We missed the support group at Seasons 52. Are you planning on doing it again?

PART 4: I MUST keep track of calories and I make sure I am getting enough protein as well. I need 1300 calories per day to maintain. If I drop to 1200 for a few days, I lose weight, if I go over by 100 calories for a couple of days, I gain. There is a fine line and so far, so good. I cannot imagine NOT logging my food!!! Last but not least, I attending support groups, I think it's my new addiction. I personally attend several per month, I enjoy it and I enjoy the IN PERSON accountability and I enjoy talking to others, like you, who are new. I am paying it forward, there were quite a few veterans who let ME pick their brains a few years ago!!!! All of this is my new life, it's all as natural to me as breathing. I call it my 'dashboard' - the numbers - my weigh, calories, protein - this is how I keep track of what is going on 'under the hood', if changes need to be made, I know it early on and it's not a big deal. Does this make sense to you??!!!! Again, thank you.....and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask me. My name is Stacy and here is my personal email address, I will see it quicker!!! curt_frisbie@msn.com Have a great week!! Tell me more about you....how tall are you, how old are you? Is your health pretty good? You're going to LOVE your new life, you will not believe how different things are a year post op!!! Thanks for writing!!! - s

PART 3: I say so far, because I don't ever want to forget that I must be diligent. I weigh myself every morning. Some times I'm up a pound or two, some times, like this morning, I'm down another pound. I never let either bother me, that is normal, but if I am up three pounds, I KNOW I need to adjust something, and I do. The few pounds is gone by the end of the week. I cannot imagine weighing once a week or once a month. Seriously??!!! I KNOW how quickly I can gain five or ten pounds, and that is not as easy to lose!!! I also weigh and/or measure my food when I'm home. I have a little food scale, that is actually small enough for me to take with me, and I am trying to work up enough guts to do it!!! We discussed this at a recent support group meeting! I log my food on line......

PART 2: Now is the time to start making changes, life style changes that you can live with forever. Your doctor will give you a 'diet' to follow, for probably six weeks post op. You'll start off with a week of clear liquids then move on to full liquids, soft foods....moving on to a normal diet. Prior to surgery I started 'practicing'. I started eating on a smaller plate (a lot of things are psychological) and I have a seafood fork that I still eat with a good deal of the time. It makes me take smaller bites. Since I was discharged from the hospital I have things that I continue to do and I attribute them to my 'so far' success....

I found the message, here is the first part, it says to shorten it from about 3200 to 1500. It may take three times! LoL Hi Tanya!! Thank you for the kind words! I will share as much with you as you want, just ask!!! I reached goal, my doctor's, in just under five months, MY personal goal (145) a month later. I wanted that five pound 'pad'. For the first time in my adult life, I eat with no guilt. Seriously, it is something I never expected to happen. Now, I eat anything I want, but, that said....there ARE things I CHOOSE not to eat or at least not often.

Stacey, I don't see the message from you. I will keep looking, maybe i am looking in the wrong place.

Safe travels Tanya! I really think attitude has a lot to do with our success. If you're excited and on board, you'll do great, enjoy the transformation, it is so fun!!! You're welcome, if you ever have any questions, just ask! I hope you found my other message, I don't know what it wouldn't post here. Will ttyl - stacy

I hope I am doing this right. I think that I am. I am looking for the message you sent me, haven't seen it yet. I will read it. I am out of town and my laptop has decided to malfunction. Anyway I will be back home on Sunday, I will get an opportunity to upload a picture and blog and all the fun stuff that is available here. I am trying to make a habit of stopping by everyday. I tried while I was traveling with my smartphone and it was not being very smart at the time so I just logged out in the middle of my message. Thank you so much for responding to my message, I cannot tell you how excited I am about the sleeve. Just to think 4 months ago I had not even heard of it and it is changing my life even before I have had it. God bless you for being willing to share you experience with me.

Tanya

Hi,
Your weight loss story is incredible! You are about where I am right now and your weight loss goal is about the same as mine. My next appointment is to the nutritionist on the 12th of September. What did you eat after the sleeve? What did you do? What are you doing today to maintain? I really want to know. You look great!! I look forward to hearing back from you.

Thanks,
Tanya