toomuchrose

Yeah, maybe I didn't use the right term. I need to stick to a 1400 calorie diet for 5 months to qualify under my insurance. I guess most of you have some sort of similar program. Today it's sunny here after a few warm days and simply not looking out at piles of dirty snow has made a bit of difference in my mental state. I'm a retired horticulturist and I pick up on the subtle details about nature; I see a couple of my houseplants are showing signs of waking up to the coming of spring, setting buds and growing more due to the increasing day length. I try to build optimism on things like that. When I have my weigh in Thursday, i don't think I will see any new loss, but as long as I don't gain even one pound over my starting weight, I will qualify for insurance coverage. I should be safe. Sometimes the slips and failures serve to prove a point. Today I had a bagel, the first one I've had since early November. I used to eat bagels frequently and I was feeling self-pity about giving up all my favorites. The bagel turned out to be like a big lump of gummy dough, and I now feel reconciled that after surgery, I won't be tempted to try to swallow another one. Better to get it over with now, and have closure on that food item, anyway!

Hi, This is my first visit here. I started my pre-op journey in mid November 2013 and my tentative surgery date is in May. I'm on 1400 calories a day and I did very well the first month, dropped 10.5 #. The next month, over the holidays and my birthday, I had a few bad days, but managed to lose another 3 #. February has been awful. This miserable winter has kept me inside. I'm handicapped and use a wheelchair most of the time. I live in a senior building and don't work, so, while I'm glad I don't have to go out and fight the weather, the bad part is the isolation and cabin fever. My attitude has gone from trying to cut out as many calories as possible to trying to sneak in as many as I can get away with. My average daily intake has inched up to around 1550. I'm going in for my next weigh-in in 4 days and it's not gonna be pretty! I am certainly an emotional eater and I can't afford to let depression and discouragement build up to defeat me. I fear that I'm losing faith that my life can change. How can I revitalize my attitude?

Hi, I'm at the beginning of this process. So far I've watched 1 informational video from a local surgeon, Dr. Anita Courcoulas, and read a little on the internet, and that's about all I know. After finding this site today, I followed a link to the vertical sleeve site, and was confused and dismayed to see so many people there complaining about the LAP-BAND®® and claiming that the VS was the better way to go. The only thing I'm sure of is that I'm not interested in the RNY. Since I live in a city known for medical expertise, I think I can rely on the surgical practice I picked; they're experienced. I filled out a questionaire and someone from the office called and gave me the option of attending classes at Magee Hospital or having my PCP monitor my six month pre-surgical efforts. I picked my PCP because it's cheaper and easier to reach, but now I'm afraid she won't have the experience with WLS to advise me about all the many details. She is a good doctor, though, and takes time to discuss matters very well with me. I need to spend some time going over this board and the VS board, also, to get a feel for the experiences of other people. It's the beginning of a long and confusing journey, but one that I hope will lead to a better life.