emily_0192010

WOW! That is quite the list Does anyone happen to know off the top of their heads if any of these are super-low carb? I know my pre and post op diet is 30 carbs a day MAX. Many of these seem like they would max me out...

LOL @ the no-funk with gorgeous toes! I love listening to music and reading is a definite go-to for me as well! I was thinking of reposting this in the pre-op area because I don't think many people see it. I know everyone has their own ways and ideas and it would be great to hear from all of them!

This isn't specifically weight loss related... but on days that are just "off", you know those days where everything goes wrong and you are just in a funk all day? What do you do to get over it/cheer yourself up? Or more specifically, what do you do that is NOT food related?? I know that I am not normally an emotional eater... on bad days I don't gorge myself and on good days I don't normally Celebrate with food... but I was thinking about how much revolves around food in our society and some alternate coping mechs or rewards would be great to start thinking about! Some of my ideas: - listening to music -coloring with my 5 year old sister -walk with my dog What do you do?

I am still pre-sleeve but I, too, have noticed that there are times when I don't even really realize what I am eating until after it's gone! I think just being aware of what I am eating is helping already and I can't wait to have my sleep to help me realize it before as well

That is awesome!! I bet you feel so much better too I can't wait to be where you are!

I just had an idea about your chicken... I either love or hate chicken based on whether it is dry or not (I am pre-sleeve) but the trick to juicy chicken is to let it rest! If you chop up the chicken before you cook it it will most likely be dry, but it you cook it whole (say on a George Forman grill) remove it from heat once you think it is done (you can check it later, do NOT cut into it!), place it on a plate and leave it for 10 minutes, then cut into it and enjoy I have never had a problem with it being under-cooked as it carry-over cooks. By letting it sit the chicken re-absorbs the juice so you don't lose any when you cut into it! We eat chicken a lot and this never fails us! Good luck!

What site do you use?? Sounds like a great resource

You look amazing Looking at your "after" picture I would never believe that is a 14/16... congrats on your weight loss! I cannot wait to be where you are

53 lbs is great! I'm sure it does seem slow (I am not at that stage yet, but slow is always hard) but it is said that people who lose slowly but consistently are the people who keep it off.. and long-term that is what matters most! 14 weeks feels like a lot of time while you are going through it, but really 14 weeks is only 3 1/2 months... round up to 4 months, that is only 1/3 of a year.... if you keep this up you could lose 150 pounds in a year... I don't remember how much you are aiming to lose but that is a lot in one year!! You are really doing great!! Thank you for updating

WOW!!! That is amazing! You have definitely come to the right place, this is a great place for support and answers to questions. There doesn't seem to be many of us in our 20's but there are a few I am 20 in Jax, FL but I have not been sleeved yet. Congrats on the weight loss

It is not a website, but if you have a wii I would highly recommend wii fit plus. The yoga section is awesome! My sister and I (she is 5) often do the poses together. I like it because it tells you how to do it correctly (and knows when you are doing it wrong...) and you still have the privacy of your own home. I personally find sites and pictures difficult because it is very easy to do the pose incorrectly but hopefully you will be able to find what you are looking for. Another suggestion, have you ever thought of tai chi?? It is very slow and calm and peaceful like yoga but there isn't so much floor work and you work more on muscle development than stretching. Again though, it is very slow and the "exercise" part sneaks up on you It is my mom's favorite and I am thinking about taking it up myself if I get the chance.

That is probably the one "side-effect" I cannot wait to experience!!! I am also very lucky because there is a *huge* good-will within walking distance of my apartment I can already see frequent trips being made there. I might not be the most stylish, but I am not stylish now so I will not complain! I have noticed that sport bras tend to last longer between sizes, so if you are tight and cannot keep buying many "normal" bras, if you just grab a couple of cheap sport bras (target has some good ones up to 3 or 4x for under 20) you could wear those say just around the house and doing basic errands and save your good couple of bras for work. That way you won't spend so much overall constantly switching them out. Congrats on the weight loss and good luck with finding clothes!

My really good friend is just as supportive as yours is! I haven't been sleeved yet but she is already has my back 110%. I wish to death she wasn't so far away (she is in NY/NJ and I am in FL) but I am still so thankful for her Between her and my mom I don't care what the rest of the world thinks. I am so glad that you have that support as well! Please post pics of that vest once you get into it!!

I don't know for sure, but it would make sense that it is from hormones. Fat stores estrogen, when we lose fat that estrogen is released. I have read other posts where people are very moody or have crazy periods, and it all seems to be related. I bet it will clear up as your body levels out.

