BeanieSprouts

Welcome!!! I'm so excited to see you've decided to pursue options in regards to weight loss and surgery! I know how upsetting weight loss (or the lack thereof) can be! I think everyone here can relate to that, that's why we chose surgery!! One of the first things I did was look at all the food I was restricting myself from eating, all the "bad" foods and think about why they were bad for me and why I binged on them anyway. What I came away with was that I was ashamed of wanting them, so I would only eat them when I was alone. It took a serious, moral inventory of myself where I tried to figure out my cravings and WHY I want those things before I even thought about dieting again. This is NOT something that you can quit, this is the first step to the rest of your life! The second thing was I looked at all those "bad" foods and decided they weren't bad, I wasn't bad for wanting them, but that they didn't serve the purpose I was currently using food for. Everyone has binged ice cream when they're sad, expecting yourself to never react like that again is unrealistic. But severing that shame tied to it, that you haven't failed because you ate a slice of pizza at a birthday party, is really what's helped keep me on track. If you need ANYTHING please message me!

Happy Friday!!!! Yesterday was a bit of a bust on the yoga front, I had a psych appointment and got some pretty upsetting news about a friend. So yesterday I wallowed in self-pity and impulse purchased stickers from walmart, target AND cvs to make myself feel better. So, tonight I'm going to yoga before going to see La Llorona tonight with friends. And tomorrow is a concert my chosen brother and I are taking a road trip to Boston to go see. I'm very excited; the last time I saw the band I was at my heaviest weight. One of their songs from the last album says "nothing will change if you never choose", and that's what I wrote on all my pre-op paperwork to motivate myself. So getting to see them again with their new album, with my new lifestyle is super exciting. (it's Mariana's Trench if anyone cares. lol) Yesterday I also hit my protein goals and actually never felt sick once, so that's awesome! Still being gentle with myself, still focusing on softer food since I threw up the other day. Everyone's art looks awesome!

Camping and hiking, for sure!! I also really love bonfires, just ones that don't involve food because the idea of a bear coming to find me isn't fun. I grew up in an area where there were bears like...everywhere. So it's always been an actual concern. lol.

I wasn't on blood thinners either before or after surgery, but I bruise like a hot-house orchid now! lol. I was carrying groceries up the hill to my apartment and my arm looks like I was assaulted by a very large army of polly-pocket sized people. I have bruises the size of golf-balls on my shins from walking into stuff. I'm not very graceful, and it's showing!!

I didn't love the shirtaki noodles, but I am a fan of the veggiemade noodles by steamfresh. Also my younger brother likes them so I can trick him into eating what I make. lol

Avery's Mom is right, they do need to complete all steps before they can submit for approval for the insurance. Most importantly, CONGRATS!!!! Making this choice is hard, and going through all the steps can seem overwhelming and impossible. You can do this! At my meeting with the surgeon they went over the choices again for surgery, talked about how long I would stay in the hospital, and answered any and all questions I had. It's more intimate than the seminar, and any issues you have you can bring up then. For example, I'm VERY allergic to the pain medication normally used by my surgeon so I brought it up then to make sure there was a huge note in my file. (while I was in the hospital they had me wear a HUGE red hand around my arm and neck and I felt like a safety cone. lol) Remember: You GOT THIS!!!

I've had severe depression, anxiety and ADHD for pretty much my whole life. It's fairly well controlled now, but I did notice a drop in mood after surgery. My therapist and psych had a pretty good idea of why, and I didn't need to up any of my medications because of it. We qualify for this surgery for a reason. They do not approve people who have healthy, normal relationships with food for this surgery. And even if they did, the severe restriction and recovery that comes with the surgery is enough to make anyone feel self-conscious, upset and other'd. An entire coping mechanism for stress is gone; food. Take each day at a time. Don't worry that you'll 'be/feel like this forever', don't focus on what you'll feel like tomorrow or the next day. Focus on the here and now. If you're feeling depressed, think. Did you have enough water? Protein? Have you seen the sun, been outside, talked to a human being? If none of that's helped, take a shower, put on fresh clothes, watch silly animal videos. You've mentioned your friend passed recently and I'm so sorry to here that. I think these things can help, even if you weren't having surgery. You can do this, and when you come out the other side all the struggling will be worth it. Your friend would be very proud of you. ❤️

