Christinamo7

Today my issue of Cook's Illustrated came in the mail, and to my delight, the food scale I got is on their Highly Recommended list!

I was nervous too, and I have had many other surgeries........ but it turns out to be one of the best things I've ever done for myself. I am thankful every single day (after the first couple of weeks). I am looking forward to hearing how it goes for you and how you are doing afterwards.

most excellent explanation, Kindle.

I already know there will be times when I get to maintenance when I will have tea with food at high tea - and wine with an Italian meal or holiday meal. this will be the exception rather than the rule for me, but these rituals are important to the lifestyle I want to lead. *provided I do ok with wine when I get to that point. Even now there are a few supplements that I take which do better with food. I eat a bite or two, swallow my pill with my drink, and go back to eating. occasionally something is too dry or spicy and I need a sip. but this amounts to a very small amount of liquid. I would not feel real good if I just drank with a meal like I used to do. and then usually I wait half an hour to start drinking again, but sometimes it is an hour before I feel ready to drink more. this is my experience, and plan that I worked out with my team. not drinking with meals has turned out to be a lot easier than I thought it would be.

how exciting! I am looking forward to seeing your progress!

about 15 years ago my mom lost 150 pounds. She had some health conditions and was told loose weight or you are not going to see your grandchildren grow up. plastics were not in the equation for her as she hates to go to the doctor. so, she did have quite a bit of loose belly skin although the rest of her has always looked pretty age appropriate. She just tucked it into her jeans and went on with her life. went.on.with.her.life. as in, she has seen already most of her grandchildren grow up, with only two more to go...... so. I wish you all the best. I hope your skin bounces back like a brand new rubber band. and that you keep all your hair. but if not, it is ok. because you will feel so much better in your body! and yes, this was a very emotional time for me as well. this whole WLS thing, it's a wild ride. hang on tight and come here for support as you feel the need.

good for you looking that monster straight in the eye!

it will depend on your plan. mine would have allowed previous dr visits if I was trying to loose weight. but don't get discouraged, just get started. a year from now you will be glad you stuck with it!

hey, it's going down not up! so just keep going. and if it is seriously a concern then track your activity and food for a while and see what kind of tweeks you can make to your program. get with your NUT if they are the helpful sort.

was he ever able to have the surgery?

my favorite historic fiction writer is Eugenia Price - the Savannah series has made me long to go on vacation there for my whole adult life. one of these days I will make it. I will also admit to liking Elizabeth Chadwick's novels, although they can't really be called historic fiction, more like fiction set in history. they are fun what if's that flesh out historic people. same with Phillipa Gregory. certainly fiction, but an an enjoyable romp through a historic setting. I also like Jane Austen and the like.

are there any other people here who just love to get lost in a good book? What are you reading this summer? my best loves are historic fiction and biographies, but I also like books that make me laugh - and I think my summer reading list will focus on the latter, especially when I go on vacation.

I use coconut oil on my skin. so far things are going pretty well. my favorite thing is to float the jar in my warm bath and then when I dry off to rub the hot oil all over. it is pure bliss, and my skin stays soft for a long time.

a lot of people go through that exact same thing - around the same time and wonder if they will be the one person it doesn't work for. so, just stick with your program, trust your body and it will move again. @@Babbs has posted an excellent explanation of this on other threads, and recently too if you want a more science-y explanation of the "why"

when I was first looking into it he was opposed to the idea. see, when he wants to loose 10 pounds he just eats less potato chips. note I did not say stops eating, he eats less of them. He really couldn't understand my struggle with obesity and the hormonal effect of body fat. it took a while to get him educated, and a couple of health scares on my part and when I was finally able to have the surgery he was more afraid of loosing me to obesity than he was of me having surgery. he still doesn't really understand how it is for me, but he knows he doesn't understand it and that allows him to be more supportive than not. Although we had a conversation the other day about him putting his potato chips AWAY because I don't think it's nice for him to leave them sitting out where I normally sit. it's not like I don't ever want any. I just shouldn't have any, and I don't need the temptation. I don't expect him to stop eating them, but there has to be a little give and take. he took my wild rant to heart, apologized and has been doing better.

you're doing great! my bariatric doctor has a very balanced approach too. how are you feeling with getting some weight off?

the picture shows when you click the link though! so good job!

welcome to this group! my former husband was in the Army, so I know the joys of that sort of single parenting. I have been very pleased with the results of my sleeve, so far. I look forward to seeing your progress! my husband has sleep apnea. I remember well how fatigued he would be after a long night's sleep before he got his cpap machine.

I hate the waiting part! it is so hard when you just want to get going. please keep us posted on how things are going.

that's great news! I have a colonoscopy next week. notlookingforwardtoit. everything was all good with yours?

it depends on your work situation and how they treat employees who ask for time off. I applied for FMLA the day they called me to give me a date. then I faxed the paperwork to HR. Once my FMLA was approved it listed the dates I would be out on continuous leave, and it was as simple as that. my boss asked me to put off my surgery as another non clinical employee was out for knee replacement but I told her I couldn't afford to delay this as I had already waited a year due to my other health concerns. she was pretty mad, but I made the right choice as that employee did not come back and they are just now hiring the replacement.

I am suspecting you want people a year or more out - I am just about 4 months post op, but so far no abnormal hair loss. I'd know it too as I have very fine, thin hair. I take good care of the hair I have, as far as products and treating it well. I make sure I am getting good amounts of Protein and my Vitamins. I eat eggs daily - full of good for your hair nutrients. I try not to stress about this wild ride WLS is. probably I am a slower than average looser, so not sure what effect that would have. I lost a lot of hair and had major stress when my son went into a group home - so I know it's not just that I don't loose hair in stressful situations but at the end of the day I think it is just going to happen or not.

that's great! for me the psych eval was not anything other than this long questionnaire with tricky questions - really the same questions worded differently. nothing to worry about. do keep us posted on your progress

I know a number of people in my local support group who do. one thing I have as a snack is a few dried cherries, about 4 days a week or so (with almonds) and that can help with melatonin. I am actually sleeping better than ever. I hope you can get it worked out, sleep is golden.

a friend of mine is having a robotic sleeve and hysterectomy done next month at the same time. I know a great number of ladies who have had a robotic hysterectomy. It is supposedly an easier surgery and easier recovery. There are real people guiding things. If you are uncomfortable with it then I would discuss with your team, but I've only seen very positive outcomes as examples.