Irelandlynne

@@Anna Nim has a bunch of good ideas. Just to add a bit of a ranking to what she laid out:
1a. Temp job
1b. Sell stuff on craigslist/ebay
2. Real job but quit before surgery
3. Boyfriend 2nd job
4. Pawn stuff... not a great option as you likely will get pennies on the dollar and risk not getting items back if you can never come up with the money.
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98. Sell kidney on black market.
99. pay day or title loan... seriously, avoid this option at all costs. Nothing will put you in financial ruin faster than a pay day loan.

Never. It tastes nothing like real pizza. Instead, just eat the toppings off of real pizza and at least get some satisfaction.

Swim!

So here it is....my daughter had this in her room and gave it to me. My highest weight was 297. Pre surgery 267, now 145. I'm 5'8 and it took me a little less than a year. Enjoy! Lol!!! Sorry it's sideways. I'm adding a side by side for comparison.

I haven't posted in several months but I wanted to post an update to my Gastric Sleeve story.
My surgery was July 12, 2013. I am 5'8" tall and at that time I weighed 296 lbs., and wore a size 3X or 22-24 women's.
Today, April 12, 2014, is 9 months from my surgery and I've lost 76 lbs. At 220 lbs., I fit in size 1X or 16 women's.
I would like to lose between 40 and 60 lbs. more by September of this year. My ultimate goal would be 147 lbs - a size 10. However, I will feel totally successful and satisfied to get to 170 lbs - a size 12.
I lost nearly every bit of my weight the first four months after surgery and have been at 220 lbs. since then.
I am enjoying this new weight and all that it has done for me.
I no longer have to use a CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea. I have no more heel or foot pain, very little knee pain, almost no more back pain. I have no more acid reflux. Even more good news is that I like looking in the mirror again. I can shop in normal size clothing stores. I am not embarrassed when I go out with my family and friends. I get very encouraging comments from people who have watched me go through this process.
I do sometimes get frustrated that I'm not losing any more weight currently, however, I am most often optimistic that I will continue to both enjoy my current good health as well as moving forward to meet my weight loss goals. Slowly but surely.
I can eat nearly anything - in small amounts. I have to be careful with milk (makes my tummy hurt), so I use unsweetened almond/coconut milk for my Protein or fruit smoothies if I need the extra boost. I avoid most sugary foods (thank goodness I wasn't really all that much of a fan of sugary foods before). I also still have to work to make sure I get the Protein I need each day and have to consciously monitor my Water intake. I make my meals of high quality protein, fresh vegetables either raw or steamed or baked, and if I have any room, I'll eat some carbohydrates like whole wheat bread/grain, brown rice, potatoes, corn, Beans, peas, etc. I allow myself a small piece of chocolate once in a while. I can have a cocktail every other month or so when my hubby and I go out to eat.
I exercise sporadically and I know I need to work on this area. I walk and I use an elliptical machine up to 3 times a week.
I have the opportunity to encourage others in my life who are contemplating weight loss surgery and I never mind sharing my story.
I certainly feel super glad that I have this lifelong tool to help me work on my health and fitness!!!

I love to share my success with other sleeves who understand and don't think I'm just bragging. (Yes, I've gotten that)

I was sleeved 5/15/13. I'm down 106 pounds! Highest weight was 273 and today I'm 167 : )

heres mine me at my biggest of 425lbs, then a the full body was oct of 2013 and the head shot was new years eve

Not only do you look gorgeous.... You look like you knocked over a decade off! You look so young and fresh. Great job. I hope I yield similar results. Time to bring sexy back!!!!!

225 to 140
size 20 to size 6
reached goal weight at 7 mths

You look FABULOUS> So happy for you. You are a beautiful girl. Every woman should be able to rock a 'little black dress'.

8 months out. 154 lbs and finally fit into that little black dress!! So happy I made this life change even though it was difficult, I've never felt better or been healthier in my life!!

I can't wait to have food again. It's easier to put Protein in when you can eat and feel more normal
Sent from my SM-G930T using the BariatricPal App

I'm 17 days post op...I was educated on the importance, but struggle everyday reaching the goals. Not because I don't try though. Open to any suggestions!
Sent from my LG-H631 using the BariatricPal App

I agree/disagree. I am three years out and I still can't always meet my protein/water requirements. I couldn't even come close for the first year + and my surgeon only advised 64-80gr of protein.
I did the best I could, healed like a champ and reached goal with a 110+ pound weight loss in 9 months.
I do agree that you should do protein first and that protein is key in healing and loss, but I am not sure that you have to reach such high numbers to succeed/heal.

