CantBelieve_IdidIit!

Hi My name is Lisa. I am 39 years old, a mom of two wonderful young ladies ( Amanda - 21 and Meagen - 16) and am engaged to the love of my life... Stephen. Oh I think I forgot to mention.... I am 110 pounds over weight, have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Herniated Discs, Bursitis, Migraines, Artheritis, Water in both of my knees and Carpel Tunnel. All in all that pretty much sums me up. A loving mother, fiancee and morbidly obese woman....
I weighed 125 pounds soaking wet in High School.. fell in love and got married straight out of High School. Two daughters later and about 100 pounds later the SOB left me. OK I dealt with that hurdle... by eating !! Gained about 20 pounds and finally said enought is enough. For 13 years I took care of him and my kids... its time to take care of ME. I went on a crazy strict diet, exercised non stop and lost 70 pounds !! WOO HOO I was down to 170.... only 10 pounds from my goal weight. And then it happened...
I fell in love with Stephen. My love who adored me so much and thought the sun rose and set on me. Well... he also liked "chunkier" women so little by little I began to gain " Happy Fat ".... Uh and here I am 4 years later at the biggest I have ever been and it's no longer "Happy Fat". He is a doll and says every day how I am beautiful inside and out. While that is fine for HIM to say it's not ok for me. I am not happy with how I look, feel and my health is a huge testiment that I have to do something about it NOW !!
I went to a seminar for Dr. Kaul on July 3, 2012. The next day was the fourth of July and I had my last burger that day. I had an appointment with him on the 4th, found out I was a candidate for the surgery and my insurance fully covers it. Since that day I have cut out 90% of all carbs, totally cut out sugars and salt, eat Proteins and vegetables for lunch and dinner and even have a Protein Shake each morning for Breakfast. I have been to a million and one doctor appointments in the past two months ( OK more like 15 ) to get all kinds of clearances. They are NOT easy to do but each time I wonder if the whole thing is worth it I feel my knee give way or I get tired by the time I get across the parking lot and I know I'm makign the right decision. So.. with only one clearance left ( tomorrow ) I am all set to go. OH and just by changing my diet I have lost 12 pounds.. Yeah sound great until I eat a slice of pizza and put back on 5 of those 12 pounds.
Where was I ?? Oh so my surgery is on Monday. A week from today and though I am freaking out I am very happy to finally be on the road to recovery and recouperation. Yes I said recovery b/c I was addicted to food. This new surgery is going to help me learn how to eat and help me to get healthy. I have support around me but no one has been through what I am about to go through> This is why I am reaching out for friends.
My friends list is brand new.. won't you be one of the first to welcome me ??
Have a wonderful day. XOXO Lisa

April 30th here 43lbs WHOO

Congrats!! April 16th here and I hit an 80lb loss on Saturday!!! (17lbs pre-op)

I'm so glad I had this surgery but I can't stop thinking about my weight I have lost. April 10th was my day 43 lbs down! Woo Hoo !

So I make it thru the xray machine and stand on the mat where they pat you down. The TSA agent kept asking me what I had in my front pocket while jabbing me with her finger. I replied...."That would be my hip bone!" The lady standing next to me on her mat busted out laughing!!!!!!

wow im so sorry to hear that. im sure if you have a follow up visit and show that mentally u are ready they will work with you. i know with my insurance they approved me but they also allow at least 1-2 visits. i would say dont give up hope. have you finished all your other pre op appointments? stay positive and if its meant to be it will be

I went through the same thing post op. You will be able to enjoy food again, but the priority you place on food is going to change drastically. Don't misunderstand, you will be able to enjoy eating out with your family & sharing meals with friends, but food will no longer be the central focus of your life. Good luck and congratulations on taking the steps to a better you!

this is normal. you will be able to eat again. this is buyers remorse. once you are all healed you will be able to enjoy food again, promise. I love going to my old favorite places to eat again.....I just have a lot to go.....or I give some to the people I am with. it will get better! good luck!

It will get better with each passing week. You may be a little soon to be having eggs and chicken. Try them again after two more weeks. Try Tomato Soup again after a few days to a week because that is okay at this stage. Notice that the things that are liquid or full liquid are working for you. Now you can start adding a little more bulk into it...try pureeing a chunky Soup or tuna or chicken salad and eating a few small bites of that. You will not be able to get more than a couple of teaspoons in at first. It's a trial and error period. Your stomach is still in the very early stages of healing. If something doesn't agree with you, give it a few days and try it again. Some people enjoy the pureed and mushy phase. I hated it and subsited on Protein Shakes until I could have soft foods. Although I did try a little each day. Hang in there!

And down 30lbs

You look fab, great work Britney! I'm not brave enough to post pics yet...soon! x

Read an article on webmd says can take in up to 218g of Protein daily. But protein has 4cal per gram. So yea, too much protein can equal too many calories. High protein intake can be dangerous to people with any kind of kidney compromise.

I started at 253. I was 237 after my two week pre op and on the day of surgery. Today I am 2 months out and I weigh 210. 43 pounds down!

There are healthy foods that are calorie dense. Go for mono unsaturated fatty acids- nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil etc. these are not bulk but are loaded in energy. I did not become obese eating take out and drinking soda. I became obese eating very, very good food. I just ate too much of it. So I don't see that you need to eat poor food in order to gain weight. Your doctor sounds like an idiot.

