mngreeneyes

We will welcome you with open arms if you can make it. Take care, pam

@@ambernicole22 Those first few weeks are tough. I was tired all the time and sore. I also discovered that part of my gas issues were dairy related. The gas and gurgles got worse when I ate anything with dairy in it, including my Protein shakes! Once I switched to Fairlife milk, the gas and rumbles got much better and I felt more human. I don't know if that will help you, but it was helpful for me. You are early days. It will get better. Hang in there. pam

I lost 20 my first month, but I recovered really quickly. I was able to walk a 5k at just under a month out from surgery. I didn't start exercising besides walking until almost 2 months out and then I started slow with a very slow Couch to 5k and swimming also very slowly. I did a lot more walking than running and quit when I got tired or something hurt. Month 3 I started a weight lifting class, but was more about learning how to lift than lifting anything significant. Take it slow. I know it feels like forever, but it will come off. Remember this is a marathon not a sprint. The pounds will add up, but they will also stop/stall if you do too much too soon. Exercise is important for building muscle and reducing loose skin, but the biggest part of this is eating and making wise choices. pam

I have battled depression and anxiety for years. I am medicated and it is basically controlled, until its not, which has been a while. I had the huge long questionnaire (MMPI) and talked to the psych. I was clear from the get go as to how I think I ended up where I was (emotional eater) and how I planned to keep it from happening again. I also was very clear that I wanted to continue to be in counseling post-op to deal with issues as they arose. I don't go to that psych for my counseling, but I have continued my counseling. I think having a plan is part of what they are looking for and that you've thought this all through. Best, pam

I have sold some to a consignment store and given some to Goodwill. When I donated to our goodwill, my receipt came with a 25% off coupon at their store! I then proceeded directly to the store and bought $96 worth of clothes for $72! I am set for the next two size drops! pam

@@sharkgirl I am finding the same, but on the back side. I have a flat which has only gotten flatter so there is absolutely NOTHING to keep my pants from dragging on the ground in the back. I am 5'5" which should mean regular length pants, but my absence of butt and shorter legs, I have to buy petites now! No complaints though because for the first time in more than 10 years, they are now size 16 petites! pam

Most of my summer will be spent mostly training for a super sprint triathlon (August) and a marathon in October. I may have to do some weekend road trips to find new places to bike, run, and swim, but nothing specific yet. Otherwise, I am going to Montana for a week with my parents and some from their church to do servant event projects at a reservation. It looks like I might be making the road trip alone and picking my parents up in Montana to bring home so it will be an adventure no matter what! pam

Congrats and what a great feeling. I am still in the "OMG I almost didn't recognize you, you've changed so much" phase. I am enjoying it, but can't wait to be at the phase you are at! Enjoy! pam

Another thing to remember, that I struggle with all the time, is that we do not have to respond or be nice to everyone. I am a preacher's kid and a people pleaser. I have had creep issues in the past on various social media and RL situations. (not to mention telemarketers!) There is nothing that says we have to continue to engage with someone who is not listening to us or is responding in an inappropriate way. I know its hard, but we can stop engaging. Its not fair for them to be A$$hats but we can let them have the last word. (I am really bad at this so this is as much a reminder to myself as a suggestion for anyone else.) pam

Hey Dasha, How're you holding up? So excited for you! Let me know if you need anything! I'll try to come visit on Monday or Tuesday evening. pam

I haven't sworn it off yet, but roast beef has been a problem. I will likely try it again at some point, but I dumped or nearly dumped each time I tried it and it was miserable. Most everything else as long as I eat slow and with condiments is fine. pam

@@Kindle HUGS. I don't know the pain you are going through, but I know the pain of depression. Regardless of whether its the placebo effect or the medicine, if you are feeling more able to cope, that's a win! And when you have depression, that's a huge step. I hope that treating the low T will also help. My thoughts and prayers are with you and all you are struggling with. pam

I walked a lot before my surgery and a lot the first month after my surgery before I was cleared to exercise. I was 282 pre surgery and had lost about 30 pounds when I started running. I started the couch to 5k in month 2 post op. I restarted it in month 2.5 and completed it in the end of month 4. Is it possible? possibly. Is there a time limit on the race? I am now nearly 5 month out and I am setting no land speed records, but I ran/walked a 5k last Saturday in 41.25. That is less than a 15 min. mile pace. Just a reminder, generally there is no rule in 5ks that you cannot run/walk or even just walk, unless there is a time limit and then you just have to be able to finish before the limit. Take it slow no matter when and where you start. if you rush the Couch to 5k, you risk injury that will sideline you and your goals. Good luck! Start walking now in prep for surgery and you will be in much better position to make it happen this fall. pam