When my mom had surgery before I remember her scars taking a very very long time to fade. I think it does vary from person to person. I don't know for sure though, so hopefully someone with more experience can help you out as well

Ooohhhh! I love bubble baths but I live in an apartment and the tub is tiny but hey... another small goal to add to my list "fit in tub comfortably" lol.

That is amazing! I can't wait to be where you are As for that booty dance.... you need to OWN it! Work that booty and *love* it!!! No more hiding

First- I am so sorry to hear about your jobs!! That is really harsh. I don't know where we would be if my lost her job.. we are having a hard enough time trying to find me a job. Second- I loved your post! I love your sense of humor! I seriously think you should consider putting some of that fancy language into a children's book! My sister (she is 5) loves books with that type of language in it... and hey, it might be fun to do while you wait for employment I have had those type of weeks before many, many, many times. To the point where when something good comes around I almost always joke "okay... where's the avalanche of shoes now". I also always joke that I never just have the "second" shoe... I get the entire closet thrown at me! But I live by that quote that says whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger... and I have found it to be true. Don't lose that sense of humor and keep fighting on

I think I understand, and I have a feeling I will be the same way. As I am right now... I know that I am obese in my mind... but I don't see myself that way. I often am shocked when I walk past a full-size mirror. I think "ugh, is that really me??"... so I can imagine when I am finally starting to lose this weight that my perspective is going to shift as well.

During my nutrition class someone asked about the importance of this... the nut explained that when you drink before or after eating... it is going to cause your food to come back up. To practice this (I am doing it too!) I treat it like I would a medicine that you have to wait for. In the morning I am always thirsty so I take a drink, peek at the clock and then go get ready or what not. The hardest for me is after because i'm thirsty! I think this is going to be much easier post-sleeve because those signals won't be as strong. I am going to be keeping my eye out for more tips as well!

hmmmm... My mom and I are doing this together and will most likely be getting it done around the same time Good luck to you and your husband!

Hi Jenna! I am 20 and I have met a couple people who are 21 and 23. I definitely do not think 19 is too young as long as you consider all of the possibilities and do your research (which you seem to be doing). Also, by the time you receive the actual surgery you may be 20 at that point. But really, don't make it about your age. I think it is great that you have the support of your doctor. I asked my doc for help when I was 18 and she put me on pills for a couple months and told me to "eat healthy"... it didn't work lol! Also, I don't believe you will be able to get everything done before August... especially if you have insurance. I think if you start this process and are serious you will be able to make it work with school. You might have to line it up with a long weekend or fall break or Thanksgiving for your recovery. But people here have their surgery and go right back to work fairly quickly... and with school you could probably miss a few lectures and just make up the work. Your school cannot dock you for missed days for medical reasons. I am still fairly early in the process as well. I have already gone to my first appointment with the surgeon, and seen the nutritionist. Next week I officially start my three-month physician supervised weight loss. So I am looking at an August/September surgery. If you want to ask any specific questions or just chat, send me a message!

I asked my surgeon this... he said that he tries to find a good middle ground in each patient. He said the trend is to go as small as possible but he finds that this makes patients much more sick at the beginning and that they have trouble getting down anything, which can lead to vomiting which then leads to leaks. So, he said that the stomach was about the size of his index finger. Also, everyone on here talks about surgeons using bougies. I know that my doctor uses an endoscope instead... and that helps him look for leaks before the surgery is over.

Hello! First off, congrats on the weight loss! I can't wait to be there myself . I just wanted to say, the best way to exercise is to find something you enjoy doing! I noticed you said that you have kids... do you have a wii? If you do, I *highly* recommend wii fit. If you don't want to pay for it, then I highly recommend this one game, that can be used with or without the board. It is actually the Wii Fit Nickelodeon for kids game... but it is really fun! My mom (she is 41, but don't tell her I blabbed) even has fun with it. I know I still have all my weight to lose, but one thing I am good at is figuring out how to exercise without hitting the gym So, at least to start off with I would find something that doesn't feel like "exercise" to you and then gradually start in with real exercise time focusing on cardio and weights.. cause if you try to go straight into an exercise program without guidance first... you won't keep it up. I found that after a little while I actually started to enjoy how I felt after my workouts. If you had told me that at the beginning I would have laughed at you... in fact I did laugh when the guide told me that but he ended up being right . Good luck!