mousecat88

I'm sorry you had to hear that BS! All of my doctors were pushing me to have WLS years ago because they knew how truly helpful it can be to patients. I'm sorry that you have to deal with that ignorance. Know you're making the right choice and best of luck tomorrow!

I mean, when did you have surgery? I was told I can have up to 110g of carbs a day at this point given my exercise. (I don't... lol) So, depending how far out, 25g of carbs if you are using a shake as a meal may not be a big thing unless it makes you sick.

https://www.amazon.com/Sports-Protein-Isolate-Chocolate-2-Pound/dp/B001DNV53E/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2SFKU45Y27IKY&keywords=now+sports+soy+protein+isolate&qid=1560275720&s=gateway&sprefix=nowsports+soy%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-5

I can't have whey either. Try NowSports Chocolate Soy Protein Isolate off Amazon. Under 10g of carbs which was my guideline from my surgeon. Delicious.

Thank you all for your opinions! I am taking this all very seriously, given my history of disasters, lol. I will grill my plastic surgeon and if I am not comfortable, I won't jump the gun. I didn't go through all this to have the end result be a mess. None of us did!

I was willing to consult with him, except he didn't return my calls - I feel like there's something wrong with a patient having to chase down a doctor. Like, I'm paying YOU tens of thousands of dollars and you're the guy that's supposed to look out for me pre- and post. Answer the phone? I have been working with a trainer pretty hardcore starting at 4 months post-op. I talked to him about the skin issue - if I lost more weight after reaching my personal goal. He thinks that since, especially by 13 months, I will have built up significant muscle on my arms that even if I did the arm lift at 13 months if I lost anymore weight, any loose skin would easily snap back, rather than droop. And even if it did, I am not opposed to revisional plastics down the line if it bothers me THAT much. My bariatric office knows I plan on plastics by the end of the year and they are okay with it, since I have exceeded their expectations thus far. Something I will certainly discuss with my plastic surgeon regardless, obviously. I'm going to consult end of August/September and if I don't get a good feeling or am not 100% confident, I will continue to pursue other options. There is a second "specialist" surgeon my office recommended that is 3 hours away, but they are in the mountains and it would be impossible to reach them during any inclement weather, so that ones pretty much out of my thoughts. I also don't trust the hospital system they are with. At least the 2 hour away guy is in the same hospital system as my local plastic surgeon. I don't know - things to consider in the next few months. When I had lipo in 2009 I lived in Baltimore. It was 11k worth of lipo on virtually every part of my body (it shouldn't have even been done). I got very, very ill and had to stay with my mother, two hours away from Baltimore. I had to see the plastic surgeon twice a week because of how sick I was and the four-hour roundtrip was horrific and painful to make. In 2017 I had a breast reduction and my nipple starting rotting off! Thankfully my surgeon was local and I could see him right away and he identified that it was an allergy to Neosporin and I was able to see him quite often and it saved the graft. That's why I have such a preference for someone very close to me. You just never know what insane thing could happen.

I felt weepy and depressed for about 3 weeks after surgery. I don't have depression, but the hormonal changes really messed me up. I cried at nothing. The surgery DID mess with my psychiatric meds, too. I take them for anxiety. You should be honest with your psychiatrist because you may need dose changes or complete med changes. I had to be pulled off one completely, and another one I had tripled in dose.

It's truly the distance that bothers me... and the fact this office never returned either of my calls! What if there WAS an emergency or I needed to get a hold of them? Scary thoughts. I dunno - I'm going to consult with "my guy" and see how comfortable I feel after that visit. I would highlyyyy prefer to go to someone local. I live in West Virginia so my options are extremely limited, lol. I'd also be able to stay at the hospital I had my bariatric surgery at, which is wonderful. When I had lipo in 2009 in Baltimore I stayed at the world's worst hospital and it was a nightmare, so I know how important that part can be, too.

Yeah, I think I only need a "mini" tummy tuck and the arm lift. The arms are really the only very noticeable issue. My stomach just looks like any average mom who gave birth, basically. I never carried my weight there so it's a vanity thing for me.

I am scheduling the arm lift at 13 months post-op. Very end of November. Not scheduling a consult until September. I am not having insurance involved so there's no required waiting period. I am only having it if I meet my goal weight.

So, some big news... 1. My trainer has me training to race two 5ks. One in August, one in October. Has me at the highest incline possible on the treadmill. It's killing meeee. lol. 2. I am taking my personal trainer certification exam in December! Studying October and November and taking the exam after my cosmetic surgery. 3. My long-term goal for Summer 2020 is to become a volunteer firefighter. I am getting a tour next week to do auxiliary work in the meantime which is just supportive (like helping the firefighters cool off and getting stuff they need, etc). Holy shiiiiiiit. Never in my wildest imagination....

