GreenThumb

Oh. My. Goodness! I am sighing a sigh of relief. I thought that I may have been the only person on the site who is going in for surgery in February! Perhaps I just received my date further in advance than most! Thank you for responding - I think the nerves are really playing with my head too! Ha!
I will be crossing my fingers for you!
I am planning just a week, but I work from home at an office job...so hoping that will be enough time. What about you? Have you bought any items in preparation for after the surgery?

Yes, scheduled for Feb 4th! Just started the 2 week liquid diet today.

I was originally scheduled for January but was postponed, just got my new date of Feb 8th! I'm so excited and scared at the same time! My pre-op diet starts on Monday!

I bought myself a snowboard. I haven't gone in about 10 years because my weight got too high. I can't wait to go again.

+ 1
I'd add:
vacation someplace hot where you can wear a bikini with your smaller bod (pending pandemic restrictions) new wedding ring/engagement ring (to fit your smaller fingers)...and if you don't have one to replace, just get one anyway! Or any other piece of sparkly thing tattoo (i've already decided that I'm going to get one once the parlours open up! mid-life crisis, anyone??? lol) hair extensions (to add fullness to your weight-loss related hair thinning) fancy new underwear/lingerie that you have no intention of actually wearing for very long LOLOLOLzzzz

I also use things that I want such as to try a new makeup or day trips as inspiration. Home decor, such as new bedding, painting a room, or wall hanging that I want and would usually just buy/do I set a goal and work on it.

Shopping!!!!!
I've had to buy new underwear twice in the last month. Now that I'm in a normal size, I'm buying pretty undies, with lace etc. vs. "granny panties"!
Hardly a week goes by before I find myself driving into the Ross or T.J. Max plaza!! 🤣

Yes! This was my biggest reward! I worked hard losing my excess weight, and picked up a ton of OT shifts to pay for it. It’s so worth every ache & pain from working out, every extra minute on the job, and every time I’ve made the healthy choice as to what I put in my mouth. Yay for big rewards!

Bath and Body Works -- they have so many amazing scents. Candles, wallflowers, car scents, lotions, hand soaps, body washes...

Cute outfits
New hairstyle - makeover day
Spa Day
Plastic Surgery! LOL!!

What are some things you plan on rewarding yourself with as you hit your weight-loss goals? (Or health/fitness goals, etc.)

I can only come up with a few:

-new leggings
-new Fitbit band (old one getting too big!)
-new workout shoes

Hi, I’m also from MA. I have an appointment with my surgeon on the 26 to schedule the surgery date. I was told today that I may have to wait until March due to the Covid restrictions on elective surgeries here in MA. I’m little worried about the insurance (Tuft unify) because I’m just on the 40 BMI although I do have Diabetes. Good luck to everyone!

Been there, done that!
I'll be 12 weeks post op on Thursday. Last Saturday I had a delicious salad with Olive Garden dressing and a crab cake. Made the exact same size salad, same ingredients, same dressing for dinner Sunday, but with a small piece of steak. That was at 5 pm. I was very uncomfortable within 15 mins of eating. Started vomiting 5 hours after I finished dinner, and every piece of salad came up exactly like it went in. Nothing had digested in that 5 hour period. Finally finished with projectile vomiting at 2 am, and could finally fall asleep.
Moral of my gross story is - never trust you new digestive system. It's a finicky balance, with each day being a new adventure.

I had my first "learning experience" yesterday. I frequently make a big pan of roasted vegetables (mini potatoes, sweet peppers, onion, mushrooms) for a side dish. I had successfully eaten small amounts prior. However, yesterday's veggies were not as well-cooked. I thought I was taking small bites and chewing well. The joke was on me! I should have stopped at the first twinge of discomfort but I thought it would pass and continued to have more. All of the sudden, I felt excruciating pain between my shoulder blades and it felt like I couldn't get a full breath. Nothing I did made me feel better and I was really getting concerned. After a few minutes, I vomited. That relieved most of the pain. Within an hour, the pain was completely gone. Vomiting showed me (literally) that I had not chewed my food as well as I thought and definitely had eaten too fast. Lesson learned and I realize I had gotten too big for my britches 🤪

Feb 3rd too. I still don't know if its gonna happen because here in Ma covid is hitting hard.

