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LaVerne's Journey
 

Update

Well it's been a while since I've posted. I was still pre op then. November 10th, I joined the loser's bench! I like this bench! I've lost about 12 lbs since surgery already.   Surgery went great, no complications. Doc says it was a little challenging getting to where he needed to be because I have a small frame/bone structure as far as my rib cage, etc. That sounds like a plus to me - it means I may have the opportunity to be skinny at some point. I always thought that I was "big boned" and would always have a large frame...never be what I'd consider skinny. I don't know if that's what I want to be, but we'll see as time passes. My goal is 145 lbs and I've thought that would be quite ambitious and always had 160 in the back of my mind as where I could be happy. Knowing that my frame is smaller than my doctor expected, I'm just not sure what to expect now.   My hospital stay was not too bad. Day of surgery, I didn't make it to a room until around 3pm, but I was up walking a few times that evening. My blood pressure went kind of low, so I was a little restricted on walking until they pushed some fluids to bring it back up. I had a horrible roommate the first night , luckily she was discharged the next day, so my second night was more peaceful & I was able to rest. My leak test was the day after surgery - which I passed - so I got to have tiny bits of liquid throughout the day. My doctor has never had a leak, so I was pretty confident. Second day was kinda rough having had no sleep, thanks to the roommate from hell. So I was glad when I had surpassed my walking goal for the day and could finally just go to sleep. Day 3 I was there for half the day before discharge, but had to make sure I was able to keep down a certain amount of liquids before being released. I have been able to keep everything down, no nausea at all, thank goodness! And pretty much things have been going great!   Surgery was on a Monday and I returned to work the next Monday with no worries. It's Wednesday now and although I am tired at the end of the day, I'm doing well with being back.   Liquids are boring! I am so looking forward to my next appointment (Tuesday) so that I can move on to mushy foods. I'm going nuts with only my protein, water, broth and jello. It really is boring! I am allowed small amounts of very thin cream of wheat or oatmeal "If I must." I've been trying to stay away, but I just feel like I need something else. It's not true hunger, but just the lack of variety, I think. I don't feel hungry at all. I just know I have to get something inside of me and when I think of my options, it's rather depressing. Just one more week - I can make it. It'll be so worth it in the long run.   I'm so happy that I made this decision and actually went through with surgery. It's hard to imagine what things will be like in a few months when I start to get more and more weight off. I won't know what to do with the extra energy! I'm looking forward to getting more involved in lots of things. I can't wait to do the more active things that I always wanted to try, but always felt I was too big for. White water rafting comes to mind...
<3 Carolina Girl <3

<3 Carolina Girl <3

1
DizzyLizzie's Blog
 

Dietitian Visit Done

I had a great session with my Dietitian Louise today. I was pretty anxious, but feeling a whole lot better now about what is in front of me. January 21st can't come quickly enough now. I have to complete a 2 week Optifast Diet before surgery, so we come back from our Christmas/New Year Holidays on January 2nd and I start it on 6th! Every appointment I have makes me feel better and more hopeful. I don't think I still will believe it all until the morning of surgery. 2015 here I come!!!
DizzyLib

DizzyLib

1
Onederful Opportunity
 

Informing the Masses

I tend to be a secretive person about personal things. I like to write and I feel I express myself best when I'm able to communicate with written words which is why I've been blogging in various formats for nearly 13 years. But there's another reason why I find so much comfort in writing. I like the anonymity of it. I like that I can express myself but not put myself "out there." When you put yourself out there you can get scrutinized, criticized or worse. Now you can read what I write and if you don't like it you can tell me so and that's fine. There's a digital layer of protection that there's that just doesn't feel the same when someone says something to your face... especially someone you know... or someone you love.   Many people I know have made the decision not to tell people about their surgery and I understand that. I know there's a flood of misconceptions, judgements and everyone seems to know someone that has either died or had a major complication that they can't wait to tell you about. I fully support anyone making the decision to share or not share. How you handle this journey is your own. I've decided to share my story. I know that will open a floodgate of judgement both good and bad. The reason why I decided - after a long deliberation with myself - because there are two things I want to come from this weight loss. I want to be more honest with myself and I want to be available for anyone else going through this as well.   For years I tended to hide my weight. You can't successfully hide 300lbs but you can try to deflect attention from it. I was always a very hard worker and I tend to put on a happy face and make jokes and entertain when I'm in groups. If I'm funny then you notice that and overlook how uncomfortable I am in my jeans or that I'm always trying to cleverly hide my stomach. I felt that if I gave into showcasing how unhappy I was with my weight that the stereotypes would come flying in! I'm lazy, unkempt, or unlovable. As these images were all my own I really fought to not portray those things to the world. I knew some people who were genuinely (or so they seemed) perfectly fine with their weight, whatever it was. They didn't care about it, obsess about it, and I so longed to be one of those people. I wanted to go to NAFA meetings and revel in my size but I was never comfortable with it. I was never okay with my weight but I let it confrol me forever.   In order to live an authentic life I need to be able to put myself out there and putting this surgery journey out there is just one way to share my realities of my weight. My feelings about my weight and this journey are my own and I want to be honest with this and really let myself out of this self-imposed box I've been in for 30 years.   I've wrested with the surgery debate for many years. From back in the early 2000s when people I know first started to get it done to when I seriously started looking into this surgery for myself. Coming from a small town in the nations smallest state there's not a whole lot of people just running around with information. My hospital is amazing but it's also 40 miles away and when your state is 45 miles long it's just not what we do everyday here. I want to make myself available to others because I think I learned so much from people who have been through this surgery that I want to be able to give that to someone else.   I have no idea how this journey will be for me. I'm excited. Eager. Ready. My date was moved up a week so I only have 16 days before the next phase of my life begins. I'm going to share it all.
rhodywoman

