Missj9

This thread has been a life saver for me. I am in a stall, was nauseated for weeks and so on and it means a lot to know I am not alone. Thanks all of you!

I have done really well and it saddens me that there are some who haven't. I am 5 weeks out and eating regular foods. I still include Protein in my coffee ( making it a latte) and I work hard to get the Water in. I have never vomited but get nauseated after taking my Vitamin.
I have lost 23 lbs, 22% body fat and gained a totally different attitude! My boss tells me I'm 'glowing' and I have to agree-I have been blessed!
When I saw my surgeon for my post-op visit he told me I needed to start working on a total body workout. I haven't decided in a gym but plan on using a free trial period to start it off.

Had surgery March 19th,2013. Was 277. Now 154

Just wondering what kind of cardio would be most effective in helping me to shed this belly? My arms and legs lose weight fast but i find it difficult to shed belly fat and back fat. I look like an orange on sticks!

OK so everything just got kicked into panic mode. Dr. Cummins moved my surgery date up to October 30th. That is NEXT WEDNESDAY!!!!! Totally freaking out trying to get everything worked out and things at work in order before I can leave. deep breaths. . .

Before surgery size 22 and growing. Surgery in the 28th of September and dropped a whole pant size and then some. I put the 20's on today from my closet. The were slipping off me!!! The scale isn't moving much, but my body is shrinking!!! I'm doing the happy dance! ????????????????????????????

I'm Janine and am 51 years old. I'm married (30 yrs) with two kids and five grand kids! I live in the Deep South and sadly they really know how to cook! ( I am originally from AZ.)
I grew up thin and never experienced struggles with weight until the birth of my first child.
My life:
My father was a cruel person who favored beatings and putting you down. There were six kids (two have died, one is a drug addict, the remaining three are/were morbidly obese). I grew up being told women are stupid and I had no reason to doubt him. My mom gained the strength to leave when I was 13 thank goodness!
A turning point in my life was the death of my 22 yr old sister from a car accident and my 17 year old brother who died from Lymphoma when I was five months pregnant with my second child. I stopped gaining weight and the DRs put me on a high calorie diet eating 6 times a day and somewhere in all of that I found that eating was a great comfort to me.
When I met my husband he always told me that I was smart and after the kids were horn I decided to try college- I loved it! I have earned an AA degree in accounting, BS degree in business administration, and a graduate degree in Taxation. I discovered I had a brain and it works pretty darn good! I am currently an audit supervisor for the unemployment office and DOL.
My surviving brother and sister have both had the bypass and both have serious issues because of it. My brother still eats too much and he has hemorrhaged twice due to the stretching. His last episode landed him back for reconstruction surgery which basically left him without much of a pouch. My sister has maintained her weight but has to have blood transfusions at least once a year. I choose the Sleeve for those reasons.
I look forward to a day when I find my old self and continue to live!

Hello, I'm Melissa, a 41-year-old former special education teacher, currently on disability due to major depression. Unfortunately, throughout my adult life I've turned to food as a method of dealing with anxiety, loneliness, and boredom. I now have life-threatening medical conditions due to my weight, and my doctor essentially told me that I need to get my BMI below 35 at the very least or I'll die within 10 years. At her suggestion, I started looking into bariatric surgery.
I've only just started on this journey, and am busy gathering information. I've enjoyed what I've read on this site so far--it's been very informative and helpful. I look forward to participating and meeting you all!

Wow! Sorry you've been put through this. Most drs like to see their patients in 1-2 weeks after any surgery. During the seminar, they claimed we would get all this support from this awesome team they have,but yet you can't get a simple follow up. The last conversation I had with Paige, I felt like i was just another number to them. Since then I've seen my pcp, explained to him why I haven't had the surgery, and scheduled a new consult with a different facility. I called transformations today to ask about transferring my records. She ask why the change and if I was moving. I told her "I'm changing drs because I simply not happy with your business." My husband and I both have our consults on nov 13th.

Hello gang, I'm Deb. I am 46 years old. Wife, mother,sister,aunt, daughter and an RN. Currently a stay at home mom and online student completing my BSN. I am scheduled for VSG on October 29th. A dear friend on Facebook is also preparing for this procedure,and suggested I join this forum. :-)

Surgery September 25th and down 32 lbs from start of pre-op till now.

