Hoping052017

I researched wls for years before deciding that was the route I wanted to go. I had many people disuade me many times telling me "you don't need surgery! Just eat less and exercise more!" My late husband actually forbade me from getting the surgery. Low carb diets always, always worked the best for me. The problem was I would always sabotage myself or wouldn't be able to stick to it for more than a few months and I ALWAYS cheated. After my husband died I decided to look into it again. The depression and anxiety and PTSD manifested in eating my feelings and I ballooned up to 310 from 265 in about a year's time. I talked to my mom about it (wls) again and she was still against it until I took her to a seminar at a hospital one night. After that she was on board with it. The thing is, you have to remind yourself (and let your parents know) that wls isn't any easy way out of dieting. It's a tool. That's what convinced my mom. (Of course she had to hear it from a Dr before she'd believe me). I get my surgery date next week, but I attend a monthly support group meeting where I've met a lot of people who have all been through the procedure already and they ALL say the same thing. "It's not easy" it's hard work, but if you stick to the plan, you'll succeed and wish you had done it sooner. Ultimately, it's you that has to make the decision. Don't let anyone talk you into or out of something that in your heart you know it's the best thing for you. Especially if you've been a yoyo dieter for years like I was. Wls is not a be all, cure all, but it is a great tool to meet your goals. I'm told that it's a great way to keep from cheating too because if you have a gastric bypass (Which is what I'm having) cheating will make you sick sick sick and you'll never want to cheat again[emoji1] Good luck with whatever decision you make!

Oh to be somewhere with a local fish market! That sounds so wonderful!!

I take Celebrate 45 vitamins and then will add a Celebrate calcium chewable afterwards. They come in chewable watermelon flavor for the two weeks post op but I take the capsules right now. 2 in the morning and one in the evening. My plan actually gave me a time sheet on when to take everything post op. [emoji16]

My first appointment was really long. It was six months ago yesterday. But the clinic I'm going through is great and very thorough. They ran all the pre-op tests and bloodwork including EKG and another that checked for any existing stomach ulcers and stuff. Took a beginning picture and typical weigh in. And x rays. My insurance required 6 months diet & exercise appointments, which I'm actually thankful for. There's a lot of habits to change for after surgery and I'm grateful the past 6 months (Which flew by) has given me time to learn a lot of things to be successful. I get a surgery date next week! Very excited for you! Best of luck!

I'm going to try this again since it looks like half the words disappeared.... @BrittBritt89.... Have you tried unflavored protein powder? You can mix it in broths and strained veggie soups and low fat cream soups like cream of chicken soup. From what I understand you can also mix it in your yogurt. The oikos triple zero yogurt is really good and has a lot of protein in it.

Have you tried unflavored protein powder? You can add it to broth or jello and get your protein that way. I was told to avoid protein bars because they usually have too many carbs in them. Best of luck! @heatherable.... where can I find the Syntrax nectar?

I actually started my exercise about 6 months ago when I began my program. I walk a mile or two every other day and use my fitness bands for strength training every other day and now that I have a bike again (and the weather is nice) I've been biking 4-6 miles at least once each weekend. Next weekend I'm going to try and hit 8. Just remember to walk at least a mile a day even right after surgery. I was told it doesn't have to be in one stretch, but get up and walk as much as possible. I've been getting great tips from my local support group. [emoji6]

I would think refried beans would cause major gas issues. (Which could be where the pain is coming from) But they are also high in carbohydrates, which would slow your weight loss. The plan I'm on doesn't even allow beans (except cooked green beans) until way after 6 months, if at all, until very close to goal weight. Good luck!

I don't know about the amount bypassed, but I believe on the program I'm on, they recommend no more than 20 grams of carbs a day. And nothing more than 5 grams of sugars per serving unless it's milk which I believe can have 12 grams of sugar per serving.

I would say talk to your Dr. I would think that as long as you're not the one driving and frequent stops are invoked, then it shouldn't be too big of a problem. But@snapy17 is right, it probably won't be a fun trip. Talk to your Dr though and get his/ her opinion.

I totally understand. I'm pretty much the same way now. I just am having a hard time. Wanting to find someone local, but not sure how to do that. Everyone I find online that I manage to hit it off with is in another state and then they disappear after they see a picture of more than just my face. I'm so tired of trying anymore. Of course maybe that's the problem. Maybe we are trying to hard? It will come when the time is right?

Thank you all.

I've seen that too. But the people that marry are able to love each other for what's inside. I think that must just be a very rare quality to find.

It isn't that I'm looking for a magic ticket to getting a man. It's more that I'm afraid that I won't trust whoever I meet that seems to see me for me instead of what I look like. Sometimes I think that is why I have repeatedly failed at diets. Because of I can't find someone at the size I currently am that can accept me for what's on the inside, then how do I find someone that will accept me for what's on the inside when I don't have the weight on me? I'm not losing weight in order to find a man. I'm losing weight so I can be with my children and grandchildren when they come. I'm losing weight so I can be healthy and live longer.

