nyxa

Mine is looking at my size 8 pants and they look so tiny. yet I can fit into them, some are really loose too. Another is when my bones clank against each other.

Omg you made my night with this post, the sex thing was way too cute:) you know that Dr Oz says that for every 10 pounds a man losses his ----- grows an inch!

For me it was the towel. It has been so long since I could wrap a regular size bath towel around me!

My first OMG moment was being able to fit...comfortably...in a theatre seat!! Fitting in booths, in restaurants, is also a HUGE one!! (Never again will I have to say "could we please have a table?"!!)
I have an OMG moment every time I get dressed now....because I can't believe I'm wearing (loose) size 20 jeans, and (as of this past weekend) a 1X blouse!! I hold up my clothes and think "I can't possibly fit in something this small!"...and then I put it on, and it fits!!
And, this morning, the biggest yet....weighing myself, and finding that I've lost a whopping 100 pounds, since the end of March! (48 pounds since June 26th!) Unbelievable!
A big WOOT!! to you, for each of your OMG moments!!
Laura

I know just how you feel - kind of dealing with those thoughts as well. A guy who went through it as well would be really great. We're different though in that I only told my mom and thats gonna be the end of that. For a normal person though (lol) I would say whether its weight loss surgery, or some things about the past, or what have you, everyone has there "stuff", you know? And thats typically the risk right? Just really hoping someone we care about accepts us.
I really do wish you the best of luck because the worry really sucks and finding love is hard enough as it is. Just hang in there, temper your expectations, and go with the flow. Awesome vibrant people who learn to love themselves end up attracting the like anyway!

Magnesium supplements are effective.

Yep. A close friend keeps saying "So what's going to change? You didn't lose what you thought you would with the Band, what makes you think you'll do it this time?" I'm choosing to not listen to her (she's been told by a doc that her liver is way too large & if she doesn't lose weight, she'll die sooner than later. She says she" loves food to much") & not tell many people. My mom & dad are both dead, so I don't have to deal with my parents' opinions. I am doing this for ME; for my Health. Nothing else has worked...I have to lose the weight for knee surgery anyway & that's just impossible when you can't exercise because of the pain. My NUT told me last week not to let the naysayers influence my decision. It's great that they care, but they need to support you no matter what you decide. True friends will. Good luck!!

Nyxa, GREAT INFORMATION!!! From someone who had diabetes and had to switch from sugar to Aspartame and Splenda type products and use them for years and continued to gain weight, someone who went from a headache every few weeks to several a week, someone who went from working out to neurological issues, being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, mixed connective disease, glaucoma, severe dry eyes, eventually lupus and I now have a lovely brain tumor, I do believe aspartame, and Splenda played a significant role in my declining health.
I didn't 'have issues' with these things that I knew of, once I took them out of my life and moved over to no artificial sweeteners or if I needed to sweeten something I now use Truvia, I have less dry eyes, less numbing in my body, I still have Lupus and I still have a brain tumor, but the tumor hasn't gotten larger. I get less headaches, less Migraines. The study was spot on.
Once in a while, a splenda-type product will slip past me, I've had a crystal light, but I try really hard not to use these products. The artificial sweeteners can mess with insulin and I almost feel it is better to go without or go with the real stuff because of it.

I'm 5 months out and signed up for an 8 week boot camp. I'm scared to death! I'm not in shape at all but I need to lose at least another 20lbs so I decided to try a boot camp. Wish me luck!

I just want to see what others felt have been there biggest OMG moments after surgery.
Mine was this summer....we went on a family vacation this summer to SoCal. First OMG...the plane ride. I FIT!!! Last time I flew I overflowed out the seat and had to use a seat belt extender....this time, fit comfortably between the arm rests and no extension. I even had slack left over once I cinched the seat belt down!!!
Second, we went to six flags....and again I FIT!!!! Last time I went to six flags I had rides I embarrassingly had to get off because I couldn't fit........this time, FIT ON EVERY FREAKING ONE OF THEM!!!!
And the final OMG, I'm not ashamed to say the sex with the wife is amazing!!! Its like when we were dating 14yrs ago....holy crap, I mean I know how much rolls and all that get in the way...but just don't realize how much until they are gone. :wub:
I know that last on maybe a little much for some, but sorry....I'm just gooshing with good things!! The wife is actually getting a bit tired of me pointing out all the things I can fit into now that I couldn't before.....activity wise, not the sex.....

