feedyoureye

OK, fly in the ointment here! ..... read this about eating celery (or coconut) with WLS.... http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gastroparesis/expert-answers/bezoars/FAQ-20058050

The bougie is just a guide. The size of the sleeve can be different for other reasons as well, how long your stomach is, how tight the stomach is pulled in to the bougie... My surgeon mad the bottom half a little bit wider than the top... that is normal and helps keep complications down. Let your surgeon do his/her job, with good previous results, Im sure you will do great!... larger bougies tend to get less reflux and eating problems... (not giant, just 36-40)

Love this whole post Brown! Love Fat Chance, I loved looking up "fat" bellydancers when I was fat, to just see gals really look great and do some amazing dance even though.... I have seen them a couple of times and my group has talked about driving to the city to take classes at their studio some time....

I was noticing the pic too Globe, awesome!

OK, This thread is dedicated to our new active lifestyles! Have a pic of you doing something active? Gardening, walking, or more? Lifting weights, camping, hiking.... horse back? Let me start... heres one from my kayaking trip to Cosumnas River yesterday, and one from June Lake, Mammoth a couple of weeks ago. It fun to move!

I always wanted to try Quest bars, but they were just too expensive for me... now, maybe not so much.

I take a Belly Dance class. It is a mix of Egyptian Cabaret style and Tribal Fusion (modern American style) It is a blast! I take it two days a week (for over 5 years now) I am a sloooo learner, but I am definitely better than when I started!. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/285663-movin-and-groovin/page-4#entry3318719 here are the birds I promised...

Here is a White tailed Kite, Tundra swans, BuffelHead ducks and a fluffy White Crown Sparrow (I think she looks like a cheerleader learning to use her pompoms) These were all only a 15 minute drive from my house. So cool.

Hi ladies, Sarsar, sorry things are rough right now... I'm sure things will look up soon for you. I took my little doggie out today for a bird watching trip... a lot of it was car bird watching... which is really good, it doesn't scare the birds off as much a walking around. (we did walk around too, but not so much for birdwatching) I got lots of pics. Ill post a couple. It just makes me feel so good and relaxed when I go out birdwatching... its so beautiful in nature, and there are so many birds out there right now.. I saw flocks and flocks of swans today... really cool. I also think I might have had a break in my "art block" I have had a really hard time feeling up to making art lately... really for around 6 months or so... just not me... but a couple of things just set a spark in me today... I hope I can get the mojo back! Great NSV today too, I went to dance class and there are two tiny, sporty girls there that have been coming to class for maybe 3-4 months now, really nice and committed to the class....much younger than me... anyway today they were saying how the class is kicking their butts, and it is so hard, even their hands hurt! And they are trying to get one of the trainers to come and try the class and how it will kick his butt too.... I told them I had lost 91 pounds while taking the class, and they about fell on the floor. The class really works you, but it does not kick my a$$ any more... I just do it....(with a little grace I might add) and to think that these two sporty, hiking, rock climbing, bike riding girls are getting beat up by the same workout I do.... it just blows my mind! I know the stuff they do would kill me too... different set of muscles... but It makes me really proud, because I have never thought of myself as "sporty" and here I am... in the big leagues! I always liked QOC, she seems like a great adventuresome lady... I say yes if the rest of you agree. Laura!!!!! Come look at my bird photos! Then post a <3 because I know you'll love them!

Yep, thats the way it goes. The first 6 months are a great time to get a routine in place that you can carry with you into the years... when it is easier to eat more and cheat the sleeve (and yourself!)

It makes so much sense to keep track of mood... or anything you want to change or keep the same for that mater! To see it in writing sometimes is all it takes to make the change. Physics says that looking at something changes it....the observer effect...

Cathy, you are beautiful just the way you are, and speak up if something moves you, if it was good enough for three pages ago, its good enough for a revisit now! ...and I am going to take this moment as an opportunity to call ....LAURA!!!!

I know, the calcium question is still out for me... I take around 500-1000 a day, along with some calcium in my diet... my doc wants me to take 1200 minimum, other studies say 1700 minimum... but the heart attack link is a little scary....I don't take Iron any more, although I do use iron pans to cook in, and take most of my calcium later in the day, separated from my meals... there is some evidence that you can take more than 600 calcium citrate at a time and it will be absorbed quite well.

The Fast Diet- It is a super simple book, you hardly need it to follow its principles, but it is the single concept that got me to goal and through the holidays staying at goal this year...http://thefastdiet.co.uk/ not a diet, but a protocol.

I'll keep an eye out for it, if anyone sees its coming up, please post?

