MrsSugarbabe

I completely understand how you feel. It seemed like I was seeing the same person in the mirror no matter how much older I got or how much weight I gained. When I saw a pic of myself (which I rarely allowed before), I nearly fell out of my chair. I couldn't believe how I really looked. And even now after I have lost weight, I still see the same person in the mirror. What really helps me is comparing photos from then to now...then I can really see the difference. Good luck with everything!

Well I can seriously relate to that.... That's why I'm here! This one picture gave me a reality check out of this world then other events followed of course. But change is here : )
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G928A using the BariatricPal App

Yeah, I understand We have to change the behavior that led us to this point.
It is very challenging.
I used to attend Over-Eaters Anonymous
I have looked into food Addicts Anonymous, but can't find meetings in my area.
I have also researched TOPS, but have never been to one of their meetings.

@@Walter.Sobchak I think that finally 'seeing' yourself is a very good first step to doing something about your weight. Next, it's helpful to figure out just what behaviors got you to where you are. My psychologist has been invaluable while I've been on this little journey. Losing the excess weight is the mechanical part, and the sleeve helps a lot with that...but if we don't explore WHY we got to obesity and how to prevent it, the sleeve is just pissing into the wind, you know?
Good luck to you and congratulations for the self-realization

I know exactly what you mean. I tell everyone I have reverse anorexia. I think I'm less fat than I really am.

Hello All,
I had a realization the other day, I am in denial about my size.
I do not see myself the same way the world sees me.
I saw a picture of myself and it was shocking, I am huge.
In my head I don't look that bad.
I have always been a big guy.
In college I was big and muscular and that is how I still see myself.
However, now I am big and soft and obese but I don't see myself that way.
I have to get honest with myself.
I am 420 pounds, I am wearing a 6XLT shirt, waist size 54 pants.
I am 200 pounds heavier than I was at 21 years old.
I have my appointment with the weight loss surgeon in less than a week.
I have received some encouraging responses on this forum, so I thank all of you for that.

I've been reading reviews and I've decided to go with fitbit alba

I am not a FitBit fan. I have a Garmin VivoSmart HR and I love it.

Bariatric dietitian Elizabeth Anderson is a big advocate for bariatric surgery--her whole livelihood revolves around it.
She goes a little bananas though when people misunderstand this potential game-changer.


Tori* came to me 200 pounds overweight.
She listened carefully to all the facts about bariatric surgery’s possibilities and limitations.
She agreed that to reach optimal success, she needed to begin exercising, changing her eating habits and looking at her relationship with food.< /p>
Tori lost 150 pounds in her first-year post-op.
She didn’t have to follow any exercise program or deal with her issues with food. The weight just kept falling off.
She was even able to eat her favorite foods, just a lot less.
Tori was ecstatic and clearly over her battle with weight.
At 18 months post-op, the good times stopped rolling.
Tori was frustrated she couldn’t keep losing weight. In fact, it was getting harder to maintain her current weight.
By two years post op, she had regained 40 pounds and was frantic.
I have been as subtle as a mosquito urging Tori to check in with a counselor to better understand why she eats when she’s not hungry.
Now she was ready to give it a try.
4 months later she said to me,
“Elizabeth, this surgery can only take you so far. I thought if I lost the weight I would never regain it, even though everyone I’ve known that’s had this surgery, has regained it. I thought I would be stronger. Now I see that if you don’t face the issues you’ve got and that you’ve used food to self-medicate, all the old habits will come back and you’ll regain the weight.”
And this is the reason I say weight loss surgery is not the solution.
Calling it a tool is becoming a cliché; it’s simply the start of a different life.
It can be a new and better life with healthier eating, daily exercise and taking care of yourself emotionally.
Or, it can be a Detour, a brush with a healthier possibility that is not embraced.
Tori says she didn’t think it would be so hard to keep the weight off. She says she didn’t expect all the things in her life to stay the same after she lost weight.
Now that she’s seeing things with a brand-new perspective, Tori seems more hopeful that the Weight Regain Train is not barreling toward her.
I wish Tori wasn’t the exception but she is.
Taking an emotional inventory is the scariest part of full immersion into a new life after WLS.
But it’s worth it and I’m afraid, necessary for long-term success.
Whatever you need to do to take the dive, seek it out, today and start to imagine a more peaceful, positive future with a weight you feel good in.
_____________________________________
*client names and features are always changed to protect identity.

