KQH

I've gone from a 44J to a 38DDD Long so far!

unsalted roasted cashews
unsalted roasted almonds - ours no longer carries these, they have Blue Diamond smokehouse in their place
Pacific Gold beef jerky
Jack's Cantina salsa
Pure Protein bars
baby carrots
fresh berries
babybel
guacamole
Halo mandarins

Oh goodie! I like this topic. OK, here goes:
I still walk like I have thunder thighs. My legs no longer rub together but I still walk like they do. Have to work on that.
I still think I am too big to sit on a crowded subway train. I'm not and starting to realize it, but the brain still has trouble with that.
I try on clothes that are too big. Thank goodness for a saleswoman at Lord and Taylor last week who brought me sizes 6P and 8P when I couldn't bring myself to look at anything smaller than a 10P
I've started tucking in my blouses. That's something I haven't done since I was a young woman.
I think people are crazy when they tell me I shouldn't lose anymore weight, or when my own doctor asks if I'm eating enough. I'm eating healthy...and not starving myself but it's still so odd to hear that when for so long it was comments regarding how much I ate, not how little.
I bought some new 'fashion jewelry' because some of the things I had prior were just too big and chunky for the small me. It's not only that I've lost weight, but I'm short and small boned. I'm pretty tiny at this point and heavy jewelry overwhelms my size.
I'm sure I'll think of other things but these are the top ones for now.

This is a fun topic, kind of to piggy-back off the "you know you lost weight when..." thread I came across the other day.
As we are losing weight, are there things you do that are remnants of when you were at your largest weight?
For example:
I still default to the handicap stall in the restroom I try to park with more space between me and the car next to the driver-side/or in an end spot to make sure the space isn't too small (because I had moments where I couldn't get into my car when someone parked too close to me) I see my smaller clothing and still wonder how that is going to fit me, and am surprised when it does. I am struggling to get used to more fitted clothing, because I don't want to go to work looking sloppy. Pulling my seat belt out to its further extension to buckle it, then having to tighten it up a lot because I don't need that much belt.

i am feeling virtuous today. I made the WW Soup yesterday (thank you for reminding me - my personal modifications came back to my memory!) and started kickboxing today. Kickboxing - I think i have found my people.

More than a bite or two of rice. Ow. None is better but I can nibble to taste test what I'm cooking for the rest of the family. Pasta and noodles are better but I avoid them too.

@@Folly I hope you posted that in the valentines thread for Alex. Fantastic story.
Ok I'm open for this conversation.
I have been with my husband since I was in my 20's. Sex was amazing then. We got older and my weight increased and my health declined. Sex honestly became a chore. I lost my drive. My amazing husband has stuck it out through some tough times with my health issues. To have me back means more to him than the weight loss.
Don't get me wrong. The weight loss has been a great thing for our sex life. He has seen me at my heaviest weight so loose skin is nothing to make me self conscious. I'm loving dressing up for him and going out on dates. I'm still getting used to him telling me I'm hot. Very sweet but I don't see it. He has taken me to Victoria's secret and walked out with size small pantie's big NSV. I'm very open, adventurous, loving life and in love with my husband. The sleeve has done a big turn around in our lives. SOOOOO thankful.
The hair issue...Pulling my hair in bed in my 20's was hot..Now that I'm loosing hair with weight loss hair is precious to me.

