Roo101769

There are now iced coffees available in almond milk and also soy. 100 calories, not sure the fat. They are easily found at the grocery. I have tried them and they are great. And they do have protein, especially the soy version. Bonus!

I just posted a fairly lengthy blog about the original topic. I have really thought about things after reading this and reading some other posts. Feel free to let me know any opinions, because as my blog say WE ALL HAVE THEM! LOL

I am a cooking show junkie. Probably not the best thing for a girl waging war on her fat and going for WLS. In fact, I did try to stop watching them. But I am hooked. Now I just try to get ideas and figure ways to make a version that I can enjoy. (without guilt) Anyway, getting off topic. I was watching one of my cooking shows the other night. It was the end of the show when they run the spoiler for the next show. It is getting down to the wire of contestants and things are getting heated. Then they show a clip of one contestant speaking of the other and she says "Time for that COW to go!" And there you have it. I was shocked. Not at the fact she said it , no. The girl is the "Barbie" of the show. Tall, thin, young, blonde and beautiful. The woman she was speaking of is a bit older, a single mom. Very middle America type, heavy set. Now the second woman can be a total witch when she wants, which is often. But the fact the "pretty" girl referred to her as a cow...Where is the moral outrage? Why haven't I seen news reports about another show having bigoted contestants? Another popular show has been the topic of all kinds of reports for the contestants being racist and bigots. So why is nothing being said about this clip? I will tell you why. Because weight / fat bashing is the last acceptable form of bigotry left in the United States. When someone uses racial slurs most of us get offended because we know it is wrong. When someone is discriminated against for their religion or sexual preference it is wrong. Yet many, MANY people still find it perfectly acceptable to use a person's weight as a form of ridicule or to discriminate against them. When the girl said "cow" to reference the other lady, she was making a comment about her size. Instead she could have made a remark that is about her personality, but no. ( She could have said b*tch and been completely correct) This person went right to the slur that would hurt the worst. And as an overweight (ok, obese) American I was very disgusted by it. But I will also be the first to admit I am conditioned by it. And I think that every person who struggles with their weight is in the same boat. Even those who practice "fat acceptance", who claim to be fat and proud. I think deep inside, in the core of our souls we are all hurt by any mention of our weight. It is such a tricky and delicate subject. A lot of people get heavy because they eat too much and do too little. A lot of people have emotional issues that contribute. A lot of people have medical problems that have lead to excess weight issues. Our country has a growing population of obesity, yet we all (to some degree) consider thinner people the "norm". An average weight adult is no longer the common folk, they are the exception. Yet fat bashing runs rampant. That is a fact I just cannot wrap my head around. I guess if I really put thought into it I come up with the analogy of comparing heavy people who fat bash to black people saying the "N" word. It is wrong. It hurts. It is a trigger that strikes at the very heart of the person it is unleashed on. Yet someone who IS that uses the term... well somewhere in our psyche we believe if we say it then we deflect it. It isn't me, it bounces off. I am not what I say. It is the only thing I can justify it with. But I think the constant ridicule conditions us to be defensive. We tear ourselves down just the same. I have seen a lot of recent chatter about how people deal with questions about their weight loss. Most of the posts have been very defensive and negative. It is a topic no obese person wants to discuss, unless it is on our terms. I have seen folks say how a coworker would ask about their weight loss and they thought that person was rude and nosey. Really? Put the shoe on the other foot a moment. If you knew someone wouldn't you be at least curious ( if not concerned) if they suddenly lost a lot of weight? I am a compassionate person by nature. I would want to know if that person was ok, was anything wrong. I would want to help them if they needed help, and support them if it was something they wanted. So if people ask me about my weight loss I plan to be very open about it. I understand there are a lot of people who are against WLS. They have the misconception that "diet and exercise" is all you need to be healthy. For some, yes. But my diet and exercise needs help. I blame tv and media for the wrong attitudes. All the extreme weight loss shows that are not really reality. My reality doesn't allow me to put my life on hold for x amount of time so I can hole up with a personal trainer and dietician. I cannot fit in 5 hours a day to work out. I don't have a $1000 gift card to buy all my healthy food and fresh produce. These kind of shows ingrain the idea that diet and exercise will melt the weight in no time, so we must just be lazy or happy being fat. People will have their opinions. I have learned to live my truth and let them believe as they will. I know I can't change attitudes like that, so why fight and try? At the same time I do not have shame for my choice. I am not going to lie. And if asked, I will be honest. Because when it all boils down I know I am being true to me. And maybe my truth will somehow influence someone. I do know I am raising my daughter to be one less fat basher in the world. At the end of the day everyone matters.

