Bob_350lbs

Hey, I just realized a couple NSV! My CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) seems to have disappeared along with the depression. I was going through my old journal, and I was amazed how this has all slipped away. Who would have believed it! It might be that I no longer eat refined carbs (flour/sugar) and am following a healthy regime now. It's like a 180* turn around. I thinks it true, we actually are becoming new people. Maybe that is why others may feel insecure about our weight loss. We are changing to be better version ourselves. Praise be!

Chancie, I love your NSV #4 wearing a summer dress and feeling like a lady. I haven't been able to do that in sooo long. I am hoping for that next summer. How wonderful for you, it's inspiring me. I love that feeling too, and sure do miss wearing summer dresses.
Maybe we should all write these victories down on paper and post above the scale, so when we have a stall, we can look at all our victories, and keep on going.
God bless you guys, you're great!

Wonderful Bob! I absolutely love this thread. My shouts outs so far:

* tossed all my size 2x - believe me, not even the Goodwill would want them.
* fit into Liz Claiborn 16WP jeans - tossed my 22WP - see above.
* able to go 1 hour vigorously on the treadmill and love doing it.
* rewarded myself w/a Sansun slot radio to keep me going while exercising.
* have more energy than I have had in years.
* vow never to wear black again unless it is lingerie.
* stopped caffeine, diet soda, sugar, flour, but haven't we all!

Wonderful Bob! I absolutely love this thread. My shouts outs so far:

* tossed all my size 2x - believe me, not even the Goodwill would want them.
* fit into Liz Claiborn 16WP jeans - tossed my 22WP - see above.
* able to go 1 hour vigorously on the treadmill and love doing it.
* rewarded myself w/a Sansun slot radio to keep me going while exercising.
* have more energy than I have had in years.
* vow never to wear black again unless it is lingerie.
* stopped caffeine, diet soda, sugar, flour, but haven't we all!

Wonderful Bob! I absolutely love this thread. My shouts outs so far:

* tossed all my size 2x - believe me, not even the Goodwill would want them.
* fit into Liz Claiborn 16WP jeans - tossed my 22WP - see above.
* able to go 1 hour vigorously on the treadmill and love doing it.
* rewarded myself w/a Sansun slot radio to keep me going while exercising.
* have more energy than I have had in years.
* vow never to wear black again unless it is lingerie.
* stopped caffeine, diet soda, sugar, flour, but haven't we all!

Hey, I just realized a couple NSV! My CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) seems to have disappeared along with the depression. I was going through my old journal, and I was amazed how this has all slipped away. Who would have believed it! It might be that I no longer eat refined carbs (flour/sugar) and am following a healthy regime now. It's like a 180* turn around. I thinks it true, we actually are becoming new people. Maybe that is why others may feel insecure about our weight loss. We are changing to be better version ourselves. Praise be!

Wonderful Bob! I absolutely love this thread. My shouts outs so far:

* tossed all my size 2x - believe me, not even the Goodwill would want them.
* fit into Liz Claiborn 16WP jeans - tossed my 22WP - see above.
* able to go 1 hour vigorously on the treadmill and love doing it.
* rewarded myself w/a Sansun slot radio to keep me going while exercising.
* have more energy than I have had in years.
* vow never to wear black again unless it is lingerie.
* stopped caffeine, diet soda, sugar, flour, but haven't we all!

Wonderful Bob! I absolutely love this thread. My shouts outs so far:

* tossed all my size 2x - believe me, not even the Goodwill would want them.
* fit into Liz Claiborn 16WP jeans - tossed my 22WP - see above.
* able to go 1 hour vigorously on the treadmill and love doing it.
* rewarded myself w/a Sansun slot radio to keep me going while exercising.
* have more energy than I have had in years.
* vow never to wear black again unless it is lingerie.
* stopped caffeine, diet soda, sugar, flour, but haven't we all!

