Lily66

My name is <...> and I’m a Shopaholic.
I need help. I cant stop buying stuff. This was totally an impulse purchase and I definitely don’t need yet another jacket but it was such a steal, I just couldn’t resist.
One of several buys from today: a butter soft Camel coloured leather jacket for $120 (marked down from $600!!!!!)
P.S. the temperature around here better not dip too much soon so I can at least wear it for a little while this season.
P.P.S. I loooooove the smell of new leather...i can sniff this jacket all day long.
P.P.P.S I’m not wearing pants and my undies are embarrassingly too big, hence the censor-cloud, lol

OH MY GOD Jake. You are amazing and an inspiration. How much are you actually lifting?
Ooooh leather. I have a bit of a leather fetish too so judgement from me Ms. sss so sniff away. And you all know my shopping addiction. I bought new shoes today - yes another pair. Lol.
Ha, my knickers are sliding down on me today too. Had to keep hitching them up. (Had to hide in a corner aisle when I was at the pharmacy otherwise they would have been round my ankles 😂.) Must be a stray pair that missed my last underwear drawer cull. What is it with knicker sizing. When I was a size 18 I wore size 16. Now I’m a size 6 I wear a size 10. I don’t get it. Or is it just my weirdly shaped ask no questions???

Adorable!!! Legs and Legs Forever! You Go Girl! Looks Fabulous on you!😃

Ok, ok, this will be the last of the clothes shopping finds for OOTD for a while, i promise! Enough is enough already as i’ve been clogging this thread a little too much lately (and spending too much time charging stuff on the credit card).
Anyhoo, picked up this super cute romper, despite the fact I won’t be even able to wear it until next summer AND i’m not even sure i’d be comfortable wearing it in public...it’s awfully short. May be will save it for when on vacation (it that ever happens...eff u Covid).

Once again, one size doesn’t fit all and that’s the great thing about a forum like this, as a smorgasbord with many perspectives and options sans calories. Generally speaking, with just a tad of introspection each of us know what we need to do, given the individual circumstance we’re in.
There have been times in life that I needed direct straight talk and other times when ‘I had the facts’ yet needed the positive Can Do!, You Go Girl!, You Got This!, support and motivation that community can provide. Both were and are valid needs. Both were and are available on this forum, both were and are what make it a great place! Take what we need and leave the rest.💖

Hi !
I am ten years out ! I had regained about 45 pounds of my 145 pound weight loss .... and decided it was time to lose it again. So just over a year ago, I started with cutting down on treats to one a day.... and then going from chips with lunch or eating out during work days to bringing a salad to work.... then back to either steamed eggs for Breakfast or oatmeal. And concentrating on eating Protein first and foremost. And cutting out potatoes and sandwiches, and Pasta and back to finding the freshest vegetables and fruits I could and making healthier meals and making sure there was leftover chicken for lunch the next day, and eating grilled fish and veggies ..... and in 13 months I lost 45 pounds. No, it doesn't come off like it did right after surgery, but I still have some restriction and I know what I need to do.... I won't ever be a skinny woman.But I am alot healthier and I am back to where I got after surgery.. I started at over 320 pounds and had surgery at 54 years old. I am now 64, and back to where I am comfortable. My new goal is to maintain the weight loss, and maybe lose another 5 pounds this next 12 months or so.... but I am very happy with myself. You can do it. One cookie not eaten at a time !!!

elevated liver levels are common the first year or two after surgery. It's evidently because rapid weight loss is really tough on livers. Mine finally normalized right around year 2. So yours may just be related to that...

