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I used insurance for the surgery, but was still left with a hefty bill for items covered at 80 percent. That means I'll be making large monthly payments to the hospital for more than three years. I have many things motivating me to succeed and the amount of money I'm paying and the pain I went through are definitely among them! I'm surprised that alone doesn't motivate more people. Did I really just pay xx-f-----g-thousand dollars to fall head first into a bag of chips or cookies? Hell to the no.

I'm five weeks post-op and tonight my boyfriend of nearly three years broke up with me. This is my first very serious, long-term relationship like this, so I'm hurting a lot. We'd been having some problems, but I didn't think they were that bad and wasn't expecting this. It's a huge blow to my support system. I'm trying my best to keep it together and not break down cause I'm scared of how it will feel if I do. Has anyone dealt with something like this soon after surgery?

That's one thing I've been a little worried about, inappropriate questions and less that tactful comments as I lose weight. Today was my first day back at work. I'm six weeks out and have lost 30. Pretty much all of my coworkers asked how I was feeling and said I looked good. It was SO nice. I'm really hoping they were being kind/tactful and it's not that I've only lost enough weight to look better in a way they can't quite put their finger on.

Can you find a way to add protein or healthy fats to your snacks? Dip your pretzels in nut butter or have some cheese with crackers.

If you're talking a vaginal yeast infection and you don't want to mess with creams, you can ask your doc for a pill called Diflucan. Just one pill and it clears it up. If you're having repeated infections, I'd try upping your probiotic intake with yogurt, kefir, fermented foods or supplements.

@@Daisee68 If I'm not mistaken, cashews are also particularly high in monounsaturated fat, which might make them a better choice than other nuts, depending on your view of nutrition.

I LOVE roasted veggies too! I usually keep it simple and use plain EVOO and perhaps a little salt. That was pre-surgery actually. So far I can't eat enough veggies to make roasting worth it and still get in all my protein. What's the point of roasting one stalk of asparagus? When I can take in more veggies, I'll have to mix it up after clicking your link. You keep rocking with your roasted veggies!

I like Morningstar Farms products. I'm still early out (six weeks) and I find they are low enough in fat and sugar to meet my nut's requirements of less than 5g fat and 10g sugar per serving. I've been buying from the salad and hot bars at Whole Foods too. They're just generally going to be healthier than say Kroger. While they don't offer nutritional information, each food is labeled and they list the ingredients. I scan the ingredients for sugar and fat. I've gotten some very good chicken, fish, chickpea salad and veggies. They also have prepared zucchini noodles that I've been eyeing. I like to make my own sauce with meat and veggies and that would be a perfect Pasta substitute. The bar is perfect because you can buy just enough, which I've found is a struggle as I eat so much less and I live alone.

I like this! While I agree with @@Ashlegal that folks may still feel compelled to post about their specific situation (the reasons she listed are valid and make sense), I think this could both help vets feel less annoyed AND help the newbs. Topic ideas: Which surgery should I have? recipes Third Week Stall How much time should I take off work? How did you take time off? (info about short-term disability, what you have to/don't have to tell) Since there's so much disagreement about many of these topics, I second the idea of including links to our best old threads about them. Btw, I work as a writer and editor (first for newspapers, now in marketing) and I'm happy to assist if you'd like my help.

@@Ashlegal Thank you so much for posting. I'm so very sorry for your loss. I can't even imagine the grief you must feel, and at a time, like you said, when you needed the most support. I hope you're finding the comfort and support you need during this difficult time. *big hugs back*

@@lealor Thank you so much for the encouragement. I'm really sorry to hear of your and your husband's troubles. Illness and financial strains can put such pressure on a relationship. Just as you've told me, take care of you! I hope things get better soon.

Oh, I know. I have to feel the feels and trust me, I am. And I don't feel bad about feeling sad, cause hell, most people would! I know I have to push myself and keep doing healthy things too. Being five weeks out probably makes it easier, but I'm really glad I haven't had a single thought of comforting myself with food. Before surgery, there's no question that I would be.

Wait. You mean waking up in the middle of the night, crying a little bit and posting a sad message to a bunch of strangers on a web forum is pathetic?? Seriously though, your post helped. Most of me knows I'm going to be ok. A little part of me is scared I won't be. But I know that little part is wrong and should STFU. It's probably impossible to spend nearly three years with someone and not have some magical moments. Somehow those seem to come to mind first when you lose someone. But relationships take work and I can't be the one doing all the work. If all he's got is "I just can't get that feeling back" and "I need to work on myself" derp derp, that's on him. I just had some fish and it was delicious. This is going to be hard, but I have to push myself. I just wish I knew how long this is going to suck for.