What kind of doctor recommends alcohol and soda to a post bariatric surgery patient?!
I would seriously have concerns. I was warned that it is possible to lose too must weight. Of course, some people never lose as much as they would have liked so it is not across the board. I did have a friend who has Gastric Bypass who lost more than she wanted to and she consistently upped her calorie intake until she got back to where she wanted to be, but she didn't eat crap food. Keep in mind, that it is normal for people to gain 10-15 pounds within five years. My doctor said not to worry if I felt like I got a little too skinny because my sleeve would stretch a little over time and I would gain some weight.

Alcohol? Soda? Wow these things are excluded to me forever - I just can't imagine being given that advice by any doctor. How about eating some nuts? I think you really need to keep your choices healthy, just larger quantities.

How did you gain weight before?
Honestly I would stay away from soda. I know the causes of soda is a big debate but I would do it for the lack of nutrition.
I would eat full fat things. cheese, milk, yogurt. Red meats. Raise your carbs. Maybe a little more bread. Add some cheesecake once a week.
Stay away from things just loaded with sugar. Maybe some creatin? That stuff muscle builders drink to help them bulk up?
Good luck and I can't wait to have this problem so I can do all the things I just stated above.

Y'all are going to love love LOOOOOOOVE Life After Sleeve!!!! I'm not halfway through my weight loss yet but victories over these types of things are.... DELICIOUS!!!!!

Thanks everyone for their input. I know I am not alone in this, but it always nice to hear someone else's experiences. We will all be better for it!! There's just some cruel people in this world. And I agree with VSginn... it does seem like a fat on fat crime. I think that person was so unhappy with themselves that she put her own negative opinions on me.
Well... I am so looking forward to that sleeve date... I got 38 days to go!

this is very sad/embarrassing (msp)
i was in Kohl's, asked a young girl at the register "where are womens i.e. blouses". she pointed me in the direction, then she said something like - oh and the plus sizes are. over there.
i was really hurt - i wanted to cry, i couldn't believe she said that
i know she was probably in her early 20's - if thats an excuse - i just wanted to die
better times are coming

I'm not proud of this, and if the women on this forum hate me for it or are offended, I'm truly sorry. But this was one of my rock bottom moments and it made me realize that I had to do something, anything, about my weight because I didn't like the person I was becoming. And I initially ruled out weight loss surgery because I thought it was too extreme.
Here's my story: I was taking my seat on an airplane and I was sitting next to this woman--not obese but very dumpy--and when I sat down, she gave me a dirty look and made that "scooting over" movement, clearly showing me that she didn't want to sit next to a fat person.
I looked at her and said, "What? What's your problem?" And she replied, "Perhaps you should have bought an extra seat."
Without batting an eyelash, I said, "And you smell like blood. Who's more offended?" She gave me that shocked, pearl-clutching face and wouldn't even look at me for the rest of the flight.
And at the time I actually felt good about saying that to her. Then I went to the airplane restroom. I was washing my hands and realized how inappropriate I was to this woman. I looked at the person staring back at me in the mirror and whispered, "Gustavo Alexander Rena, this is NOT who you are."
That was the very moment I decided to make an appointment with the surgeon.

Yeah, I travel internationally alot and I am so sick of flying and being uncomfortable. On our last flight on Delta to JFK (RED EYE) we were in bulk head. Those seats don't have arm rest. They are divided by a metal barrier and the drink table is inside the divider. OMG, can I just tell you how uncomfortable that flight was. I was emotional and drained. I am just sick of it.
So can totally relate. I get nervous everytime I fly, like is someone gonna say something to me....it is mortifying. But what gets me is that lady. She had a damn nerve!

I had a similar experience once on a plane and I wanted to toss her out the plane .. at 33k feet. Ok, I digrest. But, she ask me if I need an extention (which at the time I didn't know it was to extend the belt. I was mad, hurt to say the least. I did not want to take it but I would have cut off my own circulation so I did - reluctantly.
Yet one more inspiration for me to have been sleeved. Can't wait for my next plane ride!

Awesome...we're getting sleeved around the same time. And yes... that lady had incredible nerve. Some people!!!!!!!! But eh... Sleeve here we come.

This one is unbelievable!!! So, I just came back from a business trip this week. Now... I've always been a big guy, but could always fit into airplane seats and wear the seat belts. It's always tight, but I can fit. Well, as i was bording a plane in Milwaukee to come back to California, this "crazy" lady scanning the boading passes had the nerve to ask me "Am I going to need another seat? Now...initially.... It did not register what she meant... I said no.. assuming she meant if I wanted to switch seats... but then she has to the audacity to ask "can you place the arm rest down". At this point I look at her with a death stare... and then she gets the hint and just shuts up. But wait there's more..... this lady was morbidly obese herself!!!!!!!!!!!!! She had to be no taller than 5 feet and and easily 400 lbs. Unbelievable!!!
I guess life is funny. I've flew countless times, and never had anything happen to me like this. However, I am a month out from getting sleeved, and this ridiculous lady makes some stupid comments. I guess life wanted to throw another final jab before I get my sleeve on Sept. 18th.
Ok.. I am done with my rant.
Peace and Blessings everyone