Be careful with senna, it irritates the bladder. Although more so for me because I eventually found out I have interstitial cystitis. I tried Ayurvedic (Triphala but you can get a blend of herbs) they all say short term use. I’d rather not rely on anything but when you have a complicated medical history everything is complicated ... years ago I took zelnorm and it was good but got pulled from the market. My gastroenterologist gave me at least five medications to replace it and I tried but got very sick and I said no way. His answer well let me know if you find something that works ...
linzess is good but a bit inconsistent. When all else fails it’s worth trying since it’s not a laxative.
Honestly they don’t take it as seriously as you would think. I had a ct show severe narrowing of the colon. I have had bleeding. My gastroenterologist once said well unless I end up in hospital in an emergency situation then nothing they could do ... because My colonoscopies show diverticulitis. I’ve had for years usually you get them after age 60. Of course during colonoscopy they expand the colon with air they won’t see functional conditions. And they right off assume bleeding is hemorrhoids. Like I want to say that’s something natural like a cushion system to protect the bowels but it’s not natural to have bleeding.
sorry to sound angry. I am having some issue that my blood labs showed elevated liver levels I need them rechecked. And very pale stools. As well as bleeding, I’m just hesitant to see the gastroenterologist I sure as heck am not having colonoscopy again why you ask? Prior to my last one I had pelvic surgery and part of that surgery was damaged by the colonoscopy. And I had to have the surgery done again to fix it. The doctor was having to go in anyway due to endometriosis and he ended up finding out for sure ive interstitial cystitis. I’m just grateful he did fix it. But it meant more incisions and stitches.
stupid browser posted my message before I was ready and now I’m not sure exactly what I meant to say ...

Oh dear...I trust you’ve called Dr. re bleeding Constipation? My heart goes out to you on this whole issue...for many of us bowels are a challenge. Just when I think I’ve nailed what works- it doesn’t, so from my end I can’t really give good advice. Lately, what has worked for me is Swiss Kriss, which is senna and herbs. It is a laxative, however, and daily laxative is not where I want to be.

I see my PCP in a few weeks and am planning to give Linzess (not a laxative) another try. At 11 weeks out he suggested it and gave me samples to try. Deep down I felt I hadn’t given my body, fruits, veggies, fiber, more volume enough time, so after his samples were over decided against it-though it did seem to work. Now? Seven months out? I’ve tried it all and ready to give Linzess a “go” (pun intended😅).
Best of luck to you and keep us posted!💖

This looks SO FABULOUSLY CHIC and body lengthening on you!! And what a buy! I hope you’ll smile at the silly utility comment, chalk it up to the lack of exposure from that well intended jokester and instead envision yourself on the Paris catwalk before returning it!! Your boots, belt, accessories and attitude make the difference👌. Truly gorgeous!😍

That sounds about what I was able to eat at that time. Maybe more like 3/4 cup but I’d eat over about 30 minutes depending on what I was eating. But I was starting maintenance at about 6 months. I wasn’t a strict calorie counter but I’d do random checks & especially if I added something new to my diet. You may find random checks of the calories you’re eating & of the nutrients helpful.
Remember, stick to your plan. Listen to your body. Eat slowly so the message you’ve had enough reaches your brain. (Not that you’re full but that you don’t need to eat any more.) I still ask myself if I really need that next spoonful. Not that I just want it or are eating out of habit.
If you’re still worried speak with your dietician.
Good luck on your journey.

BEAUTIFUL EYES!!🌟

I am 11 weeks postop today, and have tried everything under the sun for nearly constant constipation😧. Appt. with PCP this morning, gave me samples of Linzess to try—he is certain it will help. Has anyone else tried Linzess? I get in more than 64oz Fluid daily, 60-70grams Protein, soft vegetables and fruits, avg 800-900 cal daily. Walk 2-3 miles at least 5 mornings weekly, avoid cheese, ya di ya da.

Last Sunday I was so blocked, drank an entire bottle of magnesium citrate and still nothing. It took a full dose of milk of mag that night to get anything going. Not healthy to continue on that way....thus trying Linzess. If anyone has postop experience with it, would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

Technically, yes, Linzess “worked”, however my migraine’s were also triggered by it. Not everyone would have that by any means, but because I’ve had to be on the triptan’s for over 20 years, and now Aimovig, migraine’s are an issue here.
In discussing it with PC Dr. we decided since I was entering the stage of adding more vegetables and moderate fruits back into my diet, let’s hope that will help, in addition to Milk of Mag daily until I’m regular (enough). So far so good.
Must admit, it was nice to have that morning BM so effortlessly on the Linzess, but as we know, these meds so often have side effects.

