Trillium

CFGirl, I feel like you; I could've written your post (with some minor changes). I am 45 yrs old, 5'4", 192... which equals a 33 BMI, which is OBESE. I have a myriad of issues: hypothyroid, yoyo dieting, high cholesterol, back/knee/foot pain, pre-diabetic. I'm just so DONE with feeling horrible. I really enjoy exercise and in the past have run multiple half marathons. But now I wake with a headache every morning, zero energy, joints hurt, back hurts. And have been told NOT to run because of further joint damage. I miss running. And I don't want to wait any longer to just get MORE UNHEALTHY. I have been researching for some time and my husband is supportive. I have an appointment scheduled for a consult with a reputable surgeon. I am determined. I assume I will be a self-pay patient, unless during the pre-op findings we find that insurance may step up to the plate. Nonetheless, I am determined to get off this yoyo / rollercoaster and get on with healthy living. I just want to say "thank you" to those other low BMI people out there. I have been reading this board for about six months and sometimes I am fearful of posting bc I may not be received well since "I'm not fat enough" and shouldn't even be considering this option. Sad.

You don't need to give anyone a reason for what you do. It is your decision. Say something like, "Oh, I had no idea you were an expert in the field of what is best for me!" It normally shuts people up.

My BMI is at 40 now, the last 10 yrs ive been between 200 and 250. Insurance is covering my surgery even tho I have no co-morbiditiys. Very grateful. Ive been able to lose 40...30...20lbs but ALWAYS get it back. Im ready to ROCK my sleeve! Ive researched a lot and have noticed many lower BMI sleevers have reached goal in about a year. Excited! Hard core for a year, it will fly by and Ill be happier, healthier, vibrant, and confident! Woot woot (surgery in 2 days...hence the delirium)

Excellent article.
This is the first place I've read that stress can cause weight gain even without additional calories. So I did some googling and lo-and-behold, the studies are out there.
Why is this not front-page news? Stress caused by financial insecurity is at Depression-era levels, as obesity rates soar.
The fact that stressful events and depression alter how we metabolize food (not just what we choose to eat, or how often we move) is BIG. As long as we pretend the problems of obesity are individual not systemic, we'll be chasing the wrong solutions.
My story in brief: I was a 10-pound baby and grew up chubby but healthy. Gained 20 with children and post-partum depression, then lost a friend to suicide and put on 35, very quickly. I lost that 35 with hard work and low carbs, but a series of stressors occurred that left me with little appetite or energy. Yet within two years, I gained 55 pounds.

I am not a binger. I eat sensibly and am moderately active (I walk, bike, swim, hike). I don't drink soda, eat very little sugar, and stay away from carbs. I honestly thought my doctor's scale was broken. She figured it was my genes kicking in (my parents are large), and no doubt suspected me of lying about my diet and activity levels.
The big takeaway for me?
Even after WLS, stress will effect how I metabolize food. Looks like stress-reduction will be just as critical to my success as keeping track of food and exercise.
I'll plan to add "cushion time" on MyFitnessPal to log daily meditation. It may burn more calories than one thinks. And join a support group! I suspect the cortisol-lowering effects of being with sympathetic people are just as critical if not more so than the "accountability" factor.

There appears to be justified concern that artificial sweeteners cause the very thing they are intended to prevent. I find it puzzling that bariatric centers are still pushing them.
Any thoughts? Did you or will you use artificial sweeteners for weight control? If so, are you concerned about their impact on your gut biota?

I'm fairly certain I got fat out of convenience. I am not lazy by any means, I am actually super busy. I have two kids who go to different schools, neither in our district so I have to drive them both and pick them both up. They both do activities after school and are on totally different schedules. I own a business that I run from my house that has me in the car most of the time and I spend a few hours of each day at my martial arts school. I'm fairly anal about keeping my house in order and I like to have dinner most nights for my family, even if we don't all get to sit down and eat together. I barely have a minute to myself but I know that my lifestyle is not at all unusual.
You'd think I'd be like my best friend, super skinny because there is no time to eat, but I was the queen of fast food. I loved Wawa because of the huge variety of chips and Snacks and convenience foods on the go and it was nothing for me to go through a drive through for myself 2-3 times a day. I didn't feed my family fast food because I know how unhealthy it is but that didn't seem to apply to me in my mind.

