Marty McSkinnystein

um yeah, there's a little difference...
May I call you a whackadoodee? (that's my husband's and my term for when our thinking is a little off)

um yeah, there's a little difference...
May I call you a whackadoodee? (that's my husband's and my term for when our thinking is a little off)

Thanks for the info. I'll try that too.
Yesterday I went to Vitamin Shoppe and bought $80 worth of all kinds to try.
The person working there said her mother had the surgery and she even hooked me up with samples/bars. She uses a lot of them so I got reviews (and they had rows and rows!!- too many decisions). She even explained how I'll be able to have this now, this right after and this later- pretty cool how they understand the bariatric patient- two hospitals are within a few miles of the store.
I have only a small amount of all the ready to drinks in many flavors and a few powders. They say your tastes can change so that's why I just bought a little of each. People rave about Oh Yeah RTD so I got that in like every flavor. Also I got many Isopure flavors to use as the clear drink for immediately before and after.
I am on a lose 14 lbs. diet before my surgery so I figure starting with the Protein is good now too to fill me up. Whey is an acquired taste so I'm going to hang in there to get the most Protein in the least liquid-- hopefully I can stomach it (pardon the pun) after surgery...

Thanks for sharing your story. I'm glad you're feeling better!

I had my sleeve done on Tuesday and just got released and home today. I had tears on the day before surgery, more tears the morning of surgery, some in the recovery room and some more today. My emotions are all over the place.
However I know that I couldn't continue with the weight I was. The back pain and being uncomfortable in my own body. I am glad I had the surgery done and look forward to losing the weight and feeling great again :-)

My gall bladder came out during laparoscopic surgery at the same time that my lap band went in four years ago. They took it out as a precaution because apparently you can get more gallstones once you switch to a low fat diet. The bile that is made by the gall bladder is for digestion fat, and if there is less fat to digest, it can build up and turn to sludge and form stones. That is the explanation that they gave me anyway.
I noticed no change, and because I could not eat lowfat healthy foods with the band, I opted for higher calorie/higher fat foods just so I could have some food that would stay down and help my hunger. I used to slather mayo on everything as dry anything would come right back up within seconds.
I think you are better off without your gallbladder with your weight loss surgery. I experienced some discomfort after they took it out, but the whole recovery for the gall bladder/lap band surgery wasn't more than about a week of taking it easy.
If you have a choice, I would highly recommend having it done all at once so you have one surgery instead of two, one anesthesia, one hospital stay, etc.

You'll do fine and there is not always a lot of pain. Those eggs will be on your plate before you know it!

I'm not your age but I'm filled with happiness at the idea of you getting to live your adulthood in good weight and health. (A teeny weeny bit envious too).
Good luck in finding buddies your age here-- I'm sure there are many!
P.S. I can't be my age without saying...be careful to follow Drs. directions... when you're young and carefree sometimes you're not as diligent w/Drs. orders. Excuse my advice.

You were very brave to share so much about yourself.
I want to ask you (because it's working for me) to try to think positively by repeating mantras so to speak. I've been listening to Dr. Dyer CD's about how you create what you want for yourself. Maybe start slowly by saying "I am beautiful. I am love and lovable."
Here's what he said that I try to keep repeating "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."
This is not a judgement post- I say it because all that stuff in society isn't real. We CHOOSE to believe it or not.
All there really is is what you tell yourself there is. You are love and you and everything around you is beautiful.
Ooh- this one is good too....."We are spirits in a body- not bodies with a spirit."

I agree. Having recipes and food options is important. I found that needed to have my grocery shopping list easily available AS WELL AS keep the recipes new, exciting and flavorful. I joined the FREE online site: Allrecipes.com
(They also offer a pay/subscriber membership but I haven't found the need for it).
After creating my account, I added recipes to my RECIPE BOX. You can add recipes from various websites and personalize/input your own recipes. I am now able to create shopping lists easily from these programs and access them from my smartphone via the app "Chef Tap" which links to the Allrecpies.com site.
I have found many recipes from these sites:
Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes
www.genaw.com/lowcarb/
Low Carb Luxury: Recipes
www.lowcarbluxury.com/lowcarb-recipes.html
Emily Bites - Weight Watchers Friendly Recipes
www.emilybites.com/
The World According to Eggface
theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/
Low Carb Recipes
lowcarb.betterrecipes.com/
Low Carb Recipes - Cooking Good food That Keeps Your Diet on ...
www.low-carb.great-recipes.tv/
Bariatric Surgery Recipes
www.froedtert.com/SpecialtyAreas/BariatricSurgeryProgram/Recipes/
Bariatric & Lap-band Surgery Shared Recipes
recipes.sparkpeople.com/cookbooks.asp?cookbook=47556
Bariatric Eating
www.bariatriceating.com/
Recipes, Cooking and Baking Forum - Weight Loss Surgery, Obesity
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/recipe/

Sounds perfect! Good luck with everything!

