Creekimp13

The turd I delivered last night should have had a birth certificate and been issued a social security number. I'm going to name it and claim it on my income tax. I like new experiences....but that was ridiculous. It was the Godzilla of all poos. I was tempted to take a pic....but that is beyond gross and i'm already being insanely gross making a post about it. (but I fear there are others who can relate...lol) On the plus side....I lost a pound and a half. Giving the scale a few days before I record the loss...but it looks hopeful. LOL:)

It'll go great. Best wishes and congrats!

It's all you can do, Matty. Be patient and stick to your program:)

Mine doesn't fall into the 40's ever. Mid to high 50's at rest, even while sleeping. I would mention the low heartrate to your doc, particularly if you have symptoms like fainting, dizziness or shortness of breath. It could simply be excellent cardiovascular function brought about by diet and exercise. It's not unusual for athletes to have resting heart rates around 40.

That's all you can do. It's your best shot. Wishing you patience...and success! Just stay consistent, work hard...you'll get there:)

I buy cricket powder and have it in smoothies for protein and fiber...lol. It's not so bad, tastes kinda nutty.

I had pre-diabetes and i'm going through peri-menopause...so I get how the hormones can play havoc with your dieting efforts. My pre-diabetes did resolve. When I had my 3 month blood work post surgery, my A1c was normal:) (it was nearly normal at the end of my 6 month pre-surgical diet...but by 3 months post, it was excellent) I am no longer pre-diabetic. I am now off my blood pressure meds, I am off my diuretic. And off my antidepressants. Only meds I take are thyroid and omeprazole (medication to protect tummy while heeling)...and I'm weening off the omeprazole. I do take my vitamins every day. Everyone loses at different rates. Some people work very hard and lose slow. Some lose fast and consistently seemingly without much effort. Youth helps. Not being diabetic helps. I plateau and stall A LOT....but then I have sudden little bursts of weight loss. Everyone is different. Your PCOS might require a little extra patience. But if you're consistent...you'll get there. Best wishes!

crushed pills go down great in sugar free Cool Whip:) (if anyone needs a little help getting things down)

Looking great! Congrats on your hard work!

I have an old air popper. I'll pop a bowl full and drizzle in a little olive oil and Mrs. dash. I don't eat a ton of it like I used to...but a couple of handfuls hits the spot sometimes:)

WOW! Nice work! Love the identical pic for comparison:) What a cool idea! It IS an incredible difference. Go, girl, go!

Awesome ideas, Matty:) Wish you the best with your future endeavors!

Watching the surgery on Youtube...seeing the surgeon fold over and reinforce the staple line...and all the extra little anchors they put in there....helped me to feel secure about not popping my pouch/sleeve.

My standby: One packet of sugar free instant oatmeal One Tablespoon dried cherries Half a Tablespoon pecan pieces Splenda till it's sweet enough for ya..lol. Eat with a big cup of coffee with 1/3 of a caramel premier protein shake (ok, technically, have your coffee before or after) Total calories....about 200 Total protein....about 15g

My insurance is EXTREMELY rigid about this rule. The six months need to be consecutive and leading up to weight loss surgery. We also can't have more than 45 days between appointments, scheduling be damned. My insurance would not accept the gap you have in February and March. Get absolute clarification of the rules from your insurance company. Get it in writing if possible. You don't want surprises later. I had a friend who did six months in a row....but had a 47 day gap due to a doctor's vacation...and she got denied. They were able to appeal it successfully because the doctor went to bat for her since it was his vacation and not her willingness than caused the gap. Be careful of these details and be certain you're crossing the T's and dotting the I's. Best wishes!

My group had us start vitamins in our 6 months of pre-op nutrition counseling. But I remember we had to take a break from our vitamins for a week or so before surgery. Ask your doctor/nutritionist.

Eat more and take your vitamins.

