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desertmom

Gastric Sleeve Patients
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  1. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from Daydra in What Was Your Final "straw That Broke The Camels Back"   
    I had the band in 2004 after I warned myself that if I couldnt lose the weight in one year,I was going to have an operation..lol.Big fear of mine!Well,after the failure I felt with the band I said I that I would die with that band inside me,no more surgeries for me.
    In December 2011 we went on a skiing holiday to Austria.I drank more punch and gluwein than even I could believe as I was sitting in the cold watching my family ski every day.
    Then I found a letter a friend wrote me years ago when I still weighed under 200 pounds where she said that with me everything has always been about my weight.
    I got so sick of being so obsessed and so self centered.It was always about my weight.I have been an onlooker to my own life for so long that I just got sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.My life was lived in fear of everything and in Turkey last year when I threw a whopper about something that scared me my little kid shouted at me:Mom,you always say that we have to be brave but you are such a coward!
    All this made me decide to stop being a coward and face life.That meant removing the band and getting the sleeve.
    Best decision ever!
  2. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from Daydra in What Was Your Final "straw That Broke The Camels Back"   
    I had the band in 2004 after I warned myself that if I couldnt lose the weight in one year,I was going to have an operation..lol.Big fear of mine!Well,after the failure I felt with the band I said I that I would die with that band inside me,no more surgeries for me.
    In December 2011 we went on a skiing holiday to Austria.I drank more punch and gluwein than even I could believe as I was sitting in the cold watching my family ski every day.
    Then I found a letter a friend wrote me years ago when I still weighed under 200 pounds where she said that with me everything has always been about my weight.
    I got so sick of being so obsessed and so self centered.It was always about my weight.I have been an onlooker to my own life for so long that I just got sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.My life was lived in fear of everything and in Turkey last year when I threw a whopper about something that scared me my little kid shouted at me:Mom,you always say that we have to be brave but you are such a coward!
    All this made me decide to stop being a coward and face life.That meant removing the band and getting the sleeve.
    Best decision ever!
  3. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from Denni in Hot Flashes?   
    This was really the most depressing thing that happened after the sleeve.I even posted about it on here but didnt get any feedback,like I was the only one ever to experience this.I really hated dealing with this at the time as I wasnt planning on ever doing hot flashes,ever...lol
    I am also a RN and did some research and found the thing about the B3,Niacin.
    But like I've said,maybe it just went away by itself after some time.
    So,check those multi's for niacin and use a little portable fan the moment you start feeling it coming on.O,and I did cut out all hot food and beverages at the time because this did trigger it for sure.
    Let us know when it goes away.Info like this is valuable to future "flashers" ...lol
  4. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from Scorpion11 in Vision Problems   
    Hi
    I posted about this in some forum about 5 months ago and people were kind of making out as if this was age related and had nothing to do with the surgery.
    My eye sight have deteriorated a lot.I also noticed it the first time about 3 weeks post op.After posting about it I thougt it was my imagination.However,I cannot read any labels on anything anymore.I find this super frustrating as I dont want to wear glases.
    That is also why I am on my ipad most of the time...can make it much bigger if I need to...lol
    xxo
  5. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from claw0416 in Night Eating Syndrome?   
    Hi
    I was a night eater for years and years.I didnt read the article but here's what I did.Have been sleepless since I was 10.I wouldnt feel hungry or even think about food until dinner time.Then I would have a normal dinner.When my family went to bed I would start eating,snacking late into the night or morning rather.I would Hate myself but felt unable to stop.i would vow to stop doing it the next day,and I was utterly depressed for years about this.Ice cream,potato crisps,chocolates,heck anything unhealthy would do in great quantities.
    I've been sleeved for 8 months now and have lost 110 pounds.I srill have a strong compulsion to eat at night.But I am an intellegent woman and didnt go through this surgery to fail.Now I have a plan.
