lizonaplane

I wonder if, after your plastic surgery, if you don't feel better about yourself, you might consider therapy. I see a lot of people on here who won't wear bathing suits when large and won't wear something else when small. Even at my highest weight of 293lbs, I wore swimsuits, shorts, t-shirts etc. It's not that I didn't know I was and am still morbidly obese, but I wanted to wear the clothing that made me happy and comfortable, and I wasn't going to avoid swimming or travelling or hiking or getting my picture taken or anything else just because I was fat.

I have a series 1 or version 1 Apple watch that my friend gave me used. I'm sure you could get a used Apple watch. I didn't think I wanted one and wouldn't have bought one except that my friend literally gave me her old one. It's so easy to use (Apple is good at that) and although I don't believe the calories from exercise are accurate, I don't believe any calorie counters are accurate because I've read a lot about how we really don't burn what we think we do from exercise, more like 10% of what calorie counters show. So, I don't eat the calories I "burn", but I like trying to close my rings and I have it set up that the face rotates pictures I've taken. And I love being able to see texts on it because sometimes I don't hear my phone, but I can feel the watch vibrate. You could also look at FitBits; they have a variety of price points.

That's great news! The delay will pay off, I'm sure, because the hard work you're putting in now will help you in the long run.

They are both PPIs, so you would not take both. They are not the exact same drug, but they both do the same thing. It would help with stomach acid which can cause you to feel "hungry".

I agree. Fever and chills could be a sign of infection. Call your surgery center.

When I used to do Weight Watchers I used to dream that I wasn't counting the points of what I was eating... Now that I'm counting calories, I have dreams that I am not counting the calories. I haven't had surgery yet, but I suspect I'll have similar dreams.

I did Weight Watchers years ago too, that didn't seem to matter, just that I had done it.

So, I made this tonight, but the only "flavored" protein powder I have is SlimFast High Protein vanilla, and I think it wasn't the right thing to use because it turned out really rubbery; not at all like your picture of a fluffy cake. I added a bit of ice cream and it was okay, but I think I prefer just eating a square of dark chocolate. Maybe if I buy some different protein powder I'll try it again.

What about adding in some "whole grains" like brown/wild rice, quinoa, sweet potatoes, etc? Or fruits and vegetables, once you've eaten enough protein. I haven't had surgery yet, so I'm eating about 1400 calories a day. I usually have a protein shake or steel cut oats with protein powder for break fast, and for lunch I might have tuna fish with light miracle whip and whole grain rice cakes with a red bell pepper or dinner leftovers. For dinner I might have meatballs in red curry, or turkey chili with beans topped with shredded cheese and fat free greek yogurt, or chicken curry, or deli turkey and cheese in a low-carb wrap sauteed in non-stick spray. If I really want dessert I'll have a ten gram square of chocolate or a half cup of light ice cream. For a snack I might have a cheese stick or a banana or pistachios. I also roast a lot of vegetables to eat with my meals and as snacks.

I'm so so on the protein pancakes. I like them for the first few bites then I get sick of them. I was actually wondering about adding chocolate to them, so this is like in between. I'll probably try it next time I'm craving chocolate.

I wanted bypass because I have GERD, but the surgeon is worried I won't be able to absorb meds I have to take after surgery for other conditions I have that surgery won't solve, so he and my doctor both recommend sleeve. The surgeon is also not convinced I have GERD, but I'm not sure why. I'm just hoping the GERD is no worse after surgery. (I'm on omeprazole now since having gastritis last year and I don't have any symptoms. I don't care if I have to stay on it).

I haven't done weight watchers in a long time, but have you considered a habit tracker? You can do these on paper or as an app. It didn't work for me but I am in a bariatric support group on Facebook and many people there swear by them as a way to stick to habits. You could give it a shot. You might also try "rewards" for getting your water or exercise in for two weeks in a row, like a manicure or a piece of jewelry, or a movie night (without snacks!).

I missed this - I was wondering if I could used mashed banana because I have tons of those, and I even have some applesauce. Great!

