Willow822

5-Day Pouch Test - Colorado Bariatric Surgery Institute
You can read all about it here! I haven't tried it, but many have had great results using this method to get back on track!
Edited because I copied the wrong link

I have the charge HR as well. I love challenging friends and family each week to see who has the most steps, it keeps me motivated! I can't tell you how many times I've taken laps around my house just to get those last few hundred steps to 10,000 lol!

Last weekend at Talbots I found three pairs of slacks in size 6 that fit me wonderfully. I realize Talbots may be one of the vanity-sizing shops. But I didn't care. And it was a monster sale -- 65% off the lowest price.
Oh, and weirdest of all, at my favorite high-end consignment shop I found a black satin hooded zippered jacket in a size 2. And no, it wasn't a Chicos size 2.
Altogether, I got 6 pieces for under $100. Crrraaazy good all around!

Thanks. Surgery is on Friday. I am so excited.

I take Celebrate calcium citrate with D3 chews (not gummies) and they are very good. They come in chocolate, caramel and fruit flavor but I have only had the chocolate. I get them at a local hospital pharmacy and they are $14 for a 1 month supply (3 chews per day). I have seen them on Amazon but they are much more expensive there...

I take Celebrate calcium citrate with D3 chews (not gummies) and they are very good. They come in chocolate, caramel and fruit flavor but I have only had the chocolate. I get them at a local hospital pharmacy and they are $14 for a 1 month supply (3 chews per day). I have seen them on Amazon but they are much more expensive there...

First of all, I am so sorry for your loss and that you are going through a tough time. Good for you for not being "too proud" to get some help! I'm sorry you guys didn't have better food being offered to you. I know, I am guilty of this too, of going through the pantry to donate to our local church and picking either things I'm not a big fan of, or all the unhealthy sweet "treats" thinking that I was being nice because "they probably don't get much of these" type mentality. Next time I donate, I'm going to do better. Thanks for reminding me that nutrition is important in donations too!

My family income level dropped quite a bit since my husband passed away. My job as a public school reading teacher doesn't help make up for that loss of income much, of course. My income is just a tad over the limit to receive government assistance, so I decided to let my insecurities go and make a trip to the local food bank.
I wasn't hoping to receive food to help my dietary needs, since I don't eat that much. It was more to help fill my son's never ending stomach. Getting milk, eggs, and bread for free was actually my purpose in going this one time.
Let me begin by saying that everyone there was extremely friendly and the process was quite easy. The place was packed and it was over an hour wait, which I didn't mind. Most of the people waiting were mothers with many small rowdy children. I'm quite aware of the stereotype correlating poor people with obesity. Looking around at the very overweight moms and kids, I could see why others might make that assumption.
When they called my name to get my food, I was ecstatic about the number of bags of food they were bringing to my car. I only have one kid and he is quite spoiled. His only comment about getting free food was: "It better be doughnuts and pizza because I hardly ever get that anymore." I told him not to count on it, but it ended up I was wrong.
Here is a list of foods that were contained in the five bags and four boxes:
7 Kings Size Peanut Butter Twix candy Bars
7 Bags of mini-Butterfinger pieces
3 bags of mini Reese's cups
2 six count boxes of Crispy Crème doughnuts
1 bag of 48 unbaked chocolate chip Cookies
1 bottle of light corn Syrup
1 bottle of dark corn syrup
1 canister of salt
1 bag of frozen Black pepper seasoned French fries
1 bag of frozen Barbecue flavored French fries
3 boxes of cereal: chocolate crispies, honey bunches of oats
Baked goods: chocolate muffins, marble cake, pound cake, waffles, chocolate covered brownies, lemon streusel cakes, long loaf of French bread, 6 birthday cupcakes, red velvet cake
3 large unbaked pepporoni pizza's from Wal-Mart
Little Debbie Snacks (zebra cakes, moon pies)
2 large canisters of Wrigley's gum
10 cans of raviolis
2 boxes of saltines
1 box of wheat thins
1 box with 12 small canisters of cheese its
7 small snack bags of teddy grahams
box of Kashi granola bars
box of peanut butter/chocolate power bars
canned goods: green Beans, Peanut Butter, cranberry sauce, creamed corn, mixed vegetables
box of 6 angus beef burgers
deer sausage
banana popsicles
chocolate fudge pops
4 rolls of TP
paper towels
box of spaghetti noodles
3 boxes of hamburger helper
bag of frozen cranberries
pancake mix
cornmeal mix
1 canister of chocolate milk powder
3 boxes of pink lemonade cake mixes
2 boxes of muffin mix (blueberry/cornbread)
1 quart of whole milk
6 large eggs
I'm not going to complain about this food. In fact, I am happy that I got what I hoped, which was the bread, eggs, and milk. I've already given much of the baked goods away because my son doesn't need it. We have enough income to buy healthier food in place of it. But what about the families who don't? I keep thinking about those mothers at the pantry with all their small children. They must HAVE to eat all this food, including the junk because they have no choice. This makes me sad. However, I am thankful that at least they have something to fill their stomach.
My neighbor did inform me that not all pantries give out the same kind of food. Some pantries actually have fresh produce donated by the farmers market. I'll actually have to keep this in mind in case we get into a rut again. My salary has gone up this school year and I've started my own after school tutoring service, so I think we are going to be financially set for awhile. Once we get ahead, I plan on donating some healthy food to the same food bank I just visited.

