B.Annie

Calling anyone from Maine!!! I am looking for some good honest advice about living in Maine. Towns of interest listed below. My husband and I have been called to the east coast and I have specifically had a longing for Maine since I was 8 years old (no reason why). I have researched Maine for many years and understand a lot of the slang, the weather, the geography, history, state "bird", state cat, political highs/lows, so on and so on. My husband and I are looking at towns AROUND Portland or Norridgewock. We would be buying a home on property cash and be employed with both a large company over there and self employed (no mooching off the government from us "from away". lol). We have 3 children so schools and low crime is important to us. Due to all of that, here are the towns we are further researching: Bowdoin, bowdoinham, kennebunkport, Poland, Baldwin, sebago, casco, limington, buxton, waterboro, Cumberland, Solon, starks, new Portland, cornville, Athens, palmyra, Canaan, anson, hartland, Pittsfield, burnham, Belgrade, Clinton, vassalboro, Sidney, Vienna, Albion We are looking for kind and hospitable people as that's who we are. We were raised in small communities where there would be Sunday dinners with neighbors and large gatherings of town folk who all knew each other. Unfortunately our small town has overgrown and been overrun by outsiders who are changing it to fit their lifestyle and it is time for us to go. ANY bit of advice or experience in Maine - specifically those towns listed above - is much appreciated. Thank you!! HW: 328 (02/17/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 253

Do I have to say TMI in a ladies forum? If so...TMI! Just a little venting. I've lost 95 pounds so far which is 51% toward my goal so I still have a ways to go before plastics would be recommended/wanted. I was expecting saggy skin and wasnt too concerned about it right away because I knew it was just part of this life. What I wasn't expecting was having SO much extra skin on and around my genitals! Theres at least 3 inches of excess skin on EACH side of EACH interior and exterior folds. That's 12 inches of extra skin around my vagina! Then there is literally a full hand-full of extra skin in the front pubic region. My bum around this area is saggy as well which is creating so much more of a droopy look/feel. Ive already experience a UTI, which I feel is from all of this extra skin and folds. I shower daily, drink at least 72oz of water, and wear airy dresses just because thats my style, but it also keep things from getting too warm/moist so getting a UTI should be rare. I almost feel like there should be some sort of underwear created to keep this region pulled in yet allow a natural amount of air flow. "V-Spanx"!!! What in the world can I do for the next 95 pounds until I feel surgery is warranted? Anyone else have ideas that might work??

Today is my 3 month post op anniversary and ive hit 100 pounds down fron the start of this WL journey. I am halfway there and am struggling with the idea that I'm able to lose more weight. 100 is a LOT to lose, but I have been at this weight before (5 years ago) and was never able to get lower. So I'm posting progress pics to remind myself 2 things. 1) I've come a long way and 2) im not who I was...I will go further Top row - HW 328 on 02/09/17 Mid row - SW 271 on 05/24/04 Last row - CW 228

Today is my 3 month post op anniversary and ive hit 100 pounds down fron the start of this WL journey. I am halfway there and am struggling with the idea that I'm able to lose more weight. 100 is a LOT to lose, but I have been at this weight before (5 years ago) and was never able to get lower. So I'm posting progress pics to remind myself 2 things. 1) I've come a long way and 2) im not who I was...I will go further Top row - HW 328 on 02/09/17 Mid row - SW 271 on 05/24/04 Last row - CW 228

Goal Weight: 218 Current Weight: 233 Today's Date: 08/24/17 HW: 328 (02/09/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 228 (100# gone!)

3 months out and the last 2 weeks I have gained 8 pounds. I lost 5 again but that still puts me 3 higher than my low and it fluctuates another 2-3 up then down daily...never getting back to my low. I did just start to really be able to understand my stomach which led me to be able to eat more normally (800-1200 cal a day) so I do wonder if that's the change my body is reacting to. HW: 328 (02/09/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 228 (100# gone!)

Ive not only been in a stall for a solid 2 week, but I've actually fluctuated up 5-8 pounds and back down a few times. It sucks. I do know I havent been drinking near enough water and havent been strict with my diet choices. I also slacked off on working out. So... With all that, it makes perfect sense why ive hit a stall and actually gained. Its frustrating when I've only lost half the weight I need to, so I just keep reminding myself that this is not a 5 yard dash. Its a 10k marathon so the sooner I can find a rhythm, the less I'll hate myself half way through. My mental issue is knowing I "can" eat the wrong things to a point and that I "only" have the first year to lose weight "easily" before my body figures out how to adapt to this. HW: 328 (02/09/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 228 (100# gone!)

I'm in!! HW: 328 (02/09/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 228 (100# gone!)

