CowgirlJane

High intensity exercise does trigger more hunger. I think the exercise is worth it, but you need to learn to :"manage it". I find the right balance of Protein and carbs before and after (mini meals) are the way to address this. PDXman and Fiddleman are two guys that used to post regularly that had lots of knowledge on this - I don't really. What I will say is that you can "Eat your way through" ANY exercise program. Football players work out HARD and yet many of them are overweight....

My arm scars are standard placement. Only can be seen if I wave bye bye! However, I go dancing, including swing dancing with arms up... and nobody even glances at scars - they are not very visible. I have told a a few dates about them, and they all say they didn't notice till I pointed out.

How much do you have to lose? I lost over 160# and i have to tell you - I was quite strict during the weight loss phase. That meant low carb, no drinking, limited sugar etc during weight loss phase. I am in maintenance now, and do socially drink but am still pretty restrained on my eating - that is what I need to do to maintain. My stats: highest lifetime weight (2005) 332# Preop weight: 308# (surgery Dec 2011 weighed 300# day of surgery) Initial goal achieved Feb 2013: 158# (lost 150 in 14 months) Lowest weight: 140# current weight: about 145#

This collage... the 2nd photo is me at goal, with no shapewear. A bit of a melted snowman effect. What a difference plastics make and I get constant comments about what a great body I have (compared to other 50 year olds anyway!) I love ALL my results, but the arms made a huge difference!!! I had the "small" thigh lift. I sometimes wish I had gone for the full/long thigh lift because then I would have tight thighs like my arms. Flip side, I do wear skirts and shorts and no scar is nice... tough decision. all in all, I am happy ... estatic really!!!

My arm lift probably made the biggest difference to my comfort dressing in stylish clothing. I could hide the tummy skin under spanx but the arm skin made me look heavy. I love love love my eesults. I year post plastics and I wear sleeveless all the time..people don't notice scars unless I mention it.

I effing hate the rainy season. We have the best summers EVER but it is starting to suck big time...

Makes me sad to hear of so many people who have been hurt....not supported by loved ones. I feel so blessed that every soul I have talked to about my WLS and plastics (skin removal reconstruction after massive weight loss) has been either enthusiastic supporter or good sense to remain silent. What the heck is wrong with people? ?

Denise, have you tried the Lexapro or Busebar anxiety meds? Even though I couldn't handle Lexapro over the long run, a tiny tiny dose addressed my anxiety and helped me get off the crazy train. I don't think I suffer from true depression, but I get the blues when my anxiety amps up too much and i can't sleep or relax. Anyway, i didn't gain weight on Lexapro except that once I got mentally healthier i started normally eating again, so regained about 5-7# of that unplanned loss I had. I didn't try busebar, but according to my online reading, those two drugs are lower side effects, easier to deal with than many of the old drugs. Life in day to day anxiety SUCKS! Life is so much better with that monkey off my back. Other things just start falling in place... I would also strongly encourage limiting contact with anxiety provoking people. For me, it is my EX. Good guy, but we had a very unhealthy relationship and every time I saw him, my gut would wrench. He is in close contact with the boys - so if he comes over I leave and it helps me alot.

Life is such that most "western" women are a little overweight - and not just the middle aged ones! I think a bit of self acceptance goes along ways. It is so hard when you used to be obese. I get into that whole 10pounds = 100pounds problem in the brain, no what I mean? All or nothing thinking. You know what made me feel good last weekend? i have regained about 5-7 pounds from my low weight and Steven was so compimentary to my looks when I got "skinny chick" size... down at 140 this spring and summer.. I felt a little embarrased for him to see me. Isn't that dumb? You know the first words out of his mouth - you look great, better than ever! I kinda realize he always says I am beautiful, but it reminded me to not be so damn hard on myself! I saw him again yesterday evening... I really cant figure out this guy except to say I think he is also very drawn to me, his life is just high chaos so he lacks consistency. I don't have a real boyfriend, or anyone else I am ready for intimacy with, so I am okay with what is going on... playing it week by week as things go. Kevin, the guy i met in the parking lot is nice guy. We had a fun date, going dancing again. He is already driving me a little crazy though... daily texts and calls... offers to come over to my house to fix things etc. Love it if he were my boyfriend, but we just aren't there yet....and i feel a bit smothered by the daily calls etc. He is also a big complainer I am finding. That gets old.... we shall see. So, pics from my very fun dance night last weekend! Bling belt with non cowgirl clothes - got lots of compliments on it.

