Toomanytacos

Drink caffeine. That is ridiculous. Lol. I drank coffee up until the day before surgery. Even had a diet coke. Now, after surgery is different. For the reason she said above. If you can be sure to drink enough Water and liquids to offset the extra peeing that drinking caff will do, go for it. It's simply that caffeine makes you pee more, period. I hate Decaf coffee, I HATE IT. I drank it for the first week and could do no more. I started drinking my folgers caffienated coffee. I even had 1 teaspoon of sugar free hazlenut Creamer sometimes to it, instead of just plain powder3ed sugar and I am alive today. You can live too.. Just be careful you're drinking enough liquids to offset the pee'ing. K?

I honestly entertain myself
Today, in the car, I was putting makeup on before going inside this building. And ladies, you know how you'll put concealer under your eyes or on diff areas of your face to "sit" , and dry before blending. Maybe 5 min or 10, whatever. Right?
Anyways, so I was doing that. Finished doing other areas of my face and realized, I was going to be late. Got out of my car and went inside. Several different guys were looking deeply into my eyes, as I passed by them in their seats.
I thought "Hmm. Wonder why are they looking at me so intently. I'm not even made up really cute today.Strange"
Then I thought to myself: Jo, duh, it's your personality. You light up a room. You're so charismatic, people just flock to you. You can't help it
I find the nearest bathroom to do one last tinkle.
Afterwards, I am washing my hands and look in the mirror---
Priceless.
Hey, confidence is better than insecurity eh?
Not so long ago, I would have questioned myself for all the stares. Lol
The transition of time and knowing WHO YOU ARE and your worth- even when you forgot to blend in your makeup and you look like a Clown Lol
I died laughing in restroom, all by my lonesome.
"Work it, Jo"

Hi Sweetheart
I know by reading these responses, you're probably feeling really shitty. I get it. I LOVED smoking. IT was my favorite thing. IT was my "crack cocaine" I had smoked since I was 14 years old. IT began as a fun thing, a sneaky thing, that made us kids feel so cool. By age 15, I was an addict. I started out, half a pack, then a pack, then.. you know how it goes. I was smoking easy, 2 1/2 packs - 3 a day. I loved ciggs. It became me. I t was my friend, my companion. I couldnt even watch a movie without smoking.. An hour of not smoking , miserable
I always wanted to quit, but just the idea, I couldnt. Well that's not entirely true. I never wanted to quit for the first 20 years. I vowed , "I'll go to my deathbed , smoking". My justification. "I'd rather smoke and be happy. Besides they only take off the last few years and those are shitty anyways" But I started to feel the effects of smoking in my early 30's, ( not my last years, that would be shitty anyways)
But I never considered quitting because, I knew I couldnt do it
Fast forward, the surgery. When I found out quitting smoking was a requirement. I hung up the idea of getting the surgery. I mean, I qualified in every way, but the nictoine testing they'd do in order for my insurance to approve me.
I got home, called my aunt and told her I wasn't going to get the surgery afterall.. The reason. I had to quit smoking, which I wasn't willing or able to do. She, as a former smoker who'd quit many times told me, she understood. But I heard disappointment in her voice. Why not even try. Just try. I told her, what if I try and can't. Id be so embarrassed..
She told me, Joanna, people quit many times usually before they are finally successful, but so you owe it to yourself to atleast try. And I did.
I got with my doctor for the Chantix medicine. I liked it because you could still smoke while taking the medicine. I also underwent EMDR with the therapist I've already been seeing for years and years to help get to the beginning of the core of my "love for smoking".
Was it easy? Hell no. I thought I was going to go crazy. I , like you, narrowed it down, and down and down, until I was like 5 ciggs a day, and had to space it out, 5 ciggs in a 24 hour period.
Then I smoked my last cigg, without realizing my las cigg on July 25th around noon. Later that evening, I had 2 more allowed ciggs and I thought to myself, Jo, why not just not smoke them. Smoking them is only going to prolong your imminent quitting. So I did
I never got to realize that cigg I smoked earlier in the day would be my last and I think, maybe that was a good thing.
It's been 8 months (tomorrow) since I've quit. There are many times I still miss it. And it's understandable. We're talking about a 23 year addiction.
But what I learned in quitting
If you can just NOT pick them up, that next cigg, that 1 cigg we all lie to ourselves that will be " all we need" that feeling of needing a cigg will pass, if you can refrain from acting on that nightmareish urge to pick up " just one"
It will pass
And it will come again
But you keep fighting those "moments" .. I compare them to contractions. Those mind blowing moments of misery, where you think you'll die and would give anything for it to just go away. And then it goes away. Those cigg contractions will too

