Montana Gal

​I ended up having to add a Protein bar as well(1/2 in the a.m. and 1/2 afternoon). After trying a few different brands I go between Quest coconut cashew and Pure Protein's strawberry which is 190 calories and 20gm protein. I will give the Balance Bar a try next time, thank you!

​Went to the symphony last month, not only could I fit in the seat without worrying about the people next to me...I could cross my legs as well...what a feeling!

Congratulations, what a wonderful feeling that must be! Shorts are the one thing I only ever wore around my own house and yard. I have a strong feeling you will hit 100# by June 16th, great job!

I absolutely agree with everyone's posts as well! The sleeve restriction is a tool to remind us of portion size. Unfortunately it does not restrict our "head hunger". I do believe that with grazing on poor choices of food throughout the day, it is very possible to re-gain the weight lost.

I was on an anti-nausea medication and a PPI(acid reducer) after surgery. From what I have read on the forum, most physicians do prescribe these post-op. They are available if you do have problems. I never had the foamies or trouble with acid reflux. I only vomited once. Talk to your surgeon about your fear and he/she will more than likely prescribe something for you. Stay informed and ask a lot of questions before you cancel your surgery, you have worked hard to get to this point. Good luck to you.

​@Proud2BeMe, Before you posted this picture I already thought you were "attractive". You were attractive to me because of your kind, thoughtful, funny and honest replies and posts. Your picture just proves what I knew to be true! I hope through therapy, friends and family or whatever means you choose that you will begin to see what we all do....a beautiful person inside and out.

I love Goodwill, love it. I am a stalker at Goodwill:-) I get lucky just about every time I go. I have found barely used clothes from so many name brands. I am a big fan of Denim & Co. on QVC. I feel like I hit the lottery when I find Denim & Co jeans at Goodwill! My latest purchase was an adorable Kate Spade purse for $4.95!!

Good morning and welcome MinaDina! I too am a bit of a loner, the one suggestion I have is to volunteer somewhere. I know, the sound of it can be terrifying, especially if you have social anxiety!!! I volunteer at our local visitor center, the reason it works for me is that all I have to talk about is the beautiful state I live in. How easy is that? No small talk, just answering questions about something I love. It gets me out of the house and with people in a setting that is comfortable. For me it is easier than walking into a support group. I understand it is not easy, but giving back in a non threatening environment helps. As for after surgery, I was pretty much on my own. I agree with @@CowgirlJane, it is stressful trying to shield your pain from others. Maybe ask your bariatric team for a referral for some counseling as well. You already made a positive step forward by posting here.

​Like @@gowalking, I too saw a therapist for about two years to sort out my past and figure out my future goals. Through my therapists help I came to believe that the choices we made in the past, good or bad, was a mechanism for survival. You, myself, all of us did what we had to do at that moment to survive. Now is the time for you to take it one day at a time, one hour at a time if you have too. Now is your time @1981, please consider seeking a good therapist to help you sort out your goals and thoughts to bring you to a place of forgiveness and peace. You are young, it's time for you to thrive instead of just survive. Please keep coming back to this forum and know you are not alone.

​Your not a wuss, please hang in there! Call your bariatric team and let them know you are struggling. I did and they added a few specific veggies to help during the tough moments. They would rather have you call them then go off the plan, you can do this!

I am sorry to have to break this to you, but your stuck. Unless the time comes when they invent an Avatar that can be an extension of us, a non-human one....your stuck. You are so lucky to be human! You are so full of beauty, intelligence, flaws, energy, mistakes, forgiveness, choices, a soul and the list goes on and on..... I was human this morning too, a blueberry bagel I swore I would never touch them again. I did....

I think about this a lot too. A famous author, scholar and scientist Bruce Lipton has scientific proof that all that happens between the age of 1-6 becomes engrained in our subconsious which in turn makes us who we from adolescents to adults. I think about all of those poor children plucked from their mothers arms at such an early age to become a warrior or soldier in other countries like Afganistan. Even the young girls in other cultures being trained to be subservient to men. Where and when do they get to just play and be kids? How is a child stuck in an abusive foster home going to find time to play? More importantly what kind of adults are these kids going to be? Not all will become violent, but I would imagine a large percentage will. Sorry for the ramble Inner Surfer Girl, I am going to check out this Super Better game you mentioned. I did come from a family that played, now I am an adult that still loves a good card game or beating the ladies at Mahjong on Tuesdays I think play of all kind is very important for all humans, even for those too busy, just to take 30-min to an hour to play at something, with your kids, your dog or your partner....even as a team member like Trivia nights.

