momof3_angels

MIne was a hiccup... I always new I was full because I would have 1-3 hiccups lol. Don't do that as often now though.

Just finished 48 hours on clear liquids. Feeling great and back down to 130.5 pounds. Today is day one of full liquids. Started the day with a protein shake. Hadn't had a protein shake in a really long time. Post op they made my stomach nauseous, Tolerating it fine today. Maybe I can re-incorporate into my regular diet for breakfast? That would be good! I had intended to do green smoothies, but I just don't get to it before work. I can keep a stash in my fridge at work and a stash in my fridge at home and always have it on hand for when I am ready for breakfast on the go. You know... there really is nothing wrong with my plan. My nutritionist had me do PRE-OP and then again POST-OP. I have done it two and a half times already. One and a half times before surgery.... once for many days, once for a few days.... both times guided by my nutritionist. And then of course the post-op one lasted a month also following nutritionist instructions. The nutritionist used it pre-operatively to get my weight a little lower AND to train for post-op. By now, I know what I am doing. And both hubby and I are nurses, so we both know how to watch for problems. It is also recommended by many surgeons as a pouch reset. When you start eating more than you should you stop recognizing the signals that you paid attention to the first few months post op. Does it really shrink your stomach back down? I suppose that depends on how badly you treated your stomach post operatively and for how long you abused your "new" stomach. I know I treated my new stomach VERY WELL for the first year. It is they last... up to 6 months that I believe I have pushed it beyond what I should. I believe I have a good change of shrinking it back down if I do this now. But if I chose NOT to do it now and don't get my diet under control then it will be much less likely to work as time goes on. Can I just start weighing and logging again? Sure. But I felt this was the better option for me to reset and retrain. BACK TO THE BASICS. FROM THE BEGINNING. Following my nutritionist instructions through the stages and back to lifestyle eating. Am I starving myself? Heck no! I have the extra fat to burn to sustain me through the last two days which is the only two days I am totally depriving myself of nutrients. Did I feel a little hungry now and then? Sure. But I drank a little broth or ate a little jello to get me through. Today I am going to make sure to pick the most nutritious full liquids I can. Done this before, I know how to do it. Am I lacking energy? Not really. I am pacing myself and keeping hydrated. Must have peed 50 times yesterday (exaggerating... but I was peeing very frequently yesterday). I also timed this with my vacation from work. It's Spring Break. I spent the first couple days catching up on housework. Now I am taking it easy while I get through the clear and full liquids stages. By the time I go back to work I will be on soft regular foods. I know how to do this, so I made sure to time it well. "sometimes these weird desperate extreme fixes sort of reinforce disordered eating habits". I find this statement baffling. This isn't a weird desperate extreme fix thing. This is a well established SHORT TERM diet plan that is prescribed by surgeons and nutritionist for a variety of reasons. Kick starting weight loss is one of them. I did not wait until my weight was out of control to do this. I am doing it when I am seeing a negative trend that I want to stop in it's tracks... to help me get back on track. I know my nutritionist would approve. How do I know that? We discussed this last year... when we were talking about stalls. And "reinforce disordered eating habits?" That is a lot of assuming about me. Yes, I was 100 pounds over weight... but I didn't gain weight for the same reasons everyone else may have gained weight. I didn't eat excessively large amounts of food... but I did eat like an average American. I have never been bulimic. I have never been anorexic. I have never followed unhealthy crash diets. Why did I gain weight? Well... the docs think it was triggered by many years of undiagnosed sleep apnea. And coupled with drinking a lot of calories (pepsi) and not picking the healthiest of foods. So tell me, how exactly is following a short term often medically prescribed diet followed by resuming a medically prescribed lifestyle diet going to reinforce disordered eating habits for me? It's not. This diet is not going to reinforce me drinking sugary drinks. Haven't done that for over 1 1/2 years and am not doing it during this pouch reset diet. And it is certainly not encouraging me to eat American size portions. Just the opposite. It is going to remind me what my portion sizes are going to be. And as for sweet cravings? Well... I might have them. But I am being very mindful during this and reinforcing good choices as I move through the phases. That is a good thing. And the grazing which is my actual problem right now? This is going to help me reset into a normal scheduled eating pattern with small portions which is my biggest goal. SO, will this help me accomplish my goals? YES IT WILL! As long as I stick to the plan and advance to my proper post-bariatric lifestyle diet. Again... don't need criticism. Just because you think you aren't criticizing doesn't mean it is true. Feel free to comment if you want to be supportive. Or not. Again... this was my "holding myself accountable" post. Because I know I need to hold myself accountable. Accountability is one of the keys to success. So... today and tomorrow full liquds! Which for me means mostly protein shakes and greek yogurt. Yes, my nutritionist considers greek yogurt to be a full liquid... and since it has protein and nutrients it goes nicely with my protein shakes to get me through the full liquid days.

