beefalogal

Shortness of breath from just turning yourself over in bed
Arms that are too short to clean yourself properly
Clothing sizes that begin with X
Shame when you hear the whispers and giggles behind your back
The appetite of three people

Sorry LT, I don't mean to jump on you personally or to start an argument. But if the OP wanted support and encouragement I think the thread would have started with "I'm suffering from head hunger and I'm craving a milkshake." Thats something we all understand.
But no, he wanted information. He wanted to know when he could have a milkshake. Several people encouraged him to not drink a shake and supported his decision to eat healthy.

I get sleeved on 9-20-2012. I get moments of anxiety where I question whether I've made the right decision or not. I know that I have. I guess I'm faced with this same anxiety when it comes to any big decision in my life.
I start my liquid diet this Thursday the 6th for two weeks. Friday is Pre-Op. Friday the 14th is my EGD and then the 20th is D-Day! I went through a whole month of waiting for the appointments to get here and now they are here and the anxiety is sneaking in!
I guess I'm excited AND scared at the same time . I am looking forward to being healthy. It's not a size or a look that is my goal. It is to be off medications and living healthy. I want to have the ability to go for a walk with my husband and not worry about passing out 1/2 way through the adventure. I want to go to the zoo without passing out or having to sit every 5 minutes because of back and knee pain. I want to fly without infringing upon my neighbor's space. It's been too long coming for me.
Early on when I made my decision to get sleeved, I went out and purchased some protein powder and a few other things 'just to see' how horrific it was going to be. Honestly, it isn't going to be that bad for me. Since I HATE chocolate and sweets for the most part, it's going to be hard for that reason. I don't think the protein shakes are that horrible especially since I'll be using Vanilla flavored and you can add just about anything to that to make it palatable and versatile.
My husband and grown sons are amazing with their support. Only one other person knows and he is a co-worker. The only reason I told him is because he's getting sleeved on 10-23-2012. We'll be sleeve partners at work. I'm lucky in that respect.
The only thing that I worry about is when the pounds start dropping off that I don't sabotage myself. I see a bit of success and then I have to go and ruin it by overeating to celebrate. Crazy, I know.
I can do this. I will succeed. This forum has really been a source of comfort and knowledge. I thank you all!

Hopefully this will keep going. These are my before and after pics. Today is my 4 month anniversary of my surgery. I have losy 90 lbs from 315 lbs to my current weight in this pic at 225. Forgive my old age and shirtless ness but I couldn't resist. My surgery was on May 1st 2012. Hopefully others will share theirs.

Made it I'm on real foods! But the best thing is I've lost 40lbs so far as of this morning. I can run again and I can kiteboard again. I really am enjoying the gym.

stupid spell check It should say as well. Prozac is my drug of choice!

stupid spell check It should say as well. Prozac is my drug of choice!

stupid spell check It should say as well. Prozac is my drug of choice!

stupid spell check It should say as well. Prozac is my drug of choice!

stupid spell check It should say as well. Prozac is my drug of choice!

welcome to the best advocates out there. I am preop as Wellbutrin scheduled for Sept 20

Kneels and prays-" Lord let this happen to me!"

I have been wondering how he is doing as well. He is an inspiration to many.

I have been wondering how he is doing as well. He is an inspiration to many.

Ok, I"m headed to the hospitall. The waiting is over. The pre-op diet is over. The shopping for "stuff" is over. What am i looking forward to now? ANESTHESIA! That's right! Get me in there and KNOCK ME OUT! Repair my hernia and slide me the sleeve! I'll deal with everything else when I wake up.
My prayers are with all the doctors, nurses, and anyone else that has anything to do with the hospital visit. I EXPECT YOUR BEST! Also praying for the same for everyone else that has made this powerful decision to reclaim the quality of life that we all deserve.
Be back shortly!

First I want to say it is great to have a place to be. I am 4+ weeks out and excited and scared. I see a lot of posts about how this is our decision, and it is but it seems to be a common thread that this is about us, but we are not alone. At least I'm not. My family and friends have suffered right along beside me.
Every time my kids needed to clean cause I couldnt stand long enough. The trips my family has missed out on because I am too fat to fly. The pre planning my husband would have to do so dinner out was not somewhere with sides on the chairs. The lack of sexual positions, or my husband not being allowed to touch me because I was embarrassed by the fat. Just to name a few of the sacrifices of others...
We are not alone, and those who love us have been just as frustrated, overwhelmed and hindered by our disease as we have been and so they are not perfect right now, and they may not know how to show their fears but they never gave up on us......
One of the problems as I see it is that we believe we are alone, no different then a crack addict, so we turn to our drug of choice......,,FOOD......food has become our companion, our solstice, our shelter and instead it needs to be those standing on the other side of this wall we have erected, those who would love to be our support if they knew how and if we let them....
My new choice is my husband, I would have been exasperated tooin his shoes. My incredible kids, I chose them. These friends of mine who are my chosen family, they are my drug of choice now....
God,the Universe or Kermit the frog.....don't care what you call it. I chose to accept I am never alone. I didn't get here alone and I can't cure it alone.....
To succeed is to understand, to see all sides, to believe in your chosen outcome. Thank the ones your with, they have been living this hell with you, they just don't get the recognition.

