DebiC

Yeah-Don't drink mouthwash. You might get drunk! 80 oz! I have been having a rough time getting in 64!

Roberto's is about the only place I can still go out to eat. (I'm guessing it's the same one-but maybe not) I usually get a beef tostada and eat the toppings-leave the tortilla-I can only eat half. Or mine has a carne asada taco ($2) that is 2 unfried corn tortillas with about 6oz! of carne asada and then pico de gallo. That's it. Easily 2 meals!!! Mexican food has been a real life saver on my plan. Lot's of flavor and texture. And much can be made low fat or fat free!!

I did find that Water tastes much different. I used to drink water that had been through a Brita filter. Now I can't stand it! Some people find that they no longer enjoy cold drinks, while I need to have my glass full of ice. I just started buying the gallon jugs of water and tried several brands to find one or two I liked. I really enjoy Fiji Water, but it is soooo expensive. I save it for a special treat!! They say different water's have different ph's so maybe that's why they taste different. Then again you may not notice any taste difference at all and tap water will taste just fine to you. Every one is different.

Got my fingers crossed!! I've been looking at shoes online. I'd be happy just to go from a WW to a W!

What do you mean not drinking plain water? That is what we are supposed to drink. I don't get it about the vitamins either. Mine aren't hard, they are adult Gummy kind. Maybe they stick to your teeth and cause cavities?

I gave up Pepsi when I started this journey. I know that if I took even one sip I would be back to the 44ouncers in no time! I wish I could find a good substitute. To make it worse I can't tolerate any artificial sweeteners so no Crystal Light or MIO or flavored waters or sports Water. No sucralose, no Stevia, no Truvia, no Aspartame. Just plain old water. I know that around the world many people drink nothing but water their entire lives, but I'm so bored with it. Today I "splurged" and had 8oz of lemonade. But that is over 100 calories!! I know that I am flirting with dehydration, but even 3 months out, i just can't force myself to drink even 48 oz of water a day. I do try and get in 16oz of skim milk and 8oz of juice along with my water, but I just get so tired of plain water. I have even started buying different brands so that it seems like a different beverage.

I love pepper, but personally I would treat it as a seed. My surgeon allowed seeds at the same time as I was permitted a full diet, which for me was 4 weeks.

Sorry you are off to a rough start. Just remember it gets easier every day. Especially as you see the scale go down and the clothes get worse. You'll realize this was all worth it. If it's not a problem I would say definitely stay with your mom the few extra days and let her pamper you! Good luck. And sip sip sip.

Frpringle-I'm so glad you found us. You are doing so fabulous. You are especially an inspiration to me because I think you are the only person I have seen who started with a BMI as high as mine! And look at how you are doing. 100lbs by 3 months! I got sleeved the week after you (11/14). I have lost about 75lbs (getting weighed today) and hope to hit 100# by my 5 month. It is amazing the self control you seem to have and what you are doing sure seems to be working for you. Do you even eat the chicken for Breakfast? I occasionally eat leftovers for breakfast. I have found that my taste buds don't seem to differentiate between meals anymore. They all seem interchangeable. Plus I don't eat my first meal until 10:00 so that my eating schedule is 10-2-6 so that I can have dinner the same time as my family. Do you exercise? I have just started a walking program my surgeon put me on. But I have to say I have taken more days off than I have actually walked. I know a lot of people here do the gym and stuff, but I am still too heavy to even think of doing anything besides walking. I so know what you mean about not seeing any difference-i have said that here many times. When you have as much to lose as we do even 100# barely makes a noticeable difference. At least you are getting to wear a new size in pants! I wear those old lady black stretch ones that seem to fit every weight I ever am! It's also hard because I am 6' tall. I finally found that Woman Within had tall jeans up to a size 44T. One style. So I ordered a 40T and was so excited when I was able to pull them up and button them. But then I looked at the legs and they could have held an additional leg!! I don't know if they were "wide" leg pants or if my hips size is WAYYY out of proportion to my thighs, but I guess I'll have to wait until I go down a few more sizes to get a pair of jeans. I haven't worn jeans in about 12 years so that is one of the first things I am looking forward to. Even if they are a size 38!!

