GACaldwell

Auburn, AL
@@pixystix0116 hi neighbor!

The holidays were oddly easy this year thanks to the right meds. I usually dread the time between Nov - Jan. ...I have three immediate family members with birthdays, Xmas, Hanukkah (my partner is Jewish so we Celebrate both) & so many social engagements that I'm a wreck & financially wiped. This year the stress & freak outs were manageable & I was able to enjoy the season for the first time in probably decades! The worst of it was in the form of insomnia & night terrors but all things considered, I can handle those. I haven't stressed the stalls much. It moving slowly these days but still moving down, so I'll take that. I definitely need to get better at focusing on my exercise but between the madness of the Holly Daze & being sick, it hasn't been a focus this past month.
New year, New Month, new week, new day....so refocusing is top priority today!
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I track my food and exercise as well which is why I know I'm eating within the guidelines of my plan. This is what i typically eat:
Typical day (and I eat a lot of the same things day after day)
Breakfast
Premier Protein shake
2 Egg whites w 1 Laughing cow cheese
Lunch:
1/2 Grilled chicken breast with salad (no dressing or croutons, just greens and veggies)
Snack:
8-10 almonds, or 2 slices of Low cal deli turkey with 1 wedge of laughing cow
dinner
1/2 grilled or baked chicken breast with 1 veggie..usually 1/4 grilled zucchini
Snack:
String cheese, almonds or another Protein Shake
Daily: Water intake is over 64 oz per day. I only drink Water, green tea (no calorie sweetener) or zero calorie drinks but water is my go-to

The holidays were oddly easy this year thanks to the right meds. I usually dread the time between Nov - Jan. ...I have three immediate family members with birthdays, Xmas, Hanukkah (my partner is Jewish so we Celebrate both) & so many social engagements that I'm a wreck & financially wiped. This year the stress & freak outs were manageable & I was able to enjoy the season for the first time in probably decades! The worst of it was in the form of insomnia & night terrors but all things considered, I can handle those. I haven't stressed the stalls much. It moving slowly these days but still moving down, so I'll take that. I definitely need to get better at focusing on my exercise but between the madness of the Holly Daze & being sick, it hasn't been a focus this past month.
New year, New Month, new week, new day....so refocusing is top priority today!
Sent from my SCH-I435 using the BariatricPal App

My Dad had his first heart attack at 40 years old & i have a history of heart disease and obesity on both sides of the family. I was 38, had been on Blood pressure meds for 8 years, was pre-diabetic, battling my cholesterol & weight, even though I was active (Yoga 2-3 times per week, Dance 2 times per week) and terrified.
My Dad is 54 now..he's had a few heart attacks since then and they want to put a pace maker in. I know genetically, I may still have heart trouble...but i don't have to HELP it along in killing me!

Hiya..So here's the deal..
I'm 8 months post op tomorrow. I was self pay in Mexico, so while I understand, the whole "talk to your Dr" thing isn't going to help me since he's 1000+ miles away and there are ZERO Bariatric Drs in my area.
HW: 226 CW:170(ish) GW:135 And I'm 5'1" because hey..it matters! I've lost 55(again..-ish) lbs. I was supposed to hit 135lbs by April of this year. That's not happening.
I'm really really discouraged with the whole thing right now. I'm struggling every day with hunger & headaches from it. I TRY to stay between 800-1100 calories a day, I always eat my Protein first and I have no issues getting my liquids in. I still crave sweets but even with that, I eat VERY small amounts or just a Protein shake. I track daily, i exercise 3-4 times per week (Yoga, dancing & cardio).
I've been gaining and losing the same damn 5 lbs for 3 months! UGGGHHH!! It doesn't matter what I do, it's the same. I exercise more, I eat no carbs or more carbs, I up the Water..Nothing! I've gotten really really down about it and i find myself sinking back into bad habits...especially the thinking of "This isnt working so why bother?"
This is, quite honestly, my ultimate fear ever since I decided to have surgery. I KNOW there are people that don't lose weight or gain it all back after the sleeve. I'm terrified that I went through all of that, not to mention PAID all of that money...and I'm still considered obese. I feel like I'm doing what I'm supposed to do and my "tool" is not working. and i just want to cry. At 8months in, I thought I'd still be having the weight loss.
I weigh my food but I still feel like I can eat more than most people. I don't think it's head hunger but what do I know? Maybe I'm wrong about that. I'm so very lost in this.
I found a dietician here who I'm seeing but she has limited experience with bariatrics. She's trying to help but to her, my 800-1100 per day and eating logs makes sense. But she also says that 135 is going to be difficult for me to achieve and that stings. Heck, 135 is STILL considered overweight for me!! UGH. :-(
Support & suggestions welcome. TYIA

