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

Oh Protein, how I crave thee, NOT.

Why do I only want to eat what I shouldn't. I miss bread! I'm not eating it but I miss it. That's what I want for my birthday. Not cake but bread and I will settle for two bites.

Yesterday, I ate a whole banana. Didn't know it was even possible. I usually have 1/2 of a banana or less. Needless to say I was a little worried because that's a lot of sugar. I did eat it with an egg salad that unfortunately had a little too much salt.

I have been working out everyday like a good girl and trying to increase my protein intake. Quest bars are getting a little old. That funny after taste comes through no matter what flavor. Any others that are good?

BREAD!!!! YESSSS LOL. One of my biggest cravings as well. I just want a King's Hawaiian roll with a little butter lol. Today was not a good day with my cravings. I started a new job today, had to leave at lunch to go to the dr for my knee (had this appt for 2 months!) I forgot my lunch at home and the only thing around was a McDonald's. So...I got one of those new artisan grilled chicken sandwiches, and free fries w a coupon. Figured I'd prob eat a little of the sandwich and a few fries...I had 6 fries and 2 bites of the sandwich. But it wouldn't go down. It was stuck, and I ended up throwing it up. So went back to work. I left work, went out with my cousins to a drive in place. Figured I'd try a hamburger without the bun. Ate half of that and a few of the kids onion rings. Got so nauseous on the way home. Idk if it was cuz I was hot in the backseat of the car and getting carsick, or if it was the grease from the rings. Either way, it sucked...we got home and I threw it up again. Took a Zofran and I'm good now. My body is rejecting the garbage lol, seriously!

@@Shadow427 the dress is from Torrid. I'm in a 0 or 1 now. I'm ready to move down to regular sized clothing but have no idea where to shop. Feeling a little stressed about that.

I get a lot of my clothes from Maurices. I used to love their plus size clothing, they have a big selection and it's not old lady stuff. But now I can wear the regular size stuff, so even more choices!! And Kohls, their plus size stuff sucks for the most part, but now that I can wear the regular size, I like their dress clothes for work.

I have to go shopping this weekend!! I only have one pair of jeans (size 11) that come close to fitting me, and they're getting too big in the waist, but my big ol' thighs still fit in them. But my dress pants are too big. I had a pair of "new" black ones on yesterday that I had hiked up to almost my boobs and still had a belt on with them. Luckily the blouse I had on was pretty loose so no one could see my waistline that high, LOL! I had a "new" pair of brown dress pants too, and they're obscenely too big too. I'll try the consignment shops, but I don't usually have the best luck there. Otherwise, I hope to hit some good sales!

I love that dress too! I couldn't pull off the skinny straps though, my darn big chest requires too big of a bra, LOL! I can't believe my cup size hasn't gone down??! I went from a 40DDD to a 34DDD. I've tried a DD cup, but my left side is significantly larger and it just won't squeeze into it well. I have a lot of breast tissue, but yet it's totally deflated, does that make sense? So bummed on my boobs.

I think I'm going to start saving some $$ so maybe next year I could get a bit of a reduction and for sure a lift.

We're going to Hawaii in June and I REALLY wanted to be able to wear some cute sun dresses and tanks, but I don't think I can pull them off. UGH...we'll see!

I haven't gone into kohl's years. Maybe I'll see what they have for me.

I am flying out of town (San Diego to Boston) for the first time since surgery, I am nervous but equipped with quest bars and turkey jerkey. I am excited to fit in the seats better now!! We will be gone for 5days and my boyfriend is running the Boston marathon so I will be out on my own for most the day Monday. I am just praying I am able to keep my protein and energy up.

I definitely need to go shopping soon! Someone in my Support group gave me some pants about 2 months ago. Now they are falling off!!! My problem has been that I am PLUS and TALL. I can't just walk into any store and buy pants. But, I have gone from a 26-28 to, I think, an 18-20. We will find out this weekend.

Happy Shopping everyone! Share what you find!

This is today's purchaser. It's from JC Penneys size extra large in regular women sizes. I can't believe how much less expensive clothes are. My mom said i can pull this off but need to break out the spanx. I love her honesty.

@misstvb--Super cute!! I forgot about JC Penney!

