emme2009

I can get that far but it does not allow me to change my occupation or zip code. Does anyone know how to contact the admins to this site since the links are broken at the bottom of the page?

I was able to find where to change information in my profile but not the specific things I listed (occupation and zip code). When you click on my profile they are listed under "Converted' (I don't even know what that means)...but there is now where to click to edit that information. Everything else I can find. I am viewing the pink and purple board.

Lunch for me is usually the protein leftovers from dinner the night before. Some examples: 2 small turkey meatballs with marinara 2 oz chicken breast 2 oz turkey deli meat tuna salad (in a dish, no bread) egg salad (in a dish, no bread) As an early post-op, I made a lot of things ahead of time like mini quiches from The World According to Egg Face and would freeze them and have them from Breakfast and/or lunch. She has A LOT of ideas there an fairly simple recipes and might also help you think about other options for foods that you didn't think about before. Good luck!

WOW!! Way to rock it! You are an inspiration!

I had the VSG in hopes that I'd never have to resort to a fad diet again. Tiffy and KBL are right---the VSG plan is enough in itself. It looks like you are a fairly new post-op---give your surgery a chance...the weight WILL come off if you follow *this* plan. You don't need more injections or a fad diet. VSG is to be maintainable for life. Good luck to you!!

You look fantastic!!

I think everyone's cycle gets a little funky post-op (mine did)...but one month of menstruating seems a little severe (and annoying....?!!). Are you on birth control which should be regulating your cycle? Is it heavy bleeding or light spotting? Are you able to call your surgeon or PCP and ask for advice over the phone without having to go in and pay an office fee?

Thanks for the heads up!

I love sashimi and it goes down really well!

I wish I saw this before your race! How did it go? I was a runner pre-op and have picked up my long-distance running again as a post-op. Lovin' it! I was training for a 1/2 marathon last fall at about 230-240 pounds and of course not losing weight and my feet hurt so bad...when I scheduled my surgery, I quit training because my goal race was 3 weeks after the surgery and I knew even if I made it through the training program that I wouldn't be able to run the 1/2 anyway. I also felt so defeated and wanted to crawl into a hole. Ran my last long run of 9 miles at the beginning of November 2009 and then stopped running. Crawled back into my hole. Had my surgery 1/13/10. I walked and was active but didn't start doing anything serious until about May, I started P90X and did it for 3 weeks or so and enjoyed it. When June came I hit the pavement. I started walking and was easily at 4 miles a day in the Florida heat...then went up north for a visit and put some pep in my step and started running....and then I never stopped. At the end of July, I signed up for a training group to run a half marathon this November and my long run so far has been 12 miles. I plan to do this one next month and a couple more throughout the winter---including the one I dropped out of last year I'd love to hear how your running post-op is going!

The biggest lesson I learned with the whole "tell or don't tell" scenario is that you cannot UNTELL someone. Once it's out, it's there so it is important to choose wisely who you tell and to think about the decision to "tell or not tell" ahead of time. I first had to come to grips with the decision within myself then I discussed it with my husband. I knew at that point that I would tell my sisters (one who had already had RNY and 2 others who would benefit from the sleeve and were/are bigger than me at my highest). I also felt obligated to tell my parents in case something happened and because I knew I would have their support. My Mom had had RNY and my Dad had had the antiquated stomach-stapling (VGB) in the 1980's. Shortly before I left for my surgery in Mexico, I decided to tell a coworker/friend because I had confided in her my many issues and battle. She was sworn to secrecy, supported me 100%, and understood my situation. That's the other thing as to why I don't choose to tell 'just anyone'...I personally feel it would take me hours upon hours, if not years of just knowing me and my family to understand my personal struggle with weight/obesity/binge eating/yo-yo dieting/metabolism issues, etc. People obviously comment on my weight loss but depending on how long they have known me for---most of them are not "shocked" by it. I also went through some things this year that might "explain" to them why I would have made healthy lifestyle changes (losing a parent at a young age to obesity complications). One dear friend was very concerned that I was on another yo-yo and I decided to tell her the truth so she would stop worrying and because her daughter was convinced that if she "just exercised" like I had done, that miracles would happen for her too. I didn't want to give a 19 year old that kind of false impression because obviously my eating is strictly controlled and pre-op I was never able to maintain this kind of "willpower" for so long. I call it surgical-willpower One sister is getting sleeved next month --YAY for her!!-- There have been MANY times where I think if I were 'outed', I could help someone---but I also feel that if someone who was morbidly obese came to me privately and asked for help, I would talk to them about all of their options, VSG being one of them ...and if we were close friends, I would definitely share how much it helped me. And, I know that having shared with my family, I've helped at least one sister make this decision and the other will probably when insurance or personal financing comes through. I don't want the sleeve to define me. I don't want to be judged if I eat a chip or have some ice cream and I truly feel that other people do that when they see someone who is "on a diet" or who "had surgery". Yes, I care what other people think...it's just who I am

There isn't anything that I can't eat but I do avoid rice, pasta and bread. If I even attempt any of those items, I have no room for protein and they're just not worth it! I don't miss the rice; I make spaghetti squash instead of spaghetti and I have found that I don't miss bread either or I'll just have a bite or two.

I'd have to agree with what a lot of folks are saying. I was one of us who was 'never satisfied/always hungry/binge eater/etc.' pre-op. I would have swore to you that my stomach was a bottomless pit. I either felt starved or completely and totally stuffed and the latter was one that comforted me but made me feel so guilty that I lived a constant cycle of dread, diet, guilt, etc. I remember specifically one time since my surgery in January where I cried and told my husband that I wished I had my old stomach back. My father passed away very unexpectedly in March and it was obviously an extremely emotional time. I told my husband that I just wanted a whole pizza, gallon of ice cream, bag of chips, and some soda and to eat it all RIGHT NOW. All of it. Just like the old days. This was obviously a sign for me that food was clearly something I turned to for emotional comfort and I definitely used any stress in my life as an excuse to eat more, a lot, a ton, or everything in sight. Many of us have to deal with how we deal with emotions and stress if food was how we dealt with it before. Sometimes I miss soda because I used to drink 2-5 Diet Pepsi's a day but I'll have a sip from my husbands and be done with it. Sometimes a few sips. If I wanted to, I could probably have more but it's just not worth the hiccups...and the little sips, just like the little bites post-VSG, satisfy my cravings. When my husband and I go out for pizza, I eat the cheese off of a couple of slices and then if I want, I'll have some bites of the crust...I just prioritize the cheesy goodness now This year will be my first Thanksgiving and Christmas sleeved but I can tell you that I sat through both holidays last year at my highest weight, with surgery scheduled and depressed about what my life had come to. I never want to feel that low. Ever. Again. My sister is getting sleeved in less than a month and just had to have a tonsillectomy and I was telling her "oh my goodness, will you get to have your last meal and eat tons of great things??"....and then I stopped myself and said..."actually, I can speak from experience that you will be able to ANYTHING you want after VSG...it's just smaller quantities." I'm very glad that nothing is off limits completely. I'm also glad that I'll never be able to eat my weight in Christmas Cookies...and that when my Dad passed, it wasn't mass quantities of pizza and ice cream that I turned to.

No, I had a different surgeon. There are good and bad surgeons everywhere: US/Canada/Mexico. I know the facilitators you are using will share with you the board certifications, etc. and also remember that many surgeons in Mexico have performed more sleeves than some doctors in the US. I do believe you are in good hands

She certainly has--and thank you....and you will, too

I knew that WLF sends their patients to that surgeon so I was just guessing Sorry, I am not from Canada---but I met Melanie when I was in MX in January and I know she is an amazing person and very knowledgeable. I actually just sent her an email to let her know that I reached a normal BMI...I feel like she was my little VSG angel as she used to post frequently on one of the other chat boards and helped me a lot pre-op.

Your facilitators are a very awesome group---you are in excellent hands I didn't use them (I'm not from Canada) but I corresponded with Melanie a lot when I was pre-op and met her when I was in MX.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I think my ticker speaks for itself...and as you can see, my starting weight was where you are right now. My initial goal weight was to get back to where I thought I'd be comfortable (175ish--just like you're thinking) but I've been able to reach a normal BMI. Awesome stuff. My sister is getting sleeved in less than a month. Yes, there are risks of complications but the risks associated with obesity and yo-yo dieting/weight loss and weight gain are pretty intense, too. Do all of your homework and have all of the facts so that your sister knows that you know what you are doing and that you are 100% knowledgeable with this procedure as well as the aftercare. You can also remind your sister that gastrectomies have been performed for decades for people with stomach cancer, etc. The biggest regret you will hear from people on this board is that they didn't have the surgery sooner. I was 29 when I had mine and had struggled with obesity my whole life. I managed to lose a significant amount of weight and maintain the loss for a few years in my early/mid 20's but gained it back slowly, surely and with a vengeance. I kept trying *everything* else and spent tons of money on *everything* until at this time last year, I decided that I needed a more permanent fix to my problem. I couldn't keep doing the same things expecting different results or go on an expensive 'medically supervised diet' only to go off of it to save money and then gain weight back...I needed the restriction the sleeve has given me and it is a godsend. I also knew that I'd still be struggling in 1 year/5 years/10 years, etc. and wondering "what if" I did it sooner...? I wish you all the luck that your family will come to support your decision but remember, ultimately, it is your decision and they will surely understand that you have researched that this is the best option for a longer, healthier life. Do you live in Canada by any chance and might be working with Melanie/WLF?

I had surgery January 13, 2010. My highest weight (after most likely a Christmas cookie binge) was 251. On my day of surgery, I weighed 243. Yesterday morning I weighed 156.4. My initial goal was 175 but that came and went without question in August. During my whole journey, I always sort of wondered if I could 'make it' to a normal BMI. When I reached 175, I reset my goal to keep stepping closer to 157 (normal BMI for my height). I have teetered back and forth but hadn't "officially" made it until this morning . I record my weight on Wednesdays so those are the only weights that "count". I realized also that I hadn't taken my measurements since February! I just took them and have lost 132 inches in 15 areas of my body since my surgery. Amazing. I could go on and on about the differences in my life, my eating habits, how I don't dream about my next meal or sit home on the weekends because my clothes don't fit or cover up with a sweater even though it's hotter than heck out...but...just trust me... I've been training for a half marathon that I will complete in less than a month and am happy to say that life sure is nicer when you feel better about yourself and your health is in order. My sister is scheduled to be sleeved next month and I am very excited about her journey. I hope it will bring us closer and I'll have someone to go shopping with!!

Thank you I really like the Jeff Galloway method of run/walk...and I think it is an excellent program especially if you have not been a runner and don't really have that "runner-gene". His training incorporates timed walk breaks (for example: run 1 minute/walk 1 minute). Start with walking if you haven't done any cardio but then start adding in a few jogs...like from where you are to the next Stop sign, etc. and eventually do intervals of time like 1/1 like I mentioned above. I have a watch that beeps on the intervals to help with the timing. It's great! I have been training with a group and that certainly helps. You might be able to find a "Getting Started" type group in your area that is training for their first 5k, etc. Sometimes running stores offer these types of programs for beginners. GOOD LUCK!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!

I remember early out feelings like so many things were so difficult and wondering if I'd ever feel the way I do today. I'm here to tell you that it WILL get better and one day, you'll look back and be amazed at how those early struggles will quickly fade and your body will be transforming before your eyes.