Machalo

Well, I finally got my date! April 13 for me. Woot! I'm very excited to now have a definitive date deadline to gain my new tool. Since last September I've lost 39 pounds which I'm just thrilled about. I'm up to a mile and a half walking 4 times a week and I work one of the weight machines that I've figured out how to use at my Recreation Center. All in all, it's a great Monday!

Well, I finally got my date! April 13 for me. Woot! I'm very excited to now have a definitive date deadline to gain my new tool. Since last September I've lost 39 pounds which I'm just thrilled about. I'm up to a mile and a half walking 4 times a week and I work one of the weight machines that I've figured out how to use at my Recreation Center. All in all, it's a great Monday!

Sounds like you are in a good place, Tom. Just use it as a learning experience that you don't have to repeat now. Cheating a little bit isn't a deal breaker; only a reminder that we're all human. Keep on the plan, track everything, and you'll soon see little successes.
Best of luck!

Tomorrow I get my first visit with my surgeon! So excited! I'm down to the 300's now, which is just super duper! I'm loving life and loving my plan! Hopefully I'll get a surgery date tomorrow (fingers crossed).
In movement, I'm able to walk a mile each day, even if it takes me 20 minutes to do so. i'm really proud of that since I haven't exercised at all for the last 20 years. I'm also doing a little bit of toning with weight resistance, though that is going much slower than the walking.

Tomorrow I get my first visit with my surgeon! So excited! I'm down to the 300's now, which is just super duper! I'm loving life and loving my plan! Hopefully I'll get a surgery date tomorrow (fingers crossed).
In movement, I'm able to walk a mile each day, even if it takes me 20 minutes to do so. i'm really proud of that since I haven't exercised at all for the last 20 years. I'm also doing a little bit of toning with weight resistance, though that is going much slower than the walking.

Thanks for the referral, @sidvicious, I will take a look at the book. Maybe it will help both me and hubby. Right now I'm working through Bariatric Mindset Success, which is fabulous.

Starting out the week the same as last week - 322. My own fault. I had a cold and used it as an excuse to eat more than I should and things that I shouldn't. I had Protein Shakes for breakfast, a small sandwich (1 piece of cheese, 2 pieces of bread, mustard), and then Pasta bake and caramel nut bread for dinner. I was worried I would have gained more and am grateful that it's only what it is.
This week, I'm feeling a bit better, though I'm running a low-grade fever still, and the dreaded "cough" is starting. That's where I cough my lungs out for a month or two before it goes away. I'm sipping through my Water pretty quickly this morning, and eliminating water almost as fast. But that's the water pill kicking in.
I'm planning the Thanksgiving menu, thanks to @FluffyChix who turned me on to turkey tenderloins, mashed roasted cauliflower, roasted brocolli and brussels sprouts, and sugar-free pumpkin cheesecake mousse. This coming weekend is payday so I'll be doing my shopping for that week then, as well as for the almost 2 weeks before it.
Oh hey! I just realized I get paid on Black Friday. What do you know? Not that I plan to go mad purchasing stuff, it's just me and hubby and we're getting new gaming computers for Christmas. We love to play on-line games together, it's relaxing and something we can enjoy while we're both so big it's impossible to get out and around a lot. That will change with my WLS in spring 2020. He's not decided whether he wants to do WLS in 2020 as well; I think a lot will depend on what our out of pocket turns out to be for mine.
Regardless of whether he's intentional about losing weight, as I cook better for us foods and take him off of his beloved pizza 3-4 times a week, he should drop pounds and inches too.

Thanks again for responding, Chris. The weekend was partially a dieter's nightmare as we were out doing things and even at meal times, so I found myself eating out. And hardly any water; I don't drink much of anything when I'm out and about because I'll have to suddenly go to the bathroom and there won't be one for the next 20-30 miles. I live in a rural-ish area so there are lots of breaks where there is nowhere to stop. Sunday is usually Church and then D&D gaming, but this week we skipped Church because of hubby's not feeling great. Still had a blast playing D&D though.
Anyway, hubby and I talked about surgery and that I was being committed this time to following the plan because I wanted a successful surgery and recuperation. I want to be in the best shape I can get into at my weight before I go under the knife so I'll have an easier recovery time. He was supportive, if a little non-enthusiastic. Then again, he's still struggling with colitis and now he's caught an upper respiratory infection of some kind. My poor darling.
In total, the weekend had positives and negatives and wound up just about even. I have not stepped on the scales today, since I went for my Psych clearance, I haven't been drinking my Water like I should be. I'll hit it tonight at home, dinner is Toad in the Hole, which I hadn't made in forever. I may opt for a shake instead. One step at a time, one meal at a time.
The Psych appointment went well. I ended up telling him my entire life story in 20 minutes, he said he has no issue with me having bariatric surgery and was going to call my practice to see exactly what they need for him to say. Nice man. Another checkmark ticked off the list. i'm getting closer, but my team is still saying early April until sorgery. Argh. Oh well, it will turn out for the best. I have to keep telling myself that when I start to get impatient.
Have a brilliant Monday everyone and thanks for stopping by. ❤️