I just looked at my stats... it was closer to 7 months I guess. But really I think I was just lucky. I stuck to the diet. I had my good weeks and bad weeks. Long stalls. But when it came off it came off. Also worth noting... the theory is I gained due to prolonged sleep apnea that went undiagnosed for up to 7 years or so. I treated the sleep apnea too. 18 months out and I am up about 10 pounds. I maintained until recently... I am up 10 pounds from my low.

I am having the same issue but I managed to avoid gaining too much. Still... I can FEEL my legs expanding a little. Like literally, I feel like I am starting to stretch. Strangest feeling. I was 124, yesterday I was 138 (some was bloating). In the last couple weeks I realized I was starting to lose control and knew I had to do something about it before I can't recover. On Spring Break now and after spending a couple days catching up on ridiculous amounts of laundry... I decided it was time to do a "pouch reset" diet. Yesterday I ate a little bit of sausage for breakfast... and then have been doing clear liquids since. Since it wasn't a true full day of clear liquids, I am doing 1 more day of clears before advancing to fulls. Once I complete the pouch reset diet I will get back to the basics. Measuring and recording food. Avoiding carbs. Water and protein first. Small frequent meals (but avoid the grazing which I have been doing lately). Hoping the pouch reset works. I am only 18 months out so it should... but if nothing else it will ease me back into eating the way I am supposed to eat. Feeling hungry today, but not terrible. Sipping on beef broth right now

Everyone is different and just let your surgeon and nutritionist keep monitoring you. If you stick to the program, you will lose weight, and your surgeon/nutritionist will make sure you stay healthy while doing it. I lost 100 pounds in about 6 months to get down below my goal weight. My start weight was 221... so 100 pounds was losing ALL of the excess weight. I was a lucky one. As for diet.. get your water and protein in first. Everything else only after you meet your goals. And make sure you are eating the right foods, in the right portions, and the right intervals... according to your nutrition instructions.

My husband is overweight and at 62 there is little chance he will try to change his diet/exercise habits. I have never known him to attempt to lose weight and we have been married for almost 25 years. How does it affect me? Mixed reviews on that one. In the beginning I was able to get him to get rid of a lot of junk that I didn't want around the house because it was bad for us. Especially processed foods. With COVID... his urge to stockpile food was reignited and now we have all of that crap food back. The long term stuff like canned food (bad) and frozen meats/veggies/fruits (good). In the beginning he would never buy junk that he knew I didn't want in the house. Now a year and a half later he brings it home often. This week I am doing a pouch reset and he is willing to buy what I need (he does the bulk of food shopping) and he is trying to be good about not buying junk that I like and shouldn't eat. But that won't last long. How does it affect me when he is buying junk? Depends on the type of junk. A lot of it I have no problem avoiding. But then there are times when I am stressed that he will go out of his way to buy foods that I like for during stressful periods. Before surgery that was pepsi. After surgery that is cake (through not the super sugary cakes). So... he enables when I let him. Notice "when I let him". There are times when my willpower is strong. There are other times when my willpower is weak. And when I have cravings, I do find I do best when I give in to them... but when I am giving into them too much I need to find alternate ways of fullfilling those cravings. For example... when I was crazing the cake I like I knew I had to give in to the sweet tooth but break the cycle... so I switched to a cranberry/raison oatmeal cookie. I knew it would meet my sweet need... but I wouldn't want it for long lol. Again... it is up to ME to figure out how to deal with it. And that is the real challenge. Figuring out how to resist the urges without losing control. So yes, when I am feeling more weak and vulnerable it affects me... but then I do my best to find my strength to carry on. And be more firm with telling him to avoid buying things that I am going to crave. I don't care if he buys things that HE craves... as long as they aren't things "I" crave. That is the compromise I have to make.