While you're fighting this habit, have zero ciggs in your house . Throw what you do have away
Don't go into the mindset of , "After I have the surgery, I can smoke again"
There are heroin addicts and drug addicts who have quit hard drugs, who have not mastered quitting smoking, tha'ts how hard it is, but so if you're down to 1 cigg, you don't believe this about yourself, but I am here to tell you, you CAN quit. Trust me
I still get people who glare at me when they realize I am a non smoker
Joanna (me) would be the last person in the world you'd ever think would quit.
But it can be done. But you have to really want to do it and by that, you're going to have to find yoru reason for NOT wanting it
Initially for me, it was to get the surgery. But then, it was to get better health. I hated the addiction, the fact that I coudlnt go an hour and half movie with my daughters without a cigg. I hated that I had so much fear of ever being without a cigg in my possession.
Now, I am free of that
and the longer it goes, the easier it becomes
You'll always wish you could smoke, you'll always miss it. Well most people do.
But it gets easier
You'll become it's boss, not the other way around
The key to nicotine is that it makes you think you CANNOT quit, when really, you can
Nicotine is a liar
and once it's out of your system, roughly about a week, youll be left to only deal with the mental anguish of missing it , and that too will subside
Best of luck
Joanna

I appreciate your wisdom
But..
I already love myself. like a lot
and I've been living my "new normal" for over three years now
I hear what you're saying though
My focus is on my body and this new venture. I don't think there is anything wrong with someone wanting to have a person to share it with. Maybe your'e right. I'll think on it..
Are you married, do you have a boyfriend?

I may part time in the future, but I would rather not say here

I want someone to laugh with, work out with, who "gets" my whole WLS excitment..
I guess I am wanting companionship. But from whom? Right. We don't want any stray cat, right?
A guy who is nice, obviously, who laughs and will make me laugh, someone who works, and who understands that I don't. Someone who is a christian and who will handle that I am a widow
I am excited to date again. It's been 3 years and I am 39 years old. I still have a lot of life left. I don't want someone with all the right lines and I don't have to really be won over.
I like romance and chivarly is nice but I'm more impressed with honesty and transparency
I'm honest, have been described as habitually honesty, which I take pride in
But I'm very imperfect and I'm not high maintence. I just want someone to get excited with, about the little things, a thunderstorm, weight loss dropping pounds.
Someone too serious, a complete turnoff
I ant someone free to be themselves. No put ons
Is that too much to ask?

Joanna

I feel your pain. Are you quitting bc the rule they have in place? If you're not made to quit not, bc your insurance says you have to , then I'd say, quit once you have the procedure not before. If your situation is like mine, you don't have that option. I had to pass a nicotine test for my insurance to cover my surgery and I had to b clean 6 weeks at least to pass nicotine for my insurance. I almost didn't get the surgery. When I learned that I had to quit and become a nonsmoker, I said to hell with that. I was a 2 1/2 pack a day smoker. I couldn't go an hour without a cigg and that in of itself was tough. I did it and yes, I gained a tad and was panicking bc hello, I dind't want them to think that I wasn't a good candidate for this surgery bc I was gaining each week a little . But if your doctor /surgeon is on board with you quitting, then he or she will or should understand, you are going to gain a little when you quit. But make sure they know you are quitting. Don't try to cheat the smoking thing and do it right before surgery, you could risk it being terminated... IF, if there is no nicotine test going to be done, Id say quit after surgery, that way you dont have to worry about them being hesitant bc of your weight gain. Make sense
On the smoking and quitting, its tough, its the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but it CAN be done. I swear. Lots of gum. I bought straws cut them in half and used them to mimic the feeling of a cigg. I got on chantix and loads of sugar free gum. I even did therapy and I googled a ton of videos on YouTube. It helped
The key to quitting is understanding that this " I am going to die if I don't have a cigg " will pass. Just don't cave in to the urge to go and pick up a cigg. IT will pass. The addiction tells us we will die or wont' make it if we don't have a smoke, but it's a lie
I hope this information helps
I quit on July 25, 2017. I did it early bc I wanted to give myself time for relapses before surgery date Dec 11, 2017. Fortunately, I never had one
You can do this
It's been almost 11 months for me. I miss it. You will always want a cigg.
But.. the degree will pass
Hugs,
Joanna

