CowgirlJane

Ok, people freak out because they simply arent used to seeing you at a normal weight. My sisters were very upset that I was too skinny when I was 150-160 and now that i am 140# they don't think so anymore. All that happened was time. They are used to me know. I felt bonier heavier. That has been weird but I think weight redistribution happens and maybe I just got used to it. It used to freak me out to see ribs on my back but for my build it is normal. I know we poo poo the BMI charts but they really are a good rough guide. If you get below say 20-22 BMI as a mature adult you MIGHT be on the thin side. Even then, being a tad thin is healthy it's more a mattee of do you like it. I personally think too thin makes me look old. The weight I look the best at in my opinion puts my BMI at 23.

OC I am curious about the approval of the sleeve in 2013. ...mine was done in 2011 and I was not aware it was still unapproved. Would love to read up on this.

I was required to be in full body compression for 6 weeks, including legs. I wore them longer. Then as they wore out I switched to very firm support slack liners that went from waist to ankles. Avoid nuts and other salty food. Do put feet up etc. Michigan - At 3 weeks out I was still on very limited activity. Basically still doing nothing. I cannot fathom a LBL without compression garments. They made me feel secure. I wore those pant liners for months post op and I always had more swelling without. I also learned how to do lymphatic massage... never really sure it helped though. Finally, I wonder if excess swelling means you are pushing it too much too soon. Or maybe you just sadly drew the swell hell card. Hang in there.'..Plastics ain't for sissies..people have a hard time understanding that I had minimal pain but alot of suffering during recovery. It's hard.

I think your stats are really good too! It is rugged having so many complications - I am lucky I did not. It hasn't been easy even with NO complications so I really empathize. I do think now is the time to Celebrate the victories and start enjoying the results too!

It is normal. I never got swelling in my calves or feet, but I did get it in the belly. Mine was minor but FELT huge. I wore stage 2 garments on lower body for a long time after it wasn't "required" because I hated that tight feeling and exercise or salty food triggered it.

They have industrial strength hooks that go down the front.... they work really well if you get the right size. Right now I just have a black jacket, but open to other color ideas - this will be a winter "going out" look

corset place is having a big sale. I want something that would look nice under a jacket or something.... I have a quirky sense of style but have to be a bit careful to not get overly sexy looking. I am not a shy dresser.... I at times think I border on tacky but it comes from a lifetime of ugly mom jeans and fleece... ain't gonna do it! Since plastics, I have found that my boobs get more attention than is always appropriate..haha. I don't want them popping out the top so to speak so finding the "right" one is important. I don't really need something to hold my gut in as I am reasonably lump free - though not perfect! Anyway ladies, do some window shopping with me.... I measure about 39-40 breast and around 29-30" waist so I cant figure out what size fits but I emailed them.. Last corset I bought was labelled "medium" but isn't big enough. Well, maybe if I had 3 handmaidens to lace me in... but i don't! Oh, and I am cheap, i am not paying $57 for that awesome steampunk "waist pack" although it would be awesome for going dancing! http://www.corset-story.com/corsets/corset-of-the-day.html

I didn't suffer depression post op and I can eat anything fine. What happened to me was after about a year at goal life handed me some challenges. I thought I had good coping strategies but I did go through emotional turmoil. I realized that in the past food and obesity would have numbed me. I think that once you are passed the initial thrill of losing weight that can come up. I still think the sleeve was one of tbe best decisions I have made. Went from 308 to about 140ish. Everything in life is easier now.

oh grammy... she was an idiot. She had recently discovered slowcooking/crockpot cooking and felt it was the answer to all over eating. You have got to be kidding me. i have slow cooked, fast cooked, baked, grilled - you name it, for years - and yet weighed 300#. It is a stereotype that all obese people live off mcdonalds and cheetos.

A valid point is that alot of WLS patients DO regain. That was one of my former PCPs arguments against... and it isn't a lie, it is a plain and simple fact. However, I look at it differently. First, there is much better education and support for people to have long term success now so for those that take advantage of that, they have better tools to prevent regain. Second, even if i regain half of what i lost... which I am determined to NOT let happen, I am still way better off...

Many PCPs don't understand obesity very well. My FORMER PCP was fired after she told me that I just needed to buy better cookbooks to lose weight. Say what?

