Bob_350lbs

From the LapSF newsletter. ******** Many people can't imagine becoming depressed AFTER losing weight. However, depression can occur after weight loss surgery or when undergoing any time of major lifestyle change. Possible causes of depression after WLS may include: - Mourning the loss of food for comfort. If food has always been your "friend" or something you depended on when feeling sad, stressed or lonely, saying "goodbye" can be difficult. - Mourning the loss of pre-operative lifestyle. For example, feeling left out while socializing, participating in holiday rituals, or when dining in restaurants. - Reactions from others. Relationships with loved ones can change or become strained. Reactions to weight loss may be negative or jealous, or otherwise unsupportive friends/family may resort to "sabotage." Positive reactions or increased attention from others can lead to feelings of discomfort, vulnerability, or resentment. - Having unrealistic expectations. For example, thinking that everything will get better after surgery or that your emotional eating or other disordered eating habits will simply disappear. - Hormonal changes. For some women, estrogen is released while fat is burned to make energy. This release of estrogen may cause mood swings. - Body image discrepancies. After rapid weight loss, you do not recognize yourself or lose a sense of self. You may experience a loss of identity between the inner and outer you. The postoperative blues typically occur during the first few weeks or months after surgery and subside over time. However, if you find that your symptoms are worsening or are beginning to interfere with your relationships, work, or daily functioning, it is time to seek help from a medical professional.

I don't care for Protein drinks, probably because of years of dieting using slim fast, medifast, etc...but I realize that some days, to get in all my protein, I have to use them. So, in my 32 oz Water bottle I sometimes add 1 scoop of Syntrax nectar, "Fuzzy naval" 4 tsp of Benefiber, 3 tbls splenda, and 16 oz water, shake, then fill the rest up with ice. That takes me through the morning. It kinda reminds me of Tang. I couldn't stand Syntrax at first, but now I have my own little formula that makes it more tolerable. And, when I use the GNC amplified wheybolic extreme 60, vanilla flavor, I will add a couple frozen strawberries, and 1/4 cup 2% milk, to 6 oz of water. You only need one scoop of the powder, not 3 like recommended. That is for those who want to build muscle. I still buy the protein crunch bars from Medifast, cause I can't find any bars that are as low in calories/high in protein. Medifast now has parmesan cheese puffs, honey mustard pretzles, that serve me well. Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth. Oh, and I forgot to add, I like to keep the premade shake, Muscle milk lite, in my desk drawer and even my car, just in case. If you find you forgot to take protein with you, and need something quick, most all mini-marts and grocery stores carry them in the cold section, along with sodas. They are ok, not great, but will do if you are in a pinch.

Okay, I finally decided to upgrade, cuz I want to connect to the internet, have a phone, a great camera, MP3 player, TOMM, and applications that help me track my diet progress and nutrition, all in a handy PDA. Any suggestion/advice out there?

Since we are all going to be wearing a swim suit soon, has anybody had experience with this? Waxing vs laser hair removal. I am modest, but really, everbody does it now, even the Brazilian wax, is pretty normal in most salons.

Sounds like a good idea, I was thinking of taking everything to a consignment shop..but, maybe this is a better idea. I am 5'2" and have a lot of fall/winter clothes in good shape, some never worn, I would be happy to send to a sister sleever. I bought most of them at Macy's Womens dept on sale, 1x, 2x, nice brands too like Style & Co., Jones NY, and Ralph Lauren. A few from LB and Dress Barn 18/20, 22/24. Mostly tops. I have 4 pairs of size 4 black pants in short from Fashion Bug. All I ever wore was black pants. Oh, and a pair of corduroy pants in a dark burgandy from Walmart size 20 I never wore..They were too long and I never got around to hemming them. A pair of jeans from LB in size 20. I can take pictures and post if you want. Oh, and more..I forgot about. I buy this stuff super cheap on sale..a pair of beige capris super cute size 16 from Macy's..too dang big and a beige cotton skorts, size 20 from WM again, never wore. They were both too tight and I though I would lose wt and they would fit, well...I lost wt and they are too dang big.

