no onions

Cw - 289.6
gw (for challenge) - 260
Gw (overall) - 165

I will join. Thanks!

I'm not planning any food funerals. I've personally had enough over the years. I can completely understand the desire to have one.
@@lauren8486
On my most successful diets, I would begin to crave healthy stuff, like carrots, mmm mmm doesn't a carrot sound good. And it really did sound good!

I bought a wedge pillow off of Amazon and am still sleeping on my back in an elevated position. It helps with the acid-y feeling I've been getting and it's more comfortable than trying to sleep on my side/stomach (my normal position). I thought my back would be sore as well,but I think the incline/wedge pillow has prevented that somehow.
I'm also not sleeping great (unless I take a pain pill!) and wake up frequently. Thus it's 3:13 AM central and I'm online. Trying to go back to bed! G'night!

View consumption of food/nutrition as a prescription... at this phase it really isnt about enjoyment. good news is that later, it gets much better!
I am surprised you aren't on Protein drinks. AS soon as I was cleared for "full liquids" it was Water and Protein Drinks. The trick I was given was to serve them in a shot glass...haha.. with a goal to down a shot every 30 minutes!

Hope this helps --
For me, I only took vitamins pre-op for a couple of weeks and I did not take them 24 hours before surgery. In general they were fine pre-op. They were chewable.
I'm finding the chewable versions to be off-putting now (post-op) and I prefer the small Multivitamin pill that the Dr. prescribed. It's not difficult to get the multivitamin in (once per day) and because I know I'm probably not getting the best nutrition at the moment, I really try and get the Vitamin in. calcium citrate is an entirely different story though -- I'm supposed to take it 3x daily and it is a larger pill. I break the pill in half and can generally get two pills in each day (4 halves). I don't think I could take the Calcium pill without breaking it in half. Oh, I have some B12 nasal spray shot that I take once per week. I'm not sure what that is doing for me to be honest.
I didn't receive any instructions (or have forgotten, if I did) on when to take them (w/ food or w/out food, time of day, etc). I'm going to check on that with the Dr. just to be sure.

I'm sort of in the same boat, though my tastebuds seem ok.
I'm just not hungry at all. I am usually able to get my Protein in by using shakes, but at this point there would be no way for me to come close with the soft food diet (just started). I'm typically not thirsty either and that is more problematic because I've occasionally felt dizzy/lightheaded from it.
I think part of my issue (besides not being hungry in general) is that I'm trying to avoid throwing up and any unpleasant physical feelings at all costs. I eat super slow and may be eating too little. (I'm working on it).

YAY! The acid reflux has finally passed. Haven't had it at all in 2-3 days. Just hope it stays away!

I skipped both my 5-year and 10-year college reunions because of my weight, and I really regret it. I've lost touch with a lot of people over the years because I don't want people to see how fat I've gotten.

Hi Nikki - I'm not familiar with him, but I have seen the name a few times during my time in this board. The search function on this site isn't the most user friendly.
I can vouch for a very positive experience with the office of Dr. Christopher Eagon at Wash U./BJC. Hopefully your Dr has some patient support groups you can attend - that might be a source of good info.

@@Elode those healed really well!

I chose sleeve, because I didn't want the potential issues with nutrient malabsorption and I couldn't get over the fact that my intestines would be re-routed. In my mind, the sleeve seemed less invasive, though it's terribly invasive too. Lap Band was totally out in my mind based on a friend's experience with it.
I'm already prone to dumping in general because of gall bladder complications, so I don't need the added plus of anything else (bypass) to cause that.
Your success will be what you make it and not necessarily some statistic or anecdote. As someone mentioned, all of the surgeries are tools. You should do whatever you think is right for your health. My recommendation would be to make a list of pros and cons for each surgery and take as much educated advice from professionals and patient experiences as you can.
Good luck!

Went to my doctor yesterday for my 3 month post op visit. So far all's well. I've been cleared for pretty much all foods except for steak and pork, which come in month 6--i'm not much for either, so I'm not really worried about that. I'm down 77 lbs total, including my preop which started in January. My BMI is down to 30.4 (almost out of the obese ranges!), my body fat % is down over 20% from my first weigh in. I've been slowly gaining muscle (woo hoo!) each month. Having an easier time getting my liquids and Protein down everyday. So far no complications, no complaints, and no regrets!

And now I am, too...

@@Elode those healed really well!

Everything went well. Yesterday was rough. I had a lot of nausea and pain all day yesterday. Probably because i had the hernia repair as well. Today is a lot smoother. No nausea. Minimal pain. Thank you all for the words of support.