Thanks for your reply, Chris. It is good to hear from you and thanks for stopping by my thread. I'm glad life has turned out so great for you, you deserve every blessing.
My NUT appointment yesterday went well. They were pleased at my weight lost and the changes I'm making in my diet, and we made new goals. They told me my likely surgery date won't be til APRIL next year! I was hugely disappointed at first, but then remembered all the advice I've seen on this site that it will all work out in the end and that eventually I'll be happy that i had this extra time. So I'm focusing on one day at a time doing the best I can to be healthy and drop a few more pounds.
Reminding myself that this is a marathon, not a sprint is helping as well. Knowing that I'm being good to myself is a great feeling too. I was able to talk with my husband about my appointment yesterday and he said "good for you" which to me says he is thawing a little bit at least. I didn't tell him surgery wasn't until April yet, baby steps since he is also suffering from colitis at the moment and isn't feeling the greatest. Progress is still progress so I'm happy with that.

One day til my next appointment and I had a salty Breakfast and have drunk 60 oz of Water in 5 hours. Of course, I forgot my pills this morning, so no pee pills to help get rid of the water I've just ingested. Grr. Well, whatever the scales say tomorrow morning is what we'll have to go with, regardless of whether it shows all the weight I've dropped. Disappointing. Well, I get out of work early today since I came in at the ungodly hour of 5am so I can take at least one of my pee pills when I get home.

My journey starts all the way back to my pre-teen years. I was a chubby little girl. At about 8-9, my Mom put me on my first diet. At 15, I took weight loss shots every week for two years. During High School I stopped eating and dropped weight and grew so that helped. By 17 and graduation, I was at a comfortable 125-130. I maintained it for the next 10 years by smoking and not eating. I didn't eat healthfully, but darn if I didn't eat slowly and chew my food to death.
Fast forward those ten years and I was 27, in one abusive relationship after the other, and became an exercise addict. I still didn't eat healthfully. but I ate so little that it didn't really matter what I ate.
Forward another two years and I was 29 and getting married to my true love. I still had very bad eating habits, and now I was faced with having to eat regular meals at regular times. ACK! I gained weight almost instantly, and it's been compounding for the last 26 years. I tried SlimFast, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Adkins, Mediterranean, and pretty much everything else. If I did lose some weight on them, I gained it all right back once I went off of them, plus more. I became a yo-yo dieter. The only thing that worked for me again was to stop eating. I could do a fast for about a day but by the second day my husband was on me to eat. Not that he didn't want a healthy wife, but I think he was afraid that I might turn out to have an eating disorder that was dangerous.
At 36 I moved to where we live now, kind of out in the country, with cities not too far away. Once I worked for the university I started to look into finishing my bachelor's degree. Which I did. In 2008, when I was 44. At that point I was so heavy that I couldn't stand myself and started looking into weight loss surgery. Husband and I both went in, listened to the seminar, got our first appointment out of the way, talked with the surgeon, talked with the insurance guy ... and never went back. Insurance was nigh unto impossible to get cleared back then. The hoops you had to jump through were prohibitive, so I dropped it. For then. I scheduled to do the seminar again in 2015 or so, and again the insurance hoops discouraged me. Plus other people discouraged me. So I stopped.
Now, I'm at my highest weight ever. I have GERD, sleep apnea, kidney problems, HBP, low thyroid, and joint pains. All from the excess weight. So I went back (3rd time's the charm, right?) and started the process over again. I've had my initial visit and labs done, I have scheduled the next 4 NUT appointments (thru Jan) and then the post-NUT assessment with the surgeon in January. Between this time and that, I need to get my psych clearance and have an ultrasound of my stomach done. Both are now scheduled. Now, I wait. It seems like it is taking forEVER, yet I only had my first appointment on the 8th. Not even 10 days yet and it feels like MONTHS have passed.
I've started cutting things from my diet -- all my bad habits. The first to go in October are candies, Cookies, fast food, and chips. i'm already down 7 pounds. Next month, I limit soda intake, and cut portions down to 2 cups per meal. November, I cut soda intake in half, cut my portions down to 1.5 cups per meal. December I go off the soda, drop my intake to 1 cup per meal and increase number of meals per day to 5. January, I'm hoping to be drinking my Water, and be at the point where I'm at 1/2 cup of food per meal and 5 meals per day. Hopefully I'll be able to have surgery in February depending on my surgeon's schedule, and my insurance to clear. They have lightened up on their requirements so I'm more hopeful that I'll be approved.
As far as who knows, my husband knows I went to my first appointment and that it is my goal to have bypass surgery. He's not super excited about it. In fact, I haven't been able to share any of my excitement or goal setting or anything with him. He is disabled and his health is frail, so he's been having his own issues. So, I bring my enthusiasm and my questions and my hyperactivity here to BariatricPal. You all have taught me so much already. Thank you.
I'd love to make some great friends here, and I think I will. If you'd like to make friends, send me a message or reply, or just feel free to add me. I'd love to start a conversation with other like minded folks, who are excited, learning a lot, questioning a lot, and are just generally addicted to this site. LOL. Seriously, though. I'd love to hear your story too.
Cheers,
Mac