Vegas, I also just bought matching bra/panties. My reunion was last night, and I wanted to buy new under garments. They make you feel so pretty, even though nobody else can see them. Well, I found some darn cute matching panties and bras at Fashion Bug for the 1/2 the price at LB's. They are sooo much fun and I am starting to feel attractive again. Oh, and one set is fushia, one is purple, and other teal. I keep them on lingerie hangers because it makes me feel so good to be able to wear these things. LB's 14/16 were too big for me..unbelievable...I never thought that would happen so quickly.
Another NSV..went shopping today at Walmart..need some kitty food and just cruised through the Women's dept looking for bargains..I got dirty looks from the women working there..everything was too big for me. Isn't this world funny..when I was a size 22/24 I got dirty looks for being so big, now I get dirty looks for not being that big. I guess we will just have to get used to it. We are going to get so skinny that we are not going to be able to stand it! LOL
Oh..and started the recycling pile too. Now the clothes that are too big are cute and actually purchased within the last 3 mos.
The clothes I ditched were gross..the elastic was so stretched out on the waistband I had to hold them together with a safety pin..they were polyester, so I couldn't hold a funeral for them, because they wouldn't burn, just would smoke like rubber tires..had to toss them in the dumpster..OH WELL!! LOL

Wonderful Bob! I absolutely love this thread. My shouts outs so far:

* tossed all my size 2x - believe me, not even the Goodwill would want them.
* fit into Liz Claiborn 16WP jeans - tossed my 22WP - see above.
* able to go 1 hour vigorously on the treadmill and love doing it.
* rewarded myself w/a Sansun slot radio to keep me going while exercising.
* have more energy than I have had in years.
* vow never to wear black again unless it is lingerie.
* stopped caffeine, diet soda, sugar, flour, but haven't we all!

Wonderful Bob! I absolutely love this thread. My shouts outs so far:

* tossed all my size 2x - believe me, not even the Goodwill would want them.
* fit into Liz Claiborn 16WP jeans - tossed my 22WP - see above.
* able to go 1 hour vigorously on the treadmill and love doing it.
* rewarded myself w/a Sansun slot radio to keep me going while exercising.
* have more energy than I have had in years.
* vow never to wear black again unless it is lingerie.
* stopped caffeine, diet soda, sugar, flour, but haven't we all!

you know, when I am frustrated now, since my stomach is so small, I can't eat to sooth myself, and I find myself getting angry and expressing the anger or repressing it and sorta get teary eyed, almost to the point of crying. It's probably the real emotions I needed to get out to begin with. I don't have panic attack though, but my sister has panic attacks real bad and always carries xanax with her. It is the only thing that has ever worked for her. Now, since my weight is down, I like to soak in the tub after working all day..that is very relaxing, and coming here to post :-) Also, I think I am getting addicted to the rush that aerobic exercise brings.

Wonderful Bob! I absolutely love this thread. My shouts outs so far:

* tossed all my size 2x - believe me, not even the Goodwill would want them.
* fit into Liz Claiborn 16WP jeans - tossed my 22WP - see above.
* able to go 1 hour vigorously on the treadmill and love doing it.
* rewarded myself w/a Sansun slot radio to keep me going while exercising.
* have more energy than I have had in years.
* vow never to wear black again unless it is lingerie.
* stopped caffeine, diet soda, sugar, flour, but haven't we all!

