carolyn24seven

Lan2K: God Bless you. You are certainly going thru a ridiculousy tough time. I wish I could help you. Please know I care about you and want the best outcome for you. It is so good of you to post, to let everyone know that this surgery is not the answer to/for happiness. It is a great tool for weight loss, but, can cause sundry problems for some. I believe it helps to go into any venture(surgery for one example) with all the knowledge available. Your side of the story is most valuable. Thank you for telling it and continuing to help us all understand a completely different side to WLS.

I am the first to admit I was not understanding of your situation at all in the beginning. I am sorry for that. I am Enlightened now and will never view/judge anyone again about their "issues".

Keep us posted on your progress.

Be strong, be well friend.

When I went to tuna, I could not get it down. I did like chewing it to a "wad" and then spitting it out. There was just no way that "wad" was going to go down. Slow down on your food advances. This phase will be over soon. You will be able to eat everything soon. In small/tiny portions. pureed Soups will be your life line for awhile. Come to think of it, I kinda miss my pureed soups. They were tasty. Think I will make one today. :}

Chancie: what Protein do you put in your coffee? Just vanilla flavored powder? Coffee flavored? I tried to mix some coffee flavored protein in hot Water it gloped up on me and looked/tasted awful. I would really like to get some protein in first thing in the AM, so, share please your method. Thanks!

My waist has come down dramatically compaired to my hips thighs. I seem to be loosing inches from the top down. I am still riding my bike like a crazy woman. I have started the weight training for upper body. Hope my skin catches up with the weight loss soon. Wow, am I ever flabby. Yuck. Look good in clothes though, lololol

Because of my knees I cannot do the running or leg exercises. I wish I could. I would rather do some stuff outdoors, I am in an area that is perfect for it. I am going to try to find a way to ride outside, maybe find a rental place. There is a 15+mile bike trail from Huntinton Beach to Yorba Linda, so, maybe I could get some outside exercize in that won't hurt the knees and will help the thighs.

Wow That is an awsome schedual. Good for you! I am trying to go 3 days a week. I am loving my gym time. I let too many pressures at home distract me from that time. Sounds like excuses huh? I will work on more ME time.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Amanda: new picture please. I think I agree with you, I saw a pict of myself at Christmas and I cannot believe it is me. I look so young. In all my picts of the last few years I look so old. Just the weight off takes the age off. Even though close up you can see the wrinkles, it does nto matter. Initially, you think young. That is a big deal for me. I do not feel old now. I am full of energy, and no where near so achey as I was 50+ lbs ago.

Wish I could post pictures. I am gonna figure that out soon.

My own NSV for today: I crossed my legs at the knee. I did not even know I was doing it. My Husband noticed and commented. Woowzaaa!

JJJ & Chandra: you guys are great! Ya just keep me motovated.

T H A N K S !

Mrs Sasaki: thank you for your answers. I like your attitude. I will try to incorporate some of that in my life. I agree with you about how rude people can be. When I was fat I heard over and over I could be soooo pretty if I would loose weight. Sheeze people shut up! Now they all want to know what I am doing, and, the VERY next thing out of their mouths is: "don't loose too much weight". Are you kidding me? Good heavens people make up your minds.

I think I am threatening to people now, they cannot put me down anymore. I feel like I have much more power now. Power to speak up and power to walk away from really negative people/things. I know, I always had the power, I just could not use it. Loosing weight is allowing me to use the power better.

Thank you again Mrs. Sasaki.

OH yeah, swimming. The pool at the gym is salt Water. ??? Maybe that has caused it? I will get the gold bond. I have never had this before. Could be age related?

Anyway, the cream is working, it never got smelly, just a little itchy that is how I even noticed it. It is much less red today, kinda pink only. and not itchy at all. Funny the problems that pop up.

Thanks for the answers all!

How pricey was the "speed bump" for your wedding ring?

It was a long time ago. I did it in gold. I think it was $120.00 for two bumps. It was more to keep the ring upright and not flopping around.

Look in the drug stores for ring sizers. I am going to have to do this too. My rings are starting to flop around.

Congrats Kai. God speed your recovery. Welcome to the loosers bench sleeve sister.

Hope this is the place for this:

My belly button is all red and itchy.:scared0:

I have an "inney" It is pretty deep.

I don't know if I am not getting it dry after showering or what.:confused1:

When I work out at the gym, I get sweaty around my waist, I think some sweat goes in there and stays.:crying:

I am putting antibiotic cream on it with a q~tip. I am now drying it with a Q~tip. Should I use powder? After it is cleared up.

Any other suggestions? Anyone else experiencing this?:confused:

I am worried this can spread to the folds of skin I am developing.

Tiff, A is very cute and will look good on you. Be sure to get the right products to keep the hairstyle up at home. Do you have a flat Iron?

