Randi

I still go out to eat with my co-workers - I just chose healthy choices. It's really for the company and not for the food.

No regrets. The surgery was a breeze for me, not much pain at all. The recovery time was really because I needed a lot of rest to heal. The hard part for me was to realize that although you can really eat whatever you want (after a couple months) you really shouldn't it you want to lose. I do eat bad stuff sometimes, but only in moderation. At first I kept making the same things for me and my husband and I could hardly eat anything so he would eat the rest - gained weight, got mad. Now I have changed my cooking habits and it's much better. You get to the point where you don't crave the bad stuff - I was a huge carb eater before and now it's protein, protein, protein.

The best part is fitting into all those clothes you couldn't before and getting off the meds because you are getting smaller and healthier.

I was super nervous and excited at the same time. You won't regret it!!!

Make a list of pro's and con's. It's a very scary decision and especially if your husband isn't supportive. My husband, parents, friends and family were hugely supportive so that made it easier. It is a lifestyle change but the results are sooo worth it!! I am 49 years old and couldn't find a diet that worked, take care of my disable husband (head injury), work a lot of hours, that I just couldn't make it work. I am not great at the exercise part, but do try to get in 30 minutes 3 or 4 times a week.

There have been a lot of disappointments with the lapband so that wasn't even a consideration for me.

Just my opinion - you're in charge!!

I have noticed exactly the same thing!! I used to hate going out and seeing my reflection everywhere - had now self confidence at all. Now people treat me differently - I'm down 50 pounds to 210 and it's unbelievable what a change it makes. I had a pretty good sense the people treat fat people differently prior to surgery and it's been totally confirmed. People at work are a lot nicer to me as well. It's sad but true, but oddly I like that I'm being treated better.

It's really too bad that everybody can't be fortunate enough to have the chance to change like we did!!

Wow - I hear you. I hated going out ANYWHERE because I would see my reflection in doors, windows, mirrors and just want to die. We were at the chiropractor once and my hubby asked the doctor if i was having back problems because I was so big - I just started crying. He meant my big boobs, but of course I thought he was calling me an elephant. You will be so much happier when the weight starts falling off and getting to wear new SMALLER clothes. I put on a swimsuit I hadn't worn in TEN years and my hubby loved it - kept asking me to twirl.

There is hope and it sounds like your family is supportive. That's key. Hang in there!!!

Wow girl - good for you! I love the come back. Most people have been very supportive to me, but I have had the few that didn't agree with my choice. I have two tiny sisters who can eat anything they want and still lose weight, I swear. They didn't say much, but both live far away and we don't talk much. Once the weight starts coming off and people notice how much happier you are (and you WILL be) they should be happy for you. Everybody is different and we all have to make the right choice for ourselves.

Good Luck!!!

I agree with tmorgan - this is no easy way out. I struggle with it a lot - it's not easy hardly being able to eat anything. My husband also constantly asks me how I do it and how he could never do it. He tells me how strong I am and how proud he is of me. I too tried every diet in the book and it didn't work for me. This did. I have also had friends tell me that I'm being an a*****e telling people I had this surgery because I was able to afford to pay for it myself. How she thought I was bragging about it. Bragging about trying to get healthy? She, of course, doesn't have a weight problem.

fortunately my family is very supportive - and so are my coworkers.

We moved from Seattle to Dallas in 2010 - I had lost my job and needed a good job. I'm a financial controller for engineering and construction companies. I landed a job being the Controller for 2 huge toll road projects in dallas. My hubby is disable and can't work (or drive) because of a head injury so I am the bread winner.

I miss Seattle!! We lived in Bonney Lake.

I work in a small company and I know that everybody knows. I've lost 50 pounds in 3 1/2 months - what are they going to think? It's kind of hard to get those results without having surgery. I have found that people at work are actually nicer to me and I get lots of compliments. I focus on that and not who told who what at the water cooler.