Well, 1 year ago today almost to the hour I had my surgery starting out at 271# @ 5'3". What an amazing journey this has been. I can honestly say that I am so glad I did this and how it has improve my quality of life in more ways than I can count. I am now just 10# from my final goal and while it would have been nice to be at goal by now, I am pleased with my progress of loosing 141# in this time.
I have been buying thrift store clothes almost exclusively, which honestly isn't much different from my previous shopping habits. I have been able to find some incredible deals, nice clothes at rock bottom prices that nobody at work would even suspect. I have attached a picture taken of me yesterday and that suit outfit was bought at a thrift store just 3 weeks ago for $6!!! Not a thing wrong with it.
I'm now wearing size 5/6 jeans, size 8 or 10 petite business suits, size 4 slacks and it is just truly amazing when I look at clothes off the rack trying to wrap my head around this IS the size I wear. As I slide on my size 6 jeans, it still seems so surreal I can hardly believe it's me.
As I look back on my journey, I recall the stalls and frustration when my weight didn't fall off consistently, and I would say it was around the 6th or 7th month when I realized I was really going to have to kick up my game to keep that momentum going. I'm not a patient person and didn't want to get frustrated and fall back into my old patterns. So, I started increasing my exercise, and really paying attention to my carb intake, and upping my dense Proteins. I really love the weight loss challenges because they really motivate me to hitting my next target. My next weight loss target will hopefully be my last.
Reading through various maintenance threads, I am becoming more and more aware how I know I am going to have to continue to be diligent with maintaining my healthy eating. Do I allow myself treats once in awhile? Yes, but in very small moderation. Fortunately, the sleeve keeps me in check. But, I know it will be up to me to watch what goes into my mouth.
Since surgery, I have become lactose intolerant. It happened within the 2nd month, and found out when I tried just a bite of ice cream and oh my.... cramps in the stomach and a quick trip to the bathroom with some bad diarrhea. Never having been lactose intolerant I wasn't really sure this was the sign of being lactose intolerant, so of course I had to test my stomach again and sure enough. It's been interesting learning what things my stomach can handle, what it can't. I am moderately lactose intolerant now so as long as it's not real rich in milk product and it's a small amount I am usually fine, but I am still very cautious. I really don't mind this "side effect" though because sweets/ chocolate have ALWAYS been a downfall for me and so now when I see chocolate, my first thought is the repulsive reaction my stomach will have if I eat it and that's a good thing!
For anyone on the fence of whether to do the surgery, or struggling at the start of their journey, just know that it is all worth it! I am happier and more confident than I have been in years. I enjoy the way people treat me better and of course looking better and healthier is certainly a huge factor!!

I licked the seasoning off of some sun dried tomato flavored wheat thins my first week. About 4 or 5 a day...it was like heaven in my mouth.
Then I gave the freshly licked crackers to my dog, and she was happy to get them. It's like we both got a treat.

