ranchersdaughter

Hi! Wonderful subject and one not often discussed but should be! I am a female welder in a world of male welders. The ratio of men to women at work is about 125 to 1!!!! It's been my experience that men of all ages, sizes and shapes will hit on an attractive female, regardless of the circumstances. There are no tried and true techniques as to how to handle it, but I've come up with a few that work well for me, as I'm married, and the last thing I need is a dog in heat at work. I'll use your example as an example! When that gentleman asked you to lunch, and brushed off your brush off when you said you'd already eaten by offering to buy you dinner and keep it in his room for you, I would have immediately asked if he could be sure to buy enough for your boyfriend too, as he would be picking you up from work later......smile big, wink and grin! This not only adds some humor to the situation without being rude, but also puts a mediater aspect on things (whether you have a boyfriend or NOT!) pretend like you do. Then the gentleman can bow out gracefully, will probably make a joke about not wanting to share you with your boyfriend and go on his merry way. Your job and integrity are still intact and you were polite. Keeping a smile on your face and finding some way to derail the come ons with humor, and also set the man at ease so he doesn't feel totally emasculated, is the easiest by far. Good luck and congrats on the attention! It might not be wanted but it's proof positive that your surgery is working!!!!! Christal

Myfitnesspal has been good for me.

Ursie, Thank you so much for your openness and honesty here! I feel your pain, but I have to tell you, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF!!!!!! There are worse things in life than not being able to control your appetite, of that there's no doubt!!!! I feel that you blame yourself for everything that has happened to you and anyone close to you. Darling, you may have big shoulders, but NOBODY'S that strong. Listening to you, I get the sense that you are a victim of the apple not falling far from the tree. In other words, you developed the habits that you were exposed to every day, such as over eating. The problem with developing habits is that they are so HAAARD to break. Take me for instance, I was a smoker. I hated it. Hated the way it smelled, hated the way it made me feel, and I quit a hundred times. The kicker was, I could quit and be doing incredible, until I got around a beer. hmmm...beer in one hand cigarette in the other and my months of being 'quit'? Out the window. So one day I quit smoking cigarettes and picked up a grape flavored cigar. Better? No. But I 'consoled' myself with the fact that I wasn't smoking 2 packs a day. Instead, when I wasn't puffing on a cigar...I would eat. Nice substitute. Not. So when I decided to have my sleeve done, I also decided to quit smoking. My husband bought me an e-cig a week before my surgery and I haven't touched tobacco since. I still have the hand to mouth addiction, especially when I'm bored or nervous and I've chewed the mouthpiece to my ecig to shreds a few times, but I DON'T miss smoking! And with my sleeve, I DON'T miss eating EITHER! Ursie, maybe this will help. Find a comfortable position, get very quiet within your head, heart and soul and spend about 3 hours FORGIVING yourself. Do it silently, do it at the top of your lungs, write it down, record it, cry, laugh, yell, scream, throw a pillow, but however you get rid of the tension and guilt and shame, make sure to just get it out!! Then, do that as often as you feel you need to!! Once you feel calm, and have a sense of peace within yourself, start researching the sleeve. Find out everything you possibly can, write down questions and ask your doctor. Get your head comfortable with the changes and get your soul quiet. Once you have come to terms with everything that you will go through, pre op and post op, I have no doubts that you will be STRONG enough to follow a pre-op diet!!! Even if it means drinking 5 gallons of chicken broth at a sitting, as long as it's a liquid going in, you've got it made!!!!!!! Look at it this way. You gave birth to a child. God would never have given you that opportunity if He didn't feel you could handle it! You have raised your gift from God for 12 years! God wouldn't have given you those years if He didn't think you could handle it! Be good to yourself, be a little selfish, cleanse your heart and mind and soul of the guilt and make the first step to a healthier, happier you!!!!!!! Ursie, if there is ANYTHING, and I do mean ANYTHING that I can help you with on this journey, please do not hesitate to drop me line or call me!!!!!! ranchers.daughter@live.com, (505)264-4556. We stick together here, thick thin good bad ugly beautiful, it doesn't matter. Love, Christal

I "undergrew" my supply of jeans, so I'm wearing a pair of the hubbies "34 x 34"'s today! Woot Woot!!!! I also recommend the thrift stores and consignment shops!!! I've been a long time shopper at those for years.....to the point that when I have to pay retail prices it gives me sticker shock!!!!!!! OH! And before I forget...some of these forums actually have sections specifically for us "Losers" to clothes swap!!!!! Might check that out too!!