My blog is called Scrapbook of Truth. You can find all of my gastric sleeve stuff here: http://www.scrapbookoftruth.com/category/gastric-sleeve/
I don't allow comments on the blog, but your support is appreciated. The girl in question posted on a group message with another friend who we were supposed to hang out with the next day that I was pissed with her and we were going to "see how it played out". I left the message and haven't said a word to her since. Sadly, I've seen her turn on other people like this. I just thought that it wouldn't happen to me.
When my friends saw her status they unfriended her immediately. I called one of my best girlfriends the night it happened and she was very supportive. I am so much better off without someone who doesn't understand me and just assumes the worst instead of asking.
I feel really positive about this outcome. I'm surrounded by positive people who care about me and I don't need to be around those who don't.
Also, I was just weighed and I am down 96 lbs! 4 more and my goal is to get a hot air balloon ride! I better hurry up before the weather gets too cold.

What a great testimony for someone on the fence. Congratulations!!!

Congrats to all the newbies! MissJ9. Be patient, and do not weigh everyday. Hide the one eyed monster,(the scale) your body has to adjust, it will lose, gain, stall, and gain again, but the long photo out in a year is what you should be focused on. Do not get discouraged, if you follow the rules, you will do great.
Scoots, lol, how I begged to have those, then I discovered MOM, Milk of Mag. WONDERFUL product, If I go 3 days without going, I either take that or Lemon Flavored Cod liver oil. it will knock whats in you out!

Scoots??? Hilarious!!! I'm almost 44 and never heard it called that.

I had those pains and am finally free of them (17 days out). As well- I discovered the Protein I was consuming was giving me the 'scoots'. I changed to Unjury and have had no issue since.

I am post op 2 weeks. Im eating regular foods but have to eat slow bc it catches up to u. I eat about 6 small meals a day. I often have a small pain n my stomach when I know im full and that its time to stop.

I liked them before the surgery and cannot force myself to drink them now. They have turned on me and I get instant diarrhea that will last for a good two hours. All my Fluid intake heads right out the back door! Leaving me in a negative. I'm not even sure the Protein stayed in my system of if it hightailed too.

I did not want anyone to know I was having the surgery. I didn't want to be referred to as 'the girl who had WLS'. I hate gossip. I realized, during my pre-surgical program, that I needed a strong support group. I created a private page on FB and invited only the people I felt I could trust with my heart. It worked out great and while on the journey five months later I broke the news to the inlaws and explained why I never told them in the first place.
I tell you this because the old me would have stayed in my closet worried but now, 10days out, I realize I'm going to be okay and it's nice to have people to share the ups and downs with.

I did not want anyone to know I was having the surgery. I didn't want to be referred to as 'the girl who had WLS'. I hate gossip. I realized, during my pre-surgical program, that I needed a strong support group. I created a private page on FB and invited only the people I felt I could trust with my heart. It worked out great and while on the journey five months later I broke the news to the inlaws and explained why I never told them in the first place.
I tell you this because the old me would have stayed in my closet worried but now, 10days out, I realize I'm going to be okay and it's nice to have people to share the ups and downs with.

