ILKrista

Mmmm....pickles. I try to get in a little protein with them by taking a thin slice of ham, spreading some cream cheese on it & rolling my pickle up in it. I slice it up & eat. I'm supposed to do 6 small meals a day & use this as a meal... though I don't eat it often because of the sodium, but it is a nice, easy treat.

There is a plastic surgery forum... you will probably get more advise there. I was considering a reduction before surgery. Now I'm in the market for a lift & potentially some implants. LOL. How things have changed. Also, you might want to check out Obesity Help website. They have a ton of information from people who have had plastic surgery after weightloss.

I can understand the upset... I actually gained more than 10 pounds before surgery & then was told I had to lose it plus some more before he would consider operating. However, I needed the reality check of how I was going to need to be eating for life afterwards if I was going to be successful. The reality is that the sleeve will help you lose some of your extra weight... probably like 60% of it. But if you want to lose more than that, it is going to take some serious lifestyle changes... eating & exercise. You may not like it, but starting those changes before surgery is going to make the weeks following it MUCH easier. Good luck!

I think having this surgery has turned me into a cooking nut. I'm always getting new cookbooks from the library or on allrecipes.com looking for new ideas. I find that if I get bored eating the same stuff, I start turning to foods I'm not supposed to be eating. Take this interest in food & turn it towards being creative with what you are cooking. I've experimented with low-carb pizza, low carb pancakes, & tons of other foods. For your sake, I hope your dad isn't trying to sabotage you. But, I hate to say it, you will most likely encounter a few people who will as you go along this journey. I try to turn that negative energy into fuel when I am working out. Don't let anyone defeat you. Good luck!

Try not to focus on what others are doing. I know that as soon as I start seeing how people hit their goal 6 months after surgery, I get depressed. Focus on how much healthier (and lighter) you are compared to your starting point. Every person will have a different experience & journey with this surgery. It's excellent to get support here, but don't forget that your journey won't match up with anyone elses!

Thanks, Yecats! This board is always so motivating and inspiring. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't think I'd be where I'm at if I didn't have the support of this board. Best of luck to all.

I started exercising a few years before I had the surgery... this was my last big attempt to lose all the weight without surgery. I went to the gym 3 times a week doing zumba & walking. I imagine most people thought I was on the verge of a heart attack because I would be red, dripping with sweat & ready for collapse... People have no idea how difficult it is to exercise with an extra 150 pounds on your back. After surgery, I waited 2 months before heading back to the gym. I started doing a couch potato to 5K program. I did it more slowly than the program recommended because I really didn't feel like I was going to be doing my knees and ankles much good running on them when I was so heavy. However, I always do intervals. I would walk slow for a few minutes, then walk fast for a few minutes. I increased the amount of time of fast walking until I was eventually doing the whole time at a fast walk. Then I started adding in a slow jog for a few minutes at a time, etc. I think the exercise has been the biggest factor in my weight loss. For one thing, if I've just forced myself to work out, I tend to follow my eating plan better because I know how much effort I just put in & don't want to undo all that work. I also think it has increased my muscle mass & bumped up my metabolism a lot.

Jill, No one can tell you what to do... not me & not your friend. I can tell you that I was certain that this would work for everyone but me... in fact, I felt sure that I would probably die during surgery. In the end, I decided that I would rather take the risk of death or yet another failure than to keep my life in the miserable state that it was. I have been amazed at how well this surgery has worked for me. In the beginning, you will be pretty restricted as to what you can eat... but after about 4-6 months out, there is nothing that I can eat... in small portions. I feel better now than I ever have in my adult life. I can't tell you what to do & maybe you should talk to some people who have revised from lapband (Miss Diva comes to mind). But if you are genuinely that unhappy with yourself, what are you really risking? If the surgery doesn't work for you, then you are no worse off than you were before. Just my 2 cents. Best of luck with your decision!

Hey Coops, Thanks for replying. I'm really looking for someone to hold me accountable for working out 5-6 times a week (I tend to wimp out & only actually go 3 times a week). I would be happy to help you be accountable for your workouts as well. I'm also trying to get back to how I was eating in the beginning. Lately, I've been having too many treats, to the point that they really aren't treats, but are just how I am eating every day. Maybe we could message each other at the end of each day (or at the beginning of each day) with reports on how we did with workouts and eating for that day or the day prior?

I'm looking for a buddy in my journey to lose the last 25 pounds. I would like to find someone to help me be accountable for working out and eating right each day. It seems that most of my 'real-life' friends want to make it a competition, rather than us supporting eachother. If anyone is interested, let me know!

I really related to your post. I'm a little over 10 months out, but the past couple of months I've just been up & down the same few pounds. I know the problem is me indulging too often in things I don't need. Instead of dwelling on the mistakes I've made the past few months, I'm really going to try to focus on what I can do right over the next couple months to get that weightloss moving again. I'm trying the Valentines Day challenge to see if that won't keep me motivated.

Going to give the Valentine's Day Challenge a try. SN: ILKrista CW: 153 GW: 140 pounds to lose: 13

Little black dress! I bought a little black dress right after my surgery in a size 8, with the goal that someday I would fit into it. I've put it on a couple times, but still can't zip it up comfortably... but its exciting to be so close to something that seemed so unatainable.

Hmmm... So I have always had body image issues, especially when heavier. In fact, I didn't date for nearly 10 years because I felt like I was too disgusting. Now that I have lost over 100 pounds, I definately feel much better about myself... with the exception of having all the loose skin on my stomach & the sagginess of my boobs. I have been dating a very nice man for the past couple of months, but I still flatly refuse to take my shirt off for any reason... I really feel like if he sees what I look like, he will not be remotely attracted to me. I am planning to have plastic surgery next year & he has been very understanding about the whole thing, but how the heck do I overcome this? Anyone have any experience with dating & the loose skin issues?