I see so many different diet advancements. I'd appreciate to see what others' are. Follow mine ala:
Day 1 - 7: Clear liquids
Day 7 - 10: Add Protein shakes
Day 10 - 14: Full liquids
Week 3: Some mushy food (oatmeal, cream of wheat, banana, fruit)
Week 4: Add well cooked veg, Beans, lo-fat cheeses
Week 5: Add egg, lo-fat crackers, fresh fruit, Protein Bars
Week 6: Add cooked vegetables, canned tuna, crab meat, Cereal and cereal bars
Week 7: Add salads, lean ground meats

I just received word that insurance has approved my surgery. I will be going in October 4th and have already lost 8 lbs. It doesn't seem like much, but I think I'm trading fat for muscle. I was really excited and wanted to share the news.

Eventhough you went to another country for gastric surgery, you're regular doctor SHOULD know what blood test to run regardless. They are mainly checking Vitamin levels, sugar, liver function, and general blood counts.

Wow, she's helpful. Good thing she's in the medical profession! Who cares if you had it done private and abroad? She's your physician and should want to do what's in the best interst for your health! (Ok, I'm stopping before I really start dancing on my soapbox.)
Here's a list of tests that are suggested for follow up at 6 months....
-CBC
-Chem 12
-Folate
-Vitamin D
-Iron Panel
-Vitamin B-12
-Lipid Panel
At your annual visits
All of the above, pluse a Vitamin screen.

i saw an episode of dr phil called something like "my mate isn't hot enough for me!" one of the ladies that was on there was 145lb & had, had an RNY. she was 300lb. she had extra skin. the guy that she wanted to date refused to commit to her & love her the way that she loved him.. he dated other women & stuff.. but he just couldn't stand the idea of having sex with her, because of her loose skin. she couldn't afford plastic surgery to fix it. the guy could afford it, but didn't want to make that kind of financial commitment, especially since they weren't dating or living together or etc... but at the same time, he didn't want to date her or live with her BECAUSE of her excess skin. she was very hurt & sad about it.. dr phil told her that their "relationship" was toxic.. she said he was her best friend... dr phil said if he really loved her, he would find a way to work with her & help her.. but he won't... she said that this wasn't the first time that a guy said that to her.. about her skin. apparently a lot of guys she's dated didn't want to get intimate with her, because they were grossed out by her skin (which i didn't think was that bad)...
one thing the guy this girl was so into also said (or it was mentioned on the show) was that he was also afraid that if she got the surgery, she'd be too hot & other guys would be all over her... or that the scarring may be too bad... so basically he was saying there was no hope for them.. but the girl still wanted him anyway... REALLY bad... she kept saying that they had a connection.. and that he was her best friend..
in the end, dr phil agreed to pay for her plastic surgery, but told her that their "relationship" wasn't healthy or good for her & that once she gets her excess skin removed, she will likely ditch him & move on to greener pastures.
just telling you that story, because people can be very shallow. however... there are a lot of good, decent people out there & you don't have to tell anyone you were sleeved. they don't need to know, unless you're ready to tell them & want to tell them. that's YOUR business. also, if a guy has an issue with you having had the surgery to help yourself... he's not the one for you. there's a lot of men out there that would treat you with kindness, respect and love and that would adore you, no matter what... you don't need or have time to deal with shallow morons.

i saw an episode of dr phil called something like "my mate isn't hot enough for me!" one of the ladies that was on there was 145lb & had, had an RNY. she was 300lb. she had extra skin. the guy that she wanted to date refused to commit to her & love her the way that she loved him.. he dated other women & stuff.. but he just couldn't stand the idea of having sex with her, because of her loose skin. she couldn't afford plastic surgery to fix it. the guy could afford it, but didn't want to make that kind of financial commitment, especially since they weren't dating or living together or etc... but at the same time, he didn't want to date her or live with her BECAUSE of her excess skin. she was very hurt & sad about it.. dr phil told her that their "relationship" was toxic.. she said he was her best friend... dr phil said if he really loved her, he would find a way to work with her & help her.. but he won't... she said that this wasn't the first time that a guy said that to her.. about her skin. apparently a lot of guys she's dated didn't want to get intimate with her, because they were grossed out by her skin (which i didn't think was that bad)...
one thing the guy this girl was so into also said (or it was mentioned on the show) was that he was also afraid that if she got the surgery, she'd be too hot & other guys would be all over her... or that the scarring may be too bad... so basically he was saying there was no hope for them.. but the girl still wanted him anyway... REALLY bad... she kept saying that they had a connection.. and that he was her best friend..
in the end, dr phil agreed to pay for her plastic surgery, but told her that their "relationship" wasn't healthy or good for her & that once she gets her excess skin removed, she will likely ditch him & move on to greener pastures.
just telling you that story, because people can be very shallow. however... there are a lot of good, decent people out there & you don't have to tell anyone you were sleeved. they don't need to know, unless you're ready to tell them & want to tell them. that's YOUR business. also, if a guy has an issue with you having had the surgery to help yourself... he's not the one for you. there's a lot of men out there that would treat you with kindness, respect and love and that would adore you, no matter what... you don't need or have time to deal with shallow morons.

