Marbear

Maybe an appetite suppressant would get you through since its short term - Byetta (injection, rx), pseudofed (12 hr extended release, OTC), or even Phentermine if your dr. will prescribe it. Mine did but it messed up my sleep so I didn't use it much. Obviously this isn't ideal, but it's short term, medically supervised, and better for your liver (I'm told). I realize that many people see the pre op diet as a time to practice post op eating habits, but that mentality didn't work for me because the hunger was so constant and overwhelming (even with 2 of the 3 aforementioned appetite suppressants!) Honestly, if i never lose another pound for the rest of my life, just having that very real, desperate, and constant hungry feeling gone has made surgery worth it.

At my largest
updated pic ohhhhh ahhhh
side by side current 213.5 and day after surgery 380
I have always been heavy. When I was a kid playing little league football I had to play with kids 3 to 4 years older than myself to "make weight" This was the start of my struggle with my weight. When I got to Jr High I started power lifting and did that for a few years. I quit while in high school to get a job. It was at that point I started to pack on weight. I was used to consuming a large amount of calories for my physical activity and never scaled it back down after i quit. I quickly balloon up to 300lbs after graduating and getting a desk job.

Fast forward to November of 2011. I was diagnosed with diabetes. I weight 442lbs at the appointment. I still remember that day vividly. Its funny how you can remember the details of major events like that. I was in denial. I left the Doctors office and went to a philly cheese steak place and consumed a meal that consisted of 3500 calories. the entire time thinking to myself, "thats bullshit, I don't have diabetes, my liver function can't be at 60 some odd percent.". It took me a day to process everything and come to terms with it. It was then that I decided to pursue the option of WLS. I made and appointment with a local surgeon.

I started the pre-surgery diet before I even meet with the nut. I did that with the help of the diabetic education system that the local hospital has. Leading up the the surgery the process was took 6 months because of insurance requirements. My surgery was August 17th. During my stay at the hospital all I can remember were the apologies for not having a bed long enough for my 6'3" frame. It was only about 2 days until I really wanted to get up and start doing stuff. I did not become very active due to the doctors warnings to take it easy. The only issues with the post surgery diet that I had were issues with food intolerances. No eggs or turkey, kind of saddening but lift goes on.

At my first check up on talked with the doctor about when I could start exercising. He gave me a date that I would be cleared to go. I called some of my buddies and we setup a time to go for a hike on the Appalachian trail. My first real exercise was an 8 mike hike on the trail. I was beat and went home and slept for like 12 hours. I didn't slow down there. We started hiking every Saturday. We have covered about 1/3 of the Trail in the state of PA, multiple times over. I set a goal to get down to 100lbs below what I started and I would buy a bike. When I hit that goal November of 2012 I went out and bought a nice mountain bike. When I started riding the bike I would park at a friends house about 4 miles, direct route to work, and ride in. I would get between 8 to 10 miles a day. This went on for about a week. As my friends put it I went a little crazy one saturday on my way home. My house is 14.6 miles from work I rode the entire way home after riding for a week. That was the start of my commuting via bike to and from work. I started out getting 30 miles a day. I kept going riding 4 to 5 times a week. When the weather started to get snowy and really cold that slowed down and I joined a gym.

I set another goal, Complete a 100 mile ride for charity with in a year of my surgery date. I registered for the JDRF Ride for a cure, sold my Mountain bike and picked up a road bike. Starting out I was only able to get up to a speed of about 8 to 12 mph through my rides. I started taking the long way to work getting an average of 28 to 32 miles one way. After weeks of working on my speed I have gotten up to a constant 15 to 17 mph peaking with sprints into the high 20's.

At 9 months post op I am at 214 lbs a loss of 228 lbs total 174 in the 9months post surgery. I am no longer on diabetes meds and riding 60+ miles on the days I ride. I still hike and trail run. I have taken up yoga strength training and will be giving cross fit a try. The surgery has given me the tools to be as active as I wanted to be. I am not healthier than I have ever been. I have started running group rides for friends that want to get out and cycle to loose weight. I, for the first time ever, was called a role model.

the morning before surgery and few weeks ago(will take a new pick I have dropped 15 or 20 lbs since that was taken)[/font]

Never depend on motivation to get through exercise. For some, it's a job just like the 9 to 5. When i was utterly sick of the gym I found this quote and saved it:
"No motivation however does not mean I won’t do the work. work needs to be done. I will never rely on motivation. Too risky"
Full post on her blog: http://paulinefitnes...m/?s=motivation

Never depend on motivation to get through exercise. For some, it's a job just like the 9 to 5. When i was utterly sick of the gym I found this quote and saved it:
"No motivation however does not mean I won’t do the work. work needs to be done. I will never rely on motivation. Too risky"
Full post on her blog: http://paulinefitnes...m/?s=motivation

I know Marbear stated differently, but motivation works for me and has for quite a while. I wouldn't really decide against a method just because someone else says it or it's not what THEY use. Whatever it is that makes or causes you to do the right thing, do it. If approaching it like a job is what gets you to exercise, by all means......do that. If it's purely just the goals you have and the motivation to achieve those goals that leads you to decide to exercise......do it. If it's just the feeling you like when you workout......do that. Or use a combination of these and/or other things to get where you want to be and where you know you need to be. I'm guessing if you took a poll as to what people use as the deciding factor to exercise, you'd probably get several different answers.....and they would all be CORRECT answers for that individual. To me, there's no wrong way to approach exercise as long as it works for you and is not hurting others. Just my 2 cents.......