I reward myself with a facial or massage on a monthly basis. This is more a reward to myself for staying a non-smoker than for reaching any particular weight. I did splurge on a pair of nice earings when I got below 200 lbs. I had initially thought I would go on an awesome vacation to celebrate hitting my goal weight, but now I'm thinking I'd rather put the $ towards removing all the saggy skin.

I just wanted to chime in.... I did the exact same thing. My surgery was delayed by about 4 months because a coworker was on maternity leave & we both couldn't be off. I ate out more & in larger quantities than I had ever done in my life. I gained about 15 pounds & truely almost started feeling ill from all the rich food. This is a common thing to go through. Do I wish I hadn't done it... yes, because that would have been 15 lbs less to work off. However, dont' feel like this will negatively affect your results. Some of us just have a harder time letting go of the relationship we have with food. Best of luck!

Thank you all for your advice. I'm happy to say that I've allowed myself to believe that there really might be a man out there who can like me for me & not to immediately reject anyone who I find attractive. In fact, I've been dating a very nice man (who I met online) for the past 6 weeks. He knows all about my surgery (which was another fear... how to tell them I used to be morbidly obese & had this crazy surgery. lol). In fact, he himself has a weight problem and can understand the struggle. He is giving the diet and exercise route another try, but has the surgery in the back of his mind, thanks to me. We are using eachother as motivation to get to the gym & be healthy. The hardest thing for me is to realize that people are actually starting to see me & not just the fat girl they never used to be able to look beyond. Amazing how much this surgery can change things! Krista

Yes, yes & YES! I was eating anything and everything because I felt like I would never be able to enjoy it again. Instead of just a few 'last suppers' I had months of them! I gained about 12 pounds... then I went in for one of my pre-op visits & the doctor told me I had to lose it & be below the starting weight or he wouldn't do the surgery. I buckled down & made it happen. Don't feel guilty, but do stop the eating! I promise you will be able to have all the same foods, just in controlled portions & maybe not as often as you were used to. The sleeve will be there to keep you in control. Good luck!

This doesn't sound normal. Have you been checked for strictures or anything like that? Your doctor should be working with you on this because this doesn't sound like a normal sleeve experience to me.

Forensikchic- I feel your pain. One of my friends/coworkers was fairly supportive in the beginning (she drove me to the hospital the day of my surgery!). But as I started losing weight, she started making little jabs & comments about her not wanting me to get smaller than her & how she had clothes from when she was fat that she could pass on to me & I might eventually fit into them. The best was when I came in on a high having finally hit the 100 lb lost mark & she told me that she couldn't believe it because you really couldn't tell a difference. (The next day I brought in a before and after picture & practically shoved in her face because I know d*mn well 100 lbs makes a big difference!). Let's see, when we both were wearing size 14s, she hurried to tell me that I still looked WAY bigger than her because I was so much shorter. The day she found out that I weighed less than her (by 20 lbs) you would have thought the world was ending. At first, I really let these constant comments sting. But the truth is, I know I am doing what I need to & I am going to succeed... what she does with her life is her business & I really don't have the energy to worry about it. I have tried several times to point out to her that this is not a competition! There is no reason we both can't lose & look fab. I use the negative energy she sends my way as fuel when I am at the gym working out. And at this point, I have basically ended the friend aspect of our relationship & only see her when at work. Don't let someone make you doubt yourself or feel bad. Everyone loses at different weights & you have a tool to make your weightloss successful for the long term. And if the comments really start to get to you, just directly ask her if she is meaning to be rude or if she doesn't reallize what she is saying. Bullies turn & run when confronted directly & this coworker of yours definately sounds like a bully. Hugs. Krista

I'm the opposite. When I stop losing weight, it is because my carbs have gotten too high. I go back to the original high Protein, low-cal, pre-surgery diet I was on & that usually kicks the weightloss back into action. Krista

It is hard to offer suggestions without knowing more of what you are eating, how many calories you are getting, etc. Is it possible that you are not eating enough calories and/or Protein a day? I think many of us have hit stalls... I know I had my worst month yet & actually gained back a couple pounds. I decided to 'reset' myself & am doing the 2 week, all Protein shake my doctor put me on prior to surgery. I'm hoping this will help to kick-start the weight loss again & break my carb addiction. If your nutritionist isn't helping, I would consider finding a new one. They work for you & should be offering suggestions! Krista

LOL. I think I have replaced my entire wardrobe at least 5 times now... I'm addicted to Goodwill & thrift shops! I like to go in and try stuff on & I usually buy at least 1-2 items that are the next size down. Every weekend I try those clothes on & I am so freakin' excited when they finally fit comfortably enough to be worn in public. Used to hate shopping & now I'm a clothes horse!

In the beginning, it took about 40 pounds to drop a clothing size. Now, it is about 15 pounds. I've heard that as you get closer to goal, even a drop of 5-10 pounds can be a clothing size. Don't get discouraged! I tell people that I'm doing a marathon, not a race with this weightloss. It is a long road, but I know it will be worth it for all of us!

I just bought a cookbook called 300 Low-Carb Slow Cooker Recipes: Healthy Dinners that are Ready When You Are by Dana Carpender. So far everything I've made has been good! You might want to see if your library can get it for you before you buy it... LOL, I'm a librarian, so I have encourage people to do this before they spend money on something they may not like.