Foxbins

If you are not taking an antacid or PPI and are not post-menopausal, hypothyroid, or have osteopenia the calcium carbonate is okay. As others have mentioned, it requires an acid environment for absorption, but if you're not on an antacid or PPI you have an acid environment in your stomach. Between the two types, calcium citrate is better absorbed and is the better choice for folks who run the risk of osteoporosis (like being post-menopausal, having hypothyroidism, or having been diagnosed with osteopenia). In my view, some calcium is better than no calcium.

I had both, separated by about five years, for my upper lip and under my chin. For me, laser was much superior. Electrolysis fried some follicles, left some noticeable scarring under my chin, and still had me plucking transparent, coarse hairs every month or so because the current had killed the pigment cells but not the follicle. I had electrolysis for about a year, every three weeks, at $20/session and still had hair. I bought five sessions of laser for $150 through Groupon in my area and the hair is GONE, except for the transparent ones that the laser won't work on. No scarring and minimal pain. I am thinking about having my legs and underarms done when there's another Groupon special.

I wore elastic-waist pants for the few days after surgery when I was still swollen from CO2 gas and IV fluids--maybe 5 days total? But if you have a non-elastic pair that are big in the waist you'd be fine. And after the swelling goes away, you will have lost some weight. I brought a nightgown to the hospital but I wore their gown but my robe. I didn't feel like putting on any makeup; mostly I slept and walked. I don't think I even brushed my hair until the 3rd day when I took a shower.

Yes,indeed. Looking forward to a refund next year!

I'm more than halfway to goal from surgery about 3 1/2 months ago and feeling good!

I didn't have to take any pain meds after the 4th post-op day...I'm not really sure if this answers your question, though.

I like to think of my goal weight as elastic. If I feel good at a higher weight, that's okay. If I keep losing without a lot of effort and still feel good, that's okay too. I had the surgery to be better medically, to be more active, and to feel good about myself. It's not a number in my head that's set in concrete. Can you do something similar?

If that were true, people wouldn't be able to starve to death, would they? And unfortunately they do. I agree with Tiffykins about weight loss stalls, though, as the body does try to adjust to increased workload and decreased calories.

I got in the car today--and noticed that I seemed to be sitting lower in the seat. Sure enough, the rear-view mirror was showing part of the back seat instead of out the back window. I live alone, so I know no one has changed the seat settings, so I was puzzled. Then I realized MY BUTT IS SMALLER! I've lost so much padding in the rear that I'm now sitting lower in the driver's seat. I've kept my boobs but my butt is a pancake!

My surgery weight was 232 and I am 5'8". I lost 26.5 lbs in 7 weeks. If you compare starting BMI's with yours you will probably get a better estimate of how much weight you will lose. Mine was 35.

If the color was blood, it's going to be black if it's from your stomach or bowel. Bright red blood would be from much lower down the digestive tract, in the rectum or anus. Sorry I can't tell you if Torani Raspberry tints poop pink--I can say that the Black Cherry doesn't tint anything in the bowl pink.

I had my surgery with Dr. Aceves and I did not have to go to the ER or make an urgent call to him. I came home, sipped, sippped, sipped, walked, walked, walked, burped like crazy and recovered without incident. If i was going to Mexico for surgery I wanted a surgeon with as few patients with complications as I could find. I, too, was frightened the days before surgery but as it got closer, it seemed as if I got more frightened of getting fatter and fatter if I didn't have the surgery. I am sure you will do fine.

I'm thinking it's the mustard...when my dog ate a toy, the vet suggested mustard in water to cause him to vomit. Mustard is an irritant (mustard plaster, anyone?) and I'll betcha your stomach still has some sore spots...the Tums should have neutralized the vinegar.

What about buying a Camelbak? That's what I use for hiking--mine holds 2 liters of water and with the mouth tube I don't have to unscrew any lids. They are not too bulky. For protein I would find a ready-to-drink one that you like and keep it in a sports bottle you could put in your jacket pocket. Oh Yeah! wafer bars are good once you can have solids-they taste good and have 15 gms of protein if I remember right.

Did you join the Sacramento Yahoo support group? I found a shake I like but I have lots of samples I didn't even try. I could bring them to the group.

Obesity is still poorly understood both psychologically and physiologically. The fact that "fat cells" only get smaller when we lose weight, but don't disappear (unless you get them out with lipo) tells me that once we become overweight or obese our bodies are designed to return to that state if the opportunity presents itself. From an evolutionary perspective, fat people can sustain pregnancies and survive famines in times when thin people starve. It's an advantage to be fat then--not so much, now.

I found great-tasting Basil Pesto tilapia fillets at costco, 18 gms of Protein and 120 calories for a 3 oz. serving. I have been having them for about two weeks now, the box is about half-gone. Never a problem eating them, they make their own sauce when you microwave them and the fish is flaky and moist. I made one for lunch, ate it watching the noon news, and I have had a stomachache ever since! I did not eat too fast or too much, it's just that today my sleeve decided that it didn't want tilapia for lunch. I can feel where it is (or was), in the bend before the duodenum, because that's where it aches. Thankfully, it's getting better as the day goes on, but honestly, I would like my tummy to settle into some predictable behaviors--no bread, okay, I can live with that. But tilapia is okay for ten days but not the eleventh? Beef tips are okay on Sunday but not on Tuesday? Has your stomach settled down and become predictable?

If all you are having are liquids, you don't have to wait to drink between "meals." If food isn't going down so well, change your food, change the speed you eat (slower) take smaller bites, go back a step from where you are (soft solids back to mushies, mushies back to pureed, etc.) Stick with it, it gets better!

I was a 44D and now I'm a 40D. At my thinnest, I was a 36C, so I still had boobs, just more proportionate to my overall figure.

I can only tell you my decision-making process. I researched other surgeons both here and on ObesityHelp and read about some serious issues with some other surgeons. I did not find anyone reporting serious issues with Dr. Aceves. I wanted my surgery done in a hospital and not a clinic and I wanted to recover in a hospital and not a recovery house. I wanted the results of my tests and X-rays explained and given to me. If I needed follow-up care or if there was a complication, I wanted to feel that I could either return to him or have him consult with my doctor in the U.S. Although it was tempting to save thousands of dollars by choosing someone else, ultimately I thought that Dr. Aceves' experience and the reported experiences of his patients made it a good "fit" for me. I figured I had only one stomach and I wanted to feel supremely confident that I was going to have it removed by somebody I trusted not to botch it. After surgery, I had no real pain, no nausea, and I recovered uneventfully. He even repaired an extensive hiatal hernia for free while he was in there. Also, my surgery was $8750 in January when I called to discuss making an appointment.

FWIW, Dr. Aceves has a driver that will pick you up at the San Diego airport and drive you to Mexicali, so the airfares would be the same.

I was not disappointed in the weight loss--I was disappointed that it was not a sustainable way to live in the real world. There is no way I could exercise six hours a day plus hold down a full-time job and have any kind of life outside exercising and working...plus I should mention that I regained the weight over the next year. Also, I think, from what he said, that the Brooklyn guy was expecting "Biggest Loser" results (like 50-60 lbs) in a month and that's why he was disappointed. I have wondered if he went home and had a bypass...

Close to TOM? Do you use a lot of salt? Water is just a pain...you know it's not real weight, but it's depressing to see it on the scale. I'm sure it will come off soon and take some true poundage with it. Don't give up!

I joined! I am q&s (you all will figure it out) on yahoo.

You are doing great! 21 pounds in two weeks! Wow! Keep up the good work--