Taylee

I wrote this and posted it here a while back. I still believe it and thought it might help some newbies.
We all have them, and yes they can be infuriating. Currently I have been on an extended slow losing run for 6 weeks. Yes I get down, want to say to heck with it and just eat whatever and sometimes do. So here are some things that help my sanity. :-) feel free to add yours.
Remember your body is in shock and completely new territory and is adjusting. This requires it to go against most of it's normal processes. So remember that at your caloric intake it can not last, it will eventually break the set points and natural ability to conserve resources. And you will lose.
You made this choice for the remainder of your life, while we all want to wake up tomorrow at our sexiest weight and physically be able to do anything we want, it is a process and that will come. We are in for the long term benefits. Enjoy the ones that are already here and set some smaller goals so all progress is celebrated!
Tied to that one above, remember sexy is a state of mind as well as physical
While I'll admit what straight man doesn't like Angelina Jolie?
A woman that is confident in her body and carries herself with passion and determination is crazy alluring!!!
We all have that passion and determination by the very choice we make, I am a sexy man now *confident smile* and it is only gonna get better! Woot, *cue "hey Micky he's so fine" with a remake inserting Pasquini in place of micky*
Stay focus on your eating plan. It will work, make sure you are writing everything down!!!!! Those carbs add up quick. I use daily burn on my iPhone the free version. This is huge!!!
When the scale isn't cooperating, try to notice how your clothes are fitting, are they loser. Wile I have only lost 6lbs in 6 weeks i am wearing some med shirts and can't wear the xl's I bought 6 weeks ago.
Tape measures are helpful here measure!
Ladies remember you have your lovely hormones that fight you like Apollo creed in the first rocky movie! They do not work in your favor. But they do make you captivating to us men, well 3/4's of the time .
Remember in rocky 2 Apollo got his a$$ kicked! Your gonna beat those pesky hormone into submission.
All loss is progress!
All stable weight is progress! It means your not gaining!
As we lose we are becoming the total package! All those years heavy lets me think my personality is so much better than hers/his. Well we still have that and are on our way to the healthy body to match.
And as someone else on here says
Nothing Tastes As Good As Thin!!!
Stay focused enjoy the ride and make it happen.
Love you beautiful people!
And yes I am single
Pasquini
Last weeks 5k with the 4 heartbeats

Thanks guys! Taking a deep breath and focusing on the prize...my health and self esteem! We can do this!

Here's a great tip for your beverage on the table when you dine out: Order the glass of Water and when they deliver it, place it more than an arms length out of your reach. It's there if you desperately need it, the waitstaff has met their obligation of providing it; but you do not have to consume it.

IMO all frozen foods have too many preservatives, salt and carbs for your new lifestyle.
Even though you hate cooking - commit to attempting to cook once a week, freezing or storing in your new small meal size portions. A cooked chicken breast (20 min @ 400 degrees) will last me 2 meals minimum even now at almost 2 years out.
Throw in 3 breasts with different seasoning in oven. When done, cut into fourths. Freeze for 12 mini meals. Take out as needed - add to greek yogurt for a high Protein chicken salad. Add to Lipton broth for a wet chicken Soup. Sprinkle low fat cheese for a modified chicken quesadilla. Put in a teaspoon of BBQ for a modified pulled chicken taste. YUM.
Get a can of tuna or crab or salmon, drain, add greek yogurt & season. Will last you several meals for 3 days due to freshness of meat.
Boil 4 eggs. Make egg salad by adding greek yogurt and salt with two eggs. Other two cut in half - put yolks with greek yogurt and season making 4 deviled eggs.
Get turkey meat and low fat mozzerlla sticks. Wrap turkey around mozzerella stick for lunch.
Now, you have six ingredients to purchase and a weeks worth of meals. Costs less, better for you. Maybe 30 minutes of your time to invest in your health.
If you truly hate to cook and would prefer never to cook again - grab a friend to cook for you trading services. Or look up "Dream Dinners"
If you did this surgery to be healthy, start now. Time to get new healthy habits.

Hey, just wanted to jump in and say congrats on choosing July to be sleeved. I, personally, think it's an especially great month to do it in. I'm a July vet, having been sleeved two years ago.
Best of luck to all of you in the upcoming months. You'll all do great!
~Cheri

Woohoo! The coordinator just told me to try and stick to a Protein diet and try and lose some weight. A liquid diet the night before and no eating or drinking after midnight yay for us!
Have you shopped for your post op stuff?

The date is set! I am so excited!
13 days
Is there a fb group for July sleevers?

Shop on the clearance rack I don't know why just the skinny b*****s get the good deals

Hey everyone, I got to the beach on Saturday and have been having a great time. I have been following my eating plan like I should eating my Protein while everyone else eats what is fixed. I have been going down to the beach and the waves just kicked my butt, it was awesome though. Well, today, I decided I was going to splurge a little since I have been doing well and it is mine and my husbands 13th wedding anniversary. We went out to a seafood restaurant and I got broiled fish, clam and shrimp. It was good, but I couldn't eat it all. We then ate ice cream about an hour later and it was good. I felt yucky later, but didn't get sick. After a while I decided to have a few bites of peach cobbler that was made and it was goooood. Well, tomorrow I am going to start anew and will go back to eating the way I should. I am not going to feel guilty about today because I know I can do this. I had fun with the hubby as we ate and did things together.

Shop on the clearance rack I don't know why just the skinny b*****s get the good deals

if it wasn't going to be done to me i could probably watch. but i'm scared if i watch i won't get it done. maybe after...

I tell you what--when the numbers on the scale start plummeting-- food looks really stupid. You wonder, "what the heck was I thinking???"

Yeah!!!! pizza my drug of choice.

Hi All! I thought I would pass on a little tip learned by one of my doctors, Dr Elmo in Mexico. I had surgery with Dr Rodriguez in Juarez on June 29th and after surgery wanted to call family but Sprint doesn't have an international plan that doesn't cost an arm and leg!! Well, Dr Elmo was saying that he lives in El Paso but works in Juarez so in order to call his family throughout the day he downloaded the magic jack app so that the calls were free... hmmmm! First you have to have an Iphone, it won't work with a Android but it worked great! I got to call everyone I wanted when I wanted! So cool =)

I had surgery yesterday and I'm recovering now. The surgery went well. I did lots of walking last night and a fair amount today. Today, was harder to walk because I'm very nauseous. But I survived. I'm excited, things are looking up! Thank you to everyone who said a prayer for me. Much love!!

Wow...this feels amazing..posting in the POST op section:P I am day five post-op and decided to write a little on how everything went. I got to the hospital at 5:30 on tues morning, by the time they checked me in and I got a room it was prob 6:30. I used the bathroom in the waiting room not knowing I had to give a sampl, they started me an IV wide open to fill my bladder and up and get me to pee. TMI alert there will be some TMI moments in this so please bear with me! ^.^ I was verrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, extremellllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy nervous but they couldn't give me anything until I had talked to everyone(nurses) that I needed to talked to. Besides giving me an IV they gave me some thick yellow stuff to swoosh around in my mouth and swallow, it was ok, it was an anitbiotic. They used my urine for a pregnancy test. I talked to my doctor, 2 anthesists, and 2 nurses and they all basicaly were telling me everything you already know. The anthesist(can't spell) made me feel sooooooooooo much more comfortable and better because I was a nervous wreck. I was gripping onto the bed and everytime they would talk about putting me under I started to tear up. They gave me some antibiotic for my stomach, pepcid, through my iv and then right before they wheeled me away to OR they gave me some ver-sad. The lady was saying after they gave it to me I probably wouldn't remember nothing but I remember everything, all it did was make me very calm. I remember looking around the OR but I couldn't see too good because I obv. can't wear my contacts/glasses. People started putting Patches and stickers all over my body and unting my gown. I remember the anthesist telling me they were going to give me some oxygen and to take some deep breaths and then I would go to sleep but psshhh I know that wasn't any oxygen! LOL! As soon as I took one breath I was knocked out! Next thing I know I was in the recovery room! SOOOOO hAPPY!
I was still a little disoreinted but I knew I was ok. They gave me some pain meds and then wheeled me off to a room where I could see my hubbs. I was so very tired, I would fall asleep mid coverstation with people, all i wanted to do is sleep. They took me to x-ray to do a swallow and it took like 2 hours because the radiologist was busy doing something. It was uncomfortable laying on the table for a while. They took me back to my room and I heard 2 nurses talking and it sounded like they said someone had over 40 scans and showed 2 leaks!!!! It started freaking me out! I don't think they were from my doctor, I think I was his only patient that day but it sounded awful! That would explain why the other doc was so busy! After they got my report that I was leak free they gave me my discharge papers! I hadn't even walked yet or had anything to drink. I thought that was VERY odd. THey said I did extremely well compared to most people and since I did so well with the swallow I would with my liquids which I have been! They have me some ice chips and a wheel chair and I left a 2 pm!
Now since I am at home I have been feeling VERY GOOD. Day one and two I mostly had gas pain and nauesa. I did notice that no matter how much I hated it-walking really helped with the gas. Pehengren helps with the nausea and I still haven't threw up even tho sometimes I want to. The first two days I also have not got my Protein and i notice that made me more sick feeling, when I would get some in it made me feel better. TOday i havent done so good with Protein either, only 35 grams, i have been sleeping alot so that messes me up. My incisions have been hurting, esp the one my stomach came out of, so that is why I am taking pain pills, but that is really my only pain now. My period started today, I got a hemmorroid, ouch, and then I am consitpated so all that is causing discomfort. My hubbs went to the store and gave me enema lol!!!!! It really helped!! I feel alot better now, now I am going to be putting Fiber in my Water. Well I have typed way too much so I am going to sign off for now! Sorry the last part isn't as detailed as I wanted it but if anyone pre-op has any questions, feel free to ask me anything!!
& BTW I HAVE LOST 8 POUNDS!