How far out from surgery you are what percentage have you lost? I'm 5 weeks 4 days post op. I weighed 211 pre-op and have lost 37 lbs. I have no idea what the percentages are. My goal weight is 125. How many times a day are you eating? 2 oz, 4- 6 times a day, so anywhere between 8-12 or 14 oz a day. What kind of supplements are you taking? Types and Brands Generic Prenatal Chewable Vitamins, Vitamin D3 2000 iu, B Complex, Biotin, Generic Acid Reducer How much Protein are you supposed to be getting and how much are you actually getting in daily and what are your sources of protein (brands of shakes etc), I usually get in between 80g - 100g a day, I use protein shots, Protein Shakes from GNC, and all high protein meats, fish and greek yogurt. I also add unflavored Protein powder to just about everything I can think of. How much Water you are actually getting down each day Between 40oz to 70oz a day. It varies depending on how full I feel after eating. What is your exercise routine, type of exercise, and how often. I usually walk about 2-3 miles a day, every day. How is your energy level? My energy level is high, and I contribute it to the fact that I feel like I can actually move again since losing a few lbs.

Same height here and have NEVER, even in high school, been able to wear smaller than a size 7. Some women are just so DAGNABITALL lucky! FANTASTIC job on your success!!!!!!!!!

If and when my husband and I become employed again, my makeover gift to myself is going to be to go to Zumba classes! I was walking, and then the New Mexico Wind started blowing and it hasn't been below 40 mph for weeks. After the first week of eating lb after lb of sand and digging it out of every crevice and crease on my body, I shucked the walking. I am a very athletic person, and I think Zumba will be my forte to toning, tightening and trimming up while I lose weight and after. Then maybe I'll consider a new wardrobe...since I vowed I wasn't going to buy new clothes til I reach goal! (Well, maybe I'll hit a resale shop or 2 so I don't look like a HoBo the ENTIRE time LOL....)

Seems a few of us are suffering from that strange disease....... "noassatall"!! Congrats to all of you! To the knee sufferer, my hubby has bad knees from football.......he sleeps with a pillow between them. Might try that!

I agree with the post surgery swelling. Give your poor body a chance to recooperate. Try not to feel like you should have woken up from surgery all of a sudden "skinny". I'm 33 days post op. I was on a 2 week stall, then I gained 5 lbs, started my period and turned into overweight psycho lady. That was last week. Woke up this morning and have lost 6lbs!!! Don't stress over a lb. Don't even stress about 10 lbs!!!! Stress causes weight gain! The best advice I can give you is to stick to your surgeons post op plan and walk walk walk walk. It gets better!!! I promise.

I bought the zero fat plain Greek yogurt, I add one scoop of chocolate flavored protein powder to about 1/2 a cup of yogurt. It tastes like chocolate pudding just not as sweet!!! It's my fav!!!! and I'm sure it would taste great with different flavors of protein powder. Not only that, but its low carb and helps me almost double my protein intake!!! Hope this helps a little!

Um....I'm not jumping on you, but don't let that GI doc make decisions for you when he hasn't even examined you yet! I'd get on that phone and insist that he see you ASAP!!!!!!! This is your life you're talking about here!! Call your surgeon if you have to! Your surgeon might not even be aware that the GI dr. changed the date! If you are feeling that weak, definitely go back and get checked out again. Your health is what is important above all else.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to finally be able to have control over food, rather than food controlling me. I'm thankful for being allowed an opportunity to concentrate on things more important than guilt, weight and health.......I can now concentrate more on God, Family and Life!!!! (This was something that just snuck up on me and it's FABULOUS!!!!!) I wasn't aware of how obsessed I was about the other things before!!! I'm thankful for my husband who has supported me 100% and loves me no matter what I look like, and who has even started his own self imposed weight loss because he wants to feel as good as I do! I'm thankful for my WLS because not only is my husband making good changes for himself, but my father in law is striving harder to eat right as well and has lost 8 lbs and hoping to get off of his diabetic meds eventually. I never thought that my decision would have such a positive effect on the people around me. Again, this was a side effect I never even dreamed of before surgery that in the aftermath is absolutely FANTASTIC!!! I thank God every day for this gift!!!!!

That's INCREDIBLE!!!!! I'm so proud of you and you have no idea how uplifting it is to hear you share with us!!!! I Booty danced about the first lb I lost.....so there's NO SHAME, gal, NO SHAME! hehe! Keep up the great work!!!!

Caley, Don't get discouraged!!! I lost 12 lbs on the preop diet and the rest was in the first week after surgery. Since then it had been 1 lb here or there. I just figure our bodies are adjusting to the drastic changes....and while we may not be showing lb loss I KNOW I'm losing inches and I'm willing to bet you are too!!! That is awesome to hear about Coy!!! Men have it so easy!! LOL!! Keep your chin up and I'll put you in my prayers! Than you for your support my sleeve sister!!!

You guys and gals are terrific!!! Such great ideas and support! I couldn't do it without all of you!!! So we look like Sharpei puppies for a while....so what!!! I'll just warn the people behind me in roller coaster....."caution, flapping skin ahead...and no dogs were harmed in the making of this body!" Yall are truly the bestest!!!

