2goldengirl

You're missing my point. No one was rude or mean. YOU are the only one name calling. In my original post, I simply warned you about the danger of strawberry seeds. But hey, if that makes me a b!tch, so be it. As a host of this forum, I'd ask that you refer to the policies of this forum and refrain from name calling and personal attacks. That behavior will not be tolerated.

So you're telling me that you started eating solids at day 6 despite your doctor's orders to wait until Week 3 because you can "sense" you are a fast healer. Yet at the same time, you don't want people to talk to you like you're an "idiot"? (Your words.) Huh. OK.
Actually, the responses in this thread were MUCH kinder than they could/should have been. If the tone in these responses didn't please you, I would caution you to protect your feelings with a kevlar vest before continuing to post here.
Best of luck!

So if you are in the mood to start some drama and scribble it out as if you didn't say it, your time is limited.

In my experience, it is what you make it. While yes, your stomach is gone forever, the benefits are not forever. Most people many years out have learned to eat around the sleeve so that if they did not learn good food habits while they had restriction, they just return to their old ways.
I am three months short of three years out from surgery. I hit goal in April of last year and I have maintained within 3-4 pounds. This morning I woke up a few ounces heavier than usual, so today I get to pay more attention to my food and exercise. Every single day is going to be a fight for the rest of your life, although the sleeve makes it substantially easier. I am never going to get to go on vacation for a week, eat whatever I want like those damn naturally skinny people do, and come back and have gained no weight. I could easily gain 5-8 pounds in a week if I ate sweets, which is my big "gain weight fast" food. Because I like being thin, I don't eat sweets anymore. I wake up and I weigh myself every morning. I missed a day in MyFitnessPal about 2 weeks ago and broke a 230+ day streak, so the last two weeks I haven't been recording my food intake, but really I don't need to anymore. I know what I can and cannot eat.
This time three years ago I was 237-ish pounds, I could not manage to lose weight, and I was ashamed and miserable. This morning I weighed 132.8 pounds, I have a closet full of clothes that are 0-4, and I feel like a different person. The sleeve is not something that will make you thin and happy forever, but rather it is something that makes it a lot easier for you to reach and maintain a healthy weight if you are willing to make the sacrifices to do so. Where I live it is 95 degree outside already, I do NOT want to go workout, but in a little bit, I'm going to spray myself with sunscreen, whine as I get into workout clothes, and get my butt outside. I'll log my food today because I gained a bit over the weekend, I'll probably do my ab video, and I won't have any dessert at the Memorial Day party this afternoon. Sure, the sleeve made it easier to get to this size, but at this point the only thing keeping me here are my own daily decisions.
So, the sleeve itself is forever, the benefits it provides are great the first year or two and then slowly drop, but you have the potential to use the tool to your advantage to achieve and maintain good health. In the end, it's entirely up to you- not what happens to be left of your stomach.

They taste gross and have too much sodium.

Now that I am sleeved, I find much pleasure in high quality, high flavor food. I buy expensive cheeses, seafood salads, meats... I can only eat a bit so it never costs me more than a dollar or three -- much less than I was paying for fast food.

If you are looking for convenience (I do!!), go to Whole Foods, Wegmans, Fresh Market or whatever fancy market you have and get teeny containers of great food. Just as convenient but so much better tasting.

Your boyfriend didn't have surgery. You did. You can only control yourself. He has no reason to change just because you decided to change. Do what is best for you and let him do his thing.

I agree with you most of the time, but this is BS. Why the hell do we expect the whole world to revolve around our diet? Ridiculous. If someone is really serious about changing their eating habits and lifestyle, what everyone else is doing shouldn't matter. If your will power is so weak that you absolutely can't help yourself around people with "tempting" foods, then you really need to question how serious you are about having the surgery and changing your life. Let's stop acting like we have absolutely no way to resist tempting foods that people eat around us. There has to be some sort of will power involved here. I mean stop with the "Devil made me do it" crap already!

