WLSResources/ClothingExch

That would depend on the individual's interest in using it for its purpose. No electronic gadget will "keep" anyone anything. It's the individual's responsibility to find ways to remain motivated. In that way gadgets are just like surgery. It's all in the hands of the human.

You're a more patient woman than I. The last thing I want if I'm groggy, tired and uncomfortable is a "nervous nelly" around. I'd throw him out. Come to think of it, there are very few people I want near me when I'm not feeling well -- only the ones who have your degree of patience. As to your question, I'm no help as I don't remember. You'll be fine, though.

Being private about surgery is one subject, dwelling in stigma and shame is another. No one can stigmatize and shame you as deeply and harmfully as you are doing on your own. It's my non-professional, yet quite human opinion that you're not ready for surgery. To go ahead with it already believing that it's shameful and wanting to live invisibly ("I kind of just want no one to notice at all") is masochistic. If you strutted your fat to prove to the world that you had a right to live, why don't you have the right to live differently because you're decided that you want something different? If it's the fat-acceptance population you're fearing, don't. Any member of that group who understands that she has a right to a place in society should understand that, unless others have the same rights, no one does. "I want to be lighter and smaller for health and other reasons." What other reasons? Might "appearance" be among them? That's a good thing. Aesthetics of environment and body have been part of the existence of higher life forms since the days before speech. People not only painted the walls of caves, they also adorned their bodies. If I were you, I'd hold off surgery until I knew I'd walk into the OR with my head high and eager for the future. I'd see a therapist. Until your emotions and thinking are positive, it's premature to think about whom to tell and what to tell those you haven't told when they comment on the weight loss. That last part is easy, anyway. P.S. I felt no shame about surgery before and have felt none since. The people I've told have been supportive to one degree or another; some were neither here nor there. There are times I've told strangers because it was appropriate to the conversation. There was no reason to tell anyone else.

@@cdsjjotn " we have a boot camp club in our area but haven't heard of the road runners, sounds perfect for me!" The boot camp club must be an excellent option. Once you get started and meet more and more people, you'll probably hear of RRC (duh, especially if you join one near you). The New York club puts on the NYC marathon. However you get started and get involved, have a great time.

That looks a little like a Rothko. The bruising does seem extreme. In your place, I'd call my surgery practice in the morning with the measurements of the bruise and see what they say. @@ayahbesleeved made a reasonable suggestion, but I'm no expert. If she's correct, the bruise will take its time to clear up.

The apps are talked about so often that they must be good. You can also see if there's a Road Runners Club of America (just call it Road Runners Club) chapter in your town. They probably have beginners' classes. The instructors are knowledgeable and encouraging. The group setting is fun. Decades ago I signed up with NYRR. Classes started the evening in a public school for warm up and info. Then we'd go out into Central Park for the actual run portion. The first week involved alternating one minute of walking with one of running for however long. I (we) did our homework until the next class, when we advanced to one minute of walking alternated with two of running. One thing you want to know about is how to avoid shin splints, which are hell, and what to do if you get them (you can't run through them as you do with ordinary sore muscles after other exercise; they need to be rested, etc.).. Have fun.

Hey, hey, there. All your flapping around isn't helping. What happens now? You'll call your obg and your surgeon, that's what happens now. What happens after that will reveal itself. Easy, girl. And congratulations, you're going to have someone new to love. Deep breath. Life is good.

If I had those symptoms, I'd think "flu." I am not, however, diagnosing you. Don't you have a doctor? Emergency rooms are for emergencies.

Methinks you're doctor is an idiot for saying that. There is no statute of limitations on weight gain. The three-year mark may indicate good chances for maintaining happily ever after, but that's not at all the same as a guarantee or magic. Maintaining will always require vigilance. @@Firebolt, alas, all I can offer is good wishes for your research and decision-making.

You're a great screen-name chooser, but lousy at adjectives. If you ever again play down an accomplishment in my presence, be sure you're smiling. Got it? P.S. Another book you may want to check out is "The Beck Diet Solution," Judith S. Beck, PhD. She's a CBT practitioner and teacher. Be sure it's that title, as she wrote a later book with a similar title, but less suited to surgery people. If you buy it, work from page one (don't hop around the book) and do the exercises. The book is a guide to getting past emotional eating and related crap for life.

If you want detailed records of what you eat and your exercise, if you will exercise, and your weight, you'll get much more out of an app such as My Fitness Pal. That will simplify your choice among pen-and-paper options.

@@sarahb309, it's called "sibling rivalry." Has it always been a part of your relationship? You're probably too close to it this time to recognize your sister's behavior for the simple thing it is. Lots of people never outgrow it. Be a proper six-year old and taunt her in her style: "Nyah, nyah, bright, green sibling rivalry is running out of your great, big, casaba-melon nose, la-la-la-la-la-la!" Or something of your choosing. You can follow up in a sane, grown-up way to let her know that her comments are tedious and how nice it would have been if the two of you had been sharing an amazing time in your lives. Things will stay as they are or you'll be pleasantly surprised in time, but it's time to give up on expectations of her.

