TheRealMeIsHere!

Congrats on the new you!! I had about 15 lbs of swelling that took probably about 6 or more months to go away. That may be part of your 10lbs. It also sounds like you may need to learn a new way to comfort yourself, other than food. Maybe a counselor could help change your relationship with food? Good luck with your upcoming surgery

The days/times when I don't feel like working out are the times when I feel the most benefit after I do!

Yes! it wakes me up and gets me going. I wake up, put on workout clothes and do my treadmill and recumbant bike. I do it kind of on auto pilot so I don't talk myself out of it, lol! Then the same thing every night, 7 days a week. Occasionally, I will skip a workout, I feel it in my energy level PLUS I feel guilty, lol. Then I remind myself that I do 14 workouts a week, so if some weeks it's only 13, I'm OK!

Thought of some other ways that I enjoy 'cheat' foods. Protein powder mixed with Water and crushed ice, blended in a bullet type blender till smooth. Can add PB2 or frozen fruit also protein refrigerator oatmeal. My favs are chocolate covered cherry and banana bread flavors flour-less Protein Powder pancakes with just a drizzle of real maple syrup faux-frying www.hungry-girl.com has alot of great recipes Dannon Light & Fit 80 calorie Greek yogurt Greek yogurt in place of sour cream Hungry girl cauliflower potato salad (has actually fooled people at BBQ's) and cheesy butternut bake (tastes like mashed yams) cauliflower & Laughing Cow wedges blended with and immersion blender till smooth. Tastes so much like mashed potatoes, I've served at Thanksgiving and no on knew! I've had to discover and develop these recipes because carbs such as bread, Pasta, rice, potatoes and sugar make me crave more & more and make me very hungry. So now I eat those things rarely and in tiny, 1-2 bites, portions. The rest of the time, I can have the same satisfying flavors & textures and not feel like I am missing anything

I make my salads reflect my favorite sandwiches. Used to love Italian subs and ham subs. So, on my salads I put ham & turkey, sweet/hot salad peppers, red onion & 1T light mayo mixed with red vinegar. I make pizza on half of a Joseph's Lavash, sauce, part skim mozzarella, turkey meatballs or turkey pepperoni, peppers, garlic, onion, etc.... Near me, there is an ice cream place that has soft serve fat free/sugar free yogurt that they can make in over 50 flavors. I get a child size 2-3 times a week. Quest Protein chips I have learned how to sub zucchini or eggplant for Pasta. Cauliflower for 'rice', 'tater tots', 'mac & cheese', etc.... Snack pack sugar free pudding cups Those are some of the ways that I 'splurge'

@@newbn1 its fairly easy to healthify recipes. 93% lean ground beef or turkey, extra veggies to bulk up portion size, cauliflower makes a great rice, Pasta, potato substitute. I have recipes if interested. Don't add fat or sugar to foods. Spaghetti squash also can replace some or all pasta in a dish. Butternut squash is a lower carb alternative to sweet potatoes. Zucchini and eggplant are both wonderful in Italian dishes. My sis is on WW and a carbaholic, I cook her HUGE portions of low carb low fat delicious meals and she does not miss the carbs, things like' mac' and cheese, 'potato' salad, 'tater' tots etc....... There are also some great low fat turkey products such as kielbasa and hot dogs

AWESOME!! Good thing you were at home, lol!

Glad all went well. If the doctor wants you on bed rest, though, make sure they tell you how they want you to prevent blood clots. I was up walking around within hours, my doc encouraged as much walking as possible to help with swelling and prevent blood clots. Just had to walk like Quasimodo, lol. And was not allowed to lay flat for several weeks. Just goes to show that there are many different approaches. Hope your recovery goes smoothly

I am a foodie who loves food and cooking. While not a restaurant owner, I can imagine how hard that is. I have re-created MANY dishes to be just as satisfying, flavorful and LARGE portions (for others, lol) while eliminating or lowering carbs, fat and salt and increasing Protein. With so many health conscious people, maybe you could reform your menu over time, to include healthier versions? Possibly talk to customers, to see if they would be interested? This way you could feel the excitement of serving dishes that are not only delicious, but good for them! Just some food for thought. (no pun intended, lol) Also, as time goes on, your interest in food will come back and your stomach will be able to hold more, so the healthier way of cooking will also benefit you.

What is the reasoning for decreasing Water? I would think, especially with pain meds that can cause constipation, increasing water would be better. Also to help flush out the body. Very curious to hear what the docs reasoning is. And I had no problems with pain meds in relation to the sleeve.

