101driver

Heartbreaking story this morning on the Today Show about David Smith. 3 years ago he was all over the TV because of losing over 400 pounds. This morning on the Today show he revealed weight re-gain of over 300 pounds. So sad and scary. He talks about needing to have an strong emotional and mental foundation to sustain weight loss and how he was not able to cope with the extreme changes he went through. We can all relate to that. Thank God we have a tool in place to help us be successful. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/

Count me in, too!! I'm stalled (2.5 weeks now...ugg), so I don't know how this is going to go. Maybe this challenge will give me the kick in the **s to kick the stall in the **s. Highest weight = 338 Surgery day = 307 Current = 259 JULY 4 GOAL = 249

I really needed to read this today. I've been suck for several weeks and am feeling really frustrated. Thanks for the encouragement!

Started at 54.5, now at 42 (16 weeks out, 78 pounds lost including pre-op). Only 14 more pounds until I break into the 30s! Goal is 25 (seems like a really long way away, but one pound at a time...patience is a virtue...)

Yup, I have a turkey waddle, too. I feel like my humungous double chin (which was really a terribly fat neck) has deflated a whole bunch, leaving a wrinkly waddle. Oh well. I'm using firming cream like crazy and it seems to be helping. I'm hoping that when I lose more, the waddle will shrink up.

I was on topamax for years for my migraines. That stuff is wicked. Baaaaaaad side effects for me and awful to get off of. And, I never lost a pound that I could attrbute to the med.

Absolutely! I have a feature at my gym to work with a personal trainer once a month. I still (6 months later) haven't done so because I'm intimidated by working with someone who doesn't understand my body and my different approach to working out. It's waaaay harder to move with the extra weight on my frame. I would totally apprciate someone like you! Good luck-great idea!

At CVS picking up my prescription. Darling Hubby walks be a display of Easter candy that's 50% off. He picks up a big bag of candy-coated malted eggs...ugg...I ate about 8 of them. Yummy! Dang it! I worked out extra hard in hopes of burning them off.

I am STILL having trouble regulating my "full" feeling. My biggest problem is that I eat WAY TOO QUICKLY!!! When oh when will I learn to slow down?!?!?! The uh-oh-I-ate-too-much moment whoshes up on my so fast that I've made myself sick a couple of times. I guess years of scarfing as much down as possible is a hard habit to break. So my big suggestion to folks is, eat SLOWLY!!

Gotta love 'em, those hubbies!! Mine did something similar. When requesting time off to stay a few days at home with me after surgery, he pretty much told his bosses what was up (of course, I'd asked him not to tell anybody). It's a close-knit school community. The asso. head of school asked if she could leave a card at the front desk for everyone to sign -- and he said yes (didn't even occur to him to say no, I wanted it to be private). So now EVERYBODY knows I'm having surgery and word spreads quickly what kind of surgery. Sigh. Well, they are all sweet and concerned, so I shouldn't mind. But so much for privacy. I'm feeling a little better about it now and less protective of the information, but I still haven't out and out discussed it with anyone accept a few close friends.

Hi guys - Just wanted to share because I thought many of you could relate. Over the Easter weekend we wanted to take pictures of the family. There are literally years and years of photos in our family albums WITHOUT me in the pictures (I always offer to take the pictures) because I didn't want to ever be photographed. Too painful to see those pictures. Well, this weekend, I found myself jumping in and asking my daughter to take a picture of me and the hubby. First time in soooo long I've found myself OK with that! I have a long way to go until I feel entirely comfortable on film, but I thought it was a good sign that my mind is changing and I'm liking myself a little bit more these days.

It sounds like you're experiencing gas pain still. Two weeks out seems early still. Check with your doctor. I'm so sorry you're feeling this way, both physically and emotionally. All I can say is that, it get so much better. Hang in there and keep the faith. I remember thinking I wouldn't evaluate anything until I hit the 3 month out target. I'm at 9 weeks and I feel so good, I feel confident in saying this was a wonderful, life saving decision. But I sure didn't feel that way at two weeks out! It was about week 4 that I started feeling somewhat "normal" again.

I'm 1/30, so not technically a Feb. 12 sleever, but I feel I bonded with you guys pre-op because my original date was 2/6 (got bumped up). Life is feeling pretty normal, albeit a new normal. I feel completely healed and my mind is catching up with the physical progress I'm making. The weirdest thing has been having my eyes learn to match my new stomach capacity. I still have to stop when measuring out food to remember what is the appropriate portion size. My old way was to pile stuff on and then eat everything on my plate. I still am a eat-everything-on-your-plate person (working really hard on slowing down and listening to the full feeling), so I use a cup size mug to eat out of accompanied by a baby spoon. I've had a couple of instances of eating something that hit my stomach and and came right back up. But I'm so happy with how everything is going. I feel very lucky to have been complication-free.