rhodywoman

0
Just Another Day in the Life of Bea
 

Well Crap..

Well Crap.. yes..I hadn't realized that its been well over a year since my last visit here.. and it seems that I should have been visiting a whole lot more often.. because not only did I fall off the wagon - but I rolled into a raveen that lead to a cliff - and here I am hanging by a mere branch.. with all 340lbs of me.. I can blame no one except myself for the weight gain.. I've gained a total of 43.3 lbs.. I've been completely out of control - and of course recently (within the last 2-3 weeks I've been trying to get back to basics.. I've forgotton how to eat, how to control my poritons, I've forgotten good food choices, and definitely "forgot" the importance of daily exercise/activity - so here I am - trying my best to un-do all that I've done within the last year or so..   Take care my friends..     Just me -   Bea
beabenitez1978

beabenitez1978

1
Forsythia's Blog
 

A 6.5 month Progress report

At 6.5 months post-op, I am 218lbs. I want to be 212 by 7 months out (12/5). That will be 100 lbs gone from my program start weight of 312. I want to be below 200 lbs before my birthday (February 7th). I will do it. I think as a stretch I could be 192 by my 38th birthday. I've come so far, but the finish line (150 lbs) still seems so far away. The weight will go when it wants to go. In fits and spurts.
Forsythia

Forsythia

0
4me4them's Blog
 

Endoscopy, Insurance and irrational self talk

So I survived vacation with only gaining 2 pounds, which came off in 2 days! Yay me. We (hubby helped a lot) did very good the first week at my moms. Shakes for breakfast and lunch, reasonable dinner. Even went to my favorite Italian restaurant and ordered meatballs, no appetizer and only had 1 bite of their signature almond cake. The beach was not as good. I'm not sure why...might have been because I had not told my in-laws about the surgery. Anyway it's over and I don't currently have another one scheduled so I should be well down my road before I have to figure that out.   Had the endoscopy and it wasn't too bad. Arrived at 0700 (I was the first of the day). Was in the prep area by 0715...it was the first time in a long time that my husband couldn't come back with me. The nurse cracked me up...she asked if I wanted the larger gown and I thought Duh of course I do. Then she said....I think you could use the regular one...I mean your big but your not BIG....LOL I am too BIG that's why I'm here   So I meet the anesthesiologist who is a nurse practitioner...I joked and said "I guess you are going to put me a little under" and he said "Actually we are going to put you a lot under" I guess that is sleepy time humor. Then Dr. Galvani comes in absent his usual entourage of students (I'm using a university hospital). He jokes that he will be slower because they usually do the paper work.   IV is started, and by 745 I'm on my way into the procedure room. They put the mask over my nose, turn me on my left side, put a bite block in my mouth and I start to fight to stay awake. A bite block is a round tube like thing that they strapped onto my face (I guess they did, all I remember is being told to bite it but not hard). It protects the scope and keeps the mouth open during the procedure. The last thing I hear is Dr. Galvani talking to the others in the room about a different design for the room with stuff hanging from the ceiling...I think.   I woke up back in the original staging area around 840. Had some gunk in my throat as I was waking up that they suctioned out. I swear that nurse had me out of bed and in the bathroom to get dressed within 10 minutes and I wobbled to the car at about 850 with a print out of pictures of my insides...kinda cool for a science nerd like me but hubby passed on the offer to look.   We had always planned to go get breakfast so we took the long way to the café because I was feeling kinda woozy. Breakfast was uneventful except when I put pepper in my tea....but hey, that could happen any day right? Had only two lasting side effects...one was a slightly busted lower lip...apparently I caught my lip between my tooth and the bite block (it cleared up in 2 days) and I had a tenderness right under my left ear...which also went away.   We putzed around in Tucson till my last NUT apt and my pre-surgery class...both of which went well.   Back to work the next day, Friday and as I was driving home I got the call that the insurance had been approved! So I start my pre-op diet on 19 November and am scheduled for surgery on 03 December...This has been a long one so I'll talk about the irrational stupid self talk my brain is now putting me through later.
4me4them

