4ALongerLife

I agree that less money is harder to be healthier on. However, even with less money, if you cook at home, you can still be healhier. Are you grabbing fast food or cooking at home? It's just a challenge in the change from watching every dime to whenever you have a job that pays much more you can spend and not worry. Hang in there, you will overcome this - and from the sounds of loving the new job, you'll be much happier as the end result.

I personally think they are going to try to make it as hard as possible because they consider sleeve or rny such a big risk. I've been looking for individually based insurance as my job's plans stink. Let me tell you how many companies will automatically deny your application with any gastric surgery on your application. BCBS is an automatic one that says we'll never cover you, at least not individually. It absolutely drives me nuts. I did this to be in better health in the long term, but yet I am going to be penalized because I'm a high risk to them, as is the procedure. I understand sleeve is 'new' but bypass too? What? Ok off the soapbox, sorry.

Ditto to you sassiesmiles....and cherrybomb......I think the same things that you guys noted. But it's lovely ppl (like swimmer) that do help.... just a note sometimes really helps

Ok today I feel a bit like crying. I am trying, really trying at this journey to be successful, but why do I just feel like I'm flubbing up? And yes, I don't mean flubbing, but I'm trying to keep this PG or at least PG13, ok? I finally downloaded myfitnesspal.com, where before I was writing everything as I took it in my mouth (the old Weight Watcher's lingo of "write it if you bite it" comes to mind); however, everyone says use fitness pal, so I'm trying that. Omg I'm not eating enough. How in hades DO I EAT MORE? Yeah, I know ... all the newbies that possibly read this are now thinking "WHAT?" but I cannot eat enough to half of the calories this thing says for me to do. And I went to the gym. Mind you I only did 2 miles, I feel like I was lazy but it was a rushed amount of time and this thing says I burned 384 cals. So I'm now about to where I started after breakfast. What? Oh wait I forgot I "ate" the rest of my breakfast shake later. Well whoopee, only 1174 more calories to consume. It's 7 pm. Place your bets if you think I'm gonna get that in. No wonder I'm ravenous late at night. HOW DO I DO THIS? grrrr And is it ok to count Cytomax pure protein tangerine or tropical drinks as my water for the day? Per my dr., I thought so... per myfitnesspal, no... that has it's own category. Am I going to fail at this? Seems like the story of my life. Yeah I know boo hoo but I'm having a moment. I lived through the surgery, staying an extra day because my temp kept spiking. Went home and got pneumonia so I went back for a week to the hospital... got out only to go back in in extreme pain, come to find out I have a leak and an abscess and have to do surgery again (mind you I paid for this out of my pocket and have the rottenest. lousiest insurance plan ever). Yes these would be tears in my beer, but I CAN'T DRINK BEER anymore. Sigh.... And I'm trying to get back to working out and ppl tell me I'm messing up by doing that. I love love love the elliptical. I miss my workouts of 5 miles min a day. So I'm doing 3 every other day to build up. Mind you the revision surgery was 3/20... so this is too soon? My dr. said do what you want, you should be ok to be active, don't worry your body will tell you whenever you do too much. So it did every other day... enough time for me to recover and get back into the gym and do 3 more miles. So today I "took it easy" and only did two miles. Treadmills are boring to me..... and it's too hot in the great state of Tejas to run outside (yes, it's gorgeous right now but I would keel over and die from lack of oxygen if I ran.... THAT is a huge challenge that I KNOW I am not currently ready for). But then I get on the scale (yeah bad idea) and I'm up a bit. Not enough to mention but just when I'm feeling like ... well since dinner that I struggled to make isn't working for me (as my belly is wringing itself out like a limp dishtowel after I took a few bites of the turkey-nitas --- yeah my own creation. I found a recipe on eggface's website that sounded delish and then in the store I remembered, my dr. says no pork until 6 months out... maybe b/c he's jewish as a friend told me that's not what her dr. said... idk but that's what my dr. said so i follow it, period). Anywho, I digress and ramble because I am having an emotional moment, sorry.... but I feel like I can't eat anything. I'm struggling with not drinking during a meal. REALLY struggling. And in eating enough ... grrrrr. Can someone send me 5 to 10 recipes of what they lived on during this frustrating phase between full liquids to mush? IDK what I'm doing. But here's my goal: NO MORE LEAKS, pray for no abscess (that crap HURTTTTTTS, or mine certainly did as it was in my diaphragm four days after my discharge from the hospital with pneumonia... hmm seems to me that the diaphragm is needed after you get out with pneumonia.... God's funny right? it's not God, forgive me lord....). Just ain't that Murphy's law? It is in my life I guess.... Ok sorry that was ramble city... but how do you "be successful" with this? I'm worried I'm "plateauing" already. And DOES my cytomax pure protein drinks count as my water - or just to the 48 oz a day? Sigh.... so much to try to keep up on. I need help. Lord please, send me a patient angel who doesn't mind the rambling overemotional crappus that women do! Hope all of you are being successes... and pass it forward to those that struggle. One day, dang it, that's gonna be me (gulp, I hope).