I have no experience with weight loss drugs. I would be hesitant too. There are ways to accelerate weight loss ( I just typed it up on another thread..haha) ... and also accepting that we all lose at a different rate and speed and that is okay too! Edited to add... I just cut and paste what I typed in another post. Not exactly on topic, but maybe some thoughts for you.... I started at 308, and about 7 months post op my weight loss slowed to a CRAWL. i mean like 2# a month. I still weighed in the 190s and at 5'5" had a ways to go. I found out that for me I had to do a couple of things to get going again. #1 I had to really face the fact that at 190 I was physically pretty comfortable and still had an nice emotionally shielding fat suit. I looked great according to my friends, but in truth, I looked matronly which was safe for me. #2 I came to realize that I needed to go low carb to get the weight off. For me, Protein bars where the number one issue - I was having 1-2 a day and that is ALOT of carbs. I had to stop buying them. #3 I had to change my exercise routine. I was making NO progress spending long times on an eliptical and using the weight machines. I switched to high intensity interval training - using a spinning bike. I went back to losing 10-12# a month and got to my goal of 158# 14 months post op. I have since lost a few more pounds during maintenance and now weigh about 140ish.

I started at 308, and about 7 months post op my weight loss slowed to a CRAWL. i mean like 2# a month. I still weighed in the 190s and at 5'5" had a ways to go. I found out that for me I had to do a couple of things to get going again. #1 I had to really face the fact that at 190 I was physically pretty comfortable and still had an nice emotionally shielding fat suit. I looked great according to my friends, but in truth, I looked matronly which was safe for me. #2 I came to realize that I needed to go low carb to get the weight off. For me, Protein bars where the number one issue - I was having 1-2 a day and that is ALOT of carbs. I had to stop buying them. #3 I had to change my exercise routine. I was making NO progress spending long times on an eliptical and using the weight machines. I switched to high intensity interval training - using a spinning bike. I went back to losing 10-12# a month and got to my goal of 158# 14 months post op. I have since lost a few more pounds during maintenance and now weigh about 140ish.

I have been told to do this, all my bloodwork was done during "normal" consumption. i did find out that certain numbers - like cholesterol, are not accurate if you drank coffee so I do all my blood work completely fasting (except water). This spring I was having some health issues and did blood work when I WAS not fasting and when I was NOT taking Vitamins (weren't agreeing with my tummy). Interesting thing - very low blood sugar for not fasting (78) and my nutrient levels were very good even though i had been off my vitamins for a couple of months. I try to eat healthy and I suspect your body stores most vitamins for awhile. It was a clue though - I wasn't feeling well because I wasn't eating enough. Low blood sugar doesn't feel good. I wasn't eating enough because I didn't feel well. The "cure" was to find ways to force myself to eat. Now, I am back to trying to NOT overeat...haha.... normal! So, my advice is to stay on your normal routine unless your doc tells you otherwise.

I second everything kindle said. I lost 168# - but it didn't happen in a linear fashion. I actually stabilized after losing 150# and considered that goal. Since then I have been maintaining but able to lose a bit more. My initial goal had me just over a normal BMI - now at about 23 BMI. That is astounding to me as a lifetime overweight/obese person - never expected this. Why is your screen name unhappysleever? Since i can't see your stats I don't know your details?

Well, I suffer from a lot of back pain - have for many years. What I notice is that when I first lost weight, I noticed my "bones" - collar bones, seat bones, ribs sticking out etc. It didn't hurt, but seemed sensitive. Now that I have been at goal for awhile and actually weigh a bit less... the "bony-ness" isn't so noticable. I don't know why, but my theory is that when you lose alot of weight, it takes some time for things to sorta... resettle.

This thread breaks my heart too. You know what else? Newbies show up on this forum with screen names that sound like the list of insults we have been sharing. It's not my business so I seldom say anything but I hate the screen names that are some version of piggy, fatty,fatso etc. I notice those names never stay around though....is it because people change their screen name or is it because they leave? I don't know. I ride horses and one of the things I have learned is to think and look where you want to be, your goal.Do NOT think or focus on what you are trying to avoid. Horses are not smart like dogs but intuitive...and they seem to know your mind so if you think about the negative they are much more likely to share that fear or whatever and the bad thing is more likely. If you consistently visualize success they seem to"read" that too. I have learned from it so I do things like have passwords that I type frequently be positive. I would never have a user name that reminds me of a negative. Words matter.

144this morning...woo hop...now if I can just make this a trend! My tummy feels bloated weird. Maybe I need to take those probiotics.

