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.

I LOVE #3! Thanks!

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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.