TheMoxieMama

Welcome, Chris! Thanks for sharing your story. Not as much attention is given to the topic of men trapped in abusive relationships, but the problem is all too real. I'm glad you were able to rescue yourself from that situation and start over. As a woman who rescued myself and my son from domestic abuse, I know all too well the costs of starting over. But, the benefits far outweigh the struggles. As for addressing weight and health, like you, the death of a parent was a LOUD wakeup call for me. My mother died November 11, 2019; I had my first WLS appointment on December 5, 2019. COVID-19 set back my surgery to October 6, 2020, but I lost 36 pounds "on my own" before I was set up with the amazing tool of the gastric sleeve. I was ready to change and at 6 months out I remain committed to continually changing to move forward, especially through the plateaus and "stalls". Congrats on your great progress! Keep on keepin on!

@DoodlesMom I'm happy I led you back to Dr. V! He really is a great help with mindset issues. @Sandra Nuelken Fantastic! I've started walking with a neighbor friend in the evenings; I walk alone in the mornings. Every little bit helps.

Congrats!

Creekimp13---Yes--I've been mindful of avoiding cross addictions. I've only bought lipstick and some new workout wear. And I am not dating for the duration. Lol Thank you for what you shared. Blackcatsandbaddecisions-- I appreciate your suggestions. I think I may start doing AM and PM meditation walks. Not just for fitness but to chill out. I've tried to enlist others to do it with me. No luck. Will just do it myself. And, I think I will return to art-journaling. Thank you both!

Jaelzeon--Thank you for your thoughtful sharing. You reminded me we can always take a moment, take a breath and make nurturing, self-supportive choices. DoodlesMom--Thank you for your suggestions. I will look deeper for the free cponseling/groups. WanderingHeart--Thank you for the Rachel Goodman tip! I signed up for some of her free content & her $9 course. It looks like great stuff so far. NovaLuna--Thank you for responding and giving suggestions. I appreciate everyone who took the time to respond.

I realized why I've been so emotional (cranky/sad) lately. While I have not reverted back to disordered eating, I've been dealing with the loss of food as a way to calm myself, numb out, or otherwise cover up uncomfortable emotions. I read helpful blogs, follow Dr. Duc Vuong, and while I want to see a therapist, I just can't afford the extra co-pays right now. (I am saving $ for this,) Have any of you experienced this? How do you handle it?

Where is the "Mad as Hell" emoji? I have no patience for so-called friends who say such rude/mean-spirited/ignorant/clueless things. I'm so sorry you experienced this.

I felt super tired during weeks 1 & 2. My energy slowly returned, a little bit more each week after. I'm a little over 5 months post-op and I have so much more energy. Especially when I get enough sleep at night. Hang in there! It will get better. WLS is MAJOR; it takes time to bounce back.

Congrats! I'm looking forward to experiencing the Shopping NSV. I'm still working my way through my old clothes, which are admittedly now huge. LOL I don't have one pair of jeans left to wear; they are all beyond ridiculously baggy. I am holding out for a while longer.

I understand. My right side hurt more than anything, and the stitches did itch as they healed. But---this isa life-changing surgery. I am still happy I did it. I hope you feel better soon. Talk to your doctor about the pain. My doctor told me to use ice-packs on/off for up to 10 minutes each time. It helped.

Let me know if you like the clear protein? I've never tried it.

p.s. I tried cauliflower crust pizza at about 3.5 months. I like some better than others. As for regular crust pizza, I tried a slice at around 4 months. I've found that I can do the thinner NY style crust, but the thicker crust was a no-go. I felt ill, and like it was "stuck" no matter how much I chewed my food.

Ricotta bake is the bomb! I add very lean ground beef. I also make "lasagna" with slices of zuchinni and all the same stuff I put in the ricotta bake. Delicious!

Wow Congrats, everybody! Looking good! I need to take more before/afters.

I can eat a small piece of fresh fruit in the morning, very slowly, and still have my morning protein shake. I have trouble doing fruit with lunch or dinner. Sometimes I can do a very small clementine as a snack.