SuzeMuze

Ummm... a little dose of "realism" here. RNY is a tool, not a cure. I'm willing to bet you didn't gain close to 100 pounds in 5 months. The fact that you lost that much is phenomenal, isn't it? Second thing to remember- your body will dictate how fast, how much and when you will lose the weight. Period. You can change it up all you want and enjoy some small losses when you hit those stalls or whatnot, but your body is in charge here. It's been one of the hardest things for me to accept throughout my RNY journey as I've been stuck at about 6 pounds from my goal weight for nearly 2 months no matter what I try and do to kick it back into gear. So, I truly enjoy my life now and not obsess that I didn't get exactly what my surgeon set as my goal weight. Dropping 100 pounds for you has already added years to your life and probably done wonders for your health, no matter how far away you might still be. I'm incredibly proud of you and everyone else here who's done so much to get healthy. Please don't obsess over "how much is enough"- you'll only drive yourself nuts.

It sure will- stay strong! I agree with you that getting all the "yuck" flushed out of my system before surgery was definitely the toughest part!

"Can I have a coupon please" I'm not looking forward to seeing the price tag on this next year.

This website is heaven! Thank you so very much for sharing this website. The recipes are amazing! I'd have to tweak quite a few due to my many allergies, but she has fabulous ideas. I thought I was so limited on what I could eat. I can't thank you enough.

If you're looking for amazing recipes, I would highly recommend taking a look at: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com
She's got tons of fantastic suggestions for every stage of WLS, plus lots of encouragement in her very "real" blog about her own weight loss journey. Any time I find myself in a "food rut" or wanting everything and nothing at all, I'll check out her writings and always find something great! Who knew you could slice up a Quest bar and pop it in the oven for a few minutes to turn it into Cookies?? YUM!

At first I went with the Pure Protein chocolate drinks...not too bad. Now without a doubt my fave is the Syntrax nectar brand- they win the taste test hands down! Some of them are too sweet for me, but the Lemon Tea is my drink now every single day- I highly recommend trying some samples! (I purchase it at the Vitamin Shoppe)

At first I went with the Pure Protein chocolate drinks...not too bad. Now without a doubt my fave is the Syntrax Nectar brand- they win the taste test hands down! Some of them are too sweet for me, but the Lemon Tea is my drink now every single day- I highly recommend trying some samples! (I purchase it at the Vitamin Shoppe)

Eating out does get easier! I'm 9 months post op and can enjoy something from nearly everywhere, though it's usually a bread bowl of Soup (not eating the bread part), an appetizer, or something off the kid's menu- don't let the "12 and under" label think you can't get it...I've never been in a restaurant that's questioned whether or not I can order from it. I'll just tell them I'm not that hungry.

As someone who's going through exactly the same thing, here's what I would advise based on my consultations with a plastic surgeon.
1. Take a good, honest look at your body and prioritize what you really want/need to change, and what you can live with. Due to anesthesia limitations, my surgeon told me that I couldn't wake up and be "fixed", but could choose two of the 4 procedures I wanted done at a time. For me, that ended up being the boobs & arm lift- the two things I felt caused me to feel the most self conscious and were the hardest to disguise, especially in the summer. The other two can wait till winter time.
2. Get an expense estimate with the length of validity. Plastic surgery is quite expensive, and depending on what you're interested in, many insurance companies won't cover the cost. Check out financing options to help guide your priorities.
3. Ask to see before/after pictures, and allow the surgeon to "manhandle" you to give a relative idea of the results. This part was a living nightmare for me to be honest- standing in a pair of (horrifying) surgical panties in front of a complete stranger who was pushing, pulling and tugging at parts of me that I didn't want to touch, let alone someone else But....it gave me a semi-realistic view of what he could do to help, and he realized my discomfort immediately and said something along the lines of "I know this is rough for you, but think of it this way. I see women just like you every single day. I'm not looking at what you are, but what you can become. I'm an artist, and your'e my canvas. Let me show you the beautiful artwork I can create." I was sold.
3. If you're going for a boob job, don't be afraid to try them on for size. My surgeon had a special bra you could pop implants in to get an idea of how you'll look- kind of like those maternity belly pillows some of us tried on in the store when we started needing maternity clothes It's ok if you have no idea what would look good- he/she will, and will be able to explain the types of implants and what they would recommend.
4. If the idea of scars freak you out...I asked my surgeon to use his marker to actually draw the placement of the scars on me. I "wore" them for a day and decided I could live with it.
5. It's your body, but it's his/her specialty. My surgeon was recommended by my RNY surgeon as the best in our area, and I couldn't agree more. I did a ton of research online about him, his practice, and the procedures I was considering. If there is anything about any procedure that I'm not completely happy with, he'll "fix" it without charge. I'd recommend that anyone else do the same.
Hope this helps!

