LindaS

I haven't broken down in the grocery store, but I have had some challenges. Big hugs to you. This weekend, I was hosting my daughter's baby shower. I had to go shopping for the party, and at first, I had a hard time finding something to buy because I was trying to buy Protein first. I knew I had to have more than just ham and cheese. I finally realized I needed to buy things I normally wouldn't: dips, chips, raw veggies (celery!) and cupcakes and crackers. On the day of the actual party, I didn't eat what I shouldn't eat, but I was encouraging everyone to eat it all up, so I didn't have leftovers. I sent the crackers home with a guest.

From another August 2011 sleever -- take measurements! You will be AMAZED at the inches you will lose!

Someone else had a great idea that I will share with you -- they slice up a cucumber and use that to replace crackers. It lets you eat the spreads with a healthier low carb choice. I prefer salty to sugary Snacks, and using Lays would be a gateway for me. I am trying to avoid chips, and it is a struggle for me. I don't recommend using them.

My journey has been very good. I couldn't believe how much of a difference losing that first 20 pounds made in my energy levels. I lost 25 pounds the first month, and I lost about 10 pounds a month after that until about 6 months out. At that point, I was about 30 pounds from goal, and my weight loss stalled. I am still right in that area, but I am more toned. I know my body is changing even if the scale isn't. I went from size 20/22 to size 12. I have a ton of energy, and I no longer have that negative self talk. I don't have the argument in my head about how much work it will take to pick something up from under the table before I actually do it. Now, I just do it. One thing I didn't expect: my teenage daughters are borrowing my shirts and tanks and jackets. Weird!

The doctor is aware of her going to the nutritionist and still wants her to see the dietitian. I think it is a case where her doctor doesn't really want her to have the weight-loss surgery. The referral for WLS actually came from her cardiologist. I'm just concerned that her doctor will fail to do something that she needs done to get approved for surgery.

My mother-in-law is in the process of getting sleeved. She should be scheduled for surgery in late September/early October. As part of the requirements, she has to have 6 months of consults with her regular doctor. At her last appointment, the regular doctor told my mil that she wanted my mil to see a dietitian for a consult. Personally, I think this is a waste of money and time. The dietitian she will be meeting with is not associated with a WLS practice. My mil already has appointments to meet with a nutritionist through her surgeon's office to deal strictly with the pre and post surgery diets. My MIL is going through with the dietitian consult. I hope the dietitian ends up being knowledgeable about WLS diets. It just seems like my mil's regular doctor isn't up-to-date on what is going on, and she should be. I also know that the insurance-documentation of the monthly consults that were filled out by her doctor had to be redone because the doctor didn't fill them out correctly.

I love the montages! You look fantastic, and you are so stylish!

OK that doctor is dumb. What does he think the surgery is? Santa Claus?

Great job!

You look fab! What a journey!

Most people have commented on how I seem happier since my WLS. I tend to smile more, and I am engaged in life more. I am more willing to do things and say things. I feel more confident, and I no longer have that voice in my ear commenting on my large body, which is a big reason why I'm happier.

I think someone in this forum asked the doctor to take pictures of it, and they shared it with us. (It might have been a blog though.). You could see if your surgeon would be willing to take a picture to share with you. It was interesting to see that one. If you can't keep it, you can at least see a picture of it. Linda

There are some tasty chocolate-flavored Protein bars out there! I am right there with you, Globetrotter. I haven't lost very much since February (less than 10 pounds) and most of that came off during two weeks time. I can eat wonderfully and exercise daily burning hundreds of calories and not lose a single pound. I can eat some carbs and drink some alcohol and not gain anything. And then for no reason, when my eating and exercise is great, I gain weight. And then I lose it even though there is no reason. And I can't figure out why. It doesn't make sense. The 3500 calores = 1 pound is not accurate for me. And when I don't get rewarded or punished, I tend to make bad choices (popcorn!). I suspect some of it might be due to monthly cycle stuff although I no longer technically have a monthly cycle. I had an endometrial ablation, so I don't get a period, but I think I still get the hormone influx, but I can no longer track it to that. I think part of it is that I am down to the harder to burn stuff. And it is in my problem areas (upper thighs/butt/belly), which are harder places to tone/exercise. I definitely have some psychological stuff. I tend to eat popcorn when I'm alone and working. I like salty/crunchy Snacks better than I like chocolate/sweet snacks. I tried protein chips instead of regular chips, but I don't like the flavor. At first, they were a good substitute for the crunch craving, but they taste so bad, I'd rather have 100 calories of actual chips than something that tastes bad but is better for me. I could get the crunch from raw veggies, which is actually my preference except I have braces, which makes eating raw veggies hard to do. I log my food daily, and I think that is a big part of me keeping on track usually. I am even thinking of doing a day or two of photographing what I eat just to see if it will help me make better choices. I have a blog, and if I had to photograph it would I be willing to eat it? Personally, I think the biggest down fall for me is the calories in drinks. I don't know a lot of calories in drinks, and they tend to surprise me more than anything. Summer drinks tend to be higher in calorie (like lemonade). I had a Gatorade the other day and didn't realize until after I had drank it that it had 39 grams of carbs in it.