When your partner has been gone for a while (8 weeks..he's a truck driver) and the first thing he says when he gets out of the truck is "Holy CRAP you look great!"

My Dad had his first heart attack at 40 years old & i have a history of heart disease and obesity on both sides of the family. I was 38, had been on Blood pressure meds for 8 years, was pre-diabetic, battling my cholesterol & weight, even though I was active (Yoga 2-3 times per week, Dance 2 times per week) and terrified.
My Dad is 54 now..he's had a few heart attacks since then and they want to put a pace maker in. I know genetically, I may still have heart trouble...but i don't have to HELP it along in killing me!

Thank you! I'm 7 months out & struggling to stay on track. Reading your post at 1 yr out motivates me!

My Dad had his first heart attack at 40 years old & i have a history of heart disease and obesity on both sides of the family. I was 38, had been on Blood pressure meds for 8 years, was pre-diabetic, battling my cholesterol & weight, even though I was active (Yoga 2-3 times per week, Dance 2 times per week) and terrified.
My Dad is 54 now..he's had a few heart attacks since then and they want to put a pace maker in. I know genetically, I may still have heart trouble...but i don't have to HELP it along in killing me!

Have you been sticking to the diet? My dr told me we would have stalls...you are doing good!

Hi a milestone today - I have officially lost 100 lbs!!
Surgery Date: 6/18/16
Starting Weight: 250
Current Weight: 150
Goal Weight: 135
Looking forward to shedding these last 15 lbs!!!!

Regnamie I don't know if this will help you but I just open the capsules into my mouth and then swallow some Water to move it around and drink it down.

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First, I agree with the above statements...you look great as is but I know you won't be happy if YOU can't see that.

I've taped before but mostly my chest for the purpose of doing Drag. Lol Even with the tape. It's hot as HELL & not in that ooo-la-la kind of way. So my suggestion would be to buy a panty girdle that you like & have someone alter it in the back so your dress doesn't show it. If you buy one high enough for the front of you then they can cut it at angle in line with your dress as it dips in the back providing you support & comfort.

Congrats on the wedding & the weight loss!

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I'm having similar grazing problems...so I've been upping my Protein & my H20 to start. It's HARD when the only support you really have is online. For me it was because I went to Mexico for Surgery...and I'm on the other side of the US!
Also, try to reset your thinking on "failing". For me, not losing the way I "thought" i should have been set me up for the spiral of "Oh well, im not losing..might as well eat X Y &Z!" Healthy? Nope...therapy isnt an option about it right now for me. So I'm having to refocus on the positives..on what IS working and what the overall picture looks like, not just the 1lbs I'm fighting with right now.

Yep! I work 10 hours days & often more behind a desk. I went back to work 1 week after surgery (yeah yeah..I know! But it was necessary) and I was fine. I took breaks and went out side and walked when I could. If I got to the point where I couldn't handle it, I went home early but that was better for me than missing the whole day.
The biggest thing was making sure I packed enough of the foods I could have during that time. Luckily we have a fridges here so there was room for Protein drinks and waters.