This leaves me in a quandary. I like [some] muffins, but am not fond of cupcakes. Now that @@Treadmillwalker has introduced me to a grand truth of the universe, I'm thinking that I don't want to eat something that's been licked into muffinhood by some casual passerby. Eureka! I'd make an exception for someone with whom I'd trade saliva. That would cut my calorie intake further -- a perfect solution to a quandary. @@blizair09 -- "Wrong," like "cute," is in the mind of the beholder.

I'm ignoring their saying that you don't "need" surgery because I have no idea what anyone "needs." Their second objection is the only thing they've gotten right. There is no quick fix. Surgery is not a guarantee of losing significant weight and maintaining the loss. It's the person who makes decisions and does the work. Surgery is merely an aid. This is one of the most important things to know beforehand and to remember afterward. Otherwise, I'm also ignoring your family. This is your call. What do you want for your life? P.S. Rhetorical question: Are your mother, sons and friend overweight? They love you, but their psychological need to have you stay one of them outweighs the love in this instance.

There's the kernel. Always remember.

Maybe, maybe not. It's too soon for you to know how your band is. You really goofed, scarfing down chunks of beef and corn, especially since you were to start purees. It sounds as though the food went down after a while rather than coming up? In either case, the feeling is miserable. For now, slow down and focus first on eating properly and developing new habits. When your band is an ideal dance partner, you'll know for sure and we'll all rejoice.. Keep in mind that it's not about "fullness." "Full" means "too much." That's how we got obese. People who live at a healthy weight aim for satiety, not fullness. Satiety means eating and reaching a point where you think "I can eat two or three more bites," but you don't because you're satisfied. Learning and living it is a good goal among the other good goals. "I'm usually good for 3 months or so... then the wheels fall off." -- Always carry a wrench. Small bites, chew to smithereens, pause for a slow count to 20 before the next bite. hen the band is well-adjusted, you'll get the "enough" feeling. Know, however, that some foods go down endlessly and, of course, they are the ones to be avoided or greatly limited -- crunchy things such as chips and sugary things such as Cookies and cake are among the culprits that we can keep eating without feeling much of anything.

So many things help. Here's one: Get yourself a nice, small notebook and begin a numbered list of your goals and your reasons to want to lose weight. Do this in a notebook with pen, not in Word so that you can carry it around. Write your reasons and goals in specific, narrow terms. For example, To wear a red dress slit hip-high, not To wear a dress with a slit. The more specific the item, the more items you'll have in your list. The more reasons and goals, the more incentive to stay with the program. Not only that, but as you go along and accomplish a goal, you'll check it off. Get it? The more items on the list, the more check marks you'll get. A girl can't have too many check marks. Don't sit down and rack your brain for items. There's no rush. Write them as they occur to you. If you're reasonably healthy, you'll have an endless supply of goals, reasons and dreams to add.

@@Treadmillwalker, I hope you do find it a big help.

I've been recommending it since I started using BP, but haven't seen anyone else mention it. Glad to know. I hope you saw a post that specified this book's title, not another, similar title by Dr. Beck.

People soothe themselves easily by fibbing about all sorts of things. The bone thing is one that I never tried because I figured out early that a large frame is on the rare side. It probably shouldn't be a surprise that there's an online calculator. What isn't on line? You're the standard-bearer, Miz Medium.

As long as you tell yourself that you have no control, the less likely it is that you will. There are loads of tools -- everything from WLS support groups to books to CBT and beyond -- for learning control and making it stick. It isn't easy, but it is doable.

Feeling embarrassed and ashamed is only making things tougher for yourself. Instead, try feeling human. You're not at all the first and won't be the last to regain some weight. If an annual checkup at the surgery practice is routine for sleeve surgery, by all means make an appointment. They've seen and heard it all. They want you to succeed. By reconnecting there and having a session with the RD (of course in addition to the sage advice from @Bufflehead), you'll feel the support. I'm not familiar with the book that @@KristenVSG2014 suggested, but her opinions are also sound. For an extra dose of support and reclaiming your throne, try "The Beck Diet Solution" by Judith Beck, PhD. It's a wonderful help in taking control. It works best if read from page one rather than jumping around. Do the exercises, make the cards and all. Be sure to you look at this book, as she wrote a later book with a similar title. It gives less hard-core guidance because sections outline a food plan which isn't geared to surgery folks. You've done it before, you can do it again. P.S. I'm where you are.

If you've been telling everyone in town and elsewhere, including dearest family members, dearest friends, co-workers, storekeepers, the neighbors, the babysitter and all others about contemplating surgery and been stunned by the negative responses, consider the following. Did you give them your Social Security number, and bank statements and credit card numbers as well? What? You wouldn't? Why not? You think that info is personal and not their biz? You really do? Golly, gee, who'd a thunk it?

@@Treadmillwalker, when you tighten your abs as a reminder, you're also working them. All those little things count over time.

@@theantichick, I'd think that the ones who quit listening would evaporate into the ether, i.e., transfer their affections to a different blogger. Wrong. The internet has everyone wanting to have his say. Every idiotic thought is newsworthy, doncha know.