The site isn't working for me now, but I think it is mybodygallery.com

I can't find it through a search, but I know last summer someone on this forum posted a link to a website. The site was pictures of people who were the same height and weight, but their body sizes were very different. It really was interesting to see the differences. I must not have bookmarked it. Does anyone remember it? At my highest weight, I weighed 255 and wore a size 20 (although did buy some 22s depending on cut). I am now size 12 and weigh 183. I also have thunder thighs, and I truly think I'd be able to wear smaller sizes if my thighs were smaller. I am much smaller on top.

Try letting your surgeon now about the work parameters. When I was scheduling my surgery, I let them know that I could do it between two certain dates, and if they couldn't work it out by then, I'd have to wait 4 months. This made them motivated, and they were able to "pencil" me into their schedule. Once I finished everything, it was confirmed and the "pencil" became "pen," I guess.

I am 9 days away from a year out, and I have no regrets. I did think I'd be at goal by now. I still have another 30 pounds. To be honest, I think I could have been at goal by now if I'd continued to deny myself some food types. I don't eat a lot of them, but it slows my weight loss (popcorn/alcohol, for example). Part of why I didn't deny myself is because I didn't get this surgery to deny myself. I wanted a tool not a lock. I still plan on getting to goal. It just didn't happen the first year. But what I have lost and how much better I feel? Priceless.

I'm so glad they are out of business! I think that is an even better revenge.

I like cheese Snacks. For crunchy stuff, I tried the Protein chips that you can get online. Each package has about 10 grams of protein. The taste isn't great, but it takes care of the crunch craving. I also like nuts although not a lot of them. Almonds are good.

I'm from Michigan too, and I was sleeved not quite a year ago. I live in northern lower Michigan. Good luck to all of you soon-to-be newly sleeved Michiganders!

Visit an online store that specializes in WLS. I like www.bariatricchoice.com. You can get a variety of products that are high in protein. I really like the fruit drinks.

If your online life is starting to interfere or preclude your face-to-face life, there is a problem. (I'm one of those difficult women who can't do what some man tells me to do.) If the conversations you are having are ones you wouldn't mind your wife reading, I don't think there is a problem. If you try to hide it from your wife, there is a problem. If you would rather go online than talk to your wife, there is a problem. I think early on, I was a bit obsessive about this site. I came here more than I went to facebook. But even then, I did it at times when my husband wasn't around. I am very aware of my use of electronics in front of my husband (and so is he). He gets jealous of my iphone and my kindle and my laptop. I try to have times where I don't use them at all. But even when we go out to eat, I need to get on my iPhone to log my food at MFP.

I will be one year out Aug. 9. I've lost over 70 pounds, and I am doing great. I eat pretty much what I want although I avoid breads because they fill me up too much. It feels like they swell up. I eat a lot LESS than what I used to eat, plus I've started exercising regularly. I love the changes I've made in my life. My teenage daughters are constantly borrowing my clothes (at least the tops). Before surgery, I had severe arthritis in my ankle that really limited what I could and couldn't do. I no longer have that problem. My ankle doesn't stop me anymore. I am very happy with the results, and I am now focusing on getting fitter -- lowering my body fat percentages and toning muscles rather than just losing weight.

Great job! No answers for you. My year anniversary is coming up fast on Aug. 9. I have lost 72 pounds, and would love tips too.

It really depends on what you are eating. There are some things I can eat quite a bit of, but foods that are dense in protein are usually very limited in quantity. I found that refried beans tend to fill me up very quickly. Even at 11 months out, I can't eat 3 ounces of them.