Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

Yep, scar tissue(adhesions) can sure mess stuff up. You know, only about 10% of us get adhesions.....lucky us.

Well, the seminar was all about the reason there is so much obesity....how genetics and enviroment play a big part of obesity......and what this medically supervised diet will do for me. I will start with several weeks of shakes.....he said losing weight fast in the beginning is good for the mind and body. Then the dietician will tell me what to eat and monitor me. Also there will be a psychologist available for counseling. Oh, and someone will teach us exercises. The meetings will be weekly and the support group will be once a month. Bariatric Advantage are the shakes. The dietician has a lot of recipes to make it tastes better. I think we can put fruit in them. I have to get a letter from my primary doctor and an EKG. It costs 350 a month plus shakes. Expensive, but if you average it over a month counting all the helps it is reasonable. He said the length of taking shakes will depend on individual evaluation. The second track of the diet will be two meals and two shakes. That is 125 a month. I figure if I go through this program it will be for 6months. If I can learn a healthier way of eating it is worth it. DH went to the seminar with me and he is all for it. He will be eating healthy too. He even said he is going to put in a garden. Wow! We haven't had a garden in 30 years.

Okay, you know what I know. I will keep y'all up with what I learn. Oh, and at the weekly class we will be doing the Beck Diet Solution. I bought the book and has got a lot of good helps. It is not about what to eat, but therapy for the mind.

So is this through your surgeons office or another type of plan? I was wondering sincfe I live in ga if they have something like that here

So is this through your surgeons office or another type of plan? I was wondering sincfe I live in ga if they have something like that here

This is my surgeon. He is seeing a lot of his post surgery patients starting to gain back their weight because they don't know how to eat healthy. I think there were several band patients and a couple of bypass. Of course there were those who need to lose a hundred lbs before surgery. Many of the people don't want surgery and prefer trying a liquid diet.

This is my surgeon. He is seeing a lot of his post surgery patients starting to gain back their weight because they don't know how to eat healthy. I think there were several band patients and a couple of bypass. Of course there were those who need to lose a hundred lbs before surgery. Many of the people don't want surgery and prefer trying a liquid diet.

Dr Davis is so cool. I just love watching him on TV. I wish surgeons here where just as caring. Do you have to meet them each week. You could not do this ling distance huh. LOL. Anyways keep me informed

This is a little off of our normal subjects but just thought I'd share some thoughts. I was at the tanning salon yesterday and for some ungodly reason they have a full mirror in there that you cannot avoid while undressing and I really noticed the lose skin. Now don't get me wrong, I knew it was there I mean you can't miss the fact that the top of my tummy looks like an old wrinkled butt. I just had no idea that I was starting to get lose skin hangind over my hips AGAIN. TT from 5 years ago held up pretty good until now. It's starting to get me thinking that maybe I should just try to stay where I am (162lbs) I know I need to lose more to be at a healthy weight but I just don't want anymore nasty hanging skin. PS is pretty much out of the question for a few years anyway. I figure that's how long it's gonna take to talk the old man into it. I just don't want to get to the point where I can't stand the way I look again. I already have to wear shapers to hold the lose skin all the time now. Any thoughts? It boils down to health is much more important the looks but it sure takes a toll on the brain.

This is a little off of our normal subjects but just thought I'd share some thoughts. I was at the tanning salon yesterday and for some ungodly reason they have a full mirror in there that you cannot avoid while undressing and I really noticed the lose skin. Now don't get me wrong, I knew it was there I mean you can't miss the fact that the top of my tummy looks like an old wrinkled butt. I just had no idea that I was starting to get lose skin hangind over my hips AGAIN. TT from 5 years ago held up pretty good until now. It's starting to get me thinking that maybe I should just try to stay where I am (162lbs) I know I need to lose more to be at a healthy weight but I just don't want anymore nasty hanging skin. PS is pretty much out of the question for a few years anyway. I figure that's how long it's gonna take to talk the old man into it. I just don't want to get to the point where I can't stand the way I look again. I already have to wear shapers to hold the lose skin all the time now. Any thoughts? It boils down to health is much more important the looks but it sure takes a toll on the brain.

I agree with you. It is all about a healthy weight. That is what my doctor told me. He said this shake diet should bring me down to a healthy weight.