Being short of breath
Sweating…all of the time
Constantly self-conscious
Worrying about eating in front of others
Being squished in an airplane, Angel Game, Concerts, etc.
Worrying about fitting in rides at Disneyland
Obsessing about food
Physical pain; arms, shoulders, back, knees, etc.
Going to the restroom more easily
Wearing flats or ugly shoes because high heels are exhausting
Missing out on life
Comparing myself to every other woman
Feeling lazy or tired all of the time
Not being able to keep up
Shopping at fat-kid stores
Not fitting into CLOTHES!
Hating my reflection in the mirror when I am naked, I literally cringe and look away
Jiggly arms
My legs rubbing together, holy rash
Tugging at my clothes to hide the bells rolls
Laying on the bed to button pants and then being in pain all day from sucking it in
Bathing suits!
People thinking “she has a great personality”….there’s more under there!
Faking happiness
Getting my hair as big as possible to off-set my double chins
Not ever being in “the mood”
Being the fat kid in the family
Dreading people’s reaction when they are next to me on a plane
Knocking over things because my ass has a mind of its own
Long showers and needing a nap after them
Sitting on my husband’s lap
Not afraid to squish my husband
Getting my back fat played like a wash board
Children asking if I can even be tickled through all of that fat
Looking at the “skinny’ clothes in my closet….loathe
Having to return an outfit because the person thought I was a much smaller size
Knowing that stepping on the scale means I’ll be eating a **** ton of ice cream and in a deep depression that night
Pretending I know about nutrition when my doctors lecture
Thinking if I just lost the weight, I’d be able to tackle the world
Society assuming I am a lazy pig
Not chasing my dreams of performing because the anxiety of being on display is crippling
Being too big to zipline in Maui
Being too big to horseback ride in Maui
Being too out of breath to hike down to the blow hole
Wearing tights and just dying to rip them off at the end of the day
Never wearing shorts
Wearing dresses to hide my figure
Online dating and picture a great picture of my face, getting to the date only panicked because I know they will be disappointed with the rest of me
Having to buy a circus tent to use as a bra
My husband saying I have sleep apnea
Being the one who would rather take the picture then be in the picture
Breaking a glass table from sitting on it
Not wrapping my arms around my husband
Being able to balance, I swear my stomach throws me off balance
Shopping in the maternity section when your coworkers pregnant sister has the same dress
My cankles!
Wide shoes
Anything stretchy
Someone asking where I got that cute shirt and lying because I don’t want to tell them a fat kid store
BBW- I HATE the acronym for “big beautiful woman!”
Never cutting my hair so it can hide my face and back fat
Being the big bride
Not crossing my legs…..because I can’t
Sitting and using my belly as a table
Doing everything I can to avoid bending over because let’s face it, it’s freakin’ hard to get back up
Feeling miserably ill after eating too much
Realizing I am more likely to miscarry when pregnant
PCOS
Wanting a baby so badly, but worried about the high risk pregnancy
Stretch marks
Feeling my stomach sitting on my lap when I sit down (my fanny pack)
Ditching my high school reunion because I didn’t want to be the girl who gained 100 lbs. in 10 years
My boobs crowding my throat
My wedding ring never coming off because it keeps getting tighter
Not being able to see my feet
Not being able to give myself a pedicure without sweating and being short of breath!

Yea, unfortunately, women can be mean and jealous! I don't like this aspect of our kind!!
I have too have experienced this first hand ... I've told the story before, but I will tell again (now I find it amusing).
Just after my sleeve - nearly 2 yrs ago - a friend of mine saw how I was losing weight. She had just had a baby and was caring extra weight. OUt of the blue, like so many other stories, she became a diet and exerise 'expert'. She worked out 7 days a week and hardly ate a thing - her mother had her two kids for her to do this btw.
She kept telling me how many inches she was losing, howmany pounds she had lost and what size she was. This would be followed by a half hearted question about my own weight loss. She knew about my sleeve.
She used me as competition. She couldn't stand the thoought of me being smaller than her... I have ALWAYS been the biggest in our friendship group.
She even gave me her clothes that were 'too big' for her, these included several maternity trousers. She explained this by stating that: 'I know your problem area is your tummy, so these are perfect!' Implying that I looked pregnant!
Anyway, fast forward two years... here I am currently maintaining at my 72lb weight loss and I fit nicely into a UK14.
My friend however, has put a lot of weight back on and is now a good 14lbs if not more heavier than me and at least one clothing size bigger.
I have not said ANYTHING about her weight gain. I have been tempted to pay back her back handed compliments, but I am being the bigger -metaphorically of course - person!
Try to ignore comments with negative undertones and outright negative elements... this is your experience. This is your time to get healthy, fit and happy.... bugger everyone else!!
Good luck to you ... =]

Mootopia! I get it at HEB. It is a protien-fortified reduced sugar - lactose free milk. The chocolate has 45 % less sugar and 50% more protien. 8 oz w/a scoop of unflavored unjury is 32g protien.

That is what consignment shops and thrift stores are for!!!LOL

I have always hated that insurance requirements are so rigid. I have Aetna and they will approve the procedure but the copayment is nearly as much as the price in Mexico. Am I being crazy and inpatient to consider just going to Mexico and being done with it? I have done the sleep study (used a cpap now or twelve years but they did say that I need to increase the pressure considerably). Doctor is requiring a new endoscopy and I had one eighteen months ago. Still need the psych exam and three visits with the NUT. Anyone else considered this?

Thank you so much for the suggestions. Isn't America great to offer so many types! It may come down to what is the lightest since it must be carried in a suitcase. Perhaps the Mother's Day angel will decide for me!