4me4them

1
Forsythia's Blog
 

I got a coat

One that isn't three sizes too big. Just in time for the polar vortex. FUN TIMES! I was hovering right between the XL and the 1X. I erred on the conservative side and got the 1X. I really think I could have gotten the XL and been okay.  
Forsythia

Forsythia

0
bobbyswife's Blog
 

There are only two kinds of days.

Ambivalence is defined as the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something. On this particular journey in my life I've decided that I have but only two kinds of days. The only way I can refer to them is as positive days and negative days. The two never seem to cross paths, and each morning promises one of the two. A new friend of mine that I have begun to get to know through this site, said it best; "It's almost like a strange retake on Groundhog's Day, where we've somehow got caught up in this (seemingly) never ending loop." That's exactly how I feel. I fall asleep at night thinking one of two things, either worry about the surgery and/or post op, or feeling excited about the surgery and/or post op success. I wake up feeling either anxious about how many days are left until surgery or hopeful about how positive my life will change for the better. I'm not quite sure why I keep vacillating so much between these two outlooks. The good thing about being on this site is that you can read all sorts of varying experiences from literally thousands and thousands of people. The bad thing about it is the exact same thing. It's the epitome of a catch 22. Sometimes when I read horror stories that people have gone through or turmoil that people going through right now as a result of surgery, its sets my nerves on overdrive. One side of me says, "that won't happen to me", and the other side says, "the risk here is real, even the risk of death". Those two extremes are just that. Extreme. Granted, I'm relatively healthy other than morbid obesity, degenerative arthritis and fibromyalgia. I don't have blood pressure problems or heart issues. But, the clock is ticking. I am getting no younger and no thinner being incapable of exercise in this state that I'm in. I know that I've made the right choice and I know that the more positive I remain, the better I will do. If I don't go through this surgery, one thing is for sure, I will get sicker, I will get heavier, and I will face more health challenges. My mind is made up, I just wish I could stop this cycle.
bobbyswife

bobbyswife

0
MyJournry with Sleeve surgery
 

5 days till surgery!

So I have not lost any weight in 2 days...disappointing! I am stuck at 221. I was so looking forward to being under 220. but not this time..So I started to reevaluated what I am eating (Drinking) and I know I was adding fruit to my shakes and thought, oh I better stop that!! so I did last night and today.... and then there was my little snacking I did yesterday on peanut butter pretzels. I only had like 5 total and they are those tiny little square ones... but regardless I was not supposed to have them..so this morning I threw them in the trash... today so far I have been really good and plan to be for the next 5 days. I really want to be under 220. its been a really long time since I was under that weight. I feel like exercise is one of the most important tools and I do walk, but I think I need to add in weights as well. I have an entire curves gym in my basement so I think my next goal is to start using those machines. I am sure I will be very weak after surgery, but I will do what I can and work myself up to them after surgery.... Feeling excited about the surgery...still nervous.. I think I am more worried about the pain afterwards and the gas pains in my chest that everyone talks about...and then the pain in my throat from the tubes that will be down there...and then I worry about possibly needing my gallbladder out like alot of people post about. I know they say a 20% chance of that but I keep reading post that people needed theirs out. Scary!.. I am afraid of ending up dehydrated...and most of all I am afraid that I will go back to my old ways and gain everything I will lose back. So scary. They told us in group that we get one honeymoon stage so enjoy it for as long as I can...that once you start gaining you can't go back to the honeymoon stage....So I hope I can stay in that stage forever. My boyfriend and I are Italian and we love food and our families love to feed us...its hard, I am sure everyone has their reasons for eating... I pray that this weekend when we go to his family's house that they understand I am ON A DIET (famous last words) and I can't have pasta and meatballs and bread! fingers crossed they leave me alone with just eating a salad. :-) ok, I better get back to work.....
MariaW

MariaW

0
Onederful Opportunity
 

Drumroll Please....

