JerseyGirl68

We all must have been doing the same thing over the holidays.. I have also finally gotten rid of the last of my too big clothes, the robe was the final piece. It was a crutch. I starting thinking that if I kept a wardrobe of bigger clothes I was kind of giving myself permission to gain, and I was prepared "Just in case". I finally decided screw it, if I gain enough to go up a size, then I deserve to Pay for it... literally. We all have our comfy clothes, that's differnt. A whole wardrobe bigger is my fat girl mentality. And I want to leave her back in 2013. Happy New Year!!

I started doing Zumba on my Wii. I must look ridiculous, but who cares. lol

Best thing is keep yourself busy and focused on your ultimate goal. Best of luck to you Kimy!! You'll do great!

I am so happy for you Laura. And when I go in for my 1 year follow up on Wednesday, I will for damn sure weigh my clothes first. LOL Of course I will tell no one I've done that but you guys who can understand. My two seconds to give Laura-ven my heartfelt thanks for always being honest, and forthcoming. These issues that plague us are not always easy to talk about, but you do. You, and many others here have made this year a bit easier for me. I never felt alone or that no one understood what i was feeling. You Rock!!

Best of luck to you today and for a smooth recovery!!

I would have some low fat chili (not spicy) or some slices of turkey rolled up. chicken salad with very little low fat mayo and just a tiny bit of cranberry sauce on top. Tuna. Check out Emilybites.com and theworldaccordingtoeggface.com both great sites for food ideas for all the stages.

I'll repeat what others have written. You are not failing. How many calories does your Nutritionist (if you have one) say you should be taking in? My NUT bumped me up to about 1000 at 6 weeks. Especially if you are exercising everyday, you may need more calories. If you are following your instructions, then your body may just be adjusting. Good luck!

Have you tried the unjury chicken Soup? It was a godsend to me the first weeks, just make sure you don't make it too hot (the texture changes). I also found the majority of powders too sweet, I finally found Pure Protein chocolate, not nearly as sweet as others to me. Pre-made shakes were a total turn off. Good luck!

39 lbs. may not seem like a lot to you right now, but it's more than 10% of your body weight lost. That is significant. I have read lots of posts here where menstrual cycles started again (if they had stopped due to weight gain) or became more regular. My cycle was not the most reliable pre-op. After about 2 months, it is like clockwork. As with anything that dramatically changes, check with your doctor and let them know what is going on just to be on the safe side.

Good for you!! Best of luck today!

I was always on the lookout for jeans that fit my shape. Wide leg seems to do it for me, though not all work all the time. I'm bottom heavy, even after losing a good chuck of my weight. New York & Co. make a nice wide leg jeans. I think it's all about the fit you feel comfortable in. So go and try a bunch on and enjoy yourself!!

Congratulations!! You are well on your way!

Glad you're doing better and that you spoke to your doctor. I imagine most doctors will work with you if you are struggling. It's getting close!!

Laura-Ven's signature here contains one of my new favorite sayings "Nothing changes if nothing changes..." I see it everyday and am thankful for the reminder.. I'm making a big effort to change the things that historically have not worked for me. It's never too late to learn a different or better way.

Thanks for posting this, I read it yesterday also and felt the same.

Damn girl! Really flattering dress! Good for you, have a blast!

Congratulations on your great success! What an inspiration!.

I had about two months that my faced looked to me to be sagging a bit, Throughout I kept moisturizing and using a facial scrub to do what I could. The last month or so, it does not appear to be as bad. It looks healthier. I think it just took some time to catch up.

Almost everyone who posts ends up sharing their yo yo stories. A lot of people will tell you that it was never hard for them to lose the weight, the problem is they kept putting it back on. For most people that's what the sleeve seems to have helped. Agreed, I'm only a year out, but I feel very differently than I have in the past. This time around it feels doable long term. It would always take me about a year to the weight off and by that time I was so over "dieting". I would stop and gain the weight back. This time around, my focus is totally different, I no longer feel like i'm on a traditional diet like before. The restriction is the biggest help, Loss of hunger is a huge bonus too.

There is a ton of information on the New Whey Protein shots. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/220833-the-new-whey-protein-38-shoot/?hl=%2Bnot+%2Ball+%2Bprotein+%2Bcreated+%2Bequal#entry2447293 Might be worth a read, My nut doesn't' want me using them, there are better quality options around. Good luck!