So, I'm a complicated widow of almost 4 years. I've tried the online dating thing a few times. Once quite recently. Because of my size I hate my full body picture taken. So I don't have many. I actually found one on my phone the other day and sent it to a man I'd been speaking to (texting with) and within hours of receiving the picture, he mysteriously loses his phone we've been texting on and he starts texting from a phone with a number from another state! I had high hopes for this one,too. It took a lot of guts on my part to send him that picture to begin with. Now I'm questioning all the strength I built up to send it in the first place. It's like it's gone. If I can't trust someone to like or even love me for what's inside of me now, then how am I supposed to trust anyone to like or even love me when I'm a skinny Minnie? Had anyone had these feelings or gone through this? Do you know anyone who's had the surgery and then met their one and them not question why now and not then?

Stinking auto correct...*don't give up hope!!* [emoji5] [emoji192] [emoji259] [emoji256] [emoji255] [emoji254] [emoji192] [emoji197]

I'm a single lady with four fur kitty babies of my own, three kitty siblings next door with my mom (we share a duplex), and we share custody of two abandoned fat cats that the neighbor left when she moved out. (She's supposedly picking them up, but she's been saying that for two months now). Add to that my three kids and we've got a duplex full of animals! Lol! Ding give up hope. There's a cat lady out there for you somewhere!

My NUT says I shouldn't be eating anything with more than 5-6 grams of sugar in it per serving with the exception of milk. I will be having the gastric bypass if I'm lucky. If not, then the sleeve, but he said 5-6 grams of sugar is a good rule of thumb.

I too have had this fear, but for other reasons. I think. I actually started back to therapy for the specific reason to find out why I have sabotaged every single diet I've ever been on. (First one at 9 years old) I've always been overweight. Even my mom knew it for years before I turned 9 but the Dr. just kept telling her it was baby fat and that I'd lose it as I got older. I never did. So I literally have NO CLUE what I'm going to look like when I get to my goal weight. The last time I wore a size 12 I was in the 7th or 8th grade. So, I can totally relate with being afraid of being thin. But, I do agree with many of the comments stating to seek therapy. I've only been going, myself, for a few weeks. I'm not scheduled for surgery yet. (Hoping for the end of next month) It took me a while to realize that I kept blaming others for sabotaging my diets instead of placing the blame where it belonged (on me). Just remember that this is a journey. And not just in the respect that you're losing weight. It's also a journey of self discovery. None of us got to the point of needing weight loss surgery because we were healthy (mentally or physically). I'd bet at least 90% of us got here because we were not mentally healthy either because we have addictive personalities or past traumas in our lives that made us turn to food to deal with things. I've found that the people here on these forums usually have really good advice. And it's been listening to that advice that has helped me cope with some of the same feelings you're having. Take heart that you aren't alone in this. You have all the wonderful, knowledgeable people here that have already gone through what you're going through that can help you through it if you let them. Heaven bless you and protect and good luck in your journey.

So, it's been a while since I've written anything. I totally needed to get on here and do that. I actually have a whopping 22 days until my final nutrition (Diet and Exercise) appointment before the clinic sends my paperwork into Medicaid for approval and schedules my surgery!!!!! 22 days and about a week later I'll be scheduled. It's getting so much closer so much more quickly than I could possibly imagine! Got the family's bikes ordered and they should be ready by next weekend, just in time for St Patty's Day. Being of Irish decent, this is a big deal for me. Can't wait to get my brisket and cabbage and carrots. I'm going to have my mashed cauliflower "potatoes" to go with. We're still shooting for the end of April, the beginnign of May for the surgery. I'm hoping that with the surgery along with the therapy I'm doing now, I'll be successful and be down to 175 by Christmas. That is my goal right now. Be no more than 190 by Christmas, but if I can make 175 by then, I'm going to be ecstatic! It's getting closer every day. So I think it's possible.

We have a monthly meeting up here in Fayetteville as well! Do you ever get up this way?

Embarking on this journey of weighing less means a lot of things to me. It means, essentially, becoming a different person yet staying the same. It means starting a new lifestyle. It means getting healthy. It means letting go of things that are weighing me down mentally while getting rid of what's weighing me down physically. It means letting go of unrealistic ideas regarding relationships and accepting some relationships are only meant to be friendships and nothing more. It's realizing that people that I thought were ancient history, that I only think about once in a blue moon, have actually been thinking about me too. An uncommon relationship that spans the miles that was long gone remarkably resurfaced tonight. How strange that this person crossed my mind for the first time in months just a week or two ago. I haven't thought about him in a long time. And he messages me tonight. I wonder where this will lead. Will he be willing to do what he wasn't willing to all those years ago? Here's to new beginnings.

Thank you. That makes me feel a little bit better.

I had mine last week and talked to the psychologist and took a 576 question test. I only talked to him for about 20 minutes, but I got a call from his office today saying that he wants to see me for a second interview before he approves me for surgery. I about cried. I don't know if a second interview is common or not.

That both excites and terrifies me. Because right beyond April is May and graduation day for my oldest. Every time I think about it I get about 10 more grey hairs. LOL!