Pookeyism

I will probably cry when I get there - I know I will Cry when I hit onderland. Congradulations. Enjoy your cry - it is not a bad cry!

thick protien drinks only -I had a bit of a setback at that time...

Not sure what to say about it. I wouldn't do anything u don't feellike doing and definately would not let anyone make you got a fast food place...just how did he overule you? Sorry it just get my hackles up when I hear something like that. I am not particularly diplomatic when I feel my needs are being overlooked, lol. I probably would have told him see u later going to panera!

Absolutely! one thing at a time. You are doing great!

The Blender Bottle is awesome for mixing your powders - I suggest getting the actual blender bottle brand - the lid is stay-tight and the flip lid "pops" into place and should not leak as you mix. For a blender I just asked and Hubby says he thinks the magic bullet works well but he uses a food processor for my mushies, and often strains some of the ingredients ahead of time. A juicer is a good thing to have too. I think if you do not have alot of equipment (my hubby is a foodie who's hobby is cooking - we have a "good eats" kitchen). a Baby Bullet would be pretty cool - it is from the same people as Magic Bullet but has some additional pieces that lends itself to making small portions - and little storage pieces. I wanted one so bad, lol.

That is awesome!

I am weighing myself 1x a week, and once I am past onderland I am going to weigh less often, because I suspect the loss will slow down. I will be weight training to actively build bulk muscle as soon as I can get the OK to put that much core pressure on my tummy. This is always a good move for me because I am built to have bulk muscle - I have never been a lean muscle kinda girl. I also want to get back into some different sports I have only been able to play around with on occasion while I was so heavy. Bulk training tends to even out and sometimes push your weight up a little, so less focus on scales and more on baggy clothes for me after awhile longer.

You asked for a list! Hmmm... Blue Bell bullet style sugar free popsicles potatoes, to mash (sour cream to mash) chicken broth tobiko caviar (absolutely full of Omega 3's and it is really good in the mash, broth and stand alone. salmon (get this fresh from a really good grocer) tuna - whole, solid hummus cream of anything soup chopped mushrooms - to make a puree protien drink mixes almond milk real, whole milk (we get ours from a local dairy and hubby skims and makes his own butter - it is sooo nice) There is more but it's 5:30 in the AM and I am wore out, lol. We have always been strong on trying local foods and humanely kept meats but now we are focusing on it more and I can say it is so worth it. I can't wait to be able to go to the local farmers markets and do samll sample tastes again - especially now that I seem to want more veggies than ever. PS - venison is a most forgiving red meat. Ditto for lamb. I can hook you up with the best lamb (we are in Houston for now but we have an organic lamb farm in TN). Hope I didn't break any rules there, lol.

After a bit of a setback and I had to stay on liquids for awhile longer (I had death a week post op and the crying and stress and getting sick on the return flight home made for a very, very upset and painful sleeve) I am progressing to mushies from the land of the liquids. I have tried a very mushed poached egg, some cooked potatoes (a combo of a pinky pink, a piece of a true blue a chunk of sweet and a valley white). I like the potato option and we add extra protien. It doesn't add much but it allows me to have real food. Potato is considered a near perfect food. If you eat a mash made of different colors and varieties, you are getting in at least a little of alot of different trace minerals, AND you are getting all the benefits of potato. No one has told this to me, but I figure if I have at least a little potato each day while I am test driving a still very iffy tummy then make sure I am still drinking protien drinks, then I can vary it as I am comfortable. I am in no rush! I have no intentions of ever eating fast food again. I rarely indulged as is and I feel like I am in the position to just stay away from all of the crap food. I don't see them as treats anymore. Or maybe I should say I see them as "treats" as a cutter would see the cuts on her belly or thigh as a "treat". It is the same at this point, especially since we have no excuse not to understand what they put in those foods.

It seems like it is a good possibility. I would say as soon as you can discuss with your doctor if this is expcted or a complication - and schedule a second opinion and endoscopy. My Mom had a scar that thickened in her esophgus and another in her stomach. I have strong reason to think it had something to do with her passing away (esophageal embolism, most likely).

I agree after all that it is probably better you not associate with her - but for her good also. WLS is definateltly not an easy way out, but also not accessible to everyone and I do think there is a real possibility we can be a bit if a detrement to someone's progress if they have had prior issues (like her eating disorder). It isn't that we are at fault, but I have seen alot of sour grapes/sweet lemons reactions to WLS. There has to be some evaluation of where the comment came from, and why - and then (or perhaps before) decide if it even matters. You can't fix people, and some are just not emotionally valuable enough to try to help them see why it was right for you have WLS. I told one person who asked "why are you convinced it is the only way out" - I asked her if I had come across like that and she said, "well, I just assumed that you had to be desperate to have surgery". So I think we both caught each other off guard. I would have never gave up my yoga and increasingly better eating habits, etc. I would have always tried - just like I have the last 33 years of my life, so I don't know if I felt desperate but I did feel like I had exhausted all other options. From her point of view surgery somehow seems more drastic than being hungry everyday (and for me it was EVERYDAY) for months and even years at a time...I feel like the way I had to go to even maintain a large size was a horrible thing to endure. WLS preparation and expense and everything is nothing compared to the constant state of hunger. I may have answered a rant with a rant - lol. Sorry!

