former_vbg

One other thing I thought I might just throw in as a general comment. I still have 20# to loose and more and more lately I keep getting comments from people that tell me not to loose anymore weight. I just smile and tell them thank you. I have asked a few very good close personal friends to tell me what they think I weigh and they all have guessed about 10 to 15# less than what I am right now and so it makes it easier to understand why these other people say not to loose more weight. Their perception is not exactly reality. My weight loss goal has been set by my Dr. and that is what I plan to do. He also wants me to have some "play" room so that I have a threshold that I can monitor if things start creeping up too much that I know its time to rein things back in. Also, one other thing that everyone who thinks I shouldn't loose weight don't likely realize is that compression garments give a false impression of how thin you really are. Now, mostly at this point it is to pull the loose skin in, but I can tell the difference between fat and loose skin and I still have some fat in the thigh and midsection that must go. So, I guess I thought I would throw that out there for you so that as you begin your journey, don't allow others outside your support network of friends/ medical professionals try to tell you what you should or shouldn't do- whatever that is. Just be glad you are starting out with a lower BMI.

This is a good thread. I think sometimes it can be hard to admit to ourselves and others that we still have these "demon" thoughts that become our own worst enemy. Now that I am getting so close much closer to my final goal, I know I look much better and feel much better- but I am now struggling with still feeling like I look fat because I have so much lose skin. It's a painful reminder of how much I have abused my body over all these years and so there are times when I feel like just caving into the head cravings because "what the heck, I still look fat" are the tapes that play in my head. So, for example, I love my loose fitting size 9 jeans and I get sooo many compliments from friends about how "skinny" I look. But, then in my head, I'm like--- if you only knew how saggy everything really was.... they surely wouldn't think I was skinny. Between all the spanx, compression garments, etc... it just is hard sometimes to not get discouraged even though I know how hard I have worked to get where I am. I hope in a year or two, I will be able to have some plastics to help with the loose skin, but even if I can't afford it, I need to find a way to be happy with the new me- loose skin and all. Easier said that done. I have already lowered my final goal weight once because of this, and wonder if I will feel the need to do it again when I get to that weight. Just gonna have to take this one day at a time. I know my post isn't exactly what you are talking about, but I guess talk about self sabotage just stirred up some thoughts I have had over the past few months.

Just read this thread, you might take a look. But, you will find many others similar to it where people talk about the challenges they have once they get out from surgery a few months or longer. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/28956-i-need-to-get-back-on-track/

Well, you will see with the more posts you read that there definately is a honeymoon period. It varies somewhat for each person, but in general, expect to see your weight loss drop off anywhere from 3 to 6 months. It kind of depends on what your starting weight is and how closely you follow the recommended eating plans. If you have a higher starting weight and you stay on plan, you will likely have a little longer honeymoon period. There are some people who struggle with staying away from poor food choices early on and it will affect weight loss. I know someone personally who actually had surgery the same day as me and approximately the same starting weight as me (see my signature/ ticker line) and I think she may be down about 50# but I also know she has not been following the guidelines consistently- yet she struggles to understand why she hasn't lost more weight. She complains about all the bad temptations around her, why she can't do this or do that... I have tried to remain a support person in her life, but she has started to pull back in the last month or so which I attribute to the fact that I am just a reminder of how much she hasn't lost. It's ok to be a "slow looser", but if its because we aren't compliant with the guidelines, then we do jeopardize our long term success.

Thank you very much. Let's hope so. I soooo want this behind me.

Thank you very much for the kind words. Just praying for this to become a thing of the past as quickly as possible.

Well, I'm going to suspend my participation in this goal because it was found I have a blood clot in my lower left calf over the weekend and combination with the drugs and the swelling I have gained 9# practically overnight. My Dr. assures me this will go away when the swelling goes away. I'm not completely convinced of that, but my lower left leg looks like a watermelon right now and am not allowed to really do anything- including drive which totally sucks!!! I'm hoping to still leave for my trip to Europe in 2 weeks, and my Dr. is optimistic we can resolve the clot well before then but is concerned of course about the long flight and then not being able to check my protime as easily over there. I have since been able to secure ways to get my blood checked while I'm traveling, albeit a huge inconvenience. Soooo.... needless to say I'm quite frustrated. No history of clotting issues in the family, I'm only 40 yrs old and have always been a very healthy person and very active. Makes absolutely no sense. I'm not going to change my ticker right now until I get through this clotting issue. It's just too depressing.

