The only weight loss program that's ever worked for me is breastfeeding. Obviously not for everyone, due to the rather significant side effect of having to have a baby first.

For some people having "keep the weight off" as a second job isn't an option. And for other people, it's an option, but not worth it. There are worse things in life than being fat.

Realizing the degree to which I was going to have to obsess over everything that went into my mouth in order to make changes stick convinced me that it wasn't going to happen. There is too much I want/need to do in my life to dedicate that much brainspace to food.

Speaking of weight loss, Hi everyone!!

I'm home, finally. They ended up keeping me at the hospital until today due to some muscle loss turning into cell buildup in the bloodstream, making them concerned the cells would collect in my kidneys, but that didn't happen, so I'm home.

The procedure didn't start until 4:00 pm Monday afternoon, and lasted for four hours (an hour for the filter insertion, three for the actual bypass). After I woke up in recovery, I really didn't sleep that night at all (ugh). Had a few shots of morphine, more due to the gas pressure that they pump you full of for laproscopic surgery than any incision pain, which took until Tuesday night to go away. By Wednesday, I was feeling much better, except for the fact that my bed really sucked and had very little padding, so my butt is very sore still.

The staff were all terrific, and my doctor and his team were stopping by at least once a day to fill me on my progress. Evanston is a teaching hospital, and I had a lot of young people go through my room, but they were all very sweet.

I'm on clear liquids through Friday, and then can start with full liquids on Saturday (cream of tomato soup, stuff like that) for the next ten days. At that point, I'll be able to start pureed foods, as well as get back in the pool!! Mom's here until Monday, but I'm already feeling capable of handling myself. I will fill my Vicodin prescription just to have it in case, though.

I skipped over 1300 Natter posts, but I'll just say "YAYYYYY NILLY AND KHUSBAND!!!!!" And vibing and congrats for everyone who needs both or either. Thanks to everyone for your good vibes--they worked so well!!

Kathy, yay! Glad to see you and to hear the surgery went well! Good vibes for your recuperation.

Glad you're home, Kathy!!

My oldest brother lost 20-30 lbs when he started training for marathons again. Which is great, I guess, but he didn't change his diet at all. And he's a restaurateur, and he rarely eats breakfast, and when he goes out to eat (which is basically every day, because hey! it's his business), he gets every course, and exhibits no concern about carbs or fats.

Heart attacks are not in my family (we stroke out), but I worry about him. The diet-and-exercise regimin that works when you're 30 isn't so good for longevity at 52.

So, yeah. Brown rice and whole wheat and roasted vegetables and corn tortillas instead of flour, and much less pasta.

For me, it was just about what I stock in my house and make it as thoughtless as possible, because I don't like thinking about food when I am hungry. But like I said, I like spinach. Will eat by the handful. And have, so I just make sure I always have salad fixings. I can go without sweets other than fruit. And I just buy cheese sparingly. Takeout is just too much work, so that avoids that issue.

I've been getting fabulous emails about the cookies I dropped off. I think they are a hit. I've only got a few left, and they are spoken for. Yay!

(another case where I am weird. I like baking cookies. But I don't really eat them. Luckily, I have guinea pigs galore now!)

Kathy! So glad to see your font! I'm sillily happy you are looking forward to the pool. I'll think of you when I swim, mkay?

Yay for swimming! Think about me--it'll be a while before I'm back up to my usual mile, but I'll let y'all know when I get there.

Yay for swimming! My pool is closed. Woe.