I think we have arrived upon the point that people are being "milled" through this surgery. So many people are doing minimal requested from insurance or is not asked to do much of anything if they self pay. The first doc I originally chose "encouraged" a list of things to do but did not enforce it if it wasn't required through insurance. This is more of a problem than it sounds - the people who come into it unprepared and loose then gain it back contribute to long term studies too - so it makes the surgery look much less successful long term than it can really be. The same people get on here and go "I did this and was ok" or "I eat this and (fill in overinflated positive result)" etc, and people read it and go "they did it" and again etc...it goes on and on. Grrrrrr!

I have done several exercises geared to acknowleding my emotional eating. I think the biggest step is affirmation of your emotional eating habits, then ownership of your choices and no matter what avoid the overeaters anon that tells you to say crap like " I am helpless". You aren't helpless. Another thing is to take a stress management class, and learn how to deal with stress BEFORE it becomes emotional, and then emotional eating. Good luck Sweetie! It's hard - make sure you have a grip on it BEFORE surgery - WLS will not fix this - and you can find yourself dropped into the heart of stress eating with no notice (my Mom passed away unexpectedly a week post op and I had to fly from Houston TX to Appalachian Mts. VA to take care of everything.) If talking will help you are so very welcome to message me. I am not an expert, I am just offering to lend an ear.

That sounds more like an esophageal hernia, or maybe even a scarification (sp) constriction. Hmmm - allergy or stress enduced constriction? It sounds like you need an endoscopy. Please keep us informed. I have you in my prayers.

yup! but still chew it up! I am eating sfj right now, lol!

My Endocrinologist has officially determined I am no longer diabetic. They still want me to test and come back in for a couple of 3 month follow ups, and to keep a food journal and readings as I enter the solid food phase - but I am cured. I beat the beast!!! I wish I could tell my Mom. I will be able to tell my little sister, and the light in my Hubby's eyes and the bear hug made it that much better. Thank you all too! So very much!

Knowing so many people are fighting back and winning against diabetes makes me so aware of how blessed we are. Congradulations to US ALL, and thank you to all who support us - it is very important to have support when you are a diabetic. I am proud to be able to Celebrate every time my hubby sees me testing my BG level and goes? Normal? And I say - very!

I LOVE DANCING BANANAS! lol

I have heard that, but I have been told by an ex oxhead "oxy is oxy"...

I was given hydrocodone and I hated the taste but where I had to sip it it kept me from using more than I needed - I never needed the whole dose.

Yay! A little behind you but will be there soon! I have already hit my BMI 30 goal, have been told I ma no longer diabetic - so Onderland is next for me.

Sorry, bypassed the replies when I read what they gave you for pain - I would throw away the oxycodone right away and insist on something else - and whatever you do do not let anyone know you have any of that on you or in your home. It can cause breathing problems, too - and horrible constipation. Oxyco is extremely addictive and even if not some people will do anything to get it. Was it a US doctor that prescribed that for you? Beyond that, it seems that you have had some damage to your esophagus and you need to find out what. I recommend you find out if your anest. was who trached you and if not if they were there the whole time observing. Maybe see if an albuterol inhailor would help (if it does it lets you know if it inflammation). A white blood cell count could tell if you have a secondary infection that could be either the cause or partial cause of yor problem. I had surgery once in the spring and it just happened to coincide with oak tree pollen - almost immediatelty I began to have trouble breathing and it took forever for them to realize that it was the trees outside my open window... Good luck and keep us informed of what you find out.

That is most awsome. I only wish you could have took a picture of their faces! I have had the luck of an office full of people who have been polite for the most part - I even had a guy in the warehouse that commented I might need to be careful so I won't blow away (I was on top of a tall crate and the wind was blowing). There was even a joke (emabrassing but funny in hindsight) that our company waited till I returned to add a nepotism policy - just to be safe. One of the things I am beginning to notice is how I am treated when no one knows...just normal, I blend in with the crowd.

It would be possible to "get taller" when you have weight you are forced into a harder "c" in your back, and it pulls you down. There is a good chance you are doing some sort of core exercise, and that will help you stand taller also. The thinner you are usually makes you look taller also. If you took a 2"x2" square on a piece of paper, and then a 1"x2" rectangel on another, most will say the rectangle looks taller. I have heard of a slight decompression of the spine associated with large amounts of visceral weight loss, too. I would think if you lost alot in your breast or along your shoulders and back it would do the same. It would be a small amout but that and standing straighter would add at least a little. Soooo many odd little things like this as we progress through our "new me"! I am so glad we have a place to post our concerns and questions. I LOVE VST!!!