I'm sorry but... I'm gonna say it or write it.. I wish I had lost enough weight for someone to ask me if I had cancer. I've been big all of my life, I hope that I can be successful in this journey. I am worried I won't ever get there, I've had many complications and I pray that I'm done and can get to 'normal' but just way less of me. I would say ignore them and remember that you are healthier than you were before and that's number 1. It would be annoying, I am sure.... but you did it in such a short period of time. Be patient and make sure that some of the rude ones aren't giving you the perspective to do so to everyone that asks. That's such a short period of time that it's just a shock. Congratulations in your success! Dorrie, I used to want to do that. Kudos for you - I hope you do it!

Cytomax pure Protein performance drinks, they are Clear liquids and are undergoing a marketing rebrand to Cytomax Whey Isolate I think. They are 3.79 each at Vitamin Shoppe and 42 a case, 40 g of whey isolate protein and not much else. I love tropical and tangerine. @ Vitamin Shoppe you can buy them individually in a refrigerated section to try first, which I recommend! I hated Isopure. Some ppl call it Isopuke and I've adopted this term, sorry but I have! I hated the protein "bullets" (disgusting). nectar Syntrax are nice protein powders. You can buy them in a trial package (you can choose the flavors from BJ's Bariatrics), it's like 13 for $13, online. Premier Protein from costco is good as well. Unjury's strawberry sorbet is good and their chicken Soup. I've also got some unflavored protein powders, but I still taste that in anything (yuck). Power Pak puddings are good. 30 g of protein per 8 oz containers (I have to eat it 2 x's a day to get it all in). Buy at GNC or Vitamin Shoppe, 17-24 usd per case of I think it's 5 in a case. @ Vitamin Shoppe you can buy them individually in a refrigerated section to try first, which I recommend! Hope this helps you!

I'm sorry I just saw this... I'm glad you are better now! I had a leak and was very lucky that I did well in a very short time, so they say. But it IS very scary. God be with you & may He protect you... xoxo

Christina Rose, you are a beautiful girl (said in a totally platonic way, fyi!) and I love the ticker pic of you and your spouse/boyfriend. Congrats on your weight loss journey that is about to begin. You will have a rush of so many emotions, but it's exciting.. and scary. I am still trying to figure out how to eat now that I can and still not sure about it. I'm struggling this week, but it's a roller coaster some days. But I didn't gain all of this weight overnight, I sure am not going to learn to lose it nor lose it overnight either. Hang in there, sounds like you are off to a wonderful start! Sassygirl, hang in there yourself ok? You have done a wonderful job according to your ticker.... but I love what you said, it's totally true. No other addicts have to have their choice drug and 'get over it.' It's a hard struggle.... but we are all worth success. Hugs.

I totally feel this post. I have posted in my blog twice this week and feel like a durn whiney arsed baby. Today I called my dr's nutritionist contact and asked her why I am having pain whenever I eat more pureed but solid foods. She says, after my leak and pneumonia and all of that ... that I might have a freak'n stricture (that's where the hole closes up smaller than what it should be) and it may be due to my having been on Clear liquids so long. She was going to speak to the dr. and see what his thoughts are. Guys, if you pray, hell even if you don't (yeah you can tell I'm not perfect with that hell stuck in here) but... please say a prayer for me. Just a quick one. I don't wanna have to be endoscopied again (yes that is written in my whinest voice that I can come up with!). I have been doing myfitnesspal and it's helping me keep up, but dang it, I'm STILL not eating enough .... omg.... I've eaten 1174 calories today and the thing is STILL telling me in red letters you are not eating enough. How can I eat more and still get my liquids in? I am seriously struggling with that. I add ice to my Cytomax's (8 to 10 oz in the morning then at least 4 to 8 oz in the afternoon) so I get so far into it only for the ice in the latter part of the day making the liquid shoot back up. Anyone got a good thermal insulated cup that will keep something super cold that they can recommend? I'm in Texas and it's hot already here (yes I am whining again sorry). But I so feel you LeeLeeLosing. Hang in there mama! PS thank you CamarilloCA for mentioning the b12! I forgot to take mine today (it's the one day of the week that I take it). My dr. gave me some by physiologics that are GREAT tasking. They are Vegetarian Lozenges, 5000 mcg.

