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Cici22's Blog
 

So much work even before I start my adventure....

I started my own diet and I been trying really hard to stick to 1,400 calories a day, it's been very hard but I want to loose 15 pounds before the surgery it's a requirement... However It's been over 3 weeks and I have lost a whopping 3 pounds and gained 1. I sure thought I was going too loose more but nope! Turn out I stay wayyy to hungry all the time I have cut soda candy and other stuff I been eating healthier drinking shakes and what not. I finally got an appointment to meet my surgeon on August 12 ad a Sleep Study on the 2nd. Yay! However I been on vacation for the last 7 days, I have not been tracking my food but I been swimming a lot. I'm nervous about the sleep study. Staying overnight alone with some strangers it's just weird! But let's see, this is an adventure!
Cici22

Cici22

2
Cici22's Blog
 

Weak Decision?

Hi, as you might have read, my name is Carmen. I am a mother of two, a 13 year old daughter, and a 9 year old son. Currently after 15 years working I am taking a break to continue my education. I am an EMT, and I am going to school for cosmetology. I been in the retail industry all my life. When I became and EMT, it was one if my great accomplishments, I was very happy. I started to work for a busy system in the City of Syracuse, and I was doing OK. At the end of my 15 hour days, I was in serious pain, but i got up every morning at 4am to go to work and do it all over again. But the pain got worst, i was barely able to stand on my feet less carry a heavy bag with an oxygen tank. I took a medical leave to address my condition. Resulting that I have arthritis on my back and my knees are deteriorating and I have tendinitis on my wrist. Anyone with arthritis now that pain only gets worst and it never gets better, I started taking medications for the pain that wouldn't allow me to drive the ambulance in the state. So I had to extend my leave indefinitely. My neck started to hurt, along with my ankles, and even so I decided to start going to school for cosmetology more standing up and more wrist work, What was I thinking? I figure I need to continue working on something I like doing but I want to make more for my work, and I want to work when I want to ( when not in pain). Anyways Its been a journey I am half way my journey (http://bbgbeauty.blogspot.com). My brother ended up in the hospital, also my mother. My brother had developed sleepanea, a sleeping disorder mostly on obese people. He weight at almost 600 pounds. He had let himself go. He was in the hospital for many months until he was able to get out he now weights around 550. He can barely walk, or breathe he ended up with a tracheal tube for life or until he gets his weight under control.     Now my mother is battling her foot to diabetes in the hospital and they ha to amputate all her toes.   I go trough a lot with them and finally get them into my home and they doing a little better. But its far from over, my mom goes again more times to the hospital and still struggling to keep her leg now in top of everything my boyfriend ends up in the emergency room because of his diabetes. I said to my self no more...       I decided I am not going to end up like them, to this date I don't have diabetes, I might be in the border of Sleepanea, I might already have it. I don't have high cholesterol but my blood pressure is very high and I take medications for these. I talk to them about loosing weight and that we could do it together, they seem reluctant to the idea of eating less and healthier. I guess I am on my own right now. Each person's health is their own decision. My mom is somewhat supportive, she "tried to keep me under control with sweats" and by trying i mean she waves them in front of me and says resist the temptations! lol . My boyfriend has gone so far to the info group and support groups in the area for me and have allow me to expend a little extra on healthy foods. We all know that healthy food is more expensive... but thats another topic. So I went to the information group to gather information about the Gastric Bypass Surgery, and I have learn a lot. I also went online to research, and I been to support groups in the area. I filled my paperwork and submitted to the surgeons. I am awaiting a date to start the process. It should be this week. They called me last week but I was missing my doctors referral, which hopefully they faxed today. I been on a diet on my own so i can gradually start my transition to better eating. Its been hard. I am limited to 1,400 calories a day, witch is not much compared to what I was eating before. its like torture, to the point that I don't want to leave my room into the world because everything is food, advertised, in commercials, int he internet, on games, in my kitchen, my family and kids, across the street next door, its everywhere, the temptations are all there, its worst than drugs. And for someone that has been big since a child, and never been restricted on what I can eat because my motto was, "I am going to die anyways might as well die happy" Well, i rather die happy but not suffering restricted to a bed or not able to enjoy life. I want to be able to fit in the roller coaster so when my daughter goes in a date I can follow her and get in the same rides as her and her boyfriend. I want to be able to fit on normal clothes and spend $20 less on a shirt. I want to be able to run after my future grand kids, I want to be able to have a snore free sleep, and wake up energized, I don't want to be afraid of a stroke or diabetes. I want to keep all my limbs, I want to be able to work and make money! I want to be able to wash the dishes with less pain on my back and knees, and I want to be able to go back to being a great EMT and live a long healthy life. And more than anything I want to go to my birth country and shove it on their faces that I was able to loose weight and I ams till beautiful as I was before. So this is why I decided to do the gastric bypass. Even thou a lot of people say you can do it without the surgery, I might... but YES i am opting for the easier way, where I will have less chance of failure. Once my stomach is smaller, I will able to be full with less food thus being different from now, that I eat less but i am still hungry. And I don't care if people don't agree with me on doing this surgery, it my decision, and if I am weak for doing it, so be it.   Pre-Operation: Currently I weight 280 pounds I lost 3 pounds in 2 weeks. Here are some of my current pics, They are gross, but I want you to have an idea of the real situation and have a visual concept of my progress.
Cici22

