terry1118

Immediately following surgery and in the first few weeks following it everything tastes 'not right' - for me that lasted about 5-6 weeks. Combined with the mild to severe nausea that many of us feel during that time it's hard to get the Protein we need. It'll get better eventually. One tip someone gave that was helpful to me was this: measure out a full scoop of unflavored protein powder and put it in a bowl. Over the course of your day, sprinkle a little onto/into EVERYTHING you eat or drink. It's such a small amount you can't really taste it and by the end of the day you've gotten an extra 20 plus grams of protein. Good luck! You'll feel better soon! :-)

Yet another thing I'm looking forward to. People who've never been heavy really have no idea what bliss something like this can be!

Yet another thing I'm looking forward to. People who've never been heavy really have no idea what bliss something like this can be!

Yet another thing I'm looking forward to. People who've never been heavy really have no idea what bliss something like this can be!

I've been looking for warm weather clothes on clearance everywhere I go. There is just no way I'll be able to use anything I wore last summer! Today I bought three pairs of sz8 jeans, a bathing suit sz10, a medium sundress, and four sleeveless tops in small - all for less than $60! I'm feeling pretty damn happy about the bargains I found. And everything fits! I was just getting used to sz10 jeans and medium tops. I never dreamed I'd wear a sz8 and a small!!!! The medium sundress was Chaps - that brand seems to run small. :-)
I can't wait for the warm weather this year! This girl is going to wear comfortable, pretty clothes, sweat a whole lot less, and take evening swims at the beach! And hubby is going to have to take me somewhere nice when I wear that beautiful dress! :-)

I finally broke out of the 130's - I weigh 129! I haven't seen the 120's since 1982! This is surreal. I can't believe I'm this small! When I try on clothes in the stores I hold up something and think 'No, that's too small' and grab the next size up. Which never fits! I need to wrap my head around being 'normal'. :-)

Lol! Don't know if that is really a NSV! More of a 'What Not to Wear' situation! :-D

Immediately following surgery and in the first few weeks following it everything tastes 'not right' - for me that lasted about 5-6 weeks. Combined with the mild to severe nausea that many of us feel during that time it's hard to get the Protein we need. It'll get better eventually. One tip someone gave that was helpful to me was this: measure out a full scoop of unflavored protein powder and put it in a bowl. Over the course of your day, sprinkle a little onto/into EVERYTHING you eat or drink. It's such a small amount you can't really taste it and by the end of the day you've gotten an extra 20 plus grams of protein. Good luck! You'll feel better soon! :-)

I've lost 115 pounds and now weigh 118. But I'm only 4'11" - 5' tall (depends on the person measuring, Lol). I'm at the very high end of what I should weigh for my height and my bmi is BARELY in the normal range. I have a pot belly that is more than just skin, and some love handles left. I still can't fit into the leather coat that I wore before my first pregnancy 28 years ago. People who have only ever known me as a fat person say I look anorexic - I don't - and they say I should stop losing. They say I look sick and bony. Again, I don't. I look okay for a 55 yrs old woman who used to be fat, but I don't look like I should for my small stature. I still feel fat, but only a little.
I can live with it. I'm healthier than I have been in YEARS, and I feel amazing. I have energy, I can wear pretty clothes, I may just enjoy a summer for the first time ever (at least I'll be warm), and I get to live life instead of watch it from the sidelines.
Try to focus on the positive changes in your life. You may be able to make the changes you want in your body, or you may not. Try to learn to be content w/your success (because you have been successful!!!) and learn to love yourself the way you are. Don't focus on visible 'flaws' but on enjoying yourself, doing things you couldn't do before and living life. Unhappiness will sabotage your well-being! :-)

Yet another thing I'm looking forward to. People who've never been heavy really have no idea what bliss something like this can be!

I've lost 115 pounds and now weigh 118. But I'm only 4'11" - 5' tall (depends on the person measuring, Lol). I'm at the very high end of what I should weigh for my height and my bmi is BARELY in the normal range. I have a pot belly that is more than just skin, and some love handles left. I still can't fit into the leather coat that I wore before my first pregnancy 28 years ago. People who have only ever known me as a fat person say I look anorexic - I don't - and they say I should stop losing. They say I look sick and bony. Again, I don't. I look okay for a 55 yrs old woman who used to be fat, but I don't look like I should for my small stature. I still feel fat, but only a little.
I can live with it. I'm healthier than I have been in YEARS, and I feel amazing. I have energy, I can wear pretty clothes, I may just enjoy a summer for the first time ever (at least I'll be warm), and I get to live life instead of watch it from the sidelines.
Try to focus on the positive changes in your life. You may be able to make the changes you want in your body, or you may not. Try to learn to be content w/your success (because you have been successful!!!) and learn to love yourself the way you are. Don't focus on visible 'flaws' but on enjoying yourself, doing things you couldn't do before and living life. Unhappiness will sabotage your well-being! :-)

True. After 32 years of marriage I know that, unless I rub his nose in it and draw a map, (three foot tall letters and lit up w/a spotlight!) he just won't get it. He doesn't say "I love you". Once I asked him why and he told me that he proves it every day of his life when he comes home to me so why does he need to say it - he proves it everyday. I've learned to appreciate that for what it is - It's what I mean to him! I figure he doesn't cheat, drink, or gamble so I'm a lucky woman! :-)
Men NEED to be told what we want.