MY TIMELINE   July 2013 - Started researching WLS   November 2013 - Spoke to primary doc about my thoughts   December 2013 - Exhausted myself looking up surgeons and facilities   January 2014 - Found Bariatric Pal   February 2014 - Found the hospital and surgeon that I liked   March 2014 - Hospital Mandatory Weight Loss Seminar   April 2014 - Nutrition Appt - Previous medical weight loss program met my iinsurance 6mo requirement   April 2014 - Psych Eval - Cleared on first visit   June 2014 - Upper GI - All clear   July 2014 - Sleep Study - CPAP (this seriously changed my life!)   August 2014 - Final Pre-Op Appt - H. pylori detected   September 2014 - H. pylori infection determined   October 2014 - H. pylori cleared   November 2014 - Final Pre-Op Part II   December 10, 2014 - SURGERY!!!!
rhodywoman

rhodywoman

0
Jeniffer's Blog
 

Explanations Why An individual Really should Buy Garcinia Cambogia

Garcinia cambogia are just about the most important herbal products from the world. This is due to its expertise to aid one lose weight. Edge in the game by simply stopping weight storage devices by the body processes and through reducing kinds appetite. You ought to be mindful include them as purchasing the actual merchandise whenever they like it to work. This kind of method for you to arrive at appreciate the various positive aspects this derive from its use.   Most people like to use natural remedies rather than different type. Simply because plant based remedies provides a lot fewer uncomfortable side effects plus its as well least prone to trigger toxicity. Not surprising plenty of people like getting tea that really help these people ease agony and remove complications such as over weight rather than taking drugs. You'll be able to buy Garcinia cambogia with a peace of mind that it will deliver the results miracles in your body.   The actual remedies currently in use in the Garcinia cambogia plant discovered in a berry rind. Nevertheless, you ought to by no means try to look at seed with by itself without any directions. Simply because the flower could also behave as a new highly effective killer any time ingested by simply human beings. The majority of people utilize the draw out in way of tea and pills. That's why you need a seasoned plant based medical professional to help acquire the flower regarding you. To obtain alone provides so many uses. This has been turned out to be to cure a number of complications by the body processes any time taken. That's why people of every age group keep shopping with the supplements to use them. Common sense says it can easily boost testosterone and even reduce a few kinds of allergies. The people who advertise a supplements can tell you when you utilize it and how much of this you must use.   The idea they can double to treat physical exercise elicited muscle damage. That's where some may be shopping to obtain a more quickly healing rate. While using the supplements can conserve the shape to get in shape faster when compared with usual. Individuals who are overweight as well utilize the supplements as a way to reduce the chances of unwarranted appetites as this can enormously support those to reduce weight.   Most likely people who find themselves struggling with medical ailments utilize these supplements regarding supplementation. This kind of should be talked about having kinds physician for being about the safe side. A lot of remedies every time they work together with each other could cause really serious complications or simply balance out each others benefits about the body. Do not ruin your own cure by simply mixing up various medication therapies.   So as to get the best supplements, you'll want to talk to a responsible seller. That is someone that will not only encourage anyone to buy the item devoid of conveying exactly what it does. They'll order the amount of supplements anyone have to take during a trial and just how many for each day. This may keep you from finding accumulation because of overconsumption. Individuals who are shedding weight may believe greater supplements these people take the far more it will be effective. That is wrong.   Buy Garcinia cambogia to provide help to lose unwanted weight which is caused by a poor diet. The idea is the best technique to eliminate the appetite and even provide help to subdue weight storage devices from the body. That is the obvious way to reach superior health insurance and a new slimmer and healthier body. The advisable thing is this you don't need to help push the button out.
jnfrjames

jnfrjames

0
DizzyLizzie's Blog
 

Another Step Closer

Another Step Closer!...   I had my visit with the Bariatric Counsellor today and it went very well. I gleaned alot of information about what kind of emotional and physical things I will have to deal with post surgery, some of which will be challenging and some I look forward to very much. 21 January cannot come quickly enough. The week after next I have my Dietician Visit and then my pre-op visit with my Surgeon early December. Christmas won't be far behind. Again I can't tell you how much hope I now have in my heart for a brighter future, now that I have made my decision and it becomes more real each day. I've waited long enough for my new quality of life to begin and this operation is my "launching pad".   Lizzie   Pre Op VSG 121.5 kg (267.86lbs) BMI 41.1
DizzyLib

