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

sounds like you have a good team looking after you. Keep up the good work

Ladies, I'm in tears :-( I just tried on a bunch of swimsuits I had, before I go buy a new one. And most were too big, naturally. Like 10 yrs ago, I bought a few 16/18 and 14 suits on clearance at walmart, as my "motivation". Well my measurements say I should wear a 14/16...I tried these things on and it was disgusting! Sooooo tight, I looked like a stuffed crab, all my skin and jiggly stuff popping out everywhere. I keep telling myself it's because they are walmart swimsuits, and walmart swimsuits suck. But I'm really struggling with my body image right now. It's like I was so excited, and it was just shot right down.

It makes me want to go workout hardcore...but I have absolutely no energy to workout lately. I gathered my laundry last night to go put in the washer, and I woke up this morning with my pile of dirty clothes still at my feet on the bed. I had the other day off, for traffic court (I think all of my weight went to my foot lol) and all I did was go to court in the morning, I stopped at the grocery store to do some light couponing, and I went home. I was exhausted. I took a 3 hr nap, woke up, went outside for some air, came in and lounged the rest of the day because I had no energy. I don't know what's wrong with me :-(

@@Luna222, Don't feel discouraged. Your doing wonderful! You've got it absolutely right, Walmart sizing SUCKS! I have to go into Walmart with the mentality that I'm buying this size, but anywhere else it would be 1-2 sizes less. For me I deal with that for now, bc as I'm losing weight, I refuse to pay, Kohl's, JC Penny, Nordstrom or even Target prices while I still have a bit to go ahead of me. You MUST, MUST MUST, get your 'Protein & Vitamins' in each day. Also, you need a - pick me up-. Your feeling down. Do something for yourself that gets you in a better mood. Get a pedicure, buy a new lip gloss, new summer dress that makes you feel good, hair cut... Something to put you back into a mood of feeling good! I know if I miss a vitamin or don't get 60g of protein in, I'm feeling super blah. You can do this. Feel better.

Ladies, I'm in tears :-( I just tried on a bunch of swimsuits I had, before I go buy a new one. And most were too big, naturally. Like 10 yrs ago, I bought a few 16/18 and 14 suits on clearance at walmart, as my "motivation". Well my measurements say I should wear a 14/16...I tried these things on and it was disgusting! Sooooo tight, I looked like a stuffed crab, all my skin and jiggly stuff popping out everywhere. I keep telling myself it's because they are walmart swimsuits, and walmart swimsuits suck. But I'm really struggling with my body image right now. It's like I was so excited, and it was just shot right down.

It makes me want to go workout hardcore...but I have absolutely no energy to workout lately. I gathered my laundry last night to go put in the washer, and I woke up this morning with my pile of dirty clothes still at my feet on the bed. I had the other day off, for traffic court (I think all of my weight went to my foot lol) and all I did was go to court in the morning, I stopped at the grocery store to do some light couponing, and I went home. I was exhausted. I took a 3 hr nap, woke up, went outside for some air, came in and lounged the rest of the day because I had no energy. I don't know what's wrong with me :-(

Have you had your labs done yet? What you describe is exactly what I felt when I was low on my d's and b12.

@@Luna222, Don't feel discouraged. Your doing wonderful! You've got it absolutely right, Walmart sizing SUCKS! I have to go into Walmart with the mentality that I'm buying this size, but anywhere else it would be 1-2 sizes less. For me I deal with that for now, bc as I'm losing weight, I refuse to pay, Kohl's, JC Penny, Nordstrom or even Target prices while I still have a bit to go ahead of me. You MUST, MUST MUST, get your 'Protein & Vitamins' in each day. Also, you need a - pick me up-. Your feeling down. Do something for yourself that gets you in a better mood. Get a pedicure, buy a new lip gloss, new summer dress that makes you feel good, hair cut... Something to put you back into a mood of feeling good! I know if I miss a vitamin or don't get 60g of protein in, I'm feeling super blah. You can do this. Feel better.

Thank you. I have been really trying to get extra protein every day, and remembering to take my vitamins. I've been drinking lots of water too. I do have an appt to get my hair done next week, so I'm hoping that will help. I also colored my roots today, so that made me feel a little better. :-)

Ladies, I'm in tears :-( I just tried on a bunch of swimsuits I had, before I go buy a new one. And most were too big, naturally. Like 10 yrs ago, I bought a few 16/18 and 14 suits on clearance at walmart, as my "motivation". Well my measurements say I should wear a 14/16...I tried these things on and it was disgusting! Sooooo tight, I looked like a stuffed crab, all my skin and jiggly stuff popping out everywhere. I keep telling myself it's because they are walmart swimsuits, and walmart swimsuits suck. But I'm really struggling with my body image right now. It's like I was so excited, and it was just shot right down.

It makes me want to go workout hardcore...but I have absolutely no energy to workout lately. I gathered my laundry last night to go put in the washer, and I woke up this morning with my pile of dirty clothes still at my feet on the bed. I had the other day off, for traffic court (I think all of my weight went to my foot lol) and all I did was go to court in the morning, I stopped at the grocery store to do some light couponing, and I went home. I was exhausted. I took a 3 hr nap, woke up, went outside for some air, came in and lounged the rest of the day because I had no energy. I don't know what's wrong with me :-(

Have you had your labs done yet? What you describe is exactly what I felt when I was low on my d's and b12.

I actually have to get my labs done soon. They gave me the script, but I have to fast, so I can only do it in the morning...which is hard with work. This week I have an appt with my GP, so I think I'll hit the lab on my way to that. I think my levels are definitely low. Especially my Iron, I feel it. I think it's time for the iv infusions!

@@Luna222 Please take care of yourself. Even if it's not time yet, you might want to ask to have your blood work done. It sounds like you may be missing something "mission critical" in your Vitamins and minerals.

@@Luna222 Please take care of yourself. Even if it's not time yet, you might want to ask to have your blood work done. It sounds like you may be missing something "mission critical" in your vitamins and minerals.

Thank you. I am definitely getting my bloods done this week. I know something is off, I feel it. I've been sooo sluggish and my head has been pounding every day this week :-\

Hi girls, for sure, please monitor your blood stats. With Bariatric surgery we will have to monitor for the rest of our lives. Vitamins and the dreaded Protein also are part of the package. We can't afford to be "whatever" with what we eat because the margin of error is so small. Because we ate a lot before the chances of eating all the nutrients needed was much more likely but with our reduced stomachs and ability to absorb the nutrients is so reduced what we eat is "CRITICAL." I say this because I too have had ups and downs with how I eat. Fortunately I have done well with my vitamins, except for the occasional forgetfulness. I met someone in BP whose girlfriend was suffering from what sounded like neurological damage due to Vitamin deficiency. It's irreversible and it scarred the living daylights out of me. I even take my pills in the middle of the night if I forgot to take them. Sometimes it's 4 PM and "OH No" I have 4 sets of pills to take 2 hours apart. A 2 AM alarm clock fixes it and it's annoying enough that I try not to do it again.

food can be stressful at times. I noticed if I eat a meal with my family it's a lot worse because I eat too fast. I never get sick at lunch because I eat a bite, do something, comeback for another and so forth. At dinner, I sit and I am usually stressed because everyone is talking and at times misbehaving and I just fixed a meal. I'm hot and stressed out. The whole thing does not work for me. I probably should have tea with my family rather then a meal. The past 4 days I got sick after dinner.

It's not really the foamies but more like mucus. The nausea is overwhelming and I have to throw up. Then, for the next hour I have to lay down because I get this sense of exhaustion. I wonder if this is dumping? Many days, I survive on greek yogurt, chick peas, Protein Bars, fruit, plain chicken and the occasional saltine cracker. And lots of warm tea.

Love how I am not morbidly obese and I how feel better physically. My mind still plays tricks with me and I get easily down when I get disappointed with clothes shopping or life in general. But I bounce back. There is so much to be hopeful about.

Love reading your posts, on bad days, just knowing you are there makes life bearable. Thank you for going through this with me. What a journey!

I had 2 sons graduate. One from college & the other from high school. Of course I ordered them custom made cakes and they were both so good. The first graduation I gained 8 pounds which I think had something to do with the bloody marys (v8 juice). Then the next week 2nd graduation I had lost 5 of the 8 lbs I gained but loved the cake. I almost wished I would have gotten sick so I would of quit eating it. Finally got rid of the rest of the cake and am now going to get back on track. I am so dang close to the one hundred & something. Its so easy to go back into the bad habits. Scary...

Thank you everyone for the nice comments on my pics! And Bronxy, you are so thin! I will virtually die when I can wear a size 8 jean! And I have also had those times when I forget I've lost weight and still think I'm "morbid". Also scared I'll gain overnight and wake up exactly where I was last year. My arms and knees are terrible. Lots of loose and saggy stuff. Butttt on the other hand, I am so happy that I can do normal things now. I rode bikes at the beach with my sisters this weekend and had so much fun. I did have drinks with them though and quite a few glasses of champagne. Actually glad to get back home and back to my eating/ drinking schedule. Like Beni, I am so glad I have this support group and can know that I am one of many instead of by myself.

Hey folks. It seems to be like everytime I come on to complain as soon as I do it, I drop weight. I finally, Finally broke a 10 week stall. Lost 6 lbs in a matter of 10 days. Really, really hoping to continue and not stall out again.

So some news I haven't quite shared yet. My husband and I are going cruising June 8th. Very first time ever going on a trip alone and will be the first time I ever go on a cruise or even in Florida! We are going to Miami, Key West FL, and Cozumel Mexico! So excited. Just not getting everything ready for us to go.

Hey folks. It seems to be like everytime I come on to complain as soon as I do it, I drop weight. I finally, Finally broke a 10 week stall. Lost 6 lbs in a matter of 10 days. Really, really hoping to continue and not stall out again.

So some news I haven't quite shared yet. My husband and I are going cruising June 8th. Very first time ever going on a trip alone and will be the first time I ever go on a cruise or even in Florida! We are going to Miami, Key West FL, and Cozumel Mexico! So excited. Just not getting everything ready for us to go.

Nice AuriP my husband & I are going on a cruise to Cozumel in February or March I just have to schedule the dates. This will be my 2nd cruise but my husbands first.

Hello Glorious Gladiators!

I haven't posted in awhile, but ive veen reading the posts to keep abreast of you fabulous and fearless lifestyle changers!

Just like most of us, I've been stuck in 'stall' mode. So far, I have lost 111lbs from presurg to post surg. I feel good, and I finally see the change. For months, all I could see was fat on my body.. even tho I was losing wt, I could only see fat. Now, I see a lovely transformation. I'm between 14-16. Its just nice to be able to shop in regular stores, and enjoy the vast selection of choices! Now, thats utterely exciting! I'm going to Miami next week, so to be able to wear shorts, sundress, and not to be embarrassed in a bathing suit is refreshing and a joy!

There have been countless winters where I promised myself I would lose wt so I can look better in the summer. Well, that manifested into many many disappointments and failures. Now, we can ALL say, we have succeeded for this summer!

Keep sharing, so we can all feel encouraged everyday when we log onto to read each others posts!

Have a marvelous week!