Yes. I hear all the time that I'm losing to much. I look in the mirror and like what I see, except shrinking breast an NO butt. I think they got so use to seeing me heavy, it's a shock. I've also gotten told how great I look. And the men have definitely noticed, even at 52. I'm happily married. But it's a great ego boost.

I can't believe it! I am now 125 pounds. What I weighed in high school. Thinner than I was in high school. I am so happy and so much healthier. I hit a road block at 140. I stayed there for six months. I was still happy at that weight. Then all the sudden I started losing again. Kind of scared me. Went to doctor and had helacobator pylori. No biggie. Nothing wrong. The only problems I have is stomach aches. Which I know I cause myself. Still struggle with eating to fast, to much, and not chewing enough. Surgery so worth it!

Someone posted this on Facebook today and I thought it was a really good read!
Hope it is ok to share here!
https://www.bariatriceating.com/2015/06/following-plan-or-not-heres-your-sign/

@@lucky1gg33 - I keep shopping my closet for old clothes - the jeans with bell bottoms may give me away though

I have an opposite problem. I love looking at the new me! I take way longer to get dressed. I love comparing old pics to current me and get super excited thinking about how much thinner I will be next month and the month after that. I am nervous that I will forget my age and buy something to tight, too revealing or too young. My friends have been sworn to save me from myself!

OH EM GEEE!! I typed LOOSE instead of lose. HA!

I tell people diet and exercise... I have been a member of Weight Watchers for so long that everyone knows I'm doing it. I've kept up my membership since surgery and continue to go to meetings because they are awesome and I hope it will help me in the long run. When we eat out or in front of people, my husband picks off of my plate to make it look like I eat more than I do. I know its all very misleading, but I am a very private person and no one knows other than my husband and parents. We also share meals in restaurants and instead of getting my own plate, I usually pick off of his. He is thin and can eat a lot so it hasn't been obvious so far. I haven't gone out with the girls yet (without hubby) because they will most definitely notice how little I eat in comparison to the way I used to eat. I doubt I will ever get to a point where I'll tell people so this is my new normal! Good luck!

Title says it all.
Was out running some errands and couldn't resist hitting the drive thru at the doughnut shop......a place I know all too well.
Not the way I'd spend my money there in the past. I truly have zero desire for the rest of their menu right now.

I'm going to enjoy this for this duration of this week. I'm still 4+ months out from surgery so I'll continue to enjoy. Looking forward to getting through the surgery.....adapt to the new food intake and adding my coffee back to the daily grub. Love my java.

@@betrthnever My husband loves me no matter what, so he says but I'm pretty sure he likes this skinnier me better. I lost weight on my own back in the day and my ex preferred bigger women and told me I " looked sick" and he wasn't as attracted to me.......soooooo I told Felicia bye, which is why he is now referred to as my ex. See how that works! So technically I dropped that 60 lbs plus 170lbs of ass! Not too shabby!