You'll get there! We both will...even if it's at a crawl. *waves to the neighbor*

@GACaldwell I started out at 220. I lost 20 pounds the first month (I had my surgery in December 2016) but now it's slowed to a crawl. It is frustrating!!! I'm also in Alabama too!

Please don't get me wrong..I'm THRILLED with the weight I have lost. It's just slower than I thought it would have been/the drs. expected it to be (patience is NOT my virtue! LOL). I see my Primary care dr this Friday and while he is very supportive, I doubt he will have much input past "you're doing great!" LOL snce he has limited knowledge of bariatric patients. My blood pressure is down and that was his (& my!) main concern. My thyroid has been checked and my Gen Practitioner keeps up with all my Vitamins for me. Everything is good thus far.
I haven't seen a dietician other than the one I saw in Mexico before my surgery but I may if things keep going as they are. My issue is that there are NO gastric drs or anything similar in my area. I'll have to research drs 1-2 hours away and even then, Ill be paying out of pocket since it's Gastric related and my insurance won't cover it. UGH.
I'm like you..even just 80 would be ok with me but I'm hoping/working towards more!

Yep! I work 10 hours days & often more behind a desk. I went back to work 1 week after surgery (yeah yeah..I know! But it was necessary) and I was fine. I took breaks and went out side and walked when I could. If I got to the point where I couldn't handle it, I went home early but that was better for me than missing the whole day.
The biggest thing was making sure I packed enough of the foods I could have during that time. Luckily we have a fridges here so there was room for Protein drinks and waters.

Yep! I work 10 hours days & often more behind a desk. I went back to work 1 week after surgery (yeah yeah..I know! But it was necessary) and I was fine. I took breaks and went out side and walked when I could. If I got to the point where I couldn't handle it, I went home early but that was better for me than missing the whole day.
The biggest thing was making sure I packed enough of the foods I could have during that time. Luckily we have a fridges here so there was room for Protein drinks and waters.

Yep! I work 10 hours days & often more behind a desk. I went back to work 1 week after surgery (yeah yeah..I know! But it was necessary) and I was fine. I took breaks and went out side and walked when I could. If I got to the point where I couldn't handle it, I went home early but that was better for me than missing the whole day.
The biggest thing was making sure I packed enough of the foods I could have during that time. Luckily we have a fridges here so there was room for Protein drinks and waters.

I haven't really thought about this but I think it's a fabulous idea!
I think as my reward for my goal weight I'll buy a new corset. I have a collection of them now that I can no longer wear (but I cant emotionally part with yet).
I'm 1lb away from 50lbs lost...Ill have to think of a mini reward for that one...hopefully soon!

I've debated this same thing, more for the work day than home though. I haven't found any that are worth the trade off though. I did try those delivery meals for home though. It made cooking at home with fresh ingredients so much easier!
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I had surgery in Tijuana by Dr Lopez Corvala. Everything was included except for the flights & the experience was great! They picked us up in San Diego, drove us straight to the hospital & I met the concierge who walked me through all the tests until I met with the Drs team in my room. I was in the operating room in less than 2 hours upon arriving and I was totally happy with that as I had done a lot of emailing and questions before. They kept me there and my partner was able to go out and get food with very little issues (google translator was a big help, Im told!) Everything was incredibly clean and the staff was better than any experience Ive had here in the states. My price was $6500 but I did have to buy my meds to take back home...that was around $100.
One draw back...you're on your own once you leave other than emails and phone calls. I don't have a gastric dr here so Ive been lucky to have my gen Practitioner check my Vitamins and keep an eye on me. There are no after care visits and check ins and there are no in person support groups here. I've been lucky to find this and other websites with support groups to ask my 11ty billion questions and share frustrations with. I think for surgical tourism you have to be super self aware and committed to following your plans to make it work. If you need accountability, find a way to make it possible because there will be no dr check ins and nutritionist appointments as compared with most surgeries in the US.