mcipanda

I love the light hearted idea of the thread, and think it encapsulates some of the interesting experiences we share going through this process….
my good problems-
Ive been able to dress myself with all the clothes i grew out of on the way up, with a few budget items added in— until about now. If I lose this final 10-15 lbs I will officially have nothing on reserve. On one hand I love this problem- I get to SHOP! But on the other, I HAVE to shop. For everything- underwear, pajamas, and even to outerwear. It is going to be expensive! But also, it’s scary because Ive never been this size, and what If I can’t maintain it? Yikes, it does a number on your brain. Am I really this size? Will I be able to keep it? Lots of catching up to do on what i think I look like and what I do look like.

Thankyou all so much! Still patiently waiting for aunt flo to show, (1 day late currently) also my husband and I were already super fertile, it's like he looked at me 3 times and we got pregnant. Praying she comes today!

This is the right answer @Mammaptp

Family fun! It was a wild show. Like WWE with chain mail. So the OOTD definitely goes to the horses 😂

First, you must be so freaked out right now. Deeeeep breaths! I have three beautiful kids as well so I know how you feel.

From what I understand, pills such as these should work just fine. They break down in your stomach, yes, but also in your digestive tract. So your body will absorb it just fine. The hormone in the morning after pill will function as intended.
Only “XR” tablets (extended release) can have issues so I don’t think you have anything to worry about. 😊

First, you must be so freaked out right now. Deeeeep breaths! I have three beautiful kids as well so I know how you feel.

From what I understand, pills such as these should work just fine. They break down in your stomach, yes, but also in your digestive tract. So your body will absorb it just fine. The hormone in the morning after pill will function as intended.
Only “XR” tablets (extended release) can have issues so I don’t think you have anything to worry about. 😊

you're also what we call a "light weight". You started out at only 209 lbs. Many of us started out at 250+. Starting BMI is one of the factors that determines how fast or slow the weight comes off. Given your starting weight, I'm not surprised at all at your loss so far. But as long as the overall trend is down, you're good!

That weight loss is pretty good for someone with your start wegiht, you are not going to lose massive amount when starting lower. So nothing only about your weight loss at all.

Look at it this way, you are about halfway to your goal!! That is not a failure! By New Years you will be at GOAL!
You have lost 32 pounds… be proud of that!
You are doing everything right, but the mind seems to only dwell on finding fault in the little things. Your hair will return and you will continue to lose weight. Stick to your plan and try to focus on the positives.
Congratulations on your fortitude, progress, and determination!

Oh no… this must be so hard for you. I’m at the “typical” point right now (4 months out) dealing with shedding over the last two weeks. My hair fills a brush twice a day!! And I still lose clumps in the shower. It has been heart breaking even though I knew it was likely, actually dealing with it emotionally and physically has been so hard. So when you say this is your third time going through this in the last two years, I felt like I just wanted to give you a hug.
it’s true there isn’t a whole lot you can do except commiserate, but I hope you know it’s safe to do so here and we understand. Hang in there!

Oh no… this must be so hard for you. I’m at the “typical” point right now (4 months out) dealing with shedding over the last two weeks. My hair fills a brush twice a day!! And I still lose clumps in the shower. It has been heart breaking even though I knew it was likely, actually dealing with it emotionally and physically has been so hard. So when you say this is your third time going through this in the last two years, I felt like I just wanted to give you a hug.
it’s true there isn’t a whole lot you can do except commiserate, but I hope you know it’s safe to do so here and we understand. Hang in there!

Oh no… this must be so hard for you. I’m at the “typical” point right now (4 months out) dealing with shedding over the last two weeks. My hair fills a brush twice a day!! And I still lose clumps in the shower. It has been heart breaking even though I knew it was likely, actually dealing with it emotionally and physically has been so hard. So when you say this is your third time going through this in the last two years, I felt like I just wanted to give you a hug.
it’s true there isn’t a whole lot you can do except commiserate, but I hope you know it’s safe to do so here and we understand. Hang in there!

Welcome! Like many of us, you’ve had some ups and downs… as my doctor would say, it’s all part of the obesity disease. There are good reasons to approve you for the procedure, so try not to be too nervous 😬 haha easier said than done right? Best of luck to you!

I hope everything went well and that you can go home on Friday the 30th (tomorrow as I write this) to finally sleep in your own bed. It's been a long road and I'm pulling for you!! Let us know how you are doing.