Thank you for posting this. I'm almost 3 months out and have seriously sucked this past week. I've used old excuses and eaten anything I can fit in my stomach. I notice that when I find an excuse, I'll run with it and ruin myself until I cant make the excuse anymore. I've also realized that its now time to start tracking everything in my fitness app because I feel like I have more accountability with it. So, recognize and react. Thats what I have to do. Tomorrow is a new day for me to be a new person. HW: 328 (02/09/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 228 (100# gone!)

My insurance required 6 mo dr monitored visits plus a whole list of visits from specialists to give me clearance. My first visit to the surgeon was feb 22 and I had my surgery almost exactly 3 months later on May 24th. I had already seen my pcp for unrelated checkups the three months prior to her referral for wls so I was ahead of the game without intending to be. I got my date for sirgery the same day I turned in my last visit to the pcp and less than 24 hours later, my insurance approved my surgery. I got surgery 1 1/2 weeks after my last pcp visit. HW: 328 (02/09/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 228 (100# gone!)

This is what I needed to see today. I'm 2 1/2 months out and all of a sudden, this monthly cycle has made me feel ravenous. I seem to be eating constantly this past week even if I'm not fully hungry. I have no idea whats wrong with my head right now, so I came here looking for some motivation to get back on track. I'm 100 pounds down, though haven't dared weigh myself this past week for fear of what I will see. Tomorrow is a new day and I cant wait to keep working toward that 1?? Goal. Anything below 200 is my goal at this point. HW: 328 (02/09/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 228 (100# gone!)

Find a general answer and stick with it for everyone. Ive said my same reaponse so many times, my family now uses it for me When people ask them. When anyone asks me anything regarding surgery or weight loss, I simply say "yup, just had to take some things apart and put it all back together again. Dr. Frankenstein fixed me up good! I was actually wondering, where did you get that necklace? Its beautiful!" Or "just eating differently and exercising more. Its hard work but Its worth it, or will be anyway. Tell me, how have you always stayed so fit?" ALWAYS follow up your statement with a question for them! It stops further questions and puts the focus back on them. No one except my husband and my surgeon know I got this type of surgery done. Some people know i went in for surgery but I let them keep assuming they "knew" it was for other health issues I had been battling. Most people just see ive lost 100 in the last 6 months (pre and post op) and want to know how I did it. HW: 328 (02/09/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 228 (100# gone!)

Agreed ladies! Exercise should help again and I'm awaiting the appropriate time for surgery. Right now my bum is so saggy near the perenium, I've been chaffing on my inner "cheek" for a few weeks! Its uncomfortable and keeps me up a bit at night. So right now I will just have to talk to my surgeon about options until I can do a lift. HW: 328 (02/09/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 228 (100# gone!)

My pain which I described the same way turned out to be pneumonia. Call your surgeon just to discuss HW: 328 (02/09/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 228 (100# gone!)

ive lost 100 pounds and I was on 100mg daily of Zoloft prior to surgery. I lowered myself to to myself to 50mg daily because I felt do good and because I have recently been told that I look like I'm a whole new person. They specifically state that I look "in love with life" and that I couldnt be more "happily glowing". Honestly its the NSVs that rock your world more than anything and you start finding confidence in the small things. Sent from my LGMP260 using BariatricPal mobile app

The first month post op was a breeze. I was expecting everything I experienced and had zero regrets. The whole 2nd month after surgery was my "buyers remorse". I hated life. The discomfort and pain along with having to learn what my stomach wouldnt vomit over or create mucus burps or simplyfeel like a rock in my chest, was more than I could mentally take. I started believing that I would never be ok again and certainly that if never be able to eat anything of substance again. I'm now 2 weeks until my 3 month post op Mark and I finally feel normal. I've learned what I can eat and how long I have to take in between bites. Ive also learned to recognize that point where I will regret one more bite. I know some people who had buyers remorse right away. I felt pretty lucky when I didn't experience that. Unfortunately it made it all the worse when I did because I wasnt expecting it. I'm sure we all have our moment of regret. Just take that time to focus on what little things you can do to ease through it. Sent from my LGMP260 using BariatricPal mobile app

This makes me feel a lot better. Thanks! I'll just have to take extra care until then to make sure I don't get any more UTIs

You say you live close to Bangor and we're actually considering a place in Winterport. Do you know much about Winterport?