DizzyLib

0
MyJournry with Sleeve surgery
 

One week before surgery

well here I am, just one week before my sleeve surgery. I can honestly say I am very excited to get this over with. I'm also nervous about the gas pain that everyone talks about and also just pain in general. I'm afraid of dumping...and what that feels like. but all in all I am excited to get this thing going. Now the shakes have been hard. I can do them but I am starving and with Halloween here and gone having candy in the house didn't help. So I have had a couple small pieces of candy but have still managed to loss weight. I am down to 220.8 this morning. So YEAH its still working! I will make a solid effort to NOT eat anymore candy. Its really hard but I don't have to tell any of you that. I know the surgery is my only chance. I will try to post as much as possible from now on to let you all know how it is going. any positive ideas on what we can eat afterwards would be great help....say prayers for me please that this goes well with no complications :-)
MariaW

MariaW

4
bobbyswife's Blog
 

Questions you should ask your gastric sleeve surgeon...

When I started this process I was just so excited to find out that my insurance covered bariatric surgery after researching the process for over a year, that I left out an important piece to the process. It was all kind-of a whirlwind though, when I got my consultation appointment literally for the next morning after trying to get in to see the surgeon that I was set on using. Once that appointment opened up at the last minute, there were so many emotions going on and so much excitement that the ball was FINALLY rolling, I neglected to make a list of questions to take with me to my consult. Now, to be clear, I had been researching this procedure and my surgeon and his center of excellence for a very long time, so I was already very much aware of the process and most of the national statistics, but I didn't make a list and that was a bad idea. Fortunately, the nurses and staff have been great about replying to my questions as I have them, but I wish I had been armed with them so that I could have spent more time with my surgeon in the beginning. If I had it to do over again, this is the one thing I would have changed. So, I have made a list of questions for you, the reader, to use for your consult. You may already have a list, and if so, just take a look at these and see if there is anything you missed. The more information you have in your arsenal the better prepared you will be and the more likely you will be to succeed post op!   How many years have you been performing bariatric surgery?   What type of training have you had in bariatric surgery?   Are you board certified?   Are you FACS? (Fellow, American College of Surgeons)   Do you use staples, sutures, or both?   After the stapling of my sleeve, will you over-sew the staples?   What is your complication rate?   What is your mortality rate?   More specifically, what is your sleeve leak rate?   How many trocars will be used for my surgery?   I have read that most leaks happen at the top, or at the bottom; are there any extra measures taken to protect against this happening?   Will you leave in a drain that will need to be removed a few days later?   Will you put me on Lovenox or other blood thinners after surgery?   What type of compression devices will you use on my legs to prevent blood clots?   If I have a hernia will you repair it at the same time?   Do you remove the gallbladder during surgery?   What size bougie will you use?   Is your center or your hospital a center of excellence?   Are you a member of ASBS? (American Society of Bariatric Surgery)   How many sleeve surgeries have you performed?   How many do you typically do each year?   How many nights will I be in the hospital?   Does your facility offer support after surgery?   When will be my first post op appointment and how often will I check in at the office after that?   Does your bariatric center offer a clothing exchange among other patients?   These are the most important questions that I think need to be asked. Feel free to add your own! Make sure you take a good pen and leave room to write in all your answers.
bobbyswife

bobbyswife

1
Fibro Diva's Bariatric Blog
 

headaches anyone?

I thought it was just me. Ever since surgery I awake each morning with a headache. My surgeon blames my Fibromyalgia. My Fibromyalgia doctor says she doesn't know what's causing the headaches. I found a new study published online in the journal Neurology® that suggests bariatric surgery may be a risk factor for a specific condition that is known to trigger severe headache. Researchers found that the surgical procedures were sometimes associated with later developing a condition called spontaneous intracranial hypotension. The condition is often caused by a leak of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) out of the spinal canal, lowering spinal fluid pressure and triggering sudden headaches with accompanying nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, and difficulty concentrating. The study goes onto report that it is known that body weight plays an important role in CSF pressure. Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is typically associated with a tall and lanky build, while obesity is a risk factor for intracranial hypertension, or high CSF pressure. The authors hypothesize that the loss of fat tissue may uncover a susceptibility to spontaneous intracranial hypotension.   Click here to learn more
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