A big vote for Dr. Kelly!
I just felt immediately comfortable with him when we initially spoke on the phone.

Shop on the clearance rack I don't know why just the skinny b*****s get the good deals

Shop on the clearance rack I don't know why just the skinny b*****s get the good deals

Zoey1176, Oh, the Water park is a great idea! I may finally be able to wear a two piece which does not include a pair of shorts and a shirt to hide the fat, lol

I want to go to a Water park and enjoy myself, that's just one of mine

Don't regret a thing. I'm just now able to eat solid food myself. When everyone else in the house was eating I would use that as my time to go for a walk and get some exercise, or come here and check out the forums. It helped take my mind off things. Try to remove yourself from the area and you should be ok.
Hang in there!

My breaking point was 10 years ago. While I have always battled my weight...my food addiction had taken over my life...I was working 65 hour work weeks in a demanding/stressful career, flying constantly, working through jet lag and time zone issues. My work/life balance was non existent.
I ate on the run or ordering room service and raiding the mini-bar for high carb, high fat, high sugar foods. My Water intake was almost non-existent, I drank diet coke and coffee all day, everyday.
On the outside I was a happy, bubbly, competent, highly successful career woman, with supportive parents, a large group of friends. On the inside I was slowly killing myself, as I ate my way to over 300 pounds.
I bullied myself constantly with negative self talk, that perpetuated the cycle and in turn I began to hate myself.
It wasn't just the way I looked, it was the way I felt. My health issues increased, my energy level hit rock bottom and I had to admit that I needed medical help to get my life back.
I had tried all of the standard weight loss medications and diet plans, which always worked short term for a period of time, until the weight crept back up.
I knew that I needed to have a heart to heart talk with myself and get to a place of understanding to recognize that I am not a failure for having issues with food and being overweight.
I gathered up all of the strength I could find and I got a referral to a therapist to work on the inside, so I could understand why I was self-medicating with food...as I began to work on the inside, I found someone who deserved to feel good, to live the life that I had always dreamed of.
So 8 years ago, I got the Lap Band, and lost almost 140 pounds. I kept 110 pounds off since 2004.
Due to complications, with severe acid reflux, ulcers, and band slippage, I just had the band removed and the revision to the VSG.
I am feeling great. I am down 36 pounds and love my sleeve.
What I can say is that, there is no shame in admitting that you need help to lead a healthier more fulfilling life. It takes courage to admit to ourselves that we can not do this on our own. But each of us makes choices that are right for us individually.
Know that whatever's choice you make it will be the right choice for you.
We all deserve to wake up each day with energy, optimism and an attitude that says, I feel good about the person I am on the inside and one day I will feel just as good about the person I am on the outside.
Know that you are not alone. In your darkest moments, when you feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders and you feel desperate and scared, there are many of us, who feel just like you and are coming out the other side, stronger, more empowered and filled with pride at what we have accomplished so far and what we will accomplish in the future.
Weight Loss Surgery may be judged by those who don't fully understand. However this forum is a safe place, a community of courageous, like minded people, who have taken a brave step forward to battle their own demons and take charge of their lives for their own health and happiness.
Obesity is not a failure of mankind, it is a symptom of the world we live in and we can overcome the challenge with determination and self-forgiveness.
For me, my breaking point was really my starting point, to self-discovery and understanding.
I am a work in progress, but I am proud of my work and my progress :0)
Please excuse the typos! I am just learning how to use my new iPad. yikes! :0)

No regrets, except not doing it sooner. I want to enjoy the rest of my life, not be miserable and unhappy because I am in pain.