My surgeon shares the following poem with all of his WLS patients. I was shocked so much of this was true for me and I think this helped me come to terms with some of my issues. There were also a lot of tears shed as I tried to read it to my husband.
LISTEN TO THE LIFE OF THE MORBIDLY OBESE Author Unknown
LISTEN to the embarrassment we encounter in our everyday life. The name-calling, stares, rude comments and looks of disgust we endure battling the last acceptable form of discrimination. People we meet that give us a far wider berth than we need when passing us on the street, in the hall ... in life. Afraid that somehow our disease of obesity might be contagious.
LISTEN to our apprehension as we expertly eye the chair. Will we break it, or will we fit. Will we ever fit into life, as "normal" people know it?
LISTEN to our agony as we just walk and perform the simple activities of daily living on joints screaming in pain from an incredible burden they were never meant to carry. LISTEN to the pain of our humiliation when ridiculed by a doctor for "allowing" ourselves to get so fat. Realizing even the doctor's office is not a "safe" place, we tend to neglect our health even more. Hey doctor, didn't you take an oath to help?
LISTEN to our hopelessness after being turned down over and over for a job or promotion because we don't "match the corporate image" of the person they envision for this position.
LISTEN to our guilt. Because of our size, we feel we've cheated those we love out of the parent, spouse, child or friend we feel we should've been. Our embarrassment has now become theirs as well.
LISTEN to our anticipation as we eagerly embark on yet another diet. THIS will be the one. This time I WILL SUCEED!
LISTEN to our frustration as once again we fail at another attempt to lose weight, reinforcing once again our feelings of worthlessness, failure and defeat.
LISTEN to our fear for what life holds if we don't have surgery. We try to ignore it, to stuff it down, but when we are brutally honest with ourselves, we realize an early death is an almost certainty.
LISTEN to our indecision as we do extensive research, trying to outweigh the risk of complications (up to and including death) versus the chance of a new life. A chance to improve our health, move without pain, play with our children, the opportunity to just "fit in" to society.
LISTEN to our indecision as we second-guess our decision to have surgery. As we ask ourselves, "Should I try just one more diet?" ... And tell ourselves, "If I only had more willpower." Knowing that willpower isn't the whole answer.
LISTEN to us as we eagerly meet with the surgeon, with our five-page, single-spaced, list of questions in hand. Let down by the medical profession in the past, can I really trust this person who looks at me with compassion, as he assures me I'm a "good candidate" and he can help? Please God, I want to believe him, tell me I'm not setting myself up for failure once again.
LISTEN to our feelings of helplessness as we place our future in the hands of an insurance company. Fully aware that with a simple denial letter, all the work we have done to this point, may be pointless. This surgery is not without cost, physical, emotional and monetary.
LISTEN to our joy as we open the long awaited "approval letter" or obtain financing to make this dream a reality.
LISTEN to us as we grasp for a chance at improved health, of moving with ease and just living life as a "normal" person.
LISTEN to our renewed hope of living long enough to see our children grow up, get married, play with grandchildren and grow old alongside our mate.
LISTEN to our fear as we roll into the surgical suite. The sights, the smells, the needles, the faceless people behind the masks. Do you care? Do you understand, or will you too make cracks about my weight once I'm asleep? My life is now in your hands, please take care of me. I have a brand new life ahead of me, and so much to live for. LISTEN to the Sigh of relief as we wake up in pain ... but alive! Stand up, walk a few steps, cough and deep breathe. Sure nurse, whatever you say, I can handle it ... because I'm alive!
LISTEN to our delight as the weight starts to drop off, realizing this is for real. We are actually on the losing side.
LISTEN to our misery as the body we once knew so well, now betrays us with nausea and vomiting when we attempt to eat.
LISTEN to our frustration as we attempt to do something as simple as drinking a glass of Water.
LISTEN to our panic at the first plateau or weight gain. As that little voice inside tells us, "Once again I'm a failure."
LISTEN to us relax and let out our breath as we watch the numbers on the scale edge down once again. Plateau over. Renewed hope. Maybe I will make it after all.
LISTEN to our efforts to move as we slowly and painfully attempt to exercise in a body that is still morbidly obese.
LISTEN to our confusion as our emotions wreck havoc with us. Why am I crying? Why do I feel depressed? Why am I mean and snapping at the ones I love? I don't like this person that has taken over my emotions.
LISTEN to our sense of accomplishment the first time we walk a mile. It rivals the high of any runner completing their first marathon.
LISTEN to our depression when we realize we can no longer soothe our emotions with food. We now have to learn to feel and deal with these emotions.
LISTEN to our tears as we mourn the loss of that brief but satisfying sensation of gratification we once obtained from the "comfort foods" we can no longer have.
LISTEN to our obsession surrounding the scale, Vitamins, Protein drinks and carb counts, determined not to fail "this time".
LISTEN to our sense of accomplishment as we pass up that calorie laden, high carbohydrate treat, telling ourselves, "My new life is sweeter than any dessert."
LISTEN to our elation as we reach that "century mark" that once seemed so distant, but now is a reality.
LISTEN to our resolve to reach our goals. Moving the weight on the scale down another notch, reaching a new "century" of numbers, wearing the dream outfit and attaining our "goal" weight.
LISTEN to the gratefulness in our hearts as we thank our surgeon for not only their technical skills, but equally important, their understanding and compassion for the morbidly obese. Thank you doctor for the opportunity to rejoin society and live a fulfilling life.
LISTEN to our amazement as we come to the realization that "reaching goal" wasn't the most important thing in life. It was the lessons we learned, the friends we made and the sense of accomplishment we gained along the way.
LISTEN, don't talk, don't give advice, don't judge, just listen. And then, maybe then, you will start to understand the life of a morbidly obese person.