Oregondaisy

How did you know you had a hernia? I have this spot that really hurts if I strain to have a BM. It feels like my intestines are moving around . Sometimes, I can actually see them moving.

I'm really glad to hear he made a real effort to address your concerns. If guys aren't willing to bend a little, there is just plain NO HOPE. I don't know what the heck I am going to do with Jim. I keep telling him over and over that I only like him as a friend, and he will say something like "I can't wait until you're my sweetheart" It's like if he he says it enough, it will come true. Once you broke it off with Theo and the one before him, did they say they wanted to stay friends, and still do things together? I can't really avoid Jim because he goes to all the things that the ballroom dance club holds. I did better today with not eating one thing after another. I can't gain anymore weight. I have to start going down , not keep going up. I will have no clothes to wear!

You don't have to follow 5:2 completely. There was a thread in here about an alternative. I believe it was only eat between certain hours. I think it was 8 hours. After a certain time, like 7pm (or whatever time you choose) it's the cut off point. Then you can fast for 12 hours. It's the grazing that's bad for me. That's why 5:2 worked so well for me. It stopped my night time snacking. To stay at goal, I have to be very regimented - 3 meals and one evening snack.

Sounds like all of are fighting regain again. I've done nothing to day but watch tv and eat. Tomorrow has to be better. I have too many of those 100 calorie little packs of junk. I have to try to get the carbs back out of my life so I'll stop craving sugar all the time. We all need to start over again with 5:2, Let's see if I can manage a fast day. Last time I did 5:2, I had to pretty much stop eating out. I go out to lunch or out to dinner way to often. Sheryl, I hope you two work things out so you're getting what you need out of this relationship. It sounds like he does have a bunch of great assets that would want you to keep him around in your life. I wish I weren't stuck in this isolated little isolated little town. There's so little chance that I'll ever meet anyone decent around here. I may start looking in Portland again. My back hurts a lot and the pain pills just make me want to rip off my skin because they make me itch so bad. I'd rather have the pain. I hope I start to not need pain pills soon. It's really hard when I'm not supposed to bend, twist, or lean forward. I'm not supposed to sit for more than 30 min in the same position. It's hard to find a comfortable position.

Sheryl, Have you and Kevin talked and found a way to understand each other better regarding whatever it was that upset you? I hope so. It's good for things to come out early. It seems when you first meet someone, things are so perfect for awhile. Eventually, something is bound to come up. It's how it's worked out that makes the difference.

Where are you going in Mexico? I went there. I hope you're going to Mexicali. It's so easy to drive in from Arizona. My parents lived there, and I went to Mexico by myself and came home by myself. Just read all you can, and research the surgeon before you pick one. .

Thank you Cathy and CGJ! I'm doing okay, other than the pain pills causing so much itchiness.I'm going to the dr. to get the dressing changed and I'm going to ask for something different. One good thing, I seemed to have lost my appetite. I hope that feeing lasts a few more days.

HI all! Thank you so much for all your kind words of encouragement. I am using the copmputer in the hospital visitors waiting area. I haven't been on a computer so slow in years! My daughter didn't want to go and get my lap top and I didn't want to bring it with me because I didn't know where it would go while they were doing the surgery. I wish I had it. I am so bored. Anyway, surgery went well. He removed a big giant cyst on my spine that he said was due to arthirtis and inflamation. It was pressing on my nerves. He also did what is called a laminectomy. They said I could go home in the morning if I did a lot of walking so that's what I am doing. It really only hurts a lot getting into and out of bed. Lucklly, at home, I only have to do that once per day. I won't have those rails to help pull myself up. Bill is going to come and help take care of me. We are still in touch but I have completely changed my boundaries so we don't see much of each other. It's not like he has to stay around 24/7.. I know there are certain things I will need help with for awhile, and I know I can count on him. My daughter works, so she can't help me all the time.

I can't believe I just saw this thread. I hated my turkey neck so much that I had a lower face lift. I had it done in Mexico for 5,000. Everyone has told me (that knows) that they have never seen a more natural look. I'm 62 and I just didn't want to have to keep going back to get injections. I am thinking I might start getting some sort of filler around my eyes. I don't have before and after pictures. I don't like having my picture taken. I love the way it looks. However, it's been 3 years now, and I still have numbness around my cheeks. Nerves got cut and I don't think this numbness will ever go away. It's improved a lot, but not gone completely.

It's good that you're scared. People are under the impression that once you get to goal, the fight is over. The truth is, it's just begun. Keeping the weight off is a challenge you will continue to face from here on out. Maintenance is very tricky and you must just keep doing what you've done to lose the weight. 3 small meals and at the most 2 small Snacks. Protein first. There are a lot of us who are fighting regain, but we're doing it together here. This place is your best place for support and encouragement. I'm 5 years out now, and I am still at goal, but I did gain 15 lbs back when I started grazing too much, and snacking too much while socializing. It was not nearly as easy to lose it again as it was when I was first sleeved. Now I am a lot more vigilant about watching what I eat and weighing regularly.