I have a couple -
1. Fewer slip-on shoes. It had reached the point where I specifically looked for shoes I wouldn't have to bend over and tie.
2. Clipping toenails - my abdomen would frequently cramp from the necessary positioning. * I did get a pedicure on Friday because my wounds won't let me quite bend enough yet.
3. Towels that will wrap around your waist (without being bath sheets).
4. Burning any and all "comfort stretch" waisted pants that are in my closet. You know -- the kind with the "hidden" extra inches. Actually, I will happily donate any clothing.
5. Reduced sweating - hopefully. I'm hoping I don't need to sit under the ceiling fan every morning after I get ready for work, just to cool-down before heading to the car.
6. Removing myself from the big and tall catalogs, mailing lists and rewards programs.
7. Really just looking forward to feeling better overall! :-)

Wow there are so many things I can't wait to stop doing once I lose the weight.
Sweating- I currently sweat profusely like all the time! A co worker of mine thinks it's cute to come over and wipe my sweaty face all the time, I feel so embarrassed every time!
Being able to bend- I have to either open my legs wide or put my leg out to ben over and get something because my belly is in the way.
Chair scoping- When I go anywhere I have to scan the room and decide which chair I think will hold me, be comfortable, and I'll be able to get out of with ease.
Shopping at a store- I pretty much do all my shopping online because going to the store is a hassle. Not only because it's hard to feel good in clothes when you don't like your body, but also the sweating when trying on clothes.
sleeping anywhere- I snore like a wild animal and I hate falling asleep in front of people because they always need to mention it as if I don't know I snore!! I'm always trying to stay awake on planes and car rides to avoid the embarrassment!
Handicap bathrooms- This one makes me feel like an a**hole! I always go to the big stall so I can have enough room to maneuver for cleaning (tmi but true)
I'm glad to see so many people saying the sweating problem stopped!! There is hope!!

Don't be scared. I woke up and thought I had completely screwed up my life. Really screwed up my life. As soon as they got my pain managed and I could get up to walk I was fine and have been ever since. Every day I feel better about the decision I have made. Sleeved May 20th and doing the usual stalls, but coming to this site every day and seeing that everything I'm experiencing is normal has been a life saver. You have started one of the best forums I have seen yet, so you will be able to vocalize all you are to go through. Good Luck!!

There seems to be no end to the ignorance in this world, even among doctors.
Like everyone here, I am gobsmacked that an M.D. does not know that weight stabilization after WLS is 10 times more likely (50%) than weight stabilization after diet/exercise alone (5%).
Makes me want to wear a wrist guard so I don't hurt myself when I b***h-slap people for being so f**king ignorant.

I have a couple -
1. Fewer slip-on shoes. It had reached the point where I specifically looked for shoes I wouldn't have to bend over and tie.
2. Clipping toenails - my abdomen would frequently cramp from the necessary positioning. * I did get a pedicure on Friday because my wounds won't let me quite bend enough yet.
3. Towels that will wrap around your waist (without being bath sheets).
4. Burning any and all "comfort stretch" waisted pants that are in my closet. You know -- the kind with the "hidden" extra inches. Actually, I will happily donate any clothing.
5. Reduced sweating - hopefully. I'm hoping I don't need to sit under the ceiling fan every morning after I get ready for work, just to cool-down before heading to the car.
6. Removing myself from the big and tall catalogs, mailing lists and rewards programs.
7. Really just looking forward to feeling better overall! :-)

Moobs? Yes, I had'em pre-surgery. They weren't very noticeable when I was 275 pre-surgery. But they blossomed when I was 375!. They shrank considerable post-op, but are a little droopy now that I'm down 170lbs. My girlfriend doesn't seem to mind. :-)
[sharedmedia=videos:videos:106]

I chose sleeve, because I didn't want the potential issues with nutrient malabsorption and I couldn't get over the fact that my intestines would be re-routed. In my mind, the sleeve seemed less invasive, though it's terribly invasive too. Lap Band was totally out in my mind based on a friend's experience with it.
I'm already prone to dumping in general because of gall bladder complications, so I don't need the added plus of anything else (bypass) to cause that.
Your success will be what you make it and not necessarily some statistic or anecdote. As someone mentioned, all of the surgeries are tools. You should do whatever you think is right for your health. My recommendation would be to make a list of pros and cons for each surgery and take as much educated advice from professionals and patient experiences as you can.
Good luck!

I appreciate everyone's advice and thoughtful responses. I spent some time with my friend the day AFTER I posted this and we had a great time together. Her birthday was last week, so I brought her a gift and we laughed and talked with comfort and ease. It was really nice. I didn't want to ruin it by bringing up my "suspicions" so I didn't.
However, this little meet up happened at her place and not in public which probably helped the dynamic. Instead of the parties & happy hours we used to frequent (which are full of men), maybe more private environments are best for our relationship right now. All we can do is wait & see I guess. I'm hopeful we can get our friendship back to where it was though.

took awhile, are they smaller, sure, but gone, not even close. My surgeon, PCP and all my trainers all agree, its pretty much an impossibility at my age (44) , much younger people with much less weight to lose 100 pounds say, sure its doable, but when you get older skin elasticity decreases dramatically, putting chest muscle behind wont make them smaller, just more pronounced. So all my docs agree surgery is going to be the option at some point. especially, depending on how long you've been overweight, much of the tissues in them can actually be tissue and not fat.
So along with the panny, plastic surgery on the chest area, is going to be a way of life. after i win the lottery and figure out how to pay for it. Trying to do all this 3 years into a bankruptcy is not advised. Thankfully ill be alive to see the upcoming years of financial struggles. so there is a bright side.