I am 11 weeks postop today, and have tried everything under the sun for nearly constant constipation😧. Appt. with PCP this morning, gave me samples of Linzess to try—he is certain it will help. Has anyone else tried Linzess? I get in more than 64oz Fluid daily, 60-70grams Protein, soft vegetables and fruits, avg 800-900 cal daily. Walk 2-3 miles at least 5 mornings weekly, avoid cheese, ya di ya da.

Last Sunday I was so blocked, drank an entire bottle of magnesium citrate and still nothing. It took a full dose of milk of mag that night to get anything going. Not healthy to continue on that way....thus trying Linzess. If anyone has postop experience with it, would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

I’ll be 2 years post-op at the end of this month. 😎 (time flies!)
I got to goal at 7 months, but i lost a few more lbs over the next few months after that trying to figure out the whole maintenance thing. But I’ve basically been my current weight (give or take 5 lbs) for well over a year.
As for the whole calorie counting/tracking, its not for everyone, but I’m anal like that so keeping records and data and taking measurements and making graphs and all that sort of stuff speaks to me...I probably even enjoy it a little (ok, maybe alot!). I’ve been called obsessive/fanatical/crazy, but whatevs...its actually fun for me, AND I look great in jeans, lol

Hey, bite your tongue! You are TOTALLY pulling it off...your legs look like they go on and on and on (which, as an aside, is why I love jumpsuits/long fitted dresses/monochromatic top and bottom...as it makes us shorties look taller than we really are, lol)
Are those thumb holes on the sleeves?? I love those things!
P.S. as for the jumpsuits, i'm looking for something a little snugger than the beige one but not as snug as that denim one, lol. Plan on heading back to the store sometime soon to get a smaller size of the baggage claim suit and see if makes me feel less like needing to wear a florescent vest while holding those flashlight thingees. 😂

Trip to therapist today.
P.S. Had an NSV this week at doctor's. The nurse used the regular blood pressure cuff on me without giving it a second thought AND it worked!!😊

Thank you, Lily. Your prayers are certainly much appreciated❣He is getting better, slowly but surely. Hopefully, I can go back to work soon, before I lose whatever is left of my mind.😂🤪

Aw i understand. I went through all the emotions but possibly had diff concerns. It was an emotional rollercoaster preop. I thought I had insurance coverage for bariatric but was afraid the surgeon wouldn't agree that I needed it so I was scared and felt hopeless with my "new life" sitting in the hands of a stranger while he determined whether I could get this desperately needed new beginning. He quickly agreed and I was on top of the world until I called insurance 10mins later to see what kind of diet plan they required and was informed that bariatric was excluded from my plan. It crushed me because I didn't think my husband would agree to take out a loan to pay for it, as he's the sole provider for a family of 5 while I'm in college still. I pled my case, bawling my eyes out to my husband explaining how badly I wanted this, how I didn't want my children to have to shave my body hair and bathe me like I had to do for my mother because of her weight when I was a child, and I explained how ashamed I was for following in her footsteps and secretly judging her so critically when I was her caregiver. I felt the only way I could escape that shame and lose this excess weight would be to get a second chance through weightloss surgery because I had allowed it to go too far. Well he was very understanding and agreed we could take out the loan. I did all my preop classes, appts, and diet while still being on an emotional rollercoaster.. receiving good news about the process one day and a set back the next day... worrying the entire time whether I was choosing the correct surgery and obsessing over it literally all day everyday bc I didnt want to fail at my "one shot to get this right", having anxiety at every doc appt, not knowing how to finally make myself quit smoking after 16 years and being terrified they wouldnt give me the surgery if they found out I hadn't stopped, being afraid theyd fail me for the psych eval bc of all this anxiety, suffering through the liquid diet, and finally made it to the weekend of surgery! So excited again and just ready to get it over with until I got a call the day before surgery that I had tested positive for covid and the surgery would need to be rescheduled. I was asymptomatic and positive but everyone else in my house tested negative. I was so frustrated. I threw a fit inside myself and ate everything in sight while on quarantine, gaining all the weight back that i had lost preop. What i didnt know when i was being a brat is that they ended up scheduling me for just a month later, which still felt like an eternity to wait but i now i see wasnt very long at all...this reply is getting long bc im very long winded lol so ill quickly add the rest. I had surgery, way less pain than I expected, the hospital staff was amazing during covid, one night stay, went home and felt 100% better (except fatigue) after 2 weeks. Now 2 months out from sleeve ive lost 45lbs (35 post op) but also have no body aches and am feeling like myself again. I say all this to say, my frustrations and concerns may differ from urs but I understand the preop process is very difficult for everyone in different ways and we all just want to rush to our new beginning so we can do it right this time. Once u have surgery, it'll seem all the worrying and dreading wasnt even necessary because ur just so focused and grateful for the surgery that whatever may come is totally worth it and everything turned out fine in the end! Its such a blessing to watch ur body change, grow stronger and feel better.. to see urself become unhidden behind all that was once there..one exciting day at a time. Anyways, give urself permission to be hopeful, positive and expectant bc everything about ur life is about to change for the better! Again, sorry I can't help but blab! [emoji4][emoji1787]

Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I’m so sorry you’ve been disappointed by some of the responses here. I lurked on a couple of other forums but found this one by far the best. Overall it has been very supportive & there are some truly lovely people here. Yep, there have been the odd posts that have shamed or bullied but the supportive ones far out number them. I admit I once posted a response that upset the author. It certainly wasn’t my intention to do so & I made the comment as something she might consider as an option. I was so upset I had caused her distress. None of us are experts here & we can only post about our experiences, our own research or what we’ve been told by our medical support team & we just want to help. The sharing makes us feel less alone whether we’re the poster or responder.
I hope you give this forum another chance or you’re able to find another group you feel comfortable with (so important).
It’s so awful we are experiencing this pandemic at the same time you’ve made the decision to have weight loss surgery. Making the decision to proceed, all the steps you have to go through, the surgery & the the journey after are stressful enough without adding covid fears. I hope you have the support of your family &/or friends while you’re going through this.
Good luck with your surgery & your weight loss journey.

Green Tea is right as far as I see on here. The first time I came on here & 1st thing I read, somebody was shaming people for gaining weight during Covid lockdown. Green tea- you sure did stick up for every pound people gained all over the world due to Covid. You are just the best lawyer ever ! the way you stood up to that poster. They couldn’t even keep up your questioning because they knew they were so wrong. I admire you! I’m so hiring you if I ever need a lawyer! I noticed they took that post down. I’ve only seen a few others shaming but it’s usually the same poster. I’m pretty new here but otherwise I find real support from real people who care very much in supporting others. Please Don’t give up. P.S. I am having trouble filling profile after pushing to do later. Should I reregister with a different user name so I can put my info?

Sending a big virtual hug your way, SAS11, and I’m glad you stayed and expressed your concern. As Alex posted yesterday, what we say online may not always come across as we intended, so we need to be cautious, tread lightly and re-read before posting.
I have found most on this board to be loving, giving, supportive and generous. Once in awhile someone will appear sharp tongued and I dismiss it, that perhaps they were in a bad mood that day or too rushed to refine their words. Unfortunately, we can all have days like that and again, unintended.
As for an outright nasty someone, as Alex stated so well, do not engage nor get snared in. I would suggest ignoring it once, maybe twice, if it appears to continue discuss it with the administrator, not here. You don’t deserve to take that on, and hopefully you will never encounter it.
Finally, DON’T GIVE AWAY YOUR POWER TO ANYONE to derail you. Not here, not anywhere. YOU OWN YOUR POWER, just smile and move on from anything not in support of your best interest, for it’s about them, not about you.💖

This looks SO FABULOUSLY CHIC and body lengthening on you!! And what a buy! I hope you’ll smile at the silly utility comment, chalk it up to the lack of exposure from that well intended jokester and instead envision yourself on the Paris catwalk before returning it!! Your boots, belt, accessories and attitude make the difference👌. Truly gorgeous!😍