breezy

Wow! Thanks for posting the pictures. It makes it so much more dramatic to see the changes! You even look YOUNGER! Thanks for the inspiration!

What a bummer to have your doctor react like that! It makes me feel even happier that my PCP was supportive (she found out after the fact also). Kind of stupid of him to berate you when you've already had the surgery. I could understand the reaction if he felt he had to be so hard on you to keep you from having it, but after it's done, it's his job to help you stay healthy. Losing weight will make you healthier, so it just seems wrong of him to have that reaction. Some doctors are really insensitive though. You may want to consider changing doctors if it keeps up.

I looked at the bento boxes too and thought they were too big! I just use a desert plate and regular silverware. My hubby and I went out for pizza recently and ordered an "individual" sized pizza. It was about 8" round. I was able to eat 1 slice and he ate 5 slices, which left 2. It was more than enough for us. I noticed another couple being served a huge pizza (which would have been us 6 mos ago) and thought "don't you realize that is WAY too much food!" I have a european friend who says that we in America have a much different measure of the amount of food to eat at a time.

Sending good thoughts! Tell us how you are doing when you feel well enough to write!

I didn't have the stomach spasms like you are talking about, Sherri, but I wasn't able to eat or drink much either. Have you lost the 57 lbs since your surgery? Or does that include a pre-op phase? That a LOT of weight to lose! I still have to take one drink of Water at a time and wait for it to go down before I take another. I still have to take one bite at a time, chew thoroughly, wait for it to go down, then take another. But I can see that things have slowly gotten more comfortable with every day. I agree that you should talk to your doctor about it. They can do a blood work up to see how you are doing. Keep talking about how you "feel", though. We're here for you.

I don't know what to say except I'm so sorry. Are you ok?

Congratulations Grace!!! I'm glad to hear that you are feeling great and knocking down goals! You go, girl!

Thanks for posting this! It's very interesting to hear what the forum members are learning from their docs/nuts. (I _had_ to write it like that, so much funnier than doctors/nutritionists:001_tt2:)

Wow! I've got to hand it to you. I don't know if I could conquer the memory of a past incident like you had. I think it's great that you are going to "get back in the saddle" and go for what you want in spite of your experience. With an attitude like that, how can you fail? I'll be rooting for you!

Congratulations, bigjay!!! If you want to really feel how much you've lost, go to the grocery store and pick up a 40lb and 20lb bag of dog food at the same time!!!!! Thanks for checking in!

Congratulations on getting a date! Do a search on the forum for pre-surgery lists. I remember seeing a very good one that might have something else you'd want to know. I'm sure you are excited! Good things are coming!

I have a close friend with RA, so I can understand what you deal with every day. He found a support group that goes out hiking and camping all the time. From what he has told me, exercise is crucial to dealing with the RA. I have been taking ibuprofen since the surgery and haven't had any problems, either. Anyway, kudos to you for working through the RA! How we deal with difficulties in our lives is the true reflection of who we are. My hat is off to you.

Well I'm definately ready to give you a pep talk! I picked up a 40 lb bag of dog food at the store yesterday (which is how much I've lost) and hoisted it up to my sholder to see what carrying that extra 40 lbs would feel like again. I can't believe I used to carry that around all day!!!!! I'm sorry you have the chronic pain to deal with, but think of how it has to be easier on your poor foot to carry around less weight! I'm experiencing a stall right now, too. I need to get more organized about what I eat. I have been putting everything else at a higher priority than planning my meals. The result is that I am probably eating more carbs and I'm convinced that is what slows down my weight loss. So I'm going to find the time this week to plan out my meals, go to the grocery store, and avoid the carbs. Have you had your doctor do blood work to see how you're doing? Many of the others on the forum swear by B12 shots or taken as a liquid under the tongue. But I would always want to check with my doctor before taking anything. I think exercise DEFINATELY helped my energy levels. I try to make it FUN! I put on music, light a candle, anything that makes the atmosphere a special time for me. I was lucky enough to find a girlfriend who also wanted to exercise more, so we take walks together and do an exercise video at her house. Keep talking about how you feel to us or someone close to you. I think for some people, myself included, talking helps define how I'm feeling. And putting it into words and getting it out there somehow helps me "release" those emotions or worries. Keep your spirits up! You can do it.

Yes, I'm still on a PPI. I still need them. I guess no one else feels the discomfort when food is going down.

