Hoping052017

That is so awesome! Congratulations! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using the BariatricPal App

It really depends on your nut/dietician/surgeon. Regular Bacon isn't allowed on my plan at all (turkey bacon is though!) And cashews are not forbidden, but they aren't encouraged either. Both bacon and cashews are high in fat, which is supposed to be avoided until goal is hit, according to my RD. It's poopy because I love bacon and cashews both! But, from what i understand, turkey bacon is usually allowed after being cleared for regular foods (i.e. your system is tolerating the soft food phase well-i think after 6 months) Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using the BariatricPal App

Such an awesome idea to send weekly pics to my son! Thank you so much for that suggestion. I hadn't even thought of doing that! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using the BariatricPal App

I'm sorry for all the posts in the last 24 hours. I talk a lot when I'm anxious/nervous and without anyone to talk to face to face...I guess I'm outletting here. So, I'm seeing a new therapist (at least I hope i haven't seen this therapist before) at an agency that I quit going to a couple of years ago because I needed to see someone more than once a month and I was tired of leaving the place feeling like I was 2"tall and like poop. But I have no choice now. I have to get help or I'm not going to be able to get my surgery in April. And my stupid insurance doesn't cover anywhere else. I don't think I can succeed without the help of a therapist....too many issues. I'm scared that this is going to end up the same way as the first time. They've already told me the wait list to see the psychiatrist for medicine adjustments is a year. I tried making a medicine adjustments appointment with my pcp and can't get in there for a month unless I'm actually sick. Even then it would take two to three days for that as well. I've already been waiting for an hour. And I couldn't find my water bottle before I left the house this morning so I don't have my water. Grrr. I know this is just my anxiety rearing its ugly head, but I am kind of freaking out right now. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using the BariatricPal App

@@almost40ish I have had problems with my hands going numb and walking me up in the middle of the night for years. I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel back a few years ago. I had surgery on my left hand because it was the worst of the two. I still need the surgery on my right because it still wakes me up on occasion but I have to be re-evaluated before that can happen. Maybe it will improve when I lose the weight? I didn't realize the weight affected that. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using the BariatricPal App

My Dr. office has me at a goal weight that is like close to 50 pounds over where I actually want to be and I have a feeling that once I'm there I am not going to be happy until I'm down to my actual goal of between 115 and 125. But I've been told by numerous doctors that my ideal weight is 115 for my height and bone structure. I've never been below 145 in my adult life. (Couldn't get into the Navy because of it) So, technically I guess I can see myself at 145, but since I've always been told that even there I was obese...it won't be enough for me.

I envy you that you can see an average size woman and totally understand the mirror thing. I'm different in that I've never been able to see anything other than fat from the waist down. Boobs up...if I'm being honest with myself it's actually shoulders up...I've never had a problem with. It's everything below the shoulders. Especially the stomach area after I had my first c-section (and two more after that) and my left leg that developed lymphoma after a bout of strep in my leg that left me in the hospital for a week.

Don't apologize for rambling. Thank you for taking time to answer. I know exactly what you mean about fearing actually succeeding this time. I've never been comfortable with my size, but I've also had anxiety for years and it's weird that the thought of succeeding is actually making me really nervous. I think part of it is that I have a fear (manifested by my mother - yeah, thanks again mom!) that when I lose the weight I'm going to have all of this excess skin that I won't have the money to have removed and my insurance won't cover it because "it's cosmetic...not medical". I hadn't even thought of that until my mom pointed it out to me. The other thing was my oldest son telling me that he was afraid of going off into the Navy and coming home and not recognizing me because me being morbidly obese was all he's ever known.

Thank you all. I am seeing a therapist tomorrow morning and going to talk to him about the surgery and other stuff. I appreciate the advice and I do know i need help. That's why I'm seeking it now rather than later. I want this surgery to be successful. Now to get my mother to stop with the "Let's have tuna noodle casserole for dinner" or "Tomorrow night for dinner, let's have chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, and corn! Doesn't that sound good?!" OMG! Really mom? And I wonder why I keep sabotaging myself?!

Okay, so here's a question for everyone pre and post op... Do you have any fears about not recognizing yourself in the mirror after you've gotten to your goal weight? I know that I have that fear. I've never been skinny. Went on my first diet at age 9. So I have absolutely no clue as to what to expect and it scares me. I know this is a totally irrational fear and I'm talking to a therapist tomorrow about it, but I was wondering if this is a common fear?

Hi all. So, I don't know what's wrong with me, but going to see a shrink tomorrow that hopefully understands my mental state. I started my 6 month pre-op on 11/3/2016. I was 278 with a bmi of 51. Today I'm 264. So, I've lost 14 pounds according to my scale, which is what my RD said I needed to lose before my surgery, but I seem to keep either allowing myself to be sabotaged by my family or sabotage myself by giving in to my depression eating. My mind just says I don't care anymore. I hate it. I'm on 300mg of bupropion (generic for welbutrin) for my depression. It doesn't do squat for my depression, but it makes me not feel hungry though I eat anyway. About the only time I actually know I'm hungry is my stomach starts making noise growling at me. I know I'm the only one that can make me happy. I know this. But in all these years I all have yet to figure out what actually makes me happy that doesn't depend on someone else being part of the equation. I mean I love love LOVE to cook and bake, but only for other people. Well, actually i love to bake for me too, but I'm not supposed to eat that stuff anymore. And usually what I love to cook is stuff that they like to eat...not what I like. Of course what I like I'm not supposed to eat anymore. Biscuits and gravy, quiche, pizza, steak and potatoes, lasagna. I know there's low carb options for most of what I love, like eggplant and zucchini lasagna, mashed "potatoes" made with cauliflower, crustless zucchini quiche. I found out that coconut oil is so much tastier than butter in baking, but I'm not sure about the calorie difference in the two. I don't know why I can go maybe a month or two on any diet and lose weight, go down pants and dress sizes, have people notice my progress, and then start sneaking sweets or start on a mass baking spree making cakes, Cookies, cupcakes (and sampling everything over and over)and end up either stop losing weight, or worse...gaining the weight I've lost all back. I've been overweight my entire life. I have no pictures at all, even as a child, of me "skinny". The closest I've ever come to skinnyness I was still a good 35-50 pounds overweight. I think I'm scared of not recognizing myself in the mirror afterwards. Am I the only one with this completely irrational fear? Sorry for the long post. Pretty much just needed to voice what was in my heart and mind. Thanks for listening. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using the BariatricPal App

Congrats on the quitting smoking! Are you seeing a nutritionist/dietitian? Are you trying to drink your protien shakes, taking your Vitamins, and getting your 64oz of Water in? My RD said that the protien should be able to be cut easily with a fork. If it can't be cut with a fork then it isn't soft enough and that the portion shouldn't be any bigger than a matchbook. 1-2 ounces. Good luck with everything. You can do it! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using the BariatricPal App

I was told by my nut to add the protien powder to a little bit room temperature Water (like maybe a quarter cup) and mix until smooth and then add hot water. Otherwise the protien will clump. I tried it with my chicken soup and it was great. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using the BariatricPal App

NW Arkansas - Springdale/Fayetteville Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using the BariatricPal App