I'm not a girl, but do agree. Tell the guy when you're ready. I'm married.....so it has nothing to do with dating, but I still am choosy who I tell I have had surgery because as WednesdaysSun said there will be people that don't understand and will be critical.
On a side note, from your picture you look beautiful, so you should feel comfortable with yourself first, before you worry about what some dumb guy thinks of you. Find the guy that cares for you as you.

20 something NY girl here as well
Personally I wouldn't volunteer sleeve information to new guys in such early stages. Give it some time, check out their character and all that and when you're comfortable, you mention it. Young guys, at least a whole lot of them can be critical about things they don't understand particularly with someone they don't know that well yet. I guess all people can be that way. Point is, its your journey, your body, pace yourself and when you're ready, go ahead and share your story
Major point to note though - a guy who isn't open minded about your journey probably isn't going to be an ideal match. Really and truly. You want to be able to be yourself with the person you're with! Cliche concept but SO true!

here's an exercise routine that's by a personal trainer & fitness guru.. supposed to give you a body like jessica simpson or jaime pressly. -- toned arms/legs, nice butt, small waist.. not too bulky/muscular. hope it helps
http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=1305014
it has a lot of other technical information in it.. which is worth the read, but if you don't have time or don't want to, just skip to the bottom.

it IS scary..
a perfect example is ANYTHING that uses Aspartame... like... Crystal light... sugar free chewing gum... diet soda pop.. etc...

source of image: http://galleryqui.wo...sume-aspartame/

image source: unknown (collected it a while back from a nutritional group on facebook)
that's just one ingredient.... there's countless others just like it... and the company that's behind most of the horrible things is Monsanto..... they own our food... y'know that saying "it's not paranoia if they really ARE out to get you"?.. that's how i feel about Monsanto. lol
Aspartame poisoning symptoms & side effects of Aspartame:
"I know it’s such strong news and seems to come out of left field, but it’s not. What is in left field is the publics awareness towards the sugar free killer that was FDA approved for dry goods in 1981 and for carbonated soda in 1983. There were 5 deaths attributed to Aspartame prior to 1987 and since then fatality figures have not been made public. Likely because it would leave a bad taste in the mouth of the consumers not to mention it may remind you about any one of the 92 common symptoms you complain about often enough:
A
Abdominal Pain
Anxiety attacks
arthritis
asthma
Asthmatic Reactions
B
Bloating, Edema (Fluid Retention)
Blood Sugar Control Problems (Hypoglycemia or Hyperglycemia)
Brain Cancer (Pre-approval studies in animals)
Breathing difficulties
burning eyes or throat
Burning Urination
C
can’t think straight
Chest Pains
chronic cough
Chronic Fatigue
Confusion
D
Death
Depression
Diarrhea
Dizziness
E
Excessive Thirst or Hunger
F
fatigue
feel unreal
flushing of face
H
hair Loss (Baldness) or Thinning of hair
Headaches/Migraines dizziness
Hearing Loss
Heart palpitations
Hives (Urticaria)
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
I
Impotency and Sexual Problems
inability to concentrate
Infection Susceptibility
Insomnia
Irritability
Itching
J
Joint Pains
L
laryngitis
“like thinking in a fog”
M
Marked Personality Changes
Memory loss
Menstrual Problems or Changes
Migraines and Severe Headaches (Trigger or Cause From Chronic Intake)
Muscle spasms
N
Nausea or Vomiting
Numbness or Tingling of Extremities
O
Other Allergic-Like Reactions
P
Panic Attacks
Phobias
poor memory
R
Rapid Heart Beat
Rashes
S
Seizures and Convulsions
Slurring of Speech
Swallowing Pain
T
Tachycardia
Tremors
Tinnitus
V
Vertigo
Vision Loss
This also applies to cases of fibromyalgia. If you are using ASPARTAME (Nutra Sweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc) you probably have ASPARTAME poisoning!"