Find a therapist you can talk to, and one that has experience dealing with bariatric patients. Talk to several before you decide.
Here are some additional resources that might help:
The Emotional First Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life after Bariatric Surgery
* RECOMMENDED
by Cynthia L. Alexander, PsyD
Dr. Alexander discusses many of the difficulties a bariatric patient is likely to encounter and some realistic and practical
strategies for dealing with them. Most people go into bariatric surgery full of motivation and hope, only to find day-to-day
postoperative existence more stressful than they imagined. Here are the psychological tricks of the trade to help make
your own journey a successful one.
Exodus from Obesity: The Guide to Long-Term Success after Weight Loss Surgery
* RECOMMENDED
by Paula F. Peck, RN
Paula Peck provides the information, encouragement and guidelines for maintaining long-term success after weight loss
surgery. Ms. Peck has been a Registered Nurse for over 30 years and personally has experienced a weight loss of more
than 175 pounds twice in her life: Once unsuccessfully from "white-knuckle" dieting, and once successfully from weight
loss surgery 5 years ago. Ms. Peck interweaves intelligent discussion with humorous stories about herself and individuals
that have faced diet after diet and ultimately chose the gastric bypass procedure.
The Success Habits of Weight-Loss Surgery Patients by Colleen M. Cook
Colleen Cook, a weight-loss surgery patient since 1995, has taken the real-world experiences of thousands of weight-
loss surgery patients and condensed them into the principles you'll find in this book. These time and people tested
principles are the results of years of research of long-term weight loss surgery patients. They work regardless of the
particular type of weight-loss surgery you may have had.
Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies by Marina S. Kurian, Barbara Thompson, Brian K. Davidson
A guide to weight loss surgery – before, during, and after. This compassionate guide helps you determine whether you
qualify and gives you the scoop on selecting the best center and surgical team, understanding today's different
procedures, and achieving the best results. You also get tips on eating properly post-op and preparing appetizing meals,
as well as easing back into your day-to-day life.
Before and After: Living and Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery by Susan Maria Leach
In addition to more than 100 recipes in this book, there are ideas to help a post-op cook stay on the path and adapt
his/her own recipes. Includes tips for eating out and cooking during the holidays. There is an introduction to Protein,
sugar, and carbohydrates for those who are post gastric bypass surgery, as well as a list of sources for special foods and
ingredients.
Eating Well After Weight Reduction Surgery by Patt Levine
The author has created 125 recipes that contain no added sugar, are very low in fat, and get their carbohydrates almost
exclusively from fruits and vegetables. Each recipe includes specific guidelines for preparation of the dish for every stage
of the eating programs for Lap-Band, gastric bypass, and Duodenal Switch patients, as well as suggestions for sharing
meals with those who have not gone through gastric surgery.
Recipes for Life After Weight-Loss Surgery: Delicious Dishes for Nourishing the New You
by Margaret Furtado, MS, RD, LD/N, and Lynette Schultz, Chef, LCRP, RT
Margaret Furtado and Lynette Schultz have a combination of almost 40 years experience in clinical nutrition and the
culinary arts. Together, they will help you navigate your way through the sometimes turbulent waters after your weight
loss surgery, and will provide you with general clinical guidelines after your procedure, as well as helpful hints for easing
your transition from surgery to your new, healthy lifestyle. With sections on home entertaining and eating-on-the-run.
Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco (LapSF):
WLS Lifestyles Magazine:
http://www.wlslifestyles.com
American Society of Bariatric Surgeons:
www.asbs.org

From the LapSF newsletter.
********
Many people can't imagine becoming depressed AFTER losing weight. However, depression can occur after weight loss surgery or when undergoing any time of major lifestyle change. Possible causes of depression after WLS may include:

- Mourning the loss of food for comfort. If food has always been your "friend" or something you depended on when feeling sad, stressed or lonely, saying "goodbye" can be difficult.

- Mourning the loss of pre-operative lifestyle. For example, feeling left out while socializing, participating in holiday rituals, or when dining in restaurants.

- Reactions from others. Relationships with loved ones can change or become strained. Reactions to weight loss may be negative or jealous, or otherwise unsupportive friends/family may resort to "sabotage." Positive reactions or increased attention from others can lead to feelings of discomfort, vulnerability, or resentment.

- Having unrealistic expectations. For example, thinking that everything will get better after surgery or that your emotional eating or other disordered eating habits will simply disappear.

- Hormonal changes. For some women, estrogen is released while fat is burned to make energy. This release of estrogen may cause mood swings.