I will have to buy more pumpkin puree to make this! I use pumpkin puree in curries a lot but I don't have any in the house right now.

Can you go back to your PCP who switched offices even if it's a bit of a drive? Or even ask if the PCP will write you one based on your history as their patient? Or find a new PCP? My PCP is the one who recommended WLS to me.

I would call your surgery center.

In the past I've taken trips when I've gotten to milestone weight losses. Of course, I take trips for any reason or no reason at all. I'm so-so on spa stuff and no interest in tattoos, but I will definitely need new clothes when I've lost more weight, since I've gotten rid of all my smaller clothes from my last weight loss. I don't know yet whether I'll need/want plastic surgery. Part of me worries that I either won't get to goal weight or will just gain the weight back if I do get to goal weight.

The surgery itself takes only about 20 minutes for VSG, from what I heard from an interview with a bariatric surgeon.

Last week I went on vacation with my parents and usually when I go on vacation I gain 5-10 lbs. We were eating out every meal and my mom likes to make a big deal out of food and finding special restaurants. I was really worried, but I shared meals with my mom, tracked my food as best as I could, and we exercised a LOT (hiking, walking, and swimming most days). I gained 0.6 lbs, and that includes a pizza party the day after we got home with my cousin, where I only ate one piece of pizza and instead filled up on veggies and salad (I did eat dessert; I'm not perfect!). I'm pre-op, so anything I can train myself into now, rather than having food funerals, makes me happy!

I bought a similar sized bar of chocolate a few weeks ago and I don't even feel like eating it every day. I haven't had surgery yet, but I find that when I don't eat sweets, I don't crave them as much. However, when I go out to eat and the food is saltier, I do crave dessert more ?

That's so amazing! Conga-Rats! You should do something to celebrate!

I have been to YMCAs and other gyms like Planet Fitness. I agree that the quality of the Y depends on the local Y; the ones I've been to are fine, and they offer more different things to do, but they are also much more expensive than places like planet fitness. When I went to a gym that was like Planet Fitness, I got a training session for an additional fee one time just to learn how to use the machines (I had done this decades earlier at the Y, but it had been a long time and I wanted a refresher). You could also check out Orange Theory Fitness which has HIIT classes at scheduled times. I thought the workouts were great, but it was too loud for me (I'm very sensitive to sound). Always check out cancellation policies at any gym you join!!

I have heard that the restriction doesn't kick in right away, but call your surgery center and ask if it's normal, and double check what you should be eating at this stage. Make sure it's not "head hunger" too!

My doctor also said I could expect to lose only about 70lbs with surgery. Since I started off at 280, that would put me at 210!! I've already lost 27 and my surgery won't be for a few months yet due to insurance hoops. I'm still working on losing weight because 1) I want to practice the healthy habits I will need after surgery, 2) any weight I lose now is weight I don't have to lose after surgery, and 3) surgery is easier on your body (and easier for the surgeon) when you weigh less. I'm hoping to lose more than the "average". I just recently had a huge success: I went on vacation with my parents and we ate out 3 meals a day and I didn't gain any weight. I shared meals with my mom at many meals and we exercised A LOT - hiking, walking, and swimming most days. Usually when I go on vacation I would gain 5-10 pounds in a week! It was really hard but totally worth it. And of course, the day after I got home, my cousin had a pizza party, but even though I was exhausted, I had only one piece of pizza and filled up on salad and veggies (I did have a bit of dessert; I'm not perfect!). If I was throwing "food funerals," like some people, I could be gaining weight which would put me farther from goal...

I won't have a liquid diet, just a low fat, low carb diet, but even so, it will shrink the liver. I would agree with everyone who says to follow the advice of your surgery center. The liver is pretty good at healing itself unless there is cirrhosis (scaring) and I don't think a glass of wine every night plus a bad diet would do that unless you've been having a really bad diet for like 30-50 years and then I think they might want to get an MRI of your liver, if it was a possibility. Given that your BMI is only 35, it doesn't sound likely. My BMI was 50 when I started and they didn't think I needed imaging (but I'm only 41).