http://www.womentowomen.com/healthyweight/splenda.aspx
^^^ awesome article on various sweeteners.

also:
Aspartame Side Effects
The components of aspartame can lead to a number of health problems, as you have read. Side effects can occur gradually, can be immediate, or can be acute reactions.
According to Lendon Smith, M.D. there is an enormous population suffering from side effects associated with aspartame, yet have no idea why drugs, supplements and herbs don’t relieve their symptoms. Then, there are users who don’t ‘appear’ to suffer immediate reactions at all. Even these individuals are susceptible to the long-term damage caused by excitatory amino acids, phenylalanine, methanol, and DKP.
Adverse reactions and side effects of aspartame include:
Eye
blindness in one or both eyes
decreased vision and/or other eye problems such as: blurring, bright flashes, squiggly lines, tunnel vision, decreased night vision
pain in one or both eyes
decreased tears
trouble with contact lenses
bulging eyes
Ear
tinnitus - ringing or buzzing sound
severe intolerance of noise
marked hearing impairment
Neurologic
epileptic seizures
headaches, Migraines and (some severe)
dizziness, unsteadiness, both
confusion, memory loss, both
severe drowsiness and sleepiness
paresthesia or numbness of the limbs
severe slurring of speech
severe hyperactivity and restless legs
atypical facial pain
severe tremors
Psychological/Psychiatric
severe depression
irritability
aggression
anxiety
personality changes
insomnia
phobias
Chest
palpitations, tachycardia
shortness of breath
recent high blood pressure
Gastrointestinal
nausea
diarrhea, sometimes with blood in stools
abdominal pain
pain when swallowing
Skin and Allergies
itching without a rash
lip and mouth reactions
hives
aggravated respiratory allergies such as asthma
Endocrine and Metabolic
loss of control of diabetes
menstrual changes
marked thinning or loss of hair
marked weight loss
gradual weight gain
aggravated low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
severe PMS
Other
frequency of voiding and burning during urination
excessive thirst, Fluid retention, leg swelling, and bloating
increased susceptibility to infection
Additional Symptoms of Aspartame Toxicity include the most critical symptoms of all
death
irreversible brain damage
birth defects, including mental retardation
peptic ulcers
aspartame addiction and increased craving for sweets
hyperactivity in children
severe depression
aggressive behavior
suicidal tendencies
Aspartame may trigger, mimic, or cause the following illnesses:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Epstein-Barr
Post-Polio Syndrome
Lyme Disease
Grave’s Disease
Meniere’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
ALS
Epilepsy
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
EMS
Hypothyroidism
Mercury sensitivity from Amalgam fillings
Fibromyalgia
Lupus
non-Hodgkins
Lymphoma
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
These are not allergies or sensitivities, but diseases and disease syndromes. Aspartame poisoning is commonly misdiagnosed because aspartame symptoms mock textbook ‘disease’ symptoms, such as Grave’s Disease.
Aspartame changes the ratio of amino acids in the blood, blocking or lowering the levels of serotonin, tyrosine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and adrenaline. Therefore, it is typical that aspartame symptoms cannot be detected in lab tests and on x-rays. Textbook disorders and diseases may actually be a toxic load as a result of aspartame poisoning.
Ever gone to the doctor with real, physical symptoms, but he/she can’t find the cause? Well, it’s probably your diet, your environment, or both.
source: http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html

i would avoid "sugar free" anything & definitely wouldn't eat splenda...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/08/23/splenda-part-one.aspx
Please note that I do not advise using Splenda. Nearly three years ago I posted an article describing the dangers of Splenda (sucralose).
Why not use Splenda? Well, research in animals has shown that sucralose can cause many problems.
Nearly every month we receive a report from someone who has had an adverse reaction to Splenda, and you can see many of them posted on our site.

Reduced growth rate in newborns and adults at levels above 500 mg/kg.day

Decreased red blood cells -- sign of anemia (at levels abofe 1500 mg/kd/day

Decreased thyroxine levels (thyroid function) (According to McNeil, since this only occurred on male rats and no abnormalities were observed with the thyroid tissue, this was considered insignificant.)

