CowgirlJane

There are a bunch of dance places and century ballroom is the place in Seattle...too far for me. I started swing dance classes already and intend to try others.

However I am maintaining a very large weight loss post sleeve. ..so things are possible! !

I would want to know the reason. I am suspicious of the whole ring or band over sleeve thing. Ask alot of questions. .. In geneeal (not about OP) You plain and simple have less restriction with the sleeve It takes an adjustment in mindset and one reason revisions don't lose as well as they tolerate that full esophagus feeling. .

I used to try to bake weird/faked out stuff and came to the conclusion that they never really satisfy me anyway. Back during the low fat craze it was substitute applesauce for the fat/oil... great idea, but if I eat 3 of them I have still consumed enormous carbs and calories... sigh. My strategy now is if I want bread or potato - I just eat it. I just don't make it part of my daily routine. Florinda, meaning to ask you where you do your tango and how you got started on that? Me and the boys did our first swing dance class last night. It was fun, but hard. Like I have been going dancing alot and a few of the guys know a little bit so I am out there dancing and it looks okay to people who don't know dance... but you add the foot work in...it gets hard! Gee I have been hungry lately. I am doing good, but pretty busy, not sure if that is creating hunger... or more likely the cooler weather and shorter days... Sunny and nice right now though!

I waited almost 3 months. This seems like surgeons make this decision based on their gut feeling since I have seen no research that indicates the "ideal" waiting time or that it is even better than one surgery.

In early weeks... eat by the measuring spoon. Your nerves were cut and don't trust feedback from the stomach just yet. Later, say 6 weeks + eat until no longer hungry. Do NOT seek "full". I truly believe that developing that habit is one of the keys to long term success.

Oh... forgot to share. I worked out this morning..ooh.lala. I used to do this quite regularly but now rely on horses, dancing and hiking to keep me fit. Fall has fallen so time to hit organized exercise again.

I lost over 160# with the sleeve after terrible results with the band. I am a sleever believer but that list is completely unrealistic.

Kelly - great pix - you are adorbable! Glad you had a great time. Kim- that sounds like a great weekend. I had a fun, music filled weekend and then had a horsey day, so all was great. I am off the lexapro and admit to feeling a little blah. Lots of people feel blah on a cloudy monday so i am not letting it get to me. I decided to not do 5:2 right now since going off meds, but have been watching my diet a little closer. I am down 1/2 pounds since a week ago, which is pretty meaningless but... at least I am not UP! I am thinking about halloween costumes... suitable for going to parties/dancing in. I would like to use something out of my closet and do makeup... ideas? I have been thinking about cat woman ( buy the mask/ears I guess) but that seems overdone.

I did not reread the whole thread but I want to share my experience after losing 1/2 my body weight. My first plastics consult was....unreal humiliation. I was shell shocked much like you describe. I had 3-4 consults in my home town and then with Dr Sauceda in Mexico. By that time I was over it and his consult felt loving and comfortable. My friend was with me and felt horrible about it. Reminded me about the initial sting. In USA I would just expect to pay my own so the coverage issue is different.

Be kind to yourself. You know how important it is to comply and you messed up. I see two choices, learn from it, be thank full you didn't cause injury and persevere. You cannot change the past but you can make the right choices today. Option two is to get caught in the guilt shame cycle and overeat again to cope with that. Hang in there, it does get easier.

So I have been going dancing alot with a meetup group last few months. I don't know how but love the music so just do the freestyle thing. A couple of guys know how to swing dance and have been teaching me a little. Not really the footwork but more how to follow. At first it was so embarrassing I felt awkward and oddly..It made me feel like I used to feel when obese..like people might be looking at me. Anyway one of them told me that it was his job to make me look good and that helped. I have danced with him alot and last night I felt like "I get it"'''shifted from awkward to fun. A couple of others in the group commented that I was a good dancer which made me feel good. She also told me people look at me because I am hot..lol. I still get teased about my Pat Benatar look (we did an 80s night a few months back). So my youngest son and I went to an awesome music show Friday night (his choosing) we had cheap seats where everybody was swing dancing. He wouldn't try it but had fun. So last night he joined me with the meetup. W. who has been teaching me convinced him every young man should learn to dance! So starting wed night...My 2 sons and a girlfriend are signed up for an east coast swing class....woohoo!