I use powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury too. One scoop is about 4 Tbs. During my pureed and soft food stage, I would usually add 2 Tbs (which is about 10.5 grams of protein) to my food. Examples of foods that I added it to: refried Beans, yogurt, mashed sweet potato. Most of the time though, I use the Unjury in my drinks if I need more Protein rather than in my food. My favorite drink to add it to is Decaf iced tea. Goes down easy. I add 2 Tbs per 8 oz of liquid.

I'm closing this topic. You can PM me if you'd like to clarify or discuss anything related to this matter.

EVERY SINGLE POSTER, without exception, who have defended Alex's decisions have joined within the past 6 months. If that doesn't speak volumes about the type of member being courted by this site I don't know what would. Veterans who have met goal do not spend $$ in the store, or support recommended surgeons/healthcare facilities (Medical Tourism).
Gone is the experience the veterans so freely shared. Sure, their advice was not always rainbows and unicorns, but it was truthful.
Some of us do NOT want coddled, we want help on this journey. We want information that can ONLY come from those that have lived it!
Although this is my first post, I have been lurking, reading & researching for over a year.

From LipstickLady:
**I am PISSED that he implied that I was part of any backyard bullying club. Not only would I **never** do that, but I've known for a good year that he was reading PMs so if I was going to do that, it certainly wouldn't be there. I would be THRILLED if one of you posted THIS EXACT MESSAGE in that thread and say that it was from me.**
Alex, wtf? How can anyone find this place to be a 'safe space' if we're subject to outright lies being told about us? I'm completely bewildered by your unprecedented breach of normal website behavior...since when do site owners a) read private messages and then comment on the content of said PMs publicly?

I think you've painted yourself into a corner here. What I don't understand is WHY you've done it.

@nnagle323
I haven't finished ready all the posts/comments on this thread yet (there are soooo many!), but I saw where you were having a problem with My Fitness Pal. You may have figured it out by now, but, if not, another tracking option is SparkPeople. I've been using it for years and find it much easier (for me) to use than My Fitness Pal was. I track my food and physical activity there and use the recipe calculator to figure the nutritional profile of any recipes I use. It's worth a shot.

I haven't thrown up a single time since surgery.
However, there was one time that I wish I could have thrown up - about 4 months post-op and I had eaten too much of a good thing. I have learned that there is a very fine line between just enough and 1 or 2 bites too many. Some days I recognize that line before I cross it, and once in awhile, I don't and I'm miserable for about a hour.

I haven't thrown up a single time since surgery.
However, there was one time that I wish I could have thrown up - about 4 months post-op and I had eaten too much of a good thing. I have learned that there is a very fine line between just enough and 1 or 2 bites too many. Some days I recognize that line before I cross it, and once in awhile, I don't and I'm miserable for about a hour.

I am also in agreement with Alex. Although I am quite green on this site, I have experienced some of the issues he mentioned. I wasn't sure if it was just me or a site-wide problem.
I, for one, am quite disappointed that many veterans, and therefore their experiences/knowledge, are leaving the site.
On the other hand, I didn't care for the way some veterans responded to myself and to others. Perhaps that was never their intention, but posts on a message board are usually taken quite literally and as such, one's tone should be considered.
Hopefully, things around here can head more toward the positive. If one finds themselves getting upset or irritated by the posts of the more uninformed members, perhaps take a few days off, or choose not to engage such people.