Cici22

0
Roo101769's Blog
 

A New Day

Yesterday I sailed through my psych evaluation. The doctor said the fact I have already been making changes and trying to create new, lifelong habits will increase my odds of success. He said he has no problems supporting me because he knows I have researched this a great deal and I know the risks/benefits. I'm not the internet diva for nothing!!! LOL So his report will be turned in today and I am that much closer. I got my "check list" from Dayton Bariatrics yesterday. Many of the to do items are things that are out of my hands ( like requesting 2 yrs medical records and my PCP letter of recommendation) Considering my PCP is the one who referred me to Dr.Bruce I am not very concerned he will provide the items requested. I have my NUT appointment today. Not exactly sure how many of those I do, but I will do them. I also have to have a pulmonary check since I had the two pulmonary embolism. I'm not worried about that though, my lungs are fine. The only thing that "may" hold me up is the misinformation about a required 6 mos. medically supervised diet. Dayton Bariatrics stated that my insurance listed it as a pre qualification. Yet I have now verified TWICE with Anthem that it is NOT required by my plan. The rep I spoke with Monday said he would contact the office and let them know it is incorrect information. I have no doubt Anthem screwed up. Considering they initially told them I was excluded from coverage for the surgery when it is covered!!! But even if this miscommunication fails to be cleared up I am still sitting in a pretty good place. I actually started a "medically supervised diet" in March. My old insurance required 12 mos. of it. So, before my leg took a turn for the worse, I had started taking the steps I needed to qualify. Granted there has not been much dieting going on these past 5+months, and little exercise. But I have been under constant medical supervision, thanks to my leg. And it is on record I started in March, therefore September will be 6 mos.!! So to avoid another 6 months of waiting, I am sure my PCP will state I completed the required 6 months if they fail to clear it up. Wait...I just got a call back from the Anthem rep!!! Wow, ok he earns a gold star in my book. He did research things further and found the only thing the plan requires is you receive the nutritional counseling and must follow their advice. So if they want you to do counseling for a few months you have to. But heck, your bariatric doctor would require you to also. But there is NO, I repeat NO, required medically supervised diet time frame. The guy had actually already tried to call the office but the girl who does insurance was not in yet, so he will be calling them back this afternoon. I thanked him very much for his help. As I told him, I have no issue at all if I am required to do nutritional counseling. It is part of the process. But I do not want to be held back from surgery just because my doctor believes there is a requirement of my insurance that there is not. He agreed fully and said he had no problem at all making sure they understand. So now I am STOKED!!! Not sure how it will go with the NUT today. I am hoping that they will be like the psychologist and see I am already working to change so I can succeed. I have done a LOT of research about what to eat, nutritional needs post surgery. So I won't be walking in there clueless. Just have to wait and see what they think....
Roo101769

Roo101769

1
Fibro Diva's Bariatric Blog
 

The WLS, "Food", and Fibro

I saw the nutritionist yesterday and she told me I can start a protien diet tomorrow. She says I can not start a full liquid diet until Septemember 12 and won't be able to move to soft foods until September 26.   I'm glad to see so many earyly Augusters have already started soft foods. I know that the LCMH crew wants me to lose at much weight as quickly as possible but I do want to take it slow so I can begin exercising and strengthening muscle along the way.   Have a comfortable day everyone.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0
Fibro Diva's Bariatric Blog
 

