Pookeyism

So sorry you had to go through that! What lessons we have to learn - and remember, while going through the first several months! (((hugs)))

Make sure to dress for comfort! Best advice I can give.

I have lost over 500 miles of blood vessels! So yes, very good on the heart! BTW - the blood vessels and such in the fat are consumed for energy also! You also are moving alot of waste - that is why water is soooo important (one reason).

Sorry, I am at work and for whatever reason I can't read but the first few posts - I am lucky I can read any - most stuff is blocked. In re: bewbs...but not just bewbs, the saging arms, te lateral small folds on the back just below the arms, etc...and unfortunately belly and legs, etc. I have heard alot of people say they will not have plastics but I absolutely plan to because I am actually really concerned how I would maintian those areas as I got older and goodnes forbid bedridden or needed assistance. I may very well focus on the surgeries intended to modify the folds only, as opposed to "body revision". As far as bewbs specifically my surgery will be extensive and painful. I dread it so much, I don't know how I plan on talking myself into that waiting room, lol.

My Hubby has to travel to Trinidad for awhile. His company says about a week which means at least two, and possibly three. He travels alot and this would stil be a short trip at three weeks, but I feel like I am not prepared for it. I am in a stall currently and REALLY hope to fight off the head hunger monster that creeps in every evening when I am winding down, and keep looking for a spouse that isn't around Support, suggestions and anything else you have, friends, please...I don't understand where it is coming from but this feels like it is going to be a long (yet short) trip. I would really like to counter this with positive time and activities...wish me luck!

6 lbs away from onderland! I haven't been less than two hundred in at least 12 years, maybe longer. I want to hit onderland before my Hubby returns from Trinidad, so hopefully in a couple of weeks. I have been in a stall now for awhile!

Thank you very much!

I wil be following this closely. I have never took a birth control pill, ever. We have even been told I will probably never conceive - but now I am being told I am responding so well to the weight loss (it has only been 2 months post-op but I was loosing since January '11) that they are concerned my body may reverse "whatever" it is doing. I have not even fully transitioned to daily mushies yet, so this really scares me - that would be so bad for a child! TMI but Hubby is like "what??!!!" when I handed him a sleeve of his own...so that isn't going to last in the long run (and is wayyy not effective enough).

Thank you so much. It is always so helpful when someone takes time out of their day to write a really good, encouraging post!

One of my very best friends for a long time was very similar height and weight wise to you, except he was a bit taller and probably a bit heavier. I can say I think it varied from intimidation to fear. We even discussed it at times and he said it was mostly his weight. He never had the issues with intimidation or fear or avoidance before the weight gain as much as he did after the weight. I know another guy about the same in size who is white and I used to hear generally the same complaints – so I think it is more a weight thing. Your sleeve date is coming up soon and I bet you are excited! Good for you. You already seem to be a bit of a heavy thinker (OMG no pun intended!). It is good that you have these thoughts and I bet you are the type that will have these and more several times a day, every day. Keep a journal, there is no ideal formula, just keep it. Maybe keep up with a counselor or stay with or find an in-person support group. I have a lot of things I find myself thinking and doing that fall out of the area of what I thought I would think, or what I might think. I also notice I do not react the same to everything the same as I have during my previous weight losses. I can also “see” my shift in a lot of thinking, which is reassuring that my counseling and talking it through is working. Judging others – I am guilty. Not when I just see someone, however. It is when I see them eat. I am trying and I feel so very sinful when I judge like that. When I see someone just eating the foulest fried foods and such (I have not ate in a fast food restaurant more than 4 times in 10 years, and the last time I was sooo ill) I get so nauseated. I actually feel physically ill! There are also thoughts of wanting to talk to them. I have started very discretely watching obese people eat and sometimes I let my mind do what it wants – and I journal at the same time…I write, draw, tear apart a magazine and make a collage (no kidding)…orgami, whatever…I then go back and review it and I have often found I think I am working through my feelings of hopelessness I was beginning to feel before (and during) this last weight loss and decision to be sleeved. It complex to say the least, however.