I want to go to the plastic surgeon that did my breast reduction because he did an awesome job and is 30 min away. My bariatric office said I should see someone that focuses on bariatric patients and skin removal, and referred me to someone 2 hours away (longer during rush-hour - DC traffic UGH). I tried calling them twice and no one calls back, which is VERY discouraging. Also, after every surgery I've had (including the two plastics), I've had complications. I don't want to have to drive 2 hours for check-ups and emergencies??? I called several other plastic surgeons a bit closer and none do arm lifts, EXCEPT my plastic surgeon. My bariatric office says they like my guy personally, but his interest is on breast reconstruction so they refer people to this other person who is far away. I haven't consulted yet with my guy, but his office says that yes, they do them. Does it truly matter if I go to a "specialist" surgeon? The distance is very scary to me, given my history... and I already know my guy does awesome work. Did you go to someone that focuses on bariatric patients?

Personal training. I've found when you spend $400 a month on something, you are very motivated to make use of it. Even when you are exhausted and fatigued.

THIS

6/10: Jumping jacks will likely be done - trainer session today at 5:30! I would like to be remembered for my honesty. Someone who anyone could come to for straight-forward advice and someone who, for better or worse, never lied. Also someone who was always faithful and loyal in friendships and in relationships. And someone who cared about her community and is trying to make it a better place to live, even though it has its share of troubles.

Saggy boobs - Well, I had a boob reduction BEFORE WLS, so that was dumb. LOL. I dropped 2 cup sizes so far and the breast reduction came with a lift, so I do have sagging but maybe not as bad as if I hadn't had a reduction prior. They deffo aren't perky anymore, though. Hair loss - YESSSS. Started at 3 weeks and now at 7 months it is slowing down. Lost about 40% of my hair. Other people did notice, but screw em. It's freaky seeing wads come out, but it's stopping now. I imagine it will come back even lusher than before, lol. Loose skin - YESSS. I am having plastics. It's a personal option. Some people don't mind it if it doesn't physically interfere with anything, but I want to finish the package and don't consider me to have met my "goals" until I have all the skin off, too. It isn't really bothering me as far as rashes, other than my arms, which I am doing first. The rest I will do in stages over the next few years - no rush. Just a vanity thing personally.

I brought: Pajamas (I was not going to wear a hospital gown with my butt sticking out the whole time) Toothbrush and toothpaste Hairbrush Deodorant Cellphone charger with 6' cord Book (which I didn't read because... drugs) I didn't need an abdominal binder. My gallbladder surgery which I had 2 months post-op was more painful than the bypass surgery. They did give me a Bari-Bear if I needed it.

I'd kinda like to try one of those baller treadmills where you log on and join other people around the world walking on simulated trails from around the world. Like you see the screen and the scenery as you walk, and see the other people signed in with you walking around.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FP1SXLM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I have this one. I love it.

Rants aside: Get a massage roller (with minimal bumps) and push down as hard as you can to stretch out your muscle fibers. It is painful when you are doing it, but they work phenomenally. They sell them on Amazon and also at Walmart, 5 Below, etc. You can also use a foam roller at the gym or buy one, but I like the handheld massage rollers.

Giiiirl. 5 days of weight training is excessive at 2.5 mos. I have been working with an amazing trainer for 4 months. He is a 7 time State champion power-lifter. I do weight training/HIIT TWICE a week, a spin class, and a yoga class. I am about to add an additional spin class. I am 7 months out. He says this is perfect. I also said I was going to do spin class right before yoga and he said that is too much and unnecessary for a single day. You need time between HIIT and resistance training for your muscles to heal. And there is NO WAY you're getting enough protein to support the kind of exercise you're doing. My bariatric dietitian AND the trainer both said I need to be at 100g of protein per day for the stuff I am doing - and it sounds like you are doing much more. Your body will just devour itself, including those muscles you're working on. My trainer also wants me at 100g of carbs per day (although he isn't getting that just yet, lol). It's great that you love exercising, but orthorexia is a thing and can be a replacement for overeating so just be careful. And maybe find a new gym or a new trainer... dude sounds like an a*****e. There has been two times in the last four months that my thighs or calves hurt so bad for about 3 days I could barely walk. But it was new exercises and when I was doing it, I wasn't struggling. So now he and I work around it. I actually tried the calf exercise again on Monday after a long hiatus, and have no issues this time. Nothing you do should ever cause actual pain.

Also something I tolerated well during puree was beanless chili. I bought 2oz baby food storage containers off Amazon and pre-portioned out cans of it. Annnnnd now I want chili. lol

B Side: I would change the way I perceived my body as a teenager/pre-teen. I would have loved myself and never gained weight from depressive overeating. I would go back in time and slap myself and tell myself how good I have it. Alternatively, I would have opted for my Masters in Experimental Psych rather than have gone to law school, which I did only to please my family. Either one would have changed my life drastically.

Everything I am worried about at the moment... 1) I had to stay up until 2AM for work and am so dead tired but promised I'd go to spin class later and I want to diiiiiie. 2) My floor was installed but the bathroom hasn't been put back together and I am waiting for an appraiser to come so I can get qualified for plastic surgery funds. 3) Plastic surgery is so far away and I want it NOW NOW NOWWWW. And need to lose that 37lbs by November.

Cottage cheese is life. I have a cup every single day. I never bought it pre-op, but now I am obsessed with it. You can puree up some hardboiled eggs w/ mayo/mustard for egg salad as an option. Scrambled eggs were more difficult.