IcanMakeit

I have to admit that I sometimes find myself tsk tsking to myself about other people's spelling, grammar and netspeak. However, I agree that my mild irritation is not worth commenting on out loud. Communication is the important thing, not the form. I enjoy using slang and modernisms, and I have been chagrined to re-read my own postings and find words omitted and errors in spelling. Younger people are used to text-speak and tend to use that form for all their informal communications. I shouldn't get all "stay off my lawn" about it. The point that I want to disagree with is that people should add comments to existing threads about common topics rather than starting their own. Firstly, as has been pointed out above, we don't all have the same knowledge about this website and may not know how to use the search function. And secondly, starting your own thread is a way of asking for help. You will probably get different (and more) responses from your own thread than you will from adding to an existing one. I agree that it is more convenient for us readers when all of the answers are in one thread, but I think the enhanced ability to connect to others and receive support outweighs that benefit.

Thanks for all the info and advice. I'm really looking forward to getting beyond the surgery. From what I've been reading, recovery can be slow and problematic, but the end results are worth the trouble and expense.

I forgot to mention that I would be visited by a nurse at the hotel if I chose the surgical center. But even with that help, I think I'll go ahead and opt for the hospital. In the first 12 hours after my breast reduction I was in no shape to go anywhere. I think the recovery from the TT will probably be similar.

My doctor asked me if I preferred to have my tummy tuck surgery in the hospital or at the surgical center. If I go to the surgical center, they will want me to stay the night in a hotel near the surgical center rather than drive all the way home. (I live about 40 miles from both the hospital and the surgical center.) I asked her which was the least hassle. She said that most people prefer the surgical center because they sleep better in the hotel than they could in the hospital. But she also said that I would have to leave the surgical center and go to the hotel very soon after surgery is completed. So, which should I choose?

116 this morning. One pound below my challenge goal. I wonder if I can hold it through the end of the challenge. I'm in uncharted territory right now.

@@HappySenior, have fun shopping, but don't go overboard. I had to give away tons of clothes that had barely, if ever, been worn because I went shopping too much, too soon. You will be astonished how quickly you go through sizes once you transition from plus sizes to regular sizes. Don't forget to check out thrift and consignment stores. You can often find fabulous clothes at fantastic prices in them.

Even though my diabetes is in remission, I always seek out the sugar free options for all medications and gummies. So many people are diabetic, they definitely sell cough drops and cough syrups at most drugstores that don't have sugar. If you don't see them on display, just ask the pharmacist. I hope your cold gets better fast.

I was pretty uninformed before I had WLS. Two sisters and a niece had gastric bypasses years ago, and watching them, I did think that having WLS meant never having to diet. I thought they just naturally ate less and that was all it took to lose weight and stay thin. I quickly learned differently. Both from this forum and from talking to my sisters about their actual daily reality. I had been observing them at family gatherings. Their day to day eating patterns are very different from their party habits. I don't think everyone who has WLS will have to count calories and log their food forever. Some people will succeed in retraining themselves to eat healthily and exercise daily and then stick with that new lifestyle because they enjoy their new healthy habits. Others will be like I suspect myself to be. We'll need stay accountable and formalize our diet rules, stick carefully to them and be able to go back and see our intake to make sure we stay on track. I'm only just beginning maintenance, but I think I could easily "go over to the dark side" without careful monitoring.

Welcome to the forum @matt56. I'm happy that your surgery went well and I hope that your recovery continues to be smooth and easy. In these early days, the best things you can do for yourself are walking and sipping. Take a couple of good walks every day. It helps with the gas and raises your mood level. Also keep a water bottle with you and sip as constantly as you can. The most common problem after the sleeve is dehydration. Your new stomach is swollen and angry right after surgery and it's really hard to get enough fluids in the early weeks.

Welcome @@Big Opie. We share similar starting stats (although I'm probably a lot older than your mother). Losing as much weight as you need to is definitely do-able. You are starting off right by seeking out fellow travelers who will encourage you and give you the straight dope. Over the next months you will feel exhilaration and disappointment in turns. But the healthy habits and slimmer body that you will develop are worth all of the effort.

Are you measuring and logging your food? If not, you might find it helpful to start. There's no way to know for sure where (or if) you're off track unless you can look back at a week and analyze it. If you are already a logger, how many calories and carb grams are you eating per day typically? And are you certain you are continuing to drink the recommended 64 oz. of Water per day? I'm 10 months out as well and I find myself getting lax in that department. But it is really important.

