Caribear

This is something that totally varies depending on the person. I am pre-op, over 300 pounds, and I can see my collarbones. Not that they're super prominent, but they are definitely visible.

How long have you been going to the gym every day, and what kind of workout are you doing?

I have taken this before, both the extended version and the abridged tests. I am always an INFJ on the longer test, but the shorter tests sometimes show me as an INFP.

Wow, those are some dark clouds! Hope you made it home mostly dry!

Awesome! I am so looking forward to that.

Woohoo! I am so happy for you! This post gives me hope. I have not been smaller than a 20 in recent history. The last time I was in an 18 was in high school. I truly can't imagine what it feels like to be in a 12, but seeing your success makes me feel like I have a fighting chance at getting there! Thank you for sharing!

@@foevlo have you seen a counselor? They can help you understand the reason behind the old habits and the uncomfortable feelings, and help you put good coping mechanisms in place. Your surgeon's office may be able to recommend a good one. Edited to add: Set your own goals! Don't be discouraged if the ones your doctor sets are not what you want. I think they use statistics to choose a goal for you, but don't let that limit you or define you!

@@Dub thanks for the suggestion, I will try that! @@Manhattan Mom of Two I am glad to hear that your recovery is going well! I don't think it is uncommon for you to still be hungry after soup and purees. From what I understand, for most people, those types of foods go right through your sleeve. I think the term is "slider food." I would agree with your surgeon and stick to solid Proteins. I hope your recovery continues to go well!

Hey all, I am three months in to my nine-month physician supervised diet. I decided to lower the amount of carbs I have been eating (not even super low, I try to keep it around 100 per day) Anyway, I have noticed that I have had a lot of trouble falling asleep lately. I mentioned it at work, and one of my co-workers said "oh yeah, that's because you cut carbs!" I looked it up, and it seems this isn't an unusual thing. Has anyone else dealt with this, and how did you handle it? Does it stop eventually? I am tired of being tired.

Yes, I would reschedule. Your body will be under enough stress trying to heal after surgery, you don't need to add recovering from an illness on top of that. I know it's a difficult decision to make, but I think in the long run it is what's best for you. Keep us posted, and feel better soon!

I will probably not have surgery until next June. My insurance requires 9 months of diet, which will be done in February, but I will need to wait until summer because of my work. I teach 10 classes per week at the YMCA and will need to find subs for all of them. So if I can get the surgery done during a break week, I will minimize the load on the other instructors while I am gone. I think my biggest fear is that my fibromyalgia will flare because of the surgery and hinder my recovery. I had my gallbladder out in 2010, and I was miserable for about three months afterwards. However, I am much healthier now and have much better control of my symptoms, so I am hoping that I will be ok. I feel like being nice to your co-worker is probably the best course of action. Just smile and do your best to ignore her. Her bad attitude is her problem, not yours.

I am still pre-op, so I can't really offer you any advice, but I can offer you some encouragement: You can do it!

Thank you so much for sharing your story! I am still pre-op, and reading people's descriptions of what they went through helps soothe what fears I have. I know every recovery is different, but if I have some idea of what to expect, it helps with the fear of the unknown. I am so glad you are recovering well, and I agree about the co-worker! Misery loves company. I hope things continue to go well for you!

I am still pre-op, but I am a "teller" and I have told a decent number of people. I have only had one person react like that so far, and I knew that she would because we have had lots of discussions about surgery in the past. Honestly I have had more comments along the lines of "oh, you don't need it." For reference, I am 5'8", 315 pounds, and have been in the 300s most of my adult life. The smallest I ever got on my own was 260, and that was strictly limiting calories and working out 2+ hours a day. The next time someone tells me I don't need it, I am going to ask them "why do you think I don't?"

Oh my gosh, I don't think I have ever related to an article any more than this one. Thank you for sharing!

Personally I would go with the option that gives you the most time off. You don't want to rush your recovery any more than you have to.

I will add that the surgeon's office specified in their paperwork that the notes from the Primary Care Doctor must include that they counseled you on both diet and exercise, not just weight checks.

I found this link, thought it might be helpful.

Yes, I am probably looking at a date next summer as well. I completely agree with what Djmohr says, we can use this time to our advantage and start making important changes now. And remember, the time will pass no matter what. We can't make it go faster, we can only control what we do during that time. Hang in there!

Excellent job! You are doing great!

I can completely relate to how you feel. I was almost 400 pounds at my highest weight. I lost 120 pounds, and was still morbidly obese. It's incredibly frustrating. But I would echo what others have said, just keep going! I also echo Inner Surfer Girl's suggestion to find a class you enjoy. If you like to dance, I recommend finding a REFIT class near you. It is similar to Zumba, but they use pop and contemporary Christian music instead of all Latin. They are very uplifting, and I think you will find a lot of support there. Keep on keeping on, sister! Praying for you!

I quit cold turkey several years ago. I think my son's dad was afraid of me for the first three days, lol. Just warn the people who are close to you that you might be a little emotional for a while, and explain why. I think the biggest thing for me was reminding myself that every time I craved a cigarette but didn't smoke one, I was closer to being healthy and smoke-free. I took up crocheting and used that to distract myself. Quitting isn't easy, but it is worth it. And you can do it.

I started in June, but since my insurance requires 9 months of supervised diet, I am right there with you.

I think you should be ok. According to the paperwork I got from my surgeon's office, they are checking for things like un-treated depression and excessive risk-taking behaviors. I was diagnosed with dysthymia (long-term chronic depression) and I asked my surgeon if it would be an issue, and he said no, as long as it was being controlled and I was not suicidal. (no worries there, I would like to live, that's why I'm having the surgery)

I am also pre-op, so take from this what you will, but I have dealt with joint pain for many years. I am another one who has had some success from tumeric, but I have also had a lot of relief from taking Gelatin as a supplement. I use Great Lakes brand beef gelatin, and it shortens my recovery time and just generally makes my joints happier. I sprinkle a spoonful in a cup of juice, let it absorb the liquid, stir it up, and drink it. There is a flavor to it, and a texture that some people find unpleasant, but I don't mind it too much because it really helps. Don't know how your sleeve would like it, but it's worth a try. A one-pound can of it is about $18 on Amazon. It does take a little while of taking it regularly to really see the benefits, but I don't go without it now. I am hard on my joints and I need all the help I can get. I hope you find some relief soon, and that your added shifts go well.