Finding-me

My thoughts exactly! I've seen a number of posts on this site that make disparaging comments about eating salads (and even vegetables in general). When I get a salad, I usually get one with grilled chicken and make sure to get a decent chunk of chicken along with a bit of lettuce, etc. on my fork with each bite.

I am always puzzled by the stance that there is no nutritional value to salads. Yes we need Protein but we also need fiber, healthy fats, Vitamins and other nutrients that we can get from fruit and veg. I'd rather get nutrients naturally than pop a zillion pills and I definitely enjoy having normal bowel movements. Part of this process is relearning to eat. Doesn't it make sense to learn how to eat a balance meal?

Yep, I'm closing in on the two-year mark since my sleeve procedure, and the scale reads 147 pounds this morning. At 5'10", that brings my BMI down to 21.1, and that's a number I could NEVER have imagined after life as a size 5X, tipping the scales at 378 pounds! I'll be 56 years old in April, and I can honestly say that the last time I weighed less than 200lbs was in junior high school. I'm still coming to grips with the ridiculous amount of weight I had carried around all those years, all the abuse my poor body endured...it really is amazing that I am even here to share this experience! So, if any of you readers out there are still hesitant about "taking the plunge", all I can say is DO IT...Do it and don't look back!

Two years and 105 lbs and still losing slowly- best thing that I ever did and will do!,
Love my new ability to enjoy life and not sit on the sidelines
Thank you to all on the forums who share you have been an inspiration-
We all need to keep going!

@@AvaFern
You know how I feel, because I said it before....
But your words "But every day I can get on my scales I have quantifiable proof that I'm not worthless anymore " made me CRINGE.
If you're putting all your worth to the number on the scale, I feel sorry for you.
So if you gain....say 20 pounds...does that mean you're worthless again?
When I weighed 235 pounds, I was still smart, funny, kind, hard working, patient....I had lots of qualities that the scale didn't define. And I'm still that person. There's just less of me now. Which is a shame because I'm pretty awesome.
I see too many people on this site put all their worth into how much they weigh. And that's just sad. And wrong. And not healthy.

AND.....the results are IN! The best case scenario has been given to Dave, thank God, in his situation. Our beloved Oncologist called us at about 9:30 our time last night for a brief fill-in, then again this morning at 9:30 for the full story. The PET scan showed the cancer was in the predicted colon (tumor), as well as in a couple of lymph nodes in that region, and in a couple of spots around the left side of the abdominal cavity. But NOWHERE else! Not in any other organ, nor in the brain, or bones! And it shows most of the cancer was destroyed during chemo, but still remains somewhat in the tumor in the colon itself. All will be removed during surgery, and the Oncologist does not believe Dave will need a coloscopy bag. However, that will be determined by the surgeon, as well as if he will have the radiation during surgery, but right now that is the plan.
So, needless to say, this news is the best we could have asked for, especially the part where there isn't any additional cancer. Obviously no one can predict he future, but the Oncologist is optimistically cautious, and so are we! Onto the surgeon's visit on September 1st, when the surgery will be scheduled, and we think it will be almost immediately, depending on if the Avastin is completely out of his system. It will be a very rough surgery, with a long recovery, but we are very anxious to get this going, and get PAST this!
All of your prayers and good wishes are heard, felt, and very much appreciated. We cannot believe how many people have shown support and love for us, it just brings tears to our eyes. "Thank you" seems so inadequate. Just know that you are all in our hearts, and in OUR prayers, and God Himself knows your hearts, and SOMEDAY, your reward will be great!
More as we progress, my dears, and God bless YOU all!
Jenifer

I think my pet peeve is when people say, "oh your husband must be so happy now." News flash people... My husband has been happy and loved me fat, thin, young and older. Why do people think your spouse is miserable if you are fat. That is my pet peeve.

@@Elode
congratulations on the newsletter.
My pet peeve is people that now want to be friends. When before weight loss they would not give me the time of day. Maybe this is my inner fat girl with a chip on my shoulder.

Yes!!! Thus causing what my best friend and I like to call the FGS (Fat Girl Syndrome) of chafing where the thighs have been rubbed raw....ouch!!!

Looking forward to reducing hip/thigh size. Being comfortable in an airplane seat. Wearing shorts in the heat of summer. Not wearing a hole on the inner thighs of my pants due to chub rub.

I eat so much cheese it's ridiculous. Good, full fat, rich, creamy REAL cheese. Every day. In stuff, on stuff, as a meal itself. I love cheese.
It's so fabulous that instead of eating "light" or "low fat" or skim milk cheese, I can eat the real thing and not feel one drop of guilt about it.
Love cheese.

I think I'll feel less pressure having kept it a secret. I don't need people thinking that I should've lost more by now or that I've lost too much. For me, It takes all of the pressure of having an audience away from the experience. It also takes away the pressure of having everyone compare your experience to their own or that of someone they know.

Yes! It's already better now at 3 day post op though!