I'm glad everyone is still checking in. Maintenance is so tricky. Life is different now that we are no longer obese. We socialize more, and there is food everywhere. I am freaked out because I am having back surgery tomorrow, and I won't be able to exercise for awhile. I'll be able to sit and lay around being bored, which is a really bad idea in maintenance.

You did the right thing, Sheryl. You have to express your feelings. I really feel for all of you taking care of your parents. I went through that for such a long time, trying to do it with me here in Oregon and them in Arizona. Now they are gone, and I miss them of course, but everything seemed to have happened the way it was supposed to . Neither of them had any long drawn out illnesses. I was always afraid I would get the call "get here as fast as you can" I definitely need this surgery. I looked at my MRI and I can see how my spinal canal is closed up cutting off the nerves. I hope it goes well. I have such a low pain tolerance. It freaks me out. I'll let everyone know how I'm doing as soon as I can. I have to check into the hospital at 5:45 am and surgery is 7:30 am . My daughter is being a royal witch to me and that is another story I will save. She is a nurse and wanted me to sign papers so she has access to my medical records. She is worried I am going to get strung out on pain pills. I don't even take pain pills.

I was told by my nutritionist never to eat a Protein bar that has more carbs than protein. I've experimented in the past just for fun because I doubted the Fiber content. I ate one for Breakfast , one for lunch and one for dinner and drank my usual 64 oz of Water. I weigh every day. I had a gain of 2 lbs that time. I know everyone says our weight fluctuates from day to day, but mine doesn't move more than .5 usually from one day to the next.

Sheryl, I am glad you're enjoying Kevin. I hope it continues. I think you're right that it's good to know that he's looking for a real relationship. I've met so many men who way that, but really all they are looking for is sex. It's refreshing when you meet someone who knows that while having good physical relationship is important, there is so much more to being in a relationship. There's not much going on with me other than I'm having back surgery Nov. 4th and I am getting scared. I have a very low pain tolerance and I am wondering how the recovery is going to go. I sure hope it works. I have such bad sciatica that it's hard to function sometimes.

They have to be microwaved. They are horrible if you don't microwave them first. It's only about 10 sec in the microwave and they go from disgusting to delicious. I read that story awhile ago about the law suit regarding their claims of the fiber count.

The carb count on them is pretty high. I read an article that said that the fiber count on them is wrong. I do eat them and love them, but I don't eat them every day. I prefer Power Crunch bars. 9 carbs.

I really don't think having surgery in MX is a taboo subject. I bet over half the people on this board have gone there, to one place or another. I had way better care in MX than I would have had here in Oregon. I was in a very clean, very nice hospital for 3 days. Here they do it as an out patient surgery and send you home after day surgery, with drains. You come back in to the doctor's office in the morning for IV fluids. That is simply crazy to me!

You need to find something that you can drink. For some reason Water has the wrong PH for our little tummies. Some people like the drops you can put in water, there is Vitamin water, crystal light, etc. It does not have to be plain water. If you don't like the shakes, see if you can find some Soy Slender. It's not in the fridge. It's on the shelf. It comes it chocolate too. It's not a lot of Protein, but it's a little and some is better than none. Plus it's a liquid. Most people like it.

Pickles. or a pickle wrapped around a piece of deli meat.

I have to be really careful because it gives me horrible embarrassing gas. That keeps me from overdoing it.

Join us in the Veterans Forum. There are a lot of us fighting regain. You have to do what you were told in the beginning. Tons of Protein, veggies and fruit if you have room.Push the Water. Stay away from carbs. I gain immediately if I let them in my diet, and what is worse, they make you crave more carbs and unhealthy foods.

Thank you! I didn't mean to hijack CGJ's thread!

Honestly, I can't believe all the compliments I get when I go out. I love to dance. I take ballroom dance classes, and I just shake my booty free style when I go out with my friends. Right now I have 2 different men driving me crazy wanting to go out. I am not trying to brag here. Sleeve surgery has changed my life 200% or 1,000 %! I keep telling both of these guys that I don't want to be in a relationship right now.

I don't think you give your self enough credit! You haven't had any trouble attracting guys all over the place! I hope this one is a keeper!

Don't buy a bunch of Protein powders ahead of time. You won't know what you will like until after surgery. Something you like before surgery might taste awful to you after surgery. Don't worry if you can't get all your protein in at first. Concentrate on drinking liquids that you can get down.