Fibromyalgia and Insulin Resistance

I’m not saying that severe Fibro symptoms is only experienced by overweight people with FM. I know several pwf who are average or underweight. I also know a few people with diabetes who are average or underweight. By providing the info below, I am acknowledging that some of us do need to know this info.   Fibromyalgia and Insulin Resistance   The pain, stiffness, malaise and fatigue of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome [Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)] often cause people with FM or CFS/ME to become sedentary. This sedentary lifestyle may lead to severe weight gain and obesity. Obesity has been linked to insulin resistance. Researchers have found that “insulin resistance is a fundamental aspect of the etiology of type 2 diabetes and is also linked to a wide array of other [conditions] including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis. . . the metabolic syndrome, or syndrome X, and, polycystic ovarian disease.” [1]   MedicineNet.com reports, “insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is an essential hormone that has many actions within the body. Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition in which the normal response to a given amount of insulin is reduced within the body. Higher levels of insulin are needed in order for insulin to have its proper effects. So, the pancreas compensates by trying to produce more. Insulin resistance is a risk factor for development of diabetes and heart disease.” [2]   So what does all this have to do with Fibromyalgia? Well, how many of us with Fibro, [overweight, underweight, average weight], have experienced the cognitive impairment referred to as Fibro Fog. Fibro Fog is that episode of forgetting words, walking into a room and forgetting what we went in there to get, losing thoughts or words, etc. One study found that an increase in insulin resistance in people with FM [pwf] may be a risk factor for increased Fibro Fog. [3]       Endnotes: _____________________________________________________________________________   [1]Obesity and insulin resistance, Barbara B. Kahn, Jeffrey S. Flier, Published in Volume 106, Issue 4 J Clin Invest. 2000; 106(4):473–481 doi:10.1172/JCI10842 [2]http://www.medicinenet.com/insulin_resistance/article.htm#what_is_insulin_resistance [3]Insulin resistance possible risk factor for cognitive impairment in fibromialgic patients. Fava A, Plastino M, Cristiano D, Spanò A, Cristofaro S, Opipari C, Chillà A, Casalinuovo F, Colica C, De Bartolo M, Pirritano D, Bosco D. Metab Brain Dis. 2013 Jul 28.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0
pcosmommyof4's Blog
 

Happy with True Results

II am very happy with True Results to fix my port at their costs. My procedure will be on Thursday this week and 11am. I have to be their for the procedure at 10am....http://tinkrisegrind.blogspot.com/2013/08/revision-happy-with-true-results.html
pcosmommyof4

pcosmommyof4

0
melissa130's Blog
 

What am i doing?

I have been allowing myself pretzels every night. My surgery was in January. I have lost 106 pounds. I have to stop eating these pretzels. I never had a stall once in all these months - until 3 weeks ago when I started eating this snack. Now the scale has been stuck. I can't believe I have done this to myself. I stayed away from carbs for 7 months. Why would I do this? I have to stop - right now. Jesus please help me. Please help fight the urge to snack. I don't want this surgery to be all for nothing. I have been feeling so guilty and ashamed. I don't ever want to be fat again. Jesus, please hear my prayer.
melissa130

melissa130

2
Patty's WLS Blog
 

Tears of joy

My husband & I were talking, and I got a bit emotional about this journey and so thankful for his support.....the poor man, he is my sole support......well, that and VST!   He's never asked how much I weighed, but knew I was over 200 pounds. I was 250 in January.....forget about getting to a healthy weight....I was feeling overwhelmed at the possibility at just getting below 200 and feeling I would never reach that goal.   Today I weighted in at 217 and got teary eyed when I realized getting under 200 is possible, and it's in sight.....don't know how long it'll take to get there, but am giving it my all.   My husband is hurt that I don't wear my wedding band/engagement ring. I already had them sized 5 years after we married...back in 1989....and I refused to have them sized again--unless it's smaller.....felt if I got them sized again to a bigger size it was acknowledging I'll never get to a healthy weight.....and I wasn't going down w/o a fight.   He has no clue, but I can now wear my wedding rings......our anniversary is coming up in a few weeks....I plan on surprising him by wearing them....I'm so excited, I want to wear them now....but I don't want to ruin the surprise.....wish me luck!
PGee

