Finding MeMe

The diet is difficult but it is to prepare you for a new way of eating. In the begining stage we must get out bodies and taste buds used to eating mostly liquids and low carbs. It is also the time to shrink your liver so your Dr. can have more room to work and see better in the tummy. Many of us struggled with the pre-op diet but we did it because we wanted a good start with our new sleeve. It is a challengee but you got this. Fight, Fight, Fight that food craving for what you want....to get healthy.

I too am military and was determined to get the surgery, I suggest to try another military hospital a little further away. You may have to commute however so keep that in mind. If you find commuting mpossible due to familhy constraints, etc. you can always go to Mexico to get it done. Many people on this site want the surgery done ASAP, don't want to jump through the insurance hoops, or don't have insurance coverage go to to Mexico an option for them. Research it carefully, there are many threads and board certified Dr's. who advertise on this site who perform the surgery in Mexico, the cost is around $3,500.00-5,000.00 from what I've read on here. Good luck to you on your quest to get healthy.

I know EXACTELY how you are feeling. One year ago, I too was at my heaviest ever when I went in for my physical. 250, I cried when I told my PCP that I wanted a ref for gastric bypass surgery. I was ashamed of my self, how can I let myself get so huge. Me a former aerobics instructor, 25 year military professional who know how to workout, etc, etc. But guess what, I got over the number on the scale and knew I had to confront my food Issues. Simply, I was addicted to food because it tasted so darn good and I had to eat large amounts of it. With this sleeve I can still enjoy food but in small amounts, so I can now lose weight easier with my sleeve and with my excercise regimen. Welcome friend to this site and to your decision to finally get healthy. I am now at a BMI of 28%, and 15 more lbs to a healthy normal BMI of 24%. I haven't weighed 179LBS in 20 years and it was because of my decision to get the sleeve .

Southernsleever, I am feeling like you, suddenly and recentely I've lost all my friends. It's like they don't feel comfortable around me anymore. I am married and in love with my husband for 20 years so I don't want yours. It seems so silly to me at 45 years old. Even when I just posted my before and after pix on fb no positive comments at all, I don't get it because I think my transformation has been amazing and I feel great. Thank God for this site and my loving husband.

Miriam, I just added two before and photos to my avatar.

I know how you feel, I just posted a before and after photo of myself on fb showing my 70lb wt loss and not a single comment, what's up with that. Not one like not a peep from anyone, that is why I like this site because you guys understand.

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M

Yes, there are some negative people on here who may feel power in bashing other people's opinions but don't let them discourage you. Like the others said 99% of us will support you and give you the answer you are seeking, just ignore the negative ninnis. .

I agree with your doctor it is fine. Maybe you are a slow loser, I too workout 6 days per week for up to two hours per day and I am "working out hard" high intensity, breathless and burning those calories. I have stalls just like yours, sometimes I lose and gain the same 4 lbs in two weeks. Our bodies is adjusting to wt loss and dosen't like to lose weight. Keep up the fight and keep burning those calories, you will lose it eventually.

WOW, this is great advice from former food addicts like myself. LOSING WEIGHT IS HARD WORK AND MAINTAINING IT IS EVEN HARDER!!!!!! It takes a lot of self discipline and exercise to lose and maintain it. With some folks the lbs just drop off, with me and my thyroid issue I have to workout overtime sometimes two times per day plus eat bet 800-1,000 calories per day. I agree with CherryBomb and Mass index and this GS is a tool, it won't lose all the weight for you, we have to eat right and exerise if we want to lose more. Sure we can obtain a RNY to lose more weight, but there is a negitave tradeoff and that is issues with vit absorbtion, night blindness, and some people who can't stop losing the weight because their bodies suddenly can't absorbe protien, it turns the protien into ammonia and they die within 3 years. Some people can live with that and some choose to keep fighting with our GS. May you make the right decision for you because only you have to live with your body and the unhappiness it has caused you. Good luck to you guys in keeping up the fight against obesity because it is hard work to stay healthy.

It sounds like you are allergic to something maybe your protien or most like milk, like someone said you may want to try lactose free milk.

Good for you, I can't see the weight fall off with all of your workouts. I started off around your weight and I am now at 185.

Well, we lose weight all over our body and it sounds like your problem area is your abs/tummy. I recommend for you to try zumba/you-tube videos or dancing to your own music in the house. Put on your ipod or stereo and just dance away to increase your cardio for fat burning all over. I would also recommending walking up and down your stairs if you have stairs in the house, you can use the bottom two as a step aerobics bench and step away. So when you lose all over eventually you will lose around your tummy. Give yourself time at least one year after wt loss to see if your skin will shrink back into shape. If it dosen't shrink back then the skin may be too stretched out and you may have to get a tummy tuck because no matter how much you do tummy exercises (situps, etc) the skin will not go away. So I would concentrate on doing cardio exercises and burning that fat to lose all over. Good luck to you.

I agree with comment #4 and 5. I workout like a mad woman and still have stretch marks and I don't think there is a way to avoid them. If they came out for a formula that worked I think we would all know about it by now. I would save my money and concentrate on toning up the muscle and skin with exericse.

I take spin and step aerobics classes which targets the hamstring, quads and glutes muscles. In addition, In do step ups (step up and down) on a high bench, squats, and lunges (side/back and front). I do about 3 sets and 15 reps each session. I do notice a major difference. Good luck to you.

You go girl, I feel the same way no more hiding for me. Self-confidence is a good thing and I'm glad I found it with my GS.

Hello Mztilady and welcome to the forum. This is the best site for all things GS, the people are non-judgemental and they will share their knowledge and opinion. Don't hesitate to post a question, we are happy to share. Good luck on your journey to get healthy.

Check out the recipe section in the main forum. I live on my wendy's chili knockoff version. I make a big pot at least once a month and eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner sometimes. For Breakfast I may eat it with eggs for lunch, I add cheese to it and for dinner I may bake a small potatoe and add the chili and sourcream to it.

Hi D, to preare myself I did a lot of reading and research on the GS. I also made lists of what I should take to the hospital, what foods I need to buy the type of protien shakes that taste the best, how much wt I should lose in one month. What new utinsels I would need (smaler plate, baby spoon and a shot glass to sip, sip, sip the first month after surgery, etc. I also made the decision to no longer overeat and to eat when I am truly hungry. Finally, I went to a support group meeting in my local area (because it was mandatory) I learned some new info and I found out that the face to face group format was not for me. I much rather search for info and support on this site. Good luck to you .

Welcome Carla, nice to have you on board. Looking forward to reading your posts.

If it works for you and motivates you then I say go for it. I am skeptical though so I will keep taking my step aerobic classes, doing my lunges and squats and take spin classes to tighten and get rid of my fat.

Why, that is 27 lbs gone forever. I too workout daily and find that I must constantly fuel my body and eat throughout the day. I also try to drink a protien shake or cheese right after working out. I purchased one of those plastic shake bottles with the wire mesh mixer and take my protien shake and cheese with me to the gym so I can drink it right after my workout. Hang in there you are doing great.

Good for you and it happend so fast!!!!! It looks like we are both on track together I started at 250 and now at 184 in 4 months. I was so happy to fit in my new swimsuit in the photo, I didn't know what to do with myself. Keep up the great work, normal bodyfat here we come.

Hey Shain, What are you doing here this is the ladies room GET OUT!!!!! Love your comment .