Iwannabethin!

Hi all - I was a skinny kid, teen and that continued right through my 20s. After I had bubs at 32, I put on a bit of weight and also stopped moving as much and ate more....
When my marriage broke down, I ate and ate and ate my way to double my weight - did that in about 4 years. I've been very obese now for about 11 years.
I, too, have very bad depression. I had it when I was a teen - had it when skinny and when fat. It's gotten worse and worse though and that's because of the fatness.
I believe It's what I'm putting in my mouth that made me fat and the fact that it hurts so much to move doesn't help either, so I'm very sedentary.
However, I also noticed my weight creep on more after starting anti-depressants. I became more tired (and slept more whereas before I was more anxious and jittery) and as time has gone on, I'm so, so, so weary.
Everyone is different and lots of people have conditions where they eat very little and the weight balloons and vice versa.
It truly sucks doesn't it?

Hi Melissa Rose, I can't encourage you about the surgery as I've only just decided this pathway, but part of me getting ready for it is getting as much information as I can, the good and the bad.
So, I've talked to my GP, have an upcoming appointment to see a bariatric surgeon to discuss options/ask questions, have joined forums such as this etc. I've also been on Instagram and followed heaps of people and seen the changes they have made.
Another thing I did, and now I can't remember where I read this, was buy a book through Amazon.com - it's called "The emotional first aid kit" by Cynthia Alexander - I found that book to be really helpful explaining everything and an easy read too. I'm sure there are plenty of other books just as good, but this one was great.
I'm also doing a bit more research and have found an upcoming seminar being run by nutritionists about weight and emotional eating, nothing to do with bariatric surgery, but I'm going to prepare myself for the future.
I'm also considering going to see a counsellor and/or psychologist - mostly because I know a lot of my overeating stems from pain in my past and now it is an ingrained habit and I want to get over it so that if I do proceed with the sleeve surgery it's not a waste of time or I start another type of addiction to cope with "life" (I used to smoke too and managed to give that up only to take up food - sigh...).
From what I have heard, it is normal to feel very nervous - I mean, this is a huge step and a huge financial outlay too (well, it is in Australia anyway) and the best thing, I think, is to get as much info as you can.
You could always put off your op for a while if you need to.
Good luck - hope all goes well for you xxx

I just joined up here today. I have LOTS of weight to lose - always feel surprised when I see this huge woman in a reflection staring back at me. Avoid looking in mirrors whenever possible and have generally stuck my head in the sand. Use working fulltime, being a single parent and feeling stressed about everything as my excuse.
Sick and tired of being sick and tired so have been thinking of the sleeve now for about 3-4 months.
Finally talked to my GP and got a referral to Chris Couch. Anyone used him before? He's in Waikiki.
Haven't made appt yet but will soon. Main problem is how the heck I'm going to pay for it. No health insurance, so would love someone to tell me who they are with and what package they used. I'm too scared to ring up and ask in case they blacklist me when they realise I will be using for bariatric surgery and removal of wisdom teeth, lol. I also need glasses. Man, I'm falling apart.
Have also gotten onto public wait list but I understand it's about a 2 year wait and I just don't want to wait that long.
Would love peoples' stories on how they are going today after surgery, how the heck you stop stuffing your face at night-time when you are on the Optifast phase and you can't sleep because you are so hungry and is it really as great as everyone seems to say?