About 20 years ago I was prescribed the weight loss miracle pill: Reductil (sibutramine). It was great. Killed my appetite to the point I was eating once a day & I lost weight. But when I did eat I wasn’t interested in prepping good healthy meals. I must have been so lacking in necessary nutrients & Vitamins. And I didn’t sleep - like only getting an hour or so a night for months. (Actually think it contributed to my developing poor sleeping habits which have only improved since my surgery.) when I went off the med my appetite came back as did my weight because I ate in the same way as I had before. Then came the news they were taking it off the market because of side effects they’d newly discovered - anal leakage, cardiac issues (strokes, heart attacks, etc.). Yikes.
It’s why I worry about these medications. What happens when they stop taking them, what long term side effects are they yet to discover & what impact does the reduced food intake have on their general health & is that being monitored?
Yes, we were on a reduced diet & many of us lost our hunger & appetite for a time after our surgery but we were also given guidelines to ensure we met nutritional needs & foods we should or shouldn’t be eating. We also had regular blood tests to ensure we weren’t low in anything & our health wasn’t being affected. All of which contributed to us changing our eating behaviours & helped us learn how to make better food choices. Those with diabetes who are on these meds would, I’d hope, already be aware of their nutrient needs & how to regulate their eating.
But I understand some believe these medications are their their best/only option because they don’t want to or can’t have weight loss surgery. I just wish that when they’re given their prescription they’re also given a referral to a dietician, nutritional guidelines & their health is regularly monitored.
Just my opinion. No judgement. We all do what we feel we have to do which is best for us & our lives.

@ms.sss and @Fred in Pa, hear you both on the topic of addiction. I agree with Fred... addiction is sneaky. My brain will tell me "one piece of candy is not going to kill you" and then five pieces later, I start to feel the guilt sink in. I know 5 pieces won't kill me, but it's 100 calories more than I promised myself I would eat that day.
Like @ms.sss said, addiction is a slippery slope. Right when you *think* you've beaten it, it comes crawling back out to remind you that you're not in as much control as you thought. Of course, this doesn't go for everyone. But it certainly goes for me.
Someone above said, why eat carbs when there are so many healthy options out there? I swear to you, I don't wake up *wanting* to eat carbs. My brain starts rattling the cage with unbearable thoughts of eating. These thoughts invade the movie I'm watching or work I'm trying to get done. Why does my brain do this to me?? I don't know. As my brain runs the tin can along the bars, I find myself wishing I could just have some alcohol or SOMETHING to shut it up. But those things don't work, either. They're just another version of the addiction I've had to deal with all my life.
These forums have helped me more than I can explain. Just being able to type out these words makes me feel a little less "broken" and a lot more human because I KNOW some of you will see me. ❤️

@ms.sss and @Fred in Pa, hear you both on the topic of addiction. I agree with Fred... addiction is sneaky. My brain will tell me "one piece of candy is not going to kill you" and then five pieces later, I start to feel the guilt sink in. I know 5 pieces won't kill me, but it's 100 calories more than I promised myself I would eat that day.
Like @ms.sss said, addiction is a slippery slope. Right when you *think* you've beaten it, it comes crawling back out to remind you that you're not in as much control as you thought. Of course, this doesn't go for everyone. But it certainly goes for me.
Someone above said, why eat carbs when there are so many healthy options out there? I swear to you, I don't wake up *wanting* to eat carbs. My brain starts rattling the cage with unbearable thoughts of eating. These thoughts invade the movie I'm watching or work I'm trying to get done. Why does my brain do this to me?? I don't know. As my brain runs the tin can along the bars, I find myself wishing I could just have some alcohol or SOMETHING to shut it up. But those things don't work, either. They're just another version of the addiction I've had to deal with all my life.
These forums have helped me more than I can explain. Just being able to type out these words makes me feel a little less "broken" and a lot more human because I KNOW some of you will see me. ❤️

@ms.sss and @Fred in Pa, hear you both on the topic of addiction. I agree with Fred... addiction is sneaky. My brain will tell me "one piece of candy is not going to kill you" and then five pieces later, I start to feel the guilt sink in. I know 5 pieces won't kill me, but it's 100 calories more than I promised myself I would eat that day.
Like @ms.sss said, addiction is a slippery slope. Right when you *think* you've beaten it, it comes crawling back out to remind you that you're not in as much control as you thought. Of course, this doesn't go for everyone. But it certainly goes for me.
Someone above said, why eat carbs when there are so many healthy options out there? I swear to you, I don't wake up *wanting* to eat carbs. My brain starts rattling the cage with unbearable thoughts of eating. These thoughts invade the movie I'm watching or work I'm trying to get done. Why does my brain do this to me?? I don't know. As my brain runs the tin can along the bars, I find myself wishing I could just have some alcohol or SOMETHING to shut it up. But those things don't work, either. They're just another version of the addiction I've had to deal with all my life.
These forums have helped me more than I can explain. Just being able to type out these words makes me feel a little less "broken" and a lot more human because I KNOW some of you will see me. ❤️