While it seems like and odd question with an obvious answer, maybe she was curious if there was something specific going on. A lot of people want to lose weight for a reunion, for a wedding, to try to get pregnant, going on vacation etc. Perhaps that is what she was trying to ask, but failed miserably doing so! LOL

I have to do a pulmonary evaluation then I should be done and paperwork submitted to insurance. I did not have to do any classes with the NUT, just a consultation, no 6mos diet or anything. Psych eval was quick and fairly painless. In fact, everything was going along smoothly until the hiccup of waiting for the pulmonary doctor. ( schedule issues) I saw my PCP today and he asked if I had a surgery date yet, so even he is anxious! LOL I told him no, but he better have all his paperwork submitted so not to hold me up...Once insurance approves me I will be given a surgery date. In the time between I have to have the EGD and on online education course. I am holding my breath and crossing my fingers hoping I can get an October surgery date.

Hmmm... Makes me wonder. Post op VSG you produce little to no ghrelin, so you are not really ever "hungry". But over time many start to regain some of the "hunger" feeling as ghrelin production increases. But right after (post op) is also probably when people who have VSG are getting their highest amounts of protein. ( Isn't that what they stress?? Protein, protein, protein) In the study they say researchers have found high protein diets reduce the amount of ghrelin produced.....So, maybe it is a combination of surgery AND high protein diets that creates the desired effect. Therefore sticking with a high protein diet should, in essence, delay or eradicate the return of ghrelin. Love for them to do a study on that theory!

Excess weight can have an effect on your cycle. Changing that can also effect it, but seems like right after surgery is a bit soon. ( of course given weight loss from pre op diets could be the reason) But the good news is things will be SOOOOO much easier to reach with the extra weight gone!!! LOL

I wrote one for good measure, before I knew I would need it. It was kind of cathartic to put into words everything that has lead me to this place. It is needed for my insurance, and my surgeon learned more about me and my struggles from it. ( I submitted it on my first visit) I detailed my past, my family (briefly) and what I have tried for weight loss. I also explained where I am currently at physically, and how my weight effects me. I ended by telling what I hope to achieve with the surgery, and that I hoped I would be considered and approved.

Thanks for the suggestions! I am trying to figure out ways to dine out without guilt or undoing what I have accomplished. My main go to is looking up menus in advance and checking the nutritional values and making up my mind what I want from that. Makes it easier to not have to think about it when I am hungry. But on the fly is still an issue. I know I will figure it out over time. I am a food addict in some ways. While I do not eat mass quantities for the most part, I do eat junk. My choices are a huge part of my weight issues. I am just trying to get a grip on that now. I have been journaling. Not so much the food (although I do write some about what I eat) but about my emotions. And I have been blogging here. I know now this is going to be about 70% (or more) mental for me, so I am trying to get "my head into the game" so to speak. And my biggest victory of all will be when I am no longer in pain daily from arthritis. I am not on any meds that will be stopped due to weight loss. While I cannot imagine how great I will feel when I can wear smaller sizes, I long for the day when I can walk without pain. That is my biggest goal. The rest will be hummus on the tofu as icing on the cake is no longer part of my world!!! LOL

Perhaps it is genuine concern she approached with when saying you are too skinny. Don't get me wrong, I personally think you look fabulous. (Not "too skinny" nor "an old man") But this woman has spent years accepting (and loving I assume) you as you were. Sometimes it is harder for those around us to accept we are obese and need help than it is for us to decide it for ourselves. You did what was right for you, for your life. Be proud every second of every day that you cared enough about YOU to do that. In time the family (and others) will come around and get to know and love the "new" you the same as they did the old you. BTW- I think it is awesome you and your wife did this together. That is an amazing support system built right into your marriage!

I am like others in the regards of every day life should have been enough for me to decide. And I was even starting the process when I had a DVT(blood clot)/ PE. This was my second go 'round with it. First time was after knee surgery, but this time was "unprovoked". When I was released from the hospital ( 5 day stay) I saw my paperwork said "morbid obesity" as a factor of hospitalization. No, I had a clot. But my weight is a factor. Well this time I suffered a lot of vascular damage in my right leg. Living went from uncomfortable to down right unbearable. I looked into disability. But I thought about it long and hard. I could be "disabled". Stay home, sit on my rear and let my weight go up and up. Or I could finally do something to get the weight off for good. Fight back the only way I could. So I chose to do what I truly believed was the best thing. I am doing this for me, but also so I can be the best mommy to my daughter I can be.