*OK, get ready for red faces* I am 92# down. I weigh 32# less than when I married. My husband and I notice a significant difference in the way everything feels on the lady parts (external). How can I say this...umm.. The lady went from having a big Angelina Jolie pucker to a smaller, more open grin... We can feel my pubic bone for the first time ever. The first time he noticed, it shocked him so bad he literally stopped to tell me; but trust me, I HAD already noticed. Penetration is much easier and deeper and the big O is O, O, Omazing. Without all that extra padding down there covering up the sensitive parts, its a LOT easier to create a spark. You know what I mean? So between the boost in my hormones and the great anatomical changes I have experienced, let's just say a boost in our sex life would be an understatement. Its kind of like eating now, ya just gotta do it every day :wub: BTW, everything is nice and perky for me and I have had 4 kids; so if I were you, I would not be worrying about appearances. It will very likely not be a problem.

You know I'm getting it done at the same place. Based on what everyone says and how good I know your Dr. is, you're going to be great in no time!
I'm sorry you feel so sad.
Maybe try reading some of the success stories here to remember how many people went through the same thing and no one regrets it after a little bit more time.
You're getting thin and healthy!!! YAY!! Remember that!! (totally not to discount your feelings)

Thank you. I am a teacher wondering some ways to spend the 6-7 weeks after surgery.
Sounds like a plan. To Target I go!
I like colored flag stickies to for calling attention to certain pages in books/ binders- that could be color coded too.
Ooh there could be a section at the very back that includes updated before/after pics. Wait wait! The cover could be that!! A split shot. I don't know but you def. give me ideas.

When you find that your body is small and your clothes are big.
*I'm in a smart ass mood. (insomnia)

*push*
See you soon skinnier.

When you find that your body is small and your clothes are big.
*I'm in a smart ass mood. (insomnia)

I'm sorry Rootman- what did you say?
I was too busy staring at your picture. :wub:

I'm sorry Rootman- what did you say?
I was too busy staring at your picture. :wub:

They did a "What Would you Do?" segment on t.v. on a similar thing.
There was a person stealing a bike--- tools and all (lock breaker, crowbar etc.) They did the segment in a crowded park. The "thieves" all kept looking around as if they wanted to steal the bike and were furiously trying to get the lock off.
1. White young man- hardly anyone strolling through the park said anything.
2. Black kid dressed EXACTLY the same as white kid- people gathered, said WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!? called the police.
3. Beautiful blonde- they actually kept helping her with the tools. Even when she said things like "well it doesn't reallllly belong to mee" they actually HELPED her steal the bike or laughed and watched not calling police.
Looks matter. People have pre-conceived notions. Even a few black women realized the same feelings came up in them and were glad to have been a part of it.. Imagine the black kid's sadness...even though he was an actor in the scene he saw what went on with the other scenarios.

I'm sorry Rootman- what did you say?
I was too busy staring at your picture. :wub:

Well I ended up sleeping with him the other night. Not at all what I expected, he didn't say anything at all about the loose skin or anything. I was more comfortable than I thought I would be, I mean it was my first time so ya I was freaking out at first. I actually started out in a nighty and ended up without anything on. I honestly was surprised because I thought that he was gonna be disgusted. It was funny. Because after we were talking and I told him about my surgery and he told me that he was thinking about getting the band done himself.

You are probably feeling much sexier from having the surgery and you need to hold onto that. This man is interested. Stay focused on the sexy feelings you get when you're with him and try to push the self-consciousness away. Sexy is all in the mind. I've always maintained a sexy attitude even at my heaviest. I'm much more self-conscious at this high weight but when my husband says I'm beautiful- I believe he definitely sees that- even when I don't. So- if he's worth it- your skin won't matter- what's inside it does. You really have to risk it for love. :wub: Good luck!
In related and funny matters, read the thread that starts "This may be inappropriate but.." in post op. (warning: it's explicit)

I'm super excited for all you fellow teachers! I know from experience that your next year is going to be very different in lots of good ways. :-) I had my surgery in April 2011; by the time school started again in August, I was down 60 pounds and looked a LOT different--the kids flipped out (in a good way!). And you'll have time to get your strength back and get into your food routine, whatever that evolves into during your recovery.
Best wishes, and I hope you all have amazing summers!!!

I'm sorry Rootman- what did you say?
I was too busy staring at your picture. :wub: