hair176

Congrats! You should be proud. I had my surgery on Dec.26 so I was on the liquid diet for 2 weeks prior. I am Italian so not being able to eat during the Christmas holidays was torture and I hosted Christmas day! But I did it! The proudest time of my life!

I mix 3/4 cup Kellog's Protein cereal with Dannon's Light and Fit Greek vanilla yogurt. It's 200 calories and 22 grams of protein. It's delicious and filling.

I mix 3/4 cup Kellog's Protein cereal with Dannon's Light and Fit Greek vanilla yogurt. It's 200 calories and 22 grams of protein. It's delicious and filling.

I felt so incredible from day 1 that I swore the doctor didn't do the surgery. No pain, tons of energy, a poster child for the surgery. I lost 16 lbs. before surgery and lost another 9 the 1rst week. Since then,nothing! I'm trying not to get discouraged but it is so hard. Everyone says to be patient but I expected a little better than this. It's been 4 weeks and now I'm getting weepy and miserable. You are definitely not alone!

I felt so incredible from day 1 that I swore the doctor didn't do the surgery. No pain, tons of energy, a poster child for the surgery. I lost 16 lbs. before surgery and lost another 9 the 1rst week. Since then,nothing! I'm trying not to get discouraged but it is so hard. Everyone says to be patient but I expected a little better than this. It's been 4 weeks and now I'm getting weepy and miserable. You are definitely not alone!

I lost a letter. For the first time since high school, there is only one solitary letter on my bra size. I was not expecting this, but after struggling to find one to fit well, tried to drop from a double cup to a single and BOOM! It fits.
I suspect this means I can now wear shirts with buttons.
Wonderful stuff, but kind of like when I lost a shoe size it was completely unexpected and has left me bemused.

One year ago my doctor asked me if I would consider gastric bypass surgery and frankly I was appalled. I knew I was overweight but not enough to require surgery (so I thought). I said "No, I'm Italian and it would never be something I'd do". However the seed was planted and I started to do a little research. Last summer I attended a seminar that was given by Dr.Richard Ing and his staff at Bryn Mawr Hospital (outside of Philadelphia). After that evening everything clicked and I knew where I was going with this. There was so much to be done before surgery that I found myself overwhelmed but the staff made it so easy by always being available and answering even the silliest questions. I was almost there when in October I was notified that I was one of those lucky people that would be losing their health insurance on Dec. 31. I was hoping to have the surgery the middle of Jan. after the holidays. I can't describe the stress I felt trying to find a new insurance that I could afford,then trying to enroll on line. After was several weeks of attempting this I called my Dr.'s office and begged for help. With everyone's co-operation I was able to finish my final tests and get approval for surgery on Dec. 26. It was not my ideal Christmas considering I was on the liquid diet
through the whole holiday season and I hosted Christmas day and Christmas Eve. (Remember I'm Italian). It was so hard, but so worth it!
My hospital experience was amazing and I had no pain at all. Once only did I push my pain pump. I am now 2 weeks post op and I can't believe how great I feel. I started back to work 2 days ago(I'm a hairstylist). I know not everyone has great experiences with this surgery but for me it was great!
hair176

One year ago my doctor asked me if I would consider gastric bypass surgery and frankly I was appalled. I knew I was overweight but not enough to require surgery (so I thought). I said "No, I'm Italian and it would never be something I'd do". However the seed was planted and I started to do a little research. Last summer I attended a seminar that was given by Dr.Richard Ing and his staff at Bryn Mawr Hospital (outside of Philadelphia). After that evening everything clicked and I knew where I was going with this. There was so much to be done before surgery that I found myself overwhelmed but the staff made it so easy by always being available and answering even the silliest questions. I was almost there when in October I was notified that I was one of those lucky people that would be losing their health insurance on Dec. 31. I was hoping to have the surgery the middle of Jan. after the holidays. I can't describe the stress I felt trying to find a new insurance that I could afford,then trying to enroll on line. After was several weeks of attempting this I called my Dr.'s office and begged for help. With everyone's co-operation I was able to finish my final tests and get approval for surgery on Dec. 26. It was not my ideal Christmas considering I was on the liquid diet
through the whole holiday season and I hosted Christmas day and Christmas Eve. (Remember I'm Italian). It was so hard, but so worth it!
My hospital experience was amazing and I had no pain at all. Once only did I push my pain pump. I am now 2 weeks post op and I can't believe how great I feel. I started back to work 2 days ago(I'm a hairstylist). I know not everyone has great experiences with this surgery but for me it was great!
hair176

Quinoa has Protein and is delicious with berries as a Cereal
2 c. Skim milk + 3 T. added dry skim milk for Protein
1 c quinoa
3 t. Splenda
1/4 t. Cinnamon
1 c blueberries
Bring milk to a boil
Add quinoa, return to boil
Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered for about 20 minutes
Add berries, splenda, and cinnamon
Cook for a little longer...til berries are heated through, maybe 1 minute
Serve with a little milk and more berries
You can also do quinoa with dried fruits, dates or apricots which are high in sugar, but also high in Vitamins and minerals.

Hello.
For years I have considered weight loss surgery but finally started the process in July of 2013. My surgeon is Dr. Robert Quinlin at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, WV. My surgery is Monday, January 13, 2014. Quinlin and his team have been phenomenal so far.
My highest weight was 334lbs in July. I have since lost 14lbs and am at 320lbs. I am 5'6" and 41yrs old.
I have been big most of my life but that never kept me from participating in life nor were there any limitations until the past few years. When I weighed 270 five years ago, I began to realize the consequence of aging and carrying the weight and gained 60 MORE pounds. This last 60lbs has basically left me exhausted and miserable. It's all I can do sometimes to get to work, keep the house clean, and ...exist. The limitations happened within 5 years and then I was faced with the reality of consequence of working night shift, convenient eating, eating at night, sleeping during the day. It sounds silly but one day I just looked in the mirror and wondered when and how did this happen? Or better yet, how did I let my weight get so out of control?
I am a food enthusiast, not so much sweet things but more drawn to bread and doughy things. And soda!
This week I am on the pre-op liquid diet [high Protein, sugar free Jello, sugar free popscicles, and broth]. It has been very difficult but it is almost over. I made it! Tomorrow morning it's Clear liquids only. Kudos to those of you doing two weeks of liquids.
99% of the people in my life are supportive of this decision. The others think I can lose the weight on my own. But they cannot possibly imagine the convergence of misery that has resulted in this decision. Sometimes I even think "oh my god, you are really doing this!?"...then I nod and think "YES I AM!"
My parents are my biggest support. I thank the Lord everyday that they are here for me.
My anxiety comes and goes. I find myself more anxious in preparing...having the dogs taken care of for three days, the packing of the hospital bag, having clean sheets on the bed for when I arrive back home but I am sure Monday morning I will battling my inner frenzy. Even so, I am ready. Whatever it takes. Fall down seven times, stand up eight.
Tomorrow I will do before pics. And maybe I will figure out how to get a profile picture.
Thanks for reading. It's truly wonderful that technology at least provides this channel of support, experience, sharing, and understanding.

Woo hoo! I finally fit into a size 14 pants (in one brand, anyway)! This is honestly the first time I remember shopping outside the "women's" department, and it felt great!