LindaS

I like the idea of one-year to post a new thread and anyone can reply. And despite what it says to the left, I'm a sleeve vet of more than two years. I never had a lap-band.

Butterthebean, apparently in their wisdom they made you and I part of the lapband forum instead of the sleeve forum. It makes that forum a default, and I don't know/can't figure out how/where to change it. I want my sleeve back!

I think they banded me too, and i don't like it! If I wanted the band, I would have chosen it. Where's my sleeve?

I don't see how single women who live alone can wear shapers. I've worn tanktop types a few times, and when I do, I always have to enlist my husband's help getting the thing off of me. I think I've even had to have him help me pull the back down in the back when putting it on as well. They should put a warning on them saying you may require assistance in removing it. :-)

Those scales are based on hydration levels. When I bought my scale, it recommended that I weigh naked just before dinner in order to get the most accurate reading due to hydration levels. That doesn't work for me. I still weigh in the morning, and I just know that it is "off" a bit because of that although it is consistent because I weight at the same time. I don't think it makes that much difference in the percentage.

I never regretted my decision. I was 90 percent back to normal at 6 weeks, but I still didn't push it with too many weights and was tired. Iron vitamins helped.

I was on weight restriction for six weeks, but I could walk before that (almost immediately). I don't recommend something like rollercoasters before that because your stitches (internal ones) are still healing. A Water slide would probably be ok as long as it didn't jerk you around. The first three months was the toughest. I went back to work after two weeks, and I was very tired for the first few months. I started feeling better (normal) around 3 months.

I was told vomiting is not normal. If you are vomiting, call your doctor ASAP.

I like Muscle Milk. There is a 14 ounce version that has 20 or 25 grams of Protein (depends on flavor). It has about 220 calories. A good rule of thumb is if you are getting 15 grams of protein, it should have 150 or less calories. If it has 20 grams, it should be 200 calories or less, etc.

I have severe degenerative arthritis in my ankle, and I qualify for ankle-replacement surgery. Trying to avoid this is one of the reasons I had WLS. Before WLS, I was taking at least 1 NSAID a day (naproxen 500mg), and my ankle tended to swell almost daily. For several months after WLS, I didn't have any problems with my ankle even when I exercised a lot. After about a year, my ankle would swell up when I really over did it with the exercise. It doesn't happen often anymore, but it still happens. Now, I try to do preventative care. If I know I will be doing something that will put a lot of strain on my ankle, I take a Naproxen first. I don't have to take one daily, but I will take one several times a month. Earlier this summer, it was acting up (I was doing bootcamp 2x a week). I had a cortisone shot, which helped. Yes, Naproxen is an NSAID. My surgeon doesn't have a problem with me taking it. My risk, he said, isn't any higher than it was before my surgery especially since I don't take them daily. I haven't avoided ankle-replacement surgery, but it has helped push off into my future more. My ankle surgeon also said that although exercise and lots of walking puts a strain on my ankle, the health benefits are worth more than the damage it does to my ankle.

I understand that you feel like you were undermining yourself, and you sound like you are on the right track. I'm glad you plan on discussing this with your therapist. But, you need to put things into perspective as well. You had a 2,000 calorie day, which most people would consider being on a diet. It wasn't a week of 2,000 calorie days or a month of them. It was a day. How did you do the next day? How do you do normally? That is what you need to worry about most. Perspective is necessary at both ends of the spectrum. What would you have eaten in a day in the past? Don't beat yourself up. Learn what you are doing and what you have done and measure your successes and challenges.

I took clothes to the hospital and my Kindle to read. I didn't need anything else at the hospital, and my hospital provided the belly pillow, which was awesome immediately after the operation. Some of the things you mention, I eventually bought but I didn't need them right away. Body pillow (for sleeping) -- no, I never used one. Tummy pillow (for support after surgery) -- hospital provided one. Mug warmer -- haven't used one. If my coffee gets cold, I don't want it anymore. 4oz Containers -- I eventually bought very small dishes, but I didn't need them for a while. Appetizer spoons/forks -- No. I use regular sized silverware. Blender bottles -- I have one, and I used it frequently at first. I rarely use it now, and I don't need more than one. Water bottles -- I love the refillable Water bottles. I have several, but I tend to use my favorite one. Anti-itch cream (incision sights) -- I didn't need this. Mederma cream (scars) -- I didn't use this, and my scars look fine/faded. Anti-bac soap -- I think I had to have this for the night before surgery. Bento-style lunch kit -- I have one. I rarely use it. Wet wipes -- I have these, but it has nothing to do with surgery. GasX Strips -- No, I didn't use them, but I know a lot of people swear by them. Liquid Tylenol -- No, I didn't use it. Food scale -- I bought one eventually. It was when I started eating normal foods because it made it easier for me to figure out how much I was eating. I didn't need it when I was eating prepackaged stuff (protein bars and Protein shakes). Mini plates -- I use the salad-size plate that came with my set of dishes. I didn't need to buy special ones. Protein powders galore -- Don't invest in large containers until you know you like it. Vitamin organizer -- No. I took a multi Vitamin, Biotin and Iron, and I just kept them in their original bottles. Exercise bands (stretchy ones) -- I have one, but I rarely use it. Fitbit tracker -- I have a watch that will tell me the calories I burn, but I don't have a fitbit, and I am two years out. I don't need that much information. What I did buy eventually for working out -- an exercise ball, hand weights (2 and 5 pounds), and exercise DVDs that I can use at home. Personally, I like Zumba and Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. My next investment will be kettle balls. I highly recommend that you not buy a bunch of stuff initially because you don't know what you will like/want/use. It doesn't all have to be there right away.