Cytomax Pure Performance Protein is at Vitamin Shoppe. They are undergoing a change on the bottles right now and it's being rebranded to Cytomax's whey isolate or Cytomax's whey protein (black bottle, white writing). I LOVE LOVE LOVE them. Try the cytomax if you are low on protein, doesn't matter which diet you've progressed to either, they are Clear Liquids. Make sure you get the ones that say 160 cals on the side, there is another kind that they make and those aren't the ones I'm referring to. These have 40 g of protein and little else in them. For the full liquid dieters and mushies and regular eaters, they make protein puddings that you can get at GNC or Vitamin Shoppe that are good. I like the chocolate (and I usually don't do chocolate). It's Power Pak Protein pudding. I think a case is 17 usd and each can comes with a pull back lid (like the old bottles of beer, remember? the flip back tab and you peel it back) and has a plastic lid for each pudding in the box/case. They are 8 oz ea. so you cannot eat it all in one sitting (well I can't, yet) but they have 30 g of protein in them. I don't remember how much if you buy them as a single item, but Vitamin Shoppe sells these and the Cytomax drinks in a refrigerated bin and you should only buy one or two, try them and see if you can "live" with them. Here's a tip that I shoulda known better: DO NOT BUY by the case of anything until you KNOW you can deal with it for a while (i.e. protein powders, drinks, puddings, anything....etc.). Don't waste your money ok? Premier Protein shakes are awesome. They are sold at costco (not Sam's) and are 25 usd a case. They come in Chocolate and Vanilla at Costco. I was a dummy and ordered a case online - strawberry - and those are super sweet. I don't like them at all. So remember what I said pls on do not buy until you know what you are getting and can you "live" with it. I saw the lean shakes at Smoothie Factory tonight VSG! (I took my son after I went to the gym so he could have a "treat") I totally forgot to look into trying them... do you know if they sell them individually? I'll check my gym next go too. Note to self, note to self, note to self..... Hope this post helps anyone that might need it. Good luck to you all... xoxo

I like cream of chicken. And cream of chicken with mushroom. That's about the only one that I realllllly enjoyed myself!

Ask your dr. first but I know somewhere they suggested getting mylicon drops (like you give to babies).

I think it's normal too but ask your dr. Mine suggested mirolax, but IDK if that's too soon for you yet or not.

I absolutely adore Joel Osteen.... and my sincerest congrats to you girly and best wishes. You will ROCK in doing this, I just know it!

Thank you tmorgan813... hugs

Ok I feel like rambling and IDK why. It's usually whenever I'm upset and IDK that I am upset.... worried still, story of my life. I've had ppl tell me I'm too quickly going back to the gym on the elliptical and that's heavy in my mind tonight. I went again tonight, yes, I know..... but I did two miles on the elliptical and one mile on the treadmill (level 7 incline, boo yeah!). But am I pushing myself too much too soon? Should you say yes, I won't tell you that I cleaned out my car for about 1.5 hours after the gym... and I **** and span cleaned it out ... every nook and cranny! I love a clean ride... they are so few and far between since I had a kiddo. Yes, I'm old fashioned hand detailed which means I do it myself. Oops that has to be activity... I didn't put that in fitnesspal yet... brb. I get on the scale and think I've gone up a 1/2 lb. Better than with my gym shoes on, then it was 1.5 I think. I've been doing myfitnesspal for the last um 3 days, as I was encouraged to do so, but no friends. Wish I had some to tell me 'try this' or something. But you know I've been on here for a brief minute and how many "friends" do I have? {Sidebar: Thank you Janneth! You've pulled me out of my shell a bit! It's honestly hard for me... thank you!} Otherwise, I just think I'm no longer good with people. Idk if it was the fat or if it was the death or my sister and brother after my parents death and those experiences (oh jeesh no boo hoos but I'm just say'n the facts or possibilities). For a long time I lost myself in a stupid game on a social site. Even more out of the real world. That's changed recently but I still feel like a social moron. Then that relates to my job. And since I work as a contractor and possibly soon my contract might be ending, well, I worry...... Something, somewhere in me, I've lost my confidence since I had this leak/abscess. I'm scared, still. I pray every day, about 4 times a day "please God let the leak be healed up and I never go back to the hospital." Maybe I just need something else to obsess on... which brings me back to the gym. Is that it? I AM bored, trying to figure out what now - or is that just life in general? For a while in my life, I felt like I was in the palm of God's hand. Somewhere I don't feel that like I did before. Have I done something wrong or am I just nutzo? Oh my this is depressing. My apologies. I just am in a weird mood. Not a funk, but just overanalyzing and thinking about the future and goals. Worried that the penduluum swung to great and I'm swinging back to the other side, where I'm generally more familiar. I am hoping that I can meet and/or exceed the few goals that I do have in mind at this time, but hoping that I find some other ones for my career and life in the meantime. (do we all just get blah in life sometimes? i'm 38, perhaps that's normal once your kids get to a certain age? yes, rambling, sorry...) Hope you guys are having an amazing week! Truly, sincerely ... with hugs.