A bit late on this topic... but hubby and I have received both doses. I have also had the opportunity to hear from MANY co-workers about their vaccines. Some are fine with both. Some are fine with at least one. A few are symptomatic with both shots. Most who have symptoms they are mild for a day or two. And occasionally someone gets very sick for a few days. Most common symptoms are pain/stiff/swelling at the injection site/shoulder area. Some get fatigue, headache, and/or nausea. And some get vomiting. These are the most common symptoms... for most people. And for most people it only lasts a day or two.

As I am sure others have said... benefits usually far outweigh the risks! Stick to the plan and avoid the naysayers. My husband was terrified of me getting the surgery. He was convinced I was going to die. It wasn't until about 6 months later when I was much skinnier and healthier that he finally admitted that I made the right choice.

Well, I was very active on this forum and doing VERY well post-operatively until COVID hit and I got really busy trying to help my district reopen our schools safely... then all hell broke loose in my life! LMAO So... this is another long self-accountability post. Post Op: I got down to 124 long before my 1 year anniversary and stayed there for quite a while. I survived the initial COVID lockdown and while others were really struggling with diet and staying on track, I was doing mostly very well. Sure, I had my challenges, but I kept them in check. Overall the lockdown was actually great for me and my family. The bad: I had managed to get my husband to stop hoarding cans of food and other food stockpiles before I had surgery. But with the lockdown and the ongoing threat of having to quarantine for 2 or more weeks if anyone in the household got sick... we ended up with more "disaster/survival" food than ever before. I hate having this much crap in the house. The good.... during lockdown I was doing great cooking healthy meals and sticking to my diet. And walking. A LOT. I got to the point where I was walking 6 miles every day... minimum. I felt GREAT. I didn't get my normal summer vacation though. I worked the entire summer. Even when I took time to drive to visit family... it took 2 days to drive there, I spent 4 days there. Drove back in 2 days. And the entire time I was on zoom meetings and my bosses were calling me for this and for that. So, no recovery time from the school year. And then school resumed. Life was more chaotic than every before. Even when we had kids in full remote. But once students returned to campus? OMG... I have never been so exhausted in my life. See... I am the sole person responsible for keeping my staff/students COVID free and that means a LOT of COVID tracing. I had help..... but I was the expert and the brunt fell on my shoulders. I went from walking 6 miles a day and eating very healthy to being so exhausted that I went home from work and collapsed into my bed... from the moment I went home to the moment I had to get ready for work. And food? I started eating what I can and when I could. I am NOT a breakfast person so I would go to work... get so busy that I didn't have time to eat my healthy snacks throughout the day... and then it would be suddenly 1-3 pm and I am finally eating breakfast (I start my day at 6).... I would scramble to find something to eat and end up with something I shouldn't.... and then in the evening while collapsed in my bed I would graze while watching TV or playing on my computer. Too tired to do anything else. And yes... sometimes that included the horrible canned food that I was so sure I needed out of my house before surgery. That went on for a few months. Still... I survived that. Christmas break should have been "recovery" time... but my son brought a girlfriend home for Christmas. Which meant more stress when I needed a break the most. January came and we returned to work without kids for a couple weeks. Best decision ever. It gave us time to clear the COVID peak. Then we slowly retuned kids back to hybrid (which we had been doing since September). This time? Not so bad. Do we still have COVID cases? Of course. But I am not doing constant contact tracing as I had been for so many months prior. But by now the damage to my new post-op lifestyle diet and activity level has already been done. I am still struggling to get back into a walking/exercise routine. And more importantly I am struggling to eat what I am supposed to, in smaller portions and at correct times. The evening grazing is my biggest problem now. So where do I stand? I was 124 when this started... lowest weight ever (well, since early 20s lol). Then by January I realized my weight had creeped up to 131. Not so bad, right? I mean... it is normal to regain that 10 pounds from your lowest, right? *sigh*. But then yesterday I realized I was 138. Now to be fair... I was boated and today I am back to 134.5.... but I don't EVER want to be more than 135 again if I can help it. I figure yesterday's weight was the warning to get my diet back under control. NOW. What have I done well despite everything? Well... I don't drink my calories. Still doing really well with that. I do struggle with drinking straight water all the time... but I now enjoy vitamin water zero, Gatorade zero, and propel. I do this well. I try to always have a water bottle in my hand or nearby. Its funny because I know my stomach has stretched out a little, but I can still only drink up to 6 sips of water at a time. What's with that? LOL I mean... I can eat more food, but I can't drink more water??? Shouldn't it be the other way around??? LMAO And most of the time I do get my full 64 ounces in. I still get dehydrated easily though... so I really have to be careful to have that water bottle in hand when moving around. I won't even go to the office next to mine without it in hand if I can help it. Work food: Well... that was a huge problem for a while. But when I returned from winter break, I also changed office locations. Where I am now I was able to bring in a mini fridge. That is helping a ton. Before if I brought a lunch bag in and put it in the shared fridge I risked having my food supply thrown out. I have had people actually open my lunch box and throw up perfectly good unopened healthy snacks. So... it was pointless even trying to keep healthy stuff there. Now, I can now buy foods that I am allowed to eat and keep them handy. I also have a small tub with a lid for healthy snacks that do not need to be refrigerated. And it helps that things have calmed down enough that I am at my desk m ore throughout the day. This helps me because I am able to eat the right foods, in the right portions, and at the right intervals. I am also making more of an effort to use the stand portion of my sit stand desk. Before COVID I was standing all the time. After COVID I was too tired to stand and didn't do it much. I am starting to do better with that again. I also found a lunchtime walking buddy. We do get very busy so we don't always get to do it... but we are walking at lunch as much as we can. I now have a pair of sneakers under my desk to make sure I can get out when I can. Still struggling with the evening/weekend hikes. Dealing with my daughter is still making it hard to get back in my routine.... but I am getting there. The big challenge now? The evening and weekend eating! I am on Spring Break right now and I am DETERMINED to get that back on track. So... where am I starting? I have decided I need to do a pouch reset diet first. I know I have stretched my stomach a little more than I should have and I think if I can, I really need to let it shrink back down a little. The longer I wait, the harder it will be to accomplish. I went out of my weight to have the surgery, I should let it do it's thing. So, yesterday morning I finished off the small (normal bariatric portion size) piece of Italian Sausage that i had leftover from the night before... but after that I did clear liquids and I have been on clear liquids for about 24 hours. Since yesterday wasn't truly a full clear liquid day... I am going to repeat clear liquids again today. I have my supply of zero calorie drinks, broth, and sugar free jello on hand. Then I will slowly advanced through the "post op diet" stages. And with that... I know I need to resume measuring portion sizes and recording my meals. ALL of my meals. Honestly... I don't think my portion sizes are what is getting me... it is the frequency of which I was eating in the evenings (especially later at night). That... and I know I am eating more carbs than I should. THAT is what I really need to tackle again. BTW, while I was resorting to occasional canned food during the height of the stress... I cut it back out a while ago because I knew it was harming me. But I still hate seeing all the stuff I shouldn't eat in my house. I seriously worked SO HARD to get my husband to agree to stop hoarding "emergency food". And I really don't think I will be able to get him to stop again. Oh... and my biggest vice before surgery was Pepsi. I LOVE my regular Pepsi. I haven't drank ANY since about 6 weeks before surgery... and that is good. But my daughter still buys it and drinks it around me. Most of the time it isn't a big deal... but when I am stressed it takes all my willpower not to give in. And I swear I will never give in... but it is hard sometimes! I will say... I am VERY proud that I didn't give in between September and December when my stress level was through the roof... I did eat cake though lol... but that was a safer option because I don't crave cake like I did Pepsi. With sweats... I go through periods where I crave them but then can go weeks or months without eating any. Anyhow... don't need anyone to criticize me for doing a pouch reset diet... I have made up my mind and have decided this is how I want to start getting back on track. It will help me lose a couple quick pounds and then my goal is to maintain somewhere around 130. again, I am 134.5 today... so not really doing this for a crash diet. I just want to give my pouch a chance to shrink back just a little. And I know going forward from this... it is essential that I follow a bariatric diet for life. I just got derailed and need to get back on track. By the way... I actually saw my bariatric nurse practitioner two weeks ago... despite everything, she is thrilled with how I am doing. She was happy with where my weight was. She was happy with all my labs. My bilirubin was high... but it has been (I have a benign liver disease). My cholesterol was 101... 100 is the normal high... so I do need to keep an eye on this. I have been off my cholesterol meds for 6 months so I need to make sure to keep it in check. Other than that... everything else was VERY good. She was impressed that even my Vitamin D was really good (lots of people are deficient even without surgery). Anyhow... determined to complete a 10-14 day pouch reset diet then resume a normal bariatric lifestyle diet!