One of my biggest obstacles after WLS was the lack of convenience foods for quick grab and go. I need a lot LESS food at a sitting, but I need quality food now or I feel miserable. After 19 months, I have finally found some staples that I can keep in my fridge for convenience and now that it's cold out, my cooler keeps my snacks fresh all day. My capacity is VERY small, so I do eat 5-6 mini meals a day which is a bigger challenge and I really prefer real foods over Protein Drinks and bars as does my NUT. When I want to eat, I want REAL food, not snacks.
Suggestions to make your busy life easier and healthier. I would love you to add yours, too. As you will see, I do high Protein, low carb and I don't give a flying fart about fat. High fat is OK in my book. These are the foods I keep in my fridge, prepped and ready for a quick, I'm starving "meal/snack".

cheese. Full fat, yummy delicious REAL cheese. Cubed up off a block.

Shrimp. Steamed or in a shrimp salad (aka mayo and spices).
London Broil. I marinate and grill a London Broil every other week or so. I slice it thin, serve it for dinner and then snack on the leftovers for the rest of the week. Happy girl with my read meat.< /p>
Deviled eggs. Yum! Not just for Easter anymore.

Browned ground beef seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic. I keep a bowl of it cooked and ready. I add mozzarella or cheddar to a quarter cup or so, pop in the microwave, heat and eat.
Refried Beans. Add cheese or the browned meat above and YUM!

Good quality hot dogs. I know, yuck, right? But roll one up in a paper towel, nuke it for 45 seconds and it's all meat, no carbs and delish. I do all beef and light. They don't go bad so a pack of six will stay in my fridge for three weeks or so safely.

Ham Slice. I grill and cub one of those Smithfield ham slices that's about 1/2 inch thick. The kids and husband will throw it on salad, in a tortilla or eat in an omelette and I just eat out of the container.
I'm not a fan of chicken, it sticks terribly, but my kids love rotisserie chicken so I cube up the leftovers into a curry chicken salad that's almost always ready. I can manage anything with mayo. REAL MAYO.
Bacon. I cook a pound and keep it in the fridge. It goes just like the ham.

Frozen mini quiche. At Target and Sam's they even have crustless quiche. YUM!

What are your convenience REAL foods?

Thanks all for the great input. It has gave me loads to think about and consider.
Its been a year since starting all this, and maybe nerves are getting the better of me as it gets closer.
I have always been overweight, my heaviest at age 17. 300+
Ive never known anything different. I only no what fat feels like.
Nothing stops me from doing things with the kids. They are always my number 1 priority. Getting embarrassed at the park never stopped me. But I could feel the stares.
I truly would love to be a healthy size. Not let my kids grow up with a fat mum. Also actually feel nice when dressed up and going out for dinner with hubby.
Always get told what a pretty face I have, usually followed by its a shame your fat. Had that said to me by a complete stranger when I was just 14, and it has stuck with me forever.
I like what was quoted,
you have to trust that you as the parent know what is best in your life.
I need to remember that.
My stats.
Age 28 (29 on 18th dec)
Hw age 17 336 lbs
CW 242 lbs
Height 5.6 ft. ( do you guys use feet as measurements in the US?)
Im still losing weight or maintaining some weeks. I have completely changed my ways with food. No processed all home made. No more snacking on junk but My problem is quantity.
I have had my gall bladder out a few years ago, wonder what the stats are comparing the risks with a sleeve?
Everyone around me does not want me to have surgery. My husband is the only support. I fear the negativity is rubbing off on me.
Thanks again.

