ElyQuint

I started my new job and they don't suspect me at all. They think I'm just a regular old sized person. I've infiltrated the normal sized people club! I also cut my hair off!

Its like there is a fashion conspiracy to put larger ladies in low wasted, scoop necked, horizontally striped, inexplicably low waisted, sleeveless hot air balloons.

Stop bullying yourself. Your not a bad person your just a biological creature that noticed fake cheese paste sedates the physical angst of boredom. Dude. Its yummy, salty, coma inducing goodness helps us procrastinate doing what we always said we couldn't do until we lose weight. When that wears off, you get to procrastinate because you're a carb eating loser who doesn't deserve to do those things anyway. food is NOT the problem here. Your boredom is the problem. Address the boredom friend. Something about boredom makes you anxious. Try intentionally doing nothing in a quiet room. Observe any thoughts that arise and the physical sensations which come with them. The more you "sit with" that which you are trying to avoid, without judgment, the less of a demon it is. It gets easier to say "crap! Its "that thought or that feeling again. I know where this leads." Then, run like hell. Go for a walk, clean the bathroom, dance to your favorite song, learn to play guitar. Just don't get bored. I suggest this because I'm a lazy fake cheese eating loser who knows what will happen if I let myself get bored. Lol. We are all in this together.

Pistachios, peanuts in shells, take even longer.

I'm in beacon (moving to Troy in a minute though. I can't go to the groups cuz I'm not home during the week.

Claw foot tub full of bubbles and a body that fits in it! What a country!!!

I had many food funerals. I feel a little silly now as each of those foods makes its way into my diet on a regular basis but in tiny portions. But damn I enjoyed my food funerals.

Thanks all. Its so interesting that the roles we play are heavily influenced by who we used to be. I was a teen parent until thirty when I realized, uh, not anymore! Then I was a single parent and now I'm the mother of an adult child. All of those people are a part of me. Just like the fat chick.

If its red like fresh blood, its from the constipation. If the stool is dark it could be more serious and you need a doc. If its constipation I recommend aloelax from the health food store. I take one every three days.

Today is my last day at the job I had when I had my surgery. When I started there I weighed 288. As I leave I am 195. I've never hidden my surgery. This was a personal decision which is oft debated on this site. As I approach my new job on Monday, I am contemplative of the new relationships I will be building. My new colleagues will not have any awareness of me as the "fat girl". I know I still have a ways to go but the mental fat girl has mostly fallen away. These new folks will see me eat healthy, exercise and lose weight fairly gradually. They won't even require an explanation. I wonder if I will feel compelled to tell them. I am happy with my decision to tell folks about my surgery and I won't debate the choice as its been done here already. But I wonder how long the former fat chick will be my chosen identity? Anyone have any thoughts?

It is very strange to live on a loop. Good luck. May you have more grace than I.

Back in the beginning someone suggested adding decaf instant espresso to the shakes to change it up. Helped incredibly until I could get to soups.

My mother was the same way. For her food is care so she really felt helpless. I made her my accomplice. She came to support groups and seminars and Dr appointments. She helped me with recovery and generally navigating this process. I gave her another way to care. Now, 9 months post op, she feels a part of all my successes. Its really cute actually.

It does sound like dehydration. Drink as much Water as you can and see if it improves. Meeting the water requirements is hard to do even for vets. I drink a lot of smart water with electrolytes to optimize what I get in. If it doesn't improve you should notify your doctor. It could be a Vitamin deficiency or any number of things.

I used miracle fiber in my shakes. Its just a clear tasteless powder from the Vitamin shoppe. Aloe versa juice is good if you can stand it. I used miracle fiber in my shakes. Its just a clear tasteless powder from the Vitamin Shoppe. Aloe versa juice is good if you can stand it.

I've seen so many of these posts and could have been the author a year ago. The pre-op experience has little to do with the post op reality. It is not indicative of your likely success or failure. Statistically speaking, when it comes to weight loss, we are used to failing. We all think we are the worst offender and the weakest link. You are about to commit to an incredible journey of self love and kindness. I encourage you to concentrate on what your mind is saying about you and how that has impacted the decisions you have made on your own behalf. Then embrace your decision and refuse to listen to any part of your inner dialogue that undermines you. You will find that the negative voices get louder when your stomach starts growling. Its panic. It has been a successful method of self sabotage and its time to show that bastard in your brain that tantrums are not going to be rewarded with french fries any longer!

Hi all! I was diagnosed many a moon ago and spent a ridiculous amount of time ignoring what was essentially a menopausal state. I was sleeved 8.29.13 and within 20 pounds I started menstruating. Still a hairy beast but otherwise my biological symptoms are all but gone.

Be careful. Constipation usually follows. And its bad. Like Fukushima bad. Be sure to address it early.

Lavash is a wonderful middle eastern flat bread. Sami's bakery (online or health food store) makes a spinach/flax/millet Lavash that is low in carbs and just the right size. Savory, delicious and perfectly textured for pizza or sandwich bun.

Ok. Here is a good one. He mixed grilled avocado, cilantro, lime juice, salt and nonfat plain Greek yogurt into a tasty sauce/dip. He made a mini pizza on flax Lavash bread with ricotta, mozz, peppers, mushrooms, soy chorizo and the sauce. Amazing. I use the sauce on my one egg cheddar omelet and it becomes a gourmet dish. I use it on veggie patties topped with goat cheese. Incredible sauce.

Its tough for me to say. I got pubic hair in third grade and went from underweight to overweight over summer break. Got pregnant as a teen and after that my weight went crazy. Started the depo shot and my period never came back. I had an endocrinologist tell me if I lose weight I won't have PCOS anymore but my sister has it also and she averaged 115 pounds. Hell if I know. Its different for all. The hair is so tedious. Its an obsession and it really messes with your self esteem.

I had a hell of a time with NUT too! I don't even know what my nut is. She's skinny so I do (mostly) what she says. I don't know if she is a NUT or a DIE or what.

Nah. I tell you they are longer! No more t-rex arms. Course, now I have t-rex breasts. Lol. I'm great! Hoping the same for you!

I think my arms are longer.

The most amazing gift VSG has given me is the ability to communicate with my body. I'm 9 months out from VSG. I started this process at 288 and started ovulating at 260. I get my period every 5 weeks since then. They are bad but really predictable and I have nothing to compare them to. I still pluck daily and have to watch carbs but my cystic acne has cleared up, my moods are relatively stable, less ovary discomfort, blood sugar is regulated and otherwise symptom free.