MrsGamgee

- Getting off as many of my meds as I can - Being lighter than my husband - Being able to shop at more than two clothing stores locally - Not being concerned that I won't be able to get out of/into the car if I park in small parking spot - Not peeing a little when I sneeze - having more energy to play with my kids

From what I understand, when you aren't eating carbs your body burns ketones, and this is known to cause bad breath/bad taste in the mouth.

I can't speak to some of your specific questions, because different doctors/clinics/insurance providers (from what I've read) have different requirements. My first, and most important recommendation is to get yourself to an information session or even a bariatric surgery support group in your area. They will be able to better fill you in on what the doctors in your area require. My surgeon has asked me to lose 10% of my total body weight, not to prove that I'm committed to losing, but to help reduce the size of my liver. Many people I've seen on here don't have that requirement. And as to what your husband said... the weightloss yo-yo cycle is just that, a cycle. What worked for your husband isn't necessarily what will work for you. Only a tiny percentage of high BMI people who lose weight in a 'traditional' way will keep it off long term, and the losing and regaining repeatedly is so hard on the body (of course, you know that already). WLS isn't a magic pill, but it is an effective tool. I know that I probably haven't been all that helpful, but know that you aren't the only one facing these questions/fears. Information is power.

LOL Yeah, I carry most of my weight on my stomach (above my belly button), so I can get into smaller pants, but 16 is still wow for me. Button-down shirts though are a total no-go for me.

Hello all... I've been a little discouraged lately because the numbers on the scale have been staying the same and not headed downward as I'd like. But I know that not all weightloss happens on the scale, so I wanted to share a couple of small victories I've had today. First, I managed to get into a pair of size 16 pants today (and managed to stay comfortable in them for 12+ hours)! Granted, they're from a plus-size clothing store, so are likely closer to an 18, but still... Yay! And second, we had our daughter's birthday party here today and I was totally comfortable not having any of the birthday cake (that I spent more than an hour decorating and it still turned out ugly as sin... lol) or ice cream. Double yay! What small victories are you celebrating?

I'm celebrating another minor victory today. July 2017, I was prepping for family portraits and ordered myself a beautiful shirt that I was looking forward to wearing in the pictures. The shirt arrived and even though it was the largest size, it was too tight. I was terribly bummed, and more than a little disgusted with myself. I had ordered the shirt from a website that didn't accommodate returns. I loved the shirt, but I put it in the back of my closet for thinner days. I hadn't tried it on since. On a whim, I tried it on this morning, and it fit! Okay, it's a little snug across the shoulders, but I'm comfortable in it. And I'm thrilled that I can finally wear this lovely shirt!

This is me too... I'm not shy about telling people about going for bariatric surgery (I'm still pre-op). I've seen people succeed and I've seen people struggle with the surgery, but what finally sold me on it is the fact that it puts type 2 diabetes into remission for more than 85% of surgical patients, and that's what I share when anyone asks me 'why?'. Diabetes isn't a joke, and I have 2 beautiful reasons (aged 5 and 7) to want to stick around for a good long while. I love food, but I love my family more.

One thing that struck me yesterday as I was out running errands... I am going to celebrate the day that I don't look at a parking spot and say to myself "Well, I can get the car in there, but I won't be able to get out of the car". It's something completely random, but I want that day! I'll know I've made progress.

This is where I hope I am able to end up. I love cooking and it's very much a creative outlet for me. I also teach others to cook and do a lot of recipe sharing. I *know* that my relationship to food has to change, will change, and has already begun to change. I just hope that post op, someday, I will still get joy out of cooking. Maybe I'm naïve.

When I think about all the years of half-hour lunch breaks... dashing from work to whatever fast food was closest, then practically swallowing that crap food whole. *shudder* But even now that I've been and SAHM for a number of years, I can't really imagine taking a half hour to eat a meal. Normally 15 minutes is my max. Looks like I have another skill to learn.

