Canary Diamond

If a medical professional ever freely admitted to having more faith in a higher power than his/her own science-based medical training, I would rip out my own IV and RUN out of the hospital. Then I'd sue for malpractice.

If a medical professional ever freely admitted to having more faith in a higher power than his/her own science-based medical training, I would rip out my own IV and RUN out of the hospital. Then I'd sue for malpractice.

I don't understand these attempts (by women) to shame women out of talking about sex, as if it's not a vital part of any relationship. Discussing this does not make one a "horndog," merely a human. I'd like to thank those women who spoke frankly about why they might have been attracted to a particular body type in a man; for being proud of their sexuality. I believe the points they brought up were perfectly relevant to the OP's query.

I don't understand these attempts (by women) to shame women out of talking about sex, as if it's not a vital part of any relationship. Discussing this does not make one a "horndog," merely a human. I'd like to thank those women who spoke frankly about why they might have been attracted to a particular body type in a man; for being proud of their sexuality. I believe the points they brought up were perfectly relevant to the OP's query.

I don't understand these attempts (by women) to shame women out of talking about sex, as if it's not a vital part of any relationship. Discussing this does not make one a "horndog," merely a human. I'd like to thank those women who spoke frankly about why they might have been attracted to a particular body type in a man; for being proud of their sexuality. I believe the points they brought up were perfectly relevant to the OP's query.

I found the coolest site, ladies! You enter a height and weight and are shown a gallery of photos of real women with these stats. This may be a useful tool in helping determine your desired goal weight.
http://www.mybodygal...com/search.html

Yes, I hear bug meat can be quite addictive.

Yes, I hear bug meat can be quite addictive.

I don't understand these attempts (by women) to shame women out of talking about sex, as if it's not a vital part of any relationship. Discussing this does not make one a "horndog," merely a human. I'd like to thank those women who spoke frankly about why they might have been attracted to a particular body type in a man; for being proud of their sexuality. I believe the points they brought up were perfectly relevant to the OP's query.

If a medical professional ever freely admitted to having more faith in a higher power than his/her own science-based medical training, I would rip out my own IV and RUN out of the hospital. Then I'd sue for malpractice.

(rant alert!) CARBS ARE NOT THE DEVIL! (Thanks for nothing, Dr. Atkins.) Beans do not include simple or lipogenic (fat-forming) carbohydrates like, say, high fructose corn Syrup does. Your body NEEDS the three macronutrients of fat, carbohydrate, and Protein to continue catalyzing reactions that keep it functioning. However, you must educate yourself in the various types of carbs so you can read nutrition information/labels critically.
That being said, your first priority (as well as mine) should be on acquiring adequate Protein. Beans are such an excellent source of protein, I doubt you have anything to worry about as far as filling up with carbs before meeting your protein quota.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this. People who've never been seriously overweight (or underweight, or paraplegic, or victims of 3rd degree burns, or sufferers of a host of physical aberrations that make one hyper-sensitive about one's appearance) often have no tact in such matters. I would NEVER make a comment about another person's body. I might say, "That color is great on you!" or, "You seem tired today," (not you LOOK tired today) or "You have something green stuck in your teeth," but never a comment that insinuates I presume to understand or mirror another's self-image.

I don't understand these attempts (by women) to shame women out of talking about sex, as if it's not a vital part of any relationship. Discussing this does not make one a "horndog," merely a human. I'd like to thank those women who spoke frankly about why they might have been attracted to a particular body type in a man; for being proud of their sexuality. I believe the points they brought up were perfectly relevant to the OP's query.

I don't understand these attempts (by women) to shame women out of talking about sex, as if it's not a vital part of any relationship. Discussing this does not make one a "horndog," merely a human. I'd like to thank those women who spoke frankly about why they might have been attracted to a particular body type in a man; for being proud of their sexuality. I believe the points they brought up were perfectly relevant to the OP's query.

Adding to the discussion about crust-less quiches, here is a recipe for egg muffins with prosciutto from Tasty Kitchen. Looks yummy!

So funny that I sprayed Water all over my computer while laughing out loud. Thanks for sharing.

If I look like this at my goal weight, I will buy a much more flattering swimsuit!

You look hot! In a virtual, plastic-coated kind of way.

I think we all look FABULOUS and un-bumpy!

Well I'm not at goal but getting close. Here are my comparisons.
Both are set a 5'6" before 250 current 174.

Great discussion on it here: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/86516-average-loss-with-the-sleeve-is-60-of-excess-weight/page__hl__nicolanz#entry896618
Many doctors only track their patients for the first year post op. A huge number of us finish our loss in our second or third years post op. The big push from many surgeons seems to be to reach goal in under a year. On a side note, this also is part of the cause that so many people feel there is an "expiration date" on their sleeve and that it has a magic off switch that stops it from working at some point. Not true.
In any case, I hadn't reached goal at one year out. By that point I had reached 85% EWL.
I have said before and maintain that there is nothing stopping you, short of your body's own limits, from achieving 100% EWL if you so choose. The sleeve doesn't come with an expiration date and my sleeve at three years post op is just as effective at controlling my intake as it was early on.
The real issue is that the required headwork must be done in order to remain a success, but that's a different story.
Furthermore, still being obese is different than still being morbidly obese and likely to continue gaining weight. Even if the worst case scenario of 50-60% EWL is all you achieved, maintaining that loss would be a tremendous improvement on your health and likely on your lifespan.
I am 5'1" and currently weigh 142 pounds and am overweight according to the BMI chart. Nobody is calling me overweight but the chart, I promise you. Even when I finally shed the last seven baby pounds back to my goal weight, I'll still be right on the line for overweight. Tell that to my size six/small pants. Would I love to be in the 120s? Sure, why not? But I'm not - I'm the size I wanted and I weigh ten-fifteen pounds more than I'd like (at goal). So what. I also don't have diabetes or high blood pressure anymore. So still being obese but being half the size you are now? Well worth the risk, in my opinion.
The sleeve does not work miracles. If you want more than a moderate loss, you have to not only work for it, but change your habits and lifestyle enough that you can keep that loss off for the long run.
~Cheri

I am 35 soon to be 36 and I have never
- been in a serious relationship
- been in love (lust yes)
- felt sexy
- had high self esteem
- been called beautiful by anyone else but my family members and friends
- wore a bikini
- gone skinny dipping
I plan to fix all of these this year (hoping to fix #1)

I'm nearly six weeks post-op and would really like a vehicle for all this egg/tuna/salmon salad and hummus. My meal plan says nothing about crackers except for unsalted Saltines weeks 5 & 6. I'm skeptical about Saltines because I used to binge on them and haven't had refined flour for almost two months now.
When were you able to successfully incorporate crackers and what kinds worked better with the sleeve early on? Do you know of any sleeve-friendly crackers/bread substitutes (I can't have raw veggies yet)? I'm not concerned about grams of carbs, just the risk of awakening the refined carb monster, and the pain that comes with pointy foods.
Thank you!

I found the coolest site, ladies! You enter a height and weight and are shown a gallery of photos of real women with these stats. This may be a useful tool in helping determine your desired goal weight.
http://www.mybodygal...com/search.html

Hubby and I did an experiment with a cracker and a pc of melba ttoast (toast is on. My soft food diet, crackers r specificallt not allowed) we put them inn a glass of Water and waited a coupe hrs. The cracker was about 3x the size while the melba toast didn't change at all.
That's all it took to convince me not to eat crackers. And melba toast is actually tasty. I use them to dip into my egg yolks, crumble in chili, and put tuna salad on