dhrguru

This morning I decided to change up my routine a bit. Usually I jog on Saturday mornings, but felt I needed to 'surprise' my body. Instead I did circuit training at the gym, but I decided to use 5# hand weights while doing the step portion of the circuit. A lady came up to me, she said I had really good moves and asked if I minded if she copied them. I was flattered that she even asked!

So I guess in don't look like an octopus with its tentacles flailing about after all. :-)

Hi and welcome!

I'm a RNY'er (6 months post op) but figured I say hi anyway. Like you I've had a time or two successfully losing a fair amount of weight, but the odds are stacked against us in keeping it off. I never feared surgery, I feared a life dealing with co morbidities of obesity. I looked into surgery 5 years prior but didn't go through with it. In retrospect I wasn't ready, but am SO glad I made the decision.

I'm glad you have a friend to go through this with; but have you both checked your insurance to make sure it's covered? I've seen too many cases of one getting the surgery and another not and it devastates the relationship.

There's a lot of good info on these boards, take the meat, leave the bones.

I told my close family... Siblings, a few cousins. I didn't tell my parents until a few days before my surgery. I knew they would be the'doubting Thomas's.' I Only told two close friends at work (neither I work with daily anymore). Those I've told have been remarkably supportive; and I'm certain I made an equally good choice in opting not to tell anyone else.

I must be one of the few that hates massages. I dont like the pressure, or the feeling of foreign hands touching my back legs etc.

I do have a facial planned for one of my mini goals.

@tdc-- did you use one of the Doc's Dr. Meilahn recommended? (I did-- I forget his name though) What insurance do you have?

Overall I'd say no. I'm more keenly aware of the aroma of foods which may turn me off from even trying it. Also sodium and sweetness stands out more to me now. But its not like I've *stopped* liking old favorites.

If I've stopped eating something it mostly because it doesn't have the nutritional content to justify eating it or its just too hard to eat/digest.

Mantras

1.Your thoughts become your reality.

2.Think about, thank about, bring about

3. Energy flows where attention goes.

You're doing great!

I LOVE #3! Thanks!

Mantra? Did you say mantra? Well, dear, darling @@dhrguru, I just happen to be running a special on mantras today. Let's see, what's in my basket that has your name on it? Ah, here:

I can see the top of his head, tra-la!

That should help you remember how far you've come and that all the credit is yours. Do you really not understand the power that you've tapped? It's yours and, as you suspect, only you can send yourself off on a Detour. Have faith. You know where to focus because you've been focused all along. How many of us do you suppose are timid about the unknown? Five? Ninety-nine million thousand? The only way to fare well with the unknown is to step into it.* Poof, no more unknown. You've been doing it like a champion from the start. Have faith. You are super. If you question my authority on this, I'll give him a funny haircut guaranteed to make you guffaw when you want to keep you mind on other things.

Laurie

P.S. I mean every word, especially the part about the haircut. "Have faith," too. You have proved yourself eminently faithworthy.

* My apology for that one especially. It's so Ben Franklinesque, instant cliché and true and, therefore, infuriating.

LOL!

" The only way to fare well with the unknown is to step into it.*" but its dark in there :-) Kidding- thanks!

So I just passed my six month mark. I've realized that the 1st month and this sixth month have been the hardest on me mentally.

The 1st month was a mental challenge since in never felt like I was losing "enough" and never felt like I was meeting nutritional goals. Now this sixth month is a whole other mind warp. I feel like I'm waiting for a shoe to drop. So much talk about weight loss slowing, hunger returning, having to have forged good habits to carry you through...

It all makes me doubt myself (again). Am I doing this right? Is my focus where it needs to be? Will the next six month be 'textbook' honeymoon ending, or more of the same?? I'm seeing I don't fare well with the unknown.

I need a mantra I can tell myself. Help me fill my head with self-promoting thoughts vs. Self-doubting/defeating one's.

I avoid corn (kernels). They are starchy, and I typically like my corn mixed with rice (another starch) so I just don't bother with it.

I have eaten corn bread; but won't make it often cause it s a trigger food for me.

I avoided corn on the cob this past summer since i was a fairly new post op, but will enjoy it a little next summer.

I am 36, have a family and would like some real life honest experiences about bypass. I have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and I am on metformin, karvizide, and injecting Byetta twice a day for my diabetes. I have had a gastric band for 6 years now and successfully kept off my lost weight since the band was put in. I still have more weight to lose which may be why my diabetes isn't under control, and blood pressure still not stable. Today my specialist and gastric doctor said it would be a very good idea to have the gastric bypass to solve the problem of my diabetes. They said That it would either help a lot or cure it altogether.

I am reading bits and pieces about the benefits of losing weight etc, but who of you out there wants to share the side effects?? With the band, a side effect was acid reflux,.......so what bad side effects do I need to consider for the more permanent bypass.

