bugwitch

What, are you suggesting we have open and honest discussions about female health, fertility and contraception in this country? Surely not. That's such crazy talk.

File under the heading of no sh*t Sherlock. Though they refer to the band and bypass as the primary WLS's performed it is a logical conclusion that you should wait 12-18 months post-op to try and have a baby. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20979355

Actually, it's "No see um". They are the family Ceratopogonidae which are part of the Order Diptera which are Flies. Bees are in Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants). I know you don't care...but the nerd in me needed to get that out there. My tattoos are fine. I have since gotten a new one and she is gorgeous! I still have 30ish pounds left to lose. I've been stuck at the same darn spot snce October. Grr.... I want more tattoos!!! Gotta lose that last 30!

I might be interested in some stuff for crafts. If you have any unique beaded and/or sequin items, chiffon skirts, brocades, etc. I could use them for my costuming items. Anything fit the bill you think?

Well crap. So, I've been stuck at the same general area since October. Yes, there has been some movement, but it keeps going back up. Before leaving to visit family last week I had finally made it to 202.8 and was there for a couple of days. While away, I didn't weigh myself at all but I was doing fairly well about my eating. Typically, when I am back home, the stress of dealing with family BS makes me eat poorly. Well, when I got back home Tuesday night, I decided to weigh myself before going to bed. Well, guess what...finally onederland! 198.8 I didn't believe it, so I took off the PJ's and got back on. Still 198.8. Awesome! Logically, ince I had just eaten, that must mean I will likely weigh a little less or the same the next morning, right? Well, no. Wednesday morning I decided to weigh myself to see if there had been any change. Yes, there fraking had. 205.8. WTF!?! And tonight, 208!!! I am so f**king pissed right now. Bummed and eating horribly since Wednesday. Damn discount chocolate...I just don't know what the hell is going on. I work out and eat right, there's little to no movement. I eat farily well and don't work out, there's little to no movement. I imagine some of the weight gain in the passed few days has something to do with my period, but still...I'm just so sick of this. I need to go shoot something. Maybe my neighbors who blast their loud music in the middle of the night. Yeah...shooting them will make me feel better... Excuse me...I'll be back later. Okay...I'm back. How weird is it that this constant plateau has me feeling no different than how I felt before I had the surgery? It's as if I am still that 300lb woman who couldn't lose ten pounds to save her life. I look in the mirror or I look down at me and I see rolls. Not "smaller" rolls (because the fat rolls are smaller, of course), but just rolls of fat. I know these feelings will go away or at least die down once my period is over with and the hormones settle, but right now I just feel like crap.

I was going to reply to this last night, but since my initial reaction was one of sadness and a bit of disgust, I decided to go to sleep instead. This gave me a chance to think about what you wrote and I figured out the heart of the matter. It's not that you're eating popcorn way too early, it's that you are doing it against your Doctors orders and are bragging about it. To me, this clearly demonstrates one of two things: 1) A lack of respect for the medical profession and/or 2) You have not spent the necessary time really dealing with your eating problems. There is a REASON the doctors give us dietary guidelines to follow is not always just to jerk us around; there is a point to it, whether you recognize it or not. You are consuming this irritating food far too early and therefore putting yourself at risk of a leak or other complication. Does anyone know what a potential result of gastric leakage is? That's right...DEATH. Yup...you are increasing your risk of death, all because you want to eat popcorn at one week. Yes, the odds of it getting that far that you would actually die from gastric leakage is small...but it's a lot smaller if you follow your doctors orders and wait. Again, see a professional and begin working on your food issues. If you really want this surgery to work, you will need to address the reasons for being fat in the first place. If you do not, it will not work. Best of luck to you in the new year. And to everyone else out there! Be safe and have a Happy New Year!!!

You should not be anywhere NEAR ingesting solid foods before (at the very earliest) the start of your fourth week. 10 days post op: clear liquid 10 days after that: full liquid 7-14 days after that: mushies....THEN you start adding in solid food. I know other surgeons follow less strict guidelines, but think about it...you just sliced apart one of your major organs which won't be fully healed for at least 6 months (minimum length of time for internal organs to heal)...do you really want to shove popcorn (an abrasive and undigestable foodstuff) into it when it is still highly irritated? If you're smart, the answer is "No".

I remember the first time I made up some popcorn on the stove after having surgery...I made waaaayyyy too much! I can eat more now than I could that first time, of course, but there's no way I could have eaten all of that even now. Also...note to self and others...when making popcorn, remember to put a lid on top of the pot...it helps.

Yuck...can't stand Moscato. Way too sweet for me. I prefer a Savignon Blanc...mmm.... But, I has no wine in my home right now. However!....I did have the means to make popcorn. Thanks for the inspiration for a bowl of home popped nom.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16344228 "A diet rich in Vitamins and fish may protect the brain from ageing while junk food has the opposite effect, research suggests. Elderly people with high blood levels of vitamins and Omega 3 fatty acids had less brain shrinkage and better mental performance, a Neurology study found. Trans fats found in fast foods were linked to lower scores in tests and more shrinkage typical of Alzheimer's. A UK medical charity has called for more work into diet and dementia risk. The best current advice is to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, not smoke, take regular exercise and keep blood pressure and cholesterol in check, said Alzheimer's Research UK. The research looked at nutrients in blood, rather than relying on questionnaires to assess a person's diet. US experts analysed blood samples from 104 healthy people with an average age of 87 who had few known risk factors for Alzheimer's. They found those who had more Vitamin B, C, D and E in their blood performed better in tests of memory and thinking skills. People with high levels of omega 3 fatty acids - found mainly in fish - also had high scores. The poorest scores were found in people who had more trans fats in their blood. Trans fats are common in processed foods, including cakes, biscuits and fried foods. The researchers, from Oregon Health and Science University, Portland; Portland VA Medical Center; and Oregon State University, Corvallis, then carried out brain scans on 42 of the participants. They found individuals with high levels of vitamins and omega 3 in their blood were more likely to have a large brain volume; while those with high levels of trans fat had a smaller total brain volume. Study author Gene Bowman of Oregon Health and Science University said: "These results need to be confirmed, but obviously it is very exciting to think that people could potentially stop their brains from shrinking and keep them sharp by adjusting their diet." 'Strong potential' Co-author Maret Traber of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University said: "The vitamins and nutrients you get from eating a wide range of fruits, vegetables and fish can be measured in blood biomarkers. "I'm a firm believer these nutrients have strong potential to protect your brain and make it work better." Commenting on the study, Dr Simon Ridley, head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "One strength of this research is that it looked at nutrients in people's blood, rather than relying on answers to a questionnaire. "It's important to note that this study looked at a small group of people with few risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, and did not investigate whether they went on to develop Alzheimer's at a later stage. "There is a clear need for conclusive evidence about the effect of diet on our risk of Alzheimer's, which can only come from large-scale, long-term studies."

Sure, you can gain it back. As was stated above, it will depend upon your eating habits. If you do not work to overcome the causes of your weight gain to begin with, then you will gain weight. I have been sitting at the same weight for a few months now and I know it has more to do with my stress related eating habits than anything else. Pull myself out of it, get back to something healthy and exercise more, that's what will get me back on track. I met a woman a few months ago who told me she had had the bypass surgery 12 years ago. She seemed happy with where she was (good for her!) but my visual assessment of her classified her as obese, if not morbidly obese. With the sleeve, I doubt we will get back to our morbid obesity stages, but I can see it as being possible. If all you do to get your calories is drink them (mocha's, milkshakes, etc) then no weight loss regimen is going to work for you, whether it's diet or surgery.