Lovin2lose

I'm in need of a new camping chair for this camping season. I know the kind I'd like and have found a few with a heavier weight limit but I'd like to hear from "real" people if they really hold up to the hype. Currently I'm just over 300 lbs. The chair that I'm looking at has a 500 lb weight limit (pictured below). Sounds good, but I've noticed these types of chairs have mixed reviews (partiularly saying that they don't really hold that much weight) Anyhow, here's an example of the type of chair I'm looking to get. Any suggestions? Maybe something different?

Who has had major dental issues since having surgery? I swear I'm about to jump off a cliff. This June will mark 7 years since my sleeve. I would say probably about year 3-4, I started having multiple cavaties. The more time went on, the more I got. I've had them all filled in over time to the point where MOST of my teeth are complete "fillings". The dentist said there's really not much of my teeth left, they are mostly made up of fillings. I'm nos to the point where the teeth are just starting to break. I broke one about 4-5 months ago on a Hershey Kiss (no nuts in it) and 2 days ago, another broke on a chicken tender. The dentist has gone over with me my options..............eventually dentures, partials or implants. GREAT! When I went yesterday to have her look at the one that broke we discussed again my options. I told her I was just about done with my teeth and to pull them all. UGH!!!! The thing is though...............she said in order for me to get partials, I need "anchor teeth" to hook the partials onto. Well, I don't have ANY good teeth anymore to even do that. She said the teeth that would be the "anchor teeth" are completely fillings and would eventually break. She said I could do root canals then cap them but she said those could eventually break as well. Which now leaves me with implants. But I hear those are EXPENSIVE!!! If you've been in the same boat as me, what has been your experience? Did you end up having all your teeth removed and get dentures? Partials? Implants? How painful was your experience? How did your new teeth look? Any pros/cons? I'm only 51. I never thought I'd get to this point.

For those who take a prenatal everyday for your vitamins, what brand do you prefer and why? Do you take any other vitamins on top of that? And what about your calcium, what's your favorite?

I'm 4.5 years out and completely stopped taking my vitamins. I have no idea why, just a fact. I had the sleeve. The last time I got some they were different brands that I just picked up at Walmart. So not even sure if I got the right ones. I would like to purchase them through here so I know that I'm getting actual "bariatric" vitamins. But I don't even know where to start or which ones I need. I remember taking a daily, a B12, calcium and I don't remember what else. Any thoughts on where to start? Thanks!

thanks for the suggestions...........I placed an order on here for some hard candy & chews.

I had the sleeve 4.5 years ago. For the past couple of years my teeth have gone down hill DRASTICALLY. I have been in and out of the dentist chair more times than I care to count. I just went for my 6 month cleaning this morning and I have 14 cavities. I had 4 the last time they saw me and now another 10 are popping up. I've never had the best teeth around but before surgery I would get a clean bill of dentistry health at every cleaning. No cavities for YEARS. Anyhow, the dentist is suggesting using Xylitol products (as many as I can consume in the day she said lol) I have used Xylitol tablets that you stick between your gum/cheek. But she's telling me about using Xylitol drink mixes (like crystal light) and has also recommended finding candies, gums, chews, etc with 100% Xylitol. Any suggestions?

I haven't been on a bike since I was a teenager (I'm 48 now). My husband just told me on our way home from dinner tonight that he wants to get himself a bike so he can take it with us camping and summer vacations. Got me thinking that I MIGHT want to get one for myself. 1- Is it true what they say about never forgetting how to ride a bike? lol 2- I'm almost 4 yrs out from VSG. I originally lost 100lbs and have gained back about 30. I never did get down to my goal weight and still have over 100lbs to lose. 3- For those that are still considerably overweight, do you own a bike? Do they make bikes for heavier people? Any suggestions on which bike to get? 4- Lastly, my knees aren't the best (injuries in both plus arthritis in my right knee) Would riding a bike be beneficial or just the opposite?

Just wondering if everyone takes specific "bariatric vitamins" or do you use regular over the counter vitamins? And what's the best calcium to take? Actually, after talking to a few VSG patients (from different surgeons) I've noticed that different doctors require their patients to have different vitamin regiments. What do YOU take?