- Body image discrepancies. After rapid weight loss, you do not recognize yourself or lose a sense of self. You may experience a loss of identity between the inner and outer you.

The postoperative blues typically occur during the first few weeks or months after surgery and subside over time. However, if you find that your symptoms are worsening or are beginning to interfere with your relationships, work, or daily functioning, it is time to seek help from a medical professional.

Chancie, I love your NSV #4 wearing a summer dress and feeling like a lady. I haven't been able to do that in sooo long. I am hoping for that next summer. How wonderful for you, it's inspiring me. I love that feeling too, and sure do miss wearing summer dresses.
Maybe we should all write these victories down on paper and post above the scale, so when we have a stall, we can look at all our victories, and keep on going.
God bless you guys, you're great!

Wonderful Bob! I absolutely love this thread. My shouts outs so far:

* tossed all my size 2x - believe me, not even the Goodwill would want them.
* fit into Liz Claiborn 16WP jeans - tossed my 22WP - see above.
* able to go 1 hour vigorously on the treadmill and love doing it.
* rewarded myself w/a Sansun slot radio to keep me going while exercising.
* have more energy than I have had in years.
* vow never to wear black again unless it is lingerie.
* stopped caffeine, diet soda, sugar, flour, but haven't we all!

Oh Gosh Chancie, thanks to you, I went shopping for a pair of Jeans at Dress Barn, cause they have plus sized that look fasionable. And, my old jeans were fallling off me and looked down right ratty...well, lo and behold, I squeezed into a 14W! Yeah, they are stretch to fit and pretty snug, but they zip up and look much better. Then I tried on a 1x top and it was a little big! So, I snuck over to the misses reg sized and grabbed one in XL. The sales lady asked if she could help me, and I made up an excuse I was buying a gift for my sister. As if I still feel like a 2nd class citizen who doesn't belong in "their" side of the store. Gosh, I tried it on, it at little too tight, but I bought it, because I know with the sleeve, it will fit eventually.

Okay, another NSV. My ex & I still have a Macy's card together. I am charging a bunch of size 2. And, they letting him get the bill.hahahah. I may not be there yet, but I will. I think living well is the best revenge. Don't let those demons get you. I have them also. Dr. C told he wants my goal to be 125 and I guess I got scared look on my face. He said, "what's the matter, don't you want to weigh 125 Stephanie?"...it reminded me of how vulnerable I feel at that weight. But you know what, we are strong adult women now. Don't let them win.

From the LapSF newsletter.
********
Many people can't imagine becoming depressed AFTER losing weight. However, depression can occur after weight loss surgery or when undergoing any time of major lifestyle change. Possible causes of depression after WLS may include:

- Mourning the loss of food for comfort. If food has always been your "friend" or something you depended on when feeling sad, stressed or lonely, saying "goodbye" can be difficult.

- Mourning the loss of pre-operative lifestyle. For example, feeling left out while socializing, participating in holiday rituals, or when dining in restaurants.

- Reactions from others. Relationships with loved ones can change or become strained. Reactions to weight loss may be negative or jealous, or otherwise unsupportive friends/family may resort to "sabotage." Positive reactions or increased attention from others can lead to feelings of discomfort, vulnerability, or resentment.

- Having unrealistic expectations. For example, thinking that everything will get better after surgery or that your emotional eating or other disordered eating habits will simply disappear.

- Hormonal changes. For some women, estrogen is released while fat is burned to make energy. This release of estrogen may cause mood swings.

- Body image discrepancies. After rapid weight loss, you do not recognize yourself or lose a sense of self. You may experience a loss of identity between the inner and outer you.

The postoperative blues typically occur during the first few weeks or months after surgery and subside over time. However, if you find that your symptoms are worsening or are beginning to interfere with your relationships, work, or daily functioning, it is time to seek help from a medical professional.

