BrickHouse

I'm waiting for my final of four needle sticks for the same lab work. It's okay to drink water. Actually, it's helpful when they look for veins. The glucose drink was so sickeningly sweet! I sure hope I can stay awake for the next half hour until the last stick!

I stayed a year at PF and what made all the difference in the world was keeping my eyes closed while doing my cardio and my reps. Besides really improving form, posture and balance, it lets people know I don't care if they're looking. I wasn't there for THEM. And I have to agree that the Y is a much friendlier, more helpful environment. Can't wait to get back to it.

Dietdirect.com; Netrition.com. Two of my favorites.

You've already lost probably 200 pounds! See how easy that was?! I know it hurts now, but once you put your focus on YOU, it'll become clear that this is probably for the best. ETA: @SunnyCox, we cross-posted the same idea! Great minds... :-)

Tuna is usually a 6 oz. can. Squeeze out the water and you have 3 oz., which is just about right.

Each state has a component branch of the American Dental Association. Find out where yours is (should be an easy Google search) and get them involved, too. They have a peer review process that can pull licenses. And if yours was the place that rhymes with ShmAspen, there are complaints on them almost daily.

"Coldwater Creek has nice styles for people with your body type."

I can't wait to not have to hear the floorboards squeaking and creaking when I walk around my 1940 house!

My surgeon uses the endo so he can see inside and outside at the same time. That's comforting.

Congratulations! And, yes, I read the title of your post in Steve Urkel's voice!! LOL!

Are you thinking of an endoscopy or EGD? The upper GI we're talking about was just a series of xrays more or less. Fully conscious. What a scary thought to wake up during an endoscopy! I was half awake during a colonoscopy once and I make sure they knock me out good now!

Yes, and the second one was through a straw while I was lying on my stomach. Those crystals they use to blow up your stomach were rough; it was so hard to not burp!

I had my upper GI last week and, although it wasn't pleasant, it wasn't terrible. The barium had a slight sweet citrus taste. For me, the hardest part was rolling to my left, then my right, then over and over so the barium coated my stomach. I have titanium screws in my back and it was difficult. The procedure itself was a breeze for me. Sorry yours was so difficult!

I knew someone with a colostomy who ate Life cereal mixed with vanilla protein shake and then she microwaved it for 30 seconds to make it mushy.

Being carb-conscious before your surgery (under 100g a day) for a week will substantially shrink your liver.

I'm also a coach with them. I lost 50 pounds with them several years ago. And put a hundred back on. Yes, I can coach people through the program and it's great for pre-op, but I honestly can count on one hand the people I know who have maintained their loss without staying on their foods. They're not all liquids anymore - there are ice creams, brownies, cereals, chili... and they do taste pretty good. Post-op, it's probably even a good choice since the nutrition is undisputably there. As a stand-alone weight loss and maintenance program though, it's hard for me to recommend.

Jeremiah 29:11

Welcome and best wishes! I just began my adventure. I attended a seminar in July and met with the surgeon last week. Tomorrow is my upper GI and ultrasound. My NUT and PSYCH have been scheduled and I'm just waiting on the pulmonary and EGD to be scheduled. This is the best thing Ive ever done for myself and I can't wait to enjoy my life again!

Thanks for this info. I'm going for mine first thing tomorrow morning.

Well said. Every time you work that "NO" muscle, it gets stronger.

What HE said! But I still stand by my earlier comment that just being around the smell of a McDonald's could be a very slippery slope for some. I'm so glad you're not going in there to eat!

I imagine if it's really nasty, stinky, infected-looking. I think you'd feel pretty awful, too.

My surgeon explained that if a leak is going to happen, it usually happens between the 3rd and 10th day. He leaves the drain in for a week and told me that if there actually is a leak, the drain will help with detection and drainage, too.

Two words: Slippery. Slope.

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...