TwinsMama

Sounds like you're doing fine. You really should push yourself to eat solid Proteins though and maybe less of the fruits and veggies. I'm not much of a meat eater but once I found I couldn't do the Protein Shakes, I had to suck it up. It is still hard some days but really you need to try to eat solid proteins much more. Maybe start with eggs or some other types of high Protein solid foods. Not necessarily meat but certainly solid proteins.

It is normal. Each one of us is different. I had gas pains for weeks. Go slow, use the heating pad and warm rag and walk walk walk.

I did. It was part of my "homework" after my 1st Nut visit.

This will vary so much. My skin is a (milk chocolate) brown. My stretch marks are generally lighter than my complexion and as I'm losing weight/inches they are looking less and less visible.

I've lost a gold brick, a bag of sugar, and a pack of bacon = 83 lbs. So cute!

I feel your pain...in my office I'm youngest (until recently), one of only a small handfull of women, and don't report directly to the groups I support. I have no choice but hold it together. It can be tough, but you know what...you have to let it out. We all have that fine line and once crossed, you have to let it out. Better to cry than throw a full out tantrum (which I've seen the guys do from time to time around here). You don't have to always be "together". It's okay to let yourself be human. Just think...the world didn't end because you cried at your desk. What I've found is that I need to get sucked into something else when I get stressed. For example, I will walk to another location in the building, or read something quick on my cell phone, or heck, come to this site. Once you find your happy place/activity...keep falling back on that. Just know, that the world won't end if you're human and experience human emotions.

I was told the farther out you are the more you'll see an increase in hunger. It's good that your energy also increased. Maybe you'll need to increase your workouts to get tired enough to sleep well. I would say, don't fall back on old habits. Keep eating/drinking like you've been until now. Maybe you need to add a bit more veggies/low sugar fruits to your meals.

From my approval to my date was about 6 months due to surgeon's schedule. That's uncommon (to wait so long) but every surgeon, hospital, program, insurance is different. Regardless of how long (or short) it takes, don't go back to old habits. Keep moving forward with your good habits, meal plan, etc and you'll do great!

As someone who has been both smaller and bigger (never skinny) I can say that most of us with weight problems have a mind issue. You are so right about that. I've found that I can't link my self-worth or beauty to a number on the scale. No matter my size, when I feel good about myself, I tend to attract others who feel good about themselves. When I don't feel good about myself, it doesn't matter my size or weight, I look up and I'm lonely and attract the WRONG people. I'd say before you try to jump back into getting to a number on the scale or size, work on your head. Get a few books on self-image, self-esteem, etc. Those can help you get out of your head so you don't get in your own way when it comes to your weightloss. I've had to do that a couple of times. No matter what I tried nothing worked. Then all of a sudden when I started accepting myself and how I felt, the weight would come off. Now, stay off is something different. You have to believe you are enough regardless of your current weight. You're one of the Vets many of us relative newbies have read and learned from. You are still that same person, only slightly bigger. We value you just the same at your size now that we did at your smaller size before!

Okay a bit off topic but when I was in my early 20s in grad school I started taking aqua aerobics in the AM. I have always been able to swim so I thought I'd bump it up and try deep Water aerobics. The class was full of older (think late 60s and 70s) people. So I get in the pool thinking I'm hott stuff because surely I can do way more than these seniors. Well we came to the floatation part of the workout and we have to balance on these long floaters. Needless to say I could not catch my balance. I had 5 ladies in their 60s and 70s holding me and helping me get on and balance on the floater. I kept falling over and they were laughing so hard at me. It was not only humiliating but they kept calling me kiddo and trying to hold me up by my butt. For the rest of the class (WEEKS) they laughed and teased me every time we got to the floatation part of class. By the end of the class I loved those ladies but boy, thinking I was hot stuff got me nowhere fast in that class. Lesson learