Babysteppin

Oh wow, didn't know you were from Beantown too! I've heard great things about both MGH & Lahey's programs. I chose Mount Auburn's Weight Mgmt Ctr in Waltham and they've been absolutely wonderful so far. We're lucky to have our pick of great hospitals.

A few years back I told myself, ok...I'll try losing the weight ONE more time, and if it fails...THAT'S IT, I'm having the surgery. So I sort of 'scared myself straight' in losing it all...agaaain. But needless to say - I gained it all back...agaaain. (All 160lbs of it) I realized I just can't do this anymore. I can't keep going through the wonderful high's of losing, only to crash and burn into the low's and disappointment of gaining it all back. So I literally said to myself, "Stop the ride, I want to get off." I know I'm a 'professional dieter', and I can lose it all when I set my mind to it. But for me, it's just keeping it off that I need help with. My 'full switch' is broken, and I'm hoping to use this new tool as a way of retraining my brain to recognize when I'm full, and to be more likely to stop when I'm getting there. Also, my doctors have told me that my body just goes into panic mode when I'm at a lower weight...my bio-chemistry goes haywire, and I get hungry all the time and put on weight just by breathing!! lol. So there's the whole biology part working against me too. I can totally relate about going through all the pro's and con's until it all jumbles together...I did it for over 6 months. But I think it's important to take your time through that phase, and to learn all you can from books, online, and those who've had the surgery....so that in the end, you'll know with your mind and your heart what is right for you (or not right for you). Good luck in whatever path you choose! And ask lots of questions on these boards! The folks on here are so awesome, and I couldn't have decided either way without them. :wub:

As someone who is still pre-op, this is absolutely encouraging (and comforting) to hear. I cannot wait for it to happen to me too! Thanks

You could maybe make a veggie chili with beans, and/or morningstar farms veggie crumbles. You can't go wrong with chili

I use Syntrax nectar powder. A big tub of it is a little pricey, but it goes a long way. So far it's the best tasing I've found, and there are a lot of different flavors. I get mine in bulk from The Vitamin Shoppe, but first I tried a sampler pack to see what I liked. I got it from here: http://www.bjsbariatrics.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=bjb&Product_Code=synSamplePack&Category_Code=syn I like to blend in things like frozen fruit, PB2....right now my fave is a spoonful of cocoa powder with a spoonful of intant coffee powder...it tastes like a cafe mocha! Also like cocoa powder with a few drops of mint extract. Believe it or not, using a couple spoonfuls of either sugarfree Jello powder, or pudding powder to flavor the shakes is great too. Hope this helps!

Nice!! That's gotta feel pretty amazing.

Yup, pretty much:

I just LOL'd watching the news, when I heard the newscaster say: "and the governor is saying to Boston: Stay off the road, or else."

I dunno, but it must be A LOT!! I know it's high impact aerobic activity, and it works out pretty much every large muscle group in your body. Who needs a gym membership, eh?

That's true, we've been really lucky so far this winter. You're so right about everyone and their mother stocking up on junk food (and booze) whenever there's a blizzard, heh heh. I'm gonna try to stay occupied with one thing or another till this thing is over....and I've already told myself that wing eating challenges don't count!! Good luck down there in NJ!

I wouldn't be a true New Englander if I didn't take a moment to complain about the weather. But this nor'easter in Boston is ridiiiiculouuus! I wonder when we'll be able to go outside again. Sunday?...Monday, maybe? Ah well, it's Beantown...we can take it. On the plus side, my arms are gonna be wicked jacked after all the shoveling is over!

Hi there! I'm from Winchester. Decided to go with Mt. Auburn. The surgery will be at the main hospital in Cambridge, but their actual Weight Mgmt Center is in Waltham which helps, because it'll be an easier commute for me for post-op appts. Hope all's going well for you so far!

Thanks! Going to Mt Auburn

Excellent! I hear they're wonderful. Good luck, you'll do great!

Congrats! I'm from Boston too. Which hospital are you going to (if you don't mind me asking)?

Being pre-op, I've had the same concerns over how much(or more like, how little) I'll be able to eat after surgery. This is a great new perspective to take though...and true! Thanks for spreading the Ah-Ha! around.

Don't really have any advice b/c I'm still pre-op. But it's great to find a fellow Bostonian on here! Best of luck and Happy Bday. I'll bet it'll be a memorable one, because it's the year your life changed for the better!

Thanks for sharing such an uplifting post. I'm a nervous 'pre-opper' and your story helped me today. Congratulations on all of your successes!

I am SO looking forward to having more energy...more mobility(without pain)...not feeling 'invisible' to strangers out in the world...being able to buy clothes in any store I choose(and to actually LIKE the clothes I buy, instead of feeling like it's all I could get.)...feeling a boost in confidence...and generally just feeling comfortable in my own skin! Even if it is saggy and wrinkly by the time I get there.

I relate with this completely. The concerns about the social aspect of these post-op changes is very real (and normal I think). I think sometimes we focus more on the physical/medical questions, but I'm realizing it's equally important to address the psycho-social ones while we're still pre-op. Oh, and like you said...I know this surgery needs to happen for me as well, and that it's 'only food'...but to some extent, I feel like food is and always will be a part of how we relate to others, and a part of our sense of wellbeing and 'normalcy' sometimes. Thanks for starting this thread to ask questions like these. I was having the same ones!

Um yeah. Broccoli. Geez, you'd think I'dve at least popped my staple line for something good. Note to self: Resist the temptation to binge on raw vegitation when I wake up from surgery.

I'm starting to have weird dreams too! I dreamt that I had the VSG, but a mean nurse took over my case and discharged me that same day. So I got home, and then for some reason without even thinking, I ate a sh** ton of RAW broccoli!! (which I would never to in real life btw, heh heh.) But then immediately I realized oh crap, I just had surgery what am I doing?!! I tried to call the hospital and say, "um, I was just there....so uh, can you let me back in?" The mean nurse said no.

Hi Michelle, Nice to meet you here! Thanks for reaching out. I hope all is going well for you so far in post-op! I live in Winchester and work in Brighton. I see a lot of people from the south and west on here, but not many of us NE folk...hmmphh. We're lucky to have Boston though which has a lot of good medical centers that do the sleeve. I can't wait for mine! Thanks again for the support

I'm getting closer and closer to getting a date, and thought it'd be nice to connect with any other folks out there in Massachusetts. Anyone going to Mt. Auburn in particular? How's your experience been, pre or post-op? We need more New Englanders on here wicked bad! tee hee

I haven't actually had mine submitted to HP yet b/c I'm still working on all the appts and stuff. I've been in the whole process since Aug, but that's prob because I've taken my time.(since I was sort of a chicken until now.) :ph34r: Hoping it'll go quickly in the end though! But I hear some of the wait has to do with how good the doctor's patient coordinator is too...like if he/she follows up on your claim regularly or not, and if he/she puts all of the administrative stuff together quickly. If it's going slowly, it's worth poking the insurance company and the coordinator then I guess.