IMG_0001.mp4I'm meeting with a sports registered dietician who understands bariatric patients next week about just this. I'm down about 140 pounds and I've taken my body fat from about 50% to 30% (which is pretty good for a 57 year old mother of two). However, what I'm learning from working with two personal trainers is that to really build muscle mass and replace fat, you need to add carbs (I know - it goes against everything we think) but as I understand the metabolics of it, if you do not have enough carbs in your diet your body cannibalizes muscle for energy rather than the fat. But I have been frustrated with finding the right balance of carbs to make this happen without going down the slippery slope because they are crack to me.
Timing of Protein and carbs around your workout is important as well. You should have some kind of protein within an hour after a workout (usually I go for one of those Muscle Milk kind of things at about 30 grams and 200 calories) and Fiber rich carbs an hour or so before and starchy carbs and hour or two after.
I say this from the standpoint of someone who is 5'3" and now 152. I am a nationally ranked foil fencer in my age group (started fencing after surgery) and I fence 6-7 hours a week and am in the gym doing a crossfit-type class with olympic lifting 3 hours a week, Pilates 1 hour a week and agility/speed/other strength at least one other hour a week.
I spoke with my bariatric nutrition team (all really great RDs) and no one there had experience with feeding a post-bariatric athlete. It took a lot of phone calls, but I found someone who is in my health plan so I can have her visits covered. You may want to speak with your team.
DO NOT EAT ALL OF WHAT YOU BURN! Some of what you burn yes - but not all.
Here's a video of me doing a clean and split jerk from about a week ago. Weight is low (55 pounds) but I'm still learning technique. Did I ever thing I'd be able to do this? Nope. ( Back Squat 215, Deadlift 195, Front Squat 165 - current body weight 152).
IMG_0001.mp4

When you lose a lot of your excess body weight, you'll have a lot of new found energy for hiking. Don't think of WLS as cheating. I think some people's bodies work against them and the WLS evens the playing field. Almost all my relatives are extremely overweight. There's a combination of bad genes and bad nutrition in my upbringing working against me. My advice is to forget all those bad habits and less nutritious food you used to eat. Establish a new plan. Avoid sugary drinks, fried food, and processed foods. Create new favorite foods. You'll find 6 weeks on a liquid diet will allow you to forget all your old cravings and really reset your likes. As you add in nutritious food, your brain will crave these new foods. It is really easier to prepare all your meals at home. Avoid fast food restaurants. Bring a sack lunch to work everyday so you control what you eat and stick to your plan.

FWIW, I'm Bi and coming out in the 90s was a b***h. I've never examined particularly how this has affected my weight/ body issues throughout my life, but then my ACE score is pretty high. I'd be happy to have a LGBTQIA-specific forum, similar to "the Gals' room" or The Guys' room," I think it could only help more people have a place to ask questions or rant on topics particular to us. Generally this page is more of a "everyone in the same boat of WLS" place, all are welcome though. I'm sorry that this has been a chilly reception for you, I haven't found it to be so, generally. Most everyone here is pretty nice.

Because for instance, there is statistical evidence that lesbians have higher rates of obesity than straight women and more issues with other addictive behaviors, such as smoking. This may indicate a different level of support is needed and I see a lot of posts about families where people with chosen family may not feel as included. I’m not asking to start trouble, I’m asking because I am a lesbian, and would want to reach out to others who may have had issues like these. This forum is about WLS support, right?

Also, while we’re on the subject, I write healthcare grants regularly on the subject of people dealing with comorbidities/co-occurring disorders and since you brought up race and ethnicity, there are also studies that show we (people of color) have higher rates of obesity, hypertension, diabetes and other issues. Seems like a weight loss forum like this one may be a good place for people to safely discuss that part of their journey.

Part of my own work in taking the step to WLS was understanding how my genetics and family make up play a part in my weight gain. Also understanding and coming to terms with my own sexuality was part of my weight gain.

My question is, why is this threatening/upsetting (the caps) to you? I’m curious about your reaction to what seems a pretty normal question.
I’ve recently been sleeved, and am just at my 2 week mark from surgery. I’m down 21 lbs. today.

Hi everyone! I am new here and wanted to see if anyone is having surgery on or near Feb 2?! I am having the gastric sleeve done. Since Covid is still causing hospitals to be overflowing they are doing my surgery as a day surgery. Has anyone had this done as a day surgery? I'm nervous and excited and still in shock that it's happening! I am a little concerned with it being a day surgery but I'm sure they know what they're doing.
Any tips or tricks would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Sent from my SM-N975U using BariatricPal mobile app