Congrats on the weight loss and for having the courage to share your struggles. Many people do NOT realize that the sleeve is only a tool, I'm sorry you found out the hard way. Your post will, hopefully, help newbies realize that. Are there support groups offered in your area? Insurance should pay for a nutritionist and/or counseling. There may also be a County Mental Health clinic that will do a sliding scale fee. Try going back to basics, small plate & utensils. Eating lean/fat free Proteins. 80 gms of Protein per day. Non-starchy veggies No potatoes, sugar, bread, rice, Pasta, etc.....those things will CAUSE cravings and hunger Alot of no calorie liquids. For your coffee, have you tried fat free half & half? It's actually very good, I use it daily. When I snack, I snack on salad made from non-starchy veggies, maybe some lean turkey, chicken or ham. For dressing I use different vinegars, red vinegar mixed with light mayo, 1 TBSP light dressing thinned with a unsweetened rice vinegar, fat free 1/2 & 1/2 light mayo and a tad of ranch powder, Balsamic and white balsamic are delicious, also, etc.... If you are interested, I can give you ideas on how to re-vamp your usual recipes to be lower in fat & carbs and higher in protein. Good luck, you seem very insightful, I hope you are able to get back on track and develop a lifelong, healthier way of eating.

You really need to be working, closely, with a nutritionist. The bars and shakes that you are having should be low calorie (<120-ish), very low carbs (<5) and high in Protein, at least 15-20 gms. Are you drinking enough, no calorie, liquids? I hesitate to give any further advice than that, due to your diabetes. A nutritionist can give you a detailed food plan, to follow.

At the time, I had Blue Cross, in New York State, they fully covered a panni AND TT. They required at least one year at a normal BMI. I have severe ankylosing spondylosis in my entire spine, so I started with pain management. I went on my insurance website, and searched 'criteria for panniculectomy'. Took that to pain management doctor who wrote a letter of medical necessity that echoed all the criteria needed. I also wrote a letter that spoke about the co-morbidities that were resolved with weight loss (HBP, SEVERE apnea) and how exercise is crucial in keeping weight off. Also how the extra skin, was limiting my range of motion and exercise options. This along with the plastic surgeon's pictures and prior approval request went to my insurance company. And the stars and planets aligned, lol, it ended up on the right person's desk and not only was panni approved, but also abdominoplasty!! I was SHOCKED and showed the approval letter to several people who were just as surprised, including the plastic surgeon. All insurance is different, though. The surgeon said that one insurance company required that the patient have rashes and infections so severe that they needed to be hospitalized and on IV antibiotics!

Does anyone else have an EXTREMELY hard time maintaining? I have been at goal for 2 1/2 years, but it requires constant vigilance! EVERY morning I do 20 minutes recumbant bike at 4 mph and 20 minutes treadmill at 303 mph/8.5% incline In the evening I do 15 minutes of each. This is SEVEN days a week!! I have disabilities, so this is the maximum I can push without hurting myself My diet needs to be extremely controlled, also. I limit fat, avoid carbs and mainly eat fat free/lean Protein and non-starchy veggies. I usually start my day with an EAS AdvanEdge while on my recumbant bike Mid morning is usually egg beaters, with veggies, and fat free cheese or laughing cow wedges, maybe some turkey bacon or sausage Lunch: salad with lean meat, non-starchy veggies and vinegar and/or light mayo or fat free dressing (I only use about 1/2 a serving) Dinner: lean meat, non-starchy veggies 2 Snacks: fat free sugar free Greek yogurt, or a handful of Quest chips (not the whole bag), or baby carrots, occasionally a rice cake etc.... My nightly indulgence is 1/3 cup unsalted peanuts measured with the shell I should be skin & bones!! Why do I need to be so HYPER vigilant to maintain? If I skip ONE workout or eat a piece of bread (which rarely want) I am a pound or two he Is there anyone else with such a low/non-metabolism?? Oh and btw, my doctor says I have a HYPER-active thyroid! WHHHHAAATTT???!!

All my life I would bounce between 115 and 275-ish. Never thought I would stay here! Just wish it didn't have to be on my mind every second. I feel like I am ALWAYS thinking of ways to burn calories. Guess that's better than thinking, constantly, about consuming them, lol!

That's the weight that feels the most comfortable and where I feel the most healthy, confident and energetic. I do fluctuate between 115-118

That's why I don't understand why any tiny deviation either an extra 100 or so calories or missing a workout causes weight gain. Its such a fine line,.............. My energy is great, too. Can't stay busy and moving enough, lol. And I detest sitting still

It does take a while before you brain realizes that you are thin, think it took me about a year or two after reaching goal. Even now, when I buy something, I hold it up, and have a moment of fear that it's too small, lol

amazing!! Bet it feels great to have all that skin gone! Did they tell you how many pounds they took off?