CowgirlJane

My hair did partially fall out, and it wasn't due to inadequate nutrients, it just happens sometimes. The thing is, it grows back. I think it is very important to stay focused on why you made this decision "your eye on the prize" and not let yourself get too upset about temporary issues. I get it, I really do, but if you want to be the most successful, I strongly encourage a focus on the positives.

149 is not obese at 5'5"-bordering on overweight BMI. Whew Ok, this is a tough one with that long drive, but here is something to try. Get in the car and Water load. I mean really drink alot as that will temporarily satisfy and get you hydrated. (Hopefully you can make a pit stop on the drive home). Wait about 30 minutes, probably feeling hunger again by then and eat a veggie platter. Celery, broccoli, etc. My local grocery sells them for $5 premade or you can chop your own. Eat unlimited the rest of the drive home. I tried this last time I worked at my company office (I usually work from home) because there are alot of food temptations there. I ate the better part of a veggie tray...mid morning snack and then much of the afternoon.

Lapsleeve is just a marketing term...they are all done laproscopically these days. I am a sleeve evangelists, as I have been very successful after switching from a lapband that never really worked. I realize this is a personal decision but I would be questioning whether it is worth the risk of any WLS with only about 50# to lose. This decision comes with consequences and it is for a lifetime. Good luck whatever you decide!

So, I am stating the obvious... she makes her living by making outrageous and controversial statements.... otherwise that show would be even more boring than it already is... I think it is nonsense to sign a petitiion or whatever to try to make Rosie shut up...good luck with that...haha!! I am glad people have choices, and it is very true that any procedure is a crap shoot in the sense that "no results are guaranteed" and alot of it depends on patient education and willingness to committ to the program. I certainly see the appeal of the band, it was my first choice too. I am told that the band is better now, but in 2001 when I had the bio-enteric lapband their brochure specifically stated that it was a temporary device that would most likely require removal with risk of regain. The brochure did not mention the things I actually struggled with - intolerable reflux and difficulty eating healthy food (veggies and dense protein). I still have the brochure and I still have the letter my surgeon made me sign that I understood the temporary thing. Oddly, I don't remember signing that letter or anything until I dug all my info out when it was time to remove my band. sigh. denial I was. I know that of the people banded in my "era" most/many have had to have it removed. I don't know the stats and don't know if current technology is still like this. Anyway, it is besides the point. I want everyone to make their decision based on data, hopefully relevant to current techniques and outcomes. I wish all much success! I bet Rosie does too, but, she has a big mouth, it's how she makes her living.

Interesting about the Hep C. I just read that baby boomers should all be screened for it - some unknown reason much higher rate. I was born in '64, the last year of the boomers so fall in the category. How did you find out, were you screened for it? I am not truly fasting either, but I am not stressing over it. I am maintaining at 145 and my clothes all fit. Getting off lexapro is a higher priority at the moment - so far, so good... but early days. If I start to feel bad it will likely hit Sunday/Monday based on previous patterns. I dream of being in the 135-140 range, but realistically if I can maintain right here and tackle that after the holidays... might be a good way to go. Sounds like everyone is doing really great - keep it up ladies!

Woo hoo! You ladies are doing great! I am easing further off the lexapro - skipped a dose yesterday and still feel good. Florinda, how did the 100 first dates go last week? I am trying to decide if I should just give up on men my age and take a girlfriends advice and go all cougar...ha! I was contacted by someone fit and handsome who is 37 from POF. A very young man (he admitted he isn't quite 30 - yikes) from the meetup is very interested in me. Not.quite.sure. I can do THAT! Ha. Anyway, gotta have a good sense of humor about this big joke called dating.

I think it is amazing that you got insurance coverage. I paid in the ballpark of 16K for Lower body lift, arms, breast lift/implants and a small thigh lift with DR Sauceda. That was all inclusive of garments, hotel, airfare etc. Out of pocket was meals for me after I left the clinic, and meals and travel for my friend that I brought with me. So, anyway, I think what you are paying is very reasonable and when I did consults in the USA, I found that many of the estimates didn't cover extras like the garments etc. so it added up fast. In fact, since in the USA they would have done it over 3 surgeries, I never actually found out what the total cost would be ... Many of Dr S patients get the vertical incision due to the massive skin above the belly button. The results can be astoundingly good - like they get a real waist back. They all say the scar was worth it. I was lucky to not need that since the way I scar on my torso, they are nice and flat but keep some redness (all scars, not just my plastics scars)

