Cecilia

Oh, that makes sense. Do you know what muscle they had to cut? I'm seeing my surgeon for follow-up today and would like to ask him if he did that for me...

How frustrating! Why did the doctor want you to get the sleeve? Regardless, hang in there. Present your case clearly, and hopefully your message will get through! How exciting to be doing this together! Best of luck to him! You know what? I think you're entitled to be exhausted, considering all you've been through. And at the rate that you're losing, your body probably needs all the rest it can get. Good for you for keeping up with the protein and water! You're a better woman than I am, LOL!

Just curious... did the two of you (monken and danifoxpt) both have open surgery? I'm wondering what muscle would have to be cut and stitched, and why it would cause so much pain for so long afterwards... I had some twinges in the first week or two, but it's all but disappeared. I'm sorry you are still struggling!

While I'm sorry to hear you're back in the hospital, I'm glad you're being taken care of! I hope this is all over soon, and you begin to experience the health benefits of weight loss!

We haven't heard from Kat and Padlrd in some time... are you ladies doing okay? Check in with us! I'm thinking about you!

Ugh! I tried those syntax shakes and they made me gag. I wish I knew you liked them, I would have sent you my jug instead of washing it down the drain. On the other hand, I have found that K2O (made by Kelloggs) makes a delicious drink with protein that I could drink all day! I recommend it to add to your water if you are getting sick of plain water and want some extra protein! I'm so glad it worked for you! I tried adding half a banana to my chocolate shake and it turned out so gross. I'm at the bottom of my first jug of protein powder... looking forward to trying the new one I bought. I had the opposite problem. I was consistently constipated before surgery. Now, I'm getting pretty regular. Hurrah for pooping! LOL! You should go!! If nothing else, so that you get out and socialize. I have a hard time with that, being basically an introvert... but it's as healthy for the soul as exercise is for the body! Do it!!!

I definitely mix my shakes with water, and I water them down a bit more than the instructions call for. Then sip, sip, sip...

How exciting!!!

I had a blast last night. I went ballroom dancing! I haven't been for 2 years due to feeling unattractive and because it's hard to dance in heels when you're 275 pounds. That's a lot of PSIs on the balls of your feet! Anyway, at 60 pounds lighter I strapped on my shoes and went. Here's what I discovered: I wasn't hydrated enough. One 3-minute dance left me parched. Also, I'm not in shape. Even a slow dance like a foxtrot or a waltz left me feeling whipped. I've been walking, but I need to up the cardio somehow so I can dance two or three in a row, and hydrate well before going. Anyway, a little victory along the way. What fun!

Me too! I mean, I see it in your face, too! Congratulations! This may be one of those times where you have to grin and bear it (or bare it, LOL!). Even though you may not feel sexy, he needs his sexy wife. All you need is a pair of heels and a skirt/low cut top or a dress. Even if it's not dramatically "sexy," it will still be such a change that he will probably eat it up! Think of it as a gift you're giving him...

Well, I guess it's a good thing I waited till Friday to weigh myself, since I only lost a little over a pound in the past 5 days /groan! Damn. I hate being a slow loser! C

Okay... that answers all my questions! Geez... Sounds like a FWB guy I used to know... The day I told him I thought I was starting to have "feelings" for him was the last time we had sex. BUMMER!!!! Oh well. Hey, BTW, you should update your ticker. I can't believe you've only lost one pound! I think the closer we are to our goal, the less exciting the weight loss will be. Good to be closer, yet bummer that it doesn't come off faster...

Congratulations on your awesome loss! Is there anyone else you could see? Maybe someone in endocrinology? A different nutritionist? Are you tracking your calorie intake to see more or less what you're getting? (I know, lots of questions, no actual answers --Sorry!)

Are we all (or most of us?) weighing on Fridays? I'm excited to see what I've lost!

Geez! Please let us know what they say! I will be thinking of you!!!

Forgive me for being so nosy, but I'm trying to understand... has anything changed recently other than you asking him for a long-term commitment? Did that cause him to back off, or is he happy to just go along being your best friend with benefits but without commitment? The reason I ask is because at this stage of my life that's pretty much exactly what I'm looking for. Maybe I have trust issues of my own, but I would be happy to just have a lover who is my best friend and who doesn't want to move in with me or force me to commit for a lifetime... I guess I'm wondering if he might come around if you just continue as you are, or if you feel like you need to have a commitment or to move on to someone who will? Am I being too nosy?

... Wait... when you say "slumber party" is that an euphemism for sex or just for a platonic sleep-over?

It may be happening. I toweled off this morning and a little wad of hair collected in the towel. I've been through hair loss before after each of my three kids, so I know what to expect. Nevertheless, I went online and found a couple informative articles I thought I'd share: From the American Hair Loss Association (seemed like a reliable source) And from Drugs.com. This one is shorter and easier to read for those who prefer the TL:DR version.

Wow! Sixty more pounds in the next month? I'm speechless!

When you say, "I want more, I want a relationship," how is that different from what you have now? Do you mean long-term commitment? Cohabitation? Exclusivity? What would be different, specifically?

I read "man drama" and wondered what's up with your love life, LOL! ...since my love life is nonexistent!

Hang in there! The cravings all but disappeared for me by the end of the second week. Suddenly I need to remind myself to eat, and feel like I could survive on Water alone... It does get easier! p.s. See you on Fabulous February Post-op!

Good Monday evening, all! We're digging out of a snowstorm here in Minnesota (well, not me, my kids are -- hooray for slave labor! JK ) To bring you all up to date, I lost a remarkable 15 pounds in my first week postop, then stalled for a whole week. It is very frustrating at this stage of the game to not see the scales move. But then, hurrah! I've been losing about a pound a day since. I've decided not to weigh myself daily, but to wait until Fridays, that way if there is some fluctuation due to water retention or whatever, I don't get discouraged. I'm noticing changes already. The skin on my upper arms (soon to be known as "batwings") is drooping more, and my belly is noticeably smaller (well, to me anyway). My skin is unbelievably dry (I moisturize daily and have cut back on showering to twice a week, washing my hair in the sink as needed), and I am beginning to see bone structure on my face and neck. It's exciting, and a little scary. I know it's just a matter of a month or so until I start seeing hair in the bathroom drain. How are the rest of you doing? Are people beginning to notice? What changes have *you* noticed?

You are a braver woman than I am!! Congratulations on the amount of energy you have!!! I was told that *any* liquid counts as liquid. So if I have 12 ounces of milk, I add that to my liquid intake. If I sip on a cup of broth, that counts too. I try to get 64 ounces daily, but it's a chore!

I went through a pretty rough spot the first week to 10 days postop, but it did pass. I think it's part the "baby blues" experience of waiting for something for so long, then it happens, then... your life changes forever and you can't take it back. For me, I swear it was just the fact that I was on a Clear liquids diet the week after I came home, then trying to figure out what I could eat and how to eat it, etc. To make matters worse, I lost a ton the first week, then completely stalled out the second week. But now that I'm eating more normally, visiting with friends, going out for the occasional decaf skinny latte (counts as 12 ouces of milk!) I'm feeling more like a regular person. Hang in there! Tis too shall pass!