Tomorrow morning marks my one year anniversary! Seems like so long ago that I was anxiously awaiting my surgery. Nervously wondering if I was doing the right thing or was I taking drastic and unnecessary measures. And then post-op dealing with the pain every time I tried to re-position... the stabbing pain from the main incision with movement. The barely being able to take a sip of fluids, much less actually eating! What an adventure this year has been. Do I regret any part of this crazy year? Well... I totally regret this Coronavirus nightmare that has taken over my life, but I am so proud of myself for taking control of my body and my health. I lost over 100 pounds. I wear a size 4. I look healthy. I FEEL healthy. So, my first weight was 226.8 pounds at my first weigh in. I was about 205 on surgery day. I got down to 123 (point something). I am maintaining at about 125-128. My goal was 135 and a size 6-8... so I will take it! And today, just at the 365 day mark... I saw my cardiologist. My labs are PERFECT!!! Well, not my bilirubin (you may recall that is a long time issue for me), but everything else is perfect! Not only were my LDL cholesterol and triglycerides WAY DOWN... my HDL cholesterol was REALLY GOOD! So much so that I am OFFICIALLY off my metoprolol for tachycardia (stopped taking it several months ago due to low blood pressure) and I am OFFICIALLY off my Lipitor for cholesterol!!!!! I had asked 6 months ago if I can try to go without it... he insisted on 6 more months, repeat labs, and then he MIGHT consider it. Well, I didn't even have to bring it up. He was so happy he just told me to stop it. He wants me to get follow up labs at my PCP in 6 months, and see him again next year... but he predicts he will be releasing me from his care altogether. YAY! We also discussed my never ending mysteriously high bilirubin and the tests I did this year that left us with no answers. He has determined that I probably have Gilberts Disease which is a benign liver disease. He wants me to see a specialist to do the differential diagnosis.... but I predict that will be quick and I won't actually need any ongoing treatment. But... I do want to do it because I want to finally put a name to whatever causes my bilirubin to be elevated all the time (my whole adult life at least). I see the FNP at the surgeon office for my one year follow up tomorrow. I did those labs the same day, and they too were excellent (besides the bilirubin lol). I think they are having me see the nutritionist too... somehow she didn't show up for my last appointment which was supposed to be by phone call. Exercise.... I love walking and hiking, although work has been crazy so that has been a challenge. I try to do 3-6 mile walks in the early AM (at 4:30 before the AZ heat rises), but this past month has been a challenge. Getting better again though. Food: I eat pretty well, although I could do better. I have to be careful because lately I have been craving salt and sweets again. Depending on what it is, I tolerate most of it well. It's funny because I can always go a long time without them.... but when I want them I want them. It just dawned on me though that I haven't had protein bars in the house for several months. I found one that got hidden among other items and just ate it... and was reminded that this is exactly what I need to fulfill my sweet tooth without filling my stomach with crap. As soon as I came to that realization, I hopped online and ordered 6 bags of the Unjury Mighty Bite protein bars. They are the perfect size and fill me up quite well. Anyhow... that is my 1 year update! Stay healthy everyone!

Yeah... I figure that is the case... but it still hurts nonethless... even though I rationally know he doesnt mean to be hurtful.

I will have to take a "now" and dig up a "then". Will try to do that this weekend.

