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!

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 : )

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.

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.

Oh mother in laws. You have a beautiful face. It will look beautiful chin exercises or no!

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

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

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.

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

JUST BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Oops looks like I quadruple quoted

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.