    Sugarfree popcicles are an absolute life saver for me.I have 3 different brands and I eat up to 4 every evening.I do not allow myself anything else after dinner.I also have a huge cup or 2 of tea that takes some time to drink.
    Other than that I realize and admit to myself that I am not hungry.I am being very honest with myself and do not accept any excuse from myself.I do not have the self pity allowing myself to fail attitude anymore.
    Now,I also make the effort to be much more tired at night.I have to be.Some times when I have a bad night I will go and run in the evening.The exercise during the day also helps to exhaust me more.The rule is I have to be i. Bed and stay in bed after 12.No getting out of bed other than going to the bathroom.
    You see,I have come to realize we can take responsibility for ourselves.No one can help me,but me.I am the only one that can choose to be different.AND I HAVE CHOSEN.
    I keep asking myself this over and over.HOW BADLY TO I WANT TO BE SKINNY AND OVERCOME THIS CRAZY BEHAVIOUR THAT HAS RUINED MY LIFE?
    The surgery didnt help and the first 2 months I went slightly mad when I was so obsessed to eat at night and just couldnt.THEN I MADE THE CHOICE TO BE DIFFERENT!
    Good luck on your journey.
  6. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from hgk2002 in Slowed Weight Loss   
    Hi,we were sleeved 3 days apart.
    2 months ago my weight loss stopped.I was eating good and exercising.But the weight wasnt coming off.I sulked and complained about it for a good 7 weeks weeks.
    When my rebellion about this surgery that wasnt working (lol) subsided I gave myself a good talking to and realized
    1.I wasnt really tracking carefully.(the little bits and bops that went with the food,or the quick bite before dinner,or the extra milk in my tea,they all added a good few calories every day that I wasnt counting)
    2.I had to drop my carbs and up my Protein.
    3.i had to eat different foods.Was repeating the same foods all the time.
    4.The choice was to do these things and work hard or stay at that weight,but I had a choice.
    5.That I really was the only one to help me and being so mad about it want going to change it.I had to take responsibility.
    Since then I have lost about 15 pounds fast.It may be my plan,I want to believe or It might have been a mighty stall, which would mean your weight loss will start up again.
    In the mean time,maybe you should just work out your own plan.It does make us feel much better to be proactive about things.That way the weight will start coming off sooner rather than later again.
    Good luck and if sulky me can do this,so can you.You are getting closer and closer to that elusive onederland and it does feel great.Hope you join us there soon!
  7. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from Ms skinniness in Alcohol Abuse   
    Clearly in the 2 months since surgery you could not have had that much to drink.A few drinks didnt kill you post op but why start this again now just because you can?This was the ideal time for you to get rid of the addiction.
    Not judging you,I started smoking again after surgery.Its just it feels to me its soo much harder to kick it after surgery.It really is.The crutch is bigger (replaced food for me) and you cannot eat when you try to quit again and like the smoking,the booze will have to be quit if it gets to be a problem again,which it will if it was before.
    Dont go there.I am feeling very strongly about this as I've quit smoking last week and Im suffering like never before.Dont do it to yourself.
    We need to get healthy and do exercise and we cant do it smoking and drinkng to much...lol.
    Go for a run!
  8. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from Daydra in What Was Your Final "straw That Broke The Camels Back"   
    I had the band in 2004 after I warned myself that if I couldnt lose the weight in one year,I was going to have an operation..lol.Big fear of mine!Well,after the failure I felt with the band I said I that I would die with that band inside me,no more surgeries for me.
    In December 2011 we went on a skiing holiday to Austria.I drank more punch and gluwein than even I could believe as I was sitting in the cold watching my family ski every day.
    Then I found a letter a friend wrote me years ago when I still weighed under 200 pounds where she said that with me everything has always been about my weight.
    I got so sick of being so obsessed and so self centered.It was always about my weight.I have been an onlooker to my own life for so long that I just got sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.My life was lived in fear of everything and in Turkey last year when I threw a whopper about something that scared me my little kid shouted at me:Mom,you always say that we have to be brave but you are such a coward!