I'm curious how the relationships are holding up long-term with the tranformation. My husband is super supportive and has been from the beginning, he was more worried about my well being than anything and seems to not ever lose sight of wanting me healthy. I'm very fortunate in this respect, I was married, once upon a time, to a violent monster who used every opportunity to try to tear me down. I couldn't have attempted this journey with such a partner.
That being said, my current husband sacrificed, without complaint, something he wanted. He was attracted to, fell in love with and married a woman who weighed over 400 lbs. To him that is and always has been the ideal of feminine beauty. His encouraging the surgery and weight loss was an act of love and selfleseness - he saw the toll it was taking on my health and wanted me to feel better.
During this process our love and trust for each other has grown. Our communication is deeper and more meaningful. In many ways our partnership has been strengthened and has become beautiful and lovely. There was a price to be paid, however, and that price is high and sometimes hard to pay.
He misses the big, soft me that he found so sexy and exciting. I miss being that to him. I'm not worried he'll stray or stop loving me or anything like that... once upon a time, not too long ago, I was his Goddess. That's gone now. Through the years, with ups and downs we always had that. When we got tired of putting up with each other or life's disappointments were too much to even talk about we always found our way back to understanding through the bedroom. It always brought us back to intimacy and communication and the profoundly compassionate friendship that has sustained our marriage.
It's hard not feeling guilty taking that away from someone who loves you so dearly but it isn't there anymore. The emotional attraction and love is but...
It's a struggle to figure out where to go from here.
Peace

I'm using future plastics as a motivator now that I've hit the blah phase of weight loss and this thread was fabulous! @@MichiganChic I'll be 50 or 51 when I have plastics done and we share pretty common pre-op stats so thanks for the inspiration!

@@hadouni what's an ab plication? I didn't love the drains from my abdominplasty at all! I have them now in my groin (and they are inserted all the way into my knees!) but they don't bother me that much. Kind of dreading having them removed, though!
Yeah, I gotta say, my belly looks phenomenal. She did such a great job, I can't believe it! I can post a pic of that. This was at about 4 weeks post op, so still swollen. You are no doubt going to love it! Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

People always ask me... how painful was plastics. Actually, I had very little pain. Like you - the real challenge is how long it takes to recover. My wounds healed up fine - no openings - stiches were all gone by 21 days post op and no wound issues AT ALL.
My swelling wasn't even that bad...however, recovery from plastics is HUGE.
I am looking forward to hearing about how you feel about your thighs. I did the small lift and while I am so glad I don't have the long scars, i sure do wish my thighs were as tight as my arms are....
Hang in there - swell hell shall pass!

Well, I'm 6 days out from a breast lift/augmentation and bilateral medial thigh lift (with the long inner thigh incision). I had abdominplasty, butt lift and bilateral brachioplasty last August. The swelling from the first surgery in August was just starting to go down, and now it's back in full force! I'm up about 15 pounds from my lowest weight, and I have to say, it's the swelling that is miserable! And, the Water weight went directly to my arms and abdomen and hips, as well as the thighs and breasts. Basically, everything that I've worked on is a magnet for Fluid retention. I feel like a stuffed sausage.
However, this second surgery is much easier to recover from that the first - night and day difference! Even with two large drains still in my groin, I'm not feeling too bad!
One of the reasons I decided to do this it to feel "finished". I hate it when I can't complete something I set out to do, and I just felt so incomplete with all the loose skin. While I'll never have a perfect body, that was never my goal. I think my surgeon got me closer than I even hoped. I also believe that it will help me maintain my weight loss. While it's no guarantee, I do think that it might help, but I guess only time will tell.
For anyone considering plastics, there is a lot to think about. I had some open wounds from the first surgery that took nearly 4 months to heal, but I still think it was worth it. I have swelling that I find miserable, but even if it lasts a year, it's temporary, and it's way better than loose skin. And I do have a lot of scars, but they are fading, and will continue to do so. That loose, flabby skin was never going to tighten on it's own. I feel much better in my skin now, even with the swell hell I'm in.
So, while I thought I'd come here to complain about it, I also have to say I don't regret it! Things haven't settled into place yet, but even still, I look way better than before. Even though it's a difficult surgery to recover from, I'd do it again (but thank goodness I don't have to, lol!) Thanks for listening!

Today is a fast day... I made a pot of that weight watchers 0 point vegetable Soup for fast days...it works out to be about 21 calories for a 1 cup bowl. Nice and filling... I had a Protein Shake with frozen fruit in the blender for Breakfast, the veggie soup for lunch and will have a nice salad with chicken on it for dinner... The advantage that some of us have from others doing this plan, is that having to fast for TWO WEEKS living on only Protein Shakes pre surgery makes this one day fast seem like butter. Oooh...shouldn't think about butter on fast days.

