thesuse2000

Thank you Susan for taking over! SW: 211 GW: 191

Thank you Linda! I'm glad you got out of that relationship! I am mostly healed, but there will always be scars. But they are part of who I am today, and I like me, so that works

Love it! Yeah I got willy wonka too (does this mean I'm old?!) It really is a life-changing opportunity we've gotten. I'm so grateful. Although I wish I'd gotten some of that don't give a crap med! I was totally weepy as they wheeled me into the OR. But haven't shed a tear since! You'll do great. Congrats to you all and wishing you quick/smooth recoveries.

My mother's husband would refer to my sister and I as "the hippos" - ugh... just scratching the surface of the emotional abuse from him.

That's annoying that you have to sit there all day, rather than just relaxing at home or elsewhere... My surgery was at about 5pm and I thought that was late! Anyway - you will get through this day. Wishing you the best!

I haven't had a Protein drink since I was on liquids/purees. I just don't like drinking them - I prefer to eat real food, and my understanding is that that's the best way to go (so many chemicals in most of them). I just focus on protein on every meal - mostly chicken and fish, so I don't have a problem hitting my protein goals without the drinks. Many people have trouble getting in enough protein without them though... I'd say don't stock up more than you'll need for the first month or so, and then you can determine if you still need them once on solids.

I was away and missed the last couple weigh-ins, but final weight is 214. Missed my goal by 3.... alas... thanks for managing this gomekast!

Happens to me too. The good news, for me anyway, is that once my period starts my hunger goes lower than usual. So I do eat a little more before, but a little less during, so it evens out.

Hi there - I participated in a 9 week mindful eating group just prior to my band to sleeve surgery. Mindful eating is just like it sounds, learning to be truly mindful of our experience while eating. This means slowing down (a lot), eliminating distractions like TV and paying close attention to each bite we eat - really thinking about the tastes and sensations, appreciating where that food came from and how it got to us, and observing how our hunger, satiety, and fullness changes with each bite. Honestly it's not something I actively practice for the most part, but working on it for a few months really connected me with that feeling of satisfaction/satiety more than ever. I would recommend that you try a version of mindful eating. At least the part where you ask yourself after each bite how your hunger, satiety and fullness has changed. Satiety and fullness are not always on the same track. For me, usually I first notice that I'm no longer hungry - usually after just three bites. Then either satiety or fullness comes next. Usually I feel satisfied before full, but occasionally not. But if not, that means what I'm eating isn't really what my body wants. Sometimes I'll just change my mind and eat something else if what I'm eating doesn't seem to satisfying me. Hope this helps some. It's really about slowing down and paying close attention to the whole experience of eating. I find it helps me enjoy food more and feel much more appreciation of all the foods available to me.

So glad to hear that things are slowly improving!

Thinking good thoughts for you!

Hi there - I'm an anxious sort myself and have many anxieties about the sleeve. I can tell you that it does get better the further I get from surgery though. I felt a huge relief after the stress of anticipating surgery, but the fear of failure has not gone away. But as I continue to lose it slowly gets better. I'm actually in a stall right now, and it's driving me a bit batty, but I'm hanging in. Take care and keep posting about your particular anxieties. It should help

Good for you! That has been hard for me too, but I've also learned to throw things away. I like to think of it as - I'm not a garbage disposal. If I eat more than I need to and have that extra food get processed through my body - it's no less wasteful than if I threw it away. It just went through me first.

holy moly! You look so different! Would love to know what your numbers are if you're willing to share. Congrats!

Wow! That's amazing that you've lost that much so fast. Stalls are normal - your body just has to catch up at some points along the way. What do you mean about Protein shakes though? I would think you could be eating real food now. I haven't had a shake since I was on liquids. Was so happy to be past that stage. Get my protein from eggs, chicken, fish, cottage cheese, etc.