2
Traci's Blog
 

5 Months since deciding to commit

The first image was taken on my birthday in May which is when I committed to a year of better health, the second image was taken yesterday. Its been 5 months, and I've lost 80lbs. I've now lost more post-surgery than I lost during pre-surgery. I am so amazed at the difference that I had to share it. I posted it on my FB page for the whole world (well, at least my world of friends) to see... and the feedback has been astounding.   I'm proud of my ability to see this commitment through. The last time I started working with the weight management center, I lasted 3 months... which is not even half the time I needed at that point to qualify for surgery.   I am still working with my personal trainer and going to Zumba classes most other days of the week. The only days I don't have activities scheduled are Fridays and Sundays, but I use those days to go out and do things with friends and family (like 5k walks or hiking)... Food-wise, I've mixed it up a bit. I still have the protein shake in the morning and a protein bar as an afternoon snack, then I eat cottage cheese for morning snack and soup or chili for lunch and try to make something different each evening. The day-time eating usually goes pretty well, but that is predictable and I know I can eat it. Its the food that I make at night that isn't so successful. For meats, I can eat chicken and turkey. I can finally stomach an egg. None of the other meats I've tried seem to work. I have a friend who suggested I try to go gluten-free, since its hit-or-miss as to what makes me sick. Has anyone else experienced these limitations 2 months post-op?   I'm hoping that my 6-month update that I put out to everyone will be 100 lbs lost. That would be so exciting. It would be almost halfway on my current journey.
Trace Lynne

Trace Lynne

3
gc180xt
 

GC180 XT Reviews on Weight Loss Properties

Medics, nutrition and health experts, general users and dieters, popular websites for weight loss and health care such as, they all recommend the Garcinia Cambogia herbal weight loss supplement.   GC180 XT Reviews - It has become a trend, it is so popular and efficient that it has made millions of people happy and as helped them achieve their dream of the fit body they desired. Users have posted videos and reviews on the internet in which they say how much the supplement has helped them and they recommend it to others. And Dr. Mehmet Oz, a popular television personality, author and cardiothoracic surgeon, a man that people respect and usually listen to him, who has his own television show called Dr. Oz where he reviews such products for weight loss and health care, has strongly recommended Garcinia Cambogia calling it the "holy grail of weight loss"and the "dual-action fat buster".   HCA seems to be the key to its success. It stands for hydroxycitric acid and it is the main, most important item/ingredient in the product. It is extracted from this amazing tropical tamarind fruit called Gambooge, more specifically from its rind/peel where it is found in high quantities. It is used in 50 to 60% concentrations in the pills of the supplement, depending on the brand of the product.   The fruit has been used for decades by the people in or around the places it grows [Africa, Southeast Asia, India, Indonesia, etc.] either by consuming it raw or by using it in their meals as a culinary ingredient, indians use it in curry.Clinically tested and proven to be healthy and efficient by all healthy people, this supplement has taken the world of weight loss by storm! As long as the user suffers from no illness or disease that might come in conflict with the supplement, is taking to medication that also might come in conflict with the supplement and follows the recommended dosage it will be perfectly safe. Overuse may lead to side-effects such as nausea, headaches, diarheea, vomiting, etc.   GC180XT EXtra is one of the best and most demanded brand of Garcinia Cambogia because it also contains natural ingredients. It's what many brands have already done, mixing together multiple popular, top-quality herbal ingredients to create better products.
Vera Cox