My doctor didn't set a weight goal for me. Yay for Mexico!
My goal is to:
1. Run a 5k
2. Chase my kid through the slide at McDonalds
3. Feel sexy
Whatever number that happens at is where I'll be happy with maintaining.

Cha cha chia! lol Now you will sprout in different orifices. LOL Just Kidding.

It amazes me that so many get their panties in a wad when they post their opinion on a public discussion board and someone else disagrees or posts a counter opinion.

Seriously! It's OK. In most cases, that counter opinion is just that -- opinion. While I do take issue with those who take themselves very seriously and post their opinion as fact, I am happy to say they are few and far between.

We, for the most part, have different surgeons, different NUTs, different metabolisms, different builds, different backgrounds, different thought processes, different psychosis... (JOKING! Kind of.)
There are very few doctors or therapists here. There are NO experts on YOU here, with the exception of yourself. No one is qualified to give you *absolute do or die* advice. No one is in a position to tell you that you are !!!WRONG!!! or that everyone else is.

Relax. Breathe. Discuss. Share. Vent. Listen. Learn.

We all have our hot buttons, we are human. We all have topics we are passionate about. Debate is fun! It's healthy. It's how we learn and grow. It's a positive form of interaction until someone takes it personally. (I'm guilty at times -- I know it!) As long as it's respectful, there is no name calling involved, and there are no personal attacks, there is nothing wrong with it.

I'll tell you a few things about me that are "wrong" and I don't give a rat's patoot if you want to tell me so:
I drink soda. GASP! Even worse, I drink it through a straw! I would never tell anyone else to do the same. That's between you and your doctor.
I graze all day. My sleeve is small, my restriction is fierce. I graze to keep myself from getting too hungry, eating too fast and then vomiting it all back up.
I eat while I work, when I drive, when I watch TV. I find that when I do this, I get distracted and I eat slower. Weird, I know.
I weigh myself 2-4 times a day. First thing in the morning (usually fully dressed in my PJs as I get up at a ridiculously early time of day to get my kids out of the door.) I weigh myself buck naked after kissing them goodbye when it's time to get myself dressed. I weigh myself before and after a poo (giggle) because I have a middle school boy sense of humor. I weigh myself at night, again buck nekky, just before I get in the shower. I call it my step aerobics. It works for me. I don't get frustrated or upset. I never have, even at my fattest.
I eat real chocolate every day. Just a few Hershey Kisses or a Dove Promise (dark!). It quiets the sweet tooth I didn't have pre-op and keeps me from thinking about sweets all day. It's better to feed the beast a nibble and shut it up. FOR ME.
I eat full fat everything except the things I don't.

I am choosing not to be a WLS advocate. I don't care HOW people think I am losing weight, I don't care who supports me. I don't tell my business to everyone and it's not up to me to save the world from obesity one fatty at a time. I'm not embarrassed, ashamed or a liar.



Your personal experience, your advice from your NUT/surgeon/NP may differ completely. You may be of the opinion that I will be the size of a small whale in 5 year's time. You may think that I am failing myself and my surgery. You may think I am a hypocrite. It's OK.

You do you, I'll do me. We can talk and share and be opinionated together, even when our opinions don't match.

This is a public DISCUSSION board. It's ok to discuss, it's ok to be opinionated. Just expect the same in return.

Well, the almond roca was a small price to pay to recognize this big trigger and its significance.
Next step -- figure out how to respond differently to this particular trigger.

My personal experience with Dr. Q and his staff was amazing. I'm thrilled with my decision and would make it again in a heartbeat. I traveled alone from SC (my choice, not my husband's, LOL) and never felt concerned about it.

I eat clean, lots of veggies, good quality Protein, fruit, and avoid as much processed food as I can though I do make conscious decisions to enjoy some other things at time. The gym at 4:30am is my friend as I know I'm actually going to make it there and I love having it to myself and the podcasts on my iPhone.