I just received my order yesterday and I'm going to start using these vitamin patches today. I got the Bariatric Pack with the multi, D3 and B12. Plus I also got Glucosamine/Condroitin for my knees. Here's my question........ I was looking on the back of the multi vitamin pack and noticed that you get over 100% of your D3 and B12 within this vitamin alone. So is it really necessary to take an extra D3 & B12? I don't know what my levels look like as of yet. I have a physical in January where the DR told me he'll do a full lab on me. I was just curious if I could get away with buying just the multi next month. Plus, for those who use the glucosamine/condroitin patch, how do you feel it works? And exactly what have you felt a difference on, if anything?

Is there a place on this forum that people post their daily menus? I know there are posts scattered here and there, but just curious if there's a specific place on here that people will post what they eat on the daily? Their breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks? I'm 3+ years out from VSG and haven't lost anything in over 2 years. I initally lost 100lbs but have gained back 30, and now I'm trying to get back on track and have lost 5 of those lbs. I stupidly went back to old habits and don't want it to get worse than it is. Just looking for ideas on what other people eat on a daily basis. Thanks!

I've just come across these little exercise pedal bikes/elipticals online. Just curious if anyone has either one of them and how do you like it? I don't have the time to join a gym and don't have the room for a big bike or eliptical. Thought this might help. Any thoughts? I have a lot of arthritis in my right knee so I know the bigger version of these are good for the knees. Just wondering how the smaller ones are. Thanks!!!

Thanks for the link. Did you notice a difference in your knee while using it? Once I get back to work and start getting a paycheck again (LOL) I'm seriously thinking of getting one. Yes, aside from arthritis in my right knee, I have an injury that I'm dealing with as well. So I'm thinking something low impact would be the best bet. I just want to loosen up my knee and then start building up the muscle around it as well. Yes, I did have surgery June 2016. I have not had a revision. Unfortunately I did have a 25lb gain and I'm now working on getting that back down. We have a cruise booked for July of next year, so I'd like to lose that before we go. So I'm hoping that using the exercise bike, I can get my knee ready for all of that walking!!!

I hope this question makes sense. My doctor told me that the surgery (I had VSG) would take care of 50-60% of the weight you wanted to lose and after that, you're on your own (must work your tool). I know there are some who lost all of their weight with the surgery and I know some who have lost about 1/2 of their desired weight loss with their surgery and now they must lose the rest on their own (I fall in the latter category) I am 3+yrs out from VSG and I initially lost 100lbs in 7 months then hit a stall. Since then I have gained about 25lbs. I'm in the process of losing it plus the rest of the weight I need to lose (I still need to lose 100+ lbs) So here's my question..... For most of us, before surgery....it was nearly impossible to lose the weight and keep it off. After surgery, the weight seemed to fall off quickly in the beginning and then taper off. So if you still need a significant amount of weight to lose after surgery, do you think the weight will come off at a "normal rate" (1-2lbs a week) or faster because we have the surgery? Or do you think it'd be like before surgery where it was damn near impossible? I'm not looking for immediate results and I know the weight isn't going to fall off like it did right after surgery and I know everyone is different and I know it depends on a ton of things but I'm just curious how it worked FOR YOU? Thanks

OP here. Yeah, I'm thinking a single daily thread would be great. I think it would give everyone plenty of ideas too.

Once you open a container of protein powder, how long does it stay good for? I need to get back to basics and plan on starting having a protein drink for breakfast, but not sure if I should use the powder that's open or buy new. And no, I'm not sure how long it's been open for. Just don't know if they're shelf stable or if there's an expiration on it.

Just curious for those of you who have already had the surgery, did any of you join weight watchers to keep you on track? Or for accountability? Or anything of that sort? I'm 2 years/4 months out and originally lost 100 lbs in the first 7 months, then stalled for over a year, then gained back 30 of those pounds. I know that I let bad habits creep back in and it's totally my fault. But I'd like to get back on track and feel that maybe WW will keep me on my toes. I'm just curious how the plan actually works for someone who already has had the surgery? I just feel like I need that weekly meeting and some accountability. Anyone?

I see this is an old post but wanted to chime in anyways. I'm 2.5 years out with some regain so I reluctantly went back to protein shakes for breakfast to see if I can start seeing the scale go down in the right direction. I DESPISE protein shakes, especially the premade ones. I prefer to make my own. But I decided to get a trial pack of IdealShape protein powders. I LOVE THEM. There is NO protein/chemical aftertaste. And there is no frothy foam either. There is no grit, everything mixes so well. AND you don't even need to do it in the blender. You can mix it right in the shaker cup and everything mixes so well. I have three flavors right now (chocolate, vanilla and mocha) All are really good. And I just finished 3 more sample flavors (dark chocolate, strawberry and salted caramel) I'm definitely getting the strawberry and salted caramel. Those were really good. But I did not care for the dark chocolate one. That one is called a "superfood blend" shake or something like that. I guess it's flavored with different fruits/veggies. Just didn't care for this one at all. Had a weird dirt-like aftertaste. But if you go on their site, you're able to purchase a trial/starter kit that comes with like 4 flavors of powder, a shaker cup and 2 ebooks I believe. Hope you decide to try them

Nobody?

