KQH

Here is the web link: http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/diet-fitness/weight-loss/bmi4.htm The History of BMI Using a formula to calculate obesity is not a new concept. In the nineteenth century, a Belgian statistician named Adolphe Quetelet came up with the Quetelet Index of Obesity, which measured obesity by dividing a person's weight (in kilograms) by the square of his or her height (in inches).
So the BMI came out of the 1800's!!!!!!!
That tells me much about how well it can tell me, a 6' tall female in 2014, how much to rely on it.
I do believe science has advanced since the 1800s to provide a better measure of how obese I am. So why in God's name do we use something that was developed in the 1800s?
Blessings,
Kathleen

The ball is going to roll around because you are probably not used to using your stabilizer muscles to keep you stable. I like to do my ab work on the ball because I feel like I get a better range of motion than abs on the floor. But you will find all of your small muscles in your legs and sides and abs working hard to keep you stable. Give it time!

Diet Coke tastes nasty to me now. I can't stomach even a tiny swallow - yay!

I can do about 3-4 swallows at a time. Any more than that and it's uncomfortable. Your body will let you know how much you can do at one time and it'll change.

Still no drinks during meals, other than an occasional sip. It's been the hardest thing for me to get used to as I was a meal drinker like you!

Okay, here's one guy's perspective... I'd prefer to know what to expect beforehand. The surprises hidden under our clothes could "spoil the moment" if they are not expected. Besides, if you're anticipating intimacy, perhaps you can work this into "the talk" you probably want to have anyway. STDs and protection are not comfortable subjects to discuss, but we still need to have the conversation, right? So why not roll this into that already not-so-sexy pre-intimacy convo? If he's still on board, great! And if not, then you may have learned something about him while limiting your vulnerability. I wish you the best of luck -- hopefully he's a keeper!

I always tell my daughter just because you can put something on doesn't mean it fits.

Thank you so much for sharing! I'm only 9 weeks post-op and already thinking about when and what if. Seeing it helps!

So today I was asked about excess skin. So I wanted to share my skin. Warning there are photos of me in my bra.
So a little about me.
I had gastric bypass on Halloween 2013.
Hw: 333 pounds
Surgery weight: 283 pounds
Current weight: 180 pounds
Estimated excess skin weight from doctor: 20 pounds
Height 5 foot 6 inches
Size 10 stretchy, size 12 regular fit, size 14 tight fit.
Size M shirts
Size WHEN I started 4xl
I will try to attach some before, after and skin photos.
Goal weight 140-150 pounds.
Goal life: healthy, and live life to the fullest
I wanted to share these because I look not so bad with clothing. I don't like having the excess skin, but it doesn't define me.
Remember it can take up to two years for skin to shrink.
I am not ashamed of my excess skin. Do I wish it was gone, yes I do, but life unhealthy was much worse
I hope this does not deter you to lose weight and have this surgery, because this life is so much better and it is worth it!
Let me know if you have any questions
I will likely do this again when I hit goal weight. As you can see in the below pictures, I still have a lot of adipose tissue in the skin, so I am sure it will get better
Cheers!

Another one who didn't see clothing sizes start to change until nearly 60lbs lost! Can't wait to be out of plus sizes so the numbers will change faster

I tend to lose from the top down. So I can be in a 14/16 from the boobs up and a 18/20 in something that covers my stomach. So stuff is baggy in the chest but looks okay over my tummy. Bizarre, really. I'm to the point where all the size 20 jeans I bought are slightly too big, but I'm not inclined to spend money on new jeans just yet. I will say that I was never so happy to be able to shop at Old Navy since they carry up to 20 in the stores. I am loath to go into a Lane Bryant now even though I still wear plus sizes. I just keep thinking in another couple of weeks or a month I will be in a 16.

as a general rule, when fat is removed, SUGAR is used to replace it. ever look at the sugar/carb difference between Regular and Fat Free salad dressings? HUGE!
that said, i generally do not subscribe to the fat free rule, and very few low fat options. i eat real foods but very small amounts of them. at 8 wks post op i am working hard on adding whole veg and fruit back to my diet. just not enough room!
my ONLY exception to this rule is something like Crystal Lite or similar which i put in pretty much ALL Water i drink now. plain just doesn't do it for me anymore but hoping that will change.

I choose not to eat diet or fat free foods. I'm uncomfortable with the ingredients so if I want something I have it but in a much smaller portion. I use real sugar instead of artificial sweetners. I have to confess I don't know how it affects my weight loss because I don't weigh but I guess I will see how things go at my dr appt next week.

I can finally wear heals for long periods of time and be able to walk around in the city and not get tired and look sexy.
I can actually make my foods last longer than ever after the surgery.
I am able to cross my legs cause my thighs are becoming thinner. I couldn't even cross my legs before.

Omg this made me laugh out loud. Here's my variation. I'm one of those embarrassing moms who carries her phone in her bra, on the side. Why? Because I only wear stretch pants that have no pockets. I know I've had WLS because I can't fit my phone in my bra anymore without it being visible. Smaller bra. Not as much room. Phone sticks out.
Yesterday I panicked after leaving a restaurant. I couldn't find my phone. I searched my bra. I searched my purse. I searched my car. My daughter dialed it and my butt rang. Mom, you seriously didn't check your pocket first?
I forgot I had pockets in my new shorts.
Life is good.

Loving it. Lumps and bumps and fat rolls be gone! Holds in my belly roll too. Glad I'm 90 pounds down and I'm not too hot wearing it under my clothes. Correction. I AM hot. The good kind.

When you go into a store try on a shirt and the store associate starts throwing jeans over the door because she thinks they will look cute with the shirt you picked out and looks to be my style she says. I look at the size and said wow, how did you know what size I needed and she says oh well that's what size I am and you look to be the same. You walk out and see she's a tiny little thing..... SMILES for MILES!!!