Oh my, I never in my dreams would have thought I would say that I have officially lost ONE HUNDRED POUNDS! But today, that is exactly what I have done! Starting weight 226.8. Today's weight 126.8, and I feel great! Solidly in a size 4. Love wearing tight fitting clothes and DRESSES! I haven't loved wearing dresses since I was in HS (despite the fact that I weighed under 135 until I was 23). Still need to lose some "calf" and still need to flatten my belly and tone my upper arms. But I love this weight. Wondering if I will be able to stay here, or will I put on the infamous 10 pounds. Only negative is my husband actually told me I look "sickly" a couple weeks ago. I never thought I went through that phase. Then this week he commented I look "skeletal". And I KNOW I don't. I have even asked a friend to be honest and tell me if I do look sickly or skeletal at all (since I am obviously not impartial). She says I look great, which made me feel better. When I let my husband know that his comments upset me, he does backpedal... but I cannot unhear those words. I really think he doesn't mean to be hurtful, but he does say things like that without thinking and it does hurt. Anyway... I officially stopped trying to lose weight a couple months ago. I hit my goal back in April and was happy there. It surprises me when I do drop pounds again. I guess I need to up my calories some more. I don't totally follow my diet anymore. I do eat limited sweets to satisfy cravings. But outside of that, I am not eating "bad". I haven't had anything to drink since July other than water, vitamin water zero, and occasional gatorade zero or decaf and unsweetened herbal teas. I don't count my calories (have always been bad at that), but I do eat small portions and not too frequently. Most of the time I avoid any carbs. I mix my protein source with veggies. I do best with my eating if the two are actually mixed together (for example, I cook ground beef with cabbage, onions, peppers, and tomatoes - my stomach loves things like that). I guess I just have to figure out what to add in, without developing bad habits again! When I DO add carbs, it is most often a little potato in whatever I cooked, or beans (which is also protein so that one is usually pretty good). I "LOVE" pizza... so I do sometimes eat that, although most of the time I get one with a cauliflower crust. If I eat a real pizza, it has a very thin crust.

I do. With clothes on I really like my body shape (minus the fact that my boobs always shrink when I lose weight lol - I am small chested). For me, I do still think my calves are way too big. And clothes off, I don't like my belly yet... but part of that is the fact that I had 3 c-sections. And also when I lost weight this time, I see more stretch marks and it's a bit too saggy/loose. Not sure if I will ever like those things about myself. I thought I was done losing weight/clothing sizes... but this week I have started dropping pounds again. I weighed 103 and wore size 3 when I graduated high school. After nursing school and before my first baby I weighed 135 and wore a size 5. I was 24. I have never been that small since (although I came close when I lost my last baby weight before my whole body rebelled against me). Today? I weighed in at 128.3 and wear a size 4! And I stopped trying to lose weight a couple months ago. Anyhow, like I said, I am happy with my clothed body, but still wish I could get my stomach and calves to a size/shape that makes me happy. I do think it is hard for most of us to be completely happy and not view some part of our body through a warped lense.

It is definitely different. With surgery, we all learn to change our relatiinship with food, to varying degrees. My life definitely revolves around food VERY differently. Eating can be a bit more of a chore in many ways. And I dont mean that in a bad way. Just that it takes more thought and effort to stay on track. But I DO enjoy food. Not all the time. Not in the dame ways as before. But when I find that something special to eat, it is still wonderful. And food in social situations is still important, while a little more challenging, especially in the early months. In maintenance, I can eat and enjoy most protein and veggie foods. Carbs can be tricky. I love salty snacks. I can eat some sweets with no problem. I just moderate what I need to moderate. And in social situations I look for the best options. I would say the hardest part for me is work meals where the menu is set. I do have to plan ahead. I ask what will be served, and I plan what I can eat ahead of time. I did skip one work holiday dinner because nothing on the menu would work for me... but most of the time I can figure it out. For pot lucks I bring something I know I can eat, in case there isnt anything else I can eat. Usually I do find a few goodies to enjoy.

Haha... thanks! I don't know... I am finally back in what I consider my real body. When I was obese, that was the nightmare for me. Couldn't for the longest time figure out WHY I suddenly gained so much weight, or how to regain control of my weight and health. We now think sleep apnea was my trigger. Took care of that, and bariatric surgery to reset my weight... and the great health is following.

I don't know how I missed this post a couple weeks ago (I take that back, Coronavirus has taken over my life due to my work lol), but thanks for the kind offer!! I have been thinking more and more that I want to do Spain next year since that was the plan.. and a part of the AT the following year for my 50th birthday. We shall see if I can ever make it happen!

That is a great feeling!