Thank you for posting, I see this procedure in my future at some point. It looks really painful with the incisions, but shaping is GREAT! good to know about the time off work as well.
ZaKiya - LOL! hilarious!

Well I already know that when the weight comes off I will look the cover of Nat. Geo. lol but I am worried because I am only a DD and dont want to lose to girl

Never depend on motivation to get through exercise. For some, it's a job just like the 9 to 5. When i was utterly sick of the gym I found this quote and saved it:
"No motivation however does not mean I won’t do the work. work needs to be done. I will never rely on motivation. Too risky"
Full post on her blog: http://paulinefitnes...m/?s=motivation

Well...if it helps, I've been sitting around like a lump all day lol. But now I guess I better go do something, since we're on the topic and all of that. Maybe watch TV while you are on your fitness equipment. Or just grit your teeth and get it over with...i think that's what I'll be doing today.

Never depend on motivation to get through exercise. For some, it's a job just like the 9 to 5. When i was utterly sick of the gym I found this quote and saved it:
"No motivation however does not mean I won’t do the work. work needs to be done. I will never rely on motivation. Too risky"
Full post on her blog: http://paulinefitnes...m/?s=motivation

Never depend on motivation to get through exercise. For some, it's a job just like the 9 to 5. When i was utterly sick of the gym I found this quote and saved it:
"No motivation however does not mean I won’t do the work. work needs to be done. I will never rely on motivation. Too risky"
Full post on her blog: http://paulinefitnes...m/?s=motivation

don't feel disgust - in my opinion that is a hurtful emotion and also part of the addicts routine.
Feel gratefulness.. .the wagon is circling back and you have climbed back on.
I had 2 days of overeating. Went out with my girlfriend, then next day out with my son, then mothers day...yadda yadda yadda. My first symptom of old ways is that I didn't weigh myself every morning... my denial routine is beginning. I made a note on my bathroom mirror that tomorrow am I weigh - no matter if I feel fat. The point is doing exactly what you are doing - getting back on track and loving ourselves enough to do it!

Funny story I got pulled over and the cop asked.. well how much do you weigh? because clearly you don't weigh 280 lbs he handed me my license told me to have a new picture taken and let me off with a warning.. NSV for sure

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-slow-eating
Just discovered this site, there are a lot of good articles in there!

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-slow-eating
Just discovered this site, there are a lot of good articles in there!

I just took about 6 bags of clothes to a local charity called Dress for Success that provides suits and business clothing to unemployed low income women who are trying to get into the workforce. I had the same feeling - afraid I might need them again. My husband told me I can shop for new clothes but I need to get rid of stuff that doesn't fit any longer. This was a good chance to do it. If you have business or work clothing, please consider Dress for Success. They have a real need for larger size cothes.

I have hypothyroidism and despite lots of thyroid meds, I've had a really hard time losing weight for years. Surgery was 3/25, and 25 lb loss so far (includes pre-op loss of 10 lbs). Several nurses have told me that I will lose slower than people with normal thyroids, even if my thyroid levels read normal from medication. While this makes no sense to me (my TSH numbers are well below the normal range, which you would see in hyperthyroidsm...shouldn't weight just melt off??), it seems to be true because I feel like I'm still scratching and clawing for every pound. This is more and faster progress than I've had before, though, and I'm hopeful I'll be able to get to a normal weight one of these days. My endocrinologist said he would readjust meds as needed, but I hope we don't have that conversation for a long time. In my mind, any reduction of thyroid medication would just mean even slower weight loss.
As far as the surgery, I was able to resume the thyroid medication within a day. Besides slower weight loss (for me, may not be everyone), I don't think there has been any difference in the process. I already had my thyroid issue diagnosed and treated before surgery, though...not sure if it would make a difference pre-op if they were just now addressing it.

No advice, sorry...just cackling about pulling a shirt out of a crotchety.

I have a polar and I also have a Garmin which is both a HR monitor and a GPS device. Honestly, you can't go wrong with a Polar. The more features they have the more they are going to cost. If all you want is HR and calories burned, you don't need the most expensive. I personally like the simpler ones with less useless information (plus I'm a cheapskate).
The biggest problem I see with people and their HR monitors is they don't know how to put on the chest strap. If your skin is dry it's not going to work properly. Once you break a sweat they work fine. They make a gel specifically for these things, you apply it to the sensors on the chest strap and that helps it pick up your heart's signal. You can also just spit on the sensors to get them wet right before you put it on. Sounds gross but the saliva will keep it wet long enough for you to start sweating. If you simply wet it with Water, it may or may not stay wet long enough...depends on how hot you get. The gel works well but it's not necessary. It's basically KY so you could use that instead I would think.

