Bob_350lbs

When I was eating bars, I liked the Medifast bars because all of them taste good, have only 100 cals, and are high in protein, 15 gms, and only 15 gm carbs..but they are pricey. I might try the Bariwise bars, they are much cheaper.

Wow, you look great, tell us what your exercise routine is. Wow, to be young again. I think that being younger really helps with less sagging skin, plus working out too. At my age, I am going to have flabby upper arms and inner thighs, but like Tiff says, I'll take that over rolls of fat any day. Gosh, I can see why you get so much attention. You are just going to have to get used to it. How is your husband handling it?

Why don't sharks attack lawyers? Professional courtesy.

Dee Dee, thanks for your advice, Ann Taylor sounds so elegant, love window shopping there, but never thought I could shop there. Anyway, yes, I am short, only 5'2". I started to wear jeans again, when I got back into an 18, I live in jeans. Levi's 515 in short fit better than low rise, but they are still too long, I have to wear mules, but that is ok, because I need the height. At least now I am wearing size 14. It's pointless at this point to buy more than one pair at a time, because we loose weight and then have to buy another. Anyway, I am now selling my old stuff at a consignment shop, jeans especially sell well. P.S Congrats on the goal jeans! My niece loves those jeans too and sells through Ebay when she tires of them and wants a new pair.

Maybe skinny jeans will work for you, but I bought Levi's 545 and they stretch out, so I suggest getting them super tight. They are meant for people with skinny legs, like us. I got them at Kohl's in the Jr section, and they have tall, average, and short, which is cool. I bought size 17, and they fall off my butt, or lack of one, hehe...but they fit perfectly in the dressing room, I guess it is that darn stretch material. So, buy them super tight if you do get a pair.

When I was sitting at my surgeon's office waiting for my f/u appt, almost everyone else there was a lap bander, at least 1 yr out, coming in again for yet another adjustment...yes, they lost weight, but only one had reached her goal. They did say wt loss was slower. Yes, they were happy with it...but it costs $345 for a fill. One gal talked about wanting her band so tight, she couldn't eat a bite of pasta. Maybe I should have had it done too, because I can anything I want to now, for example, I had 10 Hersey's kisses last night. So, I stall a lot too, by sabotaging myself. However, I don't anticipate having to see my doctor after my year is up, because there is really no follow up needed. And, I don't get physically hungry unless I go without eating until dinner. My stomach may grumble..a little, but it is nothing like before. For me, it's a psychological craving for sweets, bread, and other refined processed food. I am like a junkie, and I am not sure I will be successful at this, regardless of what surgery I had.

I think I heard that it might take up to 6 mos after you lose all the weight for your skin to catch up and bounce back. Of course, genetics and age play a big factor too, and you guys are all pretty young. I know my bat wings are not going to bounce back and either are my boobies..but I will take that any day over a size 24. Did I tell you I bought my first size 14s and they are already starting to sag in the butt..yes, I have no butt either. :scared0:

Whoo Hooo!!! Dee Dee, who says we can't be our jr hs wt again?? Hahah! You proved them wrong. And Chancie, size 12!! Freakin' amazing! Oh, and Tiffy, if you have a spare tire, then I have two giant snow tires around my middle. You look fantastic!

Maria, I am so sorry this happened to you and I can't believe they sent you home with a low grade fever. It sounds like they just pushed you out of there after 4 days w/some antibiotics. It takes courage to post this here, but people need to know this stuff. At least you are getting good care here, in the USA. People complain so much about our healthcare but we are so lucky to live here..regardless if you have money or not, our hospitals cannot turn you away.. God bless and keep us posted on your recovery.

Me too, I have a salad every night, while watching TV. It's my new "zone out" food. In fact, I eat fresh veggies w/every meal. Try the salad spritzers, they are great and add zero calories. It will help to keep you regular too.

Ivy, my surgeon says all the body needs is water, protein, and vitamins. I was told to eat as little as possible, as long as I am getting in 70-80 grams of protein and 64 oz of water. He would be thrilled if I could stay at 400. I think as long as you are doing this, probably your body is just adjusting. Have you ever watched The Biggest Loser, they all lose at a different rates, although they follow the same plan. It is frustrating, but don't compare yourself to anyone else. Perhaps calling your nutritionist might help.

You've done so well Susan! Congrats on your success :-) Yes, I can totally relate, I think people really don't want to know all the much personal information about us at work anyway. Just telling them you're losing weight and getting is all they really need to know. Keep up the good work, you're doing great!

Audra, congratulations on your upcoming, life changing surgery!! I am sooo excited for you!! The VG has really helped me to get a grip on my weight problem, and I was a SP too, and because of that reason, it took me 2 yrs to make the decision. You're right, it sucks about insurance not covering it for you. I know that feeling. But, like you said, I wasn't getting any thinner or younger as those two years past by. You're still young compared to me, and you have a lot of living to do in front of you. I wish I would have done this sooner, but so glad I did it!! Congrats!! We will be here to support you every step of the way.

