Pookeyism

One of my very best friends for a long time was very similar height and weight wise to you, except he was a bit taller and probably a bit heavier. I can say I think it varied from intimidation to fear. We even discussed it at times and he said it was mostly his weight. He never had the issues with intimidation or fear or avoidance before the weight gain as much as he did after the weight. I know another guy about the same in size who is white and I used to hear generally the same complaints – so I think it is more a weight thing. Your sleeve date is coming up soon and I bet you are excited! Good for you. You already seem to be a bit of a heavy thinker (OMG no pun intended!). It is good that you have these thoughts and I bet you are the type that will have these and more several times a day, every day. Keep a journal, there is no ideal formula, just keep it. Maybe keep up with a counselor or stay with or find an in-person support group. I have a lot of things I find myself thinking and doing that fall out of the area of what I thought I would think, or what I might think. I also notice I do not react the same to everything the same as I have during my previous weight losses. I can also “see” my shift in a lot of thinking, which is reassuring that my counseling and talking it through is working. Judging others – I am guilty. Not when I just see someone, however. It is when I see them eat. I am trying and I feel so very sinful when I judge like that. When I see someone just eating the foulest fried foods and such (I have not ate in a fast food restaurant more than 4 times in 10 years, and the last time I was sooo ill) I get so nauseated. I actually feel physically ill! There are also thoughts of wanting to talk to them. I have started very discretely watching obese people eat and sometimes I let my mind do what it wants – and I journal at the same time…I write, draw, tear apart a magazine and make a collage (no kidding)…orgami, whatever…I then go back and review it and I have often found I think I am working through my feelings of hopelessness I was beginning to feel before (and during) this last weight loss and decision to be sleeved. It complex to say the least, however.

Very happy for you guys! Been stuck at 206 for awhile now, but I WILL GET THERE!

Fish is yummy. Tobiko (caviar) is gewwwd! Hummus Avacado But you said stuff you did not like before? Cottage cheeze!

It's all easy to do and yes! Join! It's been slow but very happy to help and I think all of our memebers are the same way!

Yes! I "saved" myself by only weighing in 1x a week.

I did not think about the weight on the license! But yes - I look NOTHING like my pic (I also had pink and green hair, looongggg story).

It is good to shuffle the two about, in my experience (lots). For me anyway I like the feeling of being able to do heavy weights and I like the longer cardo-laden effect you get with more reps and lower weights. As long as you keep careful eye on your form (max advantage and injury prevention) I agree - both build and maintain muscle. Good post!

Hummus, eggs, chicken salad spread, several soft cheeses, mushed avacado and TOBIKO!!! Also butternut squash mushed...mmmm

Got to, got to, GOT TO pass this onto my Hubby!

I have "stalled" a bit and it SEEMS more than it is...the scale goes down eventually and something is working i am in a size 38" jean. We will loose because we have to. I am going to a metabolic disorder specialist in the summer. I am waiting until then to give my body a chance to even out a little (hormone wise). sleep as routinely as you can, getting as close to 8 hours as you can. Keep your carbs low, low, low and make time and room for Water - just water. Your miltivitamin is essential. Exercise if you can at all. Limit your eating at night. It affects the way your body reads certain hormones and really does affect your weight.

Inspiration for us all! I can barely handle that changes now, they are so often overwhelming! I can't imagine ten months from now...

If not check with the hospital or local bariatric surgeons - maybe you could offer it through a support group. With the prices of clothes in Hawaii maybe you could get some of it tailored down a little so you could use it longer?

You are really insightful, actually. I had to make a mental note of it this evening, but only after stuffing myself of butternut squash Soup. Mine is a combination of stress over deciding I am going to have to depart way permanently from a good friend at the same time I found out my Hubby will be out of the country for at least a couple of weeks, maybe more. I get really lonely when he is gone.

I am over two months out and doing well, I was sooo nervous the night before! It will be fine! Early "Welcome to the loosers bench" to you!

Absolutely! She is in my prayers!

Bad! In a good way! You have made me sooo hungry!

It feels sooo good to hear from the newbies

Yay!!! and glad to hear all is well! I do not like alot of technology to be honest, but the online forums like VST are so unbelievably helpful. I contribute when I can because I gain information, support, advice and I get a feeling of contribution to a very worthy cause. In the day and age where every one is "gimmie, gimmie" this is a most generous group!

I am taking small bites still, and I think my sleeve (George) really prefers it.

I was self-pay. We had a strict no-no on WLS in our policy...good luck! And HUGGS! Keep your chin up! I know you iwll get alot of advice here, hopefully it will be able to help.

I can take normal drinks, but I have gone along way to training myself to take smaller normal drinks. I find it more satisfying when I am drinking milk or, er, coffee (you got me!) if I can take smaller drinks and enjoy it longer.

Definately keep going - we had these stalls on other diets too - but this is a whole new ball game. We can keep going and eat well and you know, even if you only drop 2-3 lbs a month from here on out, that is 24-36 lbs in a year. Where woudl you have been otherwise? I know where I would be... Get on here everytime you need to - let us help!

PS - it is definately Ok for Mom to get her groove back...if you don't make yourself #1 at some point, you will have no #2's - because you will not be here.

The pre-op diet ideally does several things, importantly it firms your liver, puts you in a state of ketosis BEFORE you undergo the trauma of surgery. I know surgeons are surgeons but they too have opinions often that are not the best...think of how many times a doctor has gave poor advise on something else...hmmm The ketosis body of a patient that is obese and probably been on yo-yo diets or a heavy modern lifestyle is a complex thing. The actual yo-yo process people think of as giving up+some is actually a compound, aggregate condition that worsens as you go. I think some doctors fail to appreciate the extra complications for a WLS patient if they go into ketosis after surgery, rather than already be somewhat adjusted to it. Alot of the "off" feelings many of us have after surgery are due in part to ketosis and the body adjusting gerlin, leptin, testosterone, estrogen, ets - and blood sugar. If you can I would suggest you talk to your doctor and tell him you want a pre-op diet. If not many of us had them here and we could at least give you suggestions. Very happy for you that you have made your decision and are well underway! Keep us posted.

So I haven't seen the scale move in about three weeks. This can be somewhat discouraging considering I only have 11lbs to goal. However, my cloths are getting bigger and bigger. I'm in a 5-7 jean now and it is a little strange for me I have to say. I don't know that I want to get much smaller. I don't think that is odd at all. It's a very healthy thought to be able to go "I like me HERE". It can be difficult for us to begin to really be OK with our bodies. Is that weird? I'm at a normal healthy weight. I am exercising now and my muscles are toning up very nicely. I started this because I wanted to get healthy and I know I can still lose more but I don't want to start looking sick, drawn up, and old. Here are some before and afters. Tell me what you think. The last three are from today.... In the last one I was only trying to give you and idea of how thin I am under the shirt. Sorry about the tummy showing. Awww...its a very cute (slim, lol) tummy! Be happy!