As someone who's going through exactly the same thing, here's what I would advise based on my consultations with a plastic surgeon.
1. Take a good, honest look at your body and prioritize what you really want/need to change, and what you can live with. Due to anesthesia limitations, my surgeon told me that I couldn't wake up and be "fixed", but could choose two of the 4 procedures I wanted done at a time. For me, that ended up being the boobs & arm lift- the two things I felt caused me to feel the most self conscious and were the hardest to disguise, especially in the summer. The other two can wait till winter time.
2. Get an expense estimate with the length of validity. Plastic surgery is quite expensive, and depending on what you're interested in, many insurance companies won't cover the cost. Check out financing options to help guide your priorities.
3. Ask to see before/after pictures, and allow the surgeon to "manhandle" you to give a relative idea of the results. This part was a living nightmare for me to be honest- standing in a pair of (horrifying) surgical panties in front of a complete stranger who was pushing, pulling and tugging at parts of me that I didn't want to touch, let alone someone else But....it gave me a semi-realistic view of what he could do to help, and he realized my discomfort immediately and said something along the lines of "I know this is rough for you, but think of it this way. I see women just like you every single day. I'm not looking at what you are, but what you can become. I'm an artist, and your'e my canvas. Let me show you the beautiful artwork I can create." I was sold.
3. If you're going for a boob job, don't be afraid to try them on for size. My surgeon had a special bra you could pop implants in to get an idea of how you'll look- kind of like those maternity belly pillows some of us tried on in the store when we started needing maternity clothes It's ok if you have no idea what would look good- he/she will, and will be able to explain the types of implants and what they would recommend.
4. If the idea of scars freak you out...I asked my surgeon to use his marker to actually draw the placement of the scars on me. I "wore" them for a day and decided I could live with it.
5. It's your body, but it's his/her specialty. My surgeon was recommended by my RNY surgeon as the best in our area, and I couldn't agree more. I did a ton of research online about him, his practice, and the procedures I was considering. If there is anything about any procedure that I'm not completely happy with, he'll "fix" it without charge. I'd recommend that anyone else do the same.
Hope this helps!

@@Elode
Congrats- you're a great inspiration!

As someone who's going through exactly the same thing, here's what I would advise based on my consultations with a plastic surgeon.
1. Take a good, honest look at your body and prioritize what you really want/need to change, and what you can live with. Due to anesthesia limitations, my surgeon told me that I couldn't wake up and be "fixed", but could choose two of the 4 procedures I wanted done at a time. For me, that ended up being the boobs & arm lift- the two things I felt caused me to feel the most self conscious and were the hardest to disguise, especially in the summer. The other two can wait till winter time.
2. Get an expense estimate with the length of validity. Plastic surgery is quite expensive, and depending on what you're interested in, many insurance companies won't cover the cost. Check out financing options to help guide your priorities.
3. Ask to see before/after pictures, and allow the surgeon to "manhandle" you to give a relative idea of the results. This part was a living nightmare for me to be honest- standing in a pair of (horrifying) surgical panties in front of a complete stranger who was pushing, pulling and tugging at parts of me that I didn't want to touch, let alone someone else But....it gave me a semi-realistic view of what he could do to help, and he realized my discomfort immediately and said something along the lines of "I know this is rough for you, but think of it this way. I see women just like you every single day. I'm not looking at what you are, but what you can become. I'm an artist, and your'e my canvas. Let me show you the beautiful artwork I can create." I was sold.
3. If you're going for a boob job, don't be afraid to try them on for size. My surgeon had a special bra you could pop implants in to get an idea of how you'll look- kind of like those maternity belly pillows some of us tried on in the store when we started needing maternity clothes It's ok if you have no idea what would look good- he/she will, and will be able to explain the types of implants and what they would recommend.
4. If the idea of scars freak you out...I asked my surgeon to use his marker to actually draw the placement of the scars on me. I "wore" them for a day and decided I could live with it.
5. It's your body, but it's his/her specialty. My surgeon was recommended by my RNY surgeon as the best in our area, and I couldn't agree more. I did a ton of research online about him, his practice, and the procedures I was considering. If there is anything about any procedure that I'm not completely happy with, he'll "fix" it without charge. I'd recommend that anyone else do the same.
Hope this helps!

