Sleeved36

All I know is no man ever had to pay $60 for a bra who's underside snapped in less than two months, but correct me if I'm wrong.
Those are essentials they are price gouging on but not necessarily increasing the quality of...

Some people have more money than sense! Although, if I were paying $495 just for that stupid logo, I'd want it even bigger so that people across the room knew how much money I had to waste on ugly shirts!
And those men's coats - looks like those pouty boys enlisted in the Continental Army! They have tails! Where are the George Washington wigs?

Or an "Off Vegas" magician. LOL

Who knew it cost so much to the the Ringmaster at the circus?

This was a UK store.
But I will say a couple places where women get gouged is undergarments - bras and panties and such are outrageously priced when compared to the amount of fabric contained, and shoes too.

Organic sweet chicken sausage (80 cal with 13 protein) with spicy mustard. Y.U.M.
One link cut up- surprisingly filling. I’m addicted .

Teas! Hot and cold are yummy... with lemon or other sweetener

I am in exaclty the same situation. I am 3 and a half years out never reached goal have gained weight over last 8 months due to stress. Everything you said about how you feel about yourself and your situation is EXACTLY how I feel. I cant believe I let this happen - every day I'm going to start again and everyday something happens that I let knock me down I'm so angry and disgusted with myself, I swore I would never regain and yet here I am. I finally went to my Dr and have been referred to a psychologist I have to sort this out before I regain everything I can't bear that thought. So I can't really give you any advice but I an tell you you are not alone in this, somehow we need to find the strength to turn this around - we have done it once we can do it again. If you ever need to talk or some encouragement please dont hesitate to contact me

Hi All, Thanks for taking time from your busy day to read this and maybe help a fellow sleever out!
Quick facts I am FEMALE, almost 4 years out from Surgery Sept 2014
Highest weight 347 - lowest thus far 234
currently 297 (fully clothed heavy clothes on phone/key ect.. in pocket at work tonight)
Here I stand at work saying to myself - your almost at 4 years post op - never made goal and have had a 63lb regain whilst saying WTF is wrong with you in my head!
Can I blame 1 other soul NO, it is my fault and solely my fault alone. No one has forced me to graze, or eat items off plan. I allowed the stresses of life to effect me that I somehow YO-YO'd myself to my present state! I was an emotional eater before this journey started and counseling helped greatly. This being said I am taking full charge and abruptly and radically changing everything back to the simple basics. My new health insurance will start on the 20th and the first thing I am going to be seeking is psychotherapy to assist in figuring out ALL MY TRIGGERS; not just the ones I know and can steer from easily. The hard ones that have me eating things absent minded that I don't even know I have ate the item till its gone!
One thing I am fairly certain of is I have not stretched my sleeve out, as if I try to eat to much I completely feel it, and I will get a sick feeling! So despite my piss poor choices and personal planning, I haven't gorged myself to stretch my sleeve. Of course some things go down easier and in greater quantity than I should consume, but alas that is my reason to halt this madness.
The last 2 years have been beyond a roller coaster of emotions with things changing from bad to worse to horrid to acceptable and back again a few times...Nothing I have gone through I wish upon NO ONE EVER! That said I put in a order for my favorite Protein Shake (mixes with Water perfectly and tastes insanely too good), gotten all my Vitamins sorted and will jump to the store to pick up everything else I need to start the full on liquid 30 day pre-op diet I had to do before surgery. I think this is the BEST possible way to reset my mind, actions and allow me the time to get help for therapy along with I hope new friends here to help me along the way by merely listening and offering the advice they can, as I will openly accept all advice!
My Husband recently got me a Cybex 8000 Arc Trainer (i posted a picture of my baby below) - the one piece of gym equipment that I would stay on at the gym for 2-3 hours prior to and just after surgery when cleared to work out! This has me completely wanting to be on it all the time but with the regain every ounce of my body is revolting, and my asthma has started again and that is something that drastically reduced itself when I was 245 and lower! So I plan to start back at 20 min - 2 times a day and grow from there.
My main purpose for this tireless rant is I need those who have had regains advise and or empathy. Though I know I am NOT the only person in the world to face this issue, it feels as such! To make matters worse I am my own worst enemy when it comes to self loathing and bashing so any camaraderie will be a huge blessing to me.
If anyone else has NEVER reached GOAL, FALLEN off track, somehow picked them self up and got it right the second time, please reach out!
I am at the point I am looking at myself as a complete and utter failure for the lack of follow through!
HELP ME!
~ChunkyChicTrying

