Globetrotter

Really large chests run in my family and even when I was trim and fit in high school I was never smaller than a C cup. Even though I've talked about how I wouldn't mind having a small chest I must admit that it would be disconcerting to find myself on the "other side" of the breast size divide, lol.

This all sounds totally familiar and totally expected. I over analyze everything and I keep playing over all aspects of it in my head. I have about 12 days till surgery and I am picking apart the same things as you lol. I wish I could just go with the flow more. I mean I haven't lost a pound yet but I am still wondering about clothing etc. I like to say I just like to be prepared but I am a control freak I will admit it.

That said surgery is a big step physically and emotionally along with it being financiallly significant in your case as well as mine. Just try to stay calm and talk things out it will work out great and your going to be a great success. Now if I could only take my own advice! heheh

Though I did manage to justify the cost to myself by assuming that I will be eating a whole lot less and in the long run I will save the money I spent on surgery by eating less

Heehee, I'm totally looking forward to spending next to nothing on groceries, leaving the store with one little bag! I can hardly imagine a single tin of tuna lasting me two or three meals. I'm single so I only have to buy for myself and I'm trying to imagine the groceries for a week during liquid stage consisting of a quart of chicken broth and various packets of Protein powders. Maybe I'll start storing other things in my vacant cupboards, like shoes in their boxes and hand weights.

I was more excited by the concept of artistic visually interesting food, seperate from the notion of using small plates (which I will). Coming from the Bay Area I am predisposed to Asian-inspired foods, once I saw the pictures online of the boiled eggs made to look like tiger faces, and the little omelettes made to look like stars and flowers, I thought it was a great way to get over the anxiety some people seem to have over their newly tiny portions.

I'm with Mini-Me, once I'm post-op I think I will reward myself with a piece of dainty little high tea china from an antique store, with little teeny silver forks and spoons and a demitasse cup. Might as well make it fun!

Who says we are missing out? It's not like once we get the surgery we are banished from participating in family meals, going to restaurants, etc. We can still converse with our dinner partners, still enjoy perusing the menu and talking about what looks good and ordering, we can still enjoy the taste and visual pleasure of the food, and we can still eat! What are we missing out on exactly? The ability to hork it down like starving rottweilers? The inevitable looks of revulsion and contempt from other diners as we clean our plates AND have the nerve to order dessert? I won't be missing those things, or the anxiety over chairs and booths or the drugged up full-to-bursting feeling. Missing out? No way!:thumbup:

Haha Jane, yes to the alcohol - knock back a scotch, chin up, talley ho! There will definitely be some reconstructive surgery after all this, total body lift if possible but most definitely the tummy and girls, up up up! =)

Jane - There's life in that purple leather mini yet! Keep it - just because DD refuses to be seen with you wearing it in public doesn't mean DH won't delight in you wearing it in private! :thumbup:

Has anyone heard of bento boxes? They are the traditional Japanese boxed lunch. They are teeny tiny and arranging them can be an art form. I haven't been sleeved yet but am trying to think of ways to make my mental transition afterwards as smooth as possible. That's when I thought of bentos - they are Protein focused (we can take out the rice), tiny, and visually stimulating. Plus, for us, they wouldn't be tiny, they would be just right! We could eat an entire lunch, lol! So here's a link to a site. I think I'm going to look forward to spending time and care on my food, I've spent too long just throwing everything down my gullet. =)

Just Bento | a healthy meal in a box: great bento recipes, tips, and more

I can't wait to try the salmon chowder!

So true Jane! Like old marrieds who seem frozen in the sartorial era of their weddings or coma patients, those of us who became fat are in stasis to the timeframe of our fatitude, I feel cheated that I didn't get to wear the pencil skirts and knee boots of 1998 or the super low rider jeans all the other 22 yr olds were wearing in '01. I see a darkened club, drag-queen worthy eyelashes, and skinny jeans in my future when I hit goal ... at least for one evening of make-up debauchery.

Jane, I see that you had your VSG in Brno, before your surgery did you have a StaroBrno tumno (dark)? I once crossed country borders just for that beer. The museum there also has some lovely works including a Reubens, did you go?