I battle with the "stop" thing too. You'd think I'd learn after running to hurl too many times. I'm just going to take it day by day and see if i can do better. Congrats on the wedding!!!

My husband bought a big bag of peanut m&m's at the grocery store last Saturday. I admit to having a few handfuls.....BAD!!!!

I enjoy going out for lunch with my work friends - it's cheap and I can bring my leftovers home for my husband to eat for dinner!! I eat about 1/4 of it and he gets almost a full portion. He stays home during the day and doesn't get to go out so it's a treat.

We went out for Mexican last Saturday - my $7.99 meal allowed me two leftovers at home. I like those prices!!!

But, sorry you had to have that experience.

I suffer from depression too and found that the first two months were the worst - specially when I had to come to terms with never being to eat like everybody else. It was really tough but now I just deal with it the best I can. My work has candy everywhere too and I do cheat a bits with that - at least they are fun size so I don't feel so bad. This is an up and down battle and we can just take it one day at a time. Sometimes i've found myself in tears at work but my co-workers are so supportive - it's a very small office and everybody knows that I had the surgery.

Hang in there!!!

I am at 214 and am happy about it. I seem to lose about 8 pounds quickly and then get stuck there for 2 weeks. I guess that's the way my body is fighting me.... Just trying to get used to it and hopefuly in about a month I will see onderland!!!

Thanks for the great ideas!!!

This happened to me during the first few weeks as well. You're getting used to how much you can eat and this is hard. I guess it's better than the alternative if you know what I mean? That happened to me quite enough as well. I am just over 3 months out and can now judge pretty well how much to eat so I don't get miserable or sick. Just give it time.

Hi - first of all, stop playing the blame game. It's OK to fall off track. We all do. Once you have the surgery it will be so much easier to make these changes. I only had to do the 2 week protein shake diet before surgery, but had 3 months to indulge, and boy did I ever!! I gained 5 pounds once I got my surgery date set in about a month.

But, surgery date was April 17 and I am down almost 50 pounds. You will great!!! You are making a great choice!!!

I have wondered the very same thing, but I agree with Tiffany has part of the success of what we are experiencing. I know that if I ate as little as I do now I would be constantly hungry, shaky, and unhappy. I know that people who have had the gastric bypass DO get hungry so that's one reason I chose this surgery.

I have been lucky to have only a few people scoff at what I did - one called me an a*****e and a gigantic hypocrite [on Facebook for all to see] to do what I did and actually tell people about my journey. She said that not everybody can afford to better themselves and therefore I was the bad guy. She, I might mention, is not overweight which makes it even stranger.

Oh, well - enough about my little life. I'm happy with the choice I made and YAY for the rest of us!!

Congratulations - it just gets better and better!!

I in my 10th week and gained 4 pounds last week, then lost 2 and am frustrated just like you are. I think it goes with the program, but that doesn't make us feel any better about it!!

Hang in there!!

That is an awesome story. It made my day - you are such a good writer!!

I hope that things get better for you soon! I'm 49 got my sleeve done on April 19th in Dallas so we aren't too far away ( in age or in distance)

I have these too. I am thinking it's because we couldn't wash as well as we should have because sometimes it I scratch them they go away. hope that wasn't TMI!!!

That is amazing!!! you must be one smiling lady!!!

I'm so sorry that your family isn't supportive. This really is your decision and it's a good one - you are trying to get your life back!!! I don't know if you follow Dr. Oz, but he had a show that discussed weight loss surgery and totally supports people having this if they are more than 100 pounds over weight. He says that you would have surgery if you had cancer, right? Being morbidly obese is a disease just as much as cancer is, so the smart thing to do is to fix it!!!

I hope that your boyfriend is supportive because you will need that!! I wish you the best of luck!!

Don't stress, you'll be fine!! I cheated 3 times with chicken breasts and had a very successful operation. I too have fatty liver disease and the doctor was hapy with my surgery. I just would be careful to just do liquids for the 48 hours before the surgery.