OKCPirate

@@Babbs "You're sweet, but the boobs and tummy are kind of a mess. Nothing a good bra and Spanx can't fix for now ;)" You ladies are just so hard on yourselves. I bet hubby never says that. I can almost guarantee he means it very much. As much crud that guys get for being shallow (and the guys on this site give other guys grief when we hear of shallow men), when we love our woman, we really do. All of her. And we don't notice the "imperfections" that you ladies seem to find on yourselves.

@@Babbs - having a tough time thinking you need it lady. I've seen your pics

@@Cape Crooner - that is an interesting question. #1 - the surgeons define success differently than most of us do...‘Successful’ weight-loss is arbitrarily defined as weight-loss equal to or greater than 50 percent of excess body weight. #2 - I think your age and body type really help you figure out what your goal weight is #3 - Skin realities...It stinks that I have about 20 pounds of extra skin according to my surgeon that can be removed. If that is done, I will be at my goal. #4 - Waist size in guys - this does seem to matter (see: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/risk.htm) #5 - Muscle mass - What percentage of your body is muscle? Your level of exercise makes a difference. #6 - What do you do and what do you want to do? For some, having that lean distance running look or ability is important, but for me, I like being slightly stocky (I lift heavy). So you start adding this up and you have a blob of "who knows" on your plate. It sounds like you are doing great. I know going from 46-36 in waist size was huge to me. What can anyone say but its up to you. And you have proved that it is REALLY up to you. Congrats on your success to date.

It was therapeutic sex, not romantic. For her I volunteered after we both saw the studies. It did help a great deal for her despite the fact she was not in the mood, but she mustered the strength to start, and in the end ta da, it helped. I have seen simuler case studies for males too. Despite the fact, they sure as heck were not in the mood, but it seems to work. No one is sure if it is the oxitocin or the nerves behind the optic nerve losen up, but for some it seems to help.

That is exactly was my first thought...http://www.drdavidwilliams.com/relieve-joint-pain-with-good-old-fashioned-water/

This is going to sound really strange, but it used to do wonders for my old girlfriend when she had a migraine...sex http://www.livescience.com/27642-sex-relieves-migraine-pain.html NOTE: I am not volunteering to help. I think there is something to this though because every study I've seen is women are incapable of not thinking except during an orgasm. But look at what happens to the brain during sex here: http://youtu.be/hpc2NjUAtOY, and you get oxitocin.

@@treblecutie23 - Don't know if this helps or not, but our thighs could be twins...I've been thinking about this myself as I get closer to my second anniversary. And great point that you are carrying a bowling ball around 24/7. I have two of them. I am with @@BigViffer, it's not only vanity, it's also quality of life. No guilt about spending the money for it.

I'm not sure where you have been, or the limitations you have put on yourself, but it is time to start doing a little dreaming. The next few weeks are just going to suck a little. It's a transition time so that should be expected. But after week three things are going to get wild. Enjoy the ride. Your world is about ready to change in a good way, be prepared for it.

@@Daisee68 - Wow. Just freakin wow. I will never fully understand women and their dysmorphic body image views, (I know, it is what it is, and your sex worries about everything)....but wow, freaking wow. OK, putting tongue back in mouth now, and I'll quit gawking. You seriously look fantastic.

@@ocgirl15 - when you were x-rayed, did your PCP determine how much cartilage there was in your knees? And did he suggest a rheumatologist to discuss the arthritis? There are treatment options, from total knee replacement to moving cartilage around. Please don't suffer and let the docs know about the surgery. That may affect the drug options.

@@jess9395 - I just took a look at your before and after shots, you have come a long way (and you really look hot, so great job). One thing that has been kind of missing in this discussion on weight and BMI is age. As you age your metabolism does change (this is not an excuse to be unhealthy, just a call to be realistic). I am kind of surprised how much things changed from 51-53. It's just a dang reality as well as more grey hairs every day. One of the things that I like about the 5:2 research is that it does seem to have a very positive effect for those of us 50+ as far as stressing our metabolism in a good way. I'm putting this back in my future planning. Thanks again for sharing.

Yes it sucks having to spend $100 to keep from getting sexually molested by your government when you travel, but on the other side of the coin, my time is worth more than that...so I spent the cash. TSA can't give a decent massage, and I don't want a happy ending from those creeps.

Those little noises, embarrassing companions, but they will start. I do make some interesting sounds sometimes. Thankfully only audible to me.

@@ChrisInc2 - I know, the worst headaches I ever had was when I quit caffeine suddenly. It takes one to two weeks to taper off without pain http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-9165/how-to-quit-caffeine-in-one-week-painlessly.html Please restart, no need to suffer

did you taper or go cold turkey? Straight withdrawal from caffeine sucks. I tapered over two weeks. The slow drop helps. I will tell you, getting off diet soda was tougher than coffee. I don't know what is in a Diet Mtn. Dew, but it was a miserable few days after my last one.

@@OKCPirate thank u your right I should just wait so far iv lost 50 pounds and I keep losing and I don't want to mess that up thank u Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Good call. Next year rock a bikini and enjoy the fireworks (in every sense of that word)

@@lupita19 you are not going to die. But you might disrupt your goal. Why not wait until next year when you are really independent. I skipped drinking Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve in 2014. Not bragging, just saying. But I have no idea where you are, what your goal is. It's empty calories that can stall your progress.

Me either, it was @@Babbs and her "bless your heart" charming way of twisting the knife. But not us. :-)

@@okiegirl1980 - Well you are in the "hipper part" of Oklahoma so you have a heads up on edgier exposure. (But that has gotten arguable in the last few years. OKC is actually getting to be fun).

@@CowgirlJane - Thanks, that was a great link, and probably a reason for a veterans forum.

@@4MRB4PHOTO - this title was mean. I think someone should be salacious and hijack this post. I'll start Dear Penthouse, I never thought this would happen to me... I'll finish this when I get close to post 2000

@@Dub - do you want to chime in on this? This is about your size.

@@sweetmini - thanks for sharing. Have you ever looked at this book? https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-First-Aid-Kit-Practical/dp/0976852659?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0 This was helpful to me going in, my be helpful to you at this point. Feel free to give any more details about where you are, what type of support you have and life style changes to date. That really helps the group help you. It's amazing how many people might have a similar experience and there is some collective wisdom from vets which can be helpful. We have had people get knocked down by spouses being asses, job losses and even tragic personal losses which can knock us off stride. So the more you explain what's happening, the better we can all help.

@@tanyarahmes - IMHO that will be rapidly unsustainable. Way too little in both categories. I don't know you and I don't know all your circumstances, but this is going to be a problem (gall stones, IV's et al) if you continue much longer. There are ways to start boosting both, please feel free to PM if you want, but I would be raising this as a serious red flag to your support team. My opinion.

Nope, it goes straight through. And great job by the way.