Bea Amaya

I have to say I'm like you. I think it's cool, awesome, and even inspiring, but am not sure I'll be one of those. I also worry about being the woman that is skinny only from the waist up, or something crazy like that. But for right now I simply try to focus on relaxing, following my new routine, trying to keep lined up on the center stripe on my best days and keeping it between the ditches on my worst. Hope to talk to you again in a year and laugh about how worried we were so long ago!

Updated: Updated 9/19 weigh-in stats: Total group members: 58 Week 1 reporting in: 35 % Reporting: 60.3% Total lost for Week 1: 57.0 lbs! Online stats: http://sdrv.ms/19Qmc3j

Thanks Heather, but my attempt at joking about my rather large arse was an attempt to describe the location that is perhaps the one you describe. Right now, if I take both forefingers and put them on my navel then trace straight around, I get to the painful spots as soon as my fingers pass to the back of my body. This afternoon I can actually press into both areas and feel something solid beneath. I'm not sure it's kidneys, but whatever it is there are two of them, and the pain is in these very specific spots. Oh, and the pain is to the touch, not when I move around. (Odd, I know!) I don't have medical insurance and therefore don't have a doctor, but this might require me going in for a look-see anyway. It will be Monday before I can check it out, if possible, but I'll let you all know what I find (or if it goes away!). In response to some of the questions/suggestions: - I don't take any pain-killers regularly, only multi-Vitamins, Calcium chews, and the occasional natural vegetable laxative - I do have lower back pain a couple of times a week (my job has me in front of a computer an un-godly amount of hours each day) which is why this caught my attention as it feels so different - my husband (64) and I (53) have always been quite healthy which is why we've gone the past few years with no insurance, to save [a bundle of] money. Since my surgery we've decided to opt-in with my employer this year in the open enrollment at the end of the year. Hope I make it that far still healthy!!! Thanks so much to EVERYONE for weighing in on this. At the very least, it keeps me from ignoring the problem which is my most oft-used response!

Okay, I know this one is weird, but by golly this community seems to be FULL of knowledgeable people, so here goes... My intake of Protein and Water every day are really good (protein average for past 5 weeks is 76g, water average is about 80 oz). I have no abdominal discomfort or problems in the bathroom, except for the constipation that I am able to manage pretty well. But just lately I've noticed that I have two sore spots, and I mean REALLY sore spots, on my back just above my [considerable] buttocks. I don't get it. Why would my kidneys be so sore to the touch when I don't have any other symptoms of anything being wrong? Any ideas about this? THANKS!

Great tips...great advice. I do need to start researching items from both "fast foods" and "restaurant" categories, however, that are VSG friendly as I travel a lot and am forced to eat on the road. Of course, that business of being forced to eat out (much more than overeating) is what got me to the place I am now. This is definitely the time for me to develop new strategies for being prepared for the impact my own lifestyle (work-style) has on my health. Thanks for your timely and on-target posting!

Just took a look at your profile and although my starting size is WAY bigger than yours, seeing your progress gives me hope. At 7 weeks out I've lost weight, no doubt, but still have unusually large hips, thighs, calves, etc. and often wonder if I waited too late to remedy those things; perhaps they'll never go away. Seeing your photos, and reading your story, however, lets me know that I need to be both patient and faithful to the plan. I don't expect this surgery to make me young, beautiful, or to give me a model's body. Still, I wouldn't mind being the one posting my story here in 2016 and encouraging other newbies with my accomplishments. Thanks so much for posting!

I, too, use baby spoons still and I'm already 7 weeks out. I find that if I don't, I sometimes hurry WAY too much (busy life, and all that) and find myself in pain by the end of the meal. Baby spoons both regulate and remind me to slow down, take it easy, and enjoy each bite.

Update: 50.0% (25 out of 58) of those weighing in last week have reported in so far today for a total group loss of 41.9 lbs. Woo Hoo! (Last Update: 9/20/2013 7:00AM CST)

Remember, updates are being posted as they come in (or as I get a chance) at: http://sdrv.ms/19Qmc3j. This is so much fun...like watching the results in the Olympics come trickling in! This was such a GREAT idea, FeelsMe2!

251.4 ...so close to the long-ago-forgotten <250 lbs...maybe another week or two!

Oh, you're welcome, but I knew there would be a few challenges with trying to use a sheet I set up with my data. Still, there may be some things we can do. 1a. I set it up for putting in a single date (surgery day for me, but could really be any date you want) and letting the sheet fill in the dates for the two weeks before and 40 weeks (or so) after. The key to this is finding (selecting) your "start date" and entering it into cell A17. 1b. You are certainly welcome to unlock the page and make any changes you want, but there are LOTS of calculations on the sheet so beware that some of your changes could have unintended consequences. When the page prompts you for a password simply hit the "Enter" key without putting anything into the password field. 2. I use the Milestones section for points in my journey that are special to me. For example, one of my first milestones was "25 lbs lost". I calculated the weight for this and entered it into column K. In column O I typed in "25 lbs lost". I was thrilled to be able to type in "8/11/2013" when I hit this goal. As another example, by doing a few calculations I knew that my moving from "class III obesity" to "class II obesity" was going to happen at 267 lbs. So I entered this weight into column K, and in column O I typed "class II obesity". Again, I was thrilled to be able to type in "8/13/2013" to column Q when I achieved that goal. Other milestones for me were things like "50 lbs lost", "75 lbs lost", "<250 lbs", and "goal". One of my more customized goals says "Dow start weight" because I remember weighing in at 262 lbs. when I started work at Dow Chemical back in 2001. I got to check that one off on 8/24. :-) Hope this helps some!

