Beni

I have a funny one. I decided to have a Margarita last Saturday night. I got roaring drunk with a single Margarita. I had to strip my clothes off as I was perspiring profusely and had to go to bed pronto. The sugar in the drink also may have caused it but I had not been this drunk since college. Good to know, I'll have to have a single sip from now on.

@@amylynns Hurray for Hannah, she gets a more energetic mom and the rest of the family too. I too have the bones sticking out in the shoulder area. I do lift weights but it doesn't help much. It's like gravity melted the fat away. It's hard to build muscle with what we eat but I am sure it would be worse if I didn't try to keep what I have in the muscle department. It feels funny to stuff all the breast tissue into a bra. I so want a breast lift. I can't be without a bra even when I sleep. It hurts too bad when I turn around. I have been wearing cotton loose sports bras to bed for the support. This is not something I expecting out of WLS, lol. I guess because as the fat left the skin distended causing the breast tissue to get pulled by gravity. It seriously hurts. It's worst if I bend forward, ouch. But otherwise, I feel fantastic. Of course making sure I eat right is always a challenge and I do mess up once in a while.

@@Luna222 Are you feeling a little better? Has the nausea gotten better? I feel a bit better but I do get tummy aches now. I almost called my doctor this morning. I wonder if I need to go on Protonix again. After my cup of coffee this morning wow, my tummy hurt. I had some crackers and a sip of milk. It settled down. It was like a hunger pain X 100. I have been drinking coffee with lots of milk for several months. It's a latte, really. It never bothered me before. But I have noticed that same pain when I don't eat for a while. After 3 hours without food it is bothersome. How is your dating life going? I feel like I never did get to respond to your post a while back. I ask in part because it has been a while since you were in the dating picture at this size. Any differences worth mentioning? Now that you are even more gorgeous and healthier, that is.

@@joankrie Congratulations on achieving wonderland. What wonderful feeling. No, never heard of that diet. I too get a little light headed if I don't eat. Sometimes I forget but I can manage my blood sugar with 3 meals and 2 Snacks. I have done well lately with it. I do get a little tummy ache here and there from either eating too fast or perhaps a bite too much. I had Protein oatmeal the other day and I think it was too hot. Boy did I get a tummy ache. Now I only have a half portion and I wait until it is completely cool. How are you supposed to have the required protein without having meats? I hope you don't mind me asking but what is the relationship with the pancreas? I am one of those medically curious people. I aa always researching medical stuff.

@@Shadow427 Congratulations on 100 lbs lost. It feels like a dream. I fixed a dress I loved and had to take in 2 inches from the width on each side. That's 8 inches. Holly cow. Have been shopping a bit and it still takes forever to find something I like because i am picky. I love that shoes fit so nicely now. Before it was a struggle to find something that didn't look like my foot was getting strangled. I could seriously become a shoe hoarder. Are you in Cape May for the summer?

@@amylynns Love the dress your step daughter picked. You are right very classic and timeless. That's the kind of dress that looks great on pictures forever. I too was married in the 80's, not a good decade at all for wedding dresses. We all looked like poufs of white and the hair didn't help either. I don't think May 2017 is that far off. It makes sense because of your step daughter and you if want May, there is really no other way. I too want a boob job so bad but I have all the kids Colleges to deal with. I may have to come up with a plan for it to happen. I have developed this weird pain in my breast. When I bend down and I am not wearing a bra. It feels like my breast is ripping from my body. It is a very sharp pain. I fired out it was due to the fact that to fit into my bra all the skin gets stuffed in and it creates a fold under the arm pit. So, I have to do a lot of adjusting or wear a sports bra. Not a good look because I look likely breasts are around the belly button. I am exaggerating but still not a good look. I am at 169, so 101 lbs lost. I actually am trying to slow down because I feel like I am looking a little too thin around my shoulders and hips. Bones are sticking out and I am so afraid of looking like a skeleton with skin draped over it. I have taken my boys to the pool a few times and I had a great time playing which was totally embarrassing for my teenagers. They grew up with mom lounging in the chair and are totally confused by this woman who wants to go tubbing. They are the slouches now, I have way more energy then they do. I wish I was this energetic when they were younger. We would have had a blast.

So many posts to answer, can't wait and don't even know who to start with first. It won't be in order because my little brain can't remember who was first, so I'll go backwards. @ smiley922 One year on and plastic surgery. That's a great goal to have. How much is it going to cost, if you don't mind me asking? I have read on BP that sometimes people can get insurance to pay but I am not sure if that really happens. I am actually wearing my girdle today, trying to hold everything in. It is a lot of extra skin to deal with and I end up having this little pouch. I look pregnant. Well, I did before as well when I was 270 lbs but somehow it bothers me more now. Keeps us in the loop. We would love to hear all about it.

