aubrie

I have to agree wholeheartedly with Jachut and Areellady. I eat VERY healthy but I eat what I want. My doctor told me he didn't want me "dieting". He feels that we all have an obsession with food to begin with, so starting the obsession of weighing, measureing, counting calories, carbs and fats is simply trading one obsession for another. I like his philosophy regarding the WLS. It's one reason I chose him. He's about regaining our quality of life. The life lead as an obese person was not optimal or quality. I want to feel good and be healthy first. If I look better, (which is inevitable) then that's a plus. I eat FRESH veggies ONLY. I don't eat anything out of a can, (except maybe tuna) and rarely eat anything processed or prepackaged. I lean toward organic, but not strict about it. I eat carbs, but try for the low glycemic choices. I eat these last if I have room. I try to eat fish at least three times a week. I don't use artificial sweetner. I personally think it's poison, and it makes me ill. I get headaches. If I want something sweet, I'm okay with a small cookie (usually a ginger snap) or a piece of fruit. I'm enjoying life more now than I have in 18 years. And that's okay by me.

I bake my egg rolls. I also have started baking my crab cakes and salmon croquettes. Delicious!

What flavors do they have? I've been buying the single serve, flavored, Bumble Bee tuna. They only have 3 flavors and I'm addicted to the lemon pepper. I didn't care for the Thai spice and it was loaded with sugar. I bring them to work for lunch once or twice a week. I also toss them in my suitcase when I travel, in case I can't find something suitable to eat.

I went for my 3rd fill in May. I had lost 14 pounds in two months, so the doc figured I didn't need one. I only lost 2 pounds the following month, so he filled me up. It just depends on where you're at and what the doctor feels you need. I didn't make the decision. If it were up to me I would have had the fill in May. I lost most of that 14 pounds the first month of the two, and was well aware I had slowed down. I was disappointed, but I trust my doctor, so I did what he suggested. I didn't fight him on it.

I too have problems with pork chops. They tend to be dry and they get me stuck every time. I still haven't PBd yet though, thank God. I know my day will come.

I guess I might in an emergency, but I never even fed my own kids that crap. YUCK!!! I made my own.

I've never really cared for exercise either. I did it when I was in my early 20s and pregnant etc. Since then it's been NOTHING. I have arthritis in my knees, hips, spine, and shoulders, so if anyone has an excuse it's me, but I exercise faithfully 3X a week. Immediately after surgery I started walking around my neighborhood. I had a new dog who loved it, so I ended up enjoying it. As soon as I was cleared to swim, I started water aerobics 3x a week. It doesn't hurt me at all. The water takes the pressure off my joints and it didn't matter if I was big. I felt marvelous afterwards. I have more energy than I have in years. I'm building up a lot of muscle and flexibility too. I HIGHLY recommend it. It's done wonders for me. Not only am I losing weight, but I'm more flexible, I sleep better, I'm making friends, my disposition has improved and I actually have muscles. We do it to music, and the girl usually plays oldies. I'm 49, so that's fun for me too!!! bopping around to my old 70s tunes revs me right up.

My skin is dry as well. I noticed the skin on my thighs looks dry and loose. Really yucky. I just purchased some St. Ives lotion that says "skin firming" on it. Hopefully religious use of this will help that dry puckery look to ease up a bit. I lost a good bit of hair, but it's all growing back. I have fine little baby hairs all along my hair line. Another 6 months and it will be back to normal.

Don't forget. Your estrogen and hormones have been stored in your fat cells. They are disappeariing, so your hormone levels will be in flux for a while. It's my undertanding they level out after a while. Make sure you're getting enough nutrients and plenty of exercise and sleep. Fatigue can do nasty things to a person. Stess is another sabatour of romance. Offer to give eachother a massage. Relax and see where it goes..... I have the opposite problem. Mine is off the charts, but I'm having issues with my hubby's new found interest......

My health club is about two city blocks from my house and I have to drive right past it to get home. It's amazing what guilt does to a person as your consider driving right on by....... LOL

