of your peak heart rate.� You should be breaking a sweat.� You can also add an easy free weight program like The Body Sculpting Bible (men and women's versions).� Great results and fast.

Before you know it you'll be doing cardio and strength daily either back to back or split morning and evening.� Of course I'm assuming you have no health issues that preclude working out.�

My surgeon wants us to stretch daily.� Its a good way to start getting down on the floor and moving.� If you don't do anything else, start with stretching.� It will inspire you to get moving.�

Hi...thanks for posting this.  Realistically, my goal is 165 lbs.  When I had my consult, the surgeon explained that with the RNY, typically I would lose 70% of my excess fat.  So that calculation is as follows......take your highest weight, then substract your ideal weight (that stupid unrealistic chart weight).  Then take the difference (which is your excess weight) then ideally, you should lose around 70% of that.

Example (using me):

280 HW - 150 (ideal chart weight) = 130
130 X 70% = 91
280 - 91 = 189

I'm aiming for 165... so hoping to lose 115 lbs in total...I'M getting there.

I'm happy to know that all the kids on that ship are ok...it's amazing!  My boys are the most important part of my life.  They mean the world to me :D

My goal is 200- but thought it might to high...lol.  I like your formula- based on my body type and height- I should be 207lbs... :)

The way my surgeon laid it out, this goal is achievable and would not dwell on failure all over again in my life with my weight.  I'm pushing the enveloppe by aiming for 165 lbs.  If I were to go with the calculation, that would mean I only have 16 lbs left to lose.  I'm only almost 4 months post op, so I think I should push the bar just a bit. 

Pushing the bar is a good thing!  I was told many years ago, that if I ever got to 225lbs I would look sick - I don't know if it's true, but I used that as an excuse- hence why I thought 200 was more realistic.  Honestly, it's hard not to use someone chart- but we should be aiming for what ever we are comfortable with.  I mean- if you are happy at 165- go for it. I think I can do 200... even though according to the 'charts' I should be 185ish.. I'm sticking with my goal.