    All this made me decide to stop being a coward and face life.That meant removing the band and getting the sleeve.
    Best decision ever!
  9. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from hgk2002 in Slowed Weight Loss   
    Hi,we were sleeved 3 days apart.
    2 months ago my weight loss stopped.I was eating good and exercising.But the weight wasnt coming off.I sulked and complained about it for a good 7 weeks weeks.
    When my rebellion about this surgery that wasnt working (lol) subsided I gave myself a good talking to and realized
    1.I wasnt really tracking carefully.(the little bits and bops that went with the food,or the quick bite before dinner,or the extra milk in my tea,they all added a good few calories every day that I wasnt counting)
    2.I had to drop my carbs and up my Protein.
    3.i had to eat different foods.Was repeating the same foods all the time.
    4.The choice was to do these things and work hard or stay at that weight,but I had a choice.
    5.That I really was the only one to help me and being so mad about it want going to change it.I had to take responsibility.
    Since then I have lost about 15 pounds fast.It may be my plan,I want to believe or It might have been a mighty stall, which would mean your weight loss will start up again.
    In the mean time,maybe you should just work out your own plan.It does make us feel much better to be proactive about things.That way the weight will start coming off sooner rather than later again.
    Good luck and if sulky me can do this,so can you.You are getting closer and closer to that elusive onederland and it does feel great.Hope you join us there soon!
  10. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from Ms skinniness in Alcohol Abuse   
    Clearly in the 2 months since surgery you could not have had that much to drink.A few drinks didnt kill you post op but why start this again now just because you can?This was the ideal time for you to get rid of the addiction.
    Not judging you,I started smoking again after surgery.Its just it feels to me its soo much harder to kick it after surgery.It really is.The crutch is bigger (replaced food for me) and you cannot eat when you try to quit again and like the smoking,the booze will have to be quit if it gets to be a problem again,which it will if it was before.
    Dont go there.I am feeling very strongly about this as I've quit smoking last week and Im suffering like never before.Dont do it to yourself.
    We need to get healthy and do exercise and we cant do it smoking and drinkng to much...lol.
    Go for a run!
  11. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from Cait12 in Fell Off The Wagon!   
    O,and I get off track all the time.We go away for weekends and stay in hotels or with friends all the time.I cannot ever not eat carbs when we are away.Still dont eat any sugar though.Would rather eat pizza than sugar as sugar is like a black hole,it triggers eating,mindless never ending eating.
    But then I reset quickly when I am back.
    Remember,you are learning what is working for you.Keep searching for your normal.Foods you can enjoy that is good for you.Try again!
    oo
  12. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from hgk2002 in Slowed Weight Loss   
    Hi,we were sleeved 3 days apart.
    2 months ago my weight loss stopped.I was eating good and exercising.But the weight wasnt coming off.I sulked and complained about it for a good 7 weeks weeks.
    When my rebellion about this surgery that wasnt working (lol) subsided I gave myself a good talking to and realized
    1.I wasnt really tracking carefully.(the little bits and bops that went with the food,or the quick bite before dinner,or the extra milk in my tea,they all added a good few calories every day that I wasnt counting)
    2.I had to drop my carbs and up my Protein.
    3.i had to eat different foods.Was repeating the same foods all the time.
    4.The choice was to do these things and work hard or stay at that weight,but I had a choice.
    5.That I really was the only one to help me and being so mad about it want going to change it.I had to take responsibility.
    Since then I have lost about 15 pounds fast.It may be my plan,I want to believe or It might have been a mighty stall, which would mean your weight loss will start up again.
    In the mean time,maybe you should just work out your own plan.It does make us feel much better to be proactive about things.That way the weight will start coming off sooner rather than later again.
    Good luck and if sulky me can do this,so can you.You are getting closer and closer to that elusive onederland and it does feel great.Hope you join us there soon!
  13. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from newat52 in How are you doing on the "emotional" side of being skinny?   
