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Hey there! Coming back with a new Thankful Thread for this week after taking last week off. What are the things you are thankful for this week? I am thankful for so many kind, compassionate, and uplifting voices on this site and the knowledge that they possess and share. I'm thankful for finding some amazing 1-Carb low-cal tortillas and being able to share them with others here. I think I am going to pick up a rotisserie chicken from the store tonight and a jar of enchilada sauce just so I can keep using them. I'm thankful that I'll be taking a small vacation next week and visiting one of my favorite places again. There's some stress about COVID, but I've got a game plan to keep the risk to myself minimal. I'm thankful that I have lost enough weight that I can go hike in the woods for 2 hours and not feel completely sore and exhausted afterwards. How about you?

I am so excited that today I weighed less than my husband for the first time in our 11 year relationship! He was about 20 pounds lighter when we met, and I was 5-10 pounds lighter than my current weight. He is also about 6 inches taller than me 🤦🏼‍♀️ I am thankful for the ability to log over 7 hours of exercise, according to my Apple Watch, last week. I could never have done that 3 months ago. I am thankful for my neighbors. My next door neighbor hosted a neighborhood party last night and it just reaffirmed what an amazing neighborhood I get to live in. I am also thankful for all the support and ideas provided from everyone on this site.

I am a social worker. I can do therapy, I just don't happen to - I work in case management as a supervisor in foster care and adoptions ( just to clarify ) - So I kind of can see this from both sides. From the client side - take some time and think about what you REALLY want to work on in therapy. What do you see as possible things that you are dealing with emotionally or socially or in your own head that isn't working for you. Come up with at least 3 to 5 broad issues - and THEN try calling either your insurer or local department of mental health , or local hospital/medical center for referrals and get names of licensened social worker therapists or licensed counselors near to you. Then look them up and find out something about them. What do they specialize in ? You might want someone who is doing short term and maybe cognitive -behavioral therapy (CBT) - maybe someone who has worked with other folks with issues you are dealing with. As a therapist I really appreciate people who know why they are in my office. I don't want to spend all of my time trying to guess why they are there. "Im upset all the time." When a client comes in with ideas of where they would like to be or where they are feeling stuck with something in life, or dealing with a specific change then I have a better idea where to start and where we want to head. Hope that helps.

Hi all - I never thought I'd post on a public forum mainly because I was afraid it would go unnoticed and I wouldn't get any responses. For any of you who have had lapband, please share your story or opinions with me. I am so curious to see how you all felt after surgery and if what I am feeling is common. I'm really struggling with this. I had by lapband surgery on 9/17/20. I was initially nauseous and in physical pain but the pain of the incisions and actual surgery seems to be getting much better. I am nauseous daily. Even water makes my stomach hurt or feel as though I am going to get sick. When I drink protein shakes, zero calorie drinks, or other approved foods/liquids, my stomach doesn't take it well. I don't know what to do. I've talked to the nutritionist at my office and although I trust their opinion, I feel like I need to hear from people who have been through this first hand. Please let me know if you have any advice or opinions on this!! thank you!

Welcome to the forums. Congratulations on your progress toward getting your WLS. Many, dare I say most WLS folks had health issues as part of their consideration for having surgery. It is not at all unusual. Surgeries have complications. Living has complications. As with all things, you need to do the math to determine which is the riskier option: WLS or no WLS, that is the question. Nearly the last thing my Doc said to me before wheeling me into surgery was "You know you can die from this surgery? Do you want to continue?" I had already done the math. I was gonna be immobile and a burden to everyone around me within 5 years. Even death on the table was preferable. I spoke with my spouse and parents about it and we were all on the same page. I don't want to spoil the ending of the story, but I didn't die. Since the surgery many of my health issues self-resolved. I'm on fewer meds now than I was pre-op. I've done things I never imagined I would do. Since you're well into satisfying your requirement it seems like you did the math. Good luck Tek

you know you are a bariatric patient when you look at a "normal" plate of food and calculate how many meals this will be for you !

In Aust the min bmi seems to 35. Some surgeons will operate on patients with a slightly lower bmi but they must have severe health complications (high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, etc.). It‘s not common for people to lose so much weight after surgery they attain a bmi in the low end of the healthy range or lower & stay there. Those that do drop to a bmi of 18 or 19 more often or not gain some again after because it’s difficult to maintain long term. Life kicks in, your hunger increases & metabolism slows again. The average weight loss after surgery is about 65% of the weight you need to lose to put you in the upper end of the healthy range after 5yrs. There are a couple of people on this forum who struggle to maintain & have a low bmi. I’m sort of one of those people. If I miss a meal or a snack I can drop weight. Do it a couple of times in a week & the drop sticks. Consequently, I’m very routine in my diet of when & what I eat - sometimes I feel like I eat all day which is challenging when I’m often not hungry. (Honestly, my GP & surgeon would like me to put on a couple of kilograms but I’ve dropped a kilo in the last 2 - 3 months so I’m a bit nervous to go back next month.) What is your goal weight? As with all things in life if you put in the hard work & are committed to your plan (very careful with your diet & very active) you can attain your goals & maintain it. However balance is key. You have to be able to live the life you want at a weight you are happy with. I hope I don’t sound negative. Your concern is legitimate. I suggest you speak with your surgeon & nutritionalist about your worries. Good luck.

Good news. Learning and following your plan is probably the best thing you can do that will carry you through to success. It would be hard to eat enough sugar or fat in the first couple months to get you to dumping, but continue your vigilance. You may never find out if you dump simply by working your plan. Not that working your plan is simple, just that it is a simple principle. Keep up the good work. Good luck, Tek

I just got approved yesterday! My surgery is scheduled for Nov 3 but I am on a waiting list for an October date if one opens up. I am very excited. I hope your approval comes through soon. I am a bundle of nerves but more than anything, I can't wait for this new tool to help me shed the weight that has limited me for so many years. I hope we can all support each other through this journey. I have around 150 lbs to lose. Cheering for you! -M

Tuna. Salmon. Chicken breast.