I kind of agree with Jane. Also - from the data I've seen, there isn't that much evidence of better heath for those in the "normal" BMI set vs those in the overweight set. My goal is to get to a healthy weight that I can maintain longterm. I'm shooting for a normal BMI, but if that proves to be too hard - if I don't feel well and satisfied and confident about maintaining - at a normal BMI, or in my attempts to get there, then I will (strive to) not feel like a failure landing in the overweight zone. That will still be a huge success for me, since I haven't ever been able to maintain my weight in that zone as an adult. And the data I've seen indicates that I'll still have a greatly reduced risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, etc. To Jane's point, I think it's actually really great for people to alllow themselves to feel successful without achieving a normal BMI. And most doctors don't see success as normal BMI either - my understanding is that most see success as at least 50% loss of excess weight, ideally getting under a 30 BMI, or closer to your lowest adult weight. With all that said - I'm sure that self-perceptions do play a role and can hamper success. For some it may be scary to become skinny and perceived in a different way. And that may be something to work on, or it may be a valid issue of comfort that influences how far someone wants to take it. I just think everyone should strive for what will work best for them - we all want different things.

I love the death by vat-of-sugar fantasy! I think I've been there too. My job is a ridiculous mine field. For the summer we have a freezer case in the kitchen filled with ice cream bars for the taking. good humor, snickers, twix ice cream bars, ben and jerries cups, and more - it's just crazy. I had a bunch last summer but this summer I haven't had a single one. I can't help but look every time I go in though, just to see the day's assortment. But again, it's not as hard now as it used to be.

Yep - sugar has been a huge part of my weight/food problem, and I hoped that I'd be one of those who got sick from sugar, but initial evidence suggests that that is not the case. I've barely had any sugar though since surgery - just a few small tastes. What has made me happy though is that I've been able to have a tiny taste without feeling an overwhelming urge to eat more. And I don't physically crave sugar like I used to at all. It's just a head thing and while will power was not something that helped me pre-surgery, it does work now. I feel more like a normal person now - everyone has moments of wanting a sweet, and those who manage their weight more often choose not to. That's how I feel now - like I'm choosing not to eat sweets - but that choice is actually doable now, whereas before surgery the need was too overwhelming and I couldn't so easily choose to make the right decision. Hope you can find some otherways to calm your nerves so you can avoid getting back into a sugar habit.

They'll know when they go in and see your liver. As long as you follow instructions you should be fine. Wishing you the best with your surgery and recovery!

Too funny - I've just been thinking about this issue this week. I'm about 2 months out and still obsessed! I was trying to stick to a rule of not logging onto this site at work, but it's been slow this week and I've been checking all the time. Just yesterday I was asking myself what I'm (really) looking for, and couldn't really answer that. Especially since I failed with the lap band I just have such anxiety about what this surgery will mean for me longterm. I've also been stalled for a week and a half (time of month, but still) so my anxiety is heightened. I think coming on here and seeing others' successes and frustrations just makes me feel more hopeful that I'll get past the bumps and find success too. This is a life-changing surgery. But in most of my life everything is kind of normal, or at least I act as though it is. It's nice to immerse myself here where everyone is talking about the same topic. When I was pre-op I yearned to just stay home and read this site all day long! It's gotten easier since then for me to focus at work, but still not back to normal. But we deserve to focus on ourselves for a bit!

Wow, sounds like quite a day! Glad you're getting the mammo on Friday and will hopefully have peace of mind soon.

I looked into life insurance before surgery, because my husband is ill/disabled and dependent on me. I spoke to a couple insurance companies and basically learned that no one will insure people before surgery. And you can't lie (in case that would cross your mind) because if (g-d forbid) you died in surgery there would be clear evidence that you had in fact planned the surgery at the time you signed up for the insurance. My understanding about the ones that don't require much info is that there are clauses, so they don't actually pay out in a situation like a planned surgery or a known illness. I'm sure I didn't look at all options, but just want to make sure you don't sign up and pay for something that wouldn't actually pay out should the worst case scenario happen. The odds are very very good that you will survive though! I wish you the best in your journey. Oh - you mentioned being concerned about getting insurance after surgery. I was advised to apply 6 months after surgery. And at that point my weight should be lower and that will mean better coverage.

It's scary stuff. But you can do it!

I was band-to-sleeve too. And I was pretty terrified as well. Our circumstances are different, but I can relate. Only you can decide what's best for you, but I'm SO very glad I went through with this. Yes - the risks of sleeve surgery are higher than the band, but overall the longterm risks of carrying extra weight outweigh them. Also - you're already halfway there since your band was already removed, so your surgery will be a little easier than mine was - band removed and sleeve done in one surgery. Your stomach will have already had time to heal from the first surgery.

Well now that you mention it, I've just noticed this past week men looking/smiling at me on the street. That is so not my priority (especially since I'm married) but it sure does put a little kick in my step!