I'm still pre-op too... not sure when I'll get a surgery date as things are done a little differently in Canada. I'm currently hovering around 259-261. My goal (and my surgeon's) is for me to be down to around 240 before surgery.

I've heard that the vitamin patches are only good if you weigh less than 185lbs.

Thank you for sharing this!

Hi, I'm still pre-op too (no idea when I'll get a surgery date yet), but from all the reading I've been doing, it is super important to follow your pre-op diet exactly as your surgeon gave it to you. The purpose of the pre-op diet is to shrink the liver. Good luck!

The actual number on the scale isn't my primary goal or motivation. I have been diabetic in one form or another (gestational diabetes that led to type 2) for more than 7 years. There are realities that accompany T2 that I'm not wanting to face, at least not in my 50s. I have two young kids and I want to be around, with all my limbs intact, when they graduate, get married, etc. Getting smaller is an added bonus, but I want to feel like I'm in control of my body and not need a gazillion meds to make that happen.

Someone once said to me that the hardest muscle to strengthen is your no-muscle, and it's totally true. I am a SAHM, and the biggest challenge for me the last few weeks has been the Halloween candy sitting in the pantry. I tell myself no, I won't eat any of it, but I regularly fail. One thing I have going for me right now is that the candy is now down to the stuff I don't like, so no interest in it any more. Hang in there...

I guess once I'm post op I'll be eating to a hobbit's schedule. Just not as much as they do.

There's a really great post in one of the other forums (general weight loss surgery I think) that's pinned at the top with a list of what to bring. It's a few years old, but it's still applicable.

I am a long time fan of Tolkien, and before I was married my online persona was always missbaggins. I over-identify with the hobbits, and have long considered myself a third-cousin twice-removed to the halflings. Short, round, rather obsessed with food and homely comforts. When I got married, of course I couldn't remain 'miss' anything, so I changed it up to MrsGamgee. The funny thing... if I had to say my husband was any sort of Tolkien creature, he would be an Ent (one of the tree-herders).

I love it too... The relationships between the siblings just feel really real. And I like having a show where a person of size isn't portrayed as the funny-fat-person. Don't get me wrong, I loved Mike & Molly, but fat jokes can only last for so long.

I know you posted this a while ago, but I'm also in Red Deer... hoping all is going well on your journey!

HI... I'm new here too. My journey started last January when I first talked to my GP about getting a referral to the bariatric program at our local hospital (things work a little differently here in Canada), and my doc was so excited that I asked about it I thought he was going to fall out of his chair. It took a few months to get into the program, but now I have appointments once a month with different people (my nurse, my surgeon, nutritionist, mental health, etc). I know there are a lot of hoops to jump through ... just had my gastroscopy last week. All good! ... but I'm hoping that I'll get a surgery date sometime in the spring or summer. I have a wonderfully supportive husband and 2 great kids (7 & 5). Most of my friends and family are supportive, but some have accused me of 'taking the easy way out' (haha... as if). I'm looking forward to getting to know people on here, and following their stories.

I second the idea of a 'best weight' rather than a goal weight. For me, part of it is that I can't fathom seeing myself at 150lbs or lower, and that just seems way too drastic at this point. My weight loss goals are much smaller and shorter term. Like right now I'm working on the weight I need to lose to meet my surgeon's goal. I also have a shirt that I bought last year that I absolutely loved online, but when it came it was too small but I couldn't return it... so now one of my goals is to fit into it. I like the idea of using inches too.

I used to use FatSecret, but I found that myfitnesspal has more in their food and exercise databases. It can be a pain to get started with for sure (it took me about a month to really get comfortable with it), but I really think mfp works well. I really like the mfp phone app for adding frequent foods, and I like the website for adding new recipes. I know this probably isn't what you're looking for, but give it a couple of weeks.

Hi... I'm new here, but I totally get what you're saying. The last time I flew was a little over a year ago and I was super self-conscious. There are so many things I'm hoping for, post-op, but I'm trying to keep my expectations in check. My fear is that I won't be able to have the surgery for some reason, or that something just won't work for me. (That's the worry-wart in me)