Hi Melissa Rose, I can't encourage you about the surgery as I've only just decided this pathway, but part of me getting ready for it is getting as much information as I can, the good and the bad.
So, I've talked to my GP, have an upcoming appointment to see a bariatric surgeon to discuss options/ask questions, have joined forums such as this etc. I've also been on Instagram and followed heaps of people and seen the changes they have made.
Another thing I did, and now I can't remember where I read this, was buy a book through Amazon.com - it's called "The emotional first aid kit" by Cynthia Alexander - I found that book to be really helpful explaining everything and an easy read too. I'm sure there are plenty of other books just as good, but this one was great.
I'm also doing a bit more research and have found an upcoming seminar being run by nutritionists about weight and emotional eating, nothing to do with bariatric surgery, but I'm going to prepare myself for the future.
I'm also considering going to see a counsellor and/or psychologist - mostly because I know a lot of my overeating stems from pain in my past and now it is an ingrained habit and I want to get over it so that if I do proceed with the sleeve surgery it's not a waste of time or I start another type of addiction to cope with "life" (I used to smoke too and managed to give that up only to take up food - sigh...).
From what I have heard, it is normal to feel very nervous - I mean, this is a huge step and a huge financial outlay too (well, it is in Australia anyway) and the best thing, I think, is to get as much info as you can.
You could always put off your op for a while if you need to.
Good luck - hope all goes well for you xxx

I'm as tough as nails, and don't really care what other people think most of the time. In this instance, I was talking about literally fitting physically into the world. Socially fitting in is a whole 'nother story.
And now, I fit! I fit the airplane seat, I fit the restaurant booth, I fit the seat at the basketball game, I fit into the chairs with arms!

I see this is an old post but oddly it is something I have been thinking about lately. I have chronic kidney stones and have to have them broken up occasionally if they get too big instead of passing. Anyway these machines that break up the stones (called lithotripsy) are only at a few locations around. I always had to go to the only one that could hold over 300 pounds. One time the nurse scheduled me for the other location and I went for per-op and I was 3 pounds over so they denied me the procedure. She wasn't even sympathetic. Just "nope. Can't do it". I was mortified. I cried and cried. But did it change me? Nope. Well I just realized this week that at my new weight that will never happen again. I will never have to ask about the weight limit on an MRI table or lithotriosy table again! I haven't flown since I've lost but I am excited to do so. I still have a huge bottom half so the seat won't be comfortable (seriously who do they build those damn seats for?!) But at least maybe I won't have to have the seatbelt extender. I mourn the life I have let pass me by while worrying about how I looked or where I could fit. I pray this will always keep me fearful of regain and on track.

I feel you on this one.
I went back to school, worked hard, and got amazing opportunities for travel. But I always had to quietly ask for flight information so I could book myself into a window seat, and cover myself with a jacket so the flight attendant wouldn't point out the seatbelt wouldn't fit over me and make a scene bringing me an extension, and at times when the flights was full, I'd have to awkwardly ask a classmate to switch and spend an uncomfortable flight trying not to impede on anyone else's space. Everyone else is so excited to travel and explore the world, and I just dread it since it always involves me hlding my breath and waiting to be the next buzzfeed article "Fat student kicked off plane for being too fat."
Heck, I got to go to Europe last summer, and I spent most of the time silently frustrated with myself for how I didn't fit in ANYTHING. Let me tell you, I've never appreciated how roomy and accessible American facilities are until I spent a few weeks in France.
The worst part is, I can't be upset at anyone but myself.
So OP, I really sympathize with you. All we can do is try to change, and use our unique perspective to remember that everyone deserves dignity.

@@Sharon1964
I'm sorry you had to deal with that nasty person
you are improving your lifestyle
he will always be ignorant
good luck and success with surgery
who deserves it more??
kathy

I understand. I have been too large for most hospital equipment for several years and learned to check ahead. I have had to educate so many people in healthcare. For instance my old HMO would send me for tests, I would ask that they check on weight limits, etc, they would assure me that I would fit, I would arrive for the test, and sure enough would be over the weight limit, and then have to start over.
It is a pain.
Sometimes, it is not even the equipment but in the training of the staff.
As people's weights in this country increase, this is an issue that will become more critical.