I won't be there if the weather is nice...weekends are my horse riding cowboy chasing time.

Well, the good news is, it is a temporary problem. I have been at goal for awhile and people don't seem to remember I was obese. When old pics are pulled out, even my own adult kids don't recognie me! Whatever you tell others, i do think self honesty is important. When I had the lapband I kept it a secret (well so i thought) and i rationalized it as "not being REAL bariatric surgery. Like I wasn't REALLY obese, just overweight - ha. I told my partner and my sister. About a year post op I over heard my sister at a big campout telling a whole group of her friends about my surgery in a very disapproving tone. Clearly my "private" approach didn't work and I trusted her completely with that info, I just didn't realize she was bitter and jealous about it and had a good laugh at my expense when i failed miserably. However, 10 years later, with the sleeve I told everyone in my life. Heck, it was life or death... I was becoming disabled. People cheered for me!

I wasn't poking fun either - I just see WLS as serious life changing, life risking stuff. I have had wonderful results and no real issues and yet i too would not get WLS for 40-50# to lose. That is my opinion and everyone is free to theirs.

Denise what dose are you on ? Sleep aid low dose much lower side effects according to what I read. For just anxiety and depression I was told busebar combined with lexapro or similar often works. It takes weeks to tell if the drugs are working and I didnt gain weight on lexapro. Lexapro did reduce sex drive but I didn't care, better than anxiety. Reason I went off it was I started getting flu like symptoms from it. If I took too high of a dose (normal dose) I would get a little euphoric so low dose treated my anxiety really well. Another thing that worked is eliminating anxiety provoking people and situations from my life. I am doing great so far off the lexapro as long as I limit my coffee...high doses contributes to anxiety for me. So, for example, having coffee with one of my anxiety provoking sisters is an activity I avoid..ha

Ok. . I feel that relief from the 24/7 physical hunger gives me the luxury of thinking of these deeper topics. I feel like I am peeling an onion. ..The layers of deeper self awareness.

Denise. ..it just isn't that good. We both KNOW THAT. Wine, on the other hand.

I can't have candy around. Boys are under strict orders to hide the crack....er candy.

I did alot of first dates online too. Had a couple of guys I even saw for a few weeks etc. I am not entirely certain why I really didn't like it, but most of the time I would not want to see them again. Boring, weird, or just not quite right.... how about the guy that 10-15 minutes in pulls out a deck of personality cards and proceeds to give me a personality test. Of course I gave false answers since no way I want to date someone who does THAT weirdness in the first few minutes... I feel like I managed to connect (ie ones with 2-3 dates) that just had issues. Hell, I have issues but please be over your ex, and not full of dread of women while you also pursue a relationship. Anyway, I know there are great guys out there too, but the whole online thing just put the wrong filters on for me. I feel like meeting someone face to face is more natural to me. My "attraction" or interest in them is the whole package, stuff you can't see from a photo. More importantly, I am practicing social skills. I figured out what I was doing to keep from getting asked out. As soon as I recognized it, things have really changed. I went out Sat night with my meetup group - dressed the same as always (although i did figure out a new make up trick or two) and everyone wanted to dance with me, buy me drinks and ask me out. I didn't want to see any of them, but suddenly it is like i have found the "key" - haha! So, I am practicing this social skills. One of my girlfriends told me that her number one mistake is she waited to be chosen... instead, I am much more actively engaged in "choosing" who I want to see.

