Pookeyism

...and it will always be this way. It was more than I let myself realize this week, and I literally ignored my eating until last night. Had you asked me how my week had gone I would tell you average and doing just fine. In truth, when I made myself accountable I had my first Cereal, my first crackers, first dessert-like food, and I dont even like to eat them anymore. Even when it was the good stuff it was constant. It wasn't head hunger, I call it heart-hunger. For those of you who don't know - many of you do and have been so supportive - I had my surgery on January 4th of this year. My Mom passed away unexpectedly a week later - three months ago today. I will always Celebrate a sleeve-anniversary knowing a week later my Mom died...six days later I talked to her last, three days before that I began to make arrangements to be home in the Spring and suprise her with my weight loss...This is so unbelieveably hard. I feel really weak but I know I must have some strength left in me because I am here at work, and I want to exercize tonight and enjoy my evening with my Hubby and text my Sister and Dad...and I want to work on this some how being better, not even OK, just better. My Husband told me I should not judge my strength by how weak I feel right now, that I am not a sprinter, I am not a marathon runner. I am a hunter-gatherer and I have been chasing a bison now for a long time, and I will eventually catch it, consume it and go on. The reference is vague but he meant it is not a game or sport, it is life and I will win. I told him once while he was gone on an extended trip to Africa (while a crisis known as Hurricane Ike loomed - and I decided to stay with our home)...I told him "I will survive" on Facebook and he replied "No you will thrive". I keep that in my thoughts. I hurt, and I wanted to reach out to a group that has been always supportive and caring and just wonderful and inspirational and say so...for me. I also wanted to post this to say to the other people out there that are having an exceptionally hard time that you are not alone, and you are stronger than you think. There is no shame in reaching out, no lack of anything in you for realizing finally that something is harder than you realized. I realized today that this is not how weak I am, this is how strong I have been all along. I have took so much and I do not endure or survive. I do thrive. You will too. God bess.

I have had a very long stall too. I seem to be stuck at 204 lbs. At first I panicked because I felt the old "here I go again" and the inevitable gain. But a week passed and another and then a second week and a third I lost 2 lbs. and agian I stall. It seems different to me now, somewhere along the line I realized it isn't the same. I won't regain it and if I have hit the weight I will be so be it. It isn't where I wanted but it sure isn't where I was. I am no longer hungry, I am no longer worried about wiping out a hip on a downward slope on my bike. I eat well and carefully and I have not lost much hair at all. I enjoyed an NSV the other day when I was finally prodded into shopping and I went into Old Navy and bought two "L" tops...They fit. The size 16 pants will be very loose soon. I am somehow, at least for right now, content with the loss I am experiencing. If I loose 2-3 lbs a month that is fine by me. I want more and I am working on it. Onderland is where I plan to reside. For now I am content to coast along after some very hard fought for victories. Keep my new good habits and stay active. Hope this helps!

Edamame with soy noodles and chicken, cut up and stir fried in a wasabe-soy mixture was pretty good for me - I had a friend make some just for me during a wok-party. Also try the Snacks - wasabe flavored seaweed slips - wasabi covered peas and dried edamame are sooo good!

I can say I thought I understood it enough, and had accepted it enough - but after surgery I did realize I needed to work through it more. Counseling can be good but it needs to be a counselor who is experienced in cognative process and food habits. The issues around your food can be a big deal too. The journal thing - even if it is scribbled in like a post-day planner can be really helpful. It can show you where your patterns are likely to pop up, so you can work on them. There is no way I can post enough to really help you, you will have to do it on your own, and it isnt just an ephipany and all is well, it is a daily process. Just remember - you are not cured from being overweight. There are studies that suggest you fill fight this the rest of your life. Your "meds" now are your sleeve, and the understanding of good and bad habits with food, activity, stress, and other factors such as real meds (many real meds used to fight obesity related conditions in them selves make weight loss harder!). I also suggest you read and reread books on the subject...I am currently reading The Skinny on Weight Loss Surgery, and (an old friend from wayyy back in my high school daze) The Way of The Peaceful Warrior. Good luck!

I have heartburn from just water and ice. I am more likely to need tums after that than I am after a protien shake, easy.

Just be very careful with the things you don't feel a restriction on. I've had to remind myself of that over the last few weeks. I've had alot of trouble transistioning over to regular food (3 months post op) and couldn't peg why. I noticed how much liquid I was able to get in, and started moderating it more...so many ounces, wait, like I had to to begin with. I think I was keeping my tummy sore with liquids! Gone back to liquid protien in moderated amounts for about a few days to a week, and going to go back to mushies after that, and see if that doesnn't help the solid food phase more. About the pills - as the dictor but do not wait to be told. Some time-releases are done so out of convenience or expense, and can be transitioned to a similar med that is not time released - and thus easier to digest.