just don't do anything stupid after surgery, do what your surgeon said, drink, drink, drink..follow the diet correctly..my surgery went great, great doc, great hosp, and I was walking for exercise within days of coming home, and never felt better in my life. Also, you can see how hydrated you are by the color of your urine, the darker it is, the less hydrated you are..and when you are allow to eat again, chewing is vital, as it keeping portions to what your doctor tells you, for us it was no more than 1/4 of mushies at first, all protein. You should be fine, but complications are something that can happen to anybody, including infections from the hospitalization it self, they are dirty places full of sick people & serious germs everywhere, even at the best of the best..it can happen, so you just have to be aware of to look for and when to call.

that is so awesome! it's such a great feeling too, enjoy the process, shopping w/pleasure.

They just want your American $$ - I guess you don't watch the news much, the USA issued a travel advisory after the drug lords started ambushing people in the streets, a Mexican-American couple from Texas, who work at the Embassy were shot dead about 6 mos ago and it made the US issue the travel warning. But, I understand how you feel, the prices can't be beat and Aceves is a great doctor, so the drug lords probably know better than to mess with his business. Your just going in and out with a Mexican escort driving you, so it's probably safer and Aceves' name is plaster on the side of the van, right? I live in CA, so we are more aware of the border problems and drug problems with Mexico, that's all. Up in WA, it's pretty mellow, people are more affluent, probably have very little if any Hispanic population. Here you have to speak Spanish to get a job, 80% of Santa Ana is Hispanic, there are truly sanctuary towns. At my job, if the border patrol is out and they are making routing traffic stops, the illegal mothers canx the children's appts so they won't get sent back to Mexico. If you can't speak fluent Spanish, my employer will not hire you anymore, because it costs too much to pay for interpreters. If you don't live in a border state, you probably are too far removed to understand the impact it has on the schools, healthcare, roads, and other public services..and because medical marijuana is legal now in CA, the Mexicans are having wars in Mexico over territory in their own country. I think they won't mess you with a patient of Dr. Aceves thought, he probably has paid them off to keep the americans coming down for surgery. I don't blame him, his gov't is more corrupt than ours is. Just venting, don't take this personal, it's not about you, it about how the illegals have ruined our states educational and healthcare system with their anchor babies, they way they undermined the working class people who are citizens who did it the right way, paying taxes, and so forth. God bless, it's a huge mess here, our state is bankrupt now, maybe Mexico is the answer for affordable healthcare, but only if you have money to pay for it - so in a way, jobs are being taken way from american doctors too, not just the working class, and there are drug wars going on big time in Mexico, a high ranking official was murdered, a governor, because he got in the way, police are corrupt, Mexicans don't even go outside for fear of being shot. It is the truth.

cover all your bases dee dee, go thru with trying to open the tubes, get a job in your state and start IVF, and also foster a child, an infant, to keep you company while you are going through this. don't make the mistakes I did, my tubes were blocked, couldn't unblock them, and didn't follow thru with foster child or ivf - money reasons..looking back I would have fostered a child and proceeded with IVF with/$ from foster care system. KEEP GOING..YOU WOULD BE A GREAT MOM!!!

yes, the bigger you are, it takes more weight loss to notice, probably when you get to a BMI of 30 they will start to notice.

mexico is having terrible problems with drug wars, murders daily in the street, i hope you are safe down there...maybe they drive an armored van..or the drug dealers leave Aceves business alone, buena suerta.