Jane you bring up an interesting point. I have wondered, as I lay in bed fantasizing about life after surgery and life at goal weight. Because I got fat at the end of my teens I would probably go through a period of juvenile behavior, trying to make up for lost time. But I don't think I could ever forget what it's like to be treated like Less Than. Once or twice tho, I'm sure my inner Fem-zilla will probably enjoy a moment of spoiled bratness. =P

I have Tricare Standard too and don't have the option of using an Army hospital and my civilian surgeon doesn't take Standard, only Prime and I can't change up my plan till November, grrrr!!

I look at it this way; what has eating the entire meal ever done for me besides lead to my misery? I'm actually looking forward to having just a few bites do it for me; I will dust off conversational skills with my dining companions, spend less on food, enjoy a wide variety of foods because I literally won't be able to digest old bad stand-bys. Cleaning my plate has not led to my happiness and if it upsets others to see uneaten food in front of me, they are welcome to it!

compression stockings, what a great idea! I bought some for long haul flights, coupla bucks at any Wal-Mart or K-Mart or whatev.

Bougie is french for "candle" and my surgeon just calls it a French. I'm really glad I asked how many VSG's my surgeon has done, I was shy to ask it like I was questioning his abilities, but I'm glad I did it. Turns out he's done 900, sounds good to me!

I have a question regarding the courage to get naked after massive weight loss. It's difficult now but, everything is at least .... full? I assume it is different for marrieds out there, you are already in a relationship but for singles, how do you find the courage to get naked with someone when your breasts are flattened tube socks, when your stomach flap just hangs there, and your thighs are shrivelled? Of everything out there, this is what causes me most anxiety. I'm afraid that a man I meet, who thinks I look good in my clothes will think it is false advertising once we get undressed. I know I know, if a man wants to sleep with you it won't matter but, still. =(

ARGH! I'll tell you what ticks me off, internalizing the message that thin is a synonym for pretty and vice versa. Shiftling, you are pretty, I can see your picture. This thin girl at your work is not pretty per se, she is priviledged. Those who are used to priviledge demand what they please and their attitude of ownership bends those around them to believe in their superiority. Stop thinking of her as pretty, she sounds hideous to me.

That is a good idea, submitting the other costs to my insurance, hadn't thought of that ...

Asking for an itemized invoice, also excellent, see this is why VST is awesome, more brains to puzzle stuff out! =)

Yeah, I'm set firm on my surgeon. He's one of the best in the world and happens to be based in my hometown but yeah, the price just staggered me and I was kind of affronted by my having to run around making these payments, if their charging so much, shouldn't they be doing some of these things?

I'm not angry, I was frustrated and venting. It is just a complication that I will have to find a way around, I am organizing my surgery from half-way around the world which adds all manner of complications.

I found a site that breaks down the cals, carbs, and Proteins of sushi sashime and assorted sushi-related foods -

The Sushi FAQ - Sushi Calories and Nutritional Information

I love sushi and it seems like the perfect Protein delivery system post-VSG: small, soft, and flavorful. I'll probably have to switch to sashime rather than sushi 'cuz I've heard the rice is not our friend post-op. If you feel daring, octopus sashime came in at 8 grams of Protein for a 1oz. serving! Miso Soup was pretty low at only 3 grams but I think if I doctor it up with some unflavored Protein powder it might be good for full liquid stage. =)

Well I'm just a bit frustrated and ticked off right now; just got an email from the money people of my surgeon's office, as a self-pay I apparently have to pay the ENTIRE fee up front before they will even schedule my surgery!! As if that weren't bad enough, all of the other fee's - hospital, anesthesia, psyche, are all seperate and I have to pay each of them myself. What is the office doing for me then, if I am running around paying various organizations individually and seperately?!?!

This makes me anxious and I can just see one set of people claiming they were never paid, etc. etc. Grrr.

Cool - thanks!

I'm as big a chocosaurus as the next gal, but I'm noticing that all of these Protein Drinks for our full liquid phase are sweet, either chocolate or fruit sweet. Are there any savory options out there? A high-gram Protein Drink that tastes more like beef broth or something savory might make a welcome change after days of sticky sweet. Does that exist?

Wow, KathyM you really hit the nail on the head, I got a lump in my throat! Passing a glass reflection and not feeling sad .... so so true!

On a lighter note, when I hit my goal weight I'm going to go to the fanciest department store in town (San Francisco), go to the couture department and try on fancy label clothes that I could not have begun to fit into before! Chanel, Donna Karan, Diane Von Furstenburg. I don't need/want to buy them, it will just be so cool to know I too can participate. =)