@@Elode
Congrats- you're a great inspiration!

As someone who's going through exactly the same thing, here's what I would advise based on my consultations with a plastic surgeon.
1. Take a good, honest look at your body and prioritize what you really want/need to change, and what you can live with. Due to anesthesia limitations, my surgeon told me that I couldn't wake up and be "fixed", but could choose two of the 4 procedures I wanted done at a time. For me, that ended up being the boobs & arm lift- the two things I felt caused me to feel the most self conscious and were the hardest to disguise, especially in the summer. The other two can wait till winter time.
2. Get an expense estimate with the length of validity. Plastic surgery is quite expensive, and depending on what you're interested in, many insurance companies won't cover the cost. Check out financing options to help guide your priorities.
3. Ask to see before/after pictures, and allow the surgeon to "manhandle" you to give a relative idea of the results. This part was a living nightmare for me to be honest- standing in a pair of (horrifying) surgical panties in front of a complete stranger who was pushing, pulling and tugging at parts of me that I didn't want to touch, let alone someone else But....it gave me a semi-realistic view of what he could do to help, and he realized my discomfort immediately and said something along the lines of "I know this is rough for you, but think of it this way. I see women just like you every single day. I'm not looking at what you are, but what you can become. I'm an artist, and your'e my canvas. Let me show you the beautiful artwork I can create." I was sold.
3. If you're going for a boob job, don't be afraid to try them on for size. My surgeon had a special bra you could pop implants in to get an idea of how you'll look- kind of like those maternity belly pillows some of us tried on in the store when we started needing maternity clothes It's ok if you have no idea what would look good- he/she will, and will be able to explain the types of implants and what they would recommend.
4. If the idea of scars freak you out...I asked my surgeon to use his marker to actually draw the placement of the scars on me. I "wore" them for a day and decided I could live with it.
5. It's your body, but it's his/her specialty. My surgeon was recommended by my RNY surgeon as the best in our area, and I couldn't agree more. I did a ton of research online about him, his practice, and the procedures I was considering. If there is anything about any procedure that I'm not completely happy with, he'll "fix" it without charge. I'd recommend that anyone else do the same.
Hope this helps!

Yay! I'm famous!!

I told my boss, a co-worker who had RNY with the same surgeon, my immediate family and a couple of close friends. I got asked all the time "What's your secret?" and I initially felt guilty telling folks that it was diet, exercise and working closely with a doctor & nutritionist. I just didn't want to deal with the stigma of WLS. However, in retrospect, I didn't lie at all. WLS is a tool, not the cure. You can alter your body with surgery, but if you don't commit to the dietary and exercise changes, we've all heard the stories of people who gain the weight right back. No one's asked me outright if I had surgery, and I'm not sure what I would tell them, though a couple of people (well meaning as they might have been) asked me if I was sick because I'd lost so much weight since the last time I saw them! I feel it's our personal business what and who we tell- I'd have no problem at all telling anyone who was interested in the surgery, though. That's a big reason why I had it in the first place- I had a good friend who had it done and was very real with me with her advice and experience. Plus...if telling someone is going to help them get on track to a healthier lifestyle, I'd think I would be doing myself and them a disservice by not disclosing my surgery and how it's done wonders for my health and overall well being.

I told my boss, a co-worker who had RNY with the same surgeon, my immediate family and a couple of close friends. I got asked all the time "What's your secret?" and I initially felt guilty telling folks that it was diet, exercise and working closely with a doctor & nutritionist. I just didn't want to deal with the stigma of WLS. However, in retrospect, I didn't lie at all. WLS is a tool, not the cure. You can alter your body with surgery, but if you don't commit to the dietary and exercise changes, we've all heard the stories of people who gain the weight right back. No one's asked me outright if I had surgery, and I'm not sure what I would tell them, though a couple of people (well meaning as they might have been) asked me if I was sick because I'd lost so much weight since the last time I saw them! I feel it's our personal business what and who we tell- I'd have no problem at all telling anyone who was interested in the surgery, though. That's a big reason why I had it in the first place- I had a good friend who had it done and was very real with me with her advice and experience. Plus...if telling someone is going to help them get on track to a healthier lifestyle, I'd think I would be doing myself and them a disservice by not disclosing my surgery and how it's done wonders for my health and overall well being.