I don't' recall right now who it was, but just the other day here someone posted that they're surgery had to get postponed because they did not follow their pre-op and did not lose what was required. If I find the post, I'll edit and include it. I realize that you don't have a specific amount to lose pre op, but why risk it? I fully agree with so many of the posters above, don't cheat yourself, don't' risk it, do everything you can to get a good outcome. There are so many factors we cannot control, control the ones you can. Above all, taking medical advise from folks on a forum doesn't sound like a great option, trust your surgeon and do what they tell you. You will always find folks who either didn't have a pre-op or cheated on theirs, and that was their choice to make. The reality is you were assigned a pre-op. You can do it.

I've said it here before , I think your mindset going into surgery is crucial to long-term success. That being said-- To answer your question, physically you will not be able to eat as much as you did before, and some folks cannot tolerate certain foods as they used to. It will be all about the choices you make. You can choose to eat chips and other 'slider' type foods all day and not lose. You have shown yourself you have the discipline to maintain a diet plan, you've done it. The biggest change for me after surgery was that food was no longer my focus, I still don't feel hunger, and when I do , a few ounces fills me up. It makes staying on track easier in that aspect. I cannot over indulge like I once did. I am tempted, but I have to remind myself how far I've come and what I did to get here. I also believed this was my last (best) chance at sustained weight loss. Having the surgery for me was a big deal. I had never had an operation, and never even been admitted to the hospital before. I made sure I was committed before I decided to proceed. I think the fear of hurting yourself post-op will be strong enough to keep you on track while you're healing, but you really do need to be ready for the changes that come after. Sometimes just coming to terms with why we fail over and over again and forming a new relationship with food can make all the difference. Seeing a counselor will most likely help there. No one can answer the question if you are ready but you. I really admire your ability to honestly question your if you are ready. . You may not be and that's ok. There is no rush for surgery if you're not. Maybe you need to take a little more time. But if you feel you are ready, then do all you can to get the best outcome. Start fresh and commit. Are you able to speak to the counselor prior to surgery? We are always here to listen if you are struggling. I can honestly say that this time, my attempt to lose was not the same as the other times. I felt very much in control and never felt deprived. The scale didn't always move when I wanted it too or as much, but I am ok with slow and steady loss. Just because everything else has failed does not mean that this will. YOU have it in you to do what you need to do, embrace it. Best of luck in whatever you decide.

Awesome Kathy!! What a great relief. Could not happen to a greater person.

Hi: I was not a big exerciser prior to surgery. I tried lots of things, but was too heavy to really stay motivated, unfortunately. As in all things sleeve, what we choose to do is a personal choice. When I decided to have surgery, I wanted to do everything I could to get the best outcome I can. You will most certainly lose without exercise, but you most likely will not tone. I know that without exercise I would not be as far along as I am. Post-op and when I started to really lose, my aversion to exercise waned. Now that I can do more.. I do more. I try and push myself, because now I can. I still can't get into going to the gym, but I find things that I enjoy (Bike riding is a new passion). You need to do what's best for you, there are challenge threads here that really help keep me motivated to move at my pace. Anything I'm doing now is 1000% more than I was doing before. So make the best choices for you and best of luck!

We get it. While we all walk different paths, and have different experiences, we have all lived with obesity and understand. I think you should definitely pose the fears you have to your doctor. They are valid, but I agree that we can't live with what-ifs. Post op, your diet will need to change, and you know this.. I'm a year out and do enjoy a lot of my favorites still. Much smaller portions and my choices are better. I've lost the same 100+ pounds several times in my life, this time I feel I have a firm grasp and the tool I need to make it last. I can't speak for everyone, but this time for me has been "easier" to stay focused. The built in restriction is such a major factor for me. The food choices I make are also crucial. I make sure I have high protein/low fat/low carb options around me all the time. I think tracking your food helps a great deal. If you are finding it hard to get in all your shakes, then make sure the ones you are drinking are high quality with the highest Protein content you can find and enjoy. I won't lie, the loose skin is an issue. I'm 45 and was overweight most of my life. It took a toll, and on the other hand, some folks have no big issues. It will depend on a bunch of factors. I agree with Dani, stay diligent, do what you can. You can worry about skin surgery after you lose. Stay hydrated and moisturize as much as you can. If you've made your decision to move forward with surgery, own it. Do everything you can to get a favorable outcome. You can do it, my guess is you are much stronger than you know. Keep us posted!