I feel your pain. Are you quitting bc the rule they have in place? If you're not made to quit not, bc your insurance says you have to , then I'd say, quit once you have the procedure not before. If your situation is like mine, you don't have that option. I had to pass a nicotine test for my insurance to cover my surgery and I had to b clean 6 weeks at least to pass nicotine for my insurance. I almost didn't get the surgery. When I learned that I had to quit and become a nonsmoker, I said to hell with that. I was a 2 1/2 pack a day smoker. I couldn't go an hour without a cigg and that in of itself was tough. I did it and yes, I gained a tad and was panicking bc hello, I dind't want them to think that I wasn't a good candidate for this surgery bc I was gaining each week a little . But if your doctor /surgeon is on board with you quitting, then he or she will or should understand, you are going to gain a little when you quit. But make sure they know you are quitting. Don't try to cheat the smoking thing and do it right before surgery, you could risk it being terminated... IF, if there is no nicotine test going to be done, Id say quit after surgery, that way you dont have to worry about them being hesitant bc of your weight gain. Make sense
On the smoking and quitting, its tough, its the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but it CAN be done. I swear. Lots of gum. I bought straws cut them in half and used them to mimic the feeling of a cigg. I got on chantix and loads of sugar free gum. I even did therapy and I googled a ton of videos on YouTube. It helped
The key to quitting is understanding that this " I am going to die if I don't have a cigg " will pass. Just don't cave in to the urge to go and pick up a cigg. IT will pass. The addiction tells us we will die or wont' make it if we don't have a smoke, but it's a lie
I hope this information helps
I quit on July 25, 2017. I did it early bc I wanted to give myself time for relapses before surgery date Dec 11, 2017. Fortunately, I never had one
You can do this
It's been almost 11 months for me. I miss it. You will always want a cigg.
But.. the degree will pass
Hugs,
Joanna

Baby, I could do be doing better but I am working as ass off.
Was sleeved 12/11/17.
Day of surgery I weighed 321. But I just lost 23 pounds in my 2 week preop diet. But if you go by surgery alone.
I am currently 262. making it 59 pounds lost since surgery, 82 since preop diet.
I am doing a ton of weight training. A ton, so maybe that is the reason for the slower weight loss. We're in this together, all of us. Even Losebig who is spanking it Lol

Love you all
Joanna

My highest weight ever was 386 But for now, I'll focus on recent history.

Preop diet: Nov 27 -344lbs
Surgery Day: Dec 11- 321lbs
6 months post-op: June 11- 268.6
Total loss so far: 76 pounds
( I don't have a picture of me exactly at 344 pounds but the first two pics are me at 331 lbs- to give you an idea)
Then the last pic is me today,6 months post op @ 268.6lbs

Baby, I could do be doing better but I am working as ass off.
Was sleeved 12/11/17.
Day of surgery I weighed 321. But I just lost 23 pounds in my 2 week preop diet. But if you go by surgery alone.
I am currently 262. making it 59 pounds lost since surgery, 82 since preop diet.
I am doing a ton of weight training. A ton, so maybe that is the reason for the slower weight loss. We're in this together, all of us. Even Losebig who is spanking it Lol

Love you all
Joanna

Baby, I could do be doing better but I am working as ass off.
Was sleeved 12/11/17.
Day of surgery I weighed 321. But I just lost 23 pounds in my 2 week preop diet. But if you go by surgery alone.
I am currently 262. making it 59 pounds lost since surgery, 82 since preop diet.
I am doing a ton of weight training. A ton, so maybe that is the reason for the slower weight loss. We're in this together, all of us. Even Losebig who is spanking it Lol

Love you all
Joanna

It has happened!! I lost 100 lbs! 313 to 213! To Celebrate, I got a new tattoo, not a Thanksgiving type meal I normally would have given myself as a reward. Such a great feeling, but now on those last 53 lbs....
I have my next goals, but what are my next rewards? What do you reward yourself with when you meet goals, weight or otherwise? Let me hear them, let me hear your latest accomplishments!