Mineral losses (magnesium and phosphorus) McNeil stated that these patterns were variable and at times not dose related so they were not significant.

Decreased urination

Enlarged colon (The FDA Final Rule states cecal enlargement is often seen with poorly absorbed substances and is not significant.)

Enlarged liver and brain (McNeil stated these were insignificant due to a lack of a dose response.)

Shrunken ovaries

Shrunken thymus aboe 3 grams per day

Enlarged and calcified kidneys (McNeil stated this is often seen with poorly absorbed substances and was of no toxicological significance. The FDA Final Rule agreed that these are findings that are common in aged female rats and are not significant.)

Increased adrenal cortical hemorrhagic degeneration (McNeil stated that this is a variable finding common in aged rats and not toxicologically significant.)

Increased cataracts (McNeil stated that cataracts were discovered upon microscopic sections of the eye tissue and that this was not as accurate as in-life ophthalmological examinations and did not reveal any treatment- related ocular findings.

Abnormal liver cells (The FDA Final Rule states that this was only marginal and probably not treatment related due to the severity of the lesion was not contaminant with the dosage.)

McNeil concluded that all of these findings could be explained by reasons other than sucralose toxicity and were insignificant. This seems to be a pattern in all of McNeil"s study conclusions. I find it suspect that for every single adverse finding in the animal studies, McNeil always has some rationale that renders it "insignificant." Their downplaying every harmful finding makes it seem as if they are more interested in making sucralose appear safe than making sure that the people are not harmed.
The FDA concluded that most of these findings had no toxicological significance and those that did such as the decrease in thymus weight and the decreased red blood cells, would not be a problem because they occurred at doses of sucralose much higher than what people would consume.. As a physician, I beg to differ. I believe that these findings are not of no significance." Many of these are symptoms of serious pathology.
-----------
most sugar free stuff has aspartame in it...
http://www.naturalnews.com/026849_aspartame_drug_diet.html
The aspartame horror began in 1981 due to Donald Rumsfeld, as head of the G.D. Searle pharmaceutical company, when he used his political clout to put a known carcinogen on the market to poison a nation all in the name of money.

In a Washington Post article of December 12, 2001 about Donald Rumsfeld, there was a one liner that was so incredibly relevant. That sentence was:

"He could be swilling Diet Coke with the secure knowledge that if not for his turnaround of Big Pharma giant G.D.Searle & Co. and successful touting of the sweetener aspartame, the beverage would not be possible".

If Donald Rumsfeld had never been born think of how many millions of people the world over would not suffer headaches and dizziness. Thousands blind from the free methyl alcohol in aspartame would have sight, and there would be much fewer cases of optic neuritis and macular degeneration. Millions suffering seizures would live normal lives and wouldn`t be taking anti-seizure medication that won`t work because aspartame interacts with drugs and vaccines. Think of the runner, Flo Jo, who drank Diet Coke and died of a grand mal seizure. She, no doubt, would still be alive. Brain fog and memory loss, skyrocketing symptoms of aspartame disease, would not be epidemic.

Millions suffer insomnia because of the depletion of serotonin. Think of Heath Ledger. He took that horrible drug, Ambian CR for sleep, which makes your optic nerve and face swell and gives you horrible headaches. Plus, he drank Diet Coke and took other drugs and died of polypharmacy.

Since aspartame has been proven to be a multi potential carcinogen, would Farrah Fawcett still be alive?

Consider the constant plague of fallen athletes. Aspartame triggers an irregular heart rhythm and interacts with all cardiac medication. It damages the cardiac conduction system and causes sudden death. Thousands of athletes have fallen. Doctors H.J. Roberts and Russell Blaylock wrote these alerts:
http://www.wnho.net/aspartame msg scd.htm
and
http://www.wnho.net/aspartame and arrhythmias.htm

Epidemiological studies should be done on MS and lupus because of their link to aspartame use. Hundreds of thousands of people suffer from aspartame induced multiple sclerosis and lupus, and if not warned in time could lose their lives as many have. Hospice nurses have reported Alzheimer`s disease in 30 year olds as it skyrockets from Rumsfeld`s plague. Think of Michael Jackson, a former Diet Pepsi spokesman. He developed lupus, then came the drugs, then came the serious joint pain, and then he died of cardiac arrest which aspartame causes.