So here is my drama. My DD and her two girls( DGDs)are moving in with me. Yikes! Her fiance left her with a house she can not afford ( her credit, his money). It was a bad move. Anyway, they will move in a couple of weeks. I only have one large bedroom and bathroom for them. We will make it work until she gets back on her feet. Part of me feels bad for her, but the logical side of me warned her that he was too selfish to marry her. I guess my liquid diet should work fine because I will be so tight I won't be able to eat anyway. Expect me to be venting. Her girls are teenagers......16 and 17.....get my drift? Okay, you know my latest. I will CBL.

YIKES! Teenage girls, Don't wanna do that one again. May the force be with you. You said you were gonna be so tight you can only drink shakes? Is he making you that tight so your not hungry? And is it good for your bad to be that tight, Doesn't that cause swelling? I know so many questions, One more: What kind of shakes are you getting from bariatric advantage? I order mine from them.

YIKES! Teenage girls, Don't wanna do that one again. May the force be with you. You said you were gonna be so tight you can only drink shakes? Is he making you that tight so your not hungry? And is it good for your bad to be that tight, Doesn't that cause swelling? I know so many questions, One more: What kind of shakes are you getting from bariatric advantage? I order mine from them.

I was saying those girls are going to make me tight from stress. I really think I will do good on it.

Yes, Bariatric Advantage. They are going to let me use fruit in them. I will share the recipes when I start the plan.

I'm sorry, I misunderstood, My bad. And what about the shakes? Do you know what type they are?

Hi All,

Sorry I have been MIA I had a really sick family dog that unfortunately had to put to sleep. She was 13 yrs old and we just found out she had cancer in her paw 2 weeks ago and then this weekend it spread to her lungs. I miss her so much. I am attaching Baby's photo below.

Hi All,

Sorry I have been MIA I had a really sick family dog that unfortunately had to put to sleep. She was 13 yrs old and we just found out she had cancer in her paw 2 weeks ago and then this weekend it spread to her lungs. I miss her so much. I am attaching Baby's photo below.

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I know what it's like to have to put down a pet.

I just feel so depressed and don't want to do anything. I miss her so much I can't even look at her picture because I keep remembering yesterday. I could not even sleeo last night.

I am trying to remember the happy times it is to fresh right now.

I'm so sorry your friend had to go. Cancer in Goldens and Boxers and Flat Coats is all too common. I lost the dog love of my life (Flat Coat) last year. The sadness can be unbearable. I hope you have other furry companions and that the good and funny memories will soon replace your grief and pain. ((((dog lover hugs))))

Melissa, I am sorry for the loss of your pup. They love so unconditionally.......truly a best friend. I hope you are better soon.

I go the 12th for my first visity with Dr. Davis for the shake diet. I hope I can do this. I am having other problems too. I wake up every morning at 3am with anxiety and my pulse racing. I checked it this morning and it was 102. I think it is this Savella. I don't want to have a stroke. I am cutting it back today. The weather is warm (80 degrees) so I am not hurting.

My weight loss is at a standstill.......up 3......down 3 . Some thing has got to change soon.

I'm so sorry your friend had to go. :thumbup: Cancer in Goldens and Boxers and Flat Coats is all too common. I lost the dog love of my life (Flat Coat) last year. The sadness can be unbearable. I hope you have other furry companions and that the good and funny memories will soon replace your grief and pain. ((((dog lover hugs))))

I have a toy poodle and I keep loving all over her. But it is not the same as having a big dog like Baby she always made me feel protected. Baby lived with my parents since my husband and my son have dog allergies so I guess I feel guilty because I did not get to spend alot of time with her like I did growing up. My parents also have another dog Duke and he is a very big dog I feel sad for him cause right now he is just laying by the door waiting for baby to come home.

Melissa, I am sorry for the loss of your pup. They love so unconditionally.......truly a best friend. I hope you are better soon.

I go the 12th for my first visity with Dr. Davis for the shake diet. I hope I can do this. I am having other problems too. I wake up every morning at 3am with anxiety and my pulse racing. I checked it this morning and it was 102. I think it is this Savella. I don't want to have a stroke. I am cutting it back today. The weather is warm (80 degrees) so I am not hurting.

My weight loss is at a standstill.......up 3......down 3 . Some thing has got to change soon.

Charlene - thanks for understanding the loss. I really want to know all about the shake stuff you are doing when you start. I so need a jump start again. You should ask your dr about the pulse racing that is not good.