Right now I am using Ideal Shape meal replacement shakes. They have 11-13 gr of protein depending on flavor. I use that with the Fairlife skim milk that has an additional 13 gr of protein for my breakfast. I'm not one to add fruit to the shakes, since it makes them too thick for me. I just don't like the texture. So someone at work suggested maybe making my vanilla shake and adding in a flavored protein drink (like the banana or strawberry & cream premier protein drinks) Is it ok to add two protein drinks together? Or how else can I add flavor to my vanilla shakes?

Just taking a bite of this or that (chocolate or pasta or bread etc) which led to eating the junk more and more. And eventually fell back into old habits.

So I'm down about 105 lbs, still have another 100-125 left to lose. I'd like to start walking to gain strength in my legs and hopefully kick start the weight loss so more. Just curious if there are other exercises besides walking that will widdle down the front of my thighs. Those are the worst for me. I've always had a big leg (even when I was smaller) and even though I've gone from a size 32/34 jeans down to a size 24, my legs are still my downfall. I hate them. I'm also newly diagnosed with arthritis in my right knee.

I am 17 months post gastric sleeve. In the first 7 months I lost 100 lbs. Then for the next 5 months I bounced up & down the same 6 lbs. Unfortunately, I still have over 100 lbs to go. It gets even worse from there. I've noticed over the last couple of months I have fallen back into my old eating habits of nothing but JUNK. And I mean pure junk. Cookies & candy have been my main stay along with pure sugar laden ice coffee from DD ( I shouldn't even call it ice coffee since they barely have room to even put coffee in it with the amount of CREAM and SUGAR and CARAMEL). These ice coffees are a new thing since surgery. I always hated anything to do with coffee but since a few months after surgery, I craved them and started getting them once in a while. It has now become almost a daily thing (atleast 5 times a week, if not more). Also I have almost completely stopped taking vitamins. For some reason, I just can't remember to take them. I think it has to do with how many times a day I have to take them, I don't know. I mean, there's the thyroid meds that you have to take an hour before you eat anything, then the multi and B12 and Vit D after I eat. Then you have to wait at least 4-5 hrs to take the calcium then you have to take another calcium later on in the day. I think my mind gets so overwhelmed, that I say screw it and I forget to take them. How do I dig myself out of this deep hole that I put myself in to? Is it to late to reset this whole surgery thing and get back on the losing train? And getting in any kind of exercise is a joke. I do absolutely nothing. WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF? HELP!!!

Before my sleeve surgery I HATED, DESPISED, LOATHED, anything related to coffee. The taste, the smell, the everything. And even now (16 months after surgery) I still hate it BUT for some unknown reason, I have taken a liking to iced coffee. But in actuality, it's really a sugar bomb. I go to Dunkin and get a small caramel swirl iced coffee with 6 sugars and 6 creamers. WHY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH???? With that much sugar/cream in it there's really no trace of coffee flavor in it. I can say that I don't ever drink more than half of it, usually only about 1/4-1/3 of it. But it's like my body craves those first few sips. I really need to stop as I'm sure it is stopping the weight loss. I loss 100 lbs in the first 7 months, but then have tossed around the same 6 lbs since January. Tell me I'm not the only one who goes through this crap.

Sleeved 6-15-16 (Thursday will be 1-yr out for me) I hit 100lbs lost back at the end of January (so that took me a little over 7 months to lose) Have been at a stand still ever since. Problem is, I started sneaking in a little junk food here and there (that was my main weekness before surgery). And sadly, I have never gotten sick while eating said junk food (cookies, cakes, ice cream, candy etc) I have also started craving Dunkin Donuts caramel iced coffee with cream and sugar. I have always LOATHED DESPISED HATED coffee. And now this. UGH!!! My question is this.......is it too late for me? Will I be able to get back on track to start losing again? I still have another 100 to go. Should I start with basics again? Protein shakes?