How sweet this is! I know when I came onto VST, I was so happy to find it. Tiffikins and Diva were the real drivers with so many other great contributors in the mix... so generous and knowledgeable, and cheerleaders for us all... tiffi had a list as long as your arm of great medical research papers talking about every aspect of the sleeve, and lots of experience with the band. Diva was a great cheerleader, positive and helpful... I see her posts on MFP. I do miss them, but seriously, they did more than enough for a lifetime here. Grateful. I have stayed around because : 1. I still need the support myself! There is no end to this journey...Talking with you helps me see my own story. 2. I want to give back where I can, Others have done the same for me, and others will do it after me.... 3. I have friends here now, and it means more to me than just a weight loss website. I feel like the vets are a little goupe (getting to be a bigger group) of researchers, mapping out and reporting back on the road to success....Recording the times we get lost as well as the times we find our way.... not a fairy story, but a real story with all the thrills of a roller coaster at times... ups and downs (honestly, it could be a book...). But no option of getting off the ride if you want to stay slim and healthy! The statistics say the average EWL from the sleeve is 57%. But who here signed on for 57%? I know I want 100%, and so do you. So how do we do that? That is the goal. And it can be so hard at times...

Ditto ^

well said!

Gina! You have really done a fantastic job, and you are getting so close to goal! Gotta stay away from those excess carbs, because they make you more hungry. The old carb monster! I have to say though, I am not a doc or nut, but 800 at a year out seems like too little. I would guess closer to 1200 and maybe just a little more if you are exercising a lot.... Did your nut actually tell you to eat only 800 a day until you get to goal? I eat between 1200-1400 5 days a week, and 550 two days a week (5:2 semi fast days) and this is how I got to goal into my third year.... No wonder you are hungry. Best of luck! You can do it, just try and stay with low glycemic index carbs, that will help with the hunger.

I was talking to Chicky.... then you....

I am like that too; I don't like to admit it but it is true. Let me give you an example. My ex and I broke up last spring... well... we had been in the process of breaking up for quite awhile but the final "I am done" came from me in the spring. We want to remain friends, he can't support himself so the whole idea was I would give him...yet again more money so he could keep his debt collectors at bay, and continue to live in my house. In exchange, he was going to do some specific projects around the place AND take care of the horses during my surgical rehab. I thought a more than fair deal for both of us. He did take care of the horses, but NONE of the projects are done, and most are about 20-50% complete leaving me with a freaking mess. I finally today confronted him over it and he just said "it takes longer then I thought". My response was "it was like 9 months ago we agreed on all this". I am frustrated but I largely have myself to blame because he always did this (like I expected it to be different?) and because I should have been bitchier about it like 5-6 months ago but that just isn't how I am. Frustrating. But mostly I am frustrated at myself for once again believing... and for not standing up for myself. I hear ya. Some people like to discuss, some like to fight... I came from a household that pretty much was a no fight zone OR ELSE. Now, what or else meant, not so sure, but it seemed like it might be..." I will be disappointed", or the worst thing might happen....? Anyway, In Craigs family, his dad was a bully, and always made him feel like he couldn't do anything right.... so when we disagree, he will defend his position to the death, (it seems) and me speaking up makes him larger and louder, even if his position is FOS. So, I like to talk things out, come up with an agreement or compromise... and he wants to fight for his position...Its a darn shame, because he could get so much more out of me and have a lot more peace if he would give and take nicely.(according to my definition of course!... ) I might have mentioned this before, his family motto is "Conquer or Die" and my family motto is, "Love" (on our Scottish shields) Should have headed the warning I guess!

I won't take any shite at work, and believe me I get a lot of it coming my way, but sometimes I'm a pushover with the man.... I wouldn't say I'm a shrinking violet though....he gets an earful now and then when Iv'e had it up to here-

Chicky, Check out the Band forums, Im sure you can get some good advice from there, this is a sleeve forum, and even thought we wish you well, we prob don't have the experience you need! Seela, glad your back on track, the body/mind can really throw you for a loop now and then!

Craig has never made a peep about me being fat. In fact, he may silently be a little sorry to see the love handle and boobs gone. I have always appreciated that about him. He does still find a way to grab any fat still present and growl with appreciation.

Holy Cow Florinda! When it rains it pours! It doesn't seem like they could pin anything on you from what you say.... I guess someone out of the family could have seen your facebook and jumped to conclusions about the family... anyway, I guess it was only a matter of time before the footlocker was packed up. How is it the DoD had not contacted them sooner anyway! Really. I guess the ball is rolling. (can I possibly use any more cliches in my writing?) I'm glad you had a little "Hawt" time girl! And about the poorly behaved husband... really, although being a "d**k" can be a form of abuse too, hitting is over the line for me. He would be gone in an instant. He is an equal opportunity d**k as well, he has no filter when he's in that "mood". He had a head injury years ago... and his instant mood changes are a classic symptom of that. I am diagnosing him with this, and I am not a doctor, but do work with lots of people that have had head injuries, and it looks like it to me. He also has horrible migraines. This helps me to see him in a different light in the big picture... but its easy to take it personally when its happening. Believe me, I have thought about moving on more than once. We have been together for over 20 years, have gone through riots, illness, at gunpoint, at the ends of the earth, and in the most sublime situations you can imagine... sharing this with someone is a strong bond, whatever their foibles.