I was also a "healthy fat" in that I didn't have any co-morbidities"....but if you look at the statistics, at 140 pounds overweight, I had a much lower chance of being around for many, many years for my children.
I have a 6 year old as well, and so I understand the mentality at that age. Surgery seems like a really scary thing for them. And it does have risks. But like others have said, so does living life obese. I will tell you that in the end, my kids have benefited just as much as I have from my weight loss. They got their active mom back. I play at the play park with them, climbing through the tubes, sliding down the slides. We ride bikes and run together. We've gone to amusement parks and I ride with them, I don't sit on the bench waiting anymore. They also have a mom who is learning to love herself and has shown them what is possible if you have a goal and work really, really hard to achieve it.
I can honestly, 100%, say that the journey I've been on for the past 15 months has transformed my whole family. They are eating better, they have cut out the sugary drinks and foods, have become more active with me, and I'm able to love them better as I'm loving myself more.
With all of that said, if you feel in your gut - in your heart of hearts - that it's not the right time, then wait. But if it's truly the response from your son that is giving you pause, you have to trust that you as the parent know what is best in your life wisdom and can weigh the risk and potential benefits not only for you, but for your whole family.

I was "healthy fat" until I wasn't. It hit me like a ton of bricks and the co-mordbidities started piling up. Arthritis, a knee that went hinky but they wouldn't work on it due to my weight, sleep apnea, borderline blood pressure. No diabetes, but my fasting blood sugar was creeping into the upper 90s...
I have some regret that I would have been a better, more energetic, happier, better socially adjusted mom if I had been somewhere near normal size during their childhood. I have more than some regret, I actually feel some guilt.
My kids are young adults. I show them my before pics from time to time and it makes them both sad. I see it in their eyes. They remember the embarrassment, the mom who couldn't/didn't want to do many activities even though i tried. They both tell me that they don't remember me like that - like it was a stranger in that photo.
If your obesity isn't hurting you, isn't impacting your life in a negative way, I am guessing WLS isn't really the right thing at this time. It is a HUGE committment. You are very unlikely to die from it, but you are VERY likely to find aspects of it very difficult. It is my belief that a person should be pretty much sure this is their last resort so they are motivated to make it work. Lets be serious here... they remove part of your stomach! This is no small little thing in terms of lifetime impact. However, you are very unlikely to die from this and it is a mistake to let a child's fears drive your decision as there are many dimensions to this.

I was totally a "healthy fat". I did martial arts, I huffed and puffed my fat ass through the park, up the dunes, through 5ks. I had no co-morbidities. I was a master at faking it and just dealing quietly with the pain that was starting in my knees and feet.

It wasn't until I lost 100+ pounds that I figured out what I was really missing.

You should not do this until you are ready and as you don't feel this is urgent for you, I agree that the time might not be right for you. Only you can decide that. You will know when you are ready and NO ONE will be able to change your mind.

I was willing to risk the possible complications over the idea of allowing my children watch me die slowly due to obesity.

My quality of life is so much better and we have more fun together. I am no longer exhausted after a day of activity. I can fit into any ride at the amusement park, I don't worry about weight limits when we go zip lining or rock climbing, and I am the first one to suggest a mud run or a day of tubing on the river.

I wish I hadn't wasted so much of their childhood obese. That's a huge regret for me.

Excellent article.
This is the first place I've read that stress can cause weight gain even without additional calories. So I did some googling and lo-and-behold, the studies are out there.
Why is this not front-page news? Stress caused by financial insecurity is at Depression-era levels, as obesity rates soar.
The fact that stressful events and depression alter how we metabolize food (not just what we choose to eat, or how often we move) is BIG. As long as we pretend the problems of obesity are individual not systemic, we'll be chasing the wrong solutions.
My story in brief: I was a 10-pound baby and grew up chubby but healthy. Gained 20 with children and post-partum depression, then lost a friend to suicide and put on 35, very quickly. I lost that 35 with hard work and low carbs, but a series of stressors occurred that left me with little appetite or energy. Yet within two years, I gained 55 pounds.