I met my current husband when I was 16. We were high school sweethearts. We dated for several years, and he wanted to marry me way back when. But he wanted me to move to Alaska with him. NOT!!!! Well, he went, I wanted him to have the experience and we drifted apart. We both ended up marrying others. My other needed a "mama", and I wanted to be a wife and a lover. Not a mama, so it didn't work out. We were married 8 years and I had two sons. My sweetheart came back into my life 18 years ago. The sparks flew and we were married right away. It's been wonderful up until the last 4 years or so. He got really distant and our HOT love affair and romance went on the back burner. I was convinced he was seeing someone but he has and still vehemenently denies it. I have steadly gained weight since we got back together and ended up at a whopping 252. He NEVER said anything about my weight, so his distance always puzzled me. He told me he loved me, but his actions said just the opposite. We didn't fight any more than usual, and he never abused me in any way, but he just didn't touch me anymore. He told me he was getting old, and that he physically couldn't do it anymore. We even tried Viagra. He hated it. He said it was stress, his weight, fatigue, impotence........But we didn't even cuddle or hug anymore! The confusion, hurt and pain the physical rejection caused, has not gone away. I don't know how many nights I cried into my pillow wanting some affection from him. When I told him about WLS he was very supportive. Well, we had a heart to heart, and he told me, and I quote, "For men, sex is a visual thing. When you didn't look like you anymore because of your weight, I just couldn't get into it." That's fine and dandy but couldn't he turn the lights out? I've lost 58 pounds and am starting to look like my old self again. I colored my hair, whitened my teeth, bought some youthful clothes...... Well, needless to say, I'm again getting the attention that I so desperately wanted. Even other men are noticing. So his pecker worked just fine. He basically lied. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the sex, but at the same time I resent him for turning his back on me for three years. The damage that caused is hard to ignore. I want things to be the way they were. He's the love of my life. I admire him. I respect him. I love him so much, but I hate him for the way he made me feel. It's like I don't trust him with my feelings anymore. I'm so confused and the stress that's causing is horrible. So where does that leave me? Torn between shamelessly throwing myself at him and enjoying it or standing on principal with my head up and leaving the wall there and feeling empty. He truly doesn't understand why it makes me angry. I'm the same person inside I've always been. I may have changed the wrapper, but I'm still me damn it! Alwyas have been. Fat or no fat.

I hit onederland last month as well. It's been about 13 years since I've been here. It feels great. I've stalled a little, but my clothes keep fitting looser. I've been wearing a lot of old clothes lately, but finally went shopping for new stuff this past weekend. I ran out of old clothes that fit!! I even bought a new swimsuit!

Any more than a sip of beer and I can feel a funny twinge in the tummy. Not worth it to risk it.

I won't miss..... 1. Only having black, tan and white bras and panties to pick from. 2. limited positions in bed with my DH 3. swollen feet and ankles 4. lifting my belly up to completely empty my bladder 5. leaning over to drink out of a wine glass coz the stem hits my boobs 6. not being able to get into a kayak to fish with my husband

Unfortunatley, If I dont eat fruit, I don't go to the bathroom. It's the one thing that seems to keep me semi regular without going to some type of MOM, fiber solution, etc. I consider those un-natural and just for emergencies. So I religiously eat fruit twice per day. At breakfast and lunch.

I buise each time I get a fill, but they are minimal. I just had my third one last Friday, and it's about the size of my thumb nail. #2 was a bit bigger but not much. I think it's normal. Especially if your doc had to poke around with the needle to find the right spot on the port.

An elephant's penis weighs 60 pounds?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy crap! I'm two pounds shy of an elephants penis...... charming..... My husband's going to LOVE this.....

I've lost a 5000 BTU air conditioner and a human brain...... EEEeeeeewwwww....

My neighbor noticed how much I lost and praises me every time she sees me. She's an elderly lady and just a real sweetheart. We were chatting in the driveway yesterday and I made the comment that I still have a ways to go. She shook her head and looked puzzled and said, "Well, It can't be THAT much. You look fine the way you are now. Don't lose to much, you want to stay healthy." So I know exactly how you felt. She didn't see me as fat either. By my assessment, I DO have a long way to go. I'm just about half way. But I guess some people see us differently than we do ourselves.

You would be amazed at how many surgeons are doing bariatric surgery but aren't certified in it........

My doctor said the size of a band sometimes has to do with the size of a person's stomach. He may lean more towards one than the other, but may not have a choice based on the size of someone's stomach. He also said he prefers the low pressure bands as opposed to the high pressure band. the high pressure ones have more of a chance of leaking. I have a 10 cc low pressure band. I think it depends on what the doctor likes, what he's had success with and your anatomy.

these days waist bands are at all different levels. Plus sizes have a true waist band, but other clothes have a drop waist. Some are worn at the hip. It really makes it difficult to decide. My comfort level just depends on were the waist band happens to fall on a particular garment. My best friend had hers put up near her sternum and she hates it because her bra and underwires rub on it constantly. Bras aren't worn loose, so she doesn't like it. She's jealous of mine near my belly button, but certain pants squeeze on mine some days. It just depends.

I'm horribly sorry that all this happened to you. what a disappointment and a dreadful experience. I hope you are now feeling a little better. I hope you consider filing a formal complaint with the medical board. It's people like you who file a complaint, that have this information documented on the physician's record, so that when we all research a doctor we can see that he made mistakes in the past. It helps those who are considering a doctor to make an informed decision on that doctor. That way no one else will have to go through what you did. Are they making you pay the $25,000?????

Gosh I wish I could remember how I did this. I found medical website that for 14.95 gave me a printout of what ever doctor I chose. I put in what information I knew, and if they are licensed, they are in there. It finds them and then provided me with where they went to school, when they graduated, what they were licensed in, (bariatrics or not) how many years they have practiced, what states, what hospital affiliations, how many complaints have been issued against them, any lawsuits that had occured, etc. etc. I researched three doctors until I found mine, who was squeaky clean. I'll see if I still have the printout so I can give you the name of the site. I felt MUCH better after doing that.

I don't know how they do bypass where you live, but what they do here part of the stomach is actually removed and DISCARDED. How the hell can you reverse that?????? I also fully agree with MacMadame on the mortality rate. Even my surgeon told me that.