Is figuring out what I want to eat! And making the right amounts. When shopping at the grocery store, there is just so much that I see and shouldn't eat. Most of the time I am fine skipping things that I shouldn't have, but struggle to find things that inspire/excite me. Most of what I see in the grocery store is, EH! And I move on. Then there is the issue that I really don't like to cook, and I like cleaning up after I cook even less. So, I tend to want quick/easy and then when I DO cook, I try to make enough for multiple meals. And when I do that, I either end up making more than I can eat (or get sick of before it is gone) and waste... OR... it is something good enough that my husband or kids eat too much and leave me with not enough. The struggle is real! Oh... and lately I have had a bad sweet tooth! Now, most of the time, I could go weeks/months without sweets. That is NOT what made me gain weight. But recently I "NEED" sweets more than ever before! I am not too worried, these phases have happened in the past and they don't usually last very long... but this one seems to be lasting a little longer. I am allowing myself to eat limited sweets. What I really love is my grocery stores strawberry shortcake and ice cream sandwiches. I have to be careful though because I keep wanting more. Again, these phases usually don't last too long for me, but this one has been going on too long for my comfort already. A couple days ago I decided I am going to continue to allow myself something sweet, but I finally switched it to oatmeal cranberry and walnut cookies. I only eat one at a time, and no more than 2 in a day. That seems to be helping meet the sweet need while having at least a LITTLE nutrition in it. And I am finding I am full (or should I say satisfied) faster with them and I think the sweet phase if finally passing with them. Keep your fingers crossed! And I will add... the days I have fought the need for sweets... I ended up eating way more than I should of other stuff. So this seems to be working better for me. My weight has been very stable for many weeks now despite it... my low weight is 131.8 and I fluctuate between that and 135.5. I am happy with that.

I use apria healthcare and apria direct online. My doctor sent the prescription to apria and they prepared my machine and it's settings and mailed it to me. There was a video included on how to set it up (very easy). I personally have them mail me replacement masks/tubings/filters on a set schedule, and insurance covers most of the cost for me. If I need anything extra, I order from apria direct, amazon, or another cpap company. Depends on cost! If you find yourself struggling with a mask, work with your respiratory therapist (I only see mine briefly at sleep doctor appointments) to find one that works better for you. I have a nasal mask. Covers the nose completely, but not your mouth. I find it less restricted, although initially you have to get used to not breathing through your mouth at all with it on. Talking is possible, but I prefer to take it off to talk. They also have nasal pads style mask that goes UNDER your nose. I liked it, but I chose to also buy a travel cpap and those aren't compatible with that machine. I also elected to purchase (not covered by insurance) the "SoClean" cpap cleaner machine. I find it very easy and convenient. It is important to keep your mask and tubing clean. You can use soap and water and/or cpap cleaning wipes. Sometimes you can even use a dishwasher... but I prefer to use the soclean most often. Last thing I will add, I am on a very low pressure setting despite my mild to severe (depends on sleep stage) sleep apnea. It really isn't that bad. After a few weeks I had to lift my mask to make sure it is running. But again, if you struggle, talk to your sleep doctor or respiratory therapist! And yes, some people's sleep apnea does go away when they lose weight. They had hoped mine would, but I still have it and I have lost ALL of my excess weight. I don't see that doc again though until December, so maybe it will still happen. Anyhow... some tips just in case they may be helpful to you. Good luck!

By the way, the way insurance works usually for CPAP... you initially "rent" it and then after so much time (6 months or a year) you own it. Insurance paid for most of mine, I did have an $11/month co-pay. So if your sleep apnea DOES go away quickly after surgery, you may not have "bought" the machine yet.

If you have sleep apnea, it could contribute to your non-successful weight loss attempts. If you use a CPAP as prescribed, you will likely be more likely to reach your goals. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea just over a year ago, although mine is more towards the severe end. The new machines are more compact and much quieter. There are many different style's of masks. I though I would never adjust to a CPAP, but it really didn't take very long. I did force myself to be compliant in the first couple months. Now, just over a year later, I have had my surgery, I have lost ALL my excess weight. And I sleep MUCH better. And more than that? My health problems have almost completely resolved. Including my heart that had been enlarging. If the doc wants you to use a CPAP, do yourself a favor and give it an honest try. Your body will thank you.

Normal! My stomach churned and rumbled for a few months.

We all had some of these feelings, to varying extents. Definitely talk to your therapist and work through your emotions. But I have to say, surgery was the best decision I ever made. And it allowed me to finally have success and regain my healthy body and healtjier lifestyle. It is NOT taking the wasy way out. It is taking charge and steering your future towards a better life.

Many take 6-7 months start to finish. I was fast tracked. First surgeon consult May 20 - surgery Sept 4. Of corse, I do think it took 1-2 months from my PCP to get to the surgeon.