I'm ready to buy a new exercise video and I'd like your opinions! I'm looking for something that is for beginner's. I'm a little worried about over doing it on my knees until I lose some more weight, and I have to build up some strength before I try to do push ups! I tried to post a poll, but I didn't know how it worked and it is not going to work right (but I can't figure out how to take it off the thread), so please ignore my efforts at that.

I like comparing my weight loss to one of my grandgirls! I just imagine her wrapped around my waist! You said about the labs "another is out of range"? Did you mean everything is within range for normal?

I'm sorry I don't have any suggestions for you because I've never had the band and didn't have insurance that would cover the sleeve surgery. Anyone out there have any help for Butterfly?

I was afraid to eat too! Something that I tried that did great for me was fruit. Pears, apples, cantalope, all went down well (with plenty of chewing of course) and they were yummy good!

Thanks for posting the pictures, Tiffy! Honestly, it's hard to even think you had a weight problem when I look at you now! Recently, I've been wishing I knew how to sew! All those perfectly good fat clothes going to goodwill!

My energy level hasn't been this good for about 7 years! I am enjoying moving this new lighter body around! I'm at a little stall right now and that's bugging me a little, but I don't spend much time thinking about it because I'm getting so much done everyday that I still feel like I'm accomplishing something. Eating: It was hard recently going to a Chinese food restaurant and not being able to eat enough to feel like I was getting my money's worth! I still find it hard to slow down when I eat. I have to really concentrate on taking a SMALL bite, chewing it thoroughly, swallowing, then waiting a minute for it to pass down my stomach. I feel a little aching/pain as the food drops down in my stomach. Anyone else feel that? My food is always cold by the time I get 1/2 cup into me. I've been wondering if I should get some kind of special plate to keep my food warm!! Anyone seen anything like that?

165 lbs! I'd be wearing spagetti straps too! Come to think of it, I don't feel so overheated this summer, either. You are doing great!

Thanks, Carla! I'm back. You're right, the ocean breezes calmed me down to the point that I forgot to worry about ANYTHING! I'm so mellow now! I took a "rescue" dog with me. His name is Rootie (miniature schnauzer) and he was a very fearful dog when I first got him 6 months ago. He cowered whenever you touched him, was afraid of noises, and NEVER played, with my other dogs OR with me. It was WONDERFUL to see him at the beach. He actually RAN with me and the other dog I took! I started just playfully running with Raven, one of my Shelties, and I was so surprised to see Rootie join in! Tail up, ears up, mouth open, tongue lolling out, and happier looking than I've ever seen him! See? The ocean is healing for dogs too!

I'm getting ready today to go on a camping trip to the beach. I'll only be gone a week but I find that I'm already feeling sad that I won't be keeping in touch with all of you! This forum has been so helpful to me. I just want to take a minute and thank all of you for participating and sharing your thoughts and stories. I can't imagine how marooned I would have felt if I hadn't been able to reach out to you during this major change in my life. I'll be making a special trip to the grocery store after we get the camp site set up to buy all the right things for me to be eating. I'm looking forward to mentally checking out for a little while. Some of you know that last fall I had to go to Missouri because my mother and brother were in terrible shape. I ended up having to go to court to get guardianship of both of them. It was hard but it has worked out to be the best thing for everyone. The sheer amount of work and stress was something I never want to go through again. This is the 1st vacation I've had since then and I'm really looking forward to relaxing. I'm going to take care of myself and laugh A LOT! And walk on the beach and listen to the waves crash.... Again, thank you all. You don't know how much you have helped me.

I don't keep track in a systematic way (maybe I will if I experience a stall), but the number my mind is looking at is 30 per day. If I was in a stall, I would probably actually write them down, because I'm convinced carbs are what keeps me from losing weight. I have to mention exercise too. I've been trying to actually get my heartrate up for long enough to sweat several times a week. I believe this jump starts my body to break down fat after it uses what I have eaten that day. Now, I am just one person... how about it folks? Do you have carb or calorie limits that you try to stay within?

I'm glad your surgery went without incident! I felt the weakness too, but didn't let it bother me because I figured I had just put my body through some trauma and it was telling me to give it some time to heal. The lack of hunger is great, isn't it? I think that is one of the things I like so much about my experience. It feels like food doesn't have such a hold over me anymore. Get ready to give clothes to Goodwill cause you are going to start melting! (I do a Wicked Witch of the West impression whenever I say that!)