YIKES!!!! So she didn't like what we said so she changed her user name to "byehoes"?????
Eeee gads, if she were my kid...never mind. Sorry I wasted so much time on that long post to her.
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My goodness, you are a little meanie aren't you! *meow*hiss*scratch* My response wasn't intended to be rude. However, since you've seen fit to respond in such a nasty juvenile way (what a surprise, not), well dear, I guess I'll pull out the stops. But first I am a little confused honey dear sweetie, if you have this great insurance, what's the $8500 for? At 22 years old you are still just a baby with a lot to learn. You can go ahead and argue that you're all grown up, as teenagers do, but take it from someone who was also 22 once. You are not. If you don't have money saved, then no, you don't have money. If 1000 dollars is a DEVASTATING amount, then you do not have money. If you don't have your own income then no you don't have money. And if you don't have money then you are not ready for this surgery. To support the surgery, after the surgery, you need money. Saved money. In the bank. And a lot more than 1000 lousy dollars. My copays for visits and tests alone added up to more than that. Who is going to pay in the event of a complication? Who is going to pay for all your expensive supplements? If you can't afford them will you just not take them? What about unexpected emergencies? What about all the new clothes you will surely want? Will you be posting here that you are devastated that mommy won't buy you clothes unless you get a job but that you can't get a job because your pants are falling off your ass? LMAO While it is lovely and all that you care for others, this has nothing to do with them. This is about taking responsibility for yourself and your own needs. Many people don't have mommy and daddy to help them at all. They work, they save the money, and they pay for it 100% themselves. And I'll bet you dollars to low carb donuts that those people, who want it bad enough to do whatever it takes, are going to excel at their weight loss. Do you want it bad enough to do whatever it takes? If so, get a damn job. If not, forget the surgery. You are very young. You have plenty of time to get a job, save some cash, and grow up. And you really DO need to do all three of those things. Listen sweetie, I don't know you from Eve, so my comments can only be based on the information you've given, but I'm sure your parents who have so kindly offered to give you $7500 provided that you get a job and come up with just one grand on your own, know you a lot better than I do and have a very good reason for withholding their offer in this DEVASTATING punishment. Having to get a job is not DEVASTATING. DEVASTATING is getting a call at 4am to learn that your father's heart has stopped. DEVASTATING is having to hop a plane and fly 2300 miles to go see him on life support. DEVASTATING is finding yourself shoveling dirt into his grave soon after. That was my life just a few months ago. THAT was DEVASTATING. Having to work is just daily life. Whining that you have to get a job and save some money? Well boohoo. Welcome to adulthood. And while we're at it.. do not "honey" me, sweetie. And save your pity game for some other sucker. I've been through much worse than you which I won't mention here. For the record tho, my dad left when I was 8 and since my mother eventually had to go back to work, I was put in charge of taking care of the house, my younger sister, and making sure that dinner was on the table when my mother got home from working over an hour away. I did all that and still managed to excel in school all along. At age 22 I graduated college with honors and promptly got a temp job, immediately after which, I landed a full time job. I never looked to my parents for money. Today I work my ass off, often 7 days a week. I built my own business and am 100% self-supporting and independent with a beautiful home and excellent credit. When the same is true for you, THEN you can call me honey. Ok I'm done