My momentive is slowing down. Does that mean I throw in the towel and forget it? Nope. But I will admit I am having a little problem staying on track. I have lost 13lbs on my self imposed pre surgery diet. I am already practicing for life after surgery. It has been pretty easy for the most part, but I have had a little bit of backsliding. I am not talking chocolate cake and pizza kind of backsliding. But I have overindulged in some of my "healthy" choices. Too much cheese, too many protein bars. Today I had an errand to run at lunch. I had already come into work late, so I needed to grab something quick. Taco Bell ( not normally a choice for ANYTHING healthy) had the protein bowls/ burritos this summer. The chicken bowl is pretty low calorie and good protein. I would even allow myself a "cheat" of guacamole & chips with it. Well I get into the drive thru ( this one is designed that once you enter you cannot exit) and low and behold the protein items are gone! Ugh!!! I went with the cantina bell menu as a back up option and got the chicken bowl. But I really wanted the guacamole and chips, so I got the combo. MISTAKE. First off they screwed up the order and I ended up with a side of guac and a side of salsa- plus TWO bags of chips. Then my bowl just was NOT what I wanted. I realized the Cantina bowl is very similar to the protein bowl, just bigger and loaded with white rice. I should have never ate the chips, but I ended up eating most of them with the guacamole. Then I started to eat the bowl. After about a third of it I realized I was full. A guess a small victory in the fact I stopped eating it. In the past I would have ate every bite because I paid for it! But today it was just not what I wanted and I was able to easily stop eating when I was full. ( side note- I realized after the fact I had ate more than "just full" as I sit here with a rock in my stomach) I debated whether to keep the rest and eat later but decided to just pitch it. Why eat something that was not what I had intended in the first place? So now my quick food options (pre op) are even further limited. My other issue is with eating fast/drinking with meals. I know both of these things will have to be changed once I have surgery. I really, really need to practice both now to get into the groove. Yet I keep putting it off. I can eat sometimes w/o drinking. But not all meals. And I still eat way too fast and too large of bites. I need to get used to chewing my food to oblivion and pausing between bites. Otherwise I will have a very rude awakening if I forget to do this post op! I guess my biggest problem right now is time. Having to wait to get to the next step in my journey. Knowing that I will worry until I hear my insurance has approved me for surgery. Not knowing if I will be able to get the surgery when I hoped. ( original goal was October) Just a lot of variables that are out of my control. I won't go as far as say I am a control freak, but I do feel better when I can create my destiny. ( at least in something as life changing as this) I just want to get there. I want to be past the "scary" parts and get to living the life I dream of....

I would say bake up the rest and take them in to church with you. That gets it out of your house, you don't feel like you have wasted money and your fellow parishioners will certainly love the little treat.

I am trying out things now to get an idea pre op. I ordered Unjury sampler for around $30. It has two of each chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, unflavored and chicken broth. It also comes with a Rubbermaid shaker bottle and a thermometer. ( Because the protein powder cannot be heated above 140 degrees or it clumps and congeals) So far I have tried the strawberry and chocolate. I can tolerate the strawberry but preferred chocolate. I just want an idea now of what is out there.

You have all of us on VST to support you too. You are not totally alone, although I do understand where you are coming from. I wish you the very best journey and that you have the best healthy long life!

Do NOT beat yourself up. We are all bound to have moments when we are weak and eat something we wish we had not. And yes, there will even be days where we wish we could rewind and try again. But you know what? You know it makes you feel bad. You know you do have craving control issues. And you know next time you will look back at today and remember how it feels. Don't let the food monster win. It isn't just a battle with the scale, it is a battle in our hearts and minds too. This is NOT an easy process for any of us. If it was easy to be thin and healthy for us we wouldn't be here. ( As if we would choose to be heavy and carry the burdens we have) Chalk it up to a learning experience, part of life. This is a marathon, not a sprint. If the majority of your days are spent making wise and healthy choices then the occasional slip is not going to be your undoing. This is forever. Do not let one day bring you down...

My company had Medical Mutual but switched 6/1/2013 to Anthem Blue Cross. I know the Medical Mutual plan we had did cover WLS, but there was a 12 month medically supervised diet requirement on it. New insurance does not have such a requirement!