We've all experienced the typical ways of not fitting into the world... restaurant booths, airplane seats, amusement park rides, chairs with arms, student desks, regular sized blood pressure cuffs, etc.
Friday I had to have a cardiac stress test in order to get cardiac clearance for VSG surgery. It's one of the last steps I have before getting insurance approval.
In the nuclear medicine area of my doctor's office, there is a waiting room with a little alcove where they put the IV port in. There is no door on this alcove. I can hear everything the tech is saying to each person as he explains the procedure and puts in the IV and then sends them back to the waiting room.. Most of the people there are over 65 or so, and I know some of them are hard of hearing, just from observing them in the waiting room. I'm 50, and definitely not hard of hearing.
So when it's my turn, and the tech stars his spiel, I stop him and tell him I've heard him give it about four times now. Then suddenly he stops, and in that same loud voice, says he's not sure I'll fit into the imaging machine. So when there is an empty machine he takes me in there to make sure I'm going to fit. It does, just barely, go over me. When I come out of that room to go back to the alcove, every eye in the waiting room is on me.
I don't get embarrassed easily, and being fat doesn't embarrass me. I wasn't embarrassed that everyone knew that I might be too fat for the machine... they all have eyes, they can all see how big I am.
Normally, I would have schooled the person on how they should treat fat people, so that other fat people aren't embarrassed. But for some reason, this time I didn't. I'm not really sure why. I have a followup appointment in two weeks and I might bring it up then.
Anyway, yet another example of how I don't fit into the world. That's my main reason for getting the surgery, I want to fit into the world.

Turning off the need to OBSESSS over food seems to be my personal issue. Thinking about the nearby Peanut Butter and how good it is. It truly is the greatest use of a legume.
I am working on two things......not focusing on Peanut Butter (or cheese, chocolate or cookies) , not allowing these things to be there in the first place and completely disavowing knowledge of these items when others have them in my kitchen.
...and counting, that was three things.

Hi yummy mummy, thankyou so much :)The first few weeks were hard, I remember the first night in hospital after I had it done I would of killed for a ham sandwich with bowl of pumpkin Soup haha..I honestly believe there is no way you have ruined it so dont stress about that when you say normal food what do you mean? How many weeks out are you? I don't really remember what I ate but I know there was some trying times where I did sneak a bite of my children's food and would chew it until my jaw hurt! If you body is asking for more and sleeve excepting it you should be fine just make sure you don't touch the naughty foods just yet or pushing the limit if foods you def shouldn't be touching(steak, bread ect) longer you stay away from sweets the better your tolerance will be! I still to this day feel sick if I have more then I should I junk like chocolate chips ect, my sleeve hates maccas thankgod it feels like I'm swallowing a sponge lolMy biggest motivation was the fear of doing damage to my stomach, I was petrified of leak!!Please don't let me scare you that's what's going to happen cause you ate something a bit soon but that's what helped me stay in track..now it's still my fear that helps me to stay eating well but it's a fear of weight gain. It will be hard for awhile but eventually you will see food as fuel and when you can eat more you will realise why we are so over weight the portion sizes that out society has made us think is normal is crazy! I survive on eating as much or less then my 4yo would at a meal, always serve my food up on a bread and butter plate eating my meat and veg first then carb if still hungry. i will still have a little bit if dessert alot of the time but i have an even smaller serve then my kids or just a bite so I can still have treats and enjoy food but it doesn't rule my life anymore.Your still very early out so Water is very important, right now it's a mental challenge and you have the fear of doing wrong which is good as your conscious of your old habits meaning you wont slip back into them. Keep doing what your doing and if the hunger hits have a nibble of something healthy there's nothing wrong with that, itl keep your metabolism moving.Sorry for the novel lol but ask away I'm happy to answer any questions

I'm in Perth. Had my surgery done on 5 Feb by Dr Stephen Watson. I had one week of Optifast, and am now 9 days post surgery. All up I've lost 9kgs already - can't believe how quickly it's coming off. Not that I'm complaining!
My husband had a sleeve done two years ago, and he has lost 100kgs - 100% of his excess weight. I've been inspired by his journey and decided this year it was my turn. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired, and it was time to do something. All the diets in the world weren't working, so I finally realised I had to do something permanent. So glad I've done it and now that the pain has eased, I'm enjoying listening to my new stomach and learning when to stop. :-)