lindabalseca

Someone mentioned a good analogy between weight loss and a roll of toilet paper.
A roll of toilet paper that starts with 300+ sheets is fairly large. If we remove 50 sheets from the roll, it will still appear somewhat large to the naked eye, whereas a roll of toilet paper that starts with 180 sheets will look strikingly small after having had 50 sheets removed.
Likewise, a 50-pound weight loss may be less noticeable on a person with a starting weight of 300+ pounds. However, a loss of 50+ pounds will appear dramatic and very noticeable on a 180-pound individual.
The moral of the story? Your weight loss will become more noticeable to you as you continue to lose weight. Good luck to you.

Quite the contrary...there is plenty of harm associated with cholesterol-lowering medications, also known as statins. They result in muscle pain, myopathies, liver damage, digestive problems, mental fog, elevated blood glucose levels, and so forth.
For the few weeks I was on a cholesterol-lowering drug, my muscles ached so badly that even the simple task of walking from a parking lot into an office resulted in notable pain. I refuse to take statins again.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/statin-side-effects/art-20046013

Hi ChooseHope
No sleeve for me! Because I WAS an insulin-dependent diabetic, by-pass was my best option. Also, I suffered from GERD for years and years and the sleeve, again, was a no go.
The biggest advantage of having this surgery after 50. Hmmm....besides having maturity and wisdom? Well, we've had 50+ years of eating behind us. Been there, done that. Also, my diabetes is in remission, I won't be having those knees replaced, and I feel good. As I inched closer to the retirement age, I secretly knew that with all my health issues, I wouldn't be around. If I was lucky enough to be around for retirement, I probably wouldn't have feet because of diabetes. What a fun retirement I had to look forward too. Dead or an amputee. Can I have more motivation than that?
Biggest disadvantage: My mental demons. But the demons are there, if I had surgery or not. I just have to apply everything I learned through the years and from my five years of therapy I am strong. I am worth this. And the biggest one: My wit and intelligence are my shield, not my fat.
Biggest struggle: Not getting discouraged when the honeymoon period is over. I am working on healthy habits now so that when that time comes, I will be mentally and physically ready. Struggles are opportunities to overcome and prove you can do it. I love the feeling of accomplishment over a challenge.
I'm glad you started this thread. We aren't the majority, but we can relate to each other.

How? That's simple. You chose to eat the pizza. You chose to eat piece after piece knowing that every bite was a bad idea, yet doing it anyways.
Totally lost your journey? I don't even know what that means, but drop the melodrama. Wallowing in useless emotion does no good. You made a mistake. Own it. Make a decision now; will you take the surgery seriously from now on or will you let the desire for simple food rule your life at the expense of your health.
The surgery is only a tool. How you choose to use that tool will determine how successful you will be after the honeymoon phase.

We lift up ur father in prayer for healing both physical and emotional...and for endurance...keeping u also in prayer so u will know ur never alone...we have u in community and God has u spiritually....hang on to ur hope for that is what keeps faith alive....with much love....in His Name...Amen

Yeah .. it makes me not want to post because that,s not what i came on here for i came here for advice because i really want to know . Like i said i,m barely a year out its stilt a learning experience for me. But thank you i appreciate it

You should have been here a few months ago.

I totally agree with you on the abrasiveness...unfortunately the experience that people acquire makes them feel like they know everything and they can't wait to criticize and shove their knowledge down the throats of others...I wish they would realize that other people like to share their own knowledge and experiences but it becomes face biting....you look amazing don't sweat it u get to ur goal weight and be happy!!![emoji847]

I totally agree with you on the abrasiveness...unfortunately the experience that people acquire makes them feel like they know everything and they can't wait to criticize and shove their knowledge down the throats of others...I wish they would realize that other people like to share their own knowledge and experiences but it becomes face biting....you look amazing don't sweat it u get to ur goal weight and be happy!!![emoji847]

I love the idea of the mini ice cube tray

I totally agree with you on the abrasiveness...unfortunately the experience that people acquire makes them feel like they know everything and they can't wait to criticize and shove their knowledge down the throats of others...I wish they would realize that other people like to share their own knowledge and experiences but it becomes face biting....you look amazing don't sweat it u get to ur goal weight and be happy!!![emoji847]

Hi I'm not having the sleeve I am going with bypass but if you want just a WLS buddy I would be more than happy to become friends. My surgery should be mid July

July 26 for me...would love to have sleeve buddies!!!!

Ugh [emoji58]

Ugh [emoji58]

I had my surgery on the 28th of April. They told me to follow the stages. First week clear liquids, 2nd week solid liquids, 3rd week pureed foods, 4th week regular meals.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

July 26 for me...would love to have sleeve buddies!!!!

Not worth the read. Full of spelling errors and grammar errors. I couldn't even force myself through it.

I've been drinking milk thistle every night...it not only helps to shrink but it more so detoxify the liver

I am praying this surgery will get me into the 5's. I was able to get mine down to 6.3 from 11.2 on diet, exercise, and 2000mg metformin.