    Hi
    6 weeks after I had my sleeve I found out some stuff about my past that could and previously would have made me crawl back into my own world with my best friend food as my only constant companion.My whole perception of my life as I thought I knew it was changed in one conversation.Moving to a far away place where no one knew me and pretending I was an orphan with no family seemed like a good option to me...lol.
    I couldnt turn to food for comfort for the first time ever.It has been a heck of a learning curve and a looong road to take the positives in each day,let the past be the past as I couldnt change a thing about it,and deal with my feelings.Forgiveness has new meaning to me now and my life has never been better.
    Accepting that I might always need a "smaller" life than others seems ok to me now.God graciously granted me a life in which I can function well.I might never be able to do "big" things but I am happier being the mom,the taxi,the comfort to my family.I am content with where I am at today.I have learnt that I dont need to make excuses for my life.I need to live with an abundance of joy every day.
    I struggle with how different people treat me though.The same people that ignored me for years now want to make friends with me and I am just not there yet.I am friendly but still cannot understand this.I struggle with the attention and I am shyer than I was before.A lot quieter too.
    Life is about change and I do plan to overcome more of my stuff.But I suppose it is a process.
    For now,all is well with my soul!
  14. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from hgk2002 in Slowed Weight Loss   
    Hi,we were sleeved 3 days apart.
    2 months ago my weight loss stopped.I was eating good and exercising.But the weight wasnt coming off.I sulked and complained about it for a good 7 weeks weeks.
    When my rebellion about this surgery that wasnt working (lol) subsided I gave myself a good talking to and realized
    1.I wasnt really tracking carefully.(the little bits and bops that went with the food,or the quick bite before dinner,or the extra milk in my tea,they all added a good few calories every day that I wasnt counting)
    2.I had to drop my carbs and up my Protein.
    3.i had to eat different foods.Was repeating the same foods all the time.
    4.The choice was to do these things and work hard or stay at that weight,but I had a choice.
    5.That I really was the only one to help me and being so mad about it want going to change it.I had to take responsibility.
    Since then I have lost about 15 pounds fast.It may be my plan,I want to believe or It might have been a mighty stall, which would mean your weight loss will start up again.
    In the mean time,maybe you should just work out your own plan.It does make us feel much better to be proactive about things.That way the weight will start coming off sooner rather than later again.
    Good luck and if sulky me can do this,so can you.You are getting closer and closer to that elusive onederland and it does feel great.Hope you join us there soon!
  15. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from Brenda0928 in 52 and wondering what to expect   
    Clothes can hide a multitude of sins...lol.
    Hi,the skin is an issue vut you are going to enjoy so many other things that even though I think it bugs all of us,it is ok.And then there is plastic surgery should you want to do it of course.
    Dont worry about that yet.Some of us have lots of hanging skin and some have remarkably little.I am one of the unfortunates (lost and gained way too often and genetics is not on my side) but I love being thin.
  16. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from BewhoGodcreatedmetobe in Getting off track   
    Hi again,
    You know,thinking back,and reading that it was your first time for the bread and the rice,I remembered that we all try these things at some point.And a lot of us feel that same old self condemnation from before.But I also remember that this is how I learnt how to not do these things.
    I would worry that I am eating way too much.Or when I had even a little bit of anything off plan that I was sliding badk into my old habits.I did push the limits and then would realize but wait,it is possible,and not so it again.
    All this is part of learning what to do and what not to repeat.And I bet you a lot of people that says I have never...well,they might just not remember it that well.
    So as long as you dont push your sleeve with too much and you remember Protein first,enjoy your food.Cook tasty food.Eat complex carbs in small quantity if you need carbs.
    This is hard and I still freak out every time I have something that I havent had before and it goes down way too easy.I had a crazy moment earlier this week after eating mash and a few bites of cheesecake for the first time.One meal but it felt like I was right back where I started.