I am not a binger. I eat sensibly and am moderately active (I walk, bike, swim, hike). I don't drink soda, eat very little sugar, and stay away from carbs. I honestly thought my doctor's scale was broken. She figured it was my genes kicking in (my parents are large), and no doubt suspected me of lying about my diet and activity levels.
The big takeaway for me?
Even after WLS, stress will effect how I metabolize food. Looks like stress-reduction will be just as critical to my success as keeping track of food and exercise.
I'll plan to add "cushion time" on MyFitnessPal to log daily meditation. It may burn more calories than one thinks. And join a support group! I suspect the cortisol-lowering effects of being with sympathetic people are just as critical if not more so than the "accountability" factor.

Excellent article.
This is the first place I've read that stress can cause weight gain even without additional calories. So I did some googling and lo-and-behold, the studies are out there.
Why is this not front-page news? Stress caused by financial insecurity is at Depression-era levels, as obesity rates soar.
The fact that stressful events and depression alter how we metabolize food (not just what we choose to eat, or how often we move) is BIG. As long as we pretend the problems of obesity are individual not systemic, we'll be chasing the wrong solutions.
My story in brief: I was a 10-pound baby and grew up chubby but healthy. Gained 20 with children and post-partum depression, then lost a friend to suicide and put on 35, very quickly. I lost that 35 with hard work and low carbs, but a series of stressors occurred that left me with little appetite or energy. Yet within two years, I gained 55 pounds.

I am not a binger. I eat sensibly and am moderately active (I walk, bike, swim, hike). I don't drink soda, eat very little sugar, and stay away from carbs. I honestly thought my doctor's scale was broken. She figured it was my genes kicking in (my parents are large), and no doubt suspected me of lying about my diet and activity levels.
The big takeaway for me?
Even after WLS, stress will effect how I metabolize food. Looks like stress-reduction will be just as critical to my success as keeping track of food and exercise.
I'll plan to add "cushion time" on MyFitnessPal to log daily meditation. It may burn more calories than one thinks. And join a support group! I suspect the cortisol-lowering effects of being with sympathetic people are just as critical if not more so than the "accountability" factor.

Stay strong! I'll be holding space for you and following your progress.

Oh I'm having the same problem. My therapist says it is from my fear of thinking I'll never get to eat this way again. Maybe she is right. So I had a binge until I was completely sick and then got on track. OH I'm not saying do that. lol I also went through my house found one cabinet and but all the stuff I could eat in it and then found another and put all the stuff I can't eat in it put a lock on that bad boy and gave the key to my husband. Its hard but if you can't learn to eat healthy now are you ready for a life changing experience? You have to make that choice. Its a tough one but it is SOOO important to do. I'm on day two of my pre op and its going ok.

I'm interested if anyone has and funny sleeve stories. I have one aready and am willing to share.
I've been self conscious about taking my shirt off in public for a long time. Since I started the process for surgery I decided that NOW was the time to change all that. I started a gym membership and began working out. For the longest I would'nt change at the gym. Since surgery, I decided to go for it and change there to make my life a bit easier.
I'm an old Marine SF Recon grunt. I served in the 1st Gulf war. I've got a few scars on my chest and back from past advetures and now I have these cuts from surgery.
On the 1st day I changed at the gym there were about 3 young men in their 20's getting changed and ready for a basketball game. I took my shirt off and started to get ready. They got really quiet and were looking at my surgery scars. I was getting a bit self conscious when one of them spoke up and said, "DUDE!! What the heck happened to you?" I'm always up for pulling a good joke on someone. So. with my best Marine War Face said, "Knife Fight." and walked away.
I don't think any of those young men got anywhere close to me during my workout.
It took everything I had not to laugh.
That's mine... what's yours?