To everyone with the thinning hair problem: There are "bumps" that add volume. Make the most of what is left. Get a shining product that stays in the hair. It makes your hair look healthy. You can put it on like a color treatment. Get what you have left trimmed. a cute cut is a must. Honestly, at this point, you need to treat yourself if you can afford it. Find a stylist that deals with thinning/damaged hair. You will feel so much better about yourself. I am using a product called, Morrocan Gold. It is a great smelling oil. I have longish blonde (treated) hair. I use it daily on the ends and top surface. Work with the stylist for the best product for your type of hair.

Good for you! Getting it all done at one time makes a lot of sense. Glad your surgeon agreed. Sounds like we have a place in the US to go to for WLS. Of course, if you are self pay~~~then Mexico is still the option.

Take care, walk and breathe. and sip!

Great attitude Tiffany! You are hanling the 10% very well. If this is the worst thing that happens to you in your life, you are blessed. (It does however, piss me off too)

Live happy!

Tiff did you try hypnosis?

Well, my scale has me doing flips in my emotions daily due to its fluxuations.(old scale and horribly in-accurate) SO, I think Mrs Sasaki may be on to something here. I really do want to throw my scale away. I could do that and just use the one at the gym I suppose? But, I like the goal of getting to Onederland. I do not tell people how muxh I have lost. I just say I am working on it. (gym and protein) People just do not want to hear it takes work. hahahah .

Mrs. Sasaki, do you tell people how many dress sizes you have gone down? Have you ever gained a size since you have been sleeved?

I have the "speed bump in my wedding band. (two actually) keeps it from turning, as well as sizing it down. Pricey though. There is also a "ring guard" type of deal that your ring fits in and that sizes it down. You know, the idea of wraping dental floss around and then using clear polish is a pretty resonable~temporary solution.

Congrats! Isn't the energy wonderful? and the more you use it the more you get!!!

I love my exercize now. amazing, it is not drudgery at all.

wish we could exercize together. There are a bunch of grumpy people at my gym, I am sure they do not appreciate me grinning away at 30min on the bike. Oh phooey on them I am gonna keep going. why don't nice happy people go to the gym?

I am almost 3 months out and I love the info you newbies are giving about the streching issue. I guess I did not know it was possible so I did not have it as a question in my mind. I eat 1/8 of what "normal" people eat and I am completely satisfied. That is about 4 or 5 large bites of a gormet type hamburger. Loved every bit. But, I was ful!!! I just eat part of what my hubby orders. If I order any thing it is Soup and that I only eat 1/2 of when it gets there. It is starting to feel normal to me. I have so much energy, and sleep like a baby on valium. I take no pain meds or sleep meds. I am going to the Dr. to get a complete blood workup done. Just to make sure all levels are good. on the 15th. I kind hope I can get off of the thyroid meds I am on. It would be so great to be 63 and no meds! With what I am eating, there is no way I can gain. I will continue to loose until I get to goal then I will probably have the chore of trying to stay up to goal weight. I am just all giggly thinking about that. What a chore to have!

This works, this works, this works!

steph123 is right on!

Yea Chancie. Take the vid from tiffy!

Tif cute pict of you and John.You both look so happy!

twobluecats, excellent! Just keep it up.

Vegas, maybe we will hit Onederland together.

I weighed at the gym,~~~~~200 even. I could NOT get that darn scale to float at 199. Darn it. I am going back tomorrow. I am NOT waiting a whole nother week!!!! ARRRRRRGH. Who, me impatient? Obsessive? Silly? Oh yeah.

Good for you DeeDee! A pound a week after five months!!! Oh, I am so hopeful now that this truly does work. I am still having trouble believing this is all really happening to me and that it is permanent. I will go to the gym at 11 this morning ans weigh in htere and post later. My home scale is very "off". THis morning it read 203 which is very low. but, two days ago it read 197? I know I need a new scale, but, I have been so "obsessive" about weighing myself that I am trying to just use the scale at the gym for my official weigh~ins. -----more later

Chancie, you are in a size 12! That is such a big deal! I am sooooo happy for you. Your stomach issue may lessen some as more time goes by and your body catches up with the rapid weight loss. Until then, powder~n~girdle it. hahaha

Thin one day: that is what long sleeves are for. And long pants. lol I so wanna wear sleeveless shirts this summer. I do not REALLY think that is gonna happen with out additional surgery ( that I am not having)But, I am working the weights and hoping for the best. I will not give up.

good advice, keep your eye on the prize. That, and plan ahead for the care of your toddler. You are making this decision for your best possible life for you and your family. Courage.

(((((hugs))))))

welcome new sleeve sister! You now can sit on the loosers bench with us. You are doing so well. I could not type when I was one day out!

Congratulations on a sucessful "trip". Hope you recovery continues un-eventually.

(You get my drift)

(((((((huge hugs)))))))))