The sleeve is an amazing tool and I'm so glad I chose Dr. Q to help me.

Down 75 lbs!! Today I bought my first pair of jeans not purchased in the plus size stores and a size MEDIUM top at banana republic! I'm ecstatic!
SW: 262, size 22/24 pants, XL tops
CW: 187, size 14 pants, M/L tops

MFP and the simple Fitbit Zip work for me.

My surgeon (dr. A Ortiz at Obesity Control Center) required a 5% weight loss on my 2 week preop diet. The purpose is to shrink your liver to make for a safer surgery. I easily lost almost twice that. Many Mexico surgeons perform WLS on patients with low BMI's because US surgeons won't even do it if you are self pay with a BMI under 35. And as for comorbidities, I've never heard of any requirements, but you would definitely want to discuss any medical issues up front so they can take whatever precautions necessary for a safe surgery.

As you know, I'm definitely in the "I'm not on a diet and I eat what I want when I want" camp. For me, all the tracking and measuring and counting and planning of meals is way too much like the dozens of failed diets I've been on in my life...,weight watchers, nutrisystem, HCG, zone, Atkins, etc. (and remember Richard Simmons food Mover?????). I just knew I could not stick with that type of regimented lifestyle. My daily routine is unpredictable and food rules and restrictions would be very frustrating. I knew I had to do it differently this time.
Here's a good example of why I eat the way I do.... Say I had a meal plan where I am supposed to have grilled chicken breast and broccoli for dinner. But on my way home I get to thinking about the commercial I saw for the new Subway pastrami sub. Mmm. That sounds good! So I could 1) go home and eat what's on my plan. I would be physically satisfied (not hungry), but I would be thinking about that pastrami sub and be bummed I couldn't have it. So I would go to bed mentally unsatisfied and stressed. Or 2) I could stop and get a pastrami sub with Swiss cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, sprouts, onions and pickles. Give the top half of the bun to the dogs, eat 1/2 of the 6" sub and put the rest in the fridge. Now I will go to bed physically AND mentally satisfied.
The "get in all your Protein, Water and vitamins/everything else in moderation/eat when I'm hungry/don't overeat" plan has worked great for me. I guess the key is the what I want to eat part. I wouldn't be very successful if the answer to that was cake and Cookies and spaghetti and chips and ice cream. But fortunately, the things I want to eat are healthy, nutritious, usually (but not always) high Protein things. I eat sweets, but 1-2 bites is all I ever want.
I lost 100 pounds in 8 months doing it this way...22 pounds below my surgeons goal and 12 below my personal goal. My bloodwork is spot on, I feel fabulous and I have easily maintained within the same 2-3 pounds for almost 4 months. Granted, I'm only 1 year out and who knows what will happen in the next year or 5 years. I guess if I start gaining I will reassess my situation.
Just like everything else about this journey, it's about personal choices and what works for one person may not work for someone else. There are dozens of ways to be a successful WLS patient. Glad we have both found our ways.

Thanks All! I usually had some chocolate in my bag for such cravings but that was before surgery. I don't want to pick up the habit again. I would like to hope that a little taste every now and again will satisfy me. I will say this... I had a major habit of getting some sort of chocolate at checkout every time I went shopping (grocery, Target, Walmart, wherever...). I haven't added a chocolate treat to my shopping list in a long time. Victory for me!

Sadly, I'm not shocked at all. I am actually surprised I don't eat these volumes of food anymore. I've been overeating since childhood. This new way of life is what's surprising to me.

I always wanted a really nice leather jacket when I hit goal. I had my circumferential body lift 2.5 weeks ago and last night ordered a beautiful black leather skirt in 2 petite from talbots. I have black to the knee high heel boots that are leather. I still haven't found the perfect jacket but I am a classic ann Taylor kind of girl. Right now motorcycle jackets are more in style and I like clean, tailored looks. I'm thrilled with my skirt purchase. It will look beautiful with a cashmere sweater or a pretty silk blouse. 2 petite (sigh)...