As the phenylalanine in aspartame deletes serotonin, it triggers all kinds of psychiatric and behavioral problems. The mental hospitals are full of patients who are nothing but aspartame victims. If Donald Rumsfeld had never been born, the revoked petition for approval of aspartame would have been signed by FDA commissioner Jere Goyan and the mental hospitals would house probably 50% less victims. Jere Goyan would never have been fired at 3:00 AM by the Reagan transition Team to over-rule the Board of Inquiry. Instead, FDA commissioner Jere Goyan would have signed the revoked petition into law. See: http:/www.mpwhi.com/fda petition1.doc. The FDA today would still be Big Pharma`s adversary instead of being their "hooker".

If aspartame had not been approved, Lou Gehrig`s Disease, Parkinson`s and other neuro-degenerative diseases would not be knocking off the public in record numbers. Michael Fox, a Diet Pepsi spokesman, would never have gotten Parkinson`s at age 30. He would probably still be making movies, young and healthy. Aspartame interacts with L-dopa and other Parkinson drugs. Parcopa has aspartame in it and the pharmaceutical company refuses to remove it.

One has to take a deep breath when you think how heartless it is that there is not even a warning for pregnant women. Aspartame triggers every kind of birth defect from autism and Tourettes` Syndrome to cleft palate. Aspartame is an abortifacient (a drug that induces abortion). As an example, out of 9 pregnancies, 8 were lost and the one that survived is schizophrenic. Multiply that all over the world due to Rumsfeld`s Plague. ADD and ADHD would be rare instead of rampant.

It`s normal for young girls to look forward to marriage and children. Yet, many sip on diet soda or use aspartame products not realizing that aspartame is an endocrine disrupting agent, stimulating prolactin, which is a pituitary hormone that stimulates milk production at childbirth, changes the menstrual flow and causes infertility. Many go through life never knowing why they couldn`t have children. Aspartame even destroys marriages because it causes male sexual dysfunction and ruins female response.

Aspartame causes every type of blood disorder from a low blood platelet count to leukemia. Because aspartame can precipitate diabetes the disease is epidemic. To make matters worse, it can simulate and aggravate diabetic retinopathy and neuopathy, destroy the optic nerve, cause diabetics to go into convulsions and interact with insulin. Diabetics lose limbs from the free methyl alcohol; professional organizations like the American Diabetes Association push and defend this poison because they take money from the manufactures. How many millions would not have diabetes if Rumsfeld had never been born?

Aspartame (NutraSweet/Equal/Spoonful/E951/Candere/Benevia, etc) and MSG, another one of Ajinomoto`s horrors, are responsible for the epidemic of obesity the world over. Why? Because aspartame makes you crave carbohydrates and causes great toxicity to the liver.
http:/www.mpwhi.com/ aspartame makes you fatter.htm

The FDA report lists 92 symptoms from unconsciousness and coma to shortness of breath and shock. Medical texts list even more: "Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic", www.sunsetpress.com by H.J. Roberts, M.D., and "Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills" by neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock, M.D., www.russellblaylockmd.com. There is simply no end to the horrors triggered by this literal addictive, excitoneurotoxic, genetically engineered carcinogenic drug. This chemical poison is so deadly that Dr. Bill Deagle, www.nutrimedical.com , a noted Virologist once said it was worse than depleted uranium because it is found everywhere in food.

The formaldehyde converted from the free methyl alcohol embalms living tissue and damages DNA according to the Trocho Study done in Barcelona in 1998. Even with this devastating study showing how serious a chemical poison aspartame is, the FDA has turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to it. With Monsanto attorney Michael Taylor now appointed as Deputy Commissioner to the FDA by Obama, it`s nothing more than Monsanto`s Washington Branch Office. Even before the Ramazzini Studies showing aspartame to be a multi-potential carcinogen, the FDA knew it. Their own toxicologist, Dr. Adrian Gross, even admitted that it violated the Delaney Amendment because of the brain tumors and brain cancer. Therefore, no allowable daily intake ever should have been able to be established. Aspartame caused all types of tumors from mammary, uterine, ovarian, pancreatic and thyroid to testicular and pituitary. Dr. Alemany, who did the Trocho Study, commented that aspartame could kill 200 million people. When you damage DNA you can destroy humanity.