I didn't tell many people before my surgery because I didn't want to deal with the naysayers. My parents and brothers both knew, but otherwise I was very strategic with who I told. Since surgery I have been much more open about it, but I have several friends who I haven't told and I've only seen once since my surgery. It was early days so they didn't notice or didn't mention. Now, almost 70 pounds and 5 months later and I think they are going to notice. I anticipate a few who will be upset that I didn't tell earlier. At this point, all I can say is that I was keeping it quiet, but now I feel more able to talk about it. They won't know that since surgery, I've been telling almost anyone who will listen as they don't know those people. I tell people on a very one on one basis because its easier to tailor the explanation. I think you can still do that as well. Start with your closest friends and as people comment or ask, judge where you feel you are in comfort and where you think their reaction will be and go from there. It is a very personal decision to have the surgery and even more so to tell. If people have a problem with your decision on either of those things, that's there problem. Best of luck. pam

I had to go down another size in pants today. It seemed like over night my work pants were suddenly too big and looked sloppy. I had a couple pair of pants that I bought at the consignment store before surgery. They were Lane Bryant size 2. They were on the rack in the size 22 section so I bought them. I hate trying clothes on! Got home and there was no way they were 22s. Does anyone know what size they really are? Lane Bryant doesn't size that way anymore so I can't be sure if they are 18s or 16s. I suspect 16s because my 18s were the ones that got too big, but I'm not positive. Either way, I can put off buying new work pants for at least a couple more weeks, but all of a sudden my "small" clothes are starting to look sloppy and I really need to hit the thrift store this weekend. pam

I eventually got it so that mine are not covered by insurance, but I can use my Flex $$ to get reimbursed for my supplements. It helps, although I still have to have the $$ up front. pam

@treblecutie23- I would love to hear what you decide on for your Snacks. I started training for a marathon yesterday, but I have till October before I actually run/walk it. @@JmbAtlanta - Was the Bariathlete nutrition counselor helpful? Was it spendy? thanks. pam

Congrats. So glad things are resolving themselves. pam

Thanks for sharing. i love the imagery. pam

I was 277 when I had my surgery. I am an administrative Assistant so I sit a lot for my job. I took two full weeks off and then worked partial days for the next week. I basically worked until I could feel myself hitting the wall and then went home while I still felt I could drive myself safely. I immediately took a nap when I got home. For the first 3 weeks I took a nap at least once every day, but the naps got shorter and less frequent the further I was from surgery. Could I have gone back earlier? possibly. Am I glad I waited? absolutely. There is so much to adapt to after surgery on top of just recovery. Taking time to rest and recuperate was very beneficial and I had a super smooth recovery. good luck! pam

I started out wanting to get the band because it was less drastic, but after the info session and hearing my surgeon's dislike for the band because of the issues that can come with it, I then wanted the sleeve. But I had recently started having daily heartburn that seemed to be getting worse. When I actually met with my surgeon about a month before my surgery, we discussed it and he thought the RNY was my best choice. I have no regrets. I continued my prilosec after surgery because when I stopped taking it, my heartburn came back. I ran out last month and was swamped and didn't fill the prescription right away and noticed that I wasn't having heart burn so I never refilled it! I am also off my blood pressure (1 month postop) and diabetes (3 months postop) meds. The only meds I still take besides all my Vitamins are allergy medicine and antidepressants. I will be 5 months postop next week and am approaching 70 lbs gone. That means I will be halfway to my goal! All that being said, I waffled between for months. I am very glad I had the RNY, but it really is an individual choice. I am now a runner and at support group last week was talking to a sleever friend who said she can't run because if she drinks any Water, there is nothing to keep it down if she runs! I would have been very unhappy if that happened to me. Best wishes, pam

Way to Go!!! You are an inspiration! pam

I have a two coworkers who I have specifically told that they are supposed to tell me when an item of clothing is too big. Today, I put on a favorite shirt that was too small at surgery but has been getting looser. My first thought was, this is the last time I get to wear this. Both Tonia and Leah's first words to me when I saw them was, time to retire the shirt! I am a clothes horse and I have a nearly empty closet right now because I don't want to spend any $$ on clothes because they are getting too big so fast. The pants that I have been wearing for about a month suddenly are too big and need to be replaced. Not a bad thing, but hard on the wallet. Going to drop some stuff at Goodwill this week and probably bring a few things home depending on what I find. Congrats on your loss! pam

I am an advocate of unjury. I love the chocolate Splendor. It tastes like chocolate milk. I mix it with Fairlife milk and its 31 g. of Protein in one serving. You have to order Unjury online, but they offer a starter kit, which I found to be extremely helpful. Their shipping is reasonable and flat rate so once you decide you like it, you can order more and the shipping becomes a smaller proportion! pam

I am now approaching 70 pounds lost and I am frequently getting comments that I am melting away or am a skinny mini! It took more than 30 lbs for my loss to even be noticed, except that I think I lost all 30 of those pounds from my face! I am going to see a group of friends on Friday who I haven't seen since January. (about 30 lbs lost). No one noticed then. I will be interested to see what they notice now! You know where you need to be to be healthy. This is between you and your doctor. They aren't a part of that equation so they have nothing to say about where you stop. Thanks for your concern, but I have it under control. pam