It's not uncommon for our Significant Others (and sometimes friends and family) to sabotage any diet plans. Or for that matter any types of changes we might make. They feel threatened. If you lose weight you might leave them (actually this happens a lot-but don't tell them that!) or sometimes it's a control issue (many obese people are in relationships where they allow the partner to control them-due to low self esteem), sometimes it's jealousy (if they need to lose weight also). Lissa (and the others) are right that your first step needs to be to talk to him, Then if that doesn't work you probably need to take a look at your overall relationship. Is he supportive in other ways? Is he controlling in other ways? This program is too hard, too emotionally draining, and too expensive to allow ANYONE to sabotage you.

This is so cool that so many of you have responded here. Denise-170 in 10 months! what a success story. My current goal is 100 by 5 months. I hope I can do as well as you!! PEvette-Smart thinking. Medifast has come along ways since I did it 25 or so years ago. I saw they have pancakes, puddings, ice cream. Let me know how it works for you. June will be here before you know it. Tenshi-That's why I wanted to see this forum take off. I think we 200+ er's have a lot to offer one another. We will all take longer to get to goal-and while we are at different stages and have different journeys, I think we have a lot in common too and can help motivate and encourage each other. Tif-We'll keep you around. a size 8!! I don't think I've been a size 8 since elementary school! I'd be happy to even see a double digit size such as XL (I'm considering 6XL as triple digit). I'm 6' tall and if I wore a size 8 I'd look anorexic. Right now I just want to be able to go into a regular store and buy something-anything. So even a 3XL or a 28 looks really good to me! Rahnava-Welcome. The first month is the hardest. I CRAVED a hamburger (although I think I can hear those baby backs calling my name along with yours.) So at my first chance I went to In-n-Out and ordered a burger "Protein style" (no bun-they use lettuce for a bun) I ate most of it and it just wasn't that appealing. My tastes have totally changed. I can't even imagine a fast food burger anymore. You'll be able to have those ribs again soon and will find that 1 will take care of it. When I dish up my food and look at it-I think this tiny amount will never fill me up. I'll need at least twice this much. And then I can't even finish the first batch. Hang in there. Once you are out of the mushy's and into the real food-this will all become a distant memory. My surgeon has us meet with a personal trainer-so I just did that this week. She started me on a walking program. She tried to get me to start off at 30 minutes! I told here that until a month ago I could barely walk to my car! So we are at 10 minutes. I can't wait to lose enough where I can start doing some "fun" exercises.

Thanks! I've been called a lot of things in my life-but never a "lumbering giant". I'm 6' tall and the only time I've regretted it was when I shop for pants. I have 1 son who's 6'6"-Brother who is 6'5"-SIL who is 6'8". so around here I'm the shrimp!!

I certainly hope not! I'm 6' tall already-and have trouble finding clothes long enough!!

I have to go with the advice that you need to contact your surgeon ASAP. While this is not an issue for me, we discussed in our class how it was inadvisable to get pregnant for the first year. But since it's too late for that-accident or otherwise (and I am genuinely excited for you!!-were it not for my weight I might not have had the fertility problems I suffered with for 35 years)-At least find out what you can do to keep both you and your baby well nourished and healthy throughout the pregnancy. And I would surely not worry about trying to lose weight during this time. Just focus on keeping you both healthy. Keep us informed. You must be so excited!!

I'm much older than you (56) and have been obese for about 30 years. I too managed to get by with no health problems (One doctor said "obesity in itself is not a health problem). Then in 1 year I developed SEVERE sleep apnea, pre-diabetic neurophy (I lost feeling in my feet and hands) which is irreversible. And then I had some chest pains and they told me that I was too big to even do the necessary tests. I was shocked I was to go from just being overweight to being "deadly" overweight. I had no idea the different problems I was starting to encounter. I too had lost 100lbs at different times, only to gain it back, plus more. So before I agreed to do the sleeve, I gave WW one more shot. I did OK for a couple of months and then began losing motivation. So I realized I would never do this on my own. For me it was a last resort. Now that I have had my surgery (3 months ago) I wish I had done it years ago!! Many people say it's a cop-out or you are taking the easy way out. For me this has been both the easiest and the hardest program I have ever done. I want to make sure that I balance my nutrition the best I can with the minimal calories that I can comfortably eat. While there may not be the research that has been done on the bypass yet, I think the advantages of the sleeve over the bypass or the band make it worth it in the long run.

