lnelson796

Thank you!

Thanks, and yes, I can do so many things now that I would have never even considered doing before. Just yesterday I shoveled the driveway after we got about 10 inches of snow. Last year I had to stop every 5 to 10 minutes to catch my breath and rest. This year I didn't even get winded, and the only break I took was to warm up from the cold

BKLYN, don't worry you'll get there. I actually gained 4 pounds in January, primarily from upping my workouts and building muscle. All of a sudden my body let go of what it had been holding on to and I lost 8 pounds in a week. Id never lost that much that fast since the first month!

Thanks it's such a mental boost to hit that goal. And lynn, I can not only tie my shoes but I can cross my legs too!

I started my journey one year ago with my pre surgery insurance meetings with my NUT. Had surgery June 4th, hit 100 pounds yesterday. The first picture is from a year ago and the other is this morning. Started at 285, this morning I'm at 184. Just can't believe that's me. [ATTACH]41144[/ATTACH]

Ive had the same problem. I'm 7 months out and have been having issues for most of that time. Periods twice as long and heavy as normal, with spotting in between. Ive had two biopsies which have shown no problems besides the elevated estrogen levels. Did a 30 day round of progesterone to try and level it out and it didn't help. Right now im having to keep a menstrual diary for my doctor (yes theres an app for that) and she'll use that to determine the next course of action, which will probably be a d and c. Definitely discuss this with your doctor and start seeing what your options are. Also wouldnt hurt to start documenting it with something like the app I use, My Menstrual Diary, which allows you to document how often as well as what kind of flow so your doctor can see if you're having mostly spotting or mostly heavy flow. Weve also talked about me going back on the pill to control it, but not sure if that will work since the progesterone didn't help. Good luck.

Niki, I did a 7 hour taekwondo boot camp a few months ago, took plenty of water and one protein shake. Was not enough. Really needed a good protein boost every couple hours to make it through. I'm making my own protein bars these days so next time I do a boot camp I'll make sure I have a protein bar for every two hours of workout. Less filling on the tummy for me than a shake and gives me the energy I need to keep going.

When I had my gallbladder attack the pain was right between my breasts, I thought it was a heart attack.

Thank you for your replies. This has made her feel better about her decision.

She's worried about whether or not her tummy will look abnormal with an upper pooch and a flat panni area. Although her main issue is lower belly.

She has. She's actually also having another procedure done to tighten up the pubic area as well. They initially told her $5000 - 6000 for pubic and tummy tuck so she was all for it. Now they're saying $12000. Big difference.

I'm creating this thread for my friend who had surgery a year before I did. She doesn't post so asked me to start this for her. She is scheduled three weeks for a panni only, no additional lipo or tummy tuck because insurance will only cover the panni. She has lost 180 pounds so has had rashes to make that part covered. Her question is if anyone else has had the panni only? And is there a significant difference between the panni area and the pooch that hasn't been touched over the belly button?

Congrats to you for making this decision, you won't regret it!

Thanks. It was a little weird buying a dress I'll probably never wear again since I still have more to lose but its nice to know dresses are an option! Hope you find some great reasons to wear the new dresses!

Thanks again! I was at 252 on my surgery date, had lost 22 pounds while filling insurance requirements and another 11pounds in preop. My surgery was 6 months ago in June. Yes those first few weeks, even up to two months, were tough, but well worth it, just keep pushing through!

Thank you!

Good for you! It's so nice to participate in life instead of just watching others have fun.

Sounds like it's time for you to take some pictures too! Although I hate having my picture taken, I've been taking one every two months and it actually helps to see the progress.

Thank you! I forgot my stats: I started at 285 and I'm down to 195. Have gone from a size 24 to a solid 16. Able to wear some 14's.

My husband's work has had a Christmas party every year for the last 10 years or so, and I have always been jealous of the wives who could wear the pretty holiday clothes. I'd put on the best thing I had and hide in the corner, not willing to spend the money on something that I knew wouldn't live up to the other outfits. But this year I had the time of my life shopping with my friends and picking out THE DRESS! I'm not at goal yet, but just being able to dress with confidence was amazing!

Ugh, thanks for the warning! I called them this week because I've started again, even with the progesterone, and they also warned me that once I stop using it next week it will be ugly! I'm just so ready to be done with it! Hope going on birth control gets it under control, because I'm not sure what other options I have at this point.

Search the food section for the ricotta bake recipe. It was very fulfilling in the soft stage. Helps with the mental need for a real meal.

Actually many kids meals are including healthier options these days. I can get roasted chicken, steak, grilled chicken, at most places we go. At our Mexican restaurant I can get a kids meal with one taco and refried beans, then I take all the filling out of the taco and mix it with the beans, and still can't finish the whole thing. Obviously won't work everywhere you go but it's at least worth looking at the kids menu and seeing what your options are.

I have not had any problems with ordering from the kids menu, I don't even have to tell them I had surgery they just say no problem. I've also told the waitress at breakfast that I just can't eat much so can I just ordered an egg and they accomodate me with no questions.

I'm about five months out from surgery and have had such menstrual issues I thought I'd share them! Right after surgery I started having abnormal periods, I'd go about 2 weeks between periods. Figured it would level out but instead it got to the point of having week long periods, 3 or 4 dry days, then back on a week long period. Finally decided to go to the doctor because this was obviously not going to get better on its own. So spent this week having a pap, sonogram, pelvic exam, and a biopsy to make sure it was not cancer or something else causing it. Everything came back normal except the biopsy confirmed that my uterine lining had been thickened due to an elevated level of hormones. Have to take progesterone for a month to offset the elevated estrogen levels, then back in for another biopsy to make sure the lining has thinned back to normal. Doctor confirmed what I've read on here, that the estrogen that has been stored in my fat cells has been released back into my system. Will probably need to go back on birth control to regulate my hormones, hoping that once I stop losing weight it will all level out. Glad I went to the doctor, not only to stop these darn periods, but my doctor said that when your hormones cause a thickened lining and doesn't allow it to go back to normal once in a while, you are at greater risk for endometrial cancer. Just thought I'd share in case anyone else experiences something similar.