ALOCO53

Hi, I have been exercizing regularly, am feeling stronger and more confident. However, I have this huge belly that hangs down, I have to wear tunics in order to conceal it. I wear full briefs but it won't cover that area that comes out through the sides. Panty girdles don't help as the weight of the belly pulls it down so that it won't do much good. Does anyone have any suggestions about the best type of underwear for this? I was thinking maybe the boyshorts style, I haven't tried those. I still have a lot more weight to lose so I can't consider plastic surgery for now, probably not ever as I have limited funds. I would welcome any suggestions from people who have this same problem. I live alone, no one sees what I look like without clothes on, but I'm terrified of being seen this way by accident, in a fitting room or beach.

Thank you loquaciouslaura. btw you look fabulous.

Thank you for your responses. I have purchased the shapewear tank tops and they are fabulous. A lot more comfortable than the way they were made years ago. I just purchased some Maidenform boyshorts. They concealed the skin showing through which is what I wanted, there isn't much I can do about the belly hanging as it drags down anything I put on. , unless I purchased a one piece and it's too hot right now for that.

I can totally relate! Hence, my visit back to this site. This weekend was tough, and I did not win the battle with the Easter candy. I was at a shower on Saturday, can't eat too much at one time, so I ate 3 TIMES! I have been feeling very discouraged too, I only lost 45 lbs since my surgery in October, I am excerising a lot, 4 and 5 miles each morning with Leslie Sansone. I am still a long way from my goal, but I will get there. It has not been as easy as I thought.

I disappointed myself. I cooked, ate a little turkey, roast pork sweetenedd yams and a sliver of coconut custard pie. That was at 3pm I couldn't eat all of this at once so I grazed. While I was packing up food for my family to take with them I took another piece of pie. I knew i was too full and it just sat there until i was able to throw up over and over again. i have been grazing for the last two days and I'm upset about it. I need to get back to watching myself and what I eat. I don't think I lost much since my sleeve on October 18th. I don't want to get discouraged but I'm getting there.

I came on to see if it was possible to stall at 4 weeks post-op. I am getting discouraged, I haven't lost a pound in two weeks? I stepped up my walking exercize, trying for 3 miles (Leslie Sansone Walk at home) by the end of this week. Two weeks ago I had a problem with bm and used suppositories (came out twice) ducolax powder. Finally, but it took two days. I noticed I was going to go through that again and I decided to take that once a week as a preventative measure. I don't know if that's bad to do. But there really isn't much fiber in our diet.

I have several of Leslie Sansone's walking dvds. I am starting to do them again. I started with one mile and hope to be up to 3 miles a day by the end of two weeks. That's less than 1 hour, which I do in the morning. I did these over two years ago, I loved them and was able to do 5 miles on the weekends, but I stopped like so many excercise programs after I developed an upper respiratory infection and was never able to start again...until now.

I was sleeved on October 18th. I have Oxford insurance and I was one of his few patients who were approved for this surgery. His program is pretty comprehensive, he recommends and his office sells at cost Protein shakes and Vitamins for pre-opt and post opt. Griffin Hospital located in Derby, CT was great. They have received funding for an exercise program for bariactric patients, monthly support meetings with recipe sharing and a walking program. the patients have a clothing exchange which comes in pretty handy when you're losing weight quickly. Dr. Ehrlich has been performing bariactric surgeries for many years. He and his staff at his office in Trumbull, CT are very knowledgible and caring. I do not regret choosing this doctor. i was a little concerned about having the surgery at a hospital in another town when there are two hospitals where I live. However, the care i received was excellent. I would highly recommend both Dr. Ehrlich and Griffin Hospital.

Thank you so much for your post. I was sleeved on Monday, I am walking around with a drain, drinking clear liquids and wondering what life will be life after. I am prepared to cut some foods from my diet after I've completed with my stages, but I wondered if I would be able to eat a meal again. I would love to have a piece of meat. I guess pizza will probably be out of the question because of the bread thing. I think I can live with that. I don't regret the surgery, I just don't know what life will be like after. It's been over 25 years since I've been a normal weight.