I'm on clear liquid diet for a week post surgery and can only have my protein powder mixed with water - which is the worst experience so far. Yesterday I was still trying to gag down one scoop of protein powder in 32 ounces of water (diluted to try to make it go down better) and had a great idea that now I'll be doing daily this summer. I took ice and a scoop of chocolate protein powder and blended it up using the rest of my above mentioned protein water (about 10 oz) to make a protein icee. It was so much better than I expected and I was able to get the full 28 ounces down within 2 hours. I feel tons better now that I got that much more water and protein in on day 5 post op. It's not exactly ice cream, but it's certainly enjoyable.

Dear Scale, I never even knew you before I started this process almost 4 months ago. You were just an enemy I had to endure at random times so a medical professional could judge me before they spoke to me. I often bore through sickness and pain alone just to evade your reality. Because it wasn't my reality. Through my lying eyes, the mirror didn't show what you claimed I was. When my eyes opened I considered you a friend for a time, but only when you showed me what I wanted. Now, these last 2 weeks, you have become my crutch and my obsession. I visit you every morning and mourn when you have not changed for me. I became dependent on seeing you and I have demanded more from you than you should have to give. So, dear friend and closest enemy, our frequent visits have come to an end. Your 2 week solitary confinement begins immediately. You acquaintance only, Me HW: 328 (02/21/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 262

Thank you so much for the response. I have heard wonderful things about Madison and norridgewock. We've decided to keep our search 35 minutes from norridgewock and remove Portland + suburbs from the options. It seems that for what we are looking for specifically ( land, community, low crime, better schools, low population, family friendly, etc), norridgewock had more opportunities to hit most if not all of those. If you dont mind me asking, are there any other cities listed below that you would NOT want to live in? Is there a county that you would prefer over the other (summerset or kennebeck)? Cornville Starks* Solon New Portland Palmyra Canaan Lexington twp* pittsfield Hartland Vienna Albion Vaddalboro Sidney Belgrade Clinton Madison* Norridgewock Cornville Anson HW: 328 (02/21/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 248 (06/24/17)

Seems like a no brainer, but I'm having difficulty remembering to chew slowly and thoroughly when eating. I am preop and just trying to get into the habit now. I find that food loses its appeal when it's chewed to the point of purée consistency so I have a lifelong habit of taking bigger bites and swallowing it all at once after chewing a few times. I believe it's a texture thing so I'm trying to get my brain beyond the thought of chewing until puréed things like salad, chicken, and anything else that my brain feels is gross to be chewed "too much". I recognize I have to change around the entire way I eat things from sizes of bites to how to chew and swallow bits at a time. Anyone have experience with this type of aversion and have any tips? HW: 328 (02/22/17) SW: TBD CW: 292

1) get used to always being asked if you've lost weight/how you did it/ what did you have surgery for/etc. I recommend finding an answer and sticking to it. The only people that know the finer details about what i had surgery for are my husband and my surgeon. Everyone else just knows I had health issues that i decided to take Care of. It's amazing how many people respect that answer 2) expect to hate food. After time it begins to taste better, but it's neither fun to eat nor comforting to feel full. If you're like me, you'll be excited for this part before it happens and then go through a full blown ptsd/mourning cycle because of it. 3) expect to have random pain after the initial pains go away. I've done something to my left side twice now. It feels like a pulled muscle or some sure of other issue. A visit to the Dr is most likely needed 4) expect to be dead tired but fill of energy at the same time. I spring cleaned my house and made quite an impressive payday just from selling stuff I didnt need or want. 5) expect the weight to come off in waves. Easier to control. You'll plateau in between waves to give your body a much needed break. 6) expect to gain weight from surgery . ThIs is from air, swelling and your body Trying to protect itself. I gained 20 lbs and it took me a week and a half to lose it before i saw real weight dropping. HW: 328 (02/21/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 248 (06/24/17)

My body punishes me nightly for this. After well over a decade of learning to "eat fast or eat last" (which is never a good motto for a food addict to learn because they will always choose "fast"), im desperately Trying to now learn how to eat properly. I qget what i call snot burps when i eat too fast or too much. After rating ill spend the next half hour minimum burping up what i can only call a raw egg white consistency. It literally fills my mouth with eat burp plus I get this horrible chest pain and generally feel like crap. It's been a few weeks on solid food and have I learned? Nope. I just curse myself every time and have begun to despise dinner time. HW: 328 (02/21/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 248 (06/24/17)

I have lost 78 pounds (though I still have another 75 to go before I'm out of obese range) and I too feel like I look the same. Luckily I took high weight pics and the day before surgery pics after I lost 50. I plan to take more pics at 1 month post op and again at 3 and 6 months post op just so I can see the difference. My eyes have never been honest with me when looking in a mirror. But they certainly are when looking at photographs. lol HW: 328 (02/17/17) SW: 271 (05/24/17) CW: 253