I feel like you do about it. My doctor "allows" only three meals a day-No Snacks. He says "Eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full, Protein first, then if you have room veggies or fruits" That's not really much to go by. I find that 3-4oz of lean protein and 1/2 cup of veggies or 1 cup of salad seems to fill me up. I don't do Protein shakes or bars and since I don't get snacks I do 3 meals. I aim for about 1000 calories. I drink 2 (8oz) cups of milk a day, 1 (8oz) glass of juice and have a 100 calorie dessert. So that leaves me about 650 calories for 3 meals. I try and make each meal about 200 calories. I find that this does fill me up. I might have 2 egg whites and a slice of bacon for Breakfast. Or 1 cup of high protein/high Fiber Cereal with fruit. I don't know how this compares to others-but since it is so hard to get adequate nutrition on less than 1000 calories I am trying to do the best I can nutrition wise.

I have been on 2 antidepressants for years-one a capsule (Effexor) and one a tablet (Wellbutrin). My surgeon said to open the capsule and mix it with applesauce at the beginning (this pill is huge!) he said to cut the tablet in half with a pill cutter (I actually cut them into 4ths just to be safe). My Wellbutrin is large so it must be a different strength than yours. I only needed to do this for a few days then I was able to take them whole. I haven't had any problems with them since. In fact pills make up most of my morning meal! Not counting my Vitamins and Calcium I take 7 pills in the morning. By the time I take a drink of Water with each pill I'm stuffed! I have not suffered the emotional rollarcoaster so many talk about. It may have a lot to do with the antidepressants. Whatever you do, don't just stop taking them-the effects of sudden stopping or even missing more than one pill are not pleasant.

Great link Josh-Soon as I lose some more weight this looks like it will be a good option.

Inspirational. Motivational-But not funny

They are probably out buying Valentines gifts!

LINDAS-I retract my statement, I actually think totally bald guys are uber sexy. What I should have said is "Guys with combovers" And in reality if the guy treated me decent, I wouldn't care how much hair he had!! Too bad we don't all live close-We could go out to dinner together for Valentines and share 1 meal!!!!

Thanks-I have heard that being overweight keeps the wrinkles from showing-at least on your face. I'll probably look like I'm 100 when my face gets sagging. Saving up for a face lift first thing!!

when I had my VSG surgery my surgeon discovered that I needed to have my gall bladder out. He said that he would do it after I lost 150# and that he would also "tighten up" my sleeve at the same time. During our initial consulation, when he wanted me to do a bypass, but I was vehemently opposed to it, my surgeon said it was always an option if I didn't lose what I wanted. I read somewhere that initially the sleeve was done as a precursor to bypass for those patients who were too heavy to initially undergo bypass surgery. Because the sleeve can be done easier on super obese patients than the bypass. I'm hoping that I will be successful with the sleeve, as I certainly don't want to have to undergo one of the other WLS's with all their complications.

This is my 9th Valentines alone (not that the ones before that were anything to brag about) and while I would rather be alone than with him-It does suck! I am the designated babysitter so my kids can go out with their spouses. I'm glad that Ms Steel has found someone. She's so cute. But at my age the single guys are all either bald or want me to support them!! Really tho-and kind of Off Topic. I worry about meeting someone (after I lose weight of course) and having all that loose skin (under my shapewear) I have seen after pictures from some of the surgerys and they almost look worse than the before! Or having all those scars from the WLS and/or the Cosmetic sugery. Plus that fact I have barely talked to another man, outside of business, in almost 40 years! Oh the dilemma's I'll have to face when I look fantastic! :embaressed_smile:

Great idea-Love your list. Don't have an inspirational one-but I will include this one PERKS OF BEING OVER 50 1. Kidnappers are not very interested in you. 2. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first. 3. No one expects you to run--anywhere. 4. People call at 9 PM and ask, " Did I wake you?" 5. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac. 6. There is nothing left to learn the hard way. 7. Things you buy now won't wear out. 8. You can eat dinner at 4 PM. 9. You can live without sex but not your glasses. 10. You enjoy hearing about other people's operations. 11. You get into heated arguments about pension plans. 12. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge. 13. You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into the room. 14. You sing along with elevator music. 15. Your eyes won't get much worse. 16. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off. 17. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service. 18. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either. 19. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size. 20. You can't remember who sent you this list.