Happy Monday! My scale continues to point out the errors of my ways this summer - too many parties, wine walks and other excuses to consume carbs! I am at 146; want to get back to 140. I know how to do it and I think fall is a great time to do it. The weather will soon really change to miserable and I will hit the exercise bike and 5:2 plan. It is interesting, last summer I also gained 5 pounds and I used 5:2 to get back on track and decided to lose even more! I was dating last summer - I was "seeing" steven casually but dating to try to find a real boyfriend. Dating is fattening. I have been going out once a week with Theo for the last almost 2 months and I reckon that is probably enough to start to see my weight inch upward. I am setting 140 as my return to goal, but I would really like that to be my upper end of the bounce, so landing in the upper 130s would be fantastic. It may not be realistic given that I have a pretty good appetitie these days. Even if I stay right where I am, it's good. I do notice dismorphia like sometimes I feel "fat" at this weight. Fatter than I felt when I weighed 10-15# heavier... interesting.... How is everyone doing?

Well, I am single first off. I do understand your point. There are alot of reasons that people lose interest in intimacy and I completely understand your feeling of wanting more out of life! I am not sure if you are asking for advice, but if this is really the central issue in your marriage, I strongly suggest counseling, or whatever it takes to fix it. The grass is not greener. Being single has many advantages, but does not guarantee by any stretch that you will connect with a cool person that you enjoy. In fact, it is work, people our age have alot of baggage etc. In truth, people are so afraid of being hurt/.disappointed or whatever - it is often difficult. It is like so many have lost that optimism and willingness to risk hurt... again. I speak to my own experiences, but I also know a couple of other singles in my age range and the issue is universal - finding someone you WANT to be with that is actually open to a meaningful relationship without freaking out on you. I am not putting that just on the guys - the women are the same way - everyone is so afraid of "being wrong again" Anyway, stay married if you can, that is my advice!

Well, I had a chance to simmer down. The part that ticked me off was the reference to becoming possessive - clearly projecting past experiences on to me since I have done nothing to even register on the possessive scale. I went to my party alone and had a great time. I admit it would have been fun had I brought my "date" as the party was off the hook good time with great people and he is lots of fun in social situations. The guy I have been seeing - talked it through and I am going to keep doing activities with him - we enjoy many common interests, but my view is that his baggage needs to be checked at the gate and I don't think he is quite ready to do that, so looking for new prospects to expand my dating circle. i do admit I was very impressed with how well he seemed to handle our follow up chat because i really did call him out on some stuff I hate dating - the process of getting to know new people. I know some find that exciting, but i don't really. I know that what makes more sense is to casually date/do activities etc with a nice mix of people and over time, things will fall in place. I just have a hard time doing that so it is a new skill for me to learn! Carry on.

Thanks! I live on the eastside. I have lots of friends and a busy social life, I was feeling isolated because I wasn't used to living alone and I work from home. My son is back from school and I am doing okay. I am almost 3 years post op -December- and haven't done the in person support groups really. I found the one at overlake very helpful preop though!

Welcome to the boards! I am near Seattle...there are quite a few here from the area. So far we haven't done a support group meeting. Many of the hospitals support groups allow everyone to join. Example I know the group at overlake and i am pretty sure Swedish are open to everyone. I had my surgery at PSSC IN Edmonds - great experience, but I never got into their support group. Where are you going for surgery?

Kim I think grief and lonely lost feeling IS so normal - you lost your mama! If it goes on for months without getting some what better . .. then maybe it's a concern but I think accepting sadness is healthy. Let your heart and soul process the loss.

Barn party was off the hook fun. Me and several others stayed the night (if we didn't have a designated driver). It was so redneck awesome! I went alone because I was just too annoyed to even want to see theo. Before i headed out I finally called him back and laid it all out for him. I admit he continues to impress me as a person, the way he managed that conversation. Anyway what had pissed me off the most out of all of it was the implication that I would become possessive and stalkerish. He also worried about distance..He is an hour away. I told him I appreciate him pointing out the practical issues around long distance stalking, next time I will look for someone who is more conveniently located for cooking the rabbit in their kitchen (Glenn Close movie). He laughed and admitted he had been a real jerk on that point since I did not deserve even the implication. Anyway. ..I wasn't bitchy but I let him have it. He still wants to see me and said he likes that I say exactly what's going on I think the ship has sailed for me though. I want to be desired as a woman and he ain't bringing it and perhaps is too old to have that drive? I think i will always doubt his interest in nr. My friend beth said she was getting ready to go cougar before she met her current awesome boyfriend. ..suggested I consider that. This is not actually about sex this is about being wanted in a man - woman way, passion and all that. Anyway I am fine. Lovely weekend... I have home projects today and then if I can muster the energy going to a B day party of an acquaintance - lady I met in meetup group.