Some of you know me well as I have been around a long time... but for back story I was pretty hopeless about losing weight and especially maintaining it when I began this sleeve journey. I had "failed" with the lapband in an epic way and by the time I revised to the sleeve I was well over 300# (although down from my lifetime recorded high of 332# while banded). I was super morbidly obese and spent a lot of years there. I felt aged beyond my years and besides feeling physically miserable, I was certainly NOT an object of attention from the opposite gender. Hell, i never even had a chubby chaser interested in me.
(I did have a serious relationship, I have never been a loner, but my point is I have always been one to focus on intelligence and personality, not looks or body)
Because of my active lifestyle, I have mostly had slender friends even when I was obese. I never went out for girls night with them, never went dancing, I felt like I didn't belong in those settings. So, after losing a bunch of weight, I had plastics and am now maintaining. I social with lots of people now and feel like i fit in many places, but am still sometimes surprised at my own preconceived notions.
Currently, I am about 5# over my goal and about 25# over my lowest weight - I am 3.5 years post sleeve so this is frankly pretty typical. It can get a little discouraging as I am having a heck of a time re-losing this weight. I am fine at my current size, but i was finer thinner haha... so it is still something I want. You know how your state of mind is when your favorite jeans are too tight.... that is where i am!
Okay, now my NSV Story!
I went out to the racetrack on the 3rd for a big girls day of races and fireworks. I went with 3 very attractive ladies who are all naturally very trim. They range from tiny cute as a pixie (Which also makes her look really young) to that tall blond skinny model look (two of those, one fairly boyish looking the other more curvy - both very very attractive). Anyway, all 4 of us are unloading the cooler, doing stuff getting ready to go in. I was applying sunscreen. this really really really attractive man - probably about 40 (we are all about 50) walks by and looks right at me and smiles and says "need any help with that?". All of us freeze as it processes... he is talking to ME! What? I smiled at him as he walked away (it was only later I thought I should have said "YES") and one of the ladies said "this is going to be a good day".
I don't spend alot of time comparing myself to others, I really don't. But after a lifetime of obesity, super morbid obesity - you never expect to be the one in your group of attractive friends to get the notice.
Looks don't actually matter that much - one of the ironies i have learned in this journey, but it still felt good and my friends were all very happy for me too... That also makes me feel good that they are so pleased with my successes.

p

And I chose VSG because of the reasons mentioned above. I have a history of GI issues, so I really didn't want my intestines touched at all. I knew the weight loss would be a bit slower than with bypass, but that was okay with me.

I'm on my preop diet too! 2 shakes,( for 2 meals) and then 4oz Protein and 1/2 veggies for another. SF Jello, Popsicles and broth for Snacks. he even said, if you get hungry and need something, just make sure it's Protein like a slice of cheese or beef Jerky. I really like him a lot! Good luck everyone!!
Surgery July 7th

It's just normal body fluctuations. Don't worry about it. Throughout this whole process, you're going to stall and see fluctuations. You may as well get used to it.
As long as you're getting your Protein and fluids in, minimizing carbs from bread, Pasta, etc.. and moving a little, you will see the weight come off. Just bear with the daily fluctuations.

. Same here!

Hey all!
Surgery 1/5/15
Pic #1 Jan 19th size 26
Pic #2 April 12th size 16/18
Pic #3 June 19th size 12/14
I had the best time at this wedding.
I've never had so much fun!!
I feel incredible and I'm down 98lbs
From December 27th!!
Thanks for allowing me to share!!
Yay!!
Katie
  

Thanks everyone. I really think this is the greatest support I have found so far. I am back in the saddle and ready to fight this demon. Also I will tell my counselor tomorrow. My NUT assured me that it's not as big of a deal as I am making it out to be. To many of your points it was steak not a sundae or cake! Hahaha. Surgery is still scheudled for the 30th. This is a great support system. Thanks again.

They are going to make it right
After 7 months of misquoted benefits CareFirst is going to honor their mistake and grant my surgery.
I just want to thank all the people who take the time to post and write thier stories. You just don't know when what you write may change or save someone's life ( maybe a little dramatic but true in the case of morbid obesity). It was trending towards better news late last week. I found a really human CSR named Amber who was amazing and helped me, she was calling my surgeons office for codes etc... Anyway it can happen as you all have said. I was never covered and now I am getting surgery kind of crazy. The advice and the post I read where spot on and encouraging and that is so helpful.
As a by product it also gave me voice with my VP of HR. Since waiting for surgery I developed pre-diabetes. I was able to ask her why they would make bariatric surgery a plan exclusion when it would cost them between $20-$25k a year if I become a full blown diabetic each year ! Why they would cover 90% of all fertility procedures and abortions but deny something that for many will be life saving. She had no answers for me but it felt good to express my concerns and I am writing a letter to our CEO as well.

After a week full of non-stop battle, Cigna has decided to make right of their error. I can't think you all enough for your comments and suggestions. You all are the best!!

Cloud nine is an understatement, haha!! I was out to lunch with my son and was starting to feel defeated but I couldn't make myself order anything unhealthy. I'm so glad I stuck to my guns because right when they brought our food out, the phone rang with THE call. I'm so excited!

I was really really worried about this too. I LOVE Water. It's all I ever drank even before surgery. So, I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to drink it post-op or that I wouldn't like it anymore. I won't lie. It was SUPER rough getting in my Water in the beginning. My post-op internal swelling made even the tiniest sip of water a huge ordeal for the first two weeks or so. Once the swelling was down, it was a lot easier, but I still wasn't able to get ALL of my water in, until I realized that it was much easier for me to drink SUPER cold water. Once I discovered that, I got a double-walled thermos-style water bottle, filled it with ice, and drank super cold water all day. Now I have no issues getting my water in. It's only ever a problem if I'm in an environment where I can't get ice water. Like somewhere that only has "cold" bottles of water. I need ICE in there. It has to be near freezing.
So my advice to you is, if you are having issues getting your water in post-op, experiment with different temperatures. I know some people do a lot better with hot beverages post-op. And some people do better with room temperature water.