FluffyChix

Day 4 - you really are at the turning point. Drink and walk as everyone have said.

I've swallowed my capsules from day 1. They are tiny. Smaller than a pencil eraser and perfectly fine to swallow. I take 100mg per day.

I never had regret, but know many people who went through that stage. I was so ready to get healthy and to lose the weight by the time I made the decision for surgery, that there was no going back. I honestly believe that mindset is one of the make-or-breaks for post-surgery outcomes/regrets. If you expect things to be bad and miserable, they usually will be. If you go in set on having no difficulties or no insurmountable issues, then things will go much more smoothly. That was my case. I have had very very very minor issues. Nothing insurmountable. And I'm thankful every day for the blessing this surgery has been to my life. I feel like I have my life back! I feel like I am in control of my future, rather than being slung here and there by disease--as a victim without power. I told VERY few people--immediate family only. They are all supportive. The others just think I've lost weight and look fantastic now. I get support from FaceBook and from BP and MFP. I also get support from my family...but I try not to burden them with the narcissistic obsessiveness that is early pre and post WLS. LOL. BP gets most of that! LOL. Regret is a phase. Look at it as there is no way through but forward now. Drink TONS of liquids. And understand that the emotional rollercoaster that happens WILL pass and things WILL get better. It has for almost 99% of the people who have this surgery. A year from now, you will be a completely different person and will be so glad you had this opportunity. Congrats on going through with it!!!

I make it "cheaters low carb" all the time. 1 pck SF Vanilla Pudding Fairlife FF Milk or Vanilla Premier according to package instructions. Extra vanilla Freshly grated nutmeg And your favorite alcohol Extra FFF Milk to thin it down to your desired consistency Whipped Cream in a Can (ReddiWhip) You blend it all together and top with whipped cream. You can also pour some of it (sans alcohol) in ice cube trays then use them to blend up in the ninja for ice creamy drinks of the EggNog persuasion. I just got the makings for this yesterday. It's one of Mr. F's yearly treats!

I just saw this on FaceBook and thought it might help you and others. For the cost of a book and a journal, it sounds like they will teach some healthy tools! https://livinghealthynutritiononline.com/bariatric-mindset-book-study/?fbclid=IwAR0OFCIiyQkA9p8FcW0wGA69ugQMoFgisnlOOQF6YdN0DyLEbiZ2GPbmdZM

This a million times! ^^^^^^ I heart all of yas! Yes, for me my only regret from this was that I didn't do it sooner...like YEARS sooner! I'm off 7 drugs!!! My high BP is in remission, so is my insulin resistance, so is my asthma, so is my BC. My average daily pain level has gone from an 8 to a 3-4. I sleep longer than 1-2 hour stretches (can now sleep 4 hours at a time). So much better!!! I was chair bound (slept in a recliner). And couldn't stand longer than 5-10 minutes and could barely walk to the "terlet" or shower. I was so isolated and it was such a taxing thing for Mr. F. Now I can do SO much more. I can take care of myself and my body, clean, make dinner, shop, meet with friends and am taking business meetings again. I walk 1 hour per day (sometimes more). I feel like I have a life again. The last time I weighed what I do, I was in high school. I regret nothing other than whining so much about fear of not being covered by insurance. (Heck I don't even regret being such an obsessive ninnymuggins...

and shorter. Good times!

Ok I'm gettin up early in the morning!!!

I'm sorry about the loss of your mom and the loss of your comfort mechanism. But know this...to a degree, most of us share some of your feelings about food and about this surgery. A good percentage don't fully trust that we won't be that one person who epically fails WLS. So you are in good company. Also, keep trying with your counselor. Keep asking for practical things you can DO to help you with your food/comfort eating. Maybe you should also look into OA? This is ALL about personal responsibility. It's not a passive experience. We get out of it what we put into it. But, most have found we don't have to be perfect 100% of the time! Great news!!! And I believe finding tools and hacks that work for our own individual needs are part of the key to success and part of our personal responsibility. (For me, knowing about and practicing IF and low carb are 2 tools that make this journey much easier. Also knowing about water loading has helped so much.) Things will get better. You will lose weight. Start reading books on binge eating and comfort eating. Get active. This is a tough time for you not only in terms of the season and your coming marriage, but also cuz getting over this surgery is emotionally draining and makes you physically tired as well. But it DOES get better. Keep trying to make the next best choice!!!! Every meal and every day you can do that you are one step closer to winning rather than failing!

You rock girl!!! Thanks for the thread!!! I agree 100000000000000%. Best thing EVS!!!!! You are so beautiful before and after and love your spirit!!!

Sorry bout your hands!!! ((hugs))

Hey will you get someone to take a pic and post it for us here? I keep trying to find (we didn't take pics in those days) an image of the night sky during 1974 or 1975 Christmas. A HUGE Christmas "Star" was in the sky and burned through the day. It was so close to earth and so bright. I remember we all would stand at the window or outside and look up at it. There were several programs about it at different churches too. Supposed to be the conjunction of a few planets/stars maybe? Can't find anything about it now. So would be totes cool if it's happening again. I will look for Venus tonight!

Did it look like the Christmas star by any chance? (and why are your hands shaky?)

Congrats girlie! You've graduated! I think you're old enough now to know about this...Area 51 here at BP. https://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/445-rants-amp-raves/ Use it well my friend! Use it well!

Sounds so fun and the condo will be awesome!!! Better price, more space, close to the park. What's not to love? You're gonna have a blast! Do you ride the rollercoasters and scary rides?

Yay!!!! Oh my gosh, so close!!!!! That's wonderful girlie!!!! You're gonna blow past your goal you know!

How fun!! What movies? And where ya stayin' in DW?

What are y'all doing for Christmas? Ok, spill it!

Congrats!!!! That's outstanding girl!!! Waaaahooooo!

Well, we're all different aren't we? The topic for @Orchids&Dragons is helping her deal with not having a lot of restriction. It's I think, much more typical to have a lot of restriction as you experience. Congrats on your loss!!! Glad you found what works for you and hope you will stick around and play here!

Yeah. No one goes 17 days and has no backed up poo in the lines. LOL. Well glad you got the #2 Train Schedule back on tracks and running again. Congrats!

Wait. I thought you didn't have any poop in you? *snort*

Haha! I prefer to say it like this... "Be the ball, Danny."

Oh, yay!!! That's fabulous!!! Congrats girlie!!! So the other thing you might get is as you heal, you might develop a better sense of fullness. I did! Especially if you have any "whirly, swirly, twirly, candy cane forest" experiences in your esophagus as you swallow and food takes its own sweet time meandering down! Work hard to identify that feeling and cement it into your brain as one of your "stop" signals. Even if you could continue eating and aren't quite to feeling "done." Also, if you haven't already, you should think about stopping your meat lube. Meat lube = slider for me. Also, if you don't just barely al dente your veg, you should. You also should keep about 85% of your food simple and separate. Meat. Done. Veggies. Done. The other 15% can be casseroles, stews, etc. The separate, dry, dense food is calorically sparse but more nutritionally dense and can give a better satiety than the hold-me-delicious-shenanigans of casserole and cheesy gooey stuff. IMHO...

What's tough for you, cuz of your esophagus thing, you have to drink with your meal...and that's just like making food move through faster. For me, the things that were working before the esophagus inflammation thing was very dry meats (like dry chicken boob) + al dente veggies. I could eat a cup of food theoretically and not be hangry afterwards--or hungry 2 hours later. But if I drink while eatin-all bets are off. How much do you drink with your meal?