I seem to be having a problem with sticking strictly to my food plan on the weekends. I do fine at work, but when I'm home, I generally don't drink as much Water as I need to and my Protein levels go down while my carbs go up. While I'm not on a prescribed diet yet, I'm trying to habitualize as much as possible before surgery to make the after effects easier. I have weigh in on the 22nd so I need to be good and strictly on plan until then.
Just reminding myself of why I'm going through this journey; I want to be healthier and live past my 50s. I want to be able to care for my husband with greater ease and I want to be able to move around not worrying whether I'm going to make it in one stretch or if I'll have to stop mid-way to catch my breath.

All the best thoughts and energy coming your way for a safe and uneventful surgery and a quick and easy recovery! (HUGS)

Congratulations to you, @Mizztiterita and @kswin79 on your success so far! As AJ said, it will all work itself out in the end. Try to be mindful of all the changes you are experiencing. I'll bet you are losing inches even if the scales aren't moving. You are successfully following your plan. Have you measured to track the inches? I just started doing that to get my base before surgery, but it is something that was suggested to combat the inevitable stalls. Keep the faith, you're doing the right thing!
Good luck, @IAmGrace on your sleeve tomorrow! Will be keeping you in thoughts and prayers. Keep us posted as you are able during your recovery! (HUGS)

This is something I worry about in my household too. Hubby needs to lose weight, but isn't on board with that right now, so he still eats a lot of unhealthy meals that I don't touch. I don't really mind though (at this point) because it is fresh in my head why I'm eating differently than he is. I'm hoping that he will start to see the changes in me and want them for himself. But til then, it's a bag of corn chips every other night. Stay strong!

Congratulations on all of your success! Try to Celebrate how much healthier and happier you are as a person in general instead of focusing on a time deadline. You'll get to your goal weight, just keep to the program. HUGS

Way to go, Jake! Your tremendous success should definitely be celebrated! You have transformed your life and gotten on a healthier and happier path. That is just awesome to me, and such an inspiration! Thanks so much for sharing so we could all help you celebrate!

This is something I worry about in my household too. Hubby needs to lose weight, but isn't on board with that right now, so he still eats a lot of unhealthy meals that I don't touch. I don't really mind though (at this point) because it is fresh in my head why I'm eating differently than he is. I'm hoping that he will start to see the changes in me and want them for himself. But til then, it's a bag of corn chips every other night. Stay strong!

I'm sorry you are having this difficulty, @Tory Myers. The deed is done (you licked your finger). Let it go and don't beat yourself up about it. Just learn from it. Now you know you are tempted by mashed potatoes and you just stay away from them for now. If broths are making you nauseous, then try something else. There are other things you can do, like Protein Shakes and Protein waters. You can semi-freeze the shakes and have them kind of like an ice cream. That will give you some texture, while still being a liquid.
Try to focus on all of the great things about what your surgery is bringing you! It's the tool you've been waiting for to help you lose weight. You will be so happy with your decision as soon as you start to see the scales drop. Remember all of the health reasons that made you decide that surgery was the best option for your health.
You got this! Keep reading the forums; they always help to keep my mood up and my motivation high. All the best to you!

That is so exciting to hear! Wishing you all the best!

Congratulations on your SUCCESS! That is great to hear! I look forward to exploring all the new and wonderful tastes with my new little pouch to see what it will tolerate.

Congratulations on all of your success! Try to Celebrate how much healthier and happier you are as a person in general instead of focusing on a time deadline. You'll get to your goal weight, just keep to the program. HUGS

I had to wait 6 weeks from my final weigh in and insurance approval to my surgery work-up this Thursday. The wait was hard when all I wanted to do was GO GO GO! Yet, I've tried to use the time to continue progressing on my weight loss and exercise habits. It's still hard. Coming on here and watching everyone's successes and challenges has been very helpful too. Come out and talk to folks on the forums when the waiting seems to be just dragging on.

Thanks @ms.sss. That was exactly what I was looking for! Thanks loads! XOXO

I was approved by insurance about 2 weeks ago and my surgeon is booked out so far that I don't get to meet with him until the end of February. It's a pest since I just want to know when my date is going to be, so I can look forward to and plan for it, but I'm trying to use it to up my endurance exercising and dropping a few more pounds.
GREAT JOB in quitting smoking! That was a hard one for me 20+ years ago. My hardest thing so far was having to give up diet soda and caffeine. Even that hasn't been so bad, but I know those 'hit you sideways' cravings do sneak up on you when you're least expecting them.
Best wishes for you!