PGee

4
cheryl2586's Blog
 

Total blessings

My husband sent me a text today that said " Anyone can like you for your looks, but it's your personality that makes someone fall in love with you". I stop and think about that now because I was so obsessed with this band and what I needed to do. Who I needed to be but in his eyes I am who I need to be at 300lbs or 0lbs. Yes it gave me my life back to enjoy many more years with him but it's time to move on now and not be so over concerned with a pound here or there. It's time to enjoy my life with my wonderful husband and stop letting that weight demon control my every thought. I enjoyed ice cream today without feeling guilty because in all reality we owe ourselves to enjoy life. Will I get more tomorrow? No. But it doesn't matter if I did or not that is not what life is about anymore for me. We spend every week wishing for Friday and for what to only be a week older and life getting shorter. At 50 I have learned that I missed out on so much being over weight but now I am missing out on so much being obsessed with everything I put in my mouth. I don't want to live in the weight prison anymore. I don't want the scale to rule my life. I am blessed and healthy and this band in my stomach does not define the person I am it only makes me look in the mirror to think "you look good now" Well to my husband I looked good then. I just did not like the way I looked and I have learned loving myself is the freedom I really needed not a band to make me who I am. I wont resort to food anymore for sadness but I am living like a normal person should and enjoying every minute of it. I never cheated on my weight loss trip but it did not make me any better then those that do. It just got me where I wanted to be faster. I guess what I am trying to say is be happy and love yourself and let the band be second nature not your first thought every day. Do what you need to do to get where you need to be but don't let it consume your every hour. There are too many things out there to enjoy a little bit at a time. We all have to do it our own way but you also have to love yourself to do it at all. The band is the house and you have to do the interior decorating. Love to my friends.
cheryl2586

cheryl2586

1
newmeIowa's Blog
 

Half way to goal and 4 sizes down!

I'm 2 and 1/2 months out of surgery and 62 lbs down. I went shopping for the first time a couple of weeks ago and bought size 16's! Last time I went 22's were tight! It made me so happy that one of my big goals is within reach - shopping in 'regular' stores.   I'm jogging 3 miles now and really finding it rewarding and a wonderful excuse to have some "ME" time away from Dear Husband and my 4 boys.   I survived the Iowa State Fair today just fine. I took a bite or two from my favorite things then DH ate the rest. I didn't even feel the desire to eat like I used to - shocked me!   School starts this week, so I'm a bit nervous about seeing everyone again. I've decided to stop explaining my weight loss in terms of 'since surgery' and 'total loss' - I'm just going with total because those first 20 lbs. before the surgery are just as real.   Now what to wear the first day back - hmmm . . . maybe I'll post that pic when I finally decide.
newmeIowa