I've been drinking milk thistle every night...it not only helps to shrink but it more so detoxify the liver

Mine I'm hoping is July 26 just waiting for approval from insurance...I agree excellent post...I'm gonna print it to keep motivating myself [emoji106]thank you and God bless

To all the new people joining who are preop, the struggle is real even pre surgery!
Your body odor will very noticeably change - usually for the worse - once you start losing. Mine went from almost no odor post workout to "oh for heavens sakes, something died in my armpits and crotch!" Right around the 40 pound mark loss. If you are like me and have used the same cheap deodorant since middle school, plan a burial ceremony now because you'll need something much stronger.
You will get unsolicited advice at the gym and people will stare. Realize most are just wanting to help and are unsure how to approach it. Smile, be thankful, and very quickly you'll have some reliable gym buddies that can help train you for free instead of paying for a trainer. It's not necessary to become defensive even though it WILL hurt when they throw assumptions around.
Every surgeon, PCP, NUT, psychologist, etc is different. According to my surgeon, once all of your preop hoops are completed, he takes a day or two to review and approve before the work is sent to insurance for approval. At that point, they set a date for after the 2 week max time allowed for the insurance to make a decision. My state might be different and I'm sure if there are questions or issues, it will take insurance longer to make a decision.
Ask for copies of everything! Things get lost in translation often.
Yes there is a "week 3 stall" that will happen normally between 2-4 weeks post op, and AT ANY POINT pre-op. Do not give up on diet and exercise just because your body is throwing a temper tantrum. Keep working on you and your body will give up. Be more stubborn than it wants you to be. It's just trying to readjust and come to terms with the changes. Keep in mind that this will not be the only time you stall. It is normal to stall and changing your exercise and diet routine for a week might break it.
Stay off the scale! But not too much. Yes, A body can fluctuate 2 pounds each day. Mine has fluctuated by 5 pounds here or there. If you're a scale junky, pick a day each week for a weigh in and track it. For those who hate the scale, Weigh yourself at least once a month to keep on track.
Depending on how much you need to lose, it takes too long for someone to FINALLY notice and ask if you've lost "a little weight". After you've lost the equivalent of a newborn YAK, they'll say something awesome like "yeah I can really see it in your face". The rest of your body will be noticeable soon too, no worries.
Deflated boobs or a magically larger penis is part of the joy of the journey. No your manhood did not literally enlarge. It is just not surrounded by so much cushion so more of it is available. And ladies, if your like me, the first 40 will come from your chest. Get used to looking like a helium balloon that's been trapped in a hot car for 2 days. All sad and wrinkled. I haven't even gone through surgery yet and they're already bowing instead of saluting.
Stock up on lotion. The first 10 pounds quickly lost in the first week or two is Water weight. Dry skin is real after that! Eventually it will regulate to normal, but it might take a long while during your journey as you continue to lose weight.
Withdrawing from sugar, carbs, and caffeine will feel like a near death experience. After a week, it's better. After a month, you almost don't want it anymore. Going back on the stuff will make you feel sick at this point. Push through the withdraw period. It's worth it.
Drink a half an ounce of water per pound you are each day. For me, that ends up being roughly 18 CUPS of water - or a gallon and a half. It keeps you full, energized, washes out those wonderful toxins we've built up in our fat pantry, and helps flush the slew of hormones you'll experience as you lose. No you will not die from drinking that much water throughout a 12 hour day. And don't worry, after the first few weeks you won't be peeing as much as you will at first.
Yes you're hungry, we all are. Yes you will survive because yes it's all in your head. You got to this point by allowing your brain to run the show. Well your brain is officially your enemy from now on. It's time to follow your heart and do what you know is right, even if it's hard. You have a purpose that is personal to you only. Hold on to that like a life vest during this storm. It will pass and you will be thankful and proud that you can finally trust yourself.
If you do everything right, there's really no way you can't lose weight - except in the normal stall phases. The key is to be honest with yourself. People will enjoy giving examples of why this has to be wrong. Let's face it, if we could trust ourselves, we wouldn't be in this particular position in life. We will lie about what we really eat. It's just what makes us feel better.
For heavens sake, make a list of every question you can think of and ask your doctors! They do this every day so they should be a reliable source. Mostly, Good luck on the journey. We are rooting for you!
HW: 328 (02/22/17)
SW: TBD
CW: 288
Pounds disowned to date: 40

Ever think some people left because a lot of you were really mean to them? I've had many many people message me privately about this. Sorry but it's true. Not gonna name names.

Yup! i have been obsessed with these discussion forums...excited...june 6 cannot come fast enough....i think i'm trying to overly prepare and i need to go sit down some where and relax....trying to get together with each of my close friends for one last hoorah!!!! before the eating and drinking come to a halt....i'm excited about the change to come...i'm excited to discover the new me... getting out and living my life instead of being embarrassed to be seen.... i have full faith in god and i pray he will keep his hands around me and guide me during this whole process...