You go girl! CONGRATS!

Favoredone, rub my elbow pls. I need some "bombness". I think I've lost my belief in mine (ok maybe just today, but maybe not).

Dang it... too late. I was hoping to give you my address for a good once over. *winks* GOOD LUCK TO YOU on your surgery and recovery!

I've been on a clear liquid diet longer than most due to a leak and abscess. This site, some wonderful peops suggested to me Isopure protein ready to drink (RTD) bottles. I haven't found one that I like yet. However, the lady at Vitamin Shoppe was a bodybuilder and suggested this other clear liquid protein to me.... it's wonderful! It's called Cytomax Pure Protein Performance and they have three flavors: watermelon (red), tangerine (orange) and tropical (green). I haven't had the watermelon yet, but the other two are a bit tart at first.... but I really am enjoying them. I put them in a huge mug with ice and sip sip sip throughout the day. They have 40 g of protein per 20 oz bottles and nothing else is in the drink (essentially... a bit of sucralose perhaps). They are made of whey protein isolate (which is the second ingredient behind purified water). I got mine from Vitamin Shoppe but I have seen them online to order as well. Hope you enjoy!

To the successful sleevers (who've lost most of their weight or been at this for a while).... question pls. What's a "typical" day in your life as it pertains to your diet? Hey just take a "normal" day. If you remember in phases of progression what a 'normal' day way, that too I'd like to know. I feel like I'm eating all of the time and not sure that I'm not just falling back on old habits (i.e. eating later at night, etc). So how to make this journey a success... I'm seeking it out... any inputs?

lol too funny. after the surgery, i can't even eat a smidge of a biscuit! i tried, tonight... took the guys (my family) out to cracker barrell and they ate cornbread and those biscuits.... i was going to attempt, put it in my mouth only to spit it right back out. poor Cookies would probably end up the same way right now c'est la vie! before my leak i loved premier Protein drinks, so thanks for the tip on the bars, i will have to try those next! as for now, it's midnight in texas so i'm heading to bed. wishing you sweet dreams (and sorry on the isopuke, thank god for your hubby.. mine's getting the strawberry premier Proteins i bought actually too! lol)

If you watch the 600 lb life series, make sure you see the one with the girl who ended up working at her dr's clinic. Grr for the life of me I cannot remember her name though! (sorry) The last episode that I saw was on the guy that ended up pretty bad after he did drugs during one of the year follow ups. It is an awesome show. Ok tips... come on this site and read around a bunch. Ask alot of questions now - before your surgery. Make sure you understand what your dr's requirements are for the pre op diet. If your dr. is strict on yours, make sure you STICK to it. It's honestly unreal to "get" it (or was that just me) prior to your surgery. Your life is TOTALLY going to change after this surgery. If you can find any books on WLS from ppl that had the surgery and what their journey is like, read those (I read a good one by Katie Jay and I cannot remember the title...sorry I DO need ginko biloba, sigh). Congrats tho! This journey is WELL worth it!

Health, 80% minimum Emotional (i.e. vanity, hating myself for my size, confidence, etc) 20% most days My decision was mostly health related. Mom died at 56 of a heart attack, paternal gma at 50 same thing, father had diabetes and died of cancer at 63. I'm trying to beat my genetic odds over all, a come to jesus discussion from my annual appt with my ob/gyn made the decision for me, personally. Would be nice if I get rid of my hypothyroidism, but only time will tell on that one. (Just keep praying, so I tell myself)