The other thing I could consider is putting more fill into my band and putting MORE effort into weight loss, but I just don't know if that will kickstart weight loss again,,,,,,,enough!

I have heard examples of people getting diabetes and problems associated with it, then having bypass surgery, they drop all their weight and their diabetes goes into remission! No tablets or injections ever again?

I am still in the throws of just considering this surgery so any experiences or relative information would be appreciated!

Hi, I'm 6 months post RNY. though I don't/ didn't have diabetes, knowing the effects the surgery has on blood sugars coupled with my family history of diabetes, I was interested in this surgery partly as a preventive means. My A1C is no longer pre diabetic. I'm off of my bluff pressure meds. I have No issues with reflux at all.

One thing I have read is that the longer you've had diabetes, it'll decrease the likelihood of it going totally into remission. I'm sure you'll find people that happened with and people that didn't happen with.

My most annoying area is beneath the arm pits, 'side fat'. It's hard to tuck it into the sides of a bra so it doesn't bother me... But of course it never stays still!

I'm ok with where my stomach is, and even my thighs... Just the side fat is my nemesis.

I'm six months out. Last night I was in the market picking up things and I found my self wandering a bit, staring at all the junk I would have once consisdered buying. It was almost like visiting the scene of an accident, where you analyze it trying to figure where things went wrong. I wasn't tempted, just in awe of how much junk I'd have once piled in my cart. I'm healthier, off blood pressure meds and my overactive bladder is a thing if the past. Keep encouraged folks, it's possible and so worth it! I'm certainly not perfect and still have my struggles... But have found far more strength than I thought I had in this journey so far.

Too funny, just had a doctors appt today with my PCP and went through the exact same thing.

However, I did have one major scale victory today. It's been a long time since I've been able to step on the scale in my doctors office because it only goes up to 400 lbs. In the past, I would always embarrassingly have to tell the nurse, "...that scale won't work, I'm over 400lbs."

That is a major victory!! Congrats!

Fridays are my weigh in days. I don't touch the scale otherwise. But today I have a doctor's appointment.

It's Not a 'familiar' scale. It's the middle of the day, I'm dressed for work. Of course I'm not gonna like what their scale tells me.

Enter head games... Tomorrow is weigh in day... I could very well see the same thing tomorrow, (which would be depressing!!)

Ugh, next time I'm going to stand backwards and tell them not to tell me the weight. It messes with my head too much!

I'm gonna forget about today and deal with tomorrow's weight tomorrow!

Great job!! Stalls are mostly inevitable. Just keep doing what you are doing!

Welcome! Congrats on the decision to get healthy.

Which surgery are you having?

@@dhrguru I will be having mine on December 10 with chestnut hill.

Congrats on making the decision. I think you'll be pleased with it. (My hubby has used chestnut hill for a few surgeries too- not wls.) I even had my own room, and it happened to have a nice view.

How do you feel about it? Are you nervous? I have a follow up appointment 12/18 there.

shake shack. Double cheeseburger with cheese fries and a strawberry shake.

I went to a Kaiser ER for a bug bite that had turned into an abscess that had to be drained. I got a letter awhile later asking if I was planning to seek legal action. Against who? The bug?

It was from a third party company and at first I thought it was a scam and was going to ignore it. But in doing research I discovered that it's something many insurance companies are pursuing these days. It's called health care subrogation. They're looking to take a portion of any proceeds you might receive from an accident when you later sue someone else for liability related to the injury you had treated.

Yup, I got a similar letter after my son was treated in the ER after a wave wiped him out at the beach. No one to blame but mother nature!

I am very close to you. I'm in Germantown. I'm also vegetarian. Send me a PM if you have questions.

I didn't realize you were in Philly too. We should start a little circle of support.

I'm still waiting in my approval and surgery date but I know I would benefit from the experience of someone who has already regained their footing after surgery. I despise the therapist that runs the monthly support group at my local hospital, so I'm looking for someone who might be willing to support me through the transitional period just before and a couple months after surgery. I'm sure lots of questions will arise, and my hospital is inhospitable, slow to make appointments and generally unpleasant, so I know that I won't be leaning on them very much after my wounds have healed. Chestnut Hill/Mt Airy area.[bquote]

Oops, just noticed you said sleeve, I'm RNY

I'm still waiting in my approval and surgery date but I know I would benefit from the experience of someone who has already regained their footing after surgery. I despise the therapist that runs the monthly support group at my local hospital, so I'm looking for someone who might be willing to support me through the transitional period just before and a couple months after surgery. I'm sure lots of questions will arise, and my hospital is inhospitable, slow to make appointments and generally unpleasant, so I know that I won't be leaning on them very much after my wounds have healed. Chestnut Hill/Mt Airy area.