I've lost 115 pounds and now weigh 118. But I'm only 4'11" - 5' tall (depends on the person measuring, Lol). I'm at the very high end of what I should weigh for my height and my bmi is BARELY in the normal range. I have a pot belly that is more than just skin, and some love handles left. I still can't fit into the leather coat that I wore before my first pregnancy 28 years ago. People who have only ever known me as a fat person say I look anorexic - I don't - and they say I should stop losing. They say I look sick and bony. Again, I don't. I look okay for a 55 yrs old woman who used to be fat, but I don't look like I should for my small stature. I still feel fat, but only a little.
I can live with it. I'm healthier than I have been in YEARS, and I feel amazing. I have energy, I can wear pretty clothes, I may just enjoy a summer for the first time ever (at least I'll be warm), and I get to live life instead of watch it from the sidelines.
Try to focus on the positive changes in your life. You may be able to make the changes you want in your body, or you may not. Try to learn to be content w/your success (because you have been successful!!!) and learn to love yourself the way you are. Don't focus on visible 'flaws' but on enjoying yourself, doing things you couldn't do before and living life. Unhappiness will sabotage your well-being! :-)

Yet another thing I'm looking forward to. People who've never been heavy really have no idea what bliss something like this can be!

You will find someone who loves you for you. When the right one comes along it won't matter where you are in your journey. When it's right, it's right. Be patient. And in the meantime you'll get to figure out who you REALLY are inside! Many of us are hiding behind our weight. We find new confidence, self assurance, and self discovery! When you love yourself others see you differently and will love you too. Each pound lost allows a little more of that special person to shine through... :-)

Someone needs to know. If you have any problems or need help someone needs to recognize what's happening and be there for you.
My team requires a minimum of two support people in each place you spend a lot of time. For me that was home and work. At home I told my husband and one daughter (who was still living at home at the time) and two coworkers (my manager, who had the lap band, and a coworker who I'm very friendly with). There are many reasons to have these support people. In the first days you may need some help physically. Recovery, physical restrictions, learning how and what to eat, emotional changes, fears, and those first bad experiences from food (dumping, vomiting, food getting stuck) can be scary and you will need encouragement, support, and even comforting now and again. At work someone needs to know why you might need to disappear into a bathroom for an extended period of time (my third week back at work I had my first food 'stuck' experience and spent 2 hours in the rest room trying to throw up and waiting for it to pass) or need to take a walk (for me walking sometimes helps it pass quickly). Someone needs to know in case you have a medical emergency (unlikely, but possible).
That being said, other people could eventually find out. My daughter slipped up and told my mother-in-law. That resulted in a lot of strange comments and questions (she is VERY misinformed on many subjects and has strange ideas and opinions). At work the one and only person who is a nasty gossip eavesdropped on a private conversation between my manager and friend and started telling EVERYONE who would listen about my surgery and how I wanted to be 'sexy' for my husband (when saying this she'd do a bump and grind kind of dance). I don't know how the you-know-what came up with that one - I did it for my health). She was telling people I didn't know - people in our other branches and the back offices, and even customers! I found out she was blabbing when she told a sub from another branch in front of me. I was furious! I never told HER and she had no business giving out personal information about me to anyone! I reported the invasion of privacy to my manager and to HR and she was reprimanded (by several people) but the damage was done. Now everyone close to me knows (and most of the people at work :-p) and it's a non-issue.
So support is very helpful (I would say a necessity), but you possibly could get along without it depending on you and your circumstances. But be prepared for people to find out somehow.

Only the uninformed think it's the 'easy way out'. What is easy about all the testing and education pre-op, the pain, recovery, and possible complications of surgery, learning all over again how and what to eat, getting sick on foods as you learn, trying daily to meet Protein and fluid goals, and remembering to take your Vitamins and supplements for the rest of your life or risk permanent damage to physical and mental health? Not to mention that eating right and exercise are important lifestyle changes that we will have to maintain to be successful long-term. How is this easy? Set her straight - the girl needs educating. :-)

Make sure you go out on FMLA. It protects your job if you develop complications and allows you collect TDI.

When I picked up my son the first thing he sad to me was "Wow! You lost a s***load of weight!". Spoken like a true marine! Lol

You will find someone who loves you for you. When the right one comes along it won't matter where you are in your journey. When it's right, it's right. Be patient. And in the meantime you'll get to figure out who you REALLY are inside! Many of us are hiding behind our weight. We find new confidence, self assurance, and self discovery! When you love yourself others see you differently and will love you too. Each pound lost allows a little more of that special person to shine through... :-)