I had an endoscopy before surgery, and had moderate gastritis caused by GERD. I also had a haital hernia, which can cause GERD. Had my hernia fixed and had sleeve. I have very little acid now, and am thrilled with the results. Some people do have acid issues with sleeve. Bypass people typically don't. Bypass people do have some other issues, though....so it's a trade off. Talk to your doctor. Pay your money and take your chances:)

I could have chewed my own leg off I was so hungry the week after surgery. I started feeling better around week 3 when I was getting about 1000 calories per day. Today, I'm still eating 1000-1200 calories per day and don't feel hungry at all. But man...that pre-op diet and the post op first week....that's starvation. It's necessary, but it sucks. I envy people who don't feel hunger after surgery. I know some people don't. But some do, and it's not "head hunger" which is ludcrious when you're eating starvation level calories. "Head Hunger"= I just ate a 400 calorie balanced meal, but a Burger King comercial just came on and now I want fries. Real Hunger= I've been eating less than 700 calories (less than half of my basal metabolic rate) a day for three weeks and have just had major surgery which further increases caloric demands on my already starving body. We need to stop throwing the term "head hunger" around to describe any time fat people are hungry...to do so under starvation levels of calorie consumption is pathological....ie: eating disorder mentality.

I did a LOT of research. My criteria: Doctor had to be board certified and have a stellar reputation. (My doc is actually ON the board of bariatric surgeons here who creates protocol for certification) Make sure to ask your doctor how many procedures he/she does each week, and how many procedures they've done total. Some surgeons will provide success statistics for their patients. Hospital had to be a Center of Excellence. I wanted everyone involved in my care to have experience dealing with lots of bariatric patients. I wanted a ward dedicated to bariatric surgery....not just a couple of beds. Hospital had to be a major trauma center. I wanted a big enough hospital to attract and retain surgical talent and have good resources for unexpected cardiovascular events. I wanted a big enough bariatric center to have a dedicated 24/7 emergency line and an excellent staff for follow ups (which are crucial to safety and success) I was particularly interested in post surgical diets. While I was willing to do a keto based diet for a short period of time, I really hate how I feel on keto...and a lot obariatric doctors push it. My brain feels sluggish and my cholesterol goes up. None of these things are acceptable to me....so I needed a program that worked with low glycemic carb eaters who like a lot of plant based protein. (I'm not a vegetarian, but I am not a huge fan of getting the bulk of my protien from whey and meat) My program works with a lot of international clients with different dietary preferences, vegans, etc. My diet (Mayo Clinic Diet) was well received at my program. My program fit these criteria, and is associated with a well respected major research hospital. I've been really happy with my choice:)

60 is only the new 40 if you plan to retire at 85. LOL. People are living longer, but weight loss is harder after menopause. Be consistent and work hard... but be realistic, too. Don't feel like you're doing something wrong if the younger people lose a little faster...just stay the course:) Best wishes on your upcoming procedure!

I eat 1200 calories a day. Still usually eat about 6 little 200 calorie meals. More comfortable, keeps the serving size small, and I have great energy and am never hungry:)

I'm seeing some big differences in those photos...look at your shoulders...they're so much more square, less rounded....you're melting, woman! Keep up the hard work!

Quorn is carried by most national chains...I think even Walmart has it. Give it a try:)

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/03/07/519030514/eating-soy-has-benefits-for-breast-cancer-survivors-study-finds More contradictory info....what can ya do? Some day they'll figure it out and come to consensus. For now? I do use a degree of caution...but feel comfortable consuming moderate levels of soy. I eat it a couple times a week. Other awesome plant based proteins you might consider, AshAsh: Fungus protien....look for Quorn products by the veggie burgers in your market's frozen foods. I love Quorn chicken nuggets and chicken cutlets. The burgers aren't bad, either! All made from fungus, but I promise it doesn't taste like mushrooms. Pea Protein + Brown Rice Protein makes a complete amino acid. Both are available on Amazon and at healthfood stores. For that matter....just eating beans and brown rice in gumbo or chili...is pretty darned good. Learn to make homemade hummus:) Try it both hot and cold. Lots of good plant protein options. My neighbor makes an incredible Tofu cheesecake...there are a million recipes for different kinds online. She also makes "cheese sauce" out of cashews that is amazing on her vegan taco salad.