Lissa

Your doc is right up on the current research! I've read that a larger bougie does reduce the risks of leaks/strictures, which risks are already pretty low, unless you have one! Here's a picture of bougies, just so you can see the difference in sizes. It's very small, millimeters in fact.

Amazing transformation! Great job!! I was jealous that you were standing next to Vin Diesel until I caught the "Madame Toussad" sign!

If I'm in doubt, I always buy the next smaller size, especially if it's close to fitting. At the rate I'm shrinking, that tight size down will be too big in a few weeks anyway, so I may as well get some wear out of it. I might not wear it today, but the "tight" size always fits in a couple of weeks. Enjoy the journey! That's half the fun!

I can't give you advice on breathing and running, but I know that on the elliptical, I do the following. I try to take deep breaths in and out. In through my nose, out through my mouth. If I have a hard time breathing, I slow down until I get my breathing under control, then speed up. I have asthma and this seems to work for me. HTH

So, I think I change my routine as often as I change clothes, but I spent two hours tonight with a degreed personal trainer. First she did a fitness assessment and she was surprised at how fit and strong I am because I don't look nearly as healthy as I am. My new routine will be six days a week with alternating 30 and 60 minute cardio sessions. On the days I do 30 minutes of cardio, I'm going to work specific muscle groups daily, plus do abs 5 days a week. On the non-weight days, I'll be doing 60 minutes of cardio, probably 30 on the recumbent bike and 30 on the elliptical. I'm also teaching myself to swim, so I'll do that at least three days a week, working my way up to laps once I have more confidence in my ability to swim. Tonight I added squats and exercise ball to my routine and she pulled me off the weight machines to go to weight cables because the cables apparently give a better workout. I'm also adding free weights and barbells to my weight lifting...and I found out that I can do leg lifts on the "chair". I'm not sure what else to call it, but it's a frame where you stand up, holding your weight on your arms, and lift your legs free from the floor. In six weeks, we will reevaluate. My goal right now is to jump start my weight loss once again, plus tone and tighten everything I can regarding my skin. The trainer is skeptical that I'll be able to take another 70 pounds off my body, but she's willing to help me work to reshape everything possible. There's nothing to change diet/water wise, so it's got to be my workouts that increase. I'm hoping to see major results by the end of six weeks, or at least see that things are shaping up towards major results in that time. So, it's early to bed for me. I have a 5 am appointment with an elliptical and weight cables tomorrow! Today I am at 241. In six weeks, I'd like to be at 221 or lower. It's time to get deadly serious about this routine!!!

WindyCityMom, I know I still have some distance to go before I'm truly at goal, but my WLS surgeon wanted me to see the plastic surgeon now so we could start the process. We both knew that I'd still have some weight left to lose before plastics. What neither of us anticipated was that the PS would demand that I lose another SEVENTY pounds. I'm thinking 30-40 is about perfect for me, especially with the amount of exercise I do. I don't see 70 pounds coming off me anywhere without my looking like I died. No, I definitely don't want to have to revise the abdominal surgery. According to the plastic surgeon, revision of a tummy tuck is one of the riskiest surgeries to have in terms of good/bad results. I'm truthfully not 100% sure I want to have the TT at all, but I'll know more in another 20 pounds or so.

Bean, I try to keep up with the research to a point and I don't recall the article. Of course, I've had a couple of months of being in my own little world due to some family drama, so I may have missed it, too. I'll look for it.

Bougie size is pretty much irrelevant. There is very little difference between the smallest and largest bougies. Some folks have more volume because they are taller and therefore often have longer sleeves than shorter people, but the bougie doesn't really give you extra room. Here's a picture that shows the difference in sizes.

Mezz, I barely cook at all anymore. I spend one night a week prepping bacon and sausage for the week, buy a bag of fajita meat, and keep it all in the fridge for later use. Simple and easy. Since you probably won't see this until surgery is over... Welcome to the Loser's Bench!!!

That last night is really scary for many of us. I didn't sleep at all the night before my surgery. You have made a huge decision for yourself and now you're looking it in the eye and wondering the same things many of us wonder. Should I do this? Will I be able to live with this decision for the rest of my life? If you're truly in an introspective mood, go back over your list of pros and cons. But, remember this, once you're sleeved, you will lose that 150 pounds and be happier, healthier and more energetic. You'll get to live a lot longer than you will if you remain obese. Even if you manage to lose that 150 pounds on your own, how hard will it be to take it off and keep it off. Yes, you've lost weight pre-op, but you've done it by literally eliminating food from your diet. I had the same thoughts you're having right now. Less than a year later and 112 pounds lighter, I'm STILL thrilled I got on that table. Think of this: What would YOU give right this minute to be 112 pounds lighter? A piece of your stomach is easy compared to whatever the answer to that question is. Good luck! I'll be here waiting to welcome you to the loser's bench after your surgery!!! Your future is so bright that you're gonna need shades!

Yay!!! I hope you get your date today!!

Hee Hee, Pip! We were fondling the implants yesterday and DH made a comment about how natural they felt! LOL I agreed that they did feel pretty natural. I've always imagined they'd feel more plastic and harder than they did. If I'm going through the pain of surgery, though, I want EVERYONE to know I had my boobs done!

I had a consult with a plastic surgeon yesterday. We didn't even discuss whether insurance would cover anything because what I need is so much more than the insurance would cover. My doc recommends three procedures and, even if one were partially covered, none of the rest would be covered. I'm seriously debating what I want done and if it's all or nothing for me. The three are a lower body lift, then breast lift/augmentation and arms together, and finally my thighs. I'm assuming they'd be done over the course of a couple of years and I'm just not sure I can go the distance on that much pain and body reshaping. Of course, one may inspire me to do the next. I do know one thing, though, if I'm going for breast augmentation, I want BOOBS, not just boobs.

I think that changing our thinking is the hardest part of the journey. I loved Ourborous' post about "Holy Crap, I'm Getting Hot" because it shows that he's making that mental 180 to seeing himself as he really is now. That's a tough thing for most of us to do and it requires some major introspection. I joke that I'm always waiting for security to come and make me return to the plus size section of the store when I'm shopping, but it's part of the mental part of this journey for me. I'm working really hard to exorcise that 352 pound woman who lives in my head...and it's taking some real work to do it.

I agree with everything stated above.

I use Gold Bond or Monkey butt powder before the gym daily. My doc did suggest baby powder, but I already had both of the others, so that's what I used.

I still love the ricotta bake at a year out, but ricotta and greek yogurt are both high protein ingredients to use in shakes.

I'm lactose intolerant after surgery. I have avoided milk, ice cream, and cottage cheese since those three bother me. I can still eat cheese and yogurt with no problem. I think it's getting better. I had some cottage cheese the other night with a slice of tomato and it sat well in my sleeve. Rex is finally starting to accept some dairy! Yay!

I'm jealous of your pin!! Congrats on your weight loss so far! You're rocking that sleeve!! Great job!!!

Call your dermatologist. They will prescribe an antibiotic cream, baby powder or cornstarch, and take care of any wounds that need to be lanced. Make sure you're wearing cotton undies and pants as much as possible so that the air can reach your skin.

Dana, Protein Pills and protein shots are usually made from collagen and other sources that are not readily available to our sleeved bodies. Why gag down a pill or shot that isn't going to help you out nutritionally? Try mixing protein powder into other foods, as others have suggested, or check out the blog The World According to Eggface. She has a ton of recipes that are very tasty for protein shakes, protein desserts, soups, etc where you can mix powder into the food yet not gag from the taste. If you're on purees or soft foods, her Ricotta Bake is to die for and very simple to make!

You have a right to rant when people don't follow through on their promises. But, you have three kids who are old enough to go to camp, so you have some built in help, possibly. Put the kids to work. There's nothing wrong with even little kids picking up toys and clothes from the floor. By 7-8, they should be able to wash a few dishes with supervision, and one of them could sort the laundry and possibly move loads around for you. If you make it a game, or get them competing to "help mommy", it should be fun for them too. I'm not advocating slave labor, but they can certainly do a few things to help out.

BTW, someone PM'd me about the lids. I NEVER put them in my mouth. LOL

I buy Water bottles with those tiny little lids. I have to throw the lids away when I open a bottle of water because I will sometimes randomly want to swallow the stupid lid! I know it's my head messing with me, so I just eliminate the problem. I'd switch types of water bottle, but I don't like the pop-up lids or the flip lids anyway. The weirdest food craving I've had is for pickled bologna. I loved it as a kid, then got away from it as an adult. My cousin had some in her fridge when I went to the family reunion and I probably ate 4 pieces over the three days I was there.

Nena, My psyche ended up being a revision patient with major complications afterwards. The last support group meeting that I attended with her (late July), she spent the entire meeting telling a pre-op and two new sleevers her horror story. I did report her to the surgeon when I saw him and recommended that he find someone ANYONE else to lead those meetings. I owe the pre-op a phone call, which I just remembered. Carb addiction is a bad thing, but I doubt carbs lead to crack! LMAO Carbs are NOT a gateway drug to anything except obesity, IMO. Truthfully, I think the sleeve is better than bypass because the sleeve does not have the dumping complication that many experience from the bypass. The sleeve also doesn't require re-routing the internal plumbing, which means recovery is much easier. Do what you and your doctor think is best for you! Good luck.