roundisashape

A couple of years ago, I bought a dress from Fashion Bug (oh, how I miss thee). It's a black, velvety knee length halter with a jacket. Definitely a Christmas / New Year's dress. I never had a chance to wear it, and I really want to! My sleeve is scheduled for 11/25, and I'm starting at about 300 pounds. I'm torn between hoping it doesn't look like a shiny potato sack on me at New Year's, and just incorporating it into a halloween costume so I can finally wear the thing. Think it'll be wearable? If not, any ideas for how I can turn this dress into something Halloween-y?

Thank you! I've been thinking about that too, and it's good to have a reminder not to pack like I'm moving in, lol.

Heck no, not lame at all! I would too, if it were in the budget - but I AM planning to come back to work with my hair done

Sounds very familiar! I was originally offered a date of 10/18, and asked for more time to get everything together!

Yes! That's exactly the information I was hoping to find out. I've never been thin - I was a 120 pound first grader - so setting a goal has been the hardest part. This helps a lot. Thanks!

My gym had an event with a company that brings a "Bod Pod" out to do body composition analysis and tell you how many calories you can eat and still lose weight based on your metabolic rate. The guy was professional but the whole thing was just weird - it was a trailer on the back of a pickup, and you go in the trailer with some guy you don't know, strip to your undies, and climb in a giant egg. Anyway, I'm wondering about the implications. I'm woefully unfit right now - it seems like unless there's some sort of medical incident that prevents me from moving for an extended period, my muscle mass should only go UP with time. Right now, I have a fat mass of 160 pounds (gulp!) and a fat free mass (muscle, Water, bone, organs) of 138 pounds. Does this mean, unless I lose an unhealthy amount of muscle mass, that it's unrealistic for me to ever get below 138 (or even higher, since we need some fat mass)? Or am I overcomplicating the whole thing and is it just a matter of percentages?

You're beautiful no matter what your body looks like, and your doctor is an unprofessional asshole. He's a PLASTIC SURGEON fercryinoutloud - it's his JOB to FIX physical imperfections, not judge them. Apparently none of his other patients have actually needed his service. All I can say is that I'm sorry his ridiculousness made you feel even worse at a time when you were already overwhelmed, and that I hope you're able to get things settled soon!

Yes! That makes perfect sense - it's never going to get here, but oh crap, is that all the time I have left??? I'm sure we could both find a billion things to do between now and then that will leave us feeling not ready. Best of luck to you - we're almost surgery date buddies!

Absolutely! I've been more aware of the cyclic nature of food addiction - recreational eating leads to obesity leads to being too tired / pained to do anything for recreation but eat more, etc. I know for me it's been a struggle to try to find ways around that, and sometimes I don't succeed. One day at a time, right?

I need a dog sitter. I need a ride. I need to catch up on laundry. I need pants with elastic in the waist to recover. I need to write a will. I need to clean under my cabinets. I need an overnight bag for the hospital - I can't go in there all Tommy Boy with spare undies and a toothbrush stuffed in a garbage bag! Protein shakes! Setting up my work laptop to work from home! Getting my paperwork in order! Getting into the gym and getting stronger before surgery so when I'm not able to do anything but walk, I don't turn into a wet noodle! Finishing up some nasty financial business without having an anxiety attack! Crap, did I accomplish *NOTHING* over the last year?????? *Whew*...ok, panic over. Just needed to get that out.

Once you get the date comes, it's "real" - I understand what you were feeling. I've been dealing with that plus a brand spankin' shiny new panic problem courtesy of the end of a 3 year foreclosure process. We'll get through it, though!

MEEEEE! November 25th! Hoping to be out of the hospital by Thanksgiving day, or I'm gonna have to walk home, lol.

I'm a little in love with Duke. Just sayin'.

All of these surgeries are life altering, expensive, and risky - I think many of us go through a process where we need to believe our choice is the best choice, or we might not do it at all. Her comment, divisive as it was among the WLS community, was nothing that we haven't seen right here on the forums.

Sounds good to me!

Not at all - I actually work in Timonium!

D'oh! You're right, they are - I didn't think about that. I wonder if it matters in the amounts we'd use it in? I may need to rethink my own plans.

Hi Lexi, Still pre-op, but not far from you - north/northwest Baltimore. I wanted to attend the Hopkins support groups but there's no way I can get all the way over there by the time they start!

5'3", 24 on the bottom and 26 on top, but I've never been smaller than a 12 (and I was a kid then). I have no idea how to set this goal, but I'd LOVE to be in single digit sizes!

@@Beni, what about some McCormick's extracts if you're looking to make your own?

As far as making a decision, well - I'm kind of a spazz. I built a decision matrix. None of the surgeries are bad, some are just better for certain people than others. Whatever you choose, it sounds like you've got the motivation to succeed with it!

Bree, I'm nowhere near smart enough to offer any opinions, but I wanted to wish you the best. Hopefully your docs will have some good advice for you, and you'll be able to proceed!

No personal experience to speak of, but in the pre-op class I just attended the nutritionist said it was okay to start trying things like popcorn and nuts after we're back on regular food...she just said to go slow, it's really more of an issue of individual tolerance.

Awaiting an answer with bated breath - I don't just have a "B", I have a couple of mountain ranges. OTOH, the one on top is the only thing separating my knockers from my knees, so perhaps there's some benefit to keeping it?

That's good news - bras are so darn expensive, and not something I like the idea of buying used!