Creekimp13

Well Shite! So sorry about the bad luck. But maybe it's good luck in the end? Most important thing is to keep you safe. Jump through your hoops and make sure your heart can handle it. You'll get there. So sorry for the delay, though. Wishing you the best.

Pickles are a fermented food that can change the microbiota (bacteria) in your gut. The good news...is that pickles will add to the helpful bacteria population. The bad news...is that your gut is likely very out of balance ater surgery, and it'll take some time to get everything balanced again. Don't give up on pickles or pickle juice. But next time, when you're feeling brave.... try to pair it with some fiber. (Pickle bugs eat fiber) If you do, it might help even things out:) Good luck!

I'm not thin, nor do I want to be thin I am, however at a very healthy weight and my body fat is under 28%...which is perfect for me. I am a muscular, fit, strong force to be reckoned with. I run again, ride my mountain bike, landscape, kayak, rock climb and am having a hell of a lot of fun:) Best part is to be off all my meds (save thyroid) and have perfect labs. My diet is extremely different, but it's awesome and it makes me feel really good. I don't feel deprived and I splurge on treats in tightly controlled moderation. I exercise A LOT...I do fun stuff and it makes me feel really good:) It's worth it. And it's wonderful:)

My vote is for Splenda/Sucralose...all the way around. It's not sugar, but it tastes amazingly close to me. No diarrhea, and it won't kill my dog. Would stand to reason that different people experience the taste of different sweeteners different ways, though. Stevia tastes horrifically bitter to me. I get along pretty well with aspertame, but like sucralose better. Saccharin tastes as bad to me as Stevia does. Bleh. That said, I think all of these are safe used in moderation. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/artificial-sweeteners/art-20046936 Will offer one word of caution...if you use sugar alcohols like xylitol KEEP IT AWAY FROM YOUR PETS...it can kill dogs and cats. http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-toxins-poisons/xylitol-poisoning-dogs-a-deadly-sugar-substitue

There's a reason they tell you to wait 18 months after surgery to get pregnant. Pregnancies before a year post op are high risk pregnancy and you should consult your team immediately. Also, pregnancy too soon after surgery carries extra risks for the baby...neural tube defects are more common in pregnancies of women who get pregnant too soon after bariatric surgery. It is possible to carry a healthy pregnancy to term, but the deck will be stacked against you and you need to consult your team for help. Good luck and best wishes.

My last two check ups were perfect. No cavities. Healthy teeth:) This is super important to me because I have a long history of dental problems. Soft teeth...lots of crown and even one dental implant due to some bad falls off horses in my youth. I value my teeth and was concerned, too. But so far, so good. My dentist says everything looks perfect. It's extremely important to go in for your routine dental exams while going through the process to get on top of any problems before they get too severe. There are folks who have dental issues that are made worse by the process. My dentist and surgeon strongly recommended resolving any and all dental issues before bariatric surgery. If you start with a healthy mouth...chances are good it will stay that way with routine preventative care:)

I could f*ck almost anyone..provided they have what I'm most attracted to: 1. intelligence. 2. Humor. 3. Progressive views and values. 4. An incredibly sexy speaking voice and unique command of language (I confess, this is my kryptonite) 5. Humility and compassion. 6. Confidence. Confidence. Confidence. Confidence is hot. 7. Creativity. For all of these reasons....I could f*ck Tony Soprano and Tyrion Lannister...and it would be incredibly hot. Maybe I just like Byronic Anti-heros? I don't know. There are a LOT of physical imperfections I could overlook for a guy with the above attributes. The mind is far more attactive to me than the body. And as we age? Bodies go to absolute ****. LOL. Beauty is fleeting. A fascinating mind is forever. Invest in something with more substance.

Kim is right on all counts. Also, you should speak to someone at your insurance carrier specifically about bariatric surgery to see if they cover it and what is necessary to qualify.

1. Walk, walk, walk. Move those tissues and pump the fluids up past the crappy vein valves. 2. Water pushes water. Drink more. 3. Watch salt intake and keep it low. 4. Wear your pressure stockings if your doctor prescribes them for you. I had terrible pitted edema in my lower legs. It was one of the major things that inspired my choice to do surgery. My ankles were getting super thick...even the tops of my feet were starting to dome and squish out of my sandals like marshmellows. It wasn't pretty, and it hurt and worried the hell out of me. These days, my legs are gorgeous. No diuretics, no bp meds...and they look athletic, muscular and tight. You can see the tendons in the top of my feet again:) My ankle bones are back, and my ankles are skinny. Tall boots fit! Even when it's 90 degrees out...my legs don't swell anymore. It's one of the most wonderful results of the surgery...just this one singular result was completely worth it. And there were so many other wonderful benefits. Best wishes on your upcoming procedure! You will find your pretty legs again:)

Keep a food journal. Keep calories under 1200. Increase exercise. Best wishes.