Very happy for you guys! Been stuck at 206 for awhile now, but I WILL GET THERE!

Fish is yummy. Tobiko (caviar) is gewwwd! Hummus Avacado But you said stuff you did not like before? Cottage cheeze!

It's all easy to do and yes! Join! It's been slow but very happy to help and I think all of our memebers are the same way!

Okay, I have not seen a thread about this, so if I am being repetitive I will apologize in advance. I want to start a support group that meets virtually by cam so the people meeting can feel like they are with a group. Who would be intersted in this? There is a limit to streams and i would like to start the meetings small, just as if you were to walk into a small support group somewhere. Then if the demand exceeds what we are doing I will figure something out. Let me know of you are interested, I will create a group if I get enough likeminded people, and go from there. With the group I think it woud be best to add people who are participating in the chats - so once we met, we would go in and create a group, and add people as they have followed up interest with participation. I am also going to create a Skype support group, wich is slightly differrent as it is more of a one-on-one option, and that group will be open to anyone since the foundation of the group will be to go in and post and see if anyone is available to skype. Lets see how this goes! Lea Ann

I think I get in way less than that sometimes, and that is probably one of the factors for why I have stalled so often. It wouldn't hurt anything to advance to 1000 calories for a couple of weeks. Keep it low carb! Good luck and let us know what you decide to do, and how it turns out.

Yes! I "saved" myself by only weighing in 1x a week.

I did not think about the weight on the license! But yes - I look NOTHING like my pic (I also had pink and green hair, looongggg story).

It is good to shuffle the two about, in my experience (lots). For me anyway I like the feeling of being able to do heavy weights and I like the longer cardo-laden effect you get with more reps and lower weights. As long as you keep careful eye on your form (max advantage and injury prevention) I agree - both build and maintain muscle. Good post!

No saddness at all in this one! I have a pair of boots my hubby gave me as a Christmas present either in '08 or '09 and they were just the most funky plaid boots with leather steel toes and leather heels, a leather tongue and a leather strap and came up to my knees. He ordered them from a cosplay boutique in Japan when he was in Tokyo and didn't think about how small stuff ran (like that was why they didn't fit, lol)..and yup! They wouldnt fit at all. I got them out last week and wore them with a LBD and he grinned from ear to ear! The LBD happed to be about two sizes too big, but it was an empire waisted dress, so I kinda pulled it off, still. I am actually reordering that dress - the cut is AWESOME for us gals in transition. I love those boots! I love my Hubbie and I LOVE ME!

Hummus, eggs, chicken salad spread, several soft cheeses, mushed avacado and TOBIKO!!! Also butternut squash mushed...mmmm

Got to, got to, GOT TO pass this onto my Hubby!

I have "stalled" a bit and it SEEMS more than it is...the scale goes down eventually and something is working i am in a size 38" jean. We will loose because we have to. I am going to a metabolic disorder specialist in the summer. I am waiting until then to give my body a chance to even out a little (hormone wise). sleep as routinely as you can, getting as close to 8 hours as you can. Keep your carbs low, low, low and make time and room for Water - just water. Your miltivitamin is essential. Exercise if you can at all. Limit your eating at night. It affects the way your body reads certain hormones and really does affect your weight.

Inspiration for us all! I can barely handle that changes now, they are so often overwhelming! I can't imagine ten months from now...

If not check with the hospital or local bariatric surgeons - maybe you could offer it through a support group. With the prices of clothes in Hawaii maybe you could get some of it tailored down a little so you could use it longer?

You are really insightful, actually. I had to make a mental note of it this evening, but only after stuffing myself of butternut squash Soup. Mine is a combination of stress over deciding I am going to have to depart way permanently from a good friend at the same time I found out my Hubby will be out of the country for at least a couple of weeks, maybe more. I get really lonely when he is gone.