Good Sparkling Morning.
Here is some GREAT ADVICE.
1. Your surgeon performed surgery on your STOMACH not your BRAIN.
2. You have to learn to eat like a NEWBORN baby, because that is the size of your stomach.
What I usually do is prepare my foods 1 week in advance. Every night, I put my lunch/snack bag together, put in the refirgerator and then that is what my food intake is for the day of work.
I eat about 100 calories every 2 hours (If I can eat that much). I eat alot of grapes, cantalope, pepperoni, cheese for Snacks.
I eat at 6:30 am (Breakfast usually consists of 1 egg with 1 slice of cheese and 1 slice of cantalope). great proteini.
8:30am - snack of maybe cheese and grapes
10:30am - snack of cheese, pepperoni, and olives (2 small squares of cheest, 10 circles of ppn, 10 olives)
12:30pm - LUNCHTIME - I have substance (chicken, hamburger, whatever you wish). Usually 3 oz only. then have
veggies with them (soft). I sometimes can eat 3 oz but mostly only 2 oz.
2:30pm - snack. 1 banana, or more cheese and olives
4:30pm - I usually am walking, so I bring Cheese with me to snack while walking or an apple.
6:30pm - dinner (something light and healthy but filling)
8:30pm - last snack of the day - hard boiled egg, apple, or banana (not all three) lol
I take 3 walks during the day (work hours) Only 15 minutes each, but at least I am moving.
Then at night, it is it warm out, I do alot more walking about 2 miles or so.
right now I am not doing any weightlifting because I do not bring in alot of calories yet.
Hope this helps.
Remember only YOU can train YOUR brain. No one else. Also...........You actually may not be hungry, you may be thrity.
Your body does NOT really know the difference between hunger and thrist.
Have a sparkling day

I tell people diet and exercise... I have been a member of Weight Watchers for so long that everyone knows I'm doing it. I've kept up my membership since surgery and continue to go to meetings because they are awesome and I hope it will help me in the long run. When we eat out or in front of people, my husband picks off of my plate to make it look like I eat more than I do. I know its all very misleading, but I am a very private person and no one knows other than my husband and parents. We also share meals in restaurants and instead of getting my own plate, I usually pick off of his. He is thin and can eat a lot so it hasn't been obvious so far. I haven't gone out with the girls yet (without hubby) because they will most definitely notice how little I eat in comparison to the way I used to eat. I doubt I will ever get to a point where I'll tell people so this is my new normal! Good luck!

I tell people diet and exercise... I have been a member of Weight Watchers for so long that everyone knows I'm doing it. I've kept up my membership since surgery and continue to go to meetings because they are awesome and I hope it will help me in the long run. When we eat out or in front of people, my husband picks off of my plate to make it look like I eat more than I do. I know its all very misleading, but I am a very private person and no one knows other than my husband and parents. We also share meals in restaurants and instead of getting my own plate, I usually pick off of his. He is thin and can eat a lot so it hasn't been obvious so far. I haven't gone out with the girls yet (without hubby) because they will most definitely notice how little I eat in comparison to the way I used to eat. I doubt I will ever get to a point where I'll tell people so this is my new normal! Good luck!

"'My organs were shutting down:' Team 10 investigates agency booking weight loss surgeries in Mexico Agency defends sending patients to Dr. Almanza"
3 Deaths that they know about.
There's been an update to this news story. Click here to read.

OH thank God!!! My experience with Almanza was SO horrific... I'm lost, i dont know what to do. But I'm so glad to see you take his inadequacies serious. I have had the snot slapped out of me on message boards by telling my story about him. I thank you SO MUCH. He really needs to be put OUT of business!

I'm a manager. That's 100% unacceptable. I'd have her a$$ dragged in to HR. Go file a complaint and let them deal with her. If she relatiates, she will lose her job. (can you tell I have no patience for shallow people?)
Or, you could simply ask her, exaclty what is the "easy way"? I'd love to hear all about it - you must be doing it.

Hi everyone, I'm new to this site and I love what I see already. My surgery is set for 7 am tomorrow so I'll keep you updated on my progress.

I tell people diet and exercise... I have been a member of Weight Watchers for so long that everyone knows I'm doing it. I've kept up my membership since surgery and continue to go to meetings because they are awesome and I hope it will help me in the long run. When we eat out or in front of people, my husband picks off of my plate to make it look like I eat more than I do. I know its all very misleading, but I am a very private person and no one knows other than my husband and parents. We also share meals in restaurants and instead of getting my own plate, I usually pick off of his. He is thin and can eat a lot so it hasn't been obvious so far. I haven't gone out with the girls yet (without hubby) because they will most definitely notice how little I eat in comparison to the way I used to eat. I doubt I will ever get to a point where I'll tell people so this is my new normal! Good luck!