Hey, I am in the Sacto area too. Who did your sleeve? We should start our own support group, the ones I go to seem to be full of the thoses "over the moon" successful sleeveters, I would like to start a group of people who really, truly need the support. Yes, I have lost a considerable amount of weight and w/o the VG I would still weigh 214 lbs., but my PCP thinks the "VG" is cheating and I will gain it all back anyway (not!) I can never eat as much as I used to. But, my VG doctor thinks I should eat under 900 cals per day, all lean protein, which at 11 mos out, believe me, you will feel hunger again, not like before, but it does come back along with your ability to eat more, drink carbonated sodas and drink liquids with your meals, coffee with your breakfast..serious, you can after your stomach swelling goes away and your stomach can stretch up to a cup of food, and a milk shake goes down w/o a hitch. So...where is the inbetween support? Not with my PCP or surgeon. I would like a group of VGs who understand and have experienced the rapid, no hunger weightloss and then settled back down into normal living, normal eating, normal hunger weight loss. Anyway, that is what I am looking for..not the judgment that I "cheated" that is BS...you wouldn't tell a heart patient they "cheated" if they had a cornary artery bypass, so we did save our lives with this surgery..and I don't want to be judged because I can't stick to 900 calories of lean protein the rest of my life. There is a middle ground, the sane middle ground, where I belong.

OMG - you have got to try the WonderSlim BBQ snacks, their cheesecake mix, the chocolate cake mix, the chocolate marshmallow pudding mix, and the cinnamon and chocolate crisp munchies, not to mention their bars. They are all low carb, high protein, low call and delivery is free if you buy over $79 worth of goodies. Happy hunting for your snacky foods - I know I love them & they keep me on track. Oh, I almost for forgot to mention their pancake mix and the pastas - I like them very much too.

You know what works the absolute best? Laser hair removal - smooth and clean as a baby's behind. But the down side is, you can never go back to that hairy natural look - and sometimes you just want to be hairy and nasty good like that, which is what makes being a woman so fun. I don't know what the guys do - so many of them are completely hairless, and my ex used to shave down there (he was going gray) .. but that's their problem, I guess. I always did prefer men to look like men - hairy and sexy that way.

sex is a great way to keep in shape and a great mood stablizer..it's so good for the body/soul/and mind. Now that we are all thinner and more attractive, it's such a great reward for our efforts..nothing compares to it, nothing.

Be strong my fellow VSG'ers...it's a battle, the greedy food industry vs us. Buy organic fruits, veggies, and Protein. Our government is run by corporations...a billion dollar industry, what would they without us? Let our $$ speak for us.. You will be successful and keep the weight off...just boycott Mcdonald's and the likes of them....

I have yet to find a good one, anybody have any suggestions? These boobs make me look matronly and I hate that.:thumbup:

I am beginning to think this is a "get out of jail free" card. Did any see Steve Phillips on the Today show? He is an old pervert just like Clinton. Preying on the young admiring staffers. Gag..if he takes Vigra that ought to be discontinued right now. That certainly could be making matters worse, thinking with the wrong head again!!!

Does anybody watch The Biggest Loser? There is a lot I don't like about that show, but it is the contestants that make it all worthwhile. They are heros to me.

God bless you sweetie, you have done so well!! Thank you for always being so upbeat and encouraging! Congratulations on your success, you are one of my favorites on this site, blessings! You are beautiful on the inside and out, I hope you keep posting here, you're such a positive role model for us all.

oh, I forgot another one of my favorite snacks, I like corn tortillas baked whole until they are crisp, then I will spread FF cream cheese on it, and add salsa. 2 Tia Rosa white corn tortillas only have 12 gms of carbs and 110 calories and it really helps when I want to stress eat on something crunchy, and you can only eat one about 2 hrs apart, so it is great after work, instead of dinner. I usually eat most of my calories while at work, and save about 150 cals for after work. Besides, after grazing all day, I am not really hungry at night anyway. But, until you are out at least 3 mos, don't try this snack.

I go through phases of my favorite snacks...right now it is Starbuck's tall frappacino light blended vanilla bean, strawberry, or white chocolate mocha with whipped cream. I can barerly finish it and it's like a decadent treat, like an adult milk shake without all the fat and sugar.

Sounds like he was just looking for an excuse to leave, count your blessings, it's better this happens sooner than later. Anyway, you are starting a whole brand new life, and who needs that kind of baggage.

Good to hear Tiff, that is a relief. I remember my mom went the the ER with chest pain so bad, she thought she was having a heart attack, it ended up being a hiatal hernia, but it's better to be safe than sorry, or worse, dead.