Very cute! Woo hoo! It didn't take long at all.

In my area, some doctors charge a fee for that initial informational meeting. It was about $25.

The problem is that you don't know if someone had repercussions or not. I teach, and I know that sometimes my students get upset with me that I don't say or do something about a particular student, but really the class has no idea what I do. For most situations, I don't discipline a student in public. Just because it isn't done in public doesn't mean it isn't done.

Protein also tends to give you bad breath. I kept a toothbrush and breath spray near me.

I had a hard time drinking Water right after surgery. It took me more than a month before I could drink more than 64 ounces in a day. It felt like such a chore trying to get all of that water into my system. But time passed, and it became easier. I was able to drink more at a time. I also started drinking flavored water because that made it easier to drink. Personally, I love Sobe Zero Lifewater. Later in my journey, I found that I couldn't lose weight unless I drank at least 64 ounces of water a day. If I don't, I stall.

I'm a teacher at a university in Michigan. I frequently teach nursing students, but my specialty is English composition.

Happy birthday, Lipstick Lady! I'll be turning 42 on the 19th this month. And today in the mail, AARP sent me a membership form. Talk about a way to ruin a birthday.

I know what you mean. I was very happy when I was in the 180s/190s range, and I slacked off a bit. But I didn't let myself do that for very long. The truth is, I expect to gain weight back. Maybe not right away but eventually. I don't imagine myself being 80 years old and doing burpees to stay in shape. I'd love it if I could, but I just don't see that as feasible. So, I am trying to get as small as I possibly can in order to give my future old self some wiggle room. Currently, I'm in the 170s. I fluctuate between 173 and 176 most of the time. I like it when I stay below 175, which I was doing very well. Eventually, I hope to push myself into the 160s. This means I need to diet and exercise. Ideally, I would like to be at 155 because it means *100* pounds lost and gives me some wiggle room in the "normal" range of BMI. I am happy where I am right now. I feel like I look great. Many people have told me I shouldn't lose more, but I am not just about the scales. I need to lose still, and I need to exercise. I can give up here, but where will I end up in the future? What happens if I break a leg and can't exercise for 6 months? I need wiggle room. So my advice is to be happy where you are but keep doing the things you need to do. It doesn't always show up on the scale, but it will eventually.

My surgeon expected me to lose 60 pounds in the first year, but he didn't tell me that until after I did it. I don't think you should be disappointed. You are losing, and you can't be wrong if you are losing and continuing to lose.

I'm doing great. I lost 85 pounds. I haven't had any problems; I am staying active, and I feel very happy about my decision and the results. I work out regularly and eat right most of the time. I feel very normal, which is wonderful.

There are more ways to measure whether you are healthy than just the BMI. (waist/hip ratio/body fat/etc). In all of those other ways, I am in the normal range. For BMI, I am still overweight. Before I had the surgery, almost everyone in my life didn't think I was "that fat." I was told more than once that I was "too little" to have surgery. Once I actually lost the weight, and my family looked at old photos of me they were shocked at how big I was. food wasn't a big deal for me before, and it isn't a big deal for me now. I can eat what I want to eat, but I don't eat very much of it. For instance, I might have a bite of cake instead of a gigantic piece of cake. I don't eat a lot of bread or potatoes, and I try to stay away from chips because those are sliders. There are things I don't consume -- like pop (soda), but I had given that up way before I had surgery. I try to avoid empty calories, but I also don't want to settle for something that tastes horrible. If "low fat" doesn't taste good, I eat the "full fat" version but less of it.

I could walk immediately, but other exercise wasn't approved until 6 weeks out. At that point, I had an all clear.

I had the same insurance before they had the 6 month requirement, and I started the process June 27 in 2011, and I had surgery August 9, 2011, so it was a 5.5 week wait for me. This involved getting a psych eval, sleep study and an endoscopy as well as an appointment with my regular doctor to get a referral letter in during that time. Good luck to you!