Cell phone and charger, Kindle or iPad with charger, a real robe for walking in the hall. The hospital will provide pretty much everything else you need. You could bring your own facial wash, if there's one you really like. I just used plain water on my face and the hospital-provided liquid soap for my wash-up. I was only in the hospital one night.

A word of caution. Document your weight at your new doctor's office immediately. Your BMI is probably right on the borderline. You don't want to get denied for losing weight before the surgery.

You have identified the problem. You are under stress and have fallen back into the habit of using food to self soothe. Now it's time to take yourself in hand and find other outlets for your stress. Some suggestions: exercise, call your bestie and have a long talk, drink chamomile tea, soak in a bubble bath, read a chick lit novel, sex.

I think I'm still too newly thin to see other morbidly obese people with anything but empathy. I over-identify to the point that I find myself giving obese people more acceptance and forbearance than I do thin people - like there's a fat people clique and I'm still in it.

I haven't tried any of their other products, but Quest bars are my go to Breakfast. Double chocolate chunk is my current favorite. Quest was having a free bar giveaway a few weeks ago. Check to see if that is still on. Otherwise, buy one of their variety packs. Everyone seems to have their own (strong) opinions about the bars. You'll have to taste them for yourself.

I think I had a scrambled egg on the morning of my first solid food day and that wasn't really special, but for lunch, I had sashimi. I still remember that meal. It was the first time I felt normal after surgery.

I am 10 months out. For me, my food preferences didn't really change, but for a while I found food disappointing. I could eat so little at a sitting that I felt unsatisfied, even though I was full. Now that I can eat almost a cup at a meal, I'm back to enjoying all my foods. I have had stuffing on Thanksgiving and cake on my birthday. They still tasted great. I have to watch out. I have to use my brain when I make my food choices, not my appetite.

On the one hand, I can't do the eating challenges now, but on the other hand, no way could my former 244 lb. self tackle any of the physical challenges or keep up with the other teams. So no TAR for me either way. ETA: TAR is one of my all time favorite shows.

I followed this thread last year when I was newly sleeved. Unfortunately, I didn't take the advice above and bought tons of clothes in interim sizes. It took so long to get down below plus size that I thought my progression through the regular sizes would be similarly protracted. Wrong! I dropped sizes in a few weeks time, even though the number of pounds I was losing per week was less than before. Sizes are tricky. I am Ross' best customer. I just went in (on their senior discount Tuesday) and bought almost a whole Spring wardrobe. So much fun. The biggest shocker? In some brands, I'm now a size 4. When I started my weight loss Quest, I was finding my size 28 tops tight.

I also worry about my dissatisfaction with my body. I tell myself that I'm getting a tummy tuck because my hanging stomach is uncomfortable, but honestly it's also that I find it unsightly. I don't want to end up chasing some dream of perfection, either. So when I'm asked about my bat wings, I always say that they don't bother me (even though they are pretty noticeable) and I've decided I can live with my rumpled "lived in" butt and thighs. This is just what a 61 y.o. formerly obese woman looks like. I'm never going to look like Barbie, no matter how thin I get.

In general I agree, but if I see a higher number for more than a few days in a row, I will definitely react by decreasing my calories and increasing my activities. I don't want to wait until the extra pounds get comfortable!

Welcome, @whatcomlady. I hope your recovery is as smooth as your surgery was.

Good luck @@Healthybefore50!

Before I state my opinion on this controversy, let me preface by saying that I really do not enjoy being the target of judgmental, know-it-all postings. That being said, I was nodding my head in agreement when I read the original post. I also believe that people who allow themselves to be so overly affected by some random person's disapproval, even if expressed rudely, are too fragile for their own good and may need more help than an internet support site can offer. I can understand feeling put down, getting mad, or annoyed or even wanting to strike back. What I don't think is healthy is to allow that person's statements to affect your stability. I don't think it's too judgmental or mean to point out that people who are that sensitive may need help. That is what I got from the original post. This does not mean that I think those sensitive people don't belong here, just that they could benefit from additional help. As far as the definition of "rudeness" goes. We all have our own reactions to how things are worded. Your "frankness" might by my "rudeness." Although I think as adults, we should all go out of our way to avoid treating others in a way that we would not like to be treated, we can't predict or control what other people will feel about our statements. On the one hand I agree with "first do no harm," but on the other hand I understand that we sometimes don't agree on what "harm" is.