I'm 8 weeks post-op, everything went really well, and I still have issues with plain Water. Something about the surface tension and needing an additive of some kind - so Crystal Light, True Lemon/Lime, and trying broth might help her now. I didn't have issues with temps much but in the early days, warm was most most welcome!

They say money can't buy happiness but I've never been happier! I had the gastric sleeve surgery in Mexico with Dr. Ariel Ortiz on August 12, 2013. I've been fortunate that I haven't had any complications. I've lost 80 lbs. I'm not at the goal weight they set for me, 153. I'm actually 162 lbs at 5'8. When I get much below that I hear comments that I'm looking too thin, etc. Im happy with being in a size 8. I just need to tone up! Exercise has not been a strength for me. The past few months I've really had to remind myself that the sleeve is a tool to losing the weight but that I have to work at making healthy choices and making this a lifestyle change. I can eat anything and could quickly gain the weight back but I love how I feel about myself now. I no longer turn down social events because I'm embarrassed of my body. I'm now a confident independent woman. I'm so thankful I made the decision to trust Dr. Ortiz and get the sleeve!
What a difference a year makes!

My clothes no longer shrink in the dryer

You pick off your significant others plate instead of buying your own at a restaurant.

Ordered a bra that arrived yesterday. It came in a 10" square box. A BOX!!! I opened it up and saw what appeared to be two giant Soup bowls stacked in one another. I laughed at the size and knew there had to be a mistake.
Nope. It fits like a charm. Perky giant breasts today. Gawd, I won't miss this. A "bra in a box" sigh...
September 22 can't come soon enough.

I survived my first dinner in a restaurant. Only ate the grilled chicken out of the taco. Did not eat the flour tortilla or the cilantro & cabbage that were also inside. I cut it up into the tiniest pieces ever. ( I think the waitress thought I was nuts).
The only thing that bothered me was that I never got to even take a sip of my Water ( damn half hour rule!)
The "old me" would have been bothered by the massive amounts of wings & beer that surrounded me. Or the plate of "loaded tater tots" that the couple next to us had. But instead, this Sleevie Wonder was bothered by not being able to drink water when she wanted to. Should we chalk it up to a first NSV???

I really haven't had negative comments, but I had one person say they were sick of dieting and wished they could just have surgery like I did. She was just being a patronizing bitch, so I turned the tables on her and gave her my surgeons name and contact info, told her all about the the preop and postop diet and how lucky I was not to have any of the complications ( which I described in detail) How now I can eat anything I want, as long as it's not bread, Pasta, rice, potatoes, and sweets. Exclaimed how great I feel now that I can't drink beer and don't wake up with hangovers anymore. (She's a big partier). Made suggestions on the best Vitamins and Protein powders to get, talked about drinking at least 2 liters of Water everyday, and how many great bariatric recipe websites there are. Described how nice it is to only have to eat an appetizer at a restaurant, so I was saving so much money. The more I encouraged her, the more excuses she made of why she couldn't do it. I put a positive spin on my whole experience, but I think I made my point about how " easy" this all is.

Its time for another challenge! This challenge will be beginning with the first weigh in on Friday September 5th. From there on after, weigh ins will take place Fridays. Last weigh in will be Friday October 31st. This will allow a total of 9 weigh ins in all. I will post the link for the spreadsheet once its the week of. Few reminders. -Weights will be entered in whole numbers. -please post weigh ins here in this post only. -we are all here to support each other..so questions posted here will be answered by anyone else willing to help. -if you want to adjust your goal weight, just add that in any reply to this post. -if you miss a weigh in...no biggie. Just report back in the next week. -this is an amazing tool to help us all! Make it fun, challenge yourself, and cheer on the rest of the pack! -I'm no excel expert. I can do only the basics. So this isn't a fancy spreadsheet by any means. But I will keep it up to date and do my best to report the onderlands and other big crossings as I am able to. I do have young kids and I also work too. So some weeks i'm not able to update until a few days after report in day. It will be done. Lastly, you will know it is updated once I have liked your post. Have fun with this! Challenge yourself in new ways! Join us for the halloween challenge!
http://track.bariatricpal.com/track/click/14368495/onedrive.live.com?p=eyJzIjoiOWQzWk13NnlkVFk5b0pfVlFPcHJsZk9uRHFzIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjoxNDM2ODQ5NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL29uZWRyaXZlLmxpdmUuY29tXFxcL3JlZGlyP3BhZ2U9dmlldyZyZXNpZD1CQUQ5QzlDODg2ODE4QTU5ITM5MCZhdXRoa2V5PSFBQ3VCX2F6MTNrZnluZ2tcIixcImlkXCI6XCI4YzBjYzFmNWJlNTM0YjhhYmVhOTBiMjA4YWY5NmZhMFwiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcIjlhZmViNDQ4MGIyMGM3NWY2M2JlMGI2MjY0ZmQwN2I2YzUzMzljZGFcIl19In0

While I've had several NSVs, nothing was more meaningful than this one. I started at a dance studio last year 2 months before I had surgery, and returned a few months post surgery. Last month I participated in the filming of a promo video for the studio. It can be found on YouTube by searching ShakeItLatinStyle PreRoll. The studio is in Mill Creek WA. I've attached the link, I'm not shown much but I'm wearing a purple tank top - short hair in the back corner. The very idea that I am actually LIVING life instead of watching from the sidelines is great accomplishment!

Baby lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots = no problem at all. Sprinkled with feta and a good quality balsamic vinegar is HEAVEN! I was craving salad something fierce.

I'm eating between 800-1000 on a regular day, getting all Water and Protein + healthy veggies, bike & treadmill 5+ days/week, and am down 50 lbs since pre-op.