allyrenee....take a deep breath. You might not like all of what I am saying, but I hope you will let yourself hear it, even a little bit.
There's probably some truth in what shaydi.lane said ... AND some truth in what you replied. Neither one of you are completely wrong, and that probably stings.
You're a little younger than my son, so I am going to say to you what I tell him: no matter what you have to do to get it, you need a cushion of what I call "God-Forbid-Money" .... an amount of money that YOU DO NOT TOUCH unless the situation warrants you gasping and muttering "God forbid..." (life and death, fire, safety, illness...). Money for a plane or train or bus ticket in case someone you love 1000 miles away dies (or is suddenly dying and you want to say goodbye before they pass), money in case the person who pays the rent suddenly can't bc of illness, money to cover the co-pay if you suddenly needed to pay for a medicine your life depended upon, money to pay for that same medicine for an infirm loved one, money to fix the furnace if it dies in the middle of a snowstorm, money if you break down driving in the middle of the night driving through a different state and you need a tow and a repair and a motel. Money for the things you don't plan on....like the situation you find yourself in, where someone on whom you were counting can't come through for you. You have to be able to come through for yourself. If you can't, you live in chains.
When you need to build up the funds for that "God-Forbid-Money", NO WORK IS BENEATH YOU IN THE SHORT TERM (babysit, cut lawns, go on care.com and sign up to run errands for people, drive for uber, clean houses, get a PT job anywhere, take care of kids after school for people who work, make telemarketing calls at night, clean office buildings at night, sign up at a temp agency...). Do anything short of selling your body or your integrity. Because the peace of mind that comes from having God-Forbid-Money is huge. If you have it, no one holds you (or your health) hostage.
For you, it might be $1000 in the bank or tucked under your mattress. Whatever you think your number is, increase it by another 50%. Because emergencies are always more expensive than you expect.
This is a big moment for you. You get to decide who you want to be, and how you want to be. You probably have more power to chart your own course than you realize. Dig deep. Show the world who you are.
Plus....you might want to start a little separate fund for supplements, Vitamins, and -- hooray -- the new clothes you will legitimately need on your way down the scale. Even if you shop at Goodwill, you're looking at $50 a month I bet, bc you will also need new underwear, bras, etc.
You're a young adult, too young to already feel burdened by bad credit and relying on other people this much. You deserve something different, and only you can make it happen. Get out of this mess, honorably. Straighten things out, fix the credit, save more money, get your surgery when you can on your own terms without relying on just an extra $1000 from your parents, channel your determination and anger positively. Let your real self out. Not a sassy, defensive version of yourself....let your REAL SELF out.
It takes a lot of work. It is scary to realize that once you are 22 years old, it really is all in your hands, it's all your responsibility now. But the beauty is, once you do this you will not only be charting your own course, you will have the ability to help those who truly have no options through no fault of their own. And help those who helped you on your way up.
You are too valuable to let $1000 hold your life in the balance. You are bigger than that.
So, LIVE bigger than that. And get yourself some God-Forbid-Money over the next few months.

Honestly, everyone, WLS patient or not, needs a basic course in human anatomy and physiology. We buy many cars in our lifetimes, but only get one body. It's important to know how it works. Though if we all had a better understanding how our bodies work, there would be a much smaller internet audience for the kind of hogwash that masquerades as fact these days. Don't get me started!

changing your routine is a great idea, and that's what you did. Your body got a bit more fuel and a chance to recover from your workouts. Moving forward, you might try adding another hundred calories to your day, and taking an extra rest day every other week or so. Dong too much can be as hard on your success as too little.

Don't give away your power.
You will find out that as you lose weight you will gain confidence and courage. My favorite thing to say to haters is "Thanks for your concern. Now, let's talk about your weight."
I agree with everyone else's comments. Give her one fair warning that discussing your health and weight when you did not ask for input, is just cause to make a harassment complaint with HR.
Also, the older you get, the less you will care about other people's opinions.
It is no secret here that bariatric surgery will expose the raw dynamics of your relationships. People just can't keep their mouths shut. You will find out just exactly how people really see you because they drop that veil of silence. This is not a bad thing, even though it stings. It is good to know where you stand so that you can respond in an appropriate, if not sarcastic way.

73 lbs? Wow - no wonder why she's jealous! Congrats!!!