Walker, you need to focus on your time limit, here. You will very shortly run out of honeymoon and you need to take advantage and lose as much as you can. Don't focus on what you need to do for the rest of your life. Commit to 1 month at a time - how many workouts, tracking your food/water, etc. After a year you probably got burned out, but you need to refocus on the sprint to the end of the year right now. You can do it! Heck, you can do anything for 6 months, right? Good luck!

6 months difference. Not great, but could be worse.
The suit in picture one is too big. I have another bathing suit
Stats:
Nov 27- 344lbs
Dec 11 (surgery) 321lbs
Today: 6 mon out: 264lbs
Concentrating now on my arms and stomach. I've lost a ton on my legs, starting to look lopsided. I never wanted to be top heavy with bird legs Lol
79lbs total!
Some who have had this surgery are blowing me out of the Water but.. who cares?
Slow and steady wins the race!

Not great??? I think you've changed amazingly. Congrats!

Congrats! 79#s is way awesome! And an amazing difference. I see collar bones!!!

Look at you shrink! Nice work!

My highest weight ever was 386 But for now, I'll focus on recent history.

Preop diet: Nov 27 -344lbs
Surgery Day: Dec 11- 321lbs
6 months post-op: June 11- 268.6
Total loss so far: 76 pounds
( I don't have a picture of me exactly at 344 pounds but the first two pics are me at 331 lbs- to give you an idea)
Then the last pic is me today,6 months post op @ 268.6lbs

That's a good idea I'm going to call my doctor's office today and ask what their my insurance is requiring me to not smoke or if it's in fact the doctor. Yeah because if I'm doing the Nicorette gum and not the cigarettes they're still nicotine in my system. Thanks for the heads up

My doctor told me they didn't test for nicotine so that's why I kept smoking. Actually I'd buy a pack, then stop for a few days then buy a pack then smoke a few that day then say I was done and repeat the process over and over. Something in my brain post op got re-wired and I have no cravings at all, the thought of smoking makes me sick. I think if someone (actually people did do that to me) telling me that the gum or patch or chantix was still smoking I would smack them. People don't get it unless they have actually smoked, daily, for a long time. Cinnamon toothpicks sometimes work too, I chewed them here and there they were hard to find at first but I got some on Amazon and found some at a natural food place. My grandmother died of lung cancer, I even have her signature tattooed on my wrist to make me quit smoking, this surgery has really changed my life in every way

Oh my goodness thank you so much for understanding and giving me wonderfully practical advice and experience of yours. I think it is more the doctor wanted me to quit then it is the insurance and really not sure. I am psyched about being a non-smoker it's just I'm concerned about gaining weight prior to having the surgery that's all. I am doing the Nicorette gum and somebody had the nerve to tell me last night but that doesn't mean you're a non-smoker then! I could have punched him in the face LOL just kidding... Because the truth is not having a cigarette that you're inhaling is hard and getting nicotine from gum is not the same thing. But I've also cut the gum down I probablychew 4 pieces of gum a day

Thank you very much for your feedback

Hello, fellow stop smoking friends,
I hardly post because i have been feeling like a failure...yep the stop smoking has been an issue for me also. I can say this where I have been a 2 pack a day smoker for 38 years I have managed to be able to go 2 weeks without one then I will buy a pack that pack will last 7-9 days and I will not buy another for 2 weeks ... yes I know this sounds crazy but its like if I don't a pack nearby I begin to panic and go crazy............I have just finished my last pack and have vowed not to buy another one...... I have my last pre-opt appointment with surgeon and psych eval on July 10th. the doc says we will be setting the date for bypass on that date. this whole thing has been a process sleep study, colonoscopy, stress test, heart cath to be told nothing was wrong with my heart very scary and traumatising. trying to lose weight and trying to quit smoking. taking that 2-hour drive to little rock for these appointments. plus appointments with my doc here and I haven't even had the surgery yet. I am a little high strung anyway so this proccess has been very overwhelming to say the least. but thank God i think we have finally reach the finsh line where this thing will be on a popping. It really helped my to read thes post and find out that i was not by myself .....it gives me the hope and assurance that i can do this my doctor or insurance is not saying anything about it but i dont want to go through all of this get the finish line and be cancelled because i am still smoking . hell nah not going out that way.......I had lost 7 big pounds but gain them back trying to quit smoking. I did tell my doc it is because have quit smoking and he as ok with that saying ti was more important to be a non smoker .

Fantastic job!!!!! Yay