This is a great opportunity to discuss health and well being with your kids. I've really become honest with myself about the bad examples I was to my kids - mostly the binge overeating. Now they are both so proud of me and inspired by my focus and determination. 6 is a little young to "get it." Maybe she's scared that your relationship is what will change? Assure her that you will still be the same mommy you every were! Truly, this is the best thing you can do for yourself and for your kids. Best wishes to you.

Hi everyone - the worst part for me for sure was the pre-op required upper GI and then another one (for a swallow test) the morning after surgery. Drinking that stuff was...I still get icky shivers just thinking about it... The first week or so was a real challenge both physically and emotionally. I went through a bit of a panic and felt some anxiety over the permanent decision I'd made. But, nine weeks out now, I am getting use to "the new me" and am feeling really good all around.

I preface this response with the warning that I'm a picky baby when it comes to protein... but... I tried the unflavored Unjury in just about everything that was suggested to mix it with - from smoothies, to coffee, to mashed potatoes, etc. - and I couldn't take it. Blah!! I tried the chicken soup flavored in chicken broth and same thing...blah!!!

I weaned off Paxil after taking it for almost 10 years. I researched it as much as I could and tapered the dosage over a period of approximately 8 weeks. IT WAS AN AWFUL EXPERIENCE. I went through horrible physical withdrawl symptoms ranging from brain snaps (as I like to call them - serotonin issues), to shakes, to extreme nausea and dizziness. I hadn't thought it was going to be that big a deal and I was frightened by what I went through. I told my prim. doc about it after the fact and she was horrified that I'd done that on my own. She said there are other meds that I could have used to ease the transition. I strongly encourage you to seek advice from your doc before doing this. Best wishes to you.

Hi January friends! I was sleeved 1/30, so today is my 8 week day. Can't believe it's been that long. I've lost a total of 60 (31 pre-op and 29 since). I feel that things are becoming "normal" and that I'm really starting to develop new (and tolerable!), healthy habits. I LOVE this tool and really have embraced the changes. I wish the weight loss was faster...I still have a fear that it will end and I will taper off before my goal. Best wishes to you all.

Same...wish I'd done it sooner!

Hey guys - I was sleeved 1/30 and I think I have almost exactly same stats as you two. I just had a REALLY FRUSTRATING 2 week stall. I've been reading everything everyone says about stalls and it seems what we are experiencing is normal (and even to be expected). I tried upping my calories a little and water a lot and switching up my exercise routine. Phew...stall is officially broken. I've lost three pounds in three days. My doc says this is what I should expect, really. He referred to it as stepping down (level for a bit, down for a bit, level for a bit, down for a bit....). Hang in there. There's no way we can't lose weight when we're consuming under 1000 calories a day (and exercising)! Have faith and patience.

Best wishes to the pre-opers! I don't really remember the first few hours. My kids and darlin' hubby were there in the room and they said I was trying to make conversation but would push my pain pump and immediate drift off to sleep. I remember being awake and more coherent several hours later. I felt fine internally but had soreness on the outside (incision pain). Moving was a little tricky at first. No nausea at all. I was thirsty and wanted to ice chips offered. I wasn't allowed to take sips till the next morning. It all seems like a dream at this point.

Decided on a Friday night dinner out with the hubby. First time I've been out and I was a little curious as to how it would go. We went to our favorite local diner. First GREAT thing...I fit in the booth!!!!!!! There were about 3 inches of space between me and the table!!!!! I had about 4 clams from his clam chowder and ordered an appetizer of crab stuffed mushroom. It came with three pretty big mushrooms with about 1/2 cup of crab meat heaped on top. I could only eat one!!!!! Everything tasted so yummy. I ate slowly and enjoyed just enough but not too much. Now I have the other two mushrooms in the fridge for tomorrow. LOVE this new way of eating!!!!!

Jaspersgirl - I was sleeved Jan. 30 (I'm almost 7 weeks out). What I find pretty shocking is seeing a "regular" sized meal that I used to eat with no trouble at all. It makes me sooooo happy that I have this wonderful tool and feel so mentally and physically good putting these positive new habits into action.

waaahahhhaaaa!!! What a great problem! Congratulations, wishes!! I can't wait. A lot of my pants are getting too big, but they're not falling off yet. I went to a thrift store yesterday and scored some pants (size 18, 16, 14 and 12) to put in my closet for the next few months. It was 1/2 off day at the thrift store, so I paid a shopping $2 per pair! I think it's fun to be shrinking out of old clothes.

ha ha - love that! I'm beginning to feel that life "before" was a bunch of BS. Denial and fear! Now we're on the other side, authentically watching our health and well being! Last night...Trader Joe's vegetable sticks dipped in pub cheese. Yum... Why is it that the bad stuff goes down so easily??!!