BariatricPal Members,
I wanted to remind you all about BariatricPal’s purpose and policies. If you do not want to read this entire post, please at least read the following points!
BariatricPal is a safe place for the weight loss surgery community. No rudeness or disrespect will be permitted. Your use of BariatricPal implies your acceptance of the Forum Rules. Failure to follow the Forum Rules can lead to consequences included lifetime bans from BariatricPal. Now for the complete version:
I created BariatricPal in 2003 to help other bariatric surgery patients. I want the forums to be able to help everyone reach their weight loss surgery and health goals. My goal is to maintain the forums as a place for weight loss surgery patients and potential patients to come for information and support.
BariatricPal is intended to be a safe place for the entire weight loss surgery community. I want EVERY SINGLE MEMBER to feel welcome on this board. You should feel comfortable asking questions, expressing doubts, and sharing advice, insights, and experiences.
Unfortunately, this has not been the case recently. I have heard from multiple sources that some members are uncomfortable here. They feel attacked when they post. I have heard this not only from newbie and veteran members, but also from bariatric surgeons, nurses, and psychologists who are members of ASMBS and who have heard concerns about BariatricPal from their patients.
A tiny minority of BariatricPal members are responsible for creating these concerns. The vast majority of BariatricPal members have wonderful, helpful, positive, and informative posts. I thank you for that. You are responsible for BariatricPal’s success.
A few of you, I suspect, truly want to help, but may come off sounding a little harsher than you meant. This can be off-putting to members who have sincere questions and are looking for guidance. To prevent accidentally hurting other members, I urge you to re-read the Forum Rules for suggestions on making your posts helpful rather than hurtful.
There is a tiny minority of BariatricPal members who have gone far beyond the occasional misconstrued post. It is these members who have prevented the forums from being a safe place for everyone. They repeatedly and intentionally start threads or respond to members with disparaging or rude remarks. They often imply or state outright that they are correct and that other posters are doomed to fail. They send private messages urging their friends to bully other members who disagree with them. This does not create a safe space for members!
Anyone who violates the Forum Rules is subject to consequences, include being permanently banned from BariatricPal.
The Forum Rules state, “All members have the right to express their opinions and are encouraged to do so while maintaining a courteous tone.” Disagreeing with someone and expressing yourself politely to say so is one thing. Intentionally hurting others is quite another. If you are unsure of how to respond to a post without being rude, please refer to the Forum Rules for examples and guidelines.
Again, I thank the overwhelming majority of BariatricPal members who are just trying to help, and who have done a wonderful job of lending a hand or ear to those who need it. I hope you all recognize the value you each bring to the boards, and you consider how you can contribute in the most constructive way possible.
Thank you!

@@ShelterDog64 -- Thank you for that helpful information! I think I'll order some GENEPRO tonight. Even at 2+ years post-op, it doesn't take much to fill me up so I want to make the most of everything I take in. Unflavored Protein powder is my newest best friend; before that it was vanilla

@@MrsSugarbabe
I mix it with the cold cream I'm going to add, it will occasionally get a few small clumps but I stir it briskly into the hot coffee (straight out of my espresso maker) and they usually disappear. For lattes, I mix it with a bit of cold Water, then add that to the latte after I mix the steamed milk and espresso. Once it's been mixed with a cool/cold liquid, it's never clumped when added to the hot liquid. Good luck, and I hear you about the coffee filling you up...I usually just have my protein coffee, then eat a bit of yogurt mid-morning since the coffee is all I need first thing.

Shelterdog64 has offered very sound advice.
I haven't posted much on this site because honest sound advice is not appreciated. People jump all over those who try to help others with this sound advice. It seems to have become accepted to bully those advisors. This has intimidated me from seeking out the assistance that I need or providing advice.
Being a medical professional is not an indicator of superior communication skills. There are many people offering questionable advice while claiming to be medical professionals.
My program is run by someone who is a hardcore straight shooter. Many people don't like her...her job isn't to be liked. Her job is to ensure people are knowledgeable and prepared for their surgery. After surgery, her job is to provide support and ensure success. She doesn't pull punches but it is because people did something drastic and need to be successful and stay safe.
You may not like the advice but it doesn't mean the person was inappropriate.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@bleonhardt It doesn't change it at all, at least to my palate. I use cream in my coffee, so I mix the scoop of GENEPRO with the coffee cream, then mix that into my coffee. It's really helped me and made my weight loss more successful!

Does the genpro change the consistency of your coffee at all? I can not wait until I have a taste for coffee again lol but think that is a great idea to meet protein goals! Just can not do a consistency change as I won't enjoy it! Lol Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

I think part of the problem is that it's impossible to tell tone from a text post, especially from someone you've never met in person, and someone might say something intending it to be taken a certain way and the reader takes it completely differently and then a war breaks out. Some people speak very plainly and very bluntly, with no malice, that's just the way they are, and others may not be used to that. There's also a lot of the "facebook syndrome" where we might talk to someone online in a manner we'd never use in person.

@ShelterDog64 -- You mentioned earlier using unflavored GENEPRO in your morning coffee -- do you have to keep the temperature of the coffee at a certain temp to keep the GENEPRO from clumping? My morning coffee alone fills me up, but has no Protein so I'm wanting to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, and I've seen that several folks use Genepro in their coffee. I just want to be sure before I order a tub of it. I use @@unjury Protein Powder to supplement my daily Protein intake and love it, but it will clump if the Water temp is above 140 deg. (chicken Soup flavor). I make my own latte in the afternoon and have switched from hot to iced so I can use the unflavored @@UNJURY in the latte. This is working well so far, however, sometimes I want a hot latte in the afternoon. Thanks for any suggestions!