cnocon

I'm happy to say I'll be joining this group!! I am just waiting on my doc to review my upper GI, gallbladder ultrasound, and stress echo and them I'll get a date 2-3 weeks from there so sometime in March!!

I'm psyched to be in this group of awesome people. Go marchers!

I wish I had this ap when I first had surgery. It would have been great to get his kind of support! I am 5 years out and SO so happy! When I went in for my gastric bypass I was a solid 300 lbs. In one year I lost 160 lbs. Today I am 5'4 and a very proud 115 lbs!! Ahhh! If you had asked me 5 years ago if I thought I'd ever get to this point I'd probably say "psh! I wish" Well here I am!! I've never been so happy. It's all the little things are so great. Like wearing belts and tucking your shirt into your pants. Being physically picked up. Riding in airplanes or roller coasters! Shopping! Sharing clothes with friends! Jumping up and down. Going to the gym and not feeling like everyone's looking at you!

My whole journey was a roller coaster of emotions and finding out that I really and truly am addicted to food. Like a drug. Am I over my food addictions? No. It's something I'll always have BUT I am in control now. I know when enough is enough.

I've had so many cool opportunities come my way because of losing weight. I actually got into some small modeling rolls. I've modeled wedding dresses and been in a Paul Mitchell hair show. I've played the main characters in plays and musicals. I found my husband...seriously the list goes on.

Anyway' date=' I just realized today how far I've come. I am so proud! Best decision I ever made!

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Woww! Did your husband know you when you were heavy? What did he think about the RNY and the Tummy Tuck? And how did you guys meet?

Haha sorry for all the questions, but your story is like... Cinderella lol. I love it!

I had a Tummy Tuck this past February. It was no cup of tea. For a month I pretty much had the movement of an 80 year old woman. However after 8 weeks I was perfect. I loved the results! I went down a few sizes in jeans and I'm not embarrassed about my stomach anymore! I'm looking into doing more cosmetic procedures soon.

If you don't mind me asking, was it just a tummy tuck or was it a lower body lift? And how much did it cost?

I'm pretty sure I'll want a lower body lift after : )

Hi guys... I too have over 100 lbs to loose. Pats on the back to al of us who have lost.... I am 5'7" and had my surgery 02/21/12. My starting weight was 340 and I am now at 247.... So 93 lbs gone. Discouraging sometimes because the weight I am now is the weight some people are starting at.... But I'm fighting the good fight as you all are. I'm thankful everyday that I am on this journey...this is a great thread to start!!!

Hey don't be discouraged! Some people are short! Look at how much weight you've lost and be PROUD - you should be!

I've got to ask my doc about that because I would be sooooo happy if I could keep chewing SF gum

Google is not the place to go for a question as serious as this. Call your physician. Every medical doctor I've seen and every book I've read on the subject says any carbonation is dangerous to the integrity of your pouch. As time passes, you will either be gradually stretching it out by breaking the rules on occasion, or maintaining its size by following the rules. If your surgeon says its ok, then ask him or her in what quantities and frequency. Don't leave it to a stranger on a forum like me or a random Google search result to give you the right answer. All I can tell you is what I've learned from books and doctors and my bariatric support group.

Can you drink diet soda? How far out are you. I like Coke/Sprite Zero. Regular soda doesnt even taste right to me now sometimes. If I do have the craving I can't kill' date=' I will drink 2-3 sips and I'm finished.[/quote']

No soda, or any carbonated beverages at all, ever. The gas stretches your pouch.

Same with using straws and chewing gum - you swallow air in both cases, which expands your pouch.

No gum will be the hardest for me, but it's worth it

Is that slow? Lol that is freaking awesome! Doesn't seem slow to me! What do you think is average?

No probs! Good luck!!

Assuming you're in the U.S., FMLA is the Family and Medical Leave Act that forces your employer, by law, to give you up to 12 weeks (if I'm remembering correctly) off of work (unpaid) but it protects your job, employers can't hold your time off against you in performance evals, and your insurance coverage must extend the length of your time off, even though you're not working. You can lose your job if you don't use it (because them your employer is within their rights). More info: http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/#.UMPXGtG9Kc0

LOL we all do

You really do look great Kaley Ann I'm sorry if I came off judgmental towards you as well. Congrats on all your success and hard work!

