2goldengirl

I have a real problem with anyone on the surgical team, be they surgeon, RD, or anyone else, who doesn't grant patients the respect of telling them the truth rather than dumbing it down and making draconian pronoucements. Lettuce is far lower in raffinose than, for instance Beans, broccoli, or cabbage. I don't know about your program, but refried beans were recommended to me as soon as I was on purees, as they're a good source of Fiber.

Don't get me wrong, I love spinach, too - but iceberg and romaine crunch. There is not much crunch in my life these days. I have been making mini taco salads with taco meat I do in the pressure cooker. I freeze the meat in single portions. I also froze black Beans and brown rice in single portions. Huz can make himself a taco bowl any time he likes.

No, lettuce does not expand in your stomach. I never heard such rubbish. When lettuce gets wet, it WILTS. Especially in the presence of stomach acid. I had salad for lunch today - one of those ready-packed salads, so a small portion. Probably two cups of greens, mostly iceberg lettuce. I know that iceberg and romaine work OK for me. I was able to eat the entire salad, and I added a hard-boiled egg to it cause there wasn't enough chicken in it. And for dinner, I'd made lamb stew. I was able to eat only 2 oz of lamb, one slice of carrot, and a half-slice of parsnip. No, I did not stretch my sleeve out eating lettuce for lunch. I'm thrilled to find out lettuce works as a slider for me. I love salad, and I love growing lettuce. There are so many kinds to grow that you never see in stores. They're beautiful, and tasty, and have names like "Frizzy Haired Drunken Woman" and "Flashy Troutback".

Actually, for me it isn't about the alcohol at all. It's more the all-or-nothing, "WLS patients can't be trusted to make good decisions" attitude that fries me. I'm a grownup. This is my life, my sleeve, and my health. I accept full responsibility for them.

Speaking only for myself, I'd prefer an occasional glass of wine to an occasional four Cookies, hands down. I'm an adult. I'm educated and capable of educating myself about the pros and cons of alcohol intake now that I'm sleeved. I neither want or need anything beyond education on the matter from my bariatric team. Like every bite I put in my mouth and every step I take toward improved fitness, these are my responsibilities for my life, and my lifetime. I neither want nor need draconian edicts in an attempt to scare me into adherence into what anyone thinks I "must" do, or not. It's paternalistic, patronizing, and unwelcome.

Yes, I am in the field - and what I find of particular note is that Dr. Lustig has a slew of top fellow physicians there at UCSF, not one of whom has come out in favor of his POV. I just find it...odd. UCSF is one of the top medical research facilities anywhere. That said, there is certainly nothing to be lost in eating whole, rather than processed foods. I've done so for years, which has not, unfortunately, led to controlling my weight, nor avoiding the creeping signs of pre-diabetes.

I've met Dr. Lustig, and attended a presentation he does for healthcare professionals. He is completely passionate about his point of view, but in the medical/scientific community, it's a challenge to find studies, colleagues, or statements that support that point of view. This gives me pause, because he is part of one of the best-researched, scientifically curious university medical systems in the worls (UCSF).

Thank you so much for sharing your journey. Your post is both moving and thought-provoking.

I love this thread! I think fat shaming is wrong, just like any other form of bullying. And everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity simply because as humans, it's something we all deserve from one another. I think everyone needs to love themselves as they are, and not constantly hold themselves up to someone else's yardstick of "worthy". Most of us here can tell hair-curling stories of being treated as "less than" because of our weight, and I'm all for anything that ends that. However, there are medical realities that can't be escaped from living an obese life. We all know this or we wouldn't be here. Just as we need to accept that we're worthy no matter our size, we need to take responsibility for treating the one body we have with love and respect. I do see a disturbing aspect of the movement, that is, the individuals who take license to frankly abuse their bodies with food and label it "fat acceptance". That's just sad.

The American Cancer Society has long understood the relationship between looking good and feeling good. They have a program called "Look Good, Feel Better" that partners with Cosmetologists and provides spa days and other services for women with cancer. I know I definitely feel much better about myself when I take the time to do my hair and makeup and accessorize on weekends and days I work from home. It's a challenge during weight loss, but I'm determined to wear clothes that fit now. I've been lost in shapeless knits and elastic waistbands for too long, and I'm ready to look as good on the outside as I know I'm going to feel on the inside.

I love this! The project I've begun is sorting through clothing that I had grown out of in the past couple years, culling the "nope!" items and sorting the others by size so I've got some backups when I start shrinking postop. Today I'm assembling a covered closet rack up in our attic where I can hang it all so it will be easy to try on when the time comes. I'm really enjoying this, some of these items are old friends that I will enjoy being able to wear again for a while postop. I'm also going through shoes and accessories and thinking of new combinations for things. I'm really enjoying the process. There is something very satisfying about taking better care of how I dress, even preop.

Excellent! In my hospital days, I asked one of our plastic surgeons how long following a weight loss someone ought to wait before considering plastics. He said that after about a year, someone would have benefited as much as they could from their skin's own elasticity. He also said that sometimes someone with a significant weight loss has some up and down as they settle into maintenance. So I'm thinking that's what I'll do, wait til a year after goal. I know for sure I want a boob lift, heck, I need one NOW.

I really appreciate this post. I'm preop, but have several friends who are postop. One of them had a tummy tuck late last year after losing 150 lbs with her sleeve. She was SO unhappy with the extra skin around her abdomen. I rather expect that when the time comes I'll have something done - I've wanted a boob reduction/lift anyhow. I love the comment of wanting not to look like a deflated fat girl. I think there is something about taking the leap to get plastics done that can be the final acceptance that the "fat life" is over, and that the "thin and fit life" is a permanent change. And permanent change is what we all want when we start this journey, isn't it?

Why, oh why, is everything a "hack"?