missmeow

I am where you are. I have been going to UCI. The surgeon, Dr. Ninh Nguyen, is well published and has taught several popular surgeons in So Cal. However, I have heard good and bad about him and the program. I have also heard good things about Dr. Aileen Takahashi with Torrance and the New program in Newport beach. My main concern is for-profit vs educational. I know the surgeon at UCI is technically skilled but wonder if they will tailor or entertain my personal requests/needs. It is my body afterall. I won't know until I talk to them. A profit organization, IMO, needs your business and would be much more amenable to it. Or maybe I am off my nut. It seems most people here have gone to Mexico, so haven't heard much about any of them.

Please don't despair! It's kind of rude to comment on someone's body unless they are actively soliciting it. If you want confirmation of your weight loss, mention the new "diet" you're on and I am sure you will get positive feedback. Also, the unfortunate truth is that people like to categorize people. If you are in the "fat" category, people might not start noticing your weight loss until you cross over from "fat" into "chubby" just because the category they put you into blinds them to what is in front of their face. At some point, they'll get a good look at you and realize, OMG wtf happened to her! She got hot woof woof.

Stress, being tired, or low potassium usually are what does it to me. Or if I am drinking for some reason.

I hope you are able to get to the cause of your numbness and get it resolved as soon as possible. I am so glad you have taken the steps to get an attorney and be a survivor and not a victim. I'm really happy you are looking on the weight loss as a positive and moving forward to get things resolved.

I haven't decided yet myself, but I am in the area. Who is your surgeon?

Congrats!!!! that is awesome. Who was your surgeon?

I think the point is that people shouldn't be asking or commenting in the first place. If, when, and how we lose or gain weight is personal, private, and really no one's business except perhaps close friends and family who may have a true concern for our well being. Personally, I think it is super rude to comment on someone's weight unless they have been open about it and/or are giving pretty clear signs they are OK with comments. I know many like it when someone notices we're a bit smaller. But some of us do not like the added attenttion. It is not lying to omit a personal medical decision if people are so rude as to ask. Telling people you are on a liquid diet or VLCD and exercising is the truth. The surgery helps you do it, but you could have the surgery and drink milkshakes all day. The majority of the work is done by the individual and you are not being deceptive by not opening yourself up for a lot of "helpful" advice or commentary. Like someone stated earlier, people get WLS to be normal and not to be the former fatty who had to have surgery. I was at work when someone commented on another coworker's weight loss. It was in a total congratualtory way, as in "wow, you've lost a lot of weight! How are you doing it? I need your secret!" The answer: "Cancer. I have cancer and am going through chemo." That's why people should mind their business and keep their comments to themselves unless otherwise elicited. You never know what someone is going through and you might feel like a total heel for asking.

Have you talked to your doctor? It could be hormonal too, so I would clear out any physical reason for your rapid weight gain.

It's none of their business really. Unfortunately, our bodies are on display and kind of like being pregnant, eventually everyone catches on. But also like being pregnant, some people like to hold off a bit to avoid all the "helpful" commentary from the "experts" in the peanut gallery.

Those look sooo good. They would be perfect for a party too.

Start eating at your desk or in your car away from them now. Tell them you're on a liquid diet when they ask. You're going to be on one before and for a bit after, so they will see you with your meal boxes. It will also explain the rapid weight loss. I've seen people do liquid diets before and lose a lot of weight. People will talk smack about that but they won't be in all your business and offering their "advice" about your WLS at least.

As much as it is naughty or against the kool-aid, sometimes when life hits you hard, a little self-indulgence isn't the worst thing whether it is a few m&ms, shopping, or vegging out in front of the tv watching sappy romcoms. We all hit those walls and being a little bit bad and selfish is OK so long as we recognize it as such and don't make it a habit. However, when it crosses into making whatever is bad worse, then it is time to stop and start getting back into what works. After 14 months and over 100lbs lost, you feel like a failure because you had a break-up and haven't been making the best food choices? That's human, not failure. At some point though, which I believe you are at, it's time to recognize it for what it is and move on. Get back into your running and the things that make you feel good and the breakup will start mending itself because you are allowing yourself to do the things that work best for you to be your best self. *hugs*

Yep, with plus sizes 10-20lbs is usually a size, or about 1.5-2" in measurements (35" waist to 33", etc.)

You can always just tell them to shut up. And that they are rude.

Start getting into the habits you will be forced to get into when you get the surgery. Not drinking when eating, eating protein first, walking...you will lose some weight even if you are eating normally and you will gain fitness that will help you through surgery.

It sounds like you were "not going" and that caused some water retention. It sure does it to me. Drinking more water and some fiber certainly helps.

The actual optifast program is done in 12 week increments, which may be what you are thinking about? Most people can't get through 30 days let alone 3 months. lol. I think the idea of protein shakes is that your stomach is too swollen and still healing the first few weeks. It seems a lot of people start eating real food regularly around the 6-8 week point and use the shakes as a nutritional supplement because they are unable to eat all that much. I haven't had surgery, but I would definitely want to reintroduce some foods back because I would be worried about developing food intolerances kind of like when you eat sugar after low-carbing or when a vegtarian eats meat after a prolonged period of not eating it. Your stomach doesn't like it very much.

Wait, isn't a quart 4 cups (32oz)? I thought most stomachs were around 7-8 cups, which would be 2 quarts? It makes a big difference in how I am visualizing the stomach

Does your family have a problem with your surgery? It's seems odd to me that you're 5 days post-op and recovering and your family is pulling a stunt like that. To me, that is pretty cruel. You're still recovering from surgery and should be getting help, not hinderence, from your family. That makes me sad.

Sizes used to correspond more closely to waist size, now they've added about an inch to it depending upon the maker. So a size 4=24" waist, 6 =26", 8=28", 10=30", etc. with half inches above a 12, IIRC. Now they scaled everything towards the smaller sizes making sizes an inch or so bigger...for example an Express size 0=24" waist and a size 4=26" waist and a 6= 27" waist. Originally, it was sized based on bust measurement. A 12 was the smallest size based on a 32 bust. A 14 was a 34 bust, etc. Those are the really vintage sizes and most closely resemble modern pattern sizes which are pretty small.

What do you question?

Your skin doesn't look like anything outside of normal, honestly. I don't think anyone would know you had WLS or "loose skin" from your photos. Anyone can make funny shapes with their bits. Usually loose skin is just kind of floating there or hanging and pretty obvious even in people who have lost only a little bit of weight (like 30lbs).

OMG, do they do that?

Not really. A normal stomach is 6-8 cups, so 2 cups is 1/4th to 1/3rd of a normal stomach. It would not be a large stomach by any stretch. *shrug* You know, someone having concerns about the current state of the procedure doesn't negate anyone's choice to have it done.

If they did 2 cup capacity at 1 year out, I would be on board. It seems the push is for 1 cup max now. That makes me not so on board.