I have hypothyroidism and despite lots of thyroid meds, I've had a really hard time losing weight for years. Surgery was 3/25, and 25 lb loss so far (includes pre-op loss of 10 lbs). Several nurses have told me that I will lose slower than people with normal thyroids, even if my thyroid levels read normal from medication. While this makes no sense to me (my TSH numbers are well below the normal range, which you would see in hyperthyroidsm...shouldn't weight just melt off??), it seems to be true because I feel like I'm still scratching and clawing for every pound. This is more and faster progress than I've had before, though, and I'm hopeful I'll be able to get to a normal weight one of these days. My endocrinologist said he would readjust meds as needed, but I hope we don't have that conversation for a long time. In my mind, any reduction of thyroid medication would just mean even slower weight loss.
As far as the surgery, I was able to resume the thyroid medication within a day. Besides slower weight loss (for me, may not be everyone), I don't think there has been any difference in the process. I already had my thyroid issue diagnosed and treated before surgery, though...not sure if it would make a difference pre-op if they were just now addressing it.

I think it's just the hormonal wackiness messing with me. I can't really control or make any of the other upheaval in our lives "right" so of course I want to control the me aspect of my life and the easiest target is getting back to goal. Well, what should be the easiest, anyway!
I was breastfeeding but after two serious rounds of mastitis coupled with UTIs in a three week period (I'm currently on my second round of antibiotics) I decided to rely on my frozen supply (I have a freezer completely full of milk - probably about two months worth) and use formula next. Breastfeeding/pumping does burn about 500 extra calories a day and I had been eating about 1,300-1,500 calories a day while breastfeeding and having no issues with supply or baby's nutrition.
And yeah, my upset over the not breastfeeding thing surely contributes more to this feeling I have that I need to control something (anything!) so it doesn't help my mindset or mood right now. But the mastitis knocks you flat - I have two five year olds and a five week old and do not have the luxury to spend two or three days in bed and a week dragging because of repeated infections. Hopefully this decision makes things a little easier around here.
I think all I need to do is take a deep breath and just relax for a few weeks. I suppose that it's reasonable to expect that I'll lose weight just as slowly as I did on the way to goal weight. It took me six months to shed the last twenty to goal, so taking another three months or so to shed these last nine pounds isn't too bad. And I know, I know, being only nine pounds from my starting weight at five weeks postpartum is a huge accomplishment.
Elisheva is just adorable and sweet and we're enjoying her as much as we can. I think the biggest stress in my life is this insane move and getting into the swing of things in our new home. I'll adjust with time and I see that I'm just not giving myself that time right now. I am thankful for those moments with the baby. I'll be busy unpacking boxes and she'll cry and my first thought is "Oh, I was almost done with this!" but once I'm holding her and feeding her I realize my only breaks and quiet time are when I get to sit and hold or feed her. It's really sweet and it's really a blessing.
It's just hard to go from maintaining (and pretty effortlessly) to the other side again. It's more upsetting than I expected. I need to back off on the scale and I probably need to just take it easy on myself for a while. I'm normally a very busy, structured achiever. I like to just make a goal and accomplish it. Feeling like I'm floundering is foreign to me and kind of distressing to my controlling personality.
I'm going to hook up with a local WLS support group later this month. That might help focus me a bit more and might make me feel better, too.
~Cheri

haha awesome. Thanks guys for the feedback. It's really helpful.

Stay off the scale for awhile. Remove it from your home if you must. Measure yourself. Focus on the NSV's.
I'm avoiding my scale like the plague. If I don't see the stall, there is no stall!

I started looking at different body types online and completely forgot your question. But after re-reading and wiping the drool off my keyboard, I'd have to say Spartacus. I like the super lean muscley loincloth look, it's like a tractor beam for my eyes. In real life, I'm fine with a more padded Spartacus of course.
If i was going to be a superhero, I'd want to look (and shoot) like Olivia Dunham.

I made a really good tuna casserole last night:
6oz tuna
1 egg
2T greek yogurt, plain
2T cottage cheese
garlic powder
onion powder
cheddar cheese, grated
pureed everything together, except the cheddar. poured into 2 mini cocottes, topped with cheddar, and baked at 350 for maybe 20-30 min. 1 ramekin has been 3 servings, and i just reheat as needed. the cocottes do a great job of keeping the food warm while you eat, but ramekins or other small dish would work fine.
also did a quiche thing - 1 egg, ricotta cheese, cheddar. Mixed egg and cheese, poured into a cocotte, topped with cheese, and baked for about 20 min. The tuna casserole is my favorite though.