From the LapSF newsletter.
********
Many people can't imagine becoming depressed AFTER losing weight. However, depression can occur after weight loss surgery or when undergoing any time of major lifestyle change. Possible causes of depression after WLS may include:

- Mourning the loss of food for comfort. If food has always been your "friend" or something you depended on when feeling sad, stressed or lonely, saying "goodbye" can be difficult.

- Mourning the loss of pre-operative lifestyle. For example, feeling left out while socializing, participating in holiday rituals, or when dining in restaurants.

- Reactions from others. Relationships with loved ones can change or become strained. Reactions to weight loss may be negative or jealous, or otherwise unsupportive friends/family may resort to "sabotage." Positive reactions or increased attention from others can lead to feelings of discomfort, vulnerability, or resentment.

- Having unrealistic expectations. For example, thinking that everything will get better after surgery or that your emotional eating or other disordered eating habits will simply disappear.

- Hormonal changes. For some women, estrogen is released while fat is burned to make energy. This release of estrogen may cause mood swings.

- Body image discrepancies. After rapid weight loss, you do not recognize yourself or lose a sense of self. You may experience a loss of identity between the inner and outer you.

The postoperative blues typically occur during the first few weeks or months after surgery and subside over time. However, if you find that your symptoms are worsening or are beginning to interfere with your relationships, work, or daily functioning, it is time to seek help from a medical professional.

Hey, I just realized a couple NSV! My CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) seems to have disappeared along with the depression. I was going through my old journal, and I was amazed how this has all slipped away. Who would have believed it! It might be that I no longer eat refined carbs (flour/sugar) and am following a healthy regime now. It's like a 180* turn around. I thinks it true, we actually are becoming new people. Maybe that is why others may feel insecure about our weight loss. We are changing to be better version ourselves. Praise be!

Great advice Tiff..make sure he uses a 32 french bougie, anything larger and the regain was sig after 2 yrs (Mac has the stats)..the 32 bougie has same long term success as the Rny, without bypassing a portion of the intestines. And you have a fully functioning mini-stomach. If something goes wrong, are there specialist who provide care? How many VGs has he done, % of complications, leaks, PE, etc. All very important. I chose a surgeon who has done over 2000 VGs and started doing them in '02, he can also do the DS, RnY, revisions, and the band, but mostly now, it's the VG. And, great aftercare too. I paid more to be in the states, and my surgeon met my criteria.

Dang, great price, just do your research. I had mine in the states, close to my home. So, I can't help regarding the Dominican Republic, and don't recall ever hearing about a surgery there.
I wish I would have done this sooner. I started researching 2007, when I was 50. The money thing stopped me, ins wouldn't cover it, so I bit the bullet and had it done. The thing I love the most, now that I am 8 wks out is that I can only eat very little, which is great, I want to eat so much more (head hunger, not physiological hunger). My stats and hx is a lot like yours, and I believe that I could not have done this w/o the sleeve. I have always worked out with weights, but my arms are going to need some work. The stomach is fine, but my inner thighs bug me, but that can be hid easier. Regarding the face, eventually it will sag anway. So PS is a matter of personal taste and choice..oh and $$..

Have you guys thought about high Protein for 5 days, then high carbs for 2 days routine? You keep the calories the same. Apparently, some believe the body adapts to the high protein and you slow down the wt loss. I don't know, but yesterday I incorporated more carbs and finally lost a lb. Go figure..I don't know. Also, you know that vegetarians still get complete Proteins by combining certain carbs, like rice/beans. Just a thought, I am thinking of trying this out this week.

You are right, at first it is swollen and healing from the trauma. When you allowed to eat soft foods, about 3-4 weeks out, take tiny bites knowing this. Stop at the first sign of fullness and do not try to force it. You can get your Protein from shakes, protein Soups, protein pudding, etc. Slowly, your stomach can hold 2 oz of dense protein, up to 4 oz of soft protein, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese. I was told that my stomach will, by one year, stretch to 8 oz. That is why we need to take advantage of the first 6 mos.