BethinPA

I'm trying to navigate these waters too. I joined senior people meet, and have been talking with one guy - I'm not very good with the juggling multiple guys thing. We met for drinks Wednesday, and he was more handsome than his pictures, which surprised me. We had a really nice time, and have a movie date this Sunday. I don't think staying in a hotel makes sex more likely to happen, I think this guy is waiting/ expecting that I will eventually invite him back to my place, so I don't see a difference in that regard. I also think that, for me, the excess skin will slow the physical part down for me, because it will be a while before I'm comfortable with sharing my surgery/the effects of the weight loss on my body. I figure I will eventually learn the real deal about a person just by spending time with them and keeping my eyes open. But at this point I'm hopeful about the guy I have met. Fingers crossed for all of us!

I'm far from done, but I basically lost a person from around my middle (32 inches). And I can finally wear prettier bras!

Love this! I did the same thing! I even saved the New Years hat to do it!

As I understand it, things that can cause leaks that are within our control are things related to compliance such as eating the wrong kinds of food, eating too much, smoking, drinking, uncontrolled diabetes/ blood sugars that can affect healing - that sort of thing.

Yes, if I'm "backed up", it definitely affects both my appetite and how I tolerate the food I eat. I definitely feel there is a connection between the two.

My nut told me that the important element is that it be isolate protein. In the beginning I could only tolerate soy isolate protein, and she was fine with the soy, as long as it was soy isolate.

I was due to be reevaluated for my sleep apnea, and was trying to psych myself up for another night in a sleep lab (ugh), when I was told that my insurance company had denied me for the sleep study, because now all of their patients have home studies instead. Sounded great to me! I did my home sleep study last Friday night. I wore a strap around my chest that had a small sensor on it, a nasal cannula oxygen type of apparatus (attached to the machine, no oxygen in use), and pulse oximetry on my finger. So I slept with this equipment attached to a small machine for one night, and then returned the equipment to the sleep lab. I'm waiting to see what my results are. So, you might be pleasantly surprised, and not have to sleep in a sleep lab anymore!

I think you are ok. Just be sure and observe that it doesn't continue to happen.

I don't think it is a must, but hopefully after you have lost some weight it will be less painful for you to exercise, and you can begin an exercise program then. Or consider exercising on low impact machines or the pool at a gym. It's just good to do for optimum health, and will help you to maintain your weight loss.

That actually sounds very normal at this stage of the game, and you should be ok. Just keep on sipping, and it does get better!

You work at Starbucks?! My sympathies! I absolutely could not work among all that yummy carb laden food all day long and not partake. I would have to come up with some Jedi mind trick and tell myself that all the food tastes terrible or something!

I don't think dating is easy at any weight, but as I have lost weight I have been more confident to get out there and try!

I would try some warm fluids, like hot tea. Medications can really do a number on your esophagus - if left there, they can erode into the tissue, so it's really no joke. If the pain persists, I would go to the emergency room. I hope things resolve quickly!

I use my commute to and from work as prime drinking time. Otherwise I would never get my fluids in, because I can't just walk around work with a drink in my hand either. Also look at protein sources that you can grab and go, like a handful of nuts when you have a free second. It's difficult in the beginning, but it does get better! You listed four breaks in a day, that's four opportunities to have a protein snack - just drink some fluid before eating.

The same thing happened to me this fall, and I was pretty bummed about it, but the feelings pass eventually. I hate not knowing what happened, but he just stopped communicating, so I had to accept it. It was the first time "out there" in a really long time for me, also. I am going to try again via a dating site after the new year, and hope for the best. What is the alternative? Good luck to you!

Have you seen the Cherokee stretch scrubs? They have these stretchy material panels in them on the sides, super comfortable, and that give of the panel makes a tighter scrub look nice still. I hated it when I sat down, and material would be tight across my stomach. I am loving these scrubs, and I get compliments on them!

Lol! achieving world peace might be easier..Just the simple thing you said about it not providing pleasure or numbing anymore.. I feel that and wasn't smart enough to recognize it fully until you said it.. I've been thinking a lot more as to the "why" that is. And it's definitely an other part of this tool that us hard core secret eaters, bingers might not have recognized very easily? So with having my stomach hacked out i think of our "tiny new tummies" and I tend to forget that hormone production and messages received by the brain are altered.. We are not getting that dopamine stoked like we did before? I don't have it all together yet because let's face it I'm not that smart of a woman But I've been doing some reading, and still trying to figure out why this is a very good thing. Because it is a good thing! We just need time for that 2 by 4 to hit us upside the head a couple of times.. Lol not sure any of that made sense... But you asked I don't know the why either - maybe because we can't take in the volume that we used to before for a boatload of seratonin production? Maybe it is something to do with ghrelin that hasn't been studied yet? Could go in any direction. I wasn't really associating it with the surgery itself, so you may be onto something! Maybe Dr Gamergirl could design a level one research study - get this research cooking! I definitely agree the lack of satisfaction is a good thing, I just think it is a bad thing that my brain keeps trying to make it work! It scares me some. I disagree that you are not a smart woman - your thoughtfulness and intelligence comes through in your posts.

I think all of your thoughts are rational and valid, but there is something about family ties (for me) that defy rational thought. I come from a very large, close knit family that I am very proud of and feel priviledged to be a part of. That said, there are definitely times when I need to limit exposure for self preservation. And some family members (one sister in particular) that I would easily drop from my life if they weren't famliy. But I keep trying, because I so value the unit that is my family. I've decided that, even though it doesn't make sense, they, in aggregate, are really important to me, so I keep plugging at it.

What are you thinking? Might help both of us! Cause if I could figure this out, I'd be confident enough to tackle world peace next!

I feel the same way about being able to have more time with my Mom. She died before we got to have an adult type mother-daughter relationship. Then I wonder...since things were so tumultuous between us when I was a teenager, would I be wanting to kick her to the curb at this age? Quite possible...

I go to my local thrift stores and goodwill when I have the time, and peruse the racks. If I find something that I like the looks of and is the right length for me (I'm 5'1", so I'm thrilled when I find anything I don't have to hem), but is too small, I buy it and put it on a certain shelf in my closet. Then, when the clothes I'm wearing are starting to get too loose, I start trying on clothes from that shelf. Its always a thrill when something now fits! I tend to be a bit of a planner, and that gives me some assurance that I can usually find something to wear in a pinch!

Congratulations!

I think that is a great suggestion - thank you very much!

Thank you for the suggestions. It feels totally unnatural for me to sit and feel what I am feeling, but I am really trying to get the hang of it. It's tough to change a lifetime of avoidance of any negative feelings.

Exactly! I am hugely stubborn and I so resent anyone trying to tell me what to do. I guess even me trying to tell my own self to change my behaviors. If that even makes sense. If anyone had told me a year ago that I would even be talking about this stuff…I'd never have believed it. Completely unrelated, thanks for the welcome, and I want you to know that I really enjoy reading your posts!