Okay, this is it! I have to be at the hospital at 7:30 a.m. for a 9:30 surgery. I am absolutely beside myself. Had a bowl of Soup for dinner and am having a cup of tea now. Water till 10:00 then nothing after that. So many emotions right now. Sad that I let myself get to this point. Excited about the future me. Nervous that I won't wake up from the surgery. Anxious and nauseous. OMGI think I should just go to bed and get this ball rolling. Just don't think I can sleep. Hopefully I can update this post tomorrow afternoon and be alive and as upbeat as you all have been. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experiences. You have no idea how much it has helped me. Goodnight all. "See" you tomorrow!

I was told the more you lose before surgery, the greater your chances of reaching goal. I'm down 22 and trying for 30 (four weeks to go). If my doc puts me on a long pre-op diet, I will be disappointed but OTOH, it will help me focus. Good luck and hang in there!

Would be fun to get some Seattle area peeps together for coffee sometime!

I was told the more you lose before surgery, the greater your chances of reaching goal. I'm down 22 and trying for 30 (four weeks to go). If my doc puts me on a long pre-op diet, I will be disappointed but OTOH, it will help me focus. Good luck and hang in there!

Why I chose VSG:
1. Decreased risk of dumping syndrome. Three years from now, if I want a bite of donut, I can have a bite of donut - enjoy a bite of donut, and odds are, not feel like I'm going to fall out.
2. Increased ability to eat 'healthy' food.. Lean and green are the mainstays of this lifestyle.
3. I read a study that indicated that families where the mom has had VSG lose weight and the children are less likely to be obese. I think that has to do with #2.. I want that; I want my kids to see me eating healthy, not to see me able to eat 'whatever' and still lose weight.
4. I work with ALOT of people who have had both surgeries. It has been my observation that post bypass, while the weightloss is faster, the skin is MUCH looser, the overall appearance is less healthy (dry, ashen, etc..), and to quote my husband they look like 'a pillowcase with the s*t slung out of it'.
5. I'm not the best at taking supplements long term. I stuck with prenatals for a year of planning + pregnancy and then another year of nursing.. and then Vitamins became hit or miss for me. I don't want to lose bone mass, blood cells, etc because of massive supplement needs secondary to malabsorption.
6. Research indicates that the part of the stomach left after gb can restretch; not so much with vsg due to the fact that the fundus is removed.
7. The intestines increase their ability to absorb, it's a survival thing. What if I get used to being able to eat crap and lose weight, stretch my stomach out, and my intestines start absorbing enough calories that I put it back on?
8. I want a normal colonoscopy, where all my insides can be visualized without having to have a special procedure.
For me - bypass was a very brief fleeting thought. I believe the VSG will be effective. If it's not, I can always have a revision to the DS. If it is, I've avoided all the stuff that steered me away from gastric bypass for the last decade.

Happy Thanksgiving! Guess who's signing up for her first half marathon in June?! Is that a little too optimistic?

I was told yesterday at the clinic that once a patient gets insurance approval, they are not rejected for falling below the BMI threshold (40). So I have no reason to worry. I bought all the supplements I need and am trying some new Protein powders. As this my last T-day with my "old" stomach, I thought I'd be having a food carnival, but I'm more eager to reach my goal of 30 pounds gone by December 28. Just a bite of this and a bite of that. The first bite tastes the best anyway! So pumped.

Happy Thanksgiving! Guess who's signing up for her first half marathon in June?! Is that a little too optimistic?

The science is moving so fast in this area that I actually scouted around for a skinny bugs fecal transplant, but my biologist relatives, internist and bariatric surgeon all assured me it would many years before such a thing is more effective than dangerous. My husband is thin as a rail while eating like a horse, and after 20 years you would think I've been exposed to all his bacteria.

I suspect the fix will turn out to be very individual, with some transplants effective and some not.
Meanwhile, surgery is the treatment with the best outcomes. So here I go, on December 29th. I'll be really mad if a tried and true EverSlimEnema comes out in 2015!