Hi everyone who is having surgery in October 2014. We can start a new topic for those of us who have had surgery already.

This is the spot were we will all end up, were we'll share our stories and recovery. It will be a new dawn for so many of us. Let's stay close as united we will conquer anything that comes our way!

BEST WISHES GLADIATORS

@@joankrie

I have gotten mysterious out of the blue nausea attacks. I did figure out why they happened. Too much fat will make me sick. I was told dumping with higher fat content foods can happen an hour after you eat. Sugar dumping is much faster. Within 10 to 15 minutes of eating. So I figured out the high fat content food does it. Another thing that did get me was eating a little too fast. Once with a strawberry. I (sorryTMI) did see the chunky piece and I think it had gotten stuck. The other time it was with pulled pork. The bbq sauce was too sweet and perhaps the pork had too much fat. Some of us will be very sensitive to fat others not so much. Same with sugar. For example, if I eat a meal and then have a tiny bite of chocolate as desert, I am fine. But if I have not eaten in 3 hours and I take a bite, wow. It's like the sugar goes into me at 100 miles per hour.

Trying to figure out all the ins and outs of this surgery sometimes is like trying to hit a moving target. Challenging, no?

I have been so hungry lately just not satisfied. I am doing everything to stay on course. I feel like I am at a stall because this is the first time my scale has not moved. All my new clothes fit which makes me happy so I am pretty sure I am losing inches. I know I am getting in my Protein. But I love the Quest bars which makes me feel guilty. Im not sure why I am feeling this way. Is it normal?

@@LisaCO, why on earth would you feel guilty about Quest bars?!

♫Let it go. Let it go!♫

Provided you aren't eating too many of them. I credit Quest bars with the 68 pounds I lost before surgery. And after surgery, I have eaten at least one a day (although sometimes at two sittings) to make sure I get both PROTEIN and FIBER in. Plus, the cookies-and-cream and white chocolate raspberry satisfy my sweet tooth (which, unfortunately, the surgery did not help).

Focus on what you are doing right. A lot of us got into the position of needing surgery because we have issues of all-or-nothing thinking, perfectionism, "good food / bad food," and so on. Your new clothes are fitting? Yay! You feel better? Double yay! Yay for you! Silence that inner critic by giving your inner cheerleader a chance to "Ra Ra Cis Cum Bah" you. You deserve it.

Hugs,

Glenda

Thank you Glenda you have made my day! I eat 1/2 a quest bar a day sometimes a whole one. Thank you

Something my Doctor, RN and Nut all said that really helped me. "We have to have a good relationship with food." It is both a source of sustenance and pleasure. And as such it has to remain true for the rest of our lives, especially if we are to be successful. It's like any relationship. There must be balance. Yes, we are going through the weight loss portion of our journey and this year to 18 months will have many challenges but if we are to become well adjusted individuals our happiness will also depend on food. Let's not lose sight of that everyone. Right now we are trying to lose massive amounts of weight but we always want to love food. I'm okay if all I can have is 1/4 of a Lindt chocolate truffle. But if I say I can't have one of those ever again, a little of me will die. Now, that's not the same as, this makes me sick and I won't eat it ever again. Well, I'll gladly give that one up.

I want to love me, just not love me to death with a bunch of food.

Well said, Glenda! I needed to hear those words of encouragement as well!

So been a little while. I beat that hump of 199 and sitting at 194/195. I was sick all last week so that probably contributed. I went shopping this Friday and decided to check out some sizes. I went to target and tried on 2 sizes, a size 12 and 14. Both could be zipped and fit over my purge of a belly. Shock and amazement was all that I could think of. Still shocked to this day. Once I fit comfortably in a size 12 I will officially have 2 sizes left to get to my goal of a size 8!!! Also I have 4 more lbs to get to half way to my goal of 130lbs. Here's some pics of my journey so far.

To all of you- your posts are a godsend to me. It always seems like you know exactly what I need to hear!

I've got a "clothes too big" story. I finally found tights long enough for me. So I wore them with a skirt that used to be too small. I was hurrying through the city to get to a meeting on time. As I was crossing the street, my skirt and tights literally dropped to my ankles! I sure stopped traffic.

Shadow429

Lol, some people go to extraordinary lengths for a little flashing. I too had a pants fell right off moment. Fortunately for me they stopped around my thighs because I was walking and my shirt was long but it sure was memorable. Those are enormous jeans and I can hardly believe they used to be tight.

@@AuriP You look fabulous! Congratulations!

For the first time in my life...

@@smiley922 CONGRATULATIONS!

@smiley922---Congratulations!!!!! :D

@@smiley! Way to go, hot stuff!

:P Too funny about you all dropping your drawers!!!

I haven't had that happen!!

But....I did go shopping last week. I had a bridal shower to go to on Saturday and I needed something sharp to wear.(not a dressy shower, so jeans and a nice shirt is what I was looking for) My honey's Ex was going to be there, and I tend to look down on myself when she's around because she always seems put together and she's smaller than me. (my little insecurities...)

SO...anyway. I went shopping and the sales lady was so sweet with me. I told her I had lost 71 pounds and really had no clue what size I should be wearing. So we started with a plus size 16. Uh...WAY too big. So we tried a regular size 16...too big. Tried a size 15 in a really expensive jean. But I figured, if it looks good, I'm going to splurge! Well, they fit great, except the waistline was really big. Damn big thighs/calves! She brought back a 13/14, and said, "Now, don't panic. These are a skinny jean, but I didn't have a 13/14 in the boot cut leg." OMG, totally pointless to even try on with my big thighs/calves!

Holy buckets, they fit PERFECT!! I pretty much started crying in the dressing room. I told her the last time I had bought myself jeans, it was a plus size 20/22.

Ok, so I had the jeans! Then I found several shirts too....some even size Mediums! Holy crap! So the next morning, I can't find my jacket anywhere. Totally in a panic because it was a $175 jacket. UGH...I swore I remember wearing it out of that store the night before, but thought I'd call just to make sure. All I got out was, "I was the one who kept you late last night...." And she said, "We have your jacket!" LOL..so I went on my lunch hour and picked it up. And of course, the great sales lady she is, told me they just got a new shipment of stuff in. Ended up walking out with another $125 worth of stuff. I got this cute pair of dark gray pants that can roll up to be capri pants too. Didn't even try them on, bought the 13/14's. That night I tried them on and they're loose!

So....Saturday at the shower, I wore my SKINNY jeans, a pretty pale yellow "Springy" short sleeve sweater and some high heeled sandals. Feeling pretty good about myself, but figured as soon as I saw "the ex biotch" I'd be put in my place. WELL! I don't know what happened to her, but I'd say she's put on 15 pounds and looked frumpy, sloppy, wore an old tattered looking shirt. And she was late and flustered! So I just gotta say, I looked DAMN good!! And felt even better!!! Plus, my honey slapped my behind before I left the house and said, "Wow! Those jeans are HOT!"

@@smiley922

CONGRADULATIONS!! I am 3.1 pounds away from "healthy weight" and I can not wait!!! I am so excited for you!!

Amylyns - you don't have to drop your drawers to have a great story! I love it! There is nothing better than knowing you look good when the person who gives you angst doesn't!

It is funny that our minds still think like the BIG person we used to be. I finally decided to go buy new bras... After all, they still need support!!! I was flabbergasted when I asked the sales person for a certain size and she said, "Honey, you are MUCH smaller than that!" She was right - 3 band sizes down.

Last doctor visit I was down by the lack of movement on the scale. But, this weekend was my monthly measurements. Holy smokes there is a lot less of me!

But, we all must be careful. It would be easy to be complacent now... Stay the course!