Just-A-Gem

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I misread the original post as 5' 3". At 5' 6" we really are almost identical in starting stats. Awesome!

Amazing stats!! Love seeing results like this! Except for our height, our starting measurements are almost identical.

How long will you be doing it total? I know that in previous 2 week liquid diets that I've done, I've lost anywhere from 5-10%, closer to 5 on average though. How tall are you? With your weight being similar to mine, you might have a new stalker. Got my answer, dang you're tall. LOL. I bet you get that a lot.. I am 5' 7" and three quarters. I round down though. I think as I lose weight I'll stand taller. Or so I hope.

I could be totally off base, but you said that she's not complaining about the weight loss. Could be that she just doesn't want the competition on top of all she's been facing. She could be scared that you will surpass her and feel better doing it. Just my opinion, because I have a friend (that hasn't had WLS) that I could totally imagine as her. She'll probably freak when I start losing weight.. Different situation because even being sick, I'm sure your friend feels special being the one that's lost 100 lbs.

Girl!! Return that stuff! You won't get nearly as much on eBay and you said yourself that you found what you wanted on Land's End, call and see about their exchange policy. Congrats on the new sizes!!

IDK.. I don't plan on using it. I have a vertical C-section scar that has faded after 2 years to virtually invisible, so I'm not worried. I plan on a tummy tuck anyhow... That will cut most of the scars away, I think.

I know the dilemma. When I lost 70 lbs year before last, it was the love/hate relationship with the scale that motivated me and then was the nail in my coffin so to speak. I hit a HUGE stall and my daily weigh-ins started telling me it was pointless... then I finally believed them. Y'all are making me think about my scale plans. I do know that I will be taking measurements also. I think I will do something like this. I will take measurements by tape and scale on the day I start my 2 week liquid pre-op diet. This will be it for pre-op. Next encounter won't be until morning of Surgery. Morning of surgery I will take tape/scale measurements. From there out, I will weigh weekly and tape every fourth Friday. I want to only ever see happy numbers from there on out and I know how much the scale fluctuates.

I am also a newbie in Houston! Lot's of fluffy Houstonians here, I've seen. Good luck with the insurance. Like an idiot I switched to an HSA this year, so no dice.

I think this has more to do with the differences in your size initially.. The size is based on the bougie, but if you use the same bougie on a person with a larger stomach then you are cutting more percentage away. KWIM?

*Quick Question* What exactly is the "Red Velvet Gang"? ** Nevermind, further research answered the question..

Cheddar Cauliflower soup 24 oz. frozen Cauliflower Florets 1 large sweet onion 2.5 c skim milk 2 c Water 1 c shredded 2% sharp cheddar cheese 3 tbsp AP flour 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 bay leaf 1 tsp salt .5 tsp pepper Sauté onions in oil. Add cauliflower, 2 c milk, water, bay leaf, salt & pepper. Bring to low boil over med heat; stir often. Reduce to simmer, cover & cook 8 min or until cauliflower is tender. Remove bay leaf. Whisk .5 c milk & flour; slowly stir into soup. Cook 2 min longer or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in cheese and lemon juice. You can puree this for the puree stage, or full liquids, I suppose. I think you could probably change cheese amounts to taste, but it's DELICIOUS as is... and SO filling. When split into 12 half cup portions, the stats are as follows: 122 calories 6.5 g fat 7.5 g carbs (1.8 dietary fiber) 7.7 g Protein.... I could see myself adding a scoop of unflavored protein to this and it would be just as delicious with more than 3x the protein.

Well, let's see. I will be sleeved on August 5th (my sister's birthday). In one year from today (9 months out from sleeve), I'd like to see myself in the mirror. I'd like to be shopping at regular stores and see a weight with a 1 in front. Any will do, but I'd kind of like to be close to goal if it's not too much to ask. I'll be 25 and I can't wait. I'd like to be training for the 2013 Houston Aramco Half Marathon.

Looks like you are on a roll. I wish I lived in a house where I could garden. Sounds like it'd be cathartic. You are probably right about the increased activity helping the loss. I predict you'll exceed your goal for the month. I won't be sleeved until August, but if I'm even a third to goal (145 lbs) by Christmas it will all be worth it. Maybe I can lose 20-30 pre-op and make it half way. Keep on keeping on!

God, I hope this is right! I am more scared of the flight. LOL. Your food addiction is the scared one here. Show it who's boss!!!

Go for thin crust from Domino's when you think you can. The "slices" are basically 2.5"x2.5" squares and way lower carbs. Mmmmm, pineapple and Canadian bacon. Nom Nom Nom.

Need to get the word out about the Sleeve!! http://www.webmd.com/diet/weight-loss-surgery/news/20110321/study-poor-results-from-lap-band-surgery

That is in Houston.. How tall are you? Your starting weight looks a lot like mine.

How'd it go?? I have flown plenty before, but not in 3 years and since then I have had a recurring dream of turbulence and crash. I am scared witless of take off, but I have 3 months and a good shrink. Maybe she will give me something to get through it. LOL.. I think it stems from some pretty bad/scary turbulence the last time I flew to D.C., haven't been on a plane since.

Yay! I think the flight will be the scariest part for me. My c-sections were more risky than this and the only "what-if" I'm concerned with is, what if this is the best decision I will ever make for myself in my life. Interested in learning how it goes for you. I have a three month wait ahead of me, but I'll be seeing Dr. Almanza on August 5th and I've never been more excited.

This is truth! I live in Pasadena and there are probably like 15 surgical centers within a 10 mile radius of my apartment. Texas girls are tough. Houston girls are tough-er.

You will be sleeved about 6 weeks before me.. I've never been so excited. (even when waiting for my children's births... shhh!!) I'm glad you'll be talking to him about it soon. I know what you mean about life changes. They have prevented me from moving forward on this twice before, but I am determined that my 25th birthday will mark the first day of the rest of my life with my beautiful family. I hope these months fly for us.

Today I will be playing the part of the devil's advocate: Don't lie to your husband. If you tell no one else, you need full disclosure with your partner of over 20 years. This is a HUGE, emotional undertaking and I've seen many marriages fall apart in the process. Educate him. The more educated he becomes on the risks of staying obese vs. the way more limited risks involved with this procedure... even in Mexico. I've been on OH forum for almost 5 years and it really pains me to see the number of marriages that fail because feelings on this important subject were not ever fully communicated. Obesity is the 2nd leading cause of preventable death in the United States. This is your method of preventing it and he will/should understand this. In this case I would not say it's easier to ask forgiveness and it looks as if you're willing to move forward without his knowing so just let him know that you don't need his permission.

I wouldn't say you're in a fix, per se. You know what you need to do, your internist has told you as much. Trust your doctor's opinion in this case and do what you need to do to get healthy. After 3 years with the band you know that it doesn't work for you and this is the better option. Take your family on a trip to your doctor or the bariactric surgeon of your choice and let him/her do the educating. This is all up to you though.

I'm in Houston too! We can all be Houston Almanza buddies! It should make you feel better that the more serious issues coming from his facility are from 2009 and I think they have seriously cleaned up their act. There is risk in every facility. I feel comfortable enough to move forward knowing that I wouldn't be able to pay $9k or the like with my anti-debt stance. Surgery date: August 5th!