martabeerich Member

I would tack on to the above comment by pneschich. The clinic, doctor and staff are really important! My particular doctor and his clinic are very out of the ordinary in their approach, and I would not have been as successful without their particular nutritional orientation. I have friends who have not been as successful…

Yes, I've been told the 20 gms information, too. My DR is very different in that he's a vegan and urges plant based proteins and real food. I still over-rely on dairy and powders, but I can't get all the protein with beans & plants. I aim for 50 grams of protein per day.

I've talked to numerous doctors, one with hair loss herself. They agree there isn't much you can do about it. I take biotin. I am 18 months post surgery. My hair seems better, but as it was fine to begin with, who knows. I just leaned in and cut it really short and enjoy dying it fun colors. I have heard a lot of people…

I decided to be a pescatarian when I started my journey. (I eat seafood maybe 3 times a month.) I also try to eat cleanly when possible. I'm lucky because my doctor is a vegan, and very supportive. He also talked to me about soy. He's skeptical that's it's as dangerous as people think. His advice was to use oxidized salt…

Great support here. At 55, I am at my healthiest, after working really hard for the last 15 years, making one change at a time, I've lost 250 pounds. I'm active, healthy, and have energy. I'm now pescatarian and eat as cleanly as I can. It's the journey, baby! Good luck!

Hi from Houston! Age 55, height 5'4" VSG: Aug 2015 HW: 400 SW: 220 CW: 160 Goal: under 150 Clean eater, pescatarian. 8-10 hours/week exercising. Summer vacations did a number on me, gained 8 lbs, trying to get a grip and lose this dirty dozen! Then GOAL!

So many changes! Momentum is a good thing, one positive outcome supports others. Keep your enthusiasm. I'm 11 months past my sleeve, and see how easy it is to slip into old habits. But I'm SO happy about the changes and work I've done. When it gets hard, remind yourself of your goals. And kudos for quitting smoking, too!

You go, girl! :)

Lol! I just saw this! (After I took the same picture of myself yesterday!)

My Dr said to set the calories to 1100 for maintenance and use the recommended %ages. He does not believe in the high protein amounts many bariatric programs prescribe to. His prefers plant based and high fiber, with thoughtful choices of protein. One reason I went to him. I tried South Beach and it did not work. And I'm…

I hot kump started with Clean Eating magazine. Good ideas and recipes. Since I've gone pescatarian, though, the recipes are less pertinent to me. But a good place for beginners.

This happens! Weight loss is NOT linear. You will have stalls that last weeks and weeks. I often bounce up 3 pounds. I respond to sodium, travel (I can gain 10 pounds of water and my fingers and ankles balloon when I plane/train/boat/auto!), and if I have a vigorous exercise session I can bounce up. Keep plugging forward.…

Wow! Amazing story. Coolest thing I've heard in a while! So proud that your struggle had a pay off this memorable!

@garber6th - that's exactly it. You hit the nail on the head. It's a self-perpetuating circle. You feel "less-than" when you are fat so you project it out, and consequently people treat you as if you are less-than, which makes you feel less-than. Then you take control, lose weight, do the internal work, and claim your…

I notice I'm more outgoing generally. Yesterday I asked a Starbucks barista about the new citrus green tea latte. He said it was controversial; some people liked it others didn't (it's better cold than hot). He ended with "worst case scenario you don't like it and we remake it." I said no, worst case scenario is always AND…

What are your thoughts on Xyletol? I just bought some. My husband actually likes it in some beverages. (When I use sugar, I use Sugar in the Raw. I use 3-4 teaspoons/day in my tea and coffee. I don't use enough to feel it's problematic.)

My surgeon told me that one of the signs of being full is my nose might start to drip. Yep. About 4 bites into a meal my nose turns on until my stomach empties. Don't understand that physiological mechanism, but I got warned.

I was wondering about the hormone issue, too. You can request blood tests for that. So much of depression is biochemistry that, given that things are generally good for you, the fact you are having issues makes me wonder about that.

Remember that you will have plateaus, and that seems to be when your body does the most changing. Plateaus of weeks happen to everyone. My entire month 3 was a plateau. Also, my doctor gives almost exactly the opposite advice as most of the doctors of the others on this list (vegetarian/plant based diet, frowns on…

If you still have your ovaries, you still have the hormones. And the aches, pains associated with it all until menopause.

@bcedl1982 - Knock yourself out. I'm calling mine a Croning Party. And frankly, women need to talk about this life transition. It's easy for some, hellacious for others. (I kid you not, my sister became psychotic, had black outs, self medicated because of the craziness.... then after 3-4 years became better). I'm…

Congrats and best of luck!

I'm 6 months post-op. Weight loss has not messed with my hormones TOO much. Other than at 55 y/o my cycle had changed from 30 days to 39 days. I just keep plugging away. I am planning a party when menopause hits. I'm serious. I'm getting a pinata of a uterus, filling it with candy and all my friends are gonna whack the…

Congrats!

Sending you good thoughts! Remember that the hard parts pass quickly!

I signed up for your newsletter. As a vegetarian (90% of the time, sometimes pescatarian), I would not be using meat when making your recipes. Also, the broccoli salad looked good, and I like the grapes substitution, but seeing the bacon in it? Nope.

Yup. Hernia repair here, too. I think surgeon said it meant 5 holes instead of 4. No biggie.

My sleeve was 8/11/2015. I've have numerous 1 & 2 week plateaus. I even had a 3 week plateau. My advice is to go back and read your material and if you've slipped in any area, readjust that. One of my areas of slippage was when I drank liquids. I wasn't stopping liquids 30 minutes before meals and waiting 60+ after meals…

Mine was embarrassing! So many loud noises. But it did eventually go away after a few months.

It is a journey, for sure. But so worth it. Remember most of all to be kind to yourself. Welcome!