BrickHouse

I asked for the same guidance and direction and here I am. I've begun the process with all these appointments and my surgeon thinks I can be on the table by early October. I'm planning to celebrate my surgery date every year just like my birthday. Now if I can get my family on board with gifts...

As far as the gym goes, most machines have a big QUICK START button that starts the machine slowly so you can go at your own pace and at least be moving while you figure the rest of the buttons out. They're not hard, You will be fine. Any life-changing endeavor is something to think long and hard about, and you have. We'd all be lying if we said we were never scared. I'm more scared of dying fat.

Me, too! I want to know as much as possible about what they're gonna do to me. It puts me at ease to have a little bit of an idea. I would love to be able to get a dvd of my surgery! I need to ask the surgeon about that...

I had my first appointment with my surgeon today and I am on my way! I have already met several requirements and my particular insurance plan is one of the easiest to get approval through. My surgeon was great. He answered all my questions and, believe me, I had many! He explained everything in detail and said that normally the process, from first visit to surgery, takes about 3-4 months. <Big frown and exhale> ...BUT since I have the plan I do, it will go much more quickly for me! <Resume goofy grin> I am on track for a late September/Early October date! I've scheduled the first of two appointments with both the PSYCH and NUT. My upper GI is Tuesday. The rest will be scheduled through the surgeon's office (sleep study, pulmonary, EGD). I am officially a bariatric patient and I couldn't be more excited to get my life back!

I don't think many of us in here have had any trouble LOSING weight. We've done it over and over. It's KEEPING IT OFF where we have the problem. My husband, who is my biggest supporter and cheerleader, also swore I could "just do it myself," and begged me to reconsider my choice, stick to a program and work out. I patiently (ok, well not so patiently) told him that I HAD reconsidered several times and it's not up for discussion. I have made my decision and I am doing this for me because I deserve to enjoy the second half of my life. I deserve to enjoy and savor food again, and to be able to enjoy exercise again without pain. I commend the OP for letting her co-worker know that her opinion wasn't asked for and therefore had no value to her.

I was 8 years old and 130 pounds. My family went to a local "drive-thru zoo" where there were all kinds of animals. At the end of the attraction there was an area where you could get out of your cars and interact with some of the animals. There was a little sort of "merry-go-round" with pygmy ponies in harnesses which were attached to a wheel and they would walk around in circles with kids on their backs. Now, I had no business trying to get on one of those poor little ponies. But I was 8 and I loved animals (still do), so I did. Well, as you can imagine, the pony couldn't walk with me on its back. It just stood there when the harness wheel started moving. They made me get off and I cried all the way home. I can still feel how that felt and it was 40 years ago.

See you on the other side!

Go over her head. It was not only unprofessional, but illegal.

I enjoy a scoop of vanilla protein powder mixed with my morning coffee and I likely will do the same post-op. Just mix it with a little water before adding the coffee so you don't cook the protein! Lumpy coffee is pretty nasty.

Yes, I have unearthed my "Belly Band" from my pregnancy 9 years ago and it's standing by. Sometimes being a packrat pays off!

That's terrible. I'm glad you're better now!

I can't say for sure yet, but it seems people have trouble with cold water. I've read that some people drink warm water because of this. There could be many other reasons, though.

Instructions are on the pudding box. This is delicious with Jello Cheesecake flavored instant sugar free pudding mix and vanilla Protein powder!

Not only do you look thinner, but also so much happier! Congratulations!

Ooooh, that's going on my shopping list! I love them both, and I'll bet they're delicious combined!

Peanuts and bacon are low- or zero-carb foods. The point of most pre-op diets is to detox your liver of glycogen by depriving yourself carbs. They have to lift your liver up and hold it out of the way for this procedure. A smaller liver is much easier to work with. You didn't really do any damage, so stop beating yourself up, Parris!

While I have told my immediate family, when the time comes, I'm preparing to say that I had a hormonal imbalance (grehlin) and had a procedure to fix it. And now I can finally lose weight and keep it off. All true. This is assuming that I feel that I have to explain anything. I may tell certain people to mind their business since there was no concern from them while I was getting fat. As for restaurants, I plan to just simply say I lost all but one tenth of my stomach to surgery and as a result, I can only eat small amounts. Regardless, I'll be truthful in what I say, even if I leave a few details out. Hopefully people can leave it at that, and don't feel it necessary to keep poking. If they do, an honest "Why do you ask?" should shut them up. They won't want to admit they're just nosy! LOL!

The plain fat-free Chobani has only 9 carbs per cup due to the lactose. Trust me, it's NOT sweetened! But it's best to put your own "stuff" in it.

At my surgeon's info seminar, he said the entire process takes from 3 weeks to several months. That includes first appointment through date of surgery. I hope I am on the shorter end of that range!

Chobani and Fage are my favorites, just plain with a little Splenda. Watch brands like Yoplait since they contain gelatin as a thickener and don't contain nearly as much protein as the better brands. Check labels!

I had spinal surgery early this year and I know I'll be using some of the items I used then. There was a long-handled shoe horn, elastic laces (LockLaces) for my shoes, even a contraption that helps you get your socks on (SockAid). My water bottle has a straw and I know I'm swallowing a straw-full of air each time I use it, so I'll be getting a water bottle without a straw. I'm still a week and a half from my first visit with the surgeon, but it's never too early to start planning!

Bwaaahahaaahaaaa!!!

I will start at 250-ish. I've never been below 145 in my adult life, so there's a goal. If not lower. We'll see where my body wants to stop.

I dropped my daughter off at an early music lesson this morning and went back home to get myself ready for several doctor appointments that we had. I scheduled them all on the same day to make it easier. Once I was finished getting ready, I went back to pick her up, and it was there in the car that I noticed that I had left the house wearing my slippers! With SOCKS! I forgot to put my sneakers on and didn't even notice. Am I the only one that does things like this?

My first appointment with the surgeon is also on the 16th! I have already attended his seminar and now the minutes are passing like DAYS!