Vera Cox

0
bobbyswife's Blog
 

My Top 10 Ways of Trying to PREVENT Loose Skin

I don’t want to look like a flying squirrel after my weight loss, so I’ve spent a great deal of time researching ways to combat loose skin, and while there’s no promise of perfect skin after losing a lot of weight, I’ve come up with the most common things that have supposedly been helpful when talking to and reading about people who have lost up to 100 pounds and more. No, I’m not a skin specialist, but these are the top 10 things that I think I will do in these two months prepping for surgery Dec. 18th. None of these items would be negative, so any benefit that does come from them will be… well... a benefit! These are in no particular order 1) Coconut Oil – I’m slathering myself in this every day. Coconut oil keeps the skin’s connective tissues strong and supple, and can even help with skin blemishes. I’ve already noticed a major improvement in my skin health since starting this regimen. I’ve always been prone to itchy skin and it has all completely stopped in a matter of days. Also, cooking with coconut oil is the healthiest in my opinion. Cooking with oils such as olive oil is counter-productive because once it reaches a certain temperature it starts to oxidize and release free radicals. That’s never good. 2) Body Brushing aka Dry Brushing - Releases toxins, stimulates the lymphatic system and improves circulation. Always dry brush in a circular motion, brushing toward your middle. 3) Water, Water, Water – Drink, Drink, Drink. If you’re an adult, you know this. Enough said. 4) Weight Training - Work those muscles. This one is tricky for me because I am so arthritic and have fibromyalgia and I have to literally micro-manage my every move in order to prevent adrenal fatigue, but I am so hoping, praying and wishing that once some of this weight comes off and I am in less pain, weight training will be possible again because I love it! 5) Say NO to sun bathing and chlorine – both of these dehydrate your skin. If you’re like me and love to be in the sun, use sunscreen or good clothing coverage. But, for me, I’m personally going to avoid too much direct exposure, at least between now and goal weight. It’s a healthy practice to get into anyway. Unfortunately it can be a catch 22 though, since so many sunscreens are full of skin harming chemicals. Your best bet = cover up! And for Heavens sake – stay out of the tanning bed! If you must go swimming, even in an indoor pool, wash that chlorine off ASAP. Can you say dry skin? 6) Regular Massage – I’m a big believer in massage for too many things to list, but treating your skin to regular massage stimulates your blood cells and lymphatic system. Your skin is your largest organ – treat it nicely 7) Protein – Lots of lean protein will give your skin the collagen and elastin that it needs to stay healthy. If you eat a bunch of crap – expect your skin to be crap, too. I know this from first hand experience. Any time I get off track and start feeding my body junk food, my skin is the first thing to suffer. 8) Use Decent Soap – it doesn’t have to be the most expensive thing on the market, but cleanse your skin with a decent moisturizing cleanser and avoid over-cleansing. 9) Essential Oils – my sister has recently delved into the essential oil world and I’ve really been impressed with some of the studies that have recently been put out. Lavender oil and almond oil just to name a few are amazing things. I add a few drops to my bath when I feel like soaking. It’s good for the skin and the lavender is oh-so-relaxing, too! 10) Compression Wear – The support group meeting that I attend is lead by a bariatric surgery nurse who himself has lost almost 300 lbs. in about 18 months post sleeve. He swears by compression clothing and says it doesn’t have to be the expensive stuff either. Just a good quality compression undershirt and leggings makes a big difference, he says. Some other ideas I’ve heard about on bariatricpal.com and in my other searches include things like taking beef gelatin, using or making body wraps, using lotion with caffeine, and eating lots of high antioxidant fruits and vegetables. Getting in “lots” of fruits and veggies is particularly challenging for VSG’ers because protein must come first and there’s often not a lot of room for extra. For this reason, taking a bariatric grade supplement for life is critical. A couple of funny comments that I got when I posted a question on a forum about ways to prevent loose skin was “youth” and “good genetics”. I got a good chuckle out of the youth one because now that I’m in my 40’s it’s certainly apparent that I’m not a teenager anymore. But, alas, healthy skin is something we should try to keep at any age. The bottom line is that none of this may work at all, but if I don't try, and I end up with loose skin, I'll wonder if it would have been better if I tried. If I try them all habitually and I still have loose skin, at least I'll only wonder if it would have been worse if I hadn't.
bobbyswife

bobbyswife

1
LaVerne's Journey
 

Struggles!

The countdown is at 19 days now. In my last post, I was kind of numb to what I felt about things. Not long after I wrote that post, things turned upside down for me and I've been tested and tried for the past week. I've been dealing with the loss of a grandparent and burying him on my birthday. I'm not sure about you guys, but when there's a death around here, everyone and their brother brings food for the family. My mother (who lives with us) has had some sort of episode that almost took her life. Amid those happenings, were my birthday on Monday and my daughter's yesterday. I'm so tired at this point, I don't know what to do with myself. With everything going on, I have failed my eating plan. My choices haven't been terrible except a few small slips here and there, but it's not structured and I have not been logging anything. I wouldn't even have my step counts if it weren't for my fit bit logging automatically. I feel like I've lost control of it all. I hope that things will settle down soon. I don't have much time left for this havoc! I have my pre-op appointment this afternoon. I'm nervous and don't know what to expect. I know I've lost a few pounds, but I'm worried that it's not as much as I'd like. I'm worried about talking about my shortcomings in the last couple of weeks. I really am motivated to have this surgery and change my life. I know I have to work extra hard in the coming weeks and months. I know I have to be normal to have these set backs, but I do NOT want to have this jeopardize my surgery. I know the surgeon can change his mind. While I know that the only reason he would is if he truly believed that I was not ready for this, but I am SO SO SO ready! I may not have the passion that I felt when this was all so new, but I still have the need and desire to be healthy. And I want to get started on that as soon as possible.   Maybe a visit with Doc will give me the boost I need to get through the next 19 days and give me that drive back. I always go in worried and stressed and come out with a totally different outlook. SO wish me luck guys...my time is drawing near.
<3 Carolina Girl <3

<3 Carolina Girl <3

0
Traci's Blog
 

What inspires me?