Pasta, rice, the body treats just like sugar, just another reason to avoid it. Okay, I am a little Dr. Oz crazed now, but that is what he said. This knowledge helps me to make better choices. Sugar and white flour, refined carbs only make you crave more carbs, so it's best to avoid them. I am guilty as the next person for tasting and trying them out..but my weight loss stalled big time and now I am paying the price by having to work harder to get this weight off, my advice is, don't do it! Learn from my mistake.

It's Time, Congrats on your sleeve!! It gets better and better every day, just stick to the plan. After my surgery, I had no cravings for food at all, the smell got to me. But, now, it is back to normal, so nothing causes problems for me. You will be just fine. Last night I cooked a pot roast w/all kinds of veggies (no salt) and it had the greatest broth, so I made beef/veg soup out of 1/2 of it. Yum! And, talk about filling. The rest of the meat I will use the next couple days for chili, etc. Enjoy your new life with the VG, it's the best thing I ever did.

My nephew and his friends were about in the 6th grade when they saw Something About Mary and the "old lady" boobs. They drew old lady boobs forever, too funny! Whatever makes you feel good, go for the surgery ladies, you worked darn hard to get your new bodies, and you deserve it. Obese men have problems with this too, if you have ever seen The Biggest Loser weigh in. I don't understand why it's okay to have those men shirtless on TV when their boobs are as big and saggy as the womens. Anyway, you are all amazing people, and have done great things with your weight loss, and I am so proud of each and every one of you!! You are all an inspiration to me and if you do have the surgery or not, it's all good.

Dr. Oz says salt is one of the worst things you can put in your body, he did a little demonstration on his show and it really proved to me how salt is not my friend. My b/p is normal now after stopping frozen dinners, processed foods, and stopped adding salt to my foods. It forced me to start cooking for one, because I can control what is in my food. Use spices in place of salt. Eventually, you get used to it, and your b/p will improve. Stoongal has a lot of good ideas, I have found useful too. Bistro MD is a great meal delivery plan if you can afford it. The Biggest Loser uses them too. You could get the 5 day plan, and split the meals in half and it could last 2 weeks that way, and I hear the food is delicious, like a personal chef! Anyway, I feel ya. But, your only 9 lbs from goal!!! WHOO HOO!!:crying:

Sounds like you will be okay, fortunately, you have a good guy there. A friend of a friend had WLS about 10 months ago and has dropped 150 lbs. Apparently, she has never had male attention before, at least not like now, and she has started fooling around and her husband is very unhappy about that. He loved her either way and still loves her, even if she is unfaithful. I don't know that much about her situation, but my friend says that she has gotten pretty big headed about her new looks and thinks every man is looking at her and wanting to sleep with her. Yes, she looks good, and I am happy she is at her normal weight. But, with 3 kids, it's kinda of hard on the family, they are not sure if it will end in divorce. But, after losing 150 lbs, she is a whole new person. I hope the best for them, and that it she will settle down.

I hear you Rose, after being an open book myself, I learned the hard way at my last job, and promised myself I would never be that way again. I feel much better keeping my private life private at work. Being the object of malicious gossip is horrible and I don't want to go through that again. I just want to get on with the business of living life as a thin person. But, even my sister commented today that I was at a normal weight and if I lost any more I would look about 100 yrs old. That stuff sabatoges me. She is a size 10, I wear a 14/16. What is that about?? I have 38 lbs to go to be at a normal weight. Whatever....sometimes, I just wish I would have never told them. But, I am so grateful for all of your support and I hope I can support all of you.

Jackie, you are totally rocking the sleeve!!! You go girl!! You are amazing me with your transformation. I am truly inspired to do better.

I agree, this is so personal, and who needs judgment from people who really don't care about us anyway. I only told the people who love me about it, but some of them thought my BMI of 39 was too low. One even said that other, bigger people need it more than I did. Well, maybe so, but I deserve to be healthly too. Anyway, deciding to tell or not is personal decision and everyone is different. Maybe I just want to succeed first, then I can tell and help others who are trying to decide to have WLS.

OMG, I just realized that my calves aren't swollen after work any more... I used to have to elevate my feet to get the swelling and tightness to go down, but not anymore. That must mean that my blood pressure is down and my circulation is improved. YAY!

Lady, I am a slow loser too..but finally almost 40 lbs gone. My surgery was 7/28/09. I eat too much (900 cals per day) and my treadmill broke, so I am waiting on the repairman and not exercising like before. But OMG 60 lbs!! WTG!! What was your starting BMI and what is your BMI now?