​A lot of restaurants will allow you to use the child's menu(not much healthy on there, but a few things) if you ask them in advance and let them know it's medically necessary. I did that at Applebees and the staff was wonderful! Like others have said, take home the "normal size" portion you did not eat for the next meal!!!

It's good to be well informed of all aspects. As you can see from reading these boards everyone's experience is different and some things you just don't know until you go through it. Some days have been better than others and that's a fact. My biggest issues are the acid reflux and lower back pain. I'm taking Hydrocod/ Acetaminophen around the clock to manage it. In the past, I was able to drink a cold ginger ale or take a couple of Tums and it's over. That is not the case now. Also, I used to love a big cold glass of Water, and I can't do that anymore. Even though I don't weigh myself daily I can visibly see the weight melting off. My BMI was I think 39 going into surgery, I weighed 240, I'm 5'6. Just be well informed and ask your surgeon what you can do now, if anything, to have the best outcome. Best wishes to you. @Ida33, did your surgeon prescribe a PPI for your acid reflux? Most do, if not, call your bariatric team and ask for one. It helps a great deal with the reflux.

​I can't comment on the IUD because I don't have any experience with that, nor am I at maintenance. But, I can say that Premiere Protien shakes have been a lifesaver for me. vanilla or strawberry are my favorite, they are not as expensive as some and I have even found them on sale at Walmart.

​Thank you, I will look for this at Target...kind of hope they carry the Paleo one.

It must be coconut flavored coffee??? What phase of your diet are you on? I agree with @@Bufflehead, the best way to find out is to call your bariatric team before you do it.

​Both stores that I purchase my Protein from will buy it back from me if I don't like it, which is nice. Basically they will give you a refund. Now mind you these are small family owned health food stores, not the big ones. But I have heard that most of them do this. It is too expensive, take it back and buy some small sample packets to see if you like something a little cheaper. Like@@Kindle, my fridge is stocked with Premiere Protein as well. There are so many choices out there that are much less expensive to experiment with. It is the easiest way I have found to get in the required 70-90 grams of protein....you are early out in your surgery, as @@Inner Surfer Girl said, it can have serious consequences if you become protein deficient. Good luck, I hope you find something that works for you.

​I got a pretty inexpensive digital scale at Walmart. So far, after a year or so it has worked fine.

​The three best women friends I have now I made after the age of 45. They are all older than me, one is even 86. So no, it's never too late. Your hormones are probably all over the place right now, so that makes your thinking do the same thing. A lot of times people don't know what to say and are reluctant to come without an invite. Call them, see what happens. There is a huge supply of friends here, you are not alone in this!!!

​I agree with @@VSGAnn2014, you are doing fine. My bariatric team told me that Isopure counted towards my Water intake, before and after surgery. Shows how different each clinic is with their guidelines. Your daily intake is very similar to what mine looked like pre and immediate post op. Hang in there, good luck with your surgery in May...keep us posted!

​Amazing, job well done! You look happy, healthy and beautiful!

The clear Protein drink is called Isopure, it's sold at GNC in individual glass bottles. There are a lot of different flavors to try(I tolerated grape and apple melon). They aren't the best tasting, but it's a great way to get your protein in during the clear liquid phase after you leave the hospital. Each bottle contains 40g of protein. As far as the unflavored powder, I have seen a lot of people use unjury, especially in Soups. I use Designer whey, it's unflavored and contains 19g I think. I added it to my yogurt and also made shakes using almond milk and PB2(healthy powdered peanut butter). Good luck with your surgery, stay hydrated and get in your protein and you will do great.

​I agree with @Innersurfergirl, swimming is an excellent option. I know all the gym's where I live have a "punch card" system if you can't become a member. Pay a fee for a certain amount of visits and use it when you want.

Good morning, I too walk everyday but felt it wasn't enough. Gym membership is out for me at this point as well. So I went on QVC and they were showing a demonstration of "The Body Gym" developed by Marie Osmond and her husband. At first I thought it looked a little cheesy, but kept on watching. By the end of the demonstration I had ordered one. It comes with a lightweight bar that hooks onto a resistance band plus DVDs to follow the exercise routines. It's simple, very effective and kind of fun. It fits into a small lightweight bag and you can easily travel with it. Check it out on QVC.com and let me know what you think. I do that in the morning, then walk in the afternoon. Best of luck on finding what works for you!!