    Month 8 I lost 14 pounds after I upped my cals and fats quite a lot (went full fat after reading studies on low fat).These changes messes with my my though but boy my body loves it.Everyone is commenting on how nice my skin looks these days.
    You just keep working on this,one day at a time.
  17. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from taurabird in Alcohol   
    Donewithdieting,I hope,really really hope you can find a way to stop drinking,quickly.
    I started smoking at 4 months out and this December on holiday,decided to "cut myself some slack" and have one drink every day with everyone else.Just one!
    I have also been trying ro cut out the 5 cups of tea I was drinking every day!
    Since being home I am struggling as I feel like a drink every day.The first week I had one every third night.Second week every second night and this week I had a drink 5 nights out of the week.
    I have stopped losing weight even though I am eating little and I get up in the morning and all of a sudden Im thinking of a drink tonight.
    I HAVE NEVER,EVER BEEN A DRINKER!Alcohol just didnt do anything for me and tasted bad! I realized this morning that this is the way to get into trouble with alcohol! It happens so fast and who would think that one drink can get into a persons head like this? But this is definitely how transfer addiction starts.
    Thanks OP for asking this question as I needed to see this thread and take responsibility for the fact that I miss food at night and I am trying to replace "something nice" that I've missed so much and cant figure out what it is, with alcohol.
    Of course no one around me knows about this as I am a very conservative person and I am very ashamed of the smoking (quit and start all the time now)
    So Donewithdieting,seek council this week.Dont wait.Being an alcoholic is an all consuming thing.It steals lives worse than fat does.Maybe just go to an AA meeting.It seems to really work.Work on a plan for yourself to change this!Change your routine,tell someone about this!
    As for myself I am going to tell my friend (accountability partner) and I will start going for a walk (run) in the evening and go to bed earlier.and maybe I will find myself a shrink to help me figure out why I always need a "thing". Dieting and food and being fat was my thing for years.It seems Im just trying to replace it now.
  18. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from Ms skinniness in Super Saturday Weigh In   
    Missed saturday again...lol.I have been 160 for a week now.Hard work (we moved house) made me drop 2.Now maybe more hard work will make me drop 2 more.
    xxo
  19. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from Ms skinniness in Super Saturday Weigh In   
    Missed saturday again...lol.I have been 160 for a week now.Hard work (we moved house) made me drop 2.Now maybe more hard work will make me drop 2 more.
    xxo
  20. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from O.T.R. sleever in Super Saturday Weigh In   
    Ok,took a bit longer to get back here but IM BACK! Weighed 162 down from 167 the beginning of the month.Very happy about this.Im not actively trying to lose anymore but another 4 pounds and I have a solid 7 pounds that will be my "margin for error" ....lol.
  21. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from newat52 in How are you doing on the "emotional" side of being skinny?   
    Hi
    6 weeks after I had my sleeve I found out some stuff about my past that could and previously would have made me crawl back into my own world with my best friend food as my only constant companion.My whole perception of my life as I thought I knew it was changed in one conversation.Moving to a far away place where no one knew me and pretending I was an orphan with no family seemed like a good option to me...lol.
    I couldnt turn to food for comfort for the first time ever.It has been a heck of a learning curve and a looong road to take the positives in each day,let the past be the past as I couldnt change a thing about it,and deal with my feelings.Forgiveness has new meaning to me now and my life has never been better.
    Accepting that I might always need a "smaller" life than others seems ok to me now.God graciously granted me a life in which I can function well.I might never be able to do "big" things but I am happier being the mom,the taxi,the comfort to my family.I am content with where I am at today.I have learnt that I dont need to make excuses for my life.I need to live with an abundance of joy every day.
    I struggle with how different people treat me though.The same people that ignored me for years now want to make friends with me and I am just not there yet.I am friendly but still cannot understand this.I struggle with the attention and I am shyer than I was before.A lot quieter too.
    Life is about change and I do plan to overcome more of my stuff.But I suppose it is a process.
    For now,all is well with my soul!
  22. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from Paul11011 in And the fanfare fades...............   