I was looking at pictures I took of myself last year and I couldn't believe how much of a difference there was in my face! I always feel like my face never changed because I have loose skin on my neck and chin, but WOW.

HAPPY MAY Y'ALL!!! I started my goals early yesterday, until I decided that I would try a mango for the first time since surgery and proceeded to...just...throw up. 😵 I have a very picky sleeve (Tiny Tum, like Tiny Tim....get it? My brothers thought it was VERY funny) so that's not unusual, but not exactly the way I wanted to start the 14th month after surgery. lol. Each time I get sick, I go right back to basics. So today it's just protein shakes, jello and MAYBE a yogurt if I feel up to it tomorrow. I try and be gentle on myself because these things happen and the last thing Tiny Tum needs is me shoving 3 oz of chicken down my throat. lol. I also did 15 minutes of yoga, which I got the clear from my physical therapist for just on Friday. I hurt my hip in late March and they said "NO EXERCISE. NO WALKING NO YOGA" So getting back into it, I know I'm not going to be where I was. At least I'm not the 28-year-old doing PT with the old biddies who hurt their hips too, tho. (not that I have anything against old biddies, I self-identify as an old biddy myself. Gimme the housecoats and roller sets.)

I'm joining!!! Current Weight: 224 lbs BMI 37 Surgical Status: 13 months post op Gastric Sleeve Personal Goals: Do at least 15 minutes of yoga on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each week. Focus on my protein, including lean protein sources and shakes. Find one good thing about each day that is NOT weight related in any way. (example: "Wow I saw so many pretty flowers on my walk" not "Wow I lost so much weight by walking!")

Hello NJ friends! I'm Jacqui and I had my sleeve surgery in March of last year. I'm from Pompton Lakes, but I actually grew up in the West Milford area.

I'm a little over 1 year post op and I've only had one drink, a rum and diet on New Years Eve. It was widely regarded as a very bad move and I actually have just decided to not drink anymore. Alcoholism and addiction runs in my family and I would rather go out with my friends and be the Sober Group Mom than risk that. That said, some bars will give you a wrist band for free soft drinks if you say you're the designated driver and Mama LOOOOVES herself some free unsweetened ice tea.

I completely understand the thought process here. You've gone through major surgery, and have completely changed your eating habits. You want results, and you want them NOW. Bodies are silly, tricky things. Your body doesn't know that you've CHOSEN to have this surgery. All it knows is you fell asleep and some STUFF WENT DOWN. Your body is throwing everything it has into healing, and losing weight is NOT what it's thinking about right now. When I came home from the hospital, I was actually 10 pounds heavier than when I went in. Losing 10 pounds in 3 weeks is normal, healthy, and a great accomplishment! We are not living in a Woman's Day headline where you can lose 25 lbs in 14 days. Be gentle with yourself and trust the process. You WILL lose weight, you CAN do this!!

Hi everyone!! I'm pansexual but also non-binary so I usually just say I'm gay? Identities are confusing sometimes, but anyway! I was sleeved back in March 2018, down 140 lbs from my HW. It's great to meet all of you, with the exception of Venessa who seems like a rude-ass straight person invading a space not meant for her.

Hi everyone! Long time no talk!! I'm doing well overall, although I did have a stall that I had to work through that I think I'm still not over totally. The loss has slowed WAY down, and while I'm noticing new changes every day, I wish it was still happening steadily. I'm 98 down from surgery, and like sideeye I'm like 50 lbs from where I'd like to be.