Ladies, I went to Kohl's the other day!! For the first time in years, just because their plus size stuff always sucked whenever I went. But it was so awesome to have pretty much the whole store to choose from...a bit overwhelming at the same time tho! I spent 4 hrs in there lol. I really like the Dana Buchman line for casual dress clothes. I got some cute shirts, in Large! I even tried on a Medium in a Simply Vera dress...cuz I THOUGHT I grabbed a L and XL. But I grabbed XL and M. I figured what the heck...and it fit! Holy crap! I ended up with a 16 in pants tho. I still have a big booty, that's not going away :-/ it's so crazy how much cheaper things are though! 4 dress shirts and a pair of dress pants, all for $60....that's the price of one Lane Bryant shirt! It's a whole new world lol

Ladies, I went to Kohl's the other day!! For the first time in years, just because their plus size stuff always sucked whenever I went. But it was so awesome to have pretty much the whole store to choose from...a bit overwhelming at the same time tho! I spent 4 hrs in there lol. I really like the Dana Buchman line for casual dress clothes. I got some cute shirts, in Large! I even tried on a Medium in a Simply Vera dress...cuz I THOUGHT I grabbed a L and XL. But I grabbed XL and M. I figured what the heck...and it fit! Holy crap! I ended up with a 16 in pants tho. I still have a big booty, that's not going away :-/ it's so crazy how much cheaper things are though! 4 dress shirts and a pair of dress pants, all for $60....that's the price of one Lane Bryant shirt! It's a whole new world lol

Post pictures when you can!

cute dresses @misstvb. You look very nice in both dresses.

I have also tried Marshalls and Ann Taylor Loft. I can hardly believe it but I am a size 14 pants at Ann Taylor Loft and they have a size 16 too. But hello, too big. If I could somersault, I would have. I do find regular sizes so overwhelming. There are so many choices, it's down right scary. It's almost harder to find something now and wouldn't you know it, the size you want seems to always be gone. I purchased a pair of super stretchy exercise capris at Target. They have these awesome ones that pull everything in but of course the size XL was too big and they didn't have a L so I decided to try a M and yes they fit. I must say they are a tad snug but they probably will fit better very soon. But I can still wear them. I just have too use a looser shirt because of the muffin top effect.

Working out really hard. My arms are sore from all the weights. I have discovered my abs are non existent. I could not roll up from a laying position. Oh, embarrassment! Will focus on core and Abs next.

I will try the Pure Protein Bars, thanks for the suggestion.

Lost one little pound this week, but this one was the hardest little sucker.

So excited to see everyone's success so far!! Great job you all are looking wonderful! I am a little jealous too (it's a good jealous)! As someone else mentioned earlier I wish that I had partaken of this surgery sooner so that I could be where some of you are, nearing the finish line! However, I started out much larger but have made some promising steps too from a size 30 jean to a size 20. I can wear a few things in 18/20. However, as much as things have changed I still have an entire mountain ahead of me to tackle I've lost 87 pounds but still have 123 to go! Oh well...I just won a battle but I'm still going to take this war! We are fighting for our health and happiness and NOTHING will stand in our way!!

So excited to see everyone's success so far!! Great job you all are looking wonderful! I am a little jealous too (it's a good jealous)! As someone else mentioned earlier I wish that I had partaken of this surgery sooner so that I could be where some of you are, nearing the finish line! However, I started out much larger but have made some promising steps too from a size 30 jean to a size 20. I can wear a few things in 18/20. However, as much as things have changed I still have an entire mountain ahead of me to tackle I've lost 87 pounds but still have 123 to go! Oh well...I just won a battle but I'm still going to take this war! We are fighting for our health and happiness and NOTHING will stand in our way!! ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1429356138.858530.jpg

It's a good reminder for me when you say we are fighting for our health. The battle always seems to be with the scale but honestly the reason I initially did this was health related. My A1C is now in the pre-diabetes range as opposed having diabetes which is where it was before surgery. I need to focus on that number and keep it moving down.

You look great, I love that skirt!

So excited to see everyone's success so far!! Great job you all are looking wonderful! I am a little jealous too (it's a good jealous)! As someone else mentioned earlier I wish that I had partaken of this surgery sooner so that I could be where some of you are, nearing the finish line! However, I started out much larger but have made some promising steps too from a size 30 jean to a size 20. I can wear a few things in 18/20. However, as much as things have changed I still have an entire mountain ahead of me to tackle I've lost 87 pounds but still have 123 to go! Oh well...I just won a battle but I'm still going to take this war! We are fighting for our health and happiness and NOTHING will stand in our way!! ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1429356138.858530.jpg

You look great!!! You lost 10 sizes already, that is definitely something to be proud of girl! :-)