RJ'S/beginning

Everything we eat turns into glucose. but eating Protein first gives you more bang for your buck. It is the backbone of WLS. We can not get everything we need by eating so that is why we take Vitamins. Protein also builds muscle and body strength and promotes all the important sources to keep us strong and healthy. It is the most important element of the WLS program. Next Water and vitamins. That being said it is good to have a little of everything in your program. Healthy eating is the key. Taking the bread with a protein makes it a complete protein. So many ways yo get what you need. I eat bread. I eat Pasta and rice and potatoes. I even have a sweet now and then. I believe that we need it all to make it a success. We live in the real world and so we must learn to eat in the real world. Eating carrot sticks boiled eggs and celery never worked for me before. So moderation in all things is the key and balance. Reteaching your brain to see food as nourishment and not a form of comfort will help you learn to control your emotions. I am not leaving anything out of my diet or program. I think it has a bad effect down the road. Eat the bread but make a healthy choice when you do so.

Lets see here 1) almost 2 years out and can drink more at a time but cannot chug still. It hurts like hello! 2) Time and tender loving care will help you gain your strength back. Don't be in such a rush and take the time you need to heal. You will have major surgery! 3) Never. Everything has changed for me and about me. I am not the person I was when I had WLS. 4)I suffer from extreme depression and high anxiety. For some this does go away..For me nope! Dealing one day at a time! It all depends on you and how your body reacts to things. We are all different. And we react different to changes and stress and even good things. you will be okay...Just keep asking questions and researching your choices.

I have always been the heaviest of all my siblings. Except for 5 years. My older sister by 2 years held back that she weighed 1 lb heavier then me for that time. As I gained weight and she did as well. she was much relieved that I had passed her and her children and she herself made reference to it several times over the years. Now I am smaller then most of them and because of distance and lack of association they are not able to connect the difference in me. So for now they feel safe with their heavier selves. Life is a funny thing. I feel so sad for those who define themselves by whether someone is heavier then themselves. Sad and pathetic! She really needs to let you do what you think is best and only interfere if you get to be too small and your health is affected by that. Let her deal with her issues while you are dealing with yours.

My entire body got smaller. Except my ears and nose. I think it was due to lack of muscle mass after my coma. But I take a smaller ring size then I did as a skinny teenager. Go figure!

I personally don't care when a person decides to have WLS. I can see that all the bad shows and how they make us look like as obese people can scare the shit out of folks. Obesity can lead to morbidly obese. We all started somewhere in the wrong direction. I think these folks made or make a preempted strike concerning the fight against obesity. I for one wish I had thought of it before when I finished my 20th attempt at dieting. It would have saved me a lot of pain ( emotionally and physically ) So not all of us who started out this journey morbidly obese are upset about those who have to lose 30-50 lbs and get the surgery. Please don't put us into one category. It is like saying that all tomatoes are red!

Your not that big! I'll leave you to it girl then.....

I would so love to walk away from this thread and could if the madness would just stop. Who else is monitoring this thread. It can't just be me.! Right!? ALEX! Help!

I think you had way more freakin fun then I ever did @@LipstickLady I never knew you were such a wild card! But I agree with you. WLS does not define me either. I like to think other things have and that they have made me who I am. No how much I weighed or weigh now. I do think that helping other WLS patients is a must. And you do that as well. Bravo for your exposure of the real girl behind the lips!

Holy smokes @@LipstickLady and I see eye to eye on something..... Well said girl!

There are some great Tofu substitutes out there. i had a tofu and bean chili the other day that rocked. Nuts are a good choice as well. I have had some new experiences with tofu that are quite satisfying. Try that for now. Not only will your weight loss slow down but you will also start losing your hair quickly and more then you thought possible. Nails will be effected and skin as well. Maybe some fish will help as well. Just keep trying Protein and don't give up okay! You got this!

I chose to keep it to myself because of all the things I suffered at the hands of well meaning (NOT) friends and family. I wanted this to be my journey with the help of loved ones and family. I did tell a couple of friends ( former friends ) who had nothing to do with me after I had the surgery. Another friend was so angry she only spoke to me once after, to tell me to stop losing and that she took a poll on Facebook about it and everyone said I was stupid to do this. It took time for me to push forward to NOT CARE anymore. I still find myself choosing who I tell straight out. Sometimes it feels like it is a gift I am sharing. No one knows my past. No one knows how much I have in the bank. No one knows what I have gone through totally as it is my life. I will share my experience with people who need or want to hear it the rest well. We have not come far enough to let ourselves stay open to the wind of chance. We are still a small minority and still have pain over our past abuses.They did not share in my choice to have the surgery. They do not get to share in my decision to have WLS. When I am ready and when I chose to tell the world will be when I am ready to face whatever anyone has to throw at me. That does not me me a liar. It makes me cautious. I have had to be to survive this world so far! Saying that you were not raised to lie is a blank statement and basically name calling. Please remember the rules of Rants and Raves. NO NAME CALLING! Oh! Did you tell your kids there is no Santa or tooth fairy or Easter bunny! Just asking.