newmeIowa

1
Chimera's Blog
 

New Pinterest fad may fuel unhealthy fitness obsession

http://www.today.com...sion-6C10866502   Melissa Dahl TODAY 6 hours ago pinterest.com So you’re on the couch entering hour three of a Pinterest binge. This is a time when you probably could use a little motivation to get yourself to finally log off and drag your butt to the gym.   That’s essentially the point of “fitspiration” – a cutesy, Internetty term for images and slogans meant to inspire people to meet their fitness goals, hundreds of which are posted and pinned every day on image-heavy social media sites like Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram. And a lot of “fitspo,” as it’s nicknamed, does a great job of doing what it’s intended to do: inspire people to get and stay fit, say body image experts and fitness bloggers. But mixed right into those healthy messages are also some sneakily harmful underlying themes. “A lot of these things are very reasonable -- they say things like ‘Just start,’” says David LaPorte, a psychologist at Indiana University of Pennsylvania who has studied body image and social media. “Or, I love this one: ‘Failure isn’t falling down; it’s refusing to get back up.’ “The trouble is when you surround all those good messages with images of people that are unattainable for most women, quite frankly,” he says. Because many of the “fitspo” images actually look a lot like “thinspiration” – and if you’re unaware of that term, do a quick search on Pinterest, Tumblr or Instagram. You’ll immediately find thousands of photos of heartbreakingly thin young women (and some guys, too, but mostly young women): It’s a lot of protruding hipbones, visible rib cages, “thigh gaps." Search for “fitspiration,” and you’ll see pages and pages of similar images -- it's usually a headless shot, zoomed in on a defined, flat set of sweaty abs. Here's a couple examples of these images from Tumblr:   “It sets up an equally unrealistic standard of beauty, but it’s under the guise of being healthy,” says Charlotte Hilton Anderson, a fitness blogger from Denver. On her blog, she’s called fitspo “thinspo in a sports bra,” and many body image experts say she’s exactly right. Recently, Tumblr and Pinterest responded to reports about the negative impact of “thinspo” or “thinspiration” by placing PSA-style language at the top of the results page when a user searches for those and other terms that may promote self-harm; Instagram banned both hashtags entirely. But fitspo has so far stayed mostly under the radar. Out of curiosity, LaPorte pulled up two Pinterest pages to look at them side-by-side: in one he’d searched for thinspiration and the other, fitspiration. “There are very, very subtle differences, but they look, for all intents and purposes, identical,” says Laporte, who was half-seriously designing a study as we spoke over the phone. (“We could pull them up and have people sort them out by fitspo or thinspo,” he mused. “I’m going to have to put an undergrad on this one.”) It’s worth noting the similarities because researchers who study body image and mental health have linked “thinspo” to some potentially damaging consequences. In 2010, LaPorte published a study that showed even when people with no history of eating disorders briefly looked at thinspo sites, it actually changed their eating patterns: On average, they ate about 3,000 fewer calories the next week. The participants only clicked around the thinspo sites for about 90 minutes at a time.   “Now imagine you’re a 16 or a 14 year old … and you go onto these websites for hours,” LaPorte says.   And a 2006 Italian study found that thinspo sites worsen some of the issues associated with eating disorders: specifically, asceticism, competition and obsession for control. Few academic studies have looked at thinspiration, and none have considered fitspiration. But psychologist Mia Holland, who specializes in treating patients with eating disorders, sees more than a few links between fitspo and compulsive exercise. While scrolling through a “fitspiration” tagstream on Pinterest, slogans like “Exercise til it hurts” and “Pain is only in your mind” particularly stood out to Holland. “Those are very unhealthy mottos to live by when exercising. If something hurts, STOP,” Holland said via email. “The body is a great barometer of its own tolerance. Yes, we do experience some discomfort when working out. … However, if the pain is unbearable, it is time to stop! “Slight discomfort can mean a muscle is working – full pain means we are pushing it too hard and need to stop,” she says. Holland reiterates that there really is some healthy, positive stuff under the fitspo and fitspiration hashtags, too, like healthful recipes or practical and safe workout tips. And if the fitspo online community is where you’re getting your encouragement to lace up your running shoes and head out the door – well, that’s wonderful, and you should keep it up! But be sure you're aware of some of the sneaky, negative messages hiding there. “(Fitspiration) does contain some good advice and healthy recipes, but that can veil the hidden negative and potentially harmful messages such as ‘Exercise til it hurts,’” Holland says. “If someone sees the positive information listed ... they will be swayed to think all of (fitspiration) is positive and helpful – when in fact, it is not.” Jodi Rubin, the creator of Destructively Fit, a training program to help fitness instructors spot eating disorders in their clients, offers this advice for people who want to participate in the online fitness community without becoming dangerously obsessive about it: Being active can and should be fun, she reminds. “I use that as a gauge often,” Rubin says. “Hopefully, exercise is fun for people. When it starts to become a drag, when it starts to feel like if I don’t go then I’m not going to feel good about myself” – that’s when it becomes a potential problem, she says.
Chimera

Chimera

1
Rainicornicopia: An Unabridged History of the Rainicorns
 

Even more scared :(

I had an allergic reaction to plasma. Broke out in hives. No surgery until tomorrow.   My blood isn't clotting as well as it should. Which is why the plasma. I took no aspirin so they've narrowed it down to not enough vitamin k, which is in veggies, which I can't have on the liquid diet.   I had a panic attack while getting hives. I also was used as a damn pin cushion for 15 minutes until the specialist got there and nailed the blood draw in 1 shot. I cried, they really dug around in my hand.   I just got home, then up at 5 am to be back at the hospital by 7.     This is my first hospital stay ever. And it was horrible. I'm afraid to go back in the morning. I've never had plasma before, and this happens on the first try.   It's like Karma is trying to kick my ass.
A_New_Lily

A_New_Lily

1
Adrienne21's Blog
 

first fill

I had my first fill today and it wasn't fun. I have two bruises and two bandages over my port. I had to get them standing up. I am going to try to work with the fill i received so that I can stay away from being prodded with that big darn needle. I was livid when I saw that I only lost 3.2 pounds but now that I think about it. I dont feel bad about it. I look great in my old clothes and I can go down stairs without sweating.   I was told to stop with the bread, rice and pasta.. I had my hand slapped for that one. I was also told to exercise five days a week for at least an hour. so starting next week that is my new goal.
Adrienne21

Adrienne21

6
dylanmiles23's Blog
 

last night's Night Line! OMG!