Washington State Weight Loss Surgery Support Group Support groups are very important to weight loss surgery success. They can help you flourish on your journey to complete wellness. This group is welcome to pre- and post-surgical patients. This an opportunity to meet others who are on the same path, educate and support each other through sharing ideas and tips, social & fitness activities and educational speakers. Together we have a wealth of information and using support groups as a tool along with your surgery you can increase your success in achieving maintenance and overall wellbeing. Join us and get inspired! WHERE: Lyons Den Café WHEN: Sunday, November 16, 2014 10415 Beardslee Blvd, Bothell, WA 98011 (425) 892-8954 TIME: 3:00 PM Finally, it is happening for the Seattle and the outlying areas! Please pass this information to anyone you think would be interested in attending this initial meeting. For questions, contact hosts Kay Feather at kayfeather304@gmail.com or Michelle L. at lotus_mimi@yahoo.com If you are unable to make this meeting but are interested in staying in touch about future meetings, please contact us.

Kelly and Florinda, somebody is finally organizing a meeting in our area. It is located in Bothell on a Sunday afternoon.. thought it would be nice for a few vets to show up. I wonder what happened to FiddleMan and his wife? Maybe I am remembering wrong, but I think he is a local and i never see his posts anymore. Anyway, details are in the WA Sleevers forum

I wouldn't get surgery for being 40# overweight either there are awesome 2 year (expensive but so is WLS) geared to true lifestyle changes that I think are better. I in fact wanted to do that but they told me I was too high BMI to be a good candidate and recommended sleeve! I was over 50 BMI at the time.

If you view from laptop you can see my signature and profile pix. My lifetime high was 332, I started preop diet at 308. I am maintaining at about 145#. My sleeve was Dec 11, 2011. A complete transformation.

For me it has been important to shift away from "recreational" eating. My friends are all active and fit. Doesn't mean we don't enjoy going out for a nice meal but it is way down on the priority list. I won't date a foodie, I don't go out to big dinners that my meetup pals host. I go dance and other active things. If I do "eat big" I follow it with strct (read hungry) days to balance it out. Thin women my age have to do that or they get fat. I am almost 3 years out and have my struggles for sure, but I think " lifestyle change" needed is more drastic than I understood pre-op.

Yeah Denise I met him in a parking lot. We went on a dancing date Friday and saw him for a bit Sunday after my ride. It's just a date or two not a relationship nothing physical. I gave up on the online dating because I just keep meeting people with issues. I used to think I couldn't date any other way but I have figured this out now so conducting a new social experiment. I like this much better so far. I wouldn't date at all if Steven were really available but he really isn't. I am undecided what to do there but I am fine not heartbroken. Has Bill become less needy since getting a job etc.?

I don't know what happened. .. I did experiment with my make up. ..but tonight when I went out with the meet up dancing to live music all the men were interested. Several of the me young ones wanted to buy me drunks etc which I declined. A young guy just at the place asked me to dance over and over. It was fun. Now if I could just figure out why I was suddenly so appealing. .ha. Had a bit of a misunderstanding with steven. We were supposedly starting up, I didn't really want to keep dating others etc. I did quit the whole online thing but steven went off the rails, over the edge and cut himself off from me. We haven't actually dated since the big decision to start up again . Say a a month ago so I just decided to "move on". Anyway we had a big tiff because I didn't understand what the heck was going on. We worked it out but I told him this is not working. .no blame just not working. I can't have someone in my life who stresses me out and who is so high drama. Wish I didn't still carry a flame for him....and I am certainly going to keep dating but very casually. ..not getting involved with one guy until I know him way better. I have made that mistake. ..zeroing in way too fast (ie not dating others) and then am disappointed.

Today I was cleaning my garage and came across some old jeans and shorts. It shocked me how big they were. I had forgotten I guess how far I've come. I held them up one by one and marveled that they ever fit me. I was pretty sure I had found clothes from my very heaviest - 330 ish and size 28W to 32W or 3x to 4x range. I checked tag number 1...size 20W. Checked the next...sure enough they were all 20w to 22w. It hit me like a ton of bricks to realize why these were forgotten in garage was because they were WAY to small when I moved to this house. I spent a few minutes feeling sad for the woman who would have considered 20w pretty damn good clothing size/fairly trim. Then I emotionally moved on to gratefulness that I have attained a normal weight and size. I am surprised how much this event shook me up.