    Paul,
    Last night my sister brought a bright red wig to my moms house and said that I would never have the guts to wear it in public.I promptly wore it to visit my mom in hospital.People had his very funny reaction,looking,looking away and then smiling cautiously...lol
    I then realized that I miss the attention I got while losing weight.But I was super uncomfortable with it then and became quite shy at some point.My life long dream was to just blend in with the masses.not stand out because I was tall,blonde or very overweight.
    But after taking off the wig,I felt a bit "boring" and uninteresting.hehehe.The wig wasnt the "right" attention though.Now I have decided to start running again.Do races,something that I can feel fab about again.Something that I can achieve again.
  23. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from Facing50 in How can this math be possible ? The Sleeve is not working.   
    I wish I had kept one thread going for the past 10 months with all my ups and downs with stalls.
    I dont really want to say this but,get use to this.I would only lose weight one week out of every 5 and even had a 7 week stall.Yet I have lost 130 pounds in 10 months.That is without the extra 10 I came home with from the hospital.
    And this thing about the math..lol...let it go,you'll just drive yourself crazy like I did.
    Again,having said that,I had to keep my calories around 800 and my carbs at no more than average 40 to lose weight fast.I didnt exercise and I still dont drink enough Water,am a tea addict!
    I have been on at least 100 diets in my life and have never lost the weight in the strange way that I lost it with the sleeve.There is just no explaining it but also no changing it,I tried!
    Good luck and be patient and do what you have to do!
  24. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from Paul11011 in And the fanfare fades...............   
    Paul,
    Last night my sister brought a bright red wig to my moms house and said that I would never have the guts to wear it in public.I promptly wore it to visit my mom in hospital.People had his very funny reaction,looking,looking away and then smiling cautiously...lol
    I then realized that I miss the attention I got while losing weight.But I was super uncomfortable with it then and became quite shy at some point.My life long dream was to just blend in with the masses.not stand out because I was tall,blonde or very overweight.
    But after taking off the wig,I felt a bit "boring" and uninteresting.hehehe.The wig wasnt the "right" attention though.Now I have decided to start running again.Do races,something that I can feel fab about again.Something that I can achieve again.
  25. Like
    desertmom got a reaction from Puja in How are you doing on the "emotional" side of being skinny?   
    Well,good for you.Each one of us have to figure out for ourselves why we are treated differently now.
    As for me,I dont think I would have had as many friends as I do if I was not approachable before (hey,Im a longterm expat,our friends are our family) and I still feel like me,a little more reserved now as I dont like the attention too much.I kind of feel been there,done that with these people.We have been in the same social circle for 10 years and I find it hard to now all of a sudden think we have something in common other than we are all thin!I dont like or dislike them,they are just aquantances because they chose to be that.It does make me very,very uncomfortable when they are the ones (that hardly ever said more than hallo to me) to now loudly say stuff like:oooo,you've lost so much weight,what is your secret? Or ooo,you look so good,my name is Carin,what is yours again?Come on,I still have the same name that hasnt changed and if you cannot remember it after so long,why would you now?See,I wasnt sarcastic or anything like that before but these thought certainly enter my mind now.I smile,say my name,say if I tell its not a secret anymore...and as far as Im concerned a coffee morning seems quite unnecessary as we've said what we needed to already.What would we talk about,my secret?
    Having said all this,I have noticed some of my obese friends dont phone as often as before and when we do go out they are the ones that always starts talking about their weight and the reasons why they are still struggling.One actually said she couldnt have this surgery as she needed to have a long life for her CP child.I did think say what? at that point but I never,ever talk about my weight loss or weight with them,ever.It made me feel worse about myself when my friends that lost weight would start telling me what to do or how great life was,I just have to try again ect ect.
    This does make me see how defensive overweight people can sometimes be,and for good reasons I think.
    Ugg,This is a sticky issue but not one Im losing sleep over...lol.You cannot choose your family,but you sure can shoose your friends!

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