I am a goal-driven individual, it seems to be the best way to keep me on task. As part of this process, it was suggested that I should establish short-, mid-, and long-term goals to keep me going in this process. Despite being larger as a teenager, I was always strong and athletic. I would spend hours outside chopping wood, moving hay, or other manual things during my summer vacations. I biked from county-line to county-line just to say I did.   One of my short-term goals was to get back out on the slopes this winter. Its been several years since the last time I went out. Since before my knee surgery in February 2009. That year I had planned on spending new years out on the slopes, but instead, I spent that New Year's Day at the hospital getting an MRI scan on my knee. Yeah, not cool.   I have since healed from the knee thing, but I put on a lot of weight, and was really nervous about getting back out on the slopes. I often wonder how I allowed this to happen to me, but I shouldn't dwell on it. As I read recently, you can't move forward in life if you keep re-reading the last chapter.   My goal that is keeping my motivated and going at this time, over the holidays, I'm going north and I'm going to get on my snowboard for the first time in half a decade. The poor thing has been calling to me for the last several winters. This winter, I'm going to try to go as often as I can. Of course, I'm planning on working with an instructor early on in the season, to help me get my footing and balance back. In the meantime, my personal trainer is working with me on my balance, agility, and strength. Its SO exciting. Last night's workout was so inspiring. He was impressed with how strong I'm getting. I blew through all of his exercises without faltering. He said he'll continue to work on making it tougher to push me, but doesn't want to push me so far to injure me.   To help keep me focused, I decided to bring out my snowboarding pants and hang them where I will see them every morning when I get ready for work. It has been a long 4.5 months, but I've come so far. The first time I tried to put them on, I couldn't even get them past my thighs. As of last night, they come all of the way up, but I still have about 6 inches to lose around the belly before they will fit comfortably. I can do it. I've come this far, I'm not going to stop now.   I'm counting down until I can hit the slopes again... 65 days and counting... I think I want to target losing about 25-30lbs, just so I know that the pants will fit better. Compared to where I was just 4.5 months (and 75 lbs) ago, I am sooooo close!   Once I accomplish that, I can set my sights on my next set of goals... Running the Warrior Dash in July, and taking the nieces and nephews to Cedar Point to ride the roller coasters! Of course, with 8-10 eligible nieces and nephew (ie, old enough and big enough to ride the big coasters), I'll need to enlist the help of at least 1 other person to caravan down... but I think it would be fun if the siblings would join me.
Trace Lynne

Trace Lynne

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Traci's Blog
 

Quantifying My Loss

Over the weekend, I went to my grandmother's 90th birthday party, and this was the first time that many of my family members have seen me since I started this whole process back in May. Some of the comments I received confused me. Ok, so yes, I've lost 75 lbs, with a starting weight of 367 lbs. I still have about 150 lbs to go to get to my goal, that is another person's worth of weight I have to lose. To me, 75 lbs is only 1/3rd of the way to my goal. And there is so much more I have to lose.   The comments I received over the weekend just baffled me. I mean, sure, 75 lbs is significant, but people said thing to the effect of: Wow, now are you half the woman you used to be?! Yeah, I'm not at the half-way point.   It was also stated that someone mistook me for my younger (and littler) sister at first glance from afar. Oh, that is too funny. I'm sure she would appreciate that sentiment.   My dad's cousin came over to tell me that my dad has been talking about how I've been whittling away down to nothing. Sigh... that is so not true, but yes, I am getting smaller and, more importantly, healthier and stronger.   Sometime about mid-way through this event, I started to wonder if I LOOK like I've lost more weight than I actually have. I mean, that is totally feasible. I looked at my numbers today. At 367 lbs, I was at 63% body fat, and now at 292 lbs, my body fat is 48%. If you do the math, that is 91 lbs of body fat lost, plus 16 lbs of muscle gained. So, yes, I look look I've lost a bit more weight. I decided I needed to try to quantify that and found this image (attached) to compare the difference. It shows the difference between 5 lbs of fat vs 5 lbs of muscle. I have lost about 18 of those fat blobs, and gained about 3 of those muscle chunks.   Mind = blown   So, that's what people are seeing... now I get it... I can't wait until that number is even higher...
Trace Lynne

Trace Lynne

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