Renee, I hoped that most would find the tongue in cheek humor in my post. Im sorry that you missed the fact that its not my appearance that has me down. My appearance is the humorous part compared to the fact that my husband and I both lost our jobs on the same day, and etc. So rather than whine and cry about things that just are....I tried to take a lighter look at things. I pray that we all get our health back, but we can still enjoy a Little Golden Storybook while we work on it! Thank you for your opinion!

I'm so glad to hear things went well for you and you overcame your fears! Congratulations and welcome to "Days of our Sleeves"......hehe! Christal

.....tape!!!! You're a genius!! Hehe! Thank you so much for the laugh!! That's what I'm needing! Thank you!!!

Here I sit on day 26 after my sleeve surgery. Ever have one of those days where nothing goes right...your shoelace breaks beyond the eyelet so you can't even quick fix it with a knot? ....the car door blows shut on your shin? ....the coffee maker decides to spew coffee grounds everywhere? ....the scale says you gained 3 lbs? I've been having one of those weeks. I'm getting acid reflux for the first time in my life. I can eat 1 or 2 bites, it sticks in my throat and comes back up shortly thereafter. I started Prilosec OTC to see if that helps....(just what I wanted....ANOTHER pill to swallow). My husband and I got laid off of work yesterday. My kids, who live with their dad in TX, haven't called in ages. As if that wasn't bad enough, I've lost 30 lbs (and before you jump on me, YES I'M ECSTATIC ABOUT THAT!), but today I was rubbing my scars with the daily Vitamin E and cocoa butter and what do I see looking back at me from the mirror? The Saggy Baggy Elephant! Complete with Bingo Wings, Turkey Neck, Buns of Silly Putty, Boob Sacks and Thigh Bags! Is THAT me????? Ok, Ok, so I'll be honest, I KNEW this was going to happen.......JUST LIKE EVERY TIME BEFORE. I've gained and lost the same weight so many times..... I have stretch marks, some that are literally over an inch wide and 4 inches long on my stomach and hips and thighs. I have that thin skin on my stomach that doesn't really fold, but more like "crinkles"? My inner thighs are the same way. Empty Thigh Bags. I officially have Turkey Neck, though it looks more like PELICAN CHIN!!!! I could fit a good sized fish in there!!! Bingo Wings......Need I explain? I lifted my arm to point something out to the hubby yesterday and my underarm slapped me in the nose. (Gotta love the Wind in New Mexico! HAHA!) Buns of Silly Putty.....I sat on a blanket and the design impression stayed there for 3 days. (it's worse than panty lines! haha!). Boob Sacks......Well, I don't have the boobs anymore, but I still have the sacks they came in.... All in all, I look like the Saggy Baggy Elephant , and my attitude resembles that of the Poky Little Puppy. Maybe this is just 3 1/2 weeks post surgery depression, because I felt REALLY good up to this point!!! Anyone have any suggestions that might help me out of my FUNK?? Or just a good book to read???? Hehe! Hope everyone got a smile out of this! I'm trying very hard to keep the ol' PELICAN CHIN up!!!!! Lol! Holla back ya'll! Christal

I've heard it mentioned here more than once so I Googled it. I got a ton of media about some Kellog's product that was found out to be all hype and little value. Can anyone tell me anything about maybe a different Protein Water that's getting mentioned? Christal

I'm sleeved!!!!!!! I have that teenage invincible feeling!!!! Today I'm cleaning house, doing yard work, and feeling like Tawanda the Bee Charmer from Fried Green Tomatoes!!! I'm also imagining myself 90 lbs thinner, inventing a self cleaning house and thereby RULING THE WORLD!! Muahahahahaha!!!! Just some random thoughts, Pinky. Share yours!!!!!!!!!! Christal

Sleeveme2011, Check out my story, http://www.verticals...__1#entry141550, you'll find we have A LOT in common. Right there with ya sister. Next time you're aunt decides to make an abrasive comment, there's no reason for you to stoop to her level and be mean right back, I simply don't agree with that, but I would highly recommend that you show her this passage in the Bible.... “Do not judge so that you will not be judged” Matthew 7:1 This verse is not a warning against judging an action. It is a warning against self deception and hypocrisy. Try that and then lets see how abrasive she is..... Keep the faith!!! You're SOOOOO worth it!!!!! Christal

The other day I ordered a small cup of Beans and cheese at my favorite restaurant. It was a new waitress and bless her heart.....she brought me this giant Papa Bear bowl of beans and cheese. I must have had a funny look on my face cuz she immediately asked me if I was OK! After I explained that I was on restricted intake due to surgery and 2 oz of food was about all I could handle, she corrected my order immediately. I never worry about what others will think, especially restaurant staff.......I was a waitress for more than 15 years as a side job to supplement my income. I made fabulous tips cuz my customers were ALWAYS right, and if my boss didn't like that, I usually told them they must be in the wrong business and would they mind selling me their restaurant???? Worked like a charm. So be forthright and order whatever you like however you like it and the rest can go hang!!!!!!! Keep us posted! Christal

Excellent suggestion!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!