I am in a pretty good mood right now. Have to admit I am one of those emotional rollercoaster types. Not that I am into drama or anything, I just feel things strongly. ( and often wear my emotions on my "sleeve"...LOL) You know it is bad when you shed tears watching really crazy things on tv and your four year old scolds you.."Mommy, you need to do something about all the crying". Hey, mommy is hormonal and emotional and changing her entire relationship with food after 43 years. I am entitled to a little random crying now and then. But I am getting away from the reason I am blogging today. As I have said several times I decided to start eating a diet similar to post surgery. Very high in protein, low in fat, calories and carbs. My thought process was I needed to make eating like this habit now, to make it easier on me later. I will be dealing with enough at that time, why compound it with trying to change everything I have ever done at the same time? So, as of August 1st I took on the challenge of changing my brain and how I relate to food. It has been hard at times, but not as bad as I had imagined. I guess the fact I am very focused on where I need to go makes it a little easier. IDK. Anyway, I work in a manufacturing plant and we have industrial scales used to weigh rolls of paper before shipping. They are calibrated often so I feel they are fairly accurate. I was unable to get on them August 1st because there were just too many guys around in the plant to do so. ( I am NOT ready to weigh in with an audience) So on August 2nd I was able to sneak on them with no one looking. I weighed 316lbs., which is my all time (non-pregnant) high weight. It is also the weight I had been when weighing at my doctor's, so again I feel it accurate. Well today was the first time I have been able to get on them again with no one around. I hopped on and it said 303lbs! I did a double take.. I have lost 13 lbs in 20 days!!! Whoop whoop. I am excited because I know it is getting my body to where it needs to be for an easier surgery and recovery. Of course I have already heard from a few people "well at that rate you won't need surgery". I just shake my head at their ignorance...LOL We all who have come to WLS know that is such a misconception. All this weight loss shows is just how fat I have become and how badly I have been eating. This 13lbs is a drop in the proverbial bucket. Yet I am excited that I can see I am doing the right thing. I see I can do this. I see a light at the end of my tunnel. I have hope.

I have looked into this a great deal. My insurance will NOT pay for any type of skin removal after WLS, so I have to deal with whatever I have. From what I have read it is basically a genetic lottery. Some people have really great elasticity and there skin eventually recovers and "bounces back". Others are not so fortunate and no amount of exercise or potions or secret sacrifices to the firm skin gods will help. But....I have also read there are things you can try. Everyone will have their own ideas or opinions. The regime I am going to use ( and have already started) is sea salt scrubs in the shower and LOTS of firming lotion daily. The theory is the salt scrubs will exfoliate the dead, unhealthy cells. That will stimulate new cell growth, and new cells are hopefully happy, healthy, and firm cells! Also the scrubs are usually made with essential oils that will help in healing the skin. ( I made mine with almond oil and vitamin E) The firming lotion is for just that, firming. Also the better hydrated your skin is the better it will appear. ( and the healthier it will be) I am sure there will be a lot of ideas and tips and I look forward to seeing what others have tried!

I think I should clarify my response a little in hindsight. The official response from my surgeon's office on time off was..."IF you can take 3-4 weeks off to recuperate after the surgery, then by all means do. But realistically people do need to get back to their lives and often can only take a week or two off." In my case I was off work this past spring for over a month and a half due to a DVT/PE. I cannot afford to take more time off than is absolutely needed for this surgery. But if it was an option, then yes I would prefer at least two weeks off. Take what you physically, emotionally, and financially can afford to take would be my advice.

Your post sounds almost identical to me! LOL I only have to have a pulmonary clearance before I am done..( ie: ready to submit to insurance) I have had two different episodes of pulmonary embolism ( blood clots traveling into my lungs) so the surgeon/ anesthesiologist want this checked. ( but not really concerned there are any issues) I have done everything else on my check list. I too hope to get in before the end of year and a large part of that reasoning is financial. Since I already went through another round of DVT/PE and was hospitalized for 6 days overall I too have met my deductible/ out of pocket annual max. So financially it would be greatly beneficial for me to have surgery in 2013. Also, it starts me on the road to a healthier me that much sooner. But if the cards are dealt that I have to wait, I will still do it. I just hope luck and timing is on my side...Good luck to you too!

My surgeon has already cleared with me to be off one week. ( I don't have a date yet either) He said that as long as there are no complications, that I am healing well and I can tolerate any pain without being a zombie on drugs I can go back to work. ( I am in accounting) I do plan to have someone help me with my daughter and my dogs for a little while, but sitting on my butt I can do either at a desk or at home! LOL

Beautiful! You WORK it girl!!!! I cannot WAIT for my surgery. I am not sure cute is in my future, but I sure will give it hell...LOL

The good news is your views on food and eating definitely seem to be in the right place! You are living your life, not eating it. Have an awesome vacation and enjoy every minute of it.

My NUT suggested OPurity multivitamins for me. They are designed specifically for sleeve and bypass patients. My guess is it has something to do with how they are absorbed but not sure. Anyway, you only need one a day, plus calcium. They do run a little low on B12 so she suggested to take additional B12 a couple times a week. I got them yesterday and tried it. I am pre op, but trying things out to at least have an idea. These pills are large chewables but not gummies. They weren't horrible but they seemed very (ie: TOO) sweet. But I figure post op it will be hard to consume one as quickly, will probably have to break it up so then the sweetness won't be as overwhelming. OPurity is best for me because it does not have added vitamin k. (I am on warfarin for life and need to restrict vitamin k) I think everyone's NUT and surgeon has different plans they follow. The overall basic is the same, but the rates and stages varies. My NUT said protein, protein, protein along with staying hydrated. Just stay with what works for you. Things will even out. At least you seem to be doing pretty well with recovery!