I am a little more than 8 mths out from my surgery and so I want to first say that the blood clot is not being associated with my surgery, but I have come here hoping others with some experience with a blood clot can chime in. I thought I had just sprained a calf muscle over the weekend, but learned yesterday I actually have a blood clot. I am now on 2 injections a day of Levonox and taking 5mg of Cumadin a day. The label doesn't list weight gain as a side effect, but I was googling that this morning and found TONS of people who report just the opposite. THis scares me to death! I have already gained 10# back practically overnight from the swelling in my leg and that is bad enough. I am so close to my goal and then to have this happen just sickens me. Can anyone who has taken Cumadin tell me about their experience? I lead a VERY active lifestyle and with the exception of right now where they are not letting me do hardly anything, I will return to this shortly I hope. Anyone????

Thank you. It just couldn't have come at a worse time. I leave for Europe in 2 weeks. My Dr. is optimistic we can get the clot resolved before then, but still has concerns w/me being gone for 16 days. I've been trying to figure out if there are walk in clinics in Lisbon, Portugal and Germany where I will be to test my ProTime. What a hassle... Still can't help but worry about this weight gain... so frustrating!

Thank you for your response. I hope I am not on it very long. The Dr. says to plan on 3 mths minimum. I am going to seriously freak out if I see weight gain because of this drug!

Ok, I have some of the body shapewear and stuff, that's all fine and dandy- but I don't like the ones that you have to step into because it makes going to the bathroom a real pain in the arse. Even worse if I have to go in a hurry. I have come to love a compression shirt a dear friend gave me because I wear it JUST like a shirt and I LOVED it but I think someone stole it off the hook I had it on with my clothes in the fitness room at work. I'm not 100% on that because I often am leaving at the end of a workout in a hurry and I just wear my workout clothes home and stuff my work clothes in my bag. Soooo... I am looking for a compression shirt with sleeves. They can be short sleeves, I don't care, but don't want the sleeveless. I've been doing google searching and keep getting stuff like athletic wear or men's compression shirts. I looked at Spanx, but they want like $100 for the stupid shirt and they price the men's shirts for $55.... not fair! Anyone have any suggestions on reasonably priced compression shirts for ladies?

Well, its been a tough week for me. I have a horse in severe kidney failure and been providing support care until his final days. I did still manage a 3# loss. Surgery Weight: 271 Current Weight: 145 Easter Goal Weight: 125 - also my final goal weight

I started at 271 the day of surgery and I think at 6 months I was down to around 190.

Well, hopefully when you say Verizon doesn't work in Europe, you are referring to just the wireless card. I have a Blackberry with an International Calling plan through my company and they said I will have coverage using it while I am there. Are they mistaken?

UPDATE 2/14/12: Got my Intl DL today, so I have a photo taken today and then the photo from my passport taken the Spring 2010. Would like to hear if you think if the pictures are similar enough or if they look like 2 different people. I tried to insert them up above, but that didn't happen. Look at the pictures below. Ok, so I renewed my passport in the Spring of 2010. I actually gained the last 50 or 60# in 2011, but was still probably around 220 or so at the time of my passport renewal. I'm leaving for Europe March 23rd. I just learned in the past couple of days that the Passport Agency suggests getting your passport updated if there is significant weight loss/ gain from your picture or you may be denied access into that country if they think its not you. This freaks me out. I don't think I look all that different than my picture except that my face is much thinner. My hair color / style is the same (they say that isn't supposed to matter). What got me started thinking about this is that I renewed my D.L. last October and a clerk requested to see my ID for a transaction. She looked at the photo on my D.L. and then me and said "this doesn't even look like you". Initially I was flattered, but the I started wondering if I would have problems with my passport. I asked my friend that lives in Germany what she thought and she thinks I'm worrying about nothing, that with passports being good for 10 years that nobody ever looks exactly like their photos as they age, etc... and not to worry about this. I think she might be right, but I would be devestated if I was refused entry over this. I would think with all their high tech scanning for terrorists that they could tell on facial scanning that my bone structure would be the same as the photo. I will also have an International D.L. that I'm going to pick up this week and will have a picture like I look like now. I realize they can't use that in lieu of my passport, but it would be an additional piece of documentation that I am who I say I am. Anybody have any opinions on this? I will post a picture from my passport and my new photo for the Int'l D.L. to this thread and maybe get some people's opinions. I really don't want to do a new passport because I will have to pay close to $200 as it will be treated like a regular renewal, plus the expedited costs. Not something I can really afford, but I also I can't afford being denied entry either. Sigh...