Here's the thing: the entire world outside of the bariatric community views our victories as bragging. They also don't understand some of the "problems" we have (An example I would give is that I am often uncomfortable about being able to feel so many of my bones sometimes, and I can tell you that people who have not experienced the metamorphosis of WLS do not understand how that can be an "issue"...becoming thin this quickly can lead to a lot of dysphoria about your body feeling foreign).
The people in here understand it's important to Celebrate our wins and successes and I took OP's "prompt" as a lighthearted way to do just that.

I couldn't agree more. The whole intention of this post was to hear from others who "get it". I appreciate that some people don't.

Because addiction isn’t cured…it’s always there and always will be. The strength of its grip can vary, but it’s never gone. Addiction is also sneaky…you may think it’s gone until you gain back weight and wonder how that happened. Then ask about “pouch resets”, or injectable drugs. Make sense?
There is no alternative, you just need to accept it and deal with it as best you can. Find support and explore the reasons.
Again, I believe this is THE biggest issue people miss in this journey and what leads to most failures.

Re: addictions
i can’t say I’m well versed enough on this topic to dole out advice and offer solutions. But I can give support and personal anecdotes.
Case in point:
(While not about eating and food, I still think this has some sort of relevance)
I had my first cigarette when was 15 yrs old. I worked my way up to a pack a day by the time I got to university (19 yrs old).
Did this for TWENTY YEARS.
Finally, I quit cold turkey in July 2011 when I was 38 yrs old.
I was golden. I didn’t touch a cigarette for 8+ years. Not a single one.
Then, in 2019, high off my success in weight loss probably, armed with an uncontainable confidence, I decided to have a cigarette while on vacation. Cuz i mean, can one really hurt? I could stop, obviously did before. Plus I’m on vacation, gotta live a little, right? I wasn’t even craving it, I just thought it would be no harm no foul since I had absolutely no intention to be a regular smoker again.
I remember my husband tried his best to dissuade me.
Le Sigh.
That cigarette led to another, then another, then me buying a pack saying “I’ll only smoke on this trip”. Then I got back home and I still had some in the pack, so I said I’ll just finish these. Then I bought a pack at home, then another, then another….
Le Double Sigh.
It is now 2023, 4 yrs since I stupidly smoked that effing cigarette, and I’m back to smoking almost a pack a day.
Sometimes abstinence/the all-or-nothing approach is best for some people. I am not that type of person who could just have one cigarette and leave it at that. Should’ve known.
What works for one person, may not have the same result with another. Do what works for you, people.
❤️

I was able to sleep on my side. Doc said do what feels right for me. I had a pillow under my side belly but it was so nice to just lay vs sit.

Other tidbits: 1) your digestion is gonna change. Constipation or diarrhea, bad smelling gas, etc. be prepared and ready to address the biome that is your gut, 2) “hunger” feelings might actually be gas. You just have to feel it out. 3) some people know when they’ve eaten enough, others find out the hard way (vomiting, foamies). I get the hiccups. It’s so strange, 4) you may be SO wiped out with such a low calorie diet. I felt drained for the first 8 weeks, which is not unusual, and 5) the mental/emotional struggle is REAL. Get a therapist if you don’t have one! 😂

If this happened to me, I would feel like the rug had been pulled too. Being overweight as a woman means feeling like you’re not good enough, that your worth is tied to your weight. When you start losing weight and this happens, it would make me feel like I’m not good enough no matter what I do. I would feel so defeated like, where do I go from here?

But since I am outside looking in, I can tell you that you DO matter and your weight does NOT define your worth or value. If your husband isn’t attracted to you and apparently never was, you have to decide for yourself if HE is good enough for YOU, if this type of relationship is what YOU want. How you go about figuring this out is up to you… a counselor, therapist, etc are all great options.

I also wonder, from experience, if he is a little insecure himself (about you and your weight loss). At this point there are probably few people who know you as well as he does, and he would know what to say to derail you even if he doesn’t realize it. Just thoughts, may or may not hold Water. Just know that you have done incredibly well, you should be so proud of what you’ve accomplished!!