It's really not so difficult once you get past the first month or so.
Everything, in fact, became much easier for me by the end of the second month. I've got 99 problems but Water intake is not one.

Hey Bmo094, no apology necessary brother! I can be downright snappy sometimes too. Just ask my wife. It's all cool and good in the hood. I wish you all the luck and blessings that are going to come from your surgery and this new way of life were all blessed to have a chance at. Hey if we cant take out our frustrations to one another on here then who else can we take it out on? If I tried that with my wife she'd kick my ass! You take care and keep up the good work.

Hi Gina, This is jackh in a different account. I apologize if my post upset (as it obviously did) you. I'm sorry for the medical struggles you are going through. My post wasn't directed at someone whose obesity was caused by the kind of medical issues you have. I too am weak but I'm really trying to psych myself in a positive direction with this whole thing. I'm sorry for not being as supportive as you might need because that is what should be going on here is all of us trying to be supportive. I'm a drug and alcohol addiction counselor who runs into a lot of excuse making in my clients and I've run into tons of it in myself as well and I've been conditioned to confront it in myself and in others. So I'm sorry for being too blunt and harsh without knowing the real struggles that people are going through on here. I don't want to be a source of distress for you or anyone else and really want to be supportive. But I also know that sometimes the best support comes from not what we want to hear but what we need to hear. And just venting to vent without looking for solutions and then becoming willing to apply those solutions will get us nowhere because if nothing changes, nothing changes. And for me I know that change I must or die I will. So most of what I post is really directed at my own tendency to bs myself. And if it applies to anyone else then cool but if not then take what you need and leave the rest. I wish you well and I hope and pray that the surgery really helps you with these medical issues and whatever else you need help with.

You know what your right I don't know what people's struggles are especially when they don't post them. What I do know from all the reading and listening to podcasts that I have is that unless we follow the instructions to the letter the chances of long term success aren't good. And if your issues with the pre op diet have to do with low sugar then why wouldn't your surgeon or nut be willing to modify it? But I also know thatr my head can make all kinds of excuses if I let it. We have to be brutally honest with ourselves if cheating is because of a legit issue or is just because we want the damned pizza, cheese, whatever. I am honestly sorry if I made any assumptions about your situation but honestly as I peruse these forums I'm seeing tons of belly aching over bs. If we don't at least try to have the right mindset and approach to this then what's the point? If we don't challenge some of the crap that goes on in our heads then who else will? Hang tough man, you can do this. I've never met you but I got faith in you. I'm not here to stir people up but to challenge them, us.
Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

The thing about the pre-op diet is that the lack of carbs puts your body into a state called ketosis, where you are burning fat for energy, because you no longer have glycogen stores to pull from. The process of transitioning into ketosis is a pretty miserable one. It is the source of the headaches, fatigue, and crabbiness. If you cheat with CARBS once your body is in ketosis, then it kicks your body back out and you have to start the whole process over again, which means prolonging the headaches, fatigue, and crabbiness. So if you do feel you absolutely need to cheat on your pre-op diet (which I 100% advise against) then at least make sure you are doing so with high protein/low carb foods. Otherwise you are going to just make the whole things worse for yourself in the long run.

my doctor authorized 4 weeks, and I took out FMLA to protect my job - just in case -
but I had no complications and I went back after a week, however since my job does not respect healthy boundaries I had the doctor limit me to 6 hour days for the remainder of the first month.
in my opinion you will probably be fine, but it is better to plan for the worst and hope for the best so you don't get caught short.
and congrats on getting your date!

I'm so happy! Best decision of my life! I would do this again in a heartbeat! Almost 2 months out on Sunday! Surgery date was March 15, 2016. Started at 236.8 Current 198.2! Progress!

I highly recommend you stay off the scale. Early out I only weighed at my doctors appointments. I don't remember how much I lost by my first follow-up, but I do remember being very happy.

I am 7 days post op today and the gas has definitely been unbearable at times....but just like everyone will tell you walking is the best remedy. I have tried the gas strips but they didn't work for me, the heating pad definitely eased the pain, but walking was the only thing that helped me pass it. I am hoping to see the light at the end of the tunnel soon! Good luck!

It's been 6 months since my RNY gave me my life and my happiness back! I've still got s loooong way to go, but I am on my way! HW:429lbs SW:386lbs current weight:278lbs.