I stay up very late at night and sleep very late. So last night's Night Line showed and talked about having a piece of mesh sewed to your tongue for 1 month to control your eating! It was gross. It cost $2000. and was being done by a plastic surgeon in CA. He said you lose 15-20 pounds by having just protein shakes. What happens after he takes the mesh off? You gain it back! of course. They showed 2 women and they were thrilled with their results. Comments from any of you! I just told my husband, he fell asleep and he couldn't believe people would pay for this. There is Slim Fast and other protein shakes and they don't cost $2000. People will do anything to make money from over weight suckers, I mean people. Have a great day everyone. Arlene
dylanmiles23

dylanmiles23

3
My journey
 

I've reached my surgeon's goal!

I got on the scale this morning, and I am now 190 lbs, my surgeon's goal! I had gone camping for a week with my son's Boy Scout troop, and did pretty much EVERYTHING wrong. I tried my best, but it was hard. I didn't get nearly enough protein, water, ate too fast, and ate not the right things. I got home and was down a lb. But then, the next day I was down 2 more. And the next day (today), down another. I have lost 84 lbs from my top weight. My wife and a few other people are telling me I am starting to look too skinny. I don't agree, I'd like to lose another 10 or so lbs. I'm still not even considered in the 'normal' range yet, 189 is the upper end of the normal range for 6'1".
BigDaddyJoe

BigDaddyJoe

2
smjuroska's Blog
 

3 weeks...what?

So I am 3 weeks out from surgery! Can I get a woo hoo! I am starting to feel more like me and not a weight loss patient. As I see it this feeling can only improve as I progress. I can actually sit down with my family and have meals. Albeit I can't eat exactly what they are eating but I can eat with them and have my own plate of food (I am offically on soft foods for a week or so)! Been loving my fish soft veggies and chicken salad! I notice too I can tolerate a whole 1/4 sometimes even 1/2 of cup of food! I ate nearly a whole tomato (a very small tomato from my garden like gold ball size) and 1/2 cup of chicken salad yesterday. I freaked out! I actually called myself a pig to my hubby! WHAT?! My hubby looked at me and said are you kidding our 18 month old eats more than that?! Yeah he is right, I was just having a OMG moment. I get them sometimes even this early out! I had to get rid of some clothes this week. I had some things that were baggy and needed to go. I am not going to be one of those people who are going to wear saggy sad clothes. I like my clothes to fit, saggy butt is not cute! I have always looked nice no matter what size. It ain't changing! But as I was getting rid of things I thought really Shannon you might needs these again! Where the hell did this negative girl come from? I ofcourse pushed on and thought shut up negative nelly these clothes are outta here. What a feeling of accomplishment! The scale has tempted me this week! I hopped on today after swearing I was going to only weigh in on Fridays! I had lost but I don't want the scale to determine my success. I knew I had lost because my clothes were getting loose. That stupid number is just a number! But it still has power over me and I was glad it went down! This is something I am working on! Stalls WILL HAPPEN and I need toprepare myself for that. Previous diet attempts this is usually were I would give up and go on a binge so to speak! Not this time thanks to my sidekick sleevey! We are going to get through stalls like nobody's business! (I hope I don't became a blubbering mess!) Anyway, I am thankful so far for my surgery and feel I have a realistic mindset and postive attitude through the very short sleeved experience. Hope I can keep this sunny outlook! Things that are working for me are... I don't track my food calories or carbs. Nor will I ever do that again! I eat a healthy balanced diet. I try to keep a rough count of protein and make sure I get my water for the day (all in my head). I go by how I feel. I know what 64oz of water is. I know what dehydration feels like and the signals that I need more. I didn't get this surgery to became obsessed with every bit of food that passes my lips! Which honestly is not very much! I did that before and I am not living like that again! It didn't work and caused eating to be a form of punishment and when I failed (i.e. ate a cupcake) I would beat myself up. Plus I have two girls and I don't want to pass on those negative traits to them. I remember my mom always being on a diet growing up and it affected how I was! I thought my self worth was based on my weight and clothes size. Right now while I am healing I have to change things up but my girls know mommy's tummy is healing. I am not dieting! If I have moments of weakness I don't let them see it. (like calling my self fat or pig!) I am not perfect but I am trying not to pass this to them! I love food and different flavors and still do! So I experiement with different spices and mix it up. I always ate healthy foods before and enjoyed them but let my weak moments sabatoge all the good I put in. I am following my guidelines but also listening to my body. For instance I was not suppose to start pureed for 2 weeks but at 1 week 5 days I needed a little more fuel to fill me up and moved to pureeds. I am not advocating this but I am very in tuned to my body and it worked for me. I am active and needed more than I was getting! Next week I may not be ready for "real" foods and may hang on soft foods longer. We will see! I take my measurements every week! I have lost 14 inches from my thighs waist hips arms and bust! Lets me see how my body is shrinking! That is more exciting than weighing and will get me through those stalls! I don't talk alot to others about my weight loss or surgery. If they mention it I say yeah I am feeling great and I am doing well and that is it. If they mention my weight loss I say Thank you! I am Shannon not a SLEEVE. I happened to have surgery but people who had gallbladder surgery don't constantly talk about it! This is my outlet for that not my real day to day life. I had the surgery to get healthy and prevent future health problems. Not for it to become who I am! I do not do fat free sugar free. I eat real foods! I can't wait to not need the protein drinks and shakes! As soon as I can consume enough protein from foods they are going out with the trash! I believe real whole foods are best for my body! I eat a piece of chocolate everyday (started back when I went to soft foods)! I buy the good stuff and have a square every night! It give me sweet dreams! Plus a small piece of dark chocolate has health benefits! Moderation is key here! Well that is what is on my mind today! Go out and enjoy life and have a great day!
smjuroska