At first I went with the Pure Protein chocolate drinks...not too bad. Now without a doubt my fave is the Syntrax nectar brand- they win the taste test hands down! Some of them are too sweet for me, but the Lemon Tea is my drink now every single day- I highly recommend trying some samples! (I purchase it at the Vitamin Shoppe)

At first I went with the Pure Protein chocolate drinks...not too bad. Now without a doubt my fave is the Syntrax Nectar brand- they win the taste test hands down! Some of them are too sweet for me, but the Lemon Tea is my drink now every single day- I highly recommend trying some samples! (I purchase it at the Vitamin Shoppe)

Eating out does get easier! I'm 9 months post op and can enjoy something from nearly everywhere, though it's usually a bread bowl of Soup (not eating the bread part), an appetizer, or something off the kid's menu- don't let the "12 and under" label think you can't get it...I've never been in a restaurant that's questioned whether or not I can order from it. I'll just tell them I'm not that hungry.

Eating out does get easier! I'm 9 months post op and can enjoy something from nearly everywhere, though it's usually a bread bowl of Soup (not eating the bread part), an appetizer, or something off the kid's menu- don't let the "12 and under" label think you can't get it...I've never been in a restaurant that's questioned whether or not I can order from it. I'll just tell them I'm not that hungry.

If you're looking for amazing recipes, I would highly recommend taking a look at: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com
She's got tons of fantastic suggestions for every stage of WLS, plus lots of encouragement in her very "real" blog about her own weight loss journey. Any time I find myself in a "food rut" or wanting everything and nothing at all, I'll check out her writings and always find something great! Who knew you could slice up a Quest bar and pop it in the oven for a few minutes to turn it into Cookies?? YUM!

Ummm... a little dose of "realism" here. RNY is a tool, not a cure. I'm willing to bet you didn't gain close to 100 pounds in 5 months. The fact that you lost that much is phenomenal, isn't it? Second thing to remember- your body will dictate how fast, how much and when you will lose the weight. Period. You can change it up all you want and enjoy some small losses when you hit those stalls or whatnot, but your body is in charge here. It's been one of the hardest things for me to accept throughout my RNY journey as I've been stuck at about 6 pounds from my goal weight for nearly 2 months no matter what I try and do to kick it back into gear. So, I truly enjoy my life now and not obsess that I didn't get exactly what my surgeon set as my goal weight. Dropping 100 pounds for you has already added years to your life and probably done wonders for your health, no matter how far away you might still be. I'm incredibly proud of you and everyone else here who's done so much to get healthy. Please don't obsess over "how much is enough"- you'll only drive yourself nuts.

Ummm... a little dose of "realism" here. RNY is a tool, not a cure. I'm willing to bet you didn't gain close to 100 pounds in 5 months. The fact that you lost that much is phenomenal, isn't it? Second thing to remember- your body will dictate how fast, how much and when you will lose the weight. Period. You can change it up all you want and enjoy some small losses when you hit those stalls or whatnot, but your body is in charge here. It's been one of the hardest things for me to accept throughout my RNY journey as I've been stuck at about 6 pounds from my goal weight for nearly 2 months no matter what I try and do to kick it back into gear. So, I truly enjoy my life now and not obsess that I didn't get exactly what my surgeon set as my goal weight. Dropping 100 pounds for you has already added years to your life and probably done wonders for your health, no matter how far away you might still be. I'm incredibly proud of you and everyone else here who's done so much to get healthy. Please don't obsess over "how much is enough"- you'll only drive yourself nuts.

@@Reason to Believe
Welcome to the boards! Congratulations for taking the first steps toward a healthier you! ALL changes are big ones & I'm proud of you for the "No diet soda" step- that was a rough one for me too! You'll find all kinds of help and advice from the fellow posters here to encourage and support you. Please don't hesitate to share your thoughts and fears with us- we're here to help

That's awesome! When I tried NutriSystem years ago (among the many epic diet fails), they had something similar- a chain where you attached a pretty bead for every pound you lost. You then had a beautiful necklace to wear that got prettier with each pound closer to your goal you got. I should do something like that on my own, come to think of it

I'm sort of in the same boat... I've never been a big meat eater, so my weight came from sugar and carbs. Now that sugar and carbs are "Evil", I was caught in the problem of how do I get Protein if I don't like the taste of nearly all meat...the meat I do like makes me sick, and eggs are gross? My answer is the Protein shake! I'm not trying to make a sale for anyone here, but the Syntrax Protein drinks have been my personal savior even at 9 months out. I'll savor one for Breakfast (46g), one for lunch (another 46g) and voila! My protein's taken care of and I haven't actually eaten anything. My NUT hasn't told me this isn't ok yet, so onward I go!