Hi, I was sleeved on 10/18. I came home after two days with the drain too. The only discomfort is the drain, I have to wait a week for it to be removed too. It is especially painful when I sleep. I am having trouble drinking all that the doctor wants me to drink too. I'm supposed to consume clear Protein dring that has 40gr of protein but I'm lucky if I can get half that in. Hope they removed your drain. Was that painful?

clear protein shakes, broths, jello, lite juices. No bananas until you move to the next stage. I ate jello yesterday and didn't properly chew it, I let it slide down in a lump and was uncomfortable all night. I'm only 3 days out and am hating the clear liquids. I know how you feel, I think we all do, but if we follow instructions in the beginning, then perhaps we'll be able to change our life long habits of eating the wrong foods. I want to change those habits now.

I am looking forward to having cream soups. I'm still on clear liquids. I hate broths.

One of the doctors assisting in my surgery wrote "Weight Loss Surgeries for Dummies" I ordered my copy and receiveid it yesterday. It's very comprehensive, including hospital stay and what to expect after. I'm taking that with me tomorrow.

I am having my surgery tomorrow, October 18th in Griffin Hospital in Connecticut. I am concerned because I have done all I could, I have been dieting since July 11th and have lost a total of 50 lbs. That's great for me, but I can't invision myself thin or even substantially thinner. It's been over almost 30 years. I was 320 when I started, now I'm 279. I'm so afraid I will not lose much more. I have learned to eat better and that I can live without rice and beans and pork chops. It takes me a long time to shop now because i'm reading labels. Yet, because of a failed lapband surgery three years ago (my liver was too large) I almost have not allowed myself to hope and dream again.

I was thinking of cheating and having a piece of Tilapia grilled tonight. I just want to eat something that looks like food. Will this increase my liver size?

My surgery date is October 18th. I can't wait.

I hear you loud and clear. I have been on a pre-opt diet for the last 7 days, I have another 5 days to go before the 48 hour clear liquids. My surgery is on the 18th. I'm excited but I think about food all the time. I want to bite into a steak or pork chop. I have been on Bariatric Advantage shakes for three months, but the last week I've had to have 3 or 4 a day. I lost 49 llbs aready but I can't wait until I can taste something that looks like food. It's going to be several weeks at least.

Today is the 7th, were you able to go through with the surgery?

I am getting sleeved October 18th. I am 57 years old and wondered if I was too old. I went to a couple of seminars and guess what? Almost everyone there was about our age. I want to get rid of some of my meds and that's probably what motivates the over 50's. Lipitor, Metformin, Lisinopril, Actos. Goodbye. Is it ever too late to try to get healthy? I hope not. Good luck, I hope everything went well.

I am scheduled for October 19th. On October 6th I start another pre-opt diet. I have been doing a pre-opt diet since July with two bariatric shakes a day and one meal usually at dinner. I have limited my fat intake. Word of warning: I went for a lapband three years ago, woke up in recovery without the band. The doctor said my liver was too large. It took three years to get over that. So I have been more careful about how I'm eating before surgery.

I am scheduled for October 19th. On October 6th I start another pre-opt diet. I have been doing a pre-opt diet since July with two bariatric shakes a day and one meal usually at dinner. I have limited my fat intake. Word of warning: I went for a lapband three years ago, woke up in recovery without the band. The doctor said my liver was too large. It took three years to get over that. So I have been more careful about how I'm eating before surgery.

I've had my doubts occassionally, especially since I lost 30 lbs in 6 weeks preparing for the surgery ( I still don't have a date, hopefully the end of September). However, I have lost that much and more before and put all of it plus more back on. It is scary, but I am looking forward to be able to do things I've put off in the past. Like going to the theatre, flying, walking in the mall, etc. It would be nice to be able to buy clothes in regular stores again, I've already outgrown two plus size stores.

I'm having my lap band done on Dec. 10th. I've read a few of the threads regarding soft-spot and sweet spot. What are they?:rolleyes