smjuroska

4
HappyCat's Blog
 

298 Down to 98 - Can't Believe It!

I have the greatest NSV news ever! I got the results of my first labs post-op and my triglycerides went down from a whopping (for me- I know I wasn't the worst) 298 high risk to a normal range 98!!! My overall cholesterol count is now 178, down from 260. My LDL And HDL have also vastly improved. I was so happy I thought I might just float away!   The last time those numbers were in the healthy range for me was in 1998, so you can understand my excitement If I ever had any doubts about having the sleeve, it would be because "what if my cholesterol stays the same? Will it be worth the risks just to come out of it with the same CHD risk factor?" Now I have my answer! If I never lose another pound, another inch or get back any discernable muscle tone, it has officially all been worth it to have been sleeved.   I was 3 months out on August 6th: I am now 186 lbs and bought my first pair of size 14 pants yesterday. My bra size has decreased from 44DDD to 38DD and shirt size down from 2X to XL.   Thanks to my sister for suggesting I look into the sleeve option and to Dr. Snyder for giving me this opportunity for better health and a longer life! Love to my sweet husband, family, friends and coworkers who have been positive and awesomely supportive from day one. I am truly blessed.   I am sending out positive vibes to all my current and future sleeve sisters and brothers for success in your personal journeys, as well! Don't worry about speed, just stay focused on progress - no matter how incremental - and stay positive~   HappyCat xxx
HappyCat

