Ginger Snaps

I thought you were going to say something about warm clothes to wear. My closet is practically empty and I had to go this weekend and buy a coat and sports winter jacket... Don't have anything remotely fitting from last winter!

I have two good friends at work who keep candy bowls on their desk with the GOOD stuff (Reese's mini cups and Kisses -- my two absolute favorites pre-surgery). They were the only 2 people at work I told about the surgery before I had it. I wanted them to know because I was always their biggest "customer" (big in more than one way) and they would also drop candy off on my desk if they knew I was having a rough day. I wanted them to slap my hand if I unconciously reached for their candy bowls. And I certainly didn't want to come back to work after surgery and find a mound of candy on my desk. My strategy is -- just walk on by. I try to pat myself on the back everytime for doing it because it is a temptation. However, I know for me personally, chocolate is a slippery slope and I need to stay away because I won't stop when I start.

@4LgrLife_53 I found some sugar free popsicles called Outshine popsicles that are made with Stevia. They have really nice flavors like wild berry and strawberry kiwi... much better than the kiddie colored / flavored ones you usually find. You can check them out here: http://www.outshinesnacks.com/home.aspx I think it will let you search to see if there's a store that carries them in your area. They really taste great. They do have Sorbitol but I'm not sensitive to it.

I have TOTALLY fallen in love with my new feelings... feeling my outside matches the fun, bright person I am on the inside. Feeling like my body can handle the athletic things I want to do. Feeling that I can do this and get to a healthy weight and maintain it. Every food habit I had before has changed (in part because it had to and in part because I am DETERMINED not to go back to old habits. The conditioning I had before (picking up bites of candy, grabbing bread for a snack...) has gone out the window and I refuse to let them back in. THIS gives me motivation to keep it up every day. I'm LOVING this!

I use Protein drinks in the morning on my way to work (3 days a week) because I can drink it slowly in the car on my 1 hour commute. I also might throw one in late at night if I haven't gotten in enough protein during the day. I think it's silly to completely ban them as they are a convenient way to get some extra protein in during the day. However, I could understand a doctor being concerned if that is what you're surviving on and you haven't really learned how to choose healthy foods to eat.

<p>I don't know if you are being covered by insurance or not, but I don't think mine (Anthem BCBS) will cover mini bypass.</p> <p> </p> <p>If you're interested, here's a page I found that describes the differences in the RNY and the mini-bypass. It looks as though the main difference is ease in performing the surgery. It seems like the only difference in outcomes is that the mini bypass may have some complications with reflux that the RNY doesn't because the stomach pouch is "wired" directly into the bypassed bowel instead of an anastamosis being created there. That can allow digestive juices to reflux back up into the stomach pouch.</p> <p> </p> <p><a data-ipb="nomediaparse" href="http://www.healthierweight.co.uk/obesity-surgery/gastric-bypass-surgery/the-mini-gastric-bypass/">http://www.healthierweight.co.uk/obesity-surgery/gastric-bypass-surgery/the-mini-gastric-bypass/</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Definitely something to think about.</p>

Kudos for deciding early on to take control of your weight and health. Some of us have struggled for longer than you've been alive! lol Best wishes. Ginger