None of us are saying its okay. Which one of us has done that? We're telling her she can do it, she can make the right choices. I need to withdraw from this. Maybe we need to agree to disagree : )

She knows she's not doing the right things. She is asking for help, not someone telling her she doesn't deserve sympathy. We all struggle and slip up.

And I'm not saying your strategy is bad - again - I think that way myself - but I'm telling you it's not the right strategy for everybody and it came off angry and negative, despite the fact I know you were just trying to help in the best way you knew.

my mother in law told me today that I have such a pretty face but that I should do chin exercises before I lost to much or my face would hang lol what an arse

Oh mother in laws.

You have a beautiful face. It will look beautiful chin exercises or no!

Thank you! I have an array of emotions... Excited is one of them though! Looking forward to shopping at normal clothing stores!

I know what you mean' date=' I started in June as well! They said a month for paperwork and it took 3 days lol maybe it can be that quick for you![/quote']

That gives me hope!! Thank you!! Yeah, shopping is going to be a whole new experience, that's for sure

I love the Swiss choc one ...but I can seem to get all my Protein either I'm so ready for the next step only lost 20 lbs :-( my surgery on 11/20

20 lbs is outstanding!! That's a pound a day!

I love the Swiss choc one ...but I can seem to get all my Protein either I'm so ready for the next step only lost 20 lbs :-( my surgery on 11/20

20lbs in three weeks is awesome!! If there are 3,500 cal in a pound and your BMR is around 2,200

That's great Jane! When's your date? I go on January 9th' date=' and I downloaded the app![/quote']

Ah! Congrats on the date! I'll be submitting to my insurance in the beginning of Jan (after going through the 6 mo physician supervised weight loss required by insurance) and my surgeon is booking 2.5 months out. Add a month for processing of paperwork and I'll probably be getting surgery early April. It will have been a 10 month journey for me to get approved. I started everything June 2012. Haha sometimes it feels like it will never happen.

You must be so excited!!

Four weeks at least. Two weeks is a good estimate of when your body is healed enough to resume some normalcy, HOWEVER your body is going to be absolutely exhausted weeks after that. It will be basically starving because the amounts you can eat are extremely restricted. I for one can't even miss lunch without becoming a zombie. You won't be mentally able to handle very much at least until a month post op. everyone in my WLS support group echoed this.

Also don't forget to get FMLA paperwork done for your job so it's protected if you have to be off work.

I haven't had my surgery yet' date=' but it is encouraging to see that you can post here and be supported by great people! I wish you all the best, stay strong! And what is MFP? :-)[/quote']

I'm pre-op too, and yes, this forum is a Godsend!

MFP is an amazing tool for food and exercise tracking that you can use as an app on your phone or on a normal computer. I HIGHLY recommend it. Lots of us use it.

Wow... You are a champion. I hope you tell yourself that each day.

I got new photo

JUST BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Oops looks like I quadruple quoted

Sugar coating this wont do you any good.

- Kaylee Ann ~ Surgerversary 6/11/2012

Sugar coating this wont do you any good.

- Kaylee Ann ~ Surgerversary 6/11/2012

Sugar coating this wont do you any good.

- Kaylee Ann ~ Surgerversary 6/11/2012

Sugar coating this wont do you any good.

- Kaylee Ann ~ Surgerversary 6/11/2012

I understand the need for directness but its not at all okay to tell any one of us that we don't deserve something. While I'm sure you meant well, there are ways to be both truthful and supportive.

That kind of "Tough sh*t" thinking is definitely helpful to some people (myself included) but it can actually be harmful and counterproductive for a lot of people, like a few members of my WLS support group.

Swilkins, you can do this, and there are many strategies that will help you find success. I'm cheering for you to find the one that works best for you. It will be hard. But believe in yourself and love yourself.