Really sorry to tell you this...cause all the presurgical hype contradicts it... BUT... I was so hungry after surgery, I could have gnawed my leg off. Freaking bone-deep desperate hunger. It was horrible. The good news,..is that by the time I was eating about 1000 calories a day (at three weeks out)...I didn't feel much hunger at all, and have not had much problem sticking to lower calories than I ever have in my life (1200 during loss, 1400 now for maintenance) But those first few weeks were tough. Won't like. Starving Children in Africa kinda hunger. I know what they told you about Ghrelin, etc... And I promise your hunger will improve quite a lot and that it'll take less to satisfy you eventually.....but I feel your pain. Your hunger is real. Some people draw the hunger card. Some get the nausea card. Some get the "everythign tastes like cardboard" card....it varies a lot.

https://www.amazon.com/Premier-Protein-Shake-Caramel-Count/dp/B01LNQ2STK/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1532744172&sr=8-1&keywords=premier%2Bprotein%2Bcaramel&th=1 You can get 12 shakes for $16.66, delivered to your door for free if you've got Prime:) That's $5.55 for a four pack. This is the one time purchase price...if you want to subscribe you can save more, but you don't have to. I put this stuff in my coffee every morning. This beats my local unit price at Walmart, Sam's club and Costco....and I don't have to buy mass quantities.

Can't say with authority whether it does or doesn't. But I can offer this little anecdote...which is pretty much just an anecdote...lol Couple months ago, I had a couple days when I didn't feel very well....just felt kinda nauseated and rough....so I quit eating for about 48 hours to give my digestion a rest. I took my vitamins, stayed well hydrated, drank a couple of protein shakes and nibbled on a protein bar....but for the most part, didn't eat much of anything for two days. Third day, I felt terrific again, and ravenous. Tried to eat and found that my capacity for food shrunk massively. Food wasn't making me ill at all, and I ate multiple times that day cause I was so hungry.....But I have to say, to me, this is evidence that giving your tummy a rest can cause it to contract down some and hold less again. I'm sure results vary, and this might just be a conclusion I came to cause I was trying to be careful.....but I really think I ate a lot less for a while until I worked up to more food.....after just that 48 hour break. So there ya go....take what you like and leave the rest. Best wishes!

That's gonna be problematic. Talk to your group and figure out alternative options. Best wishes!

You're in the hard part. I swear it gets better. Hang in there...the fun part is coming:)

I find the taste absolutely repugnant. Bought some Stevia Mio by mistake once and had to throw it all out. Bleh! I'm a splenda girl through and through. To each their own, though:)...

Decided this was TMI. LOL:)

Took a while, but my back fat disappeared:) No fat, not even much loose skin...looks smooth and awesome again! (still waiting on my tummy, but there have been some terrific improvements) But my back looks great again... no little Michelin Man ripples:)

I've eaten oatmeal nearly every day since week two after surgery. 100% approved on my plan. Zero problems.

I have three scales. LOL. They sit in a row, and I hop on all of them once a week. After I weigh in at the doctor, I write on them with sharpie maker... +4 pounds, -2 pounds, +3 pounds (compared to what the doctor's scale said)....and of course, this changes each time I go to the doctor! The super fantastic scale at the gym also gets documented with how "off" my scales are. I know the general ballpark within a couple pounds if I kinda average it out and eyeball it. Two of my scales weigh a little light, one weighs a little heavy. The doctor's office and the gym don't even agree (have gone within and hour of each other with no fluids or pee breaks)....but it's all within a couple of pounds...so....meh. LOL I'm not sure we ever know what we really weigh. LOL. The important thing is to watch the trend, and make sure it's moving in the right direction:)

This might help:) https://www.oxygenmag.com/fat-loss/the-fit-womans-guide-to-body-fat-9235

Keep in mind that BMI is a VERY flawed measurement. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106268439 It's a good general ballpark for the masses, but it can grossly misjudge individual body types. To get the most accurate measurement to base a healthy weight goal on....you might consider body fat analysis. I did this, and found my body fat was in the healthy range at a much higher BMI because I carry significantly more muscle than average. Also, setting a goal weight is a personal preference and can change. I've seen a lot of people start with one goal and end up having a second or third goal. It's up to you. Your body, your choice. If you can correct your health issues and are more comfortable a little heavier, so what? I just reached my goal of getting under 28% body fat. I love my weight of 170 pounds and don't want to weigh any less...even though my BMI is incorrectly "overweight". My next goal is to get under 24% body fat. Not intending to lose any more weight, though. Am working on adding muscle:) Muscle=awesome metabolism. Best wishes!

5g per shake. Follow the Amazon link I gave you....it has a pic of the nutrition info.

If you do caramel you can get them on Amazon cheap. Free shipping with prime:) https://www.amazon.com/Premier-Protein-Shake-Caramel-Count/dp/B01LNQ2STK/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1532532156&sr=8-3&keywords=premier%2Bprotein%2Bshake&th=1 $16.66/12.....just like Sam's, but no membership fee. $1.39 each And delivered to your door, to boot! (Am still hooked on these as creamer in my coffee every morning......I dump about a third of a shake in a giant mug of coffee and get 10g or protein right outta the gate)