Thank you. Hey, you might be a good one to ask this- unrelated to this thread. I'm going to be in Germany, Portugal and Italy on this trip. Do you have any suggestions on using a wireless internet card for my laptop while I'm over there? Is there such a thing as buying a Verizon card wireless card over there for Europe? I have a Verizon wireless card here that works about anywhere in the U.S. I won't be doing the typical "tourist" thing where I will be in hotels. I will be over there about 2 weeks. Thanks.

Thank you. I have decided to just go with it, thank you. It will be a complete blast!

Thhanks for sharing your story. I also wanted to comment on your experience with ice cream. I have had the same experience with that and I would suspect has happened for you is that you have become lactose intolerant. You may get over it with time, but I also used to really crave sweets and well, my "head" still likes to eat them, but when I eat them I don't get the same satisfaction I used to. I haven't tried dark chocolate as I never liked it before. I always used to say I wish they would make chocolate in general a 5th food group- now it doesn't matter to me so much anymore. Good job!

Thank you Nichole! :-) I think I'm going to chance it, I've gotten enough positive feedback that I look like my passport photo that I should be ok. I have my Int'l DL too, so it should be ok.

Thank you. Hopefully, the younger sister LOL. It would be cutting it awfully close and if there was any hiccup at all, I would be without a passport. Plus, it's almost $200 for all the fees including getting things expedited. After having done some asking at work in dpts at where I asked people who didn't know me to give me their opinion (yes, they thought it was weird at first) and you guys giving your feedback that I think I'm going to just chance it. Most people say that my eyes definitely stand out as a confirming feature. I'm pretty excited for the trip!

Thank you Forensichick for starting this up. It really seems to help me feel accountable to have these challenges. Ok, I exceeded my VDay goal by more than 10#, so I'm going to set the bar high again and hope for the best. I leave for Europe March 23 and returning ON Easter so it's hard to say where I will end up. Surgery Weight: 271 Current Weight: 148 Easter Goal Weight: 125 - also my final goal weight Woo hoo-- let's go guys and gals.... btw, how come I never see any guys in these challenges....?

Where is the Easter Day's challenge???

I can't tell me how excited reading your post made me!!! We all need a little tough love sometimes. You will be able to eat those things again, just give yourself a few more months before you experiment too much. None of us here are perfect, we all make mistakes. I can tell you are going to do awesome on this journey. You might consider getting yourself a ticker (www.tickerfactory.com). I love having my ticker. People might laugh at me, but since I weight myself every morning, I look forward to weighing myself to see if I can go immediately and update my ticker. LOL It's just one of those little weird motivators for me. Have a great day!

Good job! I'm guessing your son is in for a bit of discipline this evening. :angelsad2: I always dreaded coming home when I knew my parents knew I had been in trouble that day. It wasn't often, but it happened. That and having to bring home bad report card grades. Oh, I'm so glad I'm not a kid anymore.

I loved that story about your horse lying down with you on and then getting up like there was nothing wrong. Too funny!! :-) I think with my show horse being a PB Arabian, they are naturally a little smaller, refined legs and so he doesn't have quite the same level of strength as a QH/Arab. That does make for great combination to do endurance though, so you should do really well. I've thought about doing endurance, but the horse I would have used passed away a couple years ago in a tragic stall accident. I'm so excited about my riding program in Portugal, we get 2 lessons per day (1 hr long) and I will be there 1 week. I will only be touching the surface, but I know there is no place here in the U.S. that I could have this level of lessons and that caliber of horse. I am also excited just to see how people do things over there in terms of care and management styles. I have actually found lateral work to be quite challenging, to do it correctly both rider and horse. It's done some in the Arabian training world, but not NEAR to the level done in dressage. Going to send you a PM with my email so we can stay in touch.