LoserMama

For some reason, I never really liked these preop, but I love Dove milk chocolate or Hershey Bliss. I started at about 3 weeks melting one piece down to liquid in my mouth. I had to stop bringing them in the house about two weeks ago though, couldn't trust myself anymore. The NUT said it was fine actually for me to have the one chocolate a night, so that took all the fun out of it...LOL! I have had sips of diet soda, but it doesnt taste very good any more. Hubby had a glass of wine a couple of nights ago, and offered me a sip, and I had it, it tasted great, but it was sooooo weird, I could FEEL it hit my stomach. it didn't hurt, but it produced a "sensation" -- anyone ever felt this? I am an avid surfer o' the web at work, but I get my work done and then some so I don't feel too guilty. But I do use my iPad on the guest network rather than surf on my computer...LOL. That way if someone looks at my desk when I am in the office I never look naughty....bwahaha!

I have tried OA three different times. I think the program is very sound, I don't know if I wasn't ready for it, or what, but I generally found it kind of depressing. I also went to another money relaetd 12 step program for over a year, and found it helpful, but again didn't stick with it, it was better, I'd say try a few different types of meetings, try the online meetings for a feel of it. I personally am doing better with a homegrown WLS accountability group through mytinytank.net that is very positive, focused, and has great people beginning to attend. It fits my schedule better to call in for a brief monday morning meeting to get focused for the week and it gives me the accountability I need. I do think reading the OA program materials is very valuable. I read from "For Today" every night and regularly refer back to the books.

That is sooooo awesome. Congratulations. You ROCK girl. I think I will have to do a sleep study of some variety to confirm because my apnea was severe, butr when I can stop I am so looking forward to that, and maybe being able to sleep on a plane without fear of disturbing others, though that may take more work as I'm told part of why I snore/have apnea is because of a severely deviated septum. Anyway, I tOTALLY get what a NSV that is. Woohoo!!

Yeah, exactly this. For me, this tiem period is hard, because i actually do have to buy new clothes, but because its clothes, it feels frivolous, so I feel that guilt, too, but its unfounded. That said, I do definitely have problems with impulse control with spending (in addition to food--call it compulsion, addiction, whatever you want to call it, the end result is behaviors we have difficulty stopping that are relieved by doing things that taken one at a time, seem harmless, but if its a repeated pattern, it adds up to big problems.) If you always pay off your cards and have never had debt/money issues in the past, I wouldn't feel guilty, but I would be watchful as to whether the new behavior is now soothing things that food used to. Your gut about it is probably right.

All good ideas! I wish my clothing exchange was more of an option but for my support group, their next clothing exchange isn't for two months yet, and from what I heard of the last one, most of the sizes being exchanged are still up in the 20s. So while I am thrilled to be below that point (OMG!) it means I've had to be mroe creative. I've used thrift shops, walmart/target clearance and one Craigslist ad for my casual clothes, but didn't have luck turning up formal business appropriate clothes this way, so had to surf the clearance racks best I could for that stuff. I am really hoping that my size 18s can last me quite a way down even if they are large.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! That is so so great, these are the kinds of things i am looking forward to, living normally without consciously (or unconsciously) making accommodations for being obese.

Oh me too. Or i would have asked her if she was enjoying her meal. I used to get sooooo bugged when I was nursing my older two kids in public, I would actually let it stop me from doing it in public. Same with taking insulin shots or taking my blood sugar. people would stare. As I got older, i decided i did NOT need to let other people take my enjoyment away from me, or to let it bother me. It was really really hard to push through feeling uncomfortable and felt easier to leave or run away, but gradually I got to my place of holding my ground, ignoring or staring down stupid people. LOL! I eat out all the time and have not had any waiter issues. I've used the tricks learned here -- I still order a glass of Water and push it away, or if I'm with hubby, he drinks some of his first and then switches with me. For food I order a very small thing or I get a box to start with. Have had zero issues that way.

Spinoff...did you know they actually make a lime margarita crystal light? Yum!

crossover addiction is a real issue to be sure. Money was already an issue for me, and so I'm trying to work VERY hard on the emotional issues behind why I want to soothe myself with food, spending, etc. For me, I will be trading one kind of misery for another if I don't stay focused on the issues below the behavior. What is super hard right now, with changing weight so fast, I HAVE to buy clothes, but the really hard thing is what I HAVE to do versus what I want to do. I definitely "impulse bought" a kenneth cole top this weekend. No reason to buy it atall, it was just cute and it was fun I could buy a regular old XL. I'm realizing, hard core, that just because my stomach is smaller, doesn't mean my reasons for using these behaviors has gone away. It stinks!

AWESOME!! I'm most often trying to get in here on my ipad anyway, so great to have soemthing that will work natively. Thank you!

Woooohooo, hotty girl! That confidence and bright light is shining through as the pounds drop, awesome, eh? Enjoy it and be safe of course.

I really really struggled with the liquid diet and the whole progression to be honest. I understand how you are feeling, but get back on the regular program today. the biggest part that is scary for me is when I make choices that deviate away from what I am supposed to be doing, I almost worry more about the mental ramifications of the excuses I've made for myself, than the physical, though at a month out I would be more worried about that too. When I start justifying my choices, I know I'm on a slippery slope. Doesn't stop me from doing it sometimes, but I know that stinking thinking is at the bottom of it... (I'm at a family gathering....my sleeve is bigger...I'm testing my limits...it was sugar free....I chewed it well....) I've used every single one of those too, and I know that what everyone told me is the truth that I don't really want to hear. I do believe we need to be really kind to ourselves though, in this time, and give ourselves credit for the things we do right, and to acknowledge the things we do that arent on plan, don't try to rationalize them, and immediately get back on the plan. Don't beat yourself up, and don't let anyone else beat you up, either. I think it was MEMEME that turned me onto this book who said that they were going through it in their post-op support group, but i can't say enough good things about The Beck Diet Solution. The name is stupid, with the word Diet in it, so don't let that mislead you. Its not a diet, in any way shape or form. its a great book about retraining our brains to think the right way about eating, food and exercise. Its just simply awesome.