Izuri

What a rush! You really have got the ball rolling now. Think how great it will be to have these appointments behind you. Yay! =) I'm glad to hear psych eval went well.

Larger sizes have more room between each size. You will get there eventually! I am 5'5 284.6 and still in a 24/26 depending on the cut of the pants. It just will take some time.

Yay, glad to hear that you're doing well! =)

Dyed my hair at 4 weeks out. 8 weeks out now and it still looks great. No damage, no hair loss yet.

I'm sorry to hear you're still having a hard time. I was having a rough day yesterday because everyone around me seems to keep getting pizza and I've been craving it just about forever now! I had to leave the room, I could barely stand it! =p But I got through it and ended up working out, which I felt better about in the long run. You can do it! The first few days are the worst. I really think sugar is addictive. The longer you don't have it, the less you'll want it. Happy early birthday ! =)

Yes, alcohol is processed quicker so we're a whole big group of cheap dates now. I have read studies that alcohol addiction is a big risk for post-op wls patients. I have tried a little bit and it gets my tipsy really fast, but only lasts a short time, and makes me feel sick/dehydrated after. I really don't enjoy it at all anymore, and I used to drink a glass of wine or two a night. I'm actually glad for the change =p

I haven't had any pickles since post-op started....but they sound so good!! I will have to grab some. I could definitely use those for my salty cravings.

Today I had a really tough time with my head hunger and temptations. I swear people never ate pizza as much as they are since I'm post-op! I know that's probably not true, but it sure feels like it sometimes. Anyway, I got home today from a long day and coming out of the week without a loss was feeling a little bummed about. I was looking forward to the turkey chili we'd been planning, but everyone else in my family had decided on pizza and had ordered it. I have been craving pizza for about two months now, and though they did nothing wrong, I was pretty upset. I had to remove myself from the room, because I was offered pizza and was really wavering in my will power, even though I knew that it's not on my list to eat. I know I was being a bit overemotional, but I really had a bit of a breakdown moment. I gave myself maybe 15 minutes to feel sorry for myself, then I got my butt up and I exercised for 35 minutes on the elliptical at a higher level than I had before, followed by 3 sets of 10 reps of each free weight arm lift that I know. I let myself rest a little between, threw on some tv that I enjoyed while I worked out and by the time I was done they had finished eating and put the extra pizza away.I was able to make myself some Madras Lentils and kept myself to a half a portion, with a desert about 10 minutes ago of a sugar free fudgesicle. I'm pretty proud of myself - even though 1/2 of my brain is still having to fight at the gates to hold my head hunger back. So I was wondering, especially because I think it would have been helpful for me to have a list (And throughout the past two months, especially at the beginning of soft foods) - if we could all add a few of our strategies to fight head hunger to this thread. I know I'd love a quick reference of ideas for those hard times. Here are my top 3: 1. Go for a walk 2. Come browse these forums 3. Make a deal with myself that if I can do my homework for 30 minutes first and I still can't control it I can have something (This never ends up happening though - after 30 min I am way more rational and can choose one of my other strategies) So what are your top 3?

Hello! I have read through most of this thread, but am pretty sure I haven't posted on it before, figured I would. I'm a 25 year old single nursing student. I live with family and work part time at a pharmacy. I am a year and a half from my degree. I was sleeved on July 26th, 2012. I love video games and movies - probably didn't help my weight gain! My favorite game is probably one of the Zelda or Final Fantasy series. I also love to read and am a big fan of Dean Koontz, Stephen King, and Terry Pratchett. I am really looking forward to being able to get out and do more with my life. I have been heavy all of my adult life, so I think I have really missed out some opportunities that I will be looking forward to taking advantage of. =)

Will be sending good healing thoughts your way tomorrow! =) I hope it goes great!

Congratulations!!!! I also looked through your progress photos - you are so beautiful! I am so happy for you =)

Yay! Congratulations, keep it up!

I loved Power 90 for a long time....Actually I'm a big fan of every Beachbody video that I've bought (Except Brazilian Butt Lift). I loved Hip Hop Abs and I can't remember what the other dance one with Sean T was, but it was awesome and I did it for a long time. Oh! It was Rockin' Body. I loved that one. Most videos you can do even at a high weight, just modify it to low impact or go a little slower. The only ones I wouldn't recommend are the Jillian Michaels ones. They are fantastic videos, but they are really difficult at a beginning level because she does a lot of higher impact moves and things that just aren't for beginners. Good luck!

In about 8 weeks I have been stalled 4 of them. I lost almost all my weight loss in the first 2 weeks and have inched down from there. Don't worry, you are doing great.

I'm sorry to hear you're in a lot of pain =( But each day will be better. Congrats on your surgery!

Was just wondering how today is going for you. I hope things are going a little bit better!

Not that Ms skinniness is wrong, because she often gives wonderful advice, but I'd go with the exact opposite of this approach. I would call if I haven't heard back in a few more days and be level headed but firm. I have worked in customer service all of my working life and in my opinion when I'm a customer there is almost never a situation where it's ok for a customer to let loose on a representative (The few exceptions being rudeness, repeated inaccuracies, anything far abnormal, etc), especially when it's someone who is not even involved in the situation to begin with. And I can tell you that I'm 110% more likely to go out of my way for someone who is appreciating the time and effort I'm taking. Keep in mind - Insurance companies are not a one size fits all. Neither are insurance plans. I don't work in medical billing, but I do work with insurance billing on a daily basis and things take time. Have you called your insurance company to ask about information? Sometimes it takes forever. Half the time I call them and they refer me to another department, which then transfers me back to the first, and so on. I spent a good three hours one morning last month trying to get something to work through an insurance company - and I work in face to face patient situations - that is a lot of time to sort out one problem when you're also trying to help customers. And the insurance coordinators have to do this on a daily basis, with intricate plans and insurance companies with representatives that cannot always interpret the plans. Not only that but they have to dual bill - which may mean that they have to submit to your primary payer for a denial before they can submit to your secondary. If it is anything like the experiences I have had with insurance, I do not envy the coordinator! The second part is they are a big facility, correct? So imagine your situation times x number of patients they probably having waiting on approval from insurance. There are probably stacks of files to be processed and the more time you spend answering how long it's going to take, is time that is taken away from actually doing their job of getting it processed. You are talking in business days - most places don't stay open on the weekend. So that's 3 business days, if you include today. My point is not to tell you you're wrong for being frustrated, because I was freaking while waiting for insurance to process too, but it's that both what you feel and the response you are getting from the office are normal for big offices. If you had talked to her over a week or two ago and heard nothing, I would start being more upset, but it's not even been a week in business days. I know that having a time frame and getting a date and everything is a wonderful feeling - and I promise you will get it - but sitting here calling the same person six times in the same day will only end up making you feel worse. Maybe take a hot shower, a nap, read a new book, focus on something that will help get your mind off the stress of it and then maybe once you've stopped thinking about it the call will finally come. I'd say if you're still not hearing things maybe by the end of the week/early next week I would call again and try and get a different representative who I will approach calmly but make sure that they know I expect a response even if it's just an update. Maybe it will set things back a little bit, but at least you are getting approved and the surgery is going to happen in due time. If it's a little closer to Christmas than expected, maybe you can help out in other ways. Even if the surgery is in November you may still be well enough to help hang lights and whatnot as long as you're mindful of letting your body rest. Either way, I will keep my fingers crossed for you that your answer will come soon =)

I would be happy to help, but it sounds to me like you are just unhappy with your weight loss rate, which there's not a whole ton you can do to change. You are losing well. 245 to 239 is 6 pounds in 3 weeks - an average of 2 pounds a week. That's great. Plus, just a day after you posted this thread you were down two pounds! You didn't gain the weight overnight, you're not going to lose it. If you haven't gone a full week or two (Probably closer to two) then you're not really stalled. Over a week our bodies can fluctuate with Water weight - it's completely normal. You are doing awesome - try and remember that when the scale isn't going exactly the way you want =) Just make sure you're getting in your Protein, keepin your carbs at a decent level, get your fluids in and work out and you will keep shedding those pounds.

I will update mine maybe over the weekend when I have more energy. Right now I feel just about ready to pass out in bed =) I have not posted pictures yet, and I doubt I will until I'm quite a bit further along. I don't have any real before pictures, just a progress picture a few weeks out. Anyway, I'll get it together and post some pics eventually when I'm down over 50 probably.

I love the NSV! What a thing to make you smile =) Great job - you look fantastic!

I'm having a bit of trouble. I spend the majority of my days at school all day, where I do not always have access to a refrigerator/microwave to bring myself an actual lunch, and I'm failing at giving myself enough to eat/giving myself any variety. I am still on soft foods for another month or so, which really limits the things I would usually turn to (Protein bars, salad, etc). Lately I have been bringing myself string cheese, a Protein Drink, and a fruit - but during my long days when I have class and then clinical that is not enough. I have tried a muscle milk and an Isopure but then I just feel like I haven't had anything to actually eat all day. I know protein wise it's good for me, but I'd really like to switch it up and incorporate some actual food into the equation. So I guess this is my question: Do any of you have any ideas for soft food lunches/snacks that do not have to be refrigerated or microwaved that I could take with me to school? Thanks!

Thanks for the suggestions =) I will definitely try them out. I love split pea soup. I do have an ice pack, I think I haven't used it as much because I always seem to forget to put it back in the freezer. I need to make it a habit like I do with putting my keys on the hook - I finally don't lose them as often!

It's normal for your stomach to talk. Mine still does sometimes at about 8 weeks out. It's less than it used to. Sometimes it's air that comes up, sometimes it's just down in my stomach where it gurgles. You could try gas-x strips if it's uncomfortable. Actually, as I'm sitting here right now my stomach is gurgling pretty loud from breakfast =p

It was about 4-5 weeks before my stomach stopped gurgling all the time. It still gurgles sometimes now, but not quite as loudly and not as often.

Lookin good! I about had a fit when I was finally under 300 =) What a great milestone! Welcome to twoterville!