Hi everyone, Looks like we have all been busy like bees. I have thought of you all and often wonder how you are all doing. For the rest of my life I am sure I will cherish having you all as my WLS pals. This has been a good week. 100lbs lost milestone. What a dream! I can hardly believe I could lose that kind of weight. A total miracle. I have more energy then I did 10 years ago and feel awesome. Love, Beni

Best decision of my life. The regrets were only early on because I was missing the comfort of eating a huge meal and lolling myself to sleep. Definitely not a healthy relationship with food. I also got sick quite a few times in the first few months because it turns out I had a hard time figuring out how to eat. Slow and chewing properly was hard for me. I used to be one of those super fast eaters. I Still get sick sometimes because I try to push it. Silly me. Now, after losing 99 lbs, I am a ball of energy. Me, a ball of energy? I still can hardly believe it.

When I had RNY October 28th, 2014. I was expecting to lose a little weight but I was sure I would be an underachiever in this journey. I had always underperformed in all my diets. In my mind, it followed that it was going to be the most likely scenario with bariatric surgery. There is a range of weight loss and of course I would be a slow loser. Not true at all. I have lost 99 lbs in 8 months. I have been successful beyond my dreams. I would have been over the moon with half that amount. The difference, I am not hungry all the time. Now my hunger is manageable and I have (literally) enough time to make good choices about what I eat.

@@amylynns Perhaps you are still in Hawaii time (slower and lazier). Also, if Brett has a bug you may also be developing one of those summer colds. That will drain your energy. Aren't fries the devil? I cannot handle more then one or two. Not sure if it gets stuck or it's the fat. Fried food is certainly not good. However, I can eat chickpeas with olive oil and balsamic vinegar without a problem. A good tablespoon of olive oil and I am fine. Perhaps it's the kind of fat. I am not organized enough to figure it out. I figure fries are not great for you so my family will just have to have less of them. It's going to be so fun shopping for a wedding dress. What styles do you like? You probably will have to try all sorts because with your new shape it's like you are another person. What looked good before my not anymore. We are literally new people. Even my mother can't begin to understand how this is possible.

@@Luna222 I wonder why we are getting sick again? Last night, I was sick for the second day in a row. I had two slices of homemade pizza with mostly veggies and good stuff. Not sure why I am so sensitive all of a sudden. I don't even know what I should eat. I try to stick to yogurt and other easy food but my Protein intake is not enough. I had a Protein Bar (16 gr) and some milk with my tea but that's it for today. I am not hungry at all. Last night was not fun. The nausea was horrible. Blast. I think it's harder for me to do dinner because I am sitting down with my family and eat faster then I do during the day. I tend to snack on my meal. One bite, then I do something, a few minutes later I take another bite and so on. Dinner is all at the same time. I chew very well but I think my stomach can't handle that much food at once. It's only like 1/2 cup but It's still too much. I actually lost a bunch of weight this week. No idea why since I didn't do anything all that different. I have been outdoors a lot: waterpark with the boys, etc. I guess all the heat has re-ved up my metabolism. I am 1 pound away from 100 lbs lost. I suppose I should be happy, and I am.

Hello everyone, Loved the photos and updates. So many news from everyone. I got sick last night for the first time in over a month. Had an hamburger patty with cheese. Well, had a 1/3 of a patty. Added 4 fries and I think those did it. Usually I am a single french fire girl. Perhaps I ate too fast but it was not good. Any one still gets sick out there? Sorry about your dumping @@Luna 222. That does sound scary. I had Nyquil the other day because for two weeks I woke up at 3:00 AM and wouldn't go back to sleep. It usually knocks me down for the night. I was not doing well with sleep deprivation (a bit of a bear) and 10 minutes after taking it I was sweaty and shaky. Meds do act differently with RNY. @@smiley922 Wild girl you!

@@amylynns The Sargento cheese sounds great. I will get some. The salad dressing also sounds good. Which brand do you like? The last 3 salad dressings I bought I hated. Overtime I go grocery shopping it seems like I spend an hour looking a salad dressings and always get something horrible. I think I was going with choices with too low calorie.

I should write a cookbook: A Thousand ways of eating Chick Peas, or The Chick Pea Life Sentence because it's beginning to feel like a prison. But it's high Protein and I can season it in so many ways, it comes in a can and it's always waiting for me in the pantry. Alright, I'll stop my war against the lovely chick pea and go get something done even at 5 AM. Have a lovely day Gladiators!

Hey, lets share our favorite tummy happy, protein filled meals. My favorite is taco salad with a lot of ground beef but only a little lettuce and tomato using the low fat cheese, sour cream and a dollop of salsa. I actually have some cooked ground beef in baggies in the freezer but I cannot have Taco salad every day. Any other ideas? I am so bored of eating chick peas. It's my go to when I can't think of anything else to eat.

Dumping for me is high fat or high sugar. Fat: burping, uncomfortable, slight nausea but not enough to actually get sick, feeling tired, have to sit down because I am out of sorts. Sugar: Sweating , elevated heart rate, exhaustion, have to lie down. Sometimes I even fall asleep for 10 - 20 minutes because the exhaustion is that overwhelming. It doesn't take much to reach that. Eating one banana too fast by itself can do it for me. I'm a half a banana girl! Desert for me is: one single bite after food. Or I'l have to lie down after. NOT very convenient most of the time. In other words, I can eat more desert, if I'm prepared to waste an hour recovering after - NOT GOOD! It feels horrible. The other day, I had 1/2 a cupcake and I think the frosting was too rich and sweet. I had a hot flash within 5 minutes, my face was on fire and I could feel my neck getting wet. Then, my temples started to drip. I had to leave the party because I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. SOOOOO uncomfortable and so not worth it.