Went shopping yesterday: I officially DO NOT wear plus sizes anymore!
A whole world of possibilities has opened up! It is exciting and overwhelming.
BYE Torrid, Lane Bryant, and the scary back corner of Macy's!

Was starting to feel frustrated due to a week long stall/ 1lb gain (not being able to exercise due to horrible air quality making my asthma flair)... anyway about two months before surgery I bought a T-shirt at Hamilton in the largest size they had (XXL but really a funky women’s L). Today I found it and tried it on. It fits and looks good on me. I may have squeeed.

Macy's must have heard us, because I found this in Glamour online about stores with plus-size sections, so I guess I'll try it again:
• Macy’s came out on top for all of us. At the Herald Square flagship in NewYork, the plus-size department on the seventh floor is stocked with designers like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Melissa McCarthy, and Rachel Roy. Marie Denee of thecurvyfashionista.com, a size 16/18, gave Macy’s in Atlanta similar raves: “It was the best representation of plus-size fashion in a department store, taking up half the floor.” Amarachi Ukachu of amarachiukachu.com, a size 18/20, felt similarly welcome in the New Orleans location: “I found a sign that read ‘sizes 16 to 24’ with an arrow leading the way—which made me immediately happy.”

Yay for you!!! ANd how freaking awful is it that Macy's puts plus sizes in a single scary back corner like plus-size women should be ashamed? HATE that.

I wore a pair of strappy sandals that previously wouldn't do up, not that I could bend over anyway to do it or that I could get that close to my own ankle!

But now, I can do both!

Word. Definitely violated this.

Oh, and they do NOT deal with "life or death scenarios." As I wrote in earlier posts, their office closes at 4pm, opens at 9am. They see people in the office. The one time I actually came in with blood pressure of 70/50 and dizziness, they left me in the waiting room for 1 hour. They know NOTHING of dealing with real emergencies. In the 14 years this physician has been in practice, never has there been a patient death. I was an ER nurse. I know from "life or death medical and mental health scenarios." Further, even in the ER, if we EVER did joke about a patient--typically never about the body but about a bogus story about how a man got a Shampoo bottle stuck up his anus ("I fell in the shower), we did it in the BREAK ROOM, which is located strategically far from patient rooms. Just curious, do you work in healthcare/medicine?

Happy to enlighten you. I teach nursing students of all levels at university, so this is something I am up to speed on. HIPAA specifically states a few things that are of issue here. 1) A member of the care team should not discuss patient information with anyone (in the office, out of the office, or whatever) who is not DIRECTLY involved with the care of the patient. That would include the receptionist and the billing employee. The particulars of the PAs discussion were not need-to-know for the receptionist to check me in or out, nor for billing to submit my bill to my insurance. 2) They were EXITING the office. Even prior to the them exiting (about half of their statements came out as they exited the office--literally walked into the hallway), their words were audible from the hallway. The onus of privacy is on the office. That is why many offices have "white noise machines," to obliterate the private patient information being discussed within the office space. 3) Even within the office, staff is required to use a low tone, and to only talk about information that is relevant to care. Hope that helps.

@virginiaRN I just wanted to say that I really admire how you handled everything with such poise, dignity, and grace. If everyone was this way the world would be a much improved place.
May you enjoy good health!

Thanks, Got it ! So not necessarily the macro count, but the food type? I'm not allowed most of the same items either on my plan, probably never will regularly again. I do eat legumes, vegetables, some fruit and some seeds, everything I will ever eat is already back in my diet.