OK ... here's the truth coming at you from an old broad who's seen some considerable s**t.
Y'know how to tell if someone is an evil influence? It's when their unsolicited, invalidative advice offered "for your own good" crawls around your brain like a poisonous scorpion shitting on every cell of your mind and soul.
From now on, you should make it blatantly clear to her that she is on your all-time s**t list. Don't pretend like you like her. Don't pretend like she has your best interests at heart (she doesn't). If she comes in and sits down at your luncheon table, get up and leave. She is dead to you.
And if she does it again, tell her you're going to report her to H.R. if she tries it a third time.
Oh, and don't assume anyone else is "talking about you." She is lying her ass off. That's just her imagining has any influence whatsoever over you. She might be self-aware enough to realize what she's doing. Or maybe she's just a meddling, clueless cretin.
Either way, she is dangerous to your well being -- ONLY if you give any credence whatsoever to the idiot noises she issued while her mouth was moving. What she thinks and what she says is 100% irrelevant to your life.
Now move on.
P.S. BTW, you keep doing that Subway salad thing you did -- it's brilliant! Love it!

Hmm let's see...

You're 22 years old with no money, no job, no insurance, bad credit, and your parents have decided not to help you because you won't get a job?

I hate to be a party pooper but just based on that little bit alone, I would have to side with them. I'm just guessing here, but it sounds to me like your folks might like to see you take some responsibility and perhaps grow up a little. And those are two things that I would highly recommend doing before having a surgery that will depend on you being accountable, responsible, and in charge. For the rest of your life.

Devastated isn't what you should be feeling, motivated is. If your parents wont help you unless you get a job, then get a job. That will solve your problem a lot faster than whining about it. Good luck!

#toughlove

Have you applied for Medicaid?
If you don't have a job, then your job should be looking for a job.
WLS is life changing--demanding and not cheap---pre-op +/or post op.
The cost of the surgery itself is only the beginning.
Maybe, you need to wait until you are a wee bit more financially comfortable and then have WLS. In the meantime, you can put into practice all that you have learned so far. That way when your journey starts again, you'll be off and running with a good head start.

You could also get a job and postpone your surgery for a little while.

Interesting side note - I was at my ob/gyn this week and she had breast cancer and complete reconstruction. So I was asking her if a) she thought I could get away with just a lift and if my very lumpy (fibrocystic breast tissue) would prevent me from getting implants. Answer to both was no. She also said to get silicone (not saline die to risks of leaks) and to be firm with the Dr on size. She said most all surgeons want to do larger breasts. She said she came out of her surgery and asked how many cc's he put in and she told him to take put half! Now she is pretty petite and now has very small breasts but she was fine with it. Anxiously awaiting my PS consultation on the 20th to see what he says. I know my ob/gyn is not a PS but since she lived through the reconstruction, I thought it was an interesting take on the subject.
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Honestly, everyone, WLS patient or not, needs a basic course in human anatomy and physiology. We buy many cars in our lifetimes, but only get one body. It's important to know how it works. Though if we all had a better understanding how our bodies work, there would be a much smaller internet audience for the kind of hogwash that masquerades as fact these days. Don't get me started!

Honestly, everyone, WLS patient or not, needs a basic course in human anatomy and physiology. We buy many cars in our lifetimes, but only get one body. It's important to know how it works. Though if we all had a better understanding how our bodies work, there would be a much smaller internet audience for the kind of hogwash that masquerades as fact these days. Don't get me started!

liquids won't stretch your sleeve. I don't know why people believe this can happen, but an awful lot of folks do.
liquids pass almost immediately down your sleeve and into your small intestine. No worries.

liquids won't stretch your sleeve. I don't know why people believe this can happen, but an awful lot of folks do.
liquids pass almost immediately down your sleeve and into your small intestine. No worries.

You know what's funny? My immediate postop weight came off my top half - one of my friends said "you're emptying from the top down!".
And then it evened out. Just in terms of inches, my greatest loss has been round my hips. I have no idea what is going on with this, but hey, losses, is losses.
And yeah, the boob lift will be first, but the way this apron is drooping, that can't be far behind.

I get the gel manicure, it lasts a month full even with french tips and I do all kinds of crazy artsy type stuff and gardening. :-) but the rings, I am so happy I can't stand it.