Oh! poo! the whole point I was going to reply to! I am going to experiment on sleeve friendly protien bars! I will let you know how it goes!

Mootopia (HEB) is a milk that has half sugars, 12g protien. I take 8 ox and mix with 3 oz water or alot of ice, and a scoop of unjury unflavored. It isn't everything you need, but it is about 40g protien.

Prayers going out to you! By now you are in recovery and it REALLY all begins! yayyy! Speedy recovery to you and welcome to the rest of your life...

Yup, possibly thrush or such...with the protien drinks you have to be sooooo on top of brushing your tongue and rinsing out your mouth. It may be a Vitamin deficiency or even getting too much of something. Keep in mind if your Vitamins are out of whack on the amount of an ingredient tht could be an issue too - there was a case of too much selenium in a vitamin supplement that killed people. If I were not at work I would research it more for you.

Not familair with him but 8000.00 is great. keep your incidental expenses in mind, too. I recommend you begin to "pay" now, you have 6 months to save up - and that could drop a signifigant amount off your bill. If you could get enough you could possibly do a small micro loan and save alot on interest. If you have not already, request terms and conditions for your loan and check on what the fees are for the loan. I have heard of people paying upward of 20% to finance self pay. I opted to draw some funds from savings and 401. Still lost a bit off the top but nowhere near the 20%. Don't mean to be a kill joy but what was the specifics of the bariatric excellence award time frame? 125 surgeries does not seem to be alot for 6 months. Be sure you are getting all of the answers straight up - check with other sources, and confirm his accreditations. Do some research and make sure the hospital did not fall out of favor with the old doctor for another reason than they state. Make sure you doctor has not gone downhill somehow, too (no kidding leading heart doc in 80's that did my Papaws heart surgery would go to prison on repeat drug charges ((him doing not prescribing!)) 12 years later).

It ttook me almost a decade and researching and deciding against ALL of the other WLS options before I did this...It is odd, how long it can take until you realize you have had enough. I have literally fought my way back from the dead before, and yet I could not accept WLS for a whole decade. I wish I understood that more. Enjoy your returement, and never look back!

Search for other topics related to this - there have been a few recently and all had good suggestions. Good luck!

I encourage you to read the article, very interesting! http://asmbs.org/2012/03/asmbs-special-alert/

Way to go! It's a great way to start a weekend!

There is a procedure but not a filler - they pull the upper lip up slightly. I forget the name of it. I would not get filler but might would consider the other procedure. You can have the fat under my chin for your lip if it makes it cheaper. lol.

My Mom passed away a week after I was sleeved, and I had to handle the arrangements, and fly into VA from Houston, TX. I had a horrible time of it and had some sort of heaving/dryheaving episode mid-flight on the way back. I cannot say I had one major complication, but the stress seems to have slowed my progress alot - or what I think it would have been. I am definately dealing with an overload of the emotions we find hardest to deal with, anyway. But yes, I would do it again.

Thank you for the reminder!

So sorry you had to go through that! What lessons we have to learn - and remember, while going through the first several months! (((hugs)))

Make sure to dress for comfort! Best advice I can give.

I have lost over 500 miles of blood vessels! So yes, very good on the heart! BTW - the blood vessels and such in the fat are consumed for energy also! You also are moving alot of waste - that is why water is soooo important (one reason).

http://www.omg-facts.com/view/Facts/28212 Interesting!

Sorry, I am at work and for whatever reason I can't read but the first few posts - I am lucky I can read any - most stuff is blocked. In re: bewbs...but not just bewbs, the saging arms, te lateral small folds on the back just below the arms, etc...and unfortunately belly and legs, etc. I have heard alot of people say they will not have plastics but I absolutely plan to because I am actually really concerned how I would maintian those areas as I got older and goodnes forbid bedridden or needed assistance. I may very well focus on the surgeries intended to modify the folds only, as opposed to "body revision". As far as bewbs specifically my surgery will be extensive and painful. I dread it so much, I don't know how I plan on talking myself into that waiting room, lol.

6 lbs away from onderland! I haven't been less than two hundred in at least 12 years, maybe longer. I want to hit onderland before my Hubby returns from Trinidad, so hopefully in a couple of weeks. I have been in a stall now for awhile!

Thank you very much!