wannalise

I don't know how I missed this one!!!! How amazing are you??? I am so grateful that I've gotten to share your journey with you and getting to learn from you. Thank you thank you for your strength and support!!! I am so bedazzled with your success. Anna

Tiffany posted this as a comparison of Vitamins. You also want to keep in mind that you need to space your Iron and calcium citrate at least two hours apart. I've been very pleased with Bariatric Advantage Multivitamin, BA iron, and BA chewy calcium citrate. Hope this helps! http://verticalsleevetalk.com/vitamins-supplements/3739-all-vitamins-not-created-equally-excellent-comparison-chart.html

I missed the chance to wish you well preop, but it is good to see your first day of recovery is going so well! Best of luck!!!

The reverse is true with Muscle Milk RTD, I froze it and then drank it the next day and it was the texture of curdled milk NASTY!!!!

I am so sorry. Your story is terrifying. I can't imagine being able to see/hear what is happening around you and not be able to ask for help. It sounds like a huge blessing that your Mom was there. I am so glad to know that you will be okay. Best of luck in your decision making process. Anna

I am so sorry that you left feeling unsupported, I didn't read your post but will head there now. Please know that the intent of everyone on this board is to support and be supported. Hopefully we can give you what you need next time. Anna

Love this one! I made it for my non WLS friends and it was a hit. I misread the recipe and put 2 lbs of extra lean ground beef in it but it was still yummy and packed with protein. Thanks for sharing it!!!

Woot woot!!!! Good for you in having the mentality of enjoying the things you love in small doses and realizing it isn't a "cheat." How exciting to be trying on new clothes, you are rocking this lady!!!!

Thanks all of you for your positive responses. And to those of you who are preop I have no doubt this is something you can do! Anna

Hey I just wanted to throw another thing out. Vita D is a super common deficiency and my friend who had thyroid cancer has experienced SEVERE amounts of it. I hope you find an explanation, but until then....some summer reading Vitamin D Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes, and Health Risks Best of luck, Anna

The section where you mentioned that its like turning a switch on...Have you had bloodwork done yet to ensure that you aren't deficient in any areas. Deficiency can do a wide variety of things to you hormonally. You really are doing great! Good luck!!!!

No wisdom on the topic, just want you to know I'm thinking of you, and I hope you can find a resolution that will allow you to enjoy all the wonderful changes your body has made. Good luck! Anna

Good for you!!! You will be in my thoughts and prayers and have a VERY uneventful recovery!

You little rockstar!!!! You are doing so well. Your face looks absolutely beautiful, (not to mention you look pretty dang happy too!) Great job, what a huge accomplishment in such a short time!

I am three months out. Part of me feels like this has been my life forever, and part of me still feels like it is brand new. Having seriously unhealthy habits has been a process of learning, but things I never thought I could do mentally and physically are becoming easier day by day. In three months I have reclaimed parts of my life and that is thrilling to me. Two weeks ago I had a last minute chance to head to California w/my boyfriend and his family. My time there was not food focused, I enjoyed what I ate and even more so enjoyed walking (what?) I enjoyed a day of walking around Universal Studios and mid way realized I wasn't sweaty and feeling icky, and my feet didn't hurt. And not once did I feel like I might go flying off of a ride because I was just too big to actually safely fit on it. I am energetic. I took my dog up by the river and walked for a long time and enjoyed it. I took pride in knowing that I was doing something that benefitted both of us. That I kept my body moving, that I had that time alone to have a clear mind and I wasn't focused on how hard I was breathing or about the whopper and diet coke I would be buying on my way home. I have realized that to be successful I have to plan. This has never been my strong suit, but for this to work for ME I must do it. I spend time each night before I go to bed entering my game plan for the following day. Maybe I have refocused my obsession in another direction, but having that plan is empowering. A few years ago a friend and I spent a weekend planning what our diet would look like when we started it on Monday. We made charts, planned an elaborate rewards system and vowed to check in with each other every day. As we planned it, I knew I would fail. I knew this would be pointless. And it was. I have countless stories like these, and each time this would happen it was a blow to my self esteem. Not because I couldn't lose the weight, but I couldn't trust myself to do what I vowed to do. I now understand that it required more then what I could do on my own. I wake up every day knowing that I am in control. I am in control. This is really still just the beginning of my journey, and I expect this will be a lifelong struggle for me. I still want a diet coke EVERYDAY, and that is something that for me is taboo. Not just because I have fears about it altering my new expensive stomach, but because for me it is the start of a slippery slope and it isn't worth it. I have occasional, very small, treats. I try to plan ahead for these, mostly because if I plan then there isn't that emotional panic of, "Oh my what have I done????" But there are days when I would just like a big ol burger instead of three bites of someone else's. But all I have to do is compare the passport photo I had taken just prior to surgery, to the photos from now, I have a much smaller face and a much bigger smile and that makes everything worth it.

