legal loser

I am six months post op and working on 3rd cold in 2 months...with this one and the last one just about 2 weeks apart. I used to be able to go a year with maybe one cold.....anyone else find themselves getting sick more often post op??

6 months and 61 pounds gone for good according to my doctor's schedule. I've struggle the last few months, but my today my doctor assured me that I am right where he wanted me to be and that he is proud of my accomplishments. One thing we discussed is that while the scale has slowed down, my body is changing. Clothes fit differently and I'm buying smaller sizes. I know that the number will catch up and move again very soon. Time to amp up my workouts and go back to the basics!! Had blood work done today and will get those results next week. We scheduled my next appointment on my 1 year surgiversary!!

I freeze just about everything as well. I live alone so I have leftovers on a regular basis. It's actually very nice to be able to pull tomorrow's lunch out of the freezer and put in the fridge at night and by lunch the next day it is thawed out. When I was first post op, I froze portions in ice cube trays and then moved to plastic bags. Perfect size control. Now that I can eat approximately 1/2 cup, I tend to freeze in containers. Experiment on what tastes good after being frozen and what doesn't work for you.

Check with your doctor!! I was allowed Tylenol up until midnight the day before surgery.

The skin darkening in certain areas can actually be related to medical conditions like insulin resistance. If the underlying medical condition goes away, the skin darkening should as well.

I was in the same boat, in a sense. I am a melanoma survivor (diagnosed in 2009). My surgeon was extra cautious and wanted details and approval from my surgical oncologist as the staging of my melanoma as well as her opinion as to the surgery. This made me even more comfortable that he was concerned about my health as a whole, not just making $$ off the surgery. While I was frustrated with the delays (especially since I was self pay), I was very appreciative of his concern.

Ask questions that will help you be comfortable. The above questions are great!! Recovery time, when you will be released back to work, etc. I also asked about his patients' success rate and complication rate. My doctor was very open and honest. He admitted he has had one WLS patient die from a leak that was caught too late. He talked about what he does now to help protect against that. You have to own your surgery and be 100% comfortable with your surgeon. I absolutely love my doctor!!

I was on my IPad and cell phone the evening after surgery. Granted it was for personal uses and not work uses. Day 2 I forwarded several emails from my work email (via my phone) to my boss and answered a couple of general questions. I checked email one or two times daily for 2 weeks and then the last few days of medical leave, I was checking email and working from home more often. It's kind of up to you how much you can do that early. I enjoyed and took my 2.5 weeks of medical leave and did minimal work. I was focused on myself and getting myself better....I knew work would be there and that my boss would call me if it was an absolute emergency. Good luck!

You can still hang out with your friends abut not partake in their activities. I am the best DD available! I enjoy hanging with friends....the atmosphere isn't always perfect for my new life, but I don't want to turn into a loner so I find ways to make it work. If your friends chose to abandon you as you become healthy, there's not a lot you can do about it.

Your day will be here before you know it! Oct 24th will be my 6 month milestone! Good luck with pre-op!!

We are all different and no one should be discouraged. Look how far we have come in 6 months!!! Ever since I hit around 200 I have been going VERY slow on the scale!! I am down to 195ish and that is right around 65 pounds lost. But, my clothes fit different...so different in fact, I have very few pre-surgery clothes left and all my new clothes are from the regular department! Everyone is doing AWESOME!! Look past the numbers and focus on your other successes!!! April Sleevers, we rock!!!!

I'm having the same issue. Trying to focus on protein...have a protein shake when I think I need a snack. We can do this!

I was jealous when my mom was banded about 4 years ago. Now that I am doing better than her....in her eyes.....she wishes she would have done sleeve. Sadly, it's a tough world we live in. Talk with her and incorporate her in your new lifestyle. If surgery is an option for her meet with a doctor and discuss. It is possible to lose weight without surgery, but as we all know, it's tougher for a lot of us.

Medical loan and stock options. Plan to claim it on my taxes as well.

Weight before surgery: 259.6 Date of surgery: 4/24/2012 Challenge starting weight: 200.2 9/8/12 Weigh-in: 199.7 9/22/12 Weigh-in: 197.5 9/29/12 Weigh-in: 196.2 Goal weight for competition: 185 SLOW BUT STEADY!

I took 2.5 weeks off and they worked a few short days to ease back in. Tiredness was my biggest complaint once back to work.

Today while working out at the Y, I created a new goal for myself. When getting on the elliptical, I have to increase my weight to accurately account for calories burned. I realized that in just about 47 more pounds gone, I will NOT have to increase the number!!!! That makes me happy and I am eager for the day I can get on the elliptical and hit enter making 150 my starting weight! (Of course, anything lower is good too, but my goal is 150). Oh, the things that motivate me!

I am sorry for what you are going through and I do hope it all works out. If you have someone who can drop you off and then pick you up when you are released, I think that would be okay. Ideally, someone should be there until you are out of recovery. Not sure how long your stay will be, but make sure to take a few things to entertain yourself. I live alone with 2 dogs and my mom stayed for a week after surgery. Other than mowing the grass and feeding the dogs the first few days, I did just about everything myself. It was nice to have someone to hang out with, but I managed the remainder of my 1.5 weeks at home just fine on my own. Good luck!!

Thank you. It's tough getting there sometimes!! I have to come home after work and tend to the "mutts" which is usually a quick walk with them. I started using fall TV as a reason not to go or come back early.....decided an extra $7 a month for DVR was well worth it to not have that excuse!

Minimal is good. You will be a bit tired. I had a book and my cell phone. Read, watched TV, played games on my phone, walked the halls and slept.

Weight before surgery: 259.6 Date of surgery: 4/24/2012 Challenge starting weight: 200.2 9/8/12 Weigh-in: 199.7 9/22/12 Weigh-in: 197.5 Goal weight for competition: 185 SLOW BUT STEADY! This "stall" has to end.....

Weight before surgery: 259.6 Date of surgery: 4/24/2012 Starting weight: 200.2 9/8/12 Weigh-in: 199.7 Goal weight for competition: 185

15 weeks post-op and FINALLY I broke through my August stall and weighed in below 200. 199.7 this morning! That's 59.9 pounds gone!! Love seeing everyone's continued success!