Momonanomo

You're not THAT far away from 125 in the grand scheme of things. Don't work on the ultimate goal right now, work on the next goal. Which you could choose to be not even scale related. Maybe make your goal to be to weigh, measure, and track your food for a week or two. I think you'll find a lot of satisfaction in setting and achieving a goal, regardless. Try to keep your thoughts positive It's not "You are what you eat" it is "YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK" gloomy winter is over, yay!

just had mine 2 days ago. i went in there with the mindset of "well if there's some reason i shouldn't have this surgery, let's find out, and let's address it" -- this is how I've approached ALL the testing. we talked for like an hour and a half. started with asking my height/weight, weight history, past attempts at weight loss, my family & their health, my marital status, is DH supportive, questions about whether I have bulimia or anorexia, and do i use food for comfort and eat emotionally. She asked me to explain my understanding of the surgery, how it's done, what it does to my body, what the risks are, what the eating plan is during recovery as well as 2 years out. She asked me to tell her my expectations of the surgery. She asked me to talk about the reasons I want the surgery, and the reasons I want to lose the weight. She mentioned several times the dangers of alcohol (family history). Then i took some silly T/F written test, which she told me to not overthink when she handed them to me. And they really were kinda silly, and I chose to take her advice and not over think them. She sent her report in approving me yesterday. So either she feels that I'm an excellent candidate for surgery, or she thinks I need the surgery asap! I think it's just cuz I'm ready. It's not so bad. Think of it as a conversation with a friend. You'll be fine.

I'm also pre-op and think about this a lot. IMO this is where setting realistic goals comes in, rather than just getting surgery and floating along to see how much I'll lose. OP herself has goals listed above her ticker. At some point these goals were important, that's why she typed them in. So when we get to a point that we're comfortable/complacent, it's time to re-eavluate the goals. If the goal is still important and seems realistically attainable, then the hard work should be done to push to achieve it. If the goal, now that it's closer, seems less important or is unrealistic, then perhaps the goal should be changed. The important things though are that: 1) it is not good for your soul to always believe you have this goal out there that you had set but never achieved and 2) it IS good to have realistic, attainable goals, otherwise we live on "autopilot" ...and I dont know about you guys but that's kinda how I got to this point in the first place

hey girl! You're doing great! Since we're similar starting stats I'm really finding inspiration in you! Sounds like you've really got your head in the right place about the inevitable stall. No worries, you're going to conquer this and any other stalls that come along! Your pics are REALLY showing the difference Thanks for posting!

wow.

I used to use tanning beds... then I just moved to Hawaii! I know tanning isn't the best for us, but I'm not going to lecture. I would think that exposing the incisions to tanning rays (in a bed or outside) would increase scarring, but idk for sure that's true. omg I used to LOVE the tingle lotion! But my experience from what I used to use, I would say NO WAY would I put that anywhere near an incision!! Sounds kinda painful. The biggest reason that comes to my mind for me though about tanning right after surgery is this....the beds typically make you sweat (even with a fan on) , and since you're going to be having to work EXTRA hard to stay hydrated in the days after surgery, I think that's kinda dangerous. I've read over and over on VST that it happens to our friends even when they're not tanning, just recovering from the surgery. Getting dehydrated lands people in the hospital. Maybe best to take a little break -- why risk it? Give yourself every possible chance to have a smooth recovery. The tanning bed will wait for you, and you'll have plenty time to catch up before summer time

Vicki ! I see a really big difference! that's awesome!

not worth the risks IMO. This is from livestrong.com, but there's info all over the net. Wound Healing In a 1992 article published in the American Journal of Medicine, the relationship between smoking and wound healing was analyzed and documented. Author P. Silverstein described the alteration of wound healing secondary to diminished blood supply to the wound caused by constriction of blood vessels by the nicotine in tobacco. He went on to say that nicotine also contributes to increased platelet adhesiveness which, because of the increased tendency to stick together, increases the risk of thrombotic occlusion, or the development of blood clots Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/234656-the-effects-of-smoking-surgery/#ixzz2Ox2oxnkH

i agree with what everyone is saying, and I'm also saying that there is an employee's rights issue component here, and saying so in those terms should get you your employer's support. Regardless of if you are shaped like Kate Moss, Dolly Parton, or Adele, NO ONE should be making comments on your body while you are working. You simply should not be subjected to it on the job. Report it to your supervisor if you work for a company and let them handle it. If you are an independent contractor, then a brief, professional (and firm!) statement from you should do the trick. YOUR body is not for THEIR discussion! and, f them anyways congrats on your 30 lbs!!!!

more i think about this, i'm quite a bit bugged about this from an HR point of view..... they have no reason or right to discuss your body, regardless of what shape it is in. Perhaps they need to be told that!