Hi; Yes doing a little better. Must look straight ahead and handle the bull as well as can be done. Today is a new day tomorrow another. right! Thanks ladies!

Awesome...It is good to remember where you came from so you can see how far you have come! That is a quote from someone. But doesn't it ring true! You inspire me @@CowgirlJane you always have!

Saw this quote and it made me think of all of us; Through kindness we help one another it makes the difficult things easier to digest. Life is mostly froth and bubble, Two things stand like stone. Kindness in another's trouble, Courage in your own. Adam Lindsay Gordon

In the beginning of my journey I was so frightened that I would fail that I thought it would be a good idea to see if I had the stuff to succeed. I was also in a place where it would have been hard because I was always the heaviest and people liked that. So I said I had some work done on scar tissue from former ulcers. Then all hell broke loose as you know and it was difficult to keep the lie going. Now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am an open book. I feel a great need to put myself out there in a positive light to fight obesity and help others who suffered like I did and do. So if it comes up now...Well look out.. Do you have a hour or several..lol I had my demons and my own pain and fears to deal with at first. I am farther in the journey now and the skies the limit as far as my plans to be more vocal about it..Watch out world. I plan on kicking some ass about the benefits of wLS even though I have been through the wringer. I am so glad I did this!! I really am!

The day I talked to people who were considering WLS. The day I came home from the appointment where I was excepted for WLS

Started at 381. Now I fluctuate between 170 ans 180. I can handle that. LOL It is a journey well worth taking! I confess I like the new clothes and always dress the 9's. A perk I deserve....really! hehehehehe

Seems to me that you have a great attitude. I am so happy for you that you want so much to do this. I too was biting at the bit for this new life and worked hard to get here. It is not an easy road for anyone. There is a lot to deal with and things to fix. But the reward is wonderful. I love the new me most of the time. There are times when the old me rears its ugly head. It will always be there. It will always be a fight to keep going. But well worth the fight. Attitude is 1/2 the battle. The work the other half. I am addicted to food. When you can say that it will bring a relief that you can now fix it or at least keep it at bay. Good for you to want this so bad. Means you are serious and will go forward....

I am almost 2 years out. I have been through it all and then some. One thing I have learned is it is going to happen. you will get there. But it will be a journey of ups and downs. You must keep plugging along each day as if it were new and special. Not today, not tomorrow but it is on the horizon! Stay on point and note each non scale victory. You will look back and see how far you have come. Also work on the reasons you did this and fix the reasons why food was so important to you. Find new ways to enjoy life and go for it. You deserve the good stuff. You deserve to be happy and healthy and enjoy the rest of your days!

Almost 2 years out and still have a rocky relationship with some beef and pork. Tuna and some other foods. I try them and don't give up. You should try them now and then to see if your sleeve has changed and you can now tolerate it. K

All the emotions are normal. if you did not feel them all rumbling around then I would think you are not ready for this life changer. I felt sore and lousy. Took sips of Water and pain killers. I walked a lot as well. Clear liquids. You will be okay with that as you won't want to eat anything as your stomach will be tender. Just follow your surgeons guidelines and you will do great! I lost 27 lbs before surgery. I was on a 2 week liquid diet twice as my first surgery was cancelled due to an emergency. It was okay after the fourth day. Until then I found it hard to get my head around it! It is also there to shrink your liver to make the surgery easier. All good!

Seems to me you are right where you should be or like most patients are. It will get better and you will stop the gurgles and then new and more annoying things will start to happen like sneezing or a runny nose when you are full. Stuff like that. Do me a favor and enjoy each day of your journey. It will be fantastic.

This is not a numbers game. This is about fighting a disease that is rampant and just now coming out into public view and that is food addiction and the mental, emotional and physically affects of it on a person if left unchecked and untreated. This is your body and your life and he needs to understand that you are doing this for the entire well being of the family. There are a lot of reasons why a spouse may not support us but we have to push past it and do it for ourselves. And keep the reasons close to our hearts. It could be fear of so many things. some of which he does not even know at this time. It might be a good idea to take him to your surgeons meetings with you so he can see the reality of it all. For now you have our support and hopefully your hubby will come around! Wishing you all the best in your future!

It will happen and then the real work will begin! Be patient and take this time to learn all you can about WLS and what you will need to do to be successful okay!

Thank you everyone! Tomorrow is another day! Hoping things will be better.