I wonder heavily about regain, I don't see many who eat like me, @Creekimp's diet is similar, a lot of people seem to eat just animal Protein and diary, also a lot of the VETS are either not around /not social or struggling with regain themselves so I'm grateful that you are willing & able to answer my questions.

VSG2017 HW 249 SW 238 CW 167

Not sure if there is a point here but I believe every person should love the way they look no matter what but that is not always as easy as it sounds. If you are happy with yourself and your appearance that is all that matters and you should stay right where you are. For me, weight loss is much more about health and enjoying my life than how I look. I want to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible and I am amazed this is happening to me at age 60.
Creekimp13 is much more than strong opinions--she IS a bully.. She is convinced that her way is the only right way and constantly criticizes and denigrates others who do not eat like her calling them stupid names and predicting their failure. She has insulted and denigrated me and my profession while showing her self-satisfied ignorance and denigrated and insulted others on here, stating their diet caused all their health problems and saying we are all going to need a kidney transplant because we don't eat a crapload of carbs. I am not a "ketoevangelist" and have researched the difference between the various diets....one size does not fit all.
Someone who used stats of a professional male bodybuilder to justify her overweight BMI is just ridiculous. I do not care what she says she weighs or what she says she eats but there is no reason to be so nasty about it. I have not encountered anyone else on here that is so dismissive and disrespectful of others.
Great she has a couple of buddies to jump in here and defend her

Of course we have to take your word for it since you never post any sort of a progress photo....I am glad you have such a high opinion of yourself. I think you are the most rude, judgmental and insecure person I have encountered on here and you have a deep need to bully others to help you feel better. You may feel beautiful but your soul is ugly.

Plenty of us who eat that way aren’t retainers either though. It’s not a road that’s doomed to fail.

I think as we study and learn more we will be able to tell by your genes who will do well on what diet. But we are still in the dark ages.

There isn’t any one size fits all. I did the high carb low fat diets in the 90’s and those always ended in me falling off the wagon and regaining. I was quite strict on the low carb train till I got to goal. I’m still pretty low carb but I don’t stress about them a bit here and there.

I’m five year out and it works just great for me.

I know your plan is working for you (so far). Can’t we just all realize that there is no one size fits all answer? I know you’re certain your plan will be the answer for you. And time will tell, but since I think a big part of this is mental, I think it will.

But you make it sound like being a “carb nazi” means you’re doomed to fail.

I didn’t.  It’s not a stop gap measure for me.  It’s a lifestyle change and it works just fine. 

Ever since I can remember, I have been the "fat guy". That is what I was known for. I never took my shirt off at a pool or a beach, ever! That is something I want to change though. So, my best friend who I graduated high school together has always been much slimmer, popular, girls flocked to him; I sure you get the drift. Although we have been friends for over two decades I feel he never took me seriously because of my weight. At parties, clubs, bars, social situations I was always the one who was ignored and not payed attention too. Well, he moved out of state and we see each other about twice a year. He has a very stressful job and as a result has been emotionally eating and gained a significant amount of weight. He is one of the few that know that I had my surgery and he is very supportive. We saw each other for the first time in over a year last week and guess what...drum roll.....I weigh less than him. He even made a comment on how I was flirting with the waitress at the restaurant we met at. It felt like I was in his shoes for once. It felt truly that the tables have turned.

If this were just a bunch of sorority girls, yeah, maybe (?) let it go--or have the confrontation there. But this PA--a provider with a lot of power over the lives of others--needs to have her card pulled. Trust that I am on this. After sleeping on it, and waking up a little fresher, I wrote a letter to the surgeon and the practice manager. But I may not be done there. Taking stock and deciding about next steps.

You are a brave woman and have been through a lot! Do not let them shame you! You don't need to scream and rage, just send an email to the office manager/customer service.
They need a reminder that all people deserve to be treated with respect. Do it for you and do it for the next person they decide to mock/belittle.
We protect each other from bullies when we stand up for ourselves.