Dr. James Bowen told the FDA over 20 years ago that aspartame is mass poisoning the American public and likewise in more than 70 countries of the world. No wonder it`s called "Rumsfeld`s Plague".

Big Pharma knows all about aspartame and they add it to drugs, including the ones used to treat the problems caused by aspartame. Big Pharma has made America a fascist government. People are so sick from aspartame and yet they keep selling these dangerous pharmaceuticals at outrageous prices.

Dr. H.J. Roberts said in one of his books that you have to consider aspartame with killing children. We are talking about a drug that changes brain chemistry. Today children are medicated instead of educated.

Death and disability is what Donald Rumsfeld has heaped on consumers just to make money. Think of the death of Charles Fleming who used to drink about 10 diet sodas a day. Then he used creatine on top of this, which interacts, and is considered the actual cause of death. Yet his wife, Diane Fleming, remains in a prison in Virginia convicted of his death, despite being the very one who tried to get her husband to stop using these dangerous products containing aspartame in the first place.

The list never ends. At least six American Airlines` pilots, who were heavy users of aspartame, have died with one in flight drinking a Diet Coke. When American Airlines was written about removing aspartame they said, "leave the flying to us". Pilots too are sick and dying on aspartame, and when you fly your life is in the hands of the pilot. There was a case with a Delta pilot that died from esophageal cancer and had a history of consuming huge quantities of diet sodas. This was brought to the attention of the Delta management that refused the pilot`s wife`s request to alert other pilots.

Then there`s the Persian Gulf where diet sodas sat on pallets daily in temperatures in the 100 to 120 degree range for as long as 9 weeks at a time before the soldiers drank them all day long. Remember, aspartame converts to formaldehyde at 86 degrees; it interacts with vaccines and damages the mitochondria or life of the cell, and the whole molecule breaks down to a brain tumor agent.

There`s a book out there called, "Rumsfeld, His Rise, Fall and Catastrophic Legacy", by Andrew Cockburn that will substantiate all of this. And fittingly, Rumsfeld appropriately lives in a place called Mount Misery.

In the video, "Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World", which you can view at www.healthtalkhawaii.com, attorney James Turner explains how Rumsfeld got his poison marketed for human consumption. To learn about how the CDC investigation was covered up - The Rumsfeld-Pepsi-Nixon Connection, go to http://www.sweetremedy.tv/pages/rumsfeld2.html or view it in its entirety at www.healthtalkhawaii.com.

For over a quarter of a century there has been mass poisoning of the public in over 100 countries of the world by aspartame because Donald Rumsfeld, as he put it, "called in his markers". The aspartame industry has paid front groups and professional organizations to defend them and push it on the very people it can cause the most harm to. A suit was filed against the American Diabetes Association in 2004 for racketeering but they got out of it.

The hands of physicians are tied. Most are clueless that a patient is using aspartame, and the drugs used to treat the aspartame problem will probably interact and may even contain aspartame. This is the world that Donald Rumsfeld is responsible for!

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/026849_aspartame_drug_diet.html#ixzz25VCzXW8t

tortilla or a crouton.. lol with such a tiny tummy, you may just have to have a crouton. xD or cracker

Just wanted to give everyone an update. I am 35 years old two kids: 3 and 1. I am 5'7. Surgery was July 31st. My starting weight was 306 and after two week liquid diet, I was 289 day of surgery. Today I start my sixth week (exactly 5 weeks post op) and I was 258 this AM. Just got out of a 5 days stall but prior to that I generally watched the scales move about a pound per day. Gee, sure would be nice if that continued...ohhhh, for about the next 130 days , but I'll take what I can get. This weekend was actually my first experience with real food and all I can say is...I LOVE MY SLEEVE!!!!!!!!! I have had ZERO problems at all thus far. I have not had a problem with anything yet I just can't eat much...thank God! The thing is, I crave good foods and honestly, fried or greasy foods just no longer appeal to me. I already have tons more energy, look better, feel better, get TONS of compliments and I can say this was the BEST thing I have ever done for myself. For those who have struggled with their weight and are looking for something to help them refocus their eating habits...do it do it do it! I know not everyone has such a simple experience but for me...no problems at all!!! Geez...two c-sections were worse than the sleeve surgery, even on the worst days. Pics to come soon. Good luck to all of you waiting for surgery and those new in the journey as I am. Not a SINGLE SOLITARY regret!!!!!