HappyCat

2
Veruca Salt's Blog
 

Please enlighten me

I would love to hear your opinion on this post.   I sit at work and wonder why life is so unjust. All my life I have struggled for everything I have. As a teenager I had to work for any money I needed. I did not get to go on the class trips, I did not get the yearbok, famcy clothes yet I worked and learned how to get what I wanted and what I needed. As an adult I still struggled, with a 1 year old son I went to college and earned a degree, and still worked my way through at RadioShack. Due to circumstances beyond my control I found myself a single parent. Once I finished college I moved back to my hometown area and my son and I started a life. No help from my parents, young and not being able to leave the home even to meet people. I went garage sale to garage sale buy this and that. I filled my 1 bedroom apartment. He got the bedroom and I on the couch. Once I settled I landed a job at WalMart (hey it's something). I was having trouble finding a way to work and get my child off to school, at no point in my life did I ask for or take a goverment handout. My mother told me I need to stay at home with my son and collect welfare. I wanted more for him and myself. I wanted to work. This whole time my parents lived right below me and would never help. When I did ask them for help she told me there is a shelter in our area that would take us in. Slowly over time and my son growup. I started different jobs paying more money. Was able to purachse a washer and dryer and moved into a mobile home (2 BEDROOMS). I got up to working 2 jobs but that took away a lot of time with my son and cost a lot for a babysitter. When my son was 9 I met a man and seem to be the dream life. We all moved in together and I found that "Larry" did not have any thing of his own, like money, the house was in foreclosure and the diswasher was filled with bills (how can I make that one up). I found that I was pregant. I had a wonderful daughter. As Larry's drinking was consuming his life I took my kids and moved out again. Starting over, I bought my first piece of new furnature, A COUCH. Things were always tough but I figured that as much as I have been through I can start over again. Now my son is an adult and in the Navy, I could not be prouder. My aughter is now 9 years old and I found myself a man when she was 2. He is not a perfect man, we keep our money seperate and split the bill. We have been together for 7 years now. To sum up the run on drama story. Why do sone people get life handed to them and have no clue the value of a dollar, or don't mind sitting on their butt's waiting for the goverment to send them something to barely live on and here am I. Working like a dog 3 shift making just enough to pay my bills and have a little left. WHY IS IT SO UNFAIR, life that is......
Veruca Salt

Veruca Salt

3
lizrox's Blog
 

Fighting myself - nearly 12 weeks postop

Well, as I approach 12 weeks post op I am struggling with my looks. I have lost about 50 lbs since the surgery and certainly my body is changing. I have been swimming and walking all summer but I haven't really hit the gym.   Two theories I have about my displeasure with my current body: 1) When I weighted nearly 300 lbs I had totally given up. I didn't look at myself in the mirror at all and I didn't care that I had to wear tents for clothes. Now I look in the mirror a few times a day. I see my breasts deflating and feel like a melting snowman. But it means that I haven't given up on myself anymore. I actually care. It sucks to feel bad, but it is better than just feeling numb. 2) My body isn't shedding lbs evenly. My waist has nicely decreased but my hips haven't moved so it makes my hips look even larger than before b/c the proportions are so far off. So hopefully if I get more general cardio into my life things will even out.   It sucks that I can't celebrate loosing this weight. People keep telling me how great I look, and I just beat myself up for still having to squeeze my fat a$$ into a size 18.   Well hopefully I'll keep working on these negative feelings and turn them around quickly.
lizrox

lizrox

2
Fibro Diva's Bariatric Blog
 

Nightshades, Fibromyalgia, Weight Loss, OH My!

Since I'm starting the elimination diet phase of post surgery and will now have to live on a restrictive diet for the rest of my life, I decided to talk about food and Fibromyalgia. Before deciding to go through with the verticle sleeve surgery, I began developing food allergies to items I have been eating since a baby. My allergist and Fibro specialist both agreed that Fibro may be related to this frustrating phenomenum.   Not much research has been conducted on the connection between food and Fibro but many years ago I attended a support group lead by a leader named Neava. Neava studied this connection because she personally suffered many food allergies and sensitivities. One topic she discussed was Nightshades.   The nightshade family encompasses some common fruits and vegetables, including:   *Potatoes (but not sweet potatoes) *Tomatoes *Eggplant *Sweet & hot peppers *Ground cherries (a small orange fruit somewhat similar to a tomato) *Goji berries   Like many people and some researchers, Neava strongly believed that nightshades aggravate the symptoms of conditions such as arthritis, Fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue CFS/ME. There is a chemical in these foods, glycoalkaloids, that some people with FM (pwf) may be sensitive to - like some people are sensitive to gluten.   he only way to know for sure how foods impact your symptoms is to experiment and pay close attention. One great tool for that is the elimination diet, and it also helps if you keep a detailed food/symptom diary.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

2
Fibro Diva's Bariatric Blog
 

Family Support: Thanks for those special BFFs

So this past weekend was really bad. I was home alone and dry heaving and could not reach any of my children, family or friends on the phone for comfort. Suddenly, I received a text message from my best friend who lives on the opposite side of the country.   This simple text said, "I've been out of touch cause I'm working at a Bariatric Center as an emergency medical director (she's a doctor) and I'm just checking on you. How's your oral intake?"   I realized that I had not had all my daily fluids. Once I began drinking more, I began feeling better.   Yeah for BFFs
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

0

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