I am always amazed that there are people in the world who make themselves feel better by trying to put people down. How pathetic these people are !!! i agree with Susie -- you will have the last laugh. You are already a good, qulaity person, and you are well on your way to being fit, happy and healthy. THEY however, will more than likely always remain petty, repulsive little clods. bleccchhhh.

the side by side comparison is really interesting! I was surprised that the protein grams don't follow the pattern that the fat and calories do.....verrrry interesting. Just glancing at it, I'd say ground turkey looks like an all around best choice. Hope my post surgery tastes change enough to appreciate ground turkey over ground beef. I am such a red meat kind of girl right now. . . .

Oh I TOTALLY feel the same way -- and I had a sleep study done recently too that said nothing was wrong. So I figure the extra weight I'm carrying around is what makes me tired. How can it not? (grammy the suitcases metaphor is awesome lol) I've been concerned because many people on here say right after surgery they are tired easily; I guess that's to be expected in immediate recovery. But I have faith that once some of the weight begins to come off I will feel better (I'm pre-op btw). The whole energy thing is a huge reason why I'm getting WLS. I'm tired of being tired!

I'm impressed that you've traveled and been SO on the go since having surgery so recently-- what a trooper! That was really great of your sis to have all the supplies waiting for you; that's so supportive. Especially when she was getting ready for her wedding I just wanted to say that I've heard flying causes water retention, so if you weigh on Thurs after flying on Wed., keep that in mind -- your actual weight loss for the week will actually be better than what the scale says. Congrats on your progress!

lol great story! I will try to remember that when I get to the seemingly inevitable "what have I done?" stage. Isn't it nice to know you've got someone who's so ready, willing & quick to come to your rescue if you're in trouble!?!?! Too bad about the door, but the intent was noble

for the sweet tooth recipe try going to the spark recipes website and search ricotta custard. High protein & low carb -- can enjoy it warm or cold (when cold it's like cheesecake -yum!) Probly need to sub splenda for sugar on some of the recipes. Sounds like you're really in the groove congrats on your successes! I'll be on Oahu on the 4th for my next round of appointments....

You look so beautiful! great work! very inspiring

WOW girl! You are doing SO GREAT! Very very inspiring! ...I'm dying to know the story behind the one orange sock . . . lol

Emliy you are doing SO fantastic! Great job! love the hot shoes

wooHOO that's great! You will more than likely get addicted I'm pre-op and look forward to getting back into doing the elliptical. A couple of years ago when I was at a lower weight I LOVED the elliptical. Mind you, the first time I ever tried it, I could only go 2 minutes and I was saying "ow...ow....ow..ow" the whole time LOL. But as I got into it, and set up my music & my kindle to read, I eventually got to 45 minutes and I swear I got a runner's high! And then I got creative and would add "sprints" -- little 1 to 2 minute intervals where I'd go a lot faster and then relax back into my original pace. That kept it interesting and made me sweat like a mo-fo It also interstingly allowed me to keep going when I wanted to stop, like going more hard core for just a minute or two made me appreciate the regular pace and want to keep going. Be sure to warm up a bit, do some ankle rolls, etc., and stretch before you do it, and you'll be an elliptical superstar! Congrats!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! So naughty!

what a great way to distract the cop from the infraction he pulled you over for in the first place! That is one of the best get out of a ticket stories I've ever heard! I'm pre-op and I reeeeallllly look forward to needing to go get a new drivers license picture. I also really look forward to actually weighing what I say I do on my license LOL I dunno who I'm kidding with that, and why the dmv never called me out on it! No way anyone would believe I weigh like 90 lbs less than I actually do

well hello tinythighs! ;)t hat's awesome! I bet you feel super strong too! Once I get some weight off, I intend to try spinning again, but for now it hurrrrrrts my hooha to sit on that bicycle seat at this weight. People I've known who got into it really were able to just melt away excess weight. It's on my list of for-sure stall breakers when that time comes!

This post has been on my mind since yesterday-- I just had a hard time accepting that it is better to not quit than to quit, under ANY circumstances! ......so I goooooogled it! This article makes a LOT of sense about the headaches, and it gives good tips on how to succeed. This topic is close to home for me, because I quit only about 8 wks ago after smoking for 25 years! I've used the gum. It is HARD but I didn't get headaches when I tried, so I'm sure it's that much harder for you. But you CAN do it if you want to. There is nothing redeeming about cigarettes -- they are so bad for you, expensive, make you a social outcast, make you smell bad, stain your teeth, stain your fingers, and did I mention they are SO bad for you ?!?! Like poison. That you are addicted to repeatedly inhaling into your lungs. There is help available to stop if you want it. No one is going to say not to quit because you get headaches initially. Except you. You can do this! OK check this article out: http://www.livestron...hout-headaches/ I wish you the best of luck!

I'm thinking maybe you should address the problem of getting headaches so bad that it lands you in the hospital before you move forward with surgery. What do they say at the hospital ? Surely you're not doomed to smoking the rest of your life! There are valid reasons your surgeon wants you nicotine free before surgery. I wouldn't recommend trying to cheat the requirements. This surgery is serious business. Give yourself the best chance at a good recovery that you can. Blood clots can kill you.