Hi everyone, I'm back. Stuck at 175 lbs with Luna. Misery does love company, lol. Loved Taci's comment on the boob thing. Smiley once referred to hers as tube socks. I still laugh when I think about it. Great imagery! My boob moment was when I wore a bra that had less coverage (demi) and when I bent over, my boobs spilled over the top. Then, I stood there (in line at a register at Maci's, I think) with this unaboob over the top of the bra and I could not fix it without getting hands in there. How horrible. Now, I know my bra has to fit well all around so the girls can't run away in any direction. I lost my pants once, I was walking along and I felt this funny feeling, they were past my butt but because my shirt was long I didn't flash anyone but it was hilarious. I still try to wear clothes that fall off my body as I obviously don't learn. I wore this pair of crop pants the other day and I was out in the garden. After pulling them up for the 100th time, I stopped and said to myself, my pants are slowing me down, lol. Had to change them pronto. I have placed clothes shopping on hold for now because it's was such a waste. All 6 pairs of jeans I bought in the past 3 months are too big. It's so hard to find a pair that fits great and once you do, not being able to wear them is like losing an old friend. All my tops look like tents AGAIN. In fact, when I go in my closet, it's a fight finding something that fits.

@@amylynns Congratulations on your engagement. See, it happened and in the best way. Love the picture of the two of you with the white dress. No wonder he proposed, you are the girl of his dreams and you sure look like a dream, a gorgeous one.

Nothing really helps. I have increased my Protein and my hair is not falling as much but I am not sure that's what did it. I too take Biotin. I would say I have about half as much hair as I had before. Most of the loss occurred around 5 - 6 months post surgery. One week it was horrible, my hair fell in bunches. I would run my hand trough my hair and I was sure by the end of the day I would be bald. Interestingly enough at that time I was losing weight slowly. I say this because I was thinking the rapid weight loss was probably not good. I hope my hair grows back. The thinning is obvious around my temples and at the top of my head I have a lot less volume. Another thing that happened around the time of the rapid hair loss was I got dandruff. My head was itchy and I developed Patches of dandruff which I have never had.

Wow girls you both look stunning. @Pinkpolkadot619 Date night all glamorous, such a hot babe. @@LisaCO You look like a 20 something in that cute top. So pretty.

@@joankrie So happy for your weight loss. I am sure you feel like a different person. I do. Watch out for the blood sugar, as you say it's dangerous. Are you able to control it with food or your blood sugar level drops quickly? I have been in a weight stall for quite a while now. Well, I am not sure because I have not stepped on the scale for 2 weeks. It was like 177.2, 177.4, 177.3, 177.6, 177.2, 177.4 for day after day. What the heck! But I feel pretty good. I am making sure I eat more Protein. I did but it was more like 50 grams and I was told that's not enough. My hair is not falling like crazy. So happy about that. I don't get sick as much, only the occasional, eating too fast and not chewing enough. The other day I had too much cake and boy did I feel unwell. I felt so hot, my forehead and neck were dripping. Scary! I think I had a sugar high, not good at all.

I am laughing so hard with this post. Only WLS patients understand. I used to wear Lane Bryant cotton briefs. They have some stretch with lycra in the actual fabric. You may want to give them a try. They are wonderful and there are 2 or 3 styles and lots of color choices. Now at 177lbs and a size 12 regular they fall off and there is no size smaller then 14-16W. I have purchased 4 different types of underwear and nothing feels right. I am mourning the loss of my favorite underwear.

Medifast. Wow, could not eat that stuff. Lost weight because I literally could not eat the food. Then after a few days, I would eat everything that wasn't nailed down because I was starving. The freeze dried stuff was gross. The Soups in little packs that you mix with Water were disgusting and the pancakes. I could go on and on. How could anyone buy that stuff. It can't possibly be good for you. Protein, veggies, fruit and a very small amount of carbs is my secret but the fact that I am not hungry like a bear 24/7 as before surgery is the miracle I never thought was possible. Let's not forget lots to drink. I like warm tea of all sorts best.

@@misstvb I am taking a little break because my shoulder is killing me but I was doing weights and a machine circuit that included cardio every day (Sunday off) except for the days I did legs. For cardio, I like the elliptical best and the treadmill when my knees have had enough. I find that I have to be careful with my joints or I have to rest for a few days and get out of the routine. I do a class once in a while just for variety but they are still too challenging for me most of the time. At least I feel like I struggle a bit more then the others. It's been hard to stay on a schedule. Some weeks I do great, others not so much. What you are doing sounds really good. I had a trainer do a program for me but I have not stayed with her. My friend does once a week and since we workout together (most days) I just do what she does. I don't write it all down though. I am more of a go with whatever. I should get a little more serious about the quality of my workouts. At this point I need to get into a routine again. @@joankrie What have you been up to?