If I start a thread with the Kindle I can't see what I am typing so I have to post and then reply to it. I had to edit this in my phone. ..grrrr

Oh and today I was shopping at Nordstroms and the clerk said that she loved my outfit and how I was "put together" (ha from Ross Dress for Less) and nobody said that before even if I was dressed to the nines.

Most of my goals were non scale. I freaking kick most people (dudes included) butt hiking. No high or borderline blood pressure, my A1C (diabetics indicator) is excellent. My doc is younger than me and says she wishes her labs were as good as mine.

I advise perusing before and after photos from those who have gone before you..makes for sweet dreams.

The hardest thing the first month is proper hydration. Even mild dehydration can make you feel like death warmed over. Sip sIP sip...and patience.

I cried and was depressed for days after my initial plastics consult. It was awful. I had several more and kind of got over being treated like a side of beef... By the time I went to Dr Sauceda I knew the drill. My dear friend was horrified..like how could he be so mean? ,He was the kindest of the lot but she didn't know what it was like to be prodded and your skin pulled around and reminded of flaws you didn't know you had. My heart is breaking for you but I know in the end it is so worth it! ,insurance didn't pay any of mine but I would advise chilling fora awhile.

Kudos to you..half way to goal and haven't even had surgery yet!!!

That is an abomination!

My hair did partially fall out, and it wasn't due to inadequate nutrients, it just happens sometimes. The thing is, it grows back. I think it is very important to stay focused on why you made this decision "your eye on the prize" and not let yourself get too upset about temporary issues. I get it, I really do, but if you want to be the most successful, I strongly encourage a focus on the positives.

149 is not obese at 5'5"-bordering on overweight BMI. Whew Ok, this is a tough one with that long drive, but here is something to try. Get in the car and Water load. I mean really drink alot as that will temporarily satisfy and get you hydrated. (Hopefully you can make a pit stop on the drive home). Wait about 30 minutes, probably feeling hunger again by then and eat a veggie platter. Celery, broccoli, etc. My local grocery sells them for $5 premade or you can chop your own. Eat unlimited the rest of the drive home. I tried this last time I worked at my company office (I usually work from home) because there are alot of food temptations there. I ate the better part of a veggie tray...mid morning snack and then much of the afternoon.

Lapsleeve is just a marketing term...they are all done laproscopically these days. I am a sleeve evangelists, as I have been very successful after switching from a lapband that never really worked. I realize this is a personal decision but I would be questioning whether it is worth the risk of any WLS with only about 50# to lose. This decision comes with consequences and it is for a lifetime. Good luck whatever you decide!

So, I am stating the obvious... she makes her living by making outrageous and controversial statements.... otherwise that show would be even more boring than it already is... I think it is nonsense to sign a petitiion or whatever to try to make Rosie shut up...good luck with that...haha!! I am glad people have choices, and it is very true that any procedure is a crap shoot in the sense that "no results are guaranteed" and alot of it depends on patient education and willingness to committ to the program. I certainly see the appeal of the band, it was my first choice too. I am told that the band is better now, but in 2001 when I had the bio-enteric lapband their brochure specifically stated that it was a temporary device that would most likely require removal with risk of regain. The brochure did not mention the things I actually struggled with - intolerable reflux and difficulty eating healthy food (veggies and dense protein). I still have the brochure and I still have the letter my surgeon made me sign that I understood the temporary thing. Oddly, I don't remember signing that letter or anything until I dug all my info out when it was time to remove my band. sigh. denial I was. I know that of the people banded in my "era" most/many have had to have it removed. I don't know the stats and don't know if current technology is still like this. Anyway, it is besides the point. I want everyone to make their decision based on data, hopefully relevant to current techniques and outcomes. I wish all much success! I bet Rosie does too, but, she has a big mouth, it's how she makes her living.

Interesting about the Hep C. I just read that baby boomers should all be screened for it - some unknown reason much higher rate. I was born in '64, the last year of the boomers so fall in the category. How did you find out, were you screened for it? I am not truly fasting either, but I am not stressing over it. I am maintaining at 145 and my clothes all fit. Getting off lexapro is a higher priority at the moment - so far, so good... but early days. If I start to feel bad it will likely hit Sunday/Monday based on previous patterns. I dream of being in the 135-140 range, but realistically if I can maintain right here and tackle that after the holidays... might be a good way to go. Sounds like everyone is doing really great - keep it up ladies!