HW: 292 SW: 277 CW: 252 My photos don't look much different and I haven't changed a size in clothes (I really have such a long way to go yet!) but seeing the scale make its slow, steady descent down is definitely keeping me satisfied at the moment. Two stalls behind me mean I know what those are like and can handle (expect) them now. Can't wait to have to buy something new to wear, though. Congrats to ALL the July sleevers! Awesome progress all around!

Okay...For those of you that wanted a copy of my spreadsheet, I've cleaned it up and put a handful of instructions (see the "Instructions" tab) to get you started. I'm going to try and attach the link to the file below, but if it doesn't work, I'll try something else. While I won't have time for a major re-design, I certainly have time to help you thorough any little difficulties you might have (I haven't really tested this cleaned up version). Just drop me a line here, so everyone can see the question, and I'll see what I can do to help. GOOD LUCK! https://dl.dropboxus...suresBlank.xlsx P.S. Don't forget to "enable editing" after the file downloads and before you try to make changes.

I keep a blog (it's a lot more of a diary than a blog, really) that has some details of my Mexico surgery. Like you, I had only two real choices...1) get my surgery in Mexico, or 2) forget it altogether. Although I'm still early on in the process (7 weeks tomorrow) I am doing well, making slow but steady progress, and have NO regrets. My blog is at: http://beawlj.wordpress.com/ and if you click on the menu item on the left called "Surgery" you'll see a few details about the surgery itself including all my costs. Good luck with your decision!

I expect that just as everyone is posting their start weights now they will post an updated weight every Thursday until Halloween as well. It's relatively simple for me to take these weights and enter them into the spreadsheet (which updates the online version automatically). As I enter new data, I simply "LIKE" each of the posts I've already entered, a technique which helps me make sure we don't miss anyone. The spreadsheet will do all the real work tracking progress, calculating % success (SW-CW/SW-GOAL), and tracking lbs lost. This should be a fun way for us to see what big changes we are making both individually and as a group!

Great progress. You look AWESOME (especially the SMILE)! I'm 7 weeks out and almost 40 lbs down but still can't see it in my photos. I took a picture this weekend in my bathing suit showing my terrible hips, thighs, and knees and really wanted to cry. The only thing that stopped me was the posts from people further into the journey than I am, posts like yours with the awesome photos...these are the encouragements that help me with my patience and realistic goal-setting. Thanks so much for sharing!

Tried a new recipe tonight and wasn't sure how it would turn out. When I did the calculations I figured there were some elements that were too high (sodium, for sure). But because the rest of the day was a relatively low content one, this finish didn't even come close to taking me over my other daily limits. So, I gave it a shot. Bite 1...hmm, this is definitely not pizza and I'm not sure I like it. Bite 3...wow, these flavors are really good together. Last bite...really? I'm already done? Yes, I liked it! 1 Mission multigrain tortilla 1 T Pace Picante Sauce 1/8 cup mixed peppers (frozen) 17 slices Hormel Turkey Pepperoni 1/4 cup Kraft low-moisture part-skim mozzarella Bake at 400 for 10 minutes, really just long enough to warm things up and melt the cheese. Calories: 310 Carbs: 26 Fat: 14 Protein: 20 Sodium: 1245 Sugar: 3

You are another one with AWESOME results in your profile photos, but my favorite thing about you is that you are still here...encouraging us, sharing your story and insights, and giving us welcome advice. Thanks so much!

Just had to say I checked out your progress pictures and your transformation is simply AWESOME! I hope I'll be posting photos and stats like that when I'm a year out. Congrats on your successes!

So sorry to hear that you're struggling, Taels. Here's hoping that your system settles out soon and can begin establishing a more "normal" pattern of eating. I like your surgeon's target of 40g of protein, by the way. That's so much easier to hit than 60g or more. Hang in there, and the best of luck on your progress!

I'm in as well. My SW is 253.0 and my Halloween goal is 241.0. Also, if you are interested, I'd be happy to track the progress from week to week and post it online so everyone can see. I'll add graphs at week 3 or week 4 as well. Here's the link for the online spreadsheet: http://sdrv.ms/19Qmc3j. (I'll change to the longer link if this short one doesn't work.)

LipstickLady...I'll make a copy with instructions and post it later for anyone that wants it. Should have thought of that before. :-)

I see a lot of discussion on this site about what, when, and how often to measure progress. I think I'm in the smaller camp in that I weigh every morning. But for me it's not really an ordeal or major event, but rather something I just do (and have for years) at the same time I brush my teeth. For people who get obsessed with what the scale says, I agree that daily measures are counter-productive. My two primary reasons for the daily measures are: 1) the mere fact of weighing myself reminds me to plan well for the day ahead (eating, exercise, Water, etc.), and 2) because I feel that seeing the daily fluctuations that I see are just little ripples in a great big scheme. Of course, my children say I weigh each day because I am an Excel geek and derive some pleasure from seeing the measures plot themselves out day-by-day. Hmmm...perhaps they are right.

Awesome post! LOL! Thanks so much for sharing!!

I've tried several of the EAS brand shakes because they are so very easy for me to find and I really like them all. In spite of the fact that the Carb Control shakes have *only* 17g of protein, I like the 100 calories and 2.5g carbs. I tried the original shakes in the beginning and although they have a whopping 42g of protein (17oz instead of 11oz shakes), I felt the 300 calories and 7g carbs were working against me. Carb Control are my version of choice at the moment even though I have to watch my additional protein intake carefully. Flavor-wise? I like them all!