I an trying to decide between chestnut hill and barix. Any insite on experience would be perfect. I live in Langhorne my mother live in Mount airy.

I had my RNY @ chestnut hill with Dr. Meilahn. I was completely happy with my pre/post op care @ chestnut hill. They have worked hard to become a community based surgery focused hospital. So what's good is things happen as scheduled. (Unlike when I had another surgery at Jefferson that was delayed for hours!). I'd looked into this surgery @ chestnut hill a few years ago and felt like they were too much in transition then. Now I feel like they are in a far better place and am glad I've returned and gave them another shot.

I'd be happy to answer any questions.

I'm pre-op (Dec14). Since early June, I've lost nearly 25lbs, am exercising regularly, am 100 lbs from my goal weight, have got my sugar under control & dropped 2 of 3 diabetes meds, & am feeling fantastic. However, I have 2 questions/concerns bouncing around in my head.

1) Did you ever have second thoughts prior to the surgery, starting to wonder if THIS time you were ready/able to do it on your own, without major surgery as an intervention?

2) How/when/what did you tell people about having the surgery and/or why you were losing weight so rapidly?

Your thoughts on these questions are very much appreciated!

1) No I had no second thoughts; but, this was my second time looking into surgery. I started 5 years ago and for a few reason dropped the idea. I *knew* I was ready now. I anticipated a long pre-op process and told my self if I lost on my own to the point where I needed to lose less than a 100# before surgery i would not go through with it. My pre-op time was super fast, (~8weeks), so I never made it that far and stuck with the decision to have surgery. I'm glad i did,

2) I've not told anyone who hasn't already known about the surgery since pre-op. If the comment comes about I just say I'm eating less and moving more. One person guessed about my having surgery-- I said yup and moved on. The more I go on-- the happier I am only a minimal # of people are aware, I do not get pestered with questions.

I think you can learn Portion Control and to eat healthier w/o having surgery. Weight Watchers is great for that! Make me wonder what her priority was to lose wight--cause if it was to become healthy she may not truly accomplish that.

I *can* eat eat most things post op, but the direction is to eat Protein forward for life-- that's the plan and I'm sticking to it.Sure I've eaten other things, but I'm keeping my Protein at the forefront of everything,

And I eat "normal food I serve my family". IE last night I made shrimp fettuccine Alfredo. I only ate the shrimp, and made it using cream of mushroom soup/milk as the sauce, vs. actual Alfredo sauce. I'm not eating anything drastically different than they are...I just modify my plate.

I had a LRNY GB on 05OCT2015. So as of today I am 22 days post. Down 32 pounds by my scale since the day of surgery, things were going really well until the end of last week. I weighed in on Friday as I always do, was down another 8 pounds and was happy. Then..... I gained a pound. Then another. As of this morning I am .8 lbs below last Friday's weigh in, but here is the thing:

I was walking 5.21 miles every morning. (my body decided it likes the Military routine, so I have been getting up at 0400, not by choice)

I eat < 800 calories a day.

I consume > 100 grams of medical grade Protein (Unjury) daily

I take in somewhere between 70-100 oz of Water a day.

I usually have a Protein shake in the am prior to my walk

For lunch it's another shake or perhaps a yogurt.

dinner, well, it was shakes until last week, I had Ricotta bake twice, and have been eating refried Beans and cheese for the past two nights.

I upped my am walk from 5.21 miles to 6.75 miles as 5.21 was just too easy, I had it down to a little over 1.5 hours and my heart rate was not high enough for long enough, by tacking on another trail (lots of hills!), before 10:00 I have 16K steps, 140 highly active minutes, about 7 miles traveled, 15 or so flights of stairs (I told you lots of hills on the new trail).

By days, end I have burned no less than 4000 calories.

HOW CAN I NOT BE LOSING WEIGHT?

4000 calories out, 800 in, is a 3200 calorie deficit, that's 1 pound a day. I don't get it, and I am starting to get really put out by this.

So what is going on? Any advice before I go postal and adopt an Ethiopian diet of 200 calories a day and go into open revolt against my body?

One (bordering on TMI) caveat, I am not having a daily BM or even every other day, I went from volcano ass, to solid BM's, but they have all but stopped, last one was 2 or 3 days ago. Back on Miralax this morning, I gotta get regular.

Defies logic, doesn't it? But it happens, and trying to figure out why and beat it will drive you mad. You are not even a month post op. Relax, keep doing what you are doing and you'll lose. I didn't even begin to exercise until 6-8 weeks post op. Yup, I had two small gains, I see them as stalls. I never stand still, I gain then lose when I stall.

I'm always cautionary to folks who kick exercise into high gear right away... Your body will seek more activity as you lose, but if you feel it's sustainable then go for it. I'm just not the 2-3 hours a day to work out type person.

I live in Philadelphia.