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I've been thinking too that it's a great time to focus on myself and my health fully. My fear of not being able to handle it is probably unfounded, but it can be hard to realize that. I've been through other hard times and come out strong on the other end. I've needed continuous nausea medicine since it happened yesterday evening. I'd been trying to wean off of taking one nausea pill a day before that. I was also trying to wean off shakes, but now it's hard to eat. Still met my Protein and Fluid goals yesterday, barely. Stress like this does a number on my stomach. It worries me some, but I think I should take it one day at a time and call my bariatric team if I feel like I need to.

I'm so terribly sorry for what you're going through. We're all thinking of you here. Please keep us updated.

@@bellabloom I am so sorry to hear you're having such a difficult time. I admire your courage both in posting and seeking help. You're doing the right thing and I'll be thinking of you. I completely relate to what you said about learning early on that your worth depends on your weight. I learned the same thing when I was very young and I struggled with bulimia during my senior year of college ten years ago. I sought help rather quickly (after a couple months) so I was able to recover with outpatient therapy. I gained more than 100 pounds during a very stressful time in my life a couple years later and have been obese ever since. I tell you this to know that even on this forum you're not alone. Deep down there's a part of you that knows you're worth so much more than your weight or clothing size. Put your faith in that voice. You don't deserve for anorexia to disable you physically and mentally any more than you deserved obesity to. And keep working at therapy! Uncovering the underlying issues that contributed to my eating disorder has made all the difference for me. Still, I understand how persistent the thoughts are and how they always seem to stay with you. Keep fighting and with help, I hope you can develop tools to overcome that way of thinking. Sending warm and healing thoughts your way!

@@winklie I figured that's why you started the thread and I like it! It's nice to look back and see how my headspace has changed, even if it's just been five weeks. I'm really starting to feel what others have said, that nothing tastes as good as thin feels. Right now in the honeymoon phase I am trying to "record" how good it feels to break out of unhealthy habits, so I'll remember it later. I never want to go back!

From what I've read in various post here, what we call the "three week stall" generally happens sometime between two and four weeks out. This also seems to be the only stall we don't need to do anything to get out of. Just wait it out.

Oh, jeez. I spread mine out over a month, including: *turkey cheeseburger with caramelized onions, mayo and cheese and a salted caramel milkshake *Papa Johns Tuscan six cheese pizza, cinnamon and sugar dessert knots, and plenty of regular Coke *a honking huge bowl of sugary Cereal *a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese The mac and cheese was the last thing I had before pre-op Clear liquids. It gave me indigestion and reminded me of how I used to eat stuff even knowing it was going to upset my stomach. It was madness. I was so ready to be done with that lifestyle. I can't say what a relief it is for food not to have that hold over me.

That's nuts. I agree with taking some of the things you read on forums with a grain of salt, but you have enough people here saying that being able to eat 2200 calories a day two weeks after surgery is so abnormal it's unbelievable. I can't understand how anyone who is part of a bariatric care team could hear that and not think something is REALLY wrong. Only your nut seemed to have the right reaction at first when she said she hoped she misheard you. Also, your surgeon saying he had a hard time with your surgery and then your gf's surgery because of "her build" sounds weird. Logically, is it more likely these two random cases both happen to be difficult or that your surgeon isn't very skilled? Plus if you're a bariatric surgeon, many patients' builds are going to be part of the challenge is the surgery. Duh. I think it's good you're documenting. I'd be scared for you to allow him to perform surgery on you again though. I think seeking a second opinion at an academic medical center, where you'll find the most skilled and knowledgable surgeons in the country, might be a good move. I don't know if Wake Forest is an AMA, but UVA or Duke would be good choices.

@@Dallas Powell Based on what you're telling us, your surgeon sounds like a fucknut. You have two academic medical centers in Virginia with incredible programs -- UVA and VCU. Are either of those a possibility for you?

Ah, the bpa issue is tough. Do you have a Whole Foods or similar type store nearby? That might be your best bet for finding things in cans without bpa.

Two additional tips: 1. Try organic dairy. I don't know why, but they seem to have much longer expiration dates sometimes. 2. Train yourself to look at expiration dates as you shop. Ask yourself whether you really think you can finish it by the date listed. For example, if you find yogurt with an expiration date a month away, stock up. If it's a week away, just grab a couple. Good luck!

Don't worry @@winklie, it's all part of figuring this process out! You're doing great!

Oh yeah, sorry, forgot to say the deli cheese I eat is low fat! My nut tells me to keep everything under 5g fat per serving.