Diabetic recipes Found this and it has several pages of resources/recipes for low carb foods.

The smell thing is normal! I had it too and have read of several others. It passes but it takes time, and being so close out to surgery, I am so sorry that you are also sick. Stay hydrated and everything else will come along. Take care, Anna

I had a wretched recovery. I was in the hospital extra days because I couldn't hold anything down, when I finally got home I was exhausted and dehydrated. It really sucked, and I would do it over and over again. Preop I had a good life, I have great friends, a wonderful family, and the greatest boyfriend in the wide world. Post op is even better. It is challenging, but I am succeeding, It is a magnifying glass for my life, the things that are good feel even better, the things that were bad are either falling by the wayside or I am learning greater ways to deal with them. As to some of your questions, I have much more energy now then I have in ten years. The first month I had to nap everyday, now I am getting more done and sleeping better then I ever have. I haven't lost hair....yet, and I am vain about my hair too. It is one of those things that no matter how fat I got my hair stayed pretty, but even if I was BALD I would still do it! I was really worried about the skin thing too. My arms are pretty floppy and I am working them out every day. My lower stomach looks like some crazy bread dough, and my thighs are gonna have some issues, but my butt is way smaller, I have a waist, my face is thin. There certainly are challenges, but for me the benefits have more than made up for them. Best of luck to you!!!

I was not a "lightweight" but if I could have prevented the years of feeling exhausted, risking my health, and feeling out of control when it came to my eating habits I would have been all over it. This surgery when used correctly, can really enrich your life. I realize new things everyday about myself. Including realizing all of the ways I allowed being overweight to negatively affect me. Whether it is through surgery or other means I respect anyone who is wanting to improve their quality of life. Good luck!

You'll be able to do it, it will just be a far more time consuming endeavor. If you let your Gastroenterologist know the situation they may have more/different options for you. Your ability to drink really improves over time. (Thank goodness cuz those first few weeks were SOOOOOOO annoying to me!) Its great that you stay on top of this though. Best of luck!

That was MISERABLE!!!! I remember it and was worried it would never go away. I started (and still do) getting route 44 ice waters from sonic or just buying sonic ice. They are crushed really finely and they sit okay on my stomach and if I have it with me I can get 44 oz down in a few hours. Good luck!

Hi all! Things continue to look good for the March babies. Its still so exciting. I have only started introducing consistent exercise in the last two weeks, which really is a source of worry to me, because I know that for me it will be KEY to my long term success. I continue to use a couple protein shakes daily because I can not get all my protein in other wise. But I'm down 65 lbs!!!!! This has been such an amazing journey for me.

I'm almost 3 mo out and if I am inconsistent w/my ppi its back!

Interesting point! I was part of a boot camp and they told us that in the 20's the average person was so physically active with work, walking, etc. That most people were of healthy weight, and burning approx 4000 cal a day. Now how they would know this is beyond me, but I found it fascinating that we eat more and move less.

Woot woot!!!! I am so excited for you, I know how frustrating that was for a while, I am so glad to hear that things are still moving. Don't ever think your thoughts are too out of whack. All of us have those moments, it is easier to see what others need to do sometimes then to help ourselves, that is why this forum is so great. We can see ourselves in each other and make the changes we need to succeed. Good for you Stacey! Keep it up.