I am an organizer in a meetup group and have done public functions at the Bothell library.... free! They let you bring in beverages, Snacks if you want. The rooms book up fast so you have to plan in advance. Okay, the reason I have been hesitant to organize anything is #1 summer I am really busy with outdoorsy stuff so just didn't want to committ. Now that the season has changed, more open to the idea of participating #2 I don't really like the content/structured materials. I didn't actually agree with some of the things in there, to each his own, but I can't lead a discussion on how to eat etc. when I am really just an expert on "me". #3 I would be much more likely to do something if it was active - a walk, a bike ride, a hike - but I realize that preops may not be comfortable/at that level of fitness and it would make me sad for anyone to feel excluded so that has stopped me from getting too excited. #4 I am just not a support group kinda person so I would hate to start something and then walk away. I am a veteran, and happy to share my story - I am very comfortable with public speaking am open with my pix, etc. - but this is why I haven't stepped up to make it happen and probably won't unless something really changes.

I will be 3 years out in Dec. I eat about the same as other slender women. Portion control and avoiding junky stuff most (not all) of the time.

I went to NYC with my grown sons a year ago and loved it! I really want to go again but would be solo this time!

This spring... After being at goal more than a year, I went through a rough patch. I just could hardly eat. Of course my first reaction was a "sleeve problem". My surgeon was on vacation so I had to see someone I didn't know. He was compassionate and offered all the tests... scopes etc but told me honestly my symptoms didn't really match likely surgery related issues. Turned out I was lonely. Under and over eating are sides of the same coin. I had to make conscious choices to EAT properly and then sure enuf... got better. I am sharing this as words of encouragement. This journey isn't always easy but it has been so worth it. Look at my profile for before and afters and it tells a story.

Awesome! I forgot to tell you that I ate too many calories but doing good on carbs!

Take it as a compliment! Your peeps are proud of your accomplishments and you should be too!!!

Have you considered counseling? I am not trying to minimize your feelings but I have been through childbirth, banding, disbanding, sleeved, hernia repair, plastics.... sleeve was hard because it was hard to stay hydrated and everything tasted weird....and that was back when I cared a lot about food. From a pain perspective tho...sleeve was easy by comparison (that port when banded hurt!) Don't get me started about childbirth: 12 on a painscale of 1-10! I think alot of it is mental attitude. It's hard, you have given up a lover and so called friend (over eating) and your whole darn world has been turned upside down. I think I was a little depressed post sleeve and never believed I would look or feel normal again. I was right..nearly 3 years post op and I am on fire!!! Just wish I had been able to become slim/normal decades ago!!!

Today tot

Statistically that seems to be true, but there are plenty of us who revised and did lose well. I think it depends alot on circumstances and expectations. If you are very near goal and you revise, you will have to fight to get those last pounds off! If you are more like me, and had completely regained/no value from band anymore, I think it is a different story. I used the knowledge of this risk to think hard about what to do differently and I think that helped. Here is a summary of my stats: March 2001: banded at 272 March 2002: lowest weight about 205 late 2003: fill removed due to intolerable reflux and too much vomiting... regaining June 2005: lifetime highest weight 332# 2006: Lost 85 pounds on weight watchers and spent a number of years weighing in the 240s range 2009-2011: Fluctuating between 270s-310 range - diet after diet.... December 2011: start of preop 308/ surgery day 300# February 2013: hit goal of 158# (lost 150# in 14 months) Oct 2013: weighed 150# had plastics April 2014: weighed about 140# Current (Sept 2014): ranging 140-145# I will be 3 years out from surgery in just a few months. I have had huge success with the sleeve and very poor with the band. I learned alot from my band experiences and have tried to leverage it!

Okay, I know this sounds weird, but as a formerly obese, I still hate wearing things that I think make me look bigger than I am. My calves are like 13.5 " but I have big feet - 9s usually, so every boot I try on is big around the calf. One pair, they actually sorta fell down while I walked around the store. So, I realized that every model has skinny legs (way skinnier than mine!) and they don't seem worried about it so I just need to get over it, but it feels weird to wear boots that I feel like I could put my arm in there too.... As an apple shape, I never had thick legs (well except the horror that was my inner thigh) and I don't think I measured them pre WLS so not sure how much they shrunk.

par, you might not be correctly intepeting remarks. I have invested months getting to know someone, at his pace, not mine. And in the end I find I am one in a long string of "not good enough" and it has nothing to do with sex. Fine, but at some point with this guy he probably needs to think about if he actually wants the relationship he claims he wants

Okay, old post and I have more dating experience now. What I have found is nobody cares that I used to be BIG. I don't have much saggy skin but do have PS scars - they have healed well and I don't hide them - so all summer wearing sleeveless so the opportunity to notice them has been there and nobody seems to care. I think the real issue for me is that I don't want to hop around in terms of intimate relations and finding someone to see for at least the medium term has been a challenge. I am contributing to this by being ridiculously picky (fitness, looks, compatibility, attraction etc) and the guys my age are contributing to this by being so damn scared of actually "getting close" to someone. I also realize that I get uncomfortable meeting men in some social situations - like when I go out dancing I get men expressing interest in me quite frequently but I back away... I feel awkward ... maybe I even feel a tiny bit afraid, not sure...I am trying to learn more about myself on this topic because i realize I am slamming doors before giving it a chance. So, I am today on the fence about 3 options: 1. Give up entirely and live life without a physical relationship - i have tons of friends, hobbies, go dancing alot etc so this is a viable option! 2. Go younger - they seem to have way less baggage and while not likely for a long term, thinking maybe finding someone to see and do stuff with for awhile could come out of that. Yes, I realize they are looking more for a FWB situation, but at least they can deliver on the benefits! (ok, I am being a bit jaded here...) 3. Go back to my old boyfriend who has issues but at least is "safe" and fun and not such a waste of time that I have found dating to be. We care about each other even though there are definate issues. 4. Keep on being open to the possibility... but it hasn't worked out too well for me so far so today, right now, that doesn't feel very promising.

Congratulations! You look wonderful!

Another idea .. middle of the night foraging is an old bad habit of mine so when the urge hits and I can't sleep I have a premier protein drink. 30 grams of protein and 5 carbs. It is thick and soothing and sweet so it satisfies that urfe.

Great tips... but consider that the pepcid ac might not be effective. Try proselec or nexium... sometimes different people respond to different drugs.

Mine is inherited as well. My mom had bouts of anxiety that were severe. My only full sister was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder in her late 20s. Somehow I managed to brute force myself to do ok without treatment for a very long time but when I gave up over eating I lost one of my coping mechanism. My counselor said I am very resilient, but it just got to be too much. Anyway I can't tolerate the meds ..never heard of using yeast.

WLS... the ONLY way out for some of us.

Thank you Jessi - I am getting the idea that this is a very common issue in our age range. I have a friend who is a bombshell, tall, blonde, mid 40s and she was about ready to give up too.... It is like they are attracted to your looks but then you start to realize the emotional issues people have, how they often really have issues with women, aren't over their ex, are very negative... whatever the case may be. I am sure men have the same issues because I guess there is a reason we find ourselves single at this stage of life. I probably need to get over some of my criteria - i am simply not attracted to 95% of the men within 5-7 years of my age, but I don't want a young boyfriend playmate. I want someone who at least for awhile, is in a good relationship with me but he should be fit enough to keep up with me. I don't think that is asking alot, it isn't like I am a super athlete but I can do a 9-10 mile hike up and down a mountain and not alot of 50-60 year olds seem to be at that level. I get hit on alot... but so wildly inappropriate sometimes (Saturday night, it was a guy in his 20s!) but mostly so incredibly unattractive to me if they are near my age - usually way older actually (that also happened Saturday night). I need to get over that, but i can't help that i am just not drawn to someone who looks like santa claus (not fit, older looking, not youthful in attitude). I am being a brat i guess, but I would rather be solo than with someone who doesn't interest me. I don't think it is fair to even date guys that just don't attract me. Anyway, I am fine. I go dancing with a social group every week. I have a plan a plan to take actual dance lessons so I can do couples dancing more confidently. I am thinking about joining some organizations (I am not a big joiner really but my horse community is all women so i need to find groups with a better mix) of outdoorsy people because that is where I will find fit men my age. I do find them on the dating websites, and attract them okay, but I am not doing so well with picking the emotionally available ones... so far... 2 out of 2 have turned out to really be cut off from the possibilities of even becoming friends, in spite of their stated intentions. (BTW, it might be me - I get it - but they tell me they LIKE me and enjoy being with me so it is hard to know.) I think I just haven't found the right man for this stage of my life. Okay, I have vented enough. Carry on!