Navelbunnie

I had belzberg at kaiser and felt like they treated me really well. You'll do great!

I've used the nuvaring for 6 years and I really like it. You only have to think about bc once a month and can skip your period if you need.

Although after 6 years, I'm ready to not be on bc and my hubby and I are looking into more permanent o options.

Let's be friends: meganrobertson

Hey ya'll -

I'm doing some spring cleaning and came across the binder of information from the Kaiser Choices class I took pre-surgery. It contains info about gastric surgery in general (sleeve, bypass, and lapband), nutrition, psychological stuff, etc. It's a 3" binder chock full of all kinds of info. I'm almost a year out and don't need it anymore, so if you're contemplating surgery and don't have access to the educational classes, it's all yours.

It's a big binder, so it might cost a bit to ship but if you're local (Long Beach/LA area), I'm down to meet you somewhere to give it to you.

Let me know if you're interested!

I'm not sure what's considered a slow loser but I certainly feel like mine is slow. I currently lose about a pound a week. I'm 11 months out and I've lost 93 pounds. I'm 5'6" and my starting weight was 297 and my goal is 150. I don't do all the right things all the time. In fact, yesterday I ate like CRAP. But I am so glad I got the sleeve because even after a crappy day, I still have hope. I'm still consistently losing and my doctors are stoked about my progress. I wish it would go faster but I know a lot of that has to do with my battle with the food addiction issues that are still there.

It sounds like you don't think he's a bad person but you're ready to move on.

It's great that you're reflecting on this before you tie the knot. It's obviously hard since you're so intertwined with him now and if you want to make it work, therapy can be really helpful. However, based on what you've said here, you seem to be ready for a new (more single) chapter in your journey.

Thank you so much for posting. I think we have similar stats and I've been in funk lately feeling like my weight loss is going so slow. You are just the inspiring pick me up I needed! Your gorgeous self gives me hope!

There I was, on the roadside, buying my bag o' fruit (sprinkled with chili, lime and salt) from my local fruit vendor when this cute island-y looking dude walks up. He smiles at me and asks if I come here to buy fruit often.

Ya'll, I just got hit on!

Mind you, I'm a very happily married woman, but it was such an ego boost! I feel like I've taken another step toward rejoining life.

You look gorgeous! Way to work it!

This week:

Almond poppy muffin

Nachos

Ice cream

Brownie

chips and cheese dip

Hi, my name is Megan and I'm a food addict. So grateful I have the sleeve to limit the damage I can do.

Hooray! Thats awesome! I felt the same way when I could sit in those cafe chairs with arms and not feel like I was in a vice grip!

Girl, I feel you! I'm 8 months out and I break out and my pms seems way more severe than it used to be.

Does anyone know when this hormone thing is supposed to even out?

You're gonna be fine - better than fine! I'm 8 months out and can eat raw veggies no problem. Water is a must, although I get full if I gulp it too fast. The only things I can't eat are rice, Pasta, and potatoes. They make me feel gross. Congrats on moving forward! The grass really is greener over here!

Thanks so much for the encouragement everyone!

You look like a champion! Congrats on the marathon - what an amazing accomplishment. I think you look beautiful!

Dude! You're doing awesome! I was sleeved around the same time and I've only lost 80lbs - my goal is the same @ 150. Way to work it!

You're gonna hit your goal in no time!

A couple of NSV's:

1. I'm a little over halfway to my goal. So far, I've lost 83 pounds, my goal is to lose 147 lbs. Here's a pic to prove it! I was hanging out with my friends who were glancing through some old pictures and came across the "before" and there was a rousing round of "holy crap! you look so different now!" So we put together a little before and after and I was surprised to see what a difference there was.

2. I've been obsessed with dresses with pockets since junior year prom when I tried one on and couldn't afford it so I had to go with a different option. This weekend, I finally got my dress with pockets - over 10 years later! AND I got it from a regular department store (JCPenney) in the NON-plus size section.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info and encouragement to keep my head in the right space - and my body in a losing space!

PS - Also just did my first Zumba class tonight! Fun times! And woah nelly - is an hour of high intensity aerobics a loooooooooong time!

I'm not a very private person, so I've told quite a few people. However, I do fairly frequently just say, "thanks!" without explaining anything when acquaintances comment on my weight loss. I am much more open with people who the info might benefit. I know I only moved forward with the surgery after watching a co-worker (who was very open about the process) go through it. I've also been blessed and have only encountered a great deal of support.

I think we're all entitled to trust our (shrinking) gut and do what feels comfortable. I believe this is just as much a psychological journey as a physical one. We've got be kind to ourselves whenever possible - including setting comfortable privacy boundaries.

Hooray! Good for you! You inspired me to check my BMI (which I haven't done since surgery 8 months ago!) - And I went from class 3 (morbidly obese) to class 1 (regular obese)! Thanks for sharing your victory!

That kind of pain was the first sign of gallstones for me. Now that I've had my gall bladder out, I'm way less "hungry".

I'm always wondering about the stigma attached to WLS and "gaining it back" because people do WW, Atkins, etc and "gain it back" and it doesn't seem to have the same negativity attached. The beauty of WLS is that you always have the tool to use to lose the weight. And, I think WLS makes us more aware of what we must do to lose the weight and to maintain the weight loss. I wonder if there's ever been a comparison study to see who keeps the majority of the weight off longer: those who have WLS and those who use other WLS programs.

Yeah, Lissa - one of the things that was really comforting to me was when one of my doctors said off-handedly, "Well you'll always be able to take advantage of this." Even if I slip into old patterns, I still always have the opportunity to make good choices and get back on track - AND have it be effective instead of a seemingly impossible uphill battle that it felt like before WLS.

Exercise has been an interesting part of this journey for me. I used to think I hated exercise. But now I realize I think it was mostly my fat that hated to exercise. I'm not a fitness freak or anything now, but I have been exercising about 5 times a week consistently since January. (Was sleeved last July.) My main motivation has been to reduce excess skin. I recently skipped a few weeks when I had my gall bladder out and I found that I was actually looking forward to getting back into exercising - it was shocking!

I still have to make myself do it, but now it's just something I have to fit into my day. It's no longer an option or something I can find an excuse to avoid (most days). I find that I'm having fun just discovering all the things that my body can do now that I'm not as heavy as I was. After losing 50 pounds, I decided to see if I could run a mile. To my amazement, I did! I've done it a few times since then and my face is red for hours afterward and my lungs burn, but I'm just grateful that I can actually do it.

Thinking that I really hated to exercise has been one of the more salient examples of lies I used to tell myself because I was fat. I'm not saying that you (or anyone else) should love it now, I'm just personally excited to look at new things with an open mind. I'm a different person than that fat told me I was and this journey is largely one of discovery for me.

Same as others- I often share with whoever I'm eating with. I've also discovered the joy of creative ordering - side dishes, appetizers, and a la carte items are great!

My tastes have changed since being sleeved and fruit is my new favorite thing! My most favorite is the fruit with chile, lime, and salt that you can get from mexican street vendors here in southern California!

Oh my gosh, it gets so much better. You just had major surgery and it's a hard recovery, but it will get better! I'm 8 months out and have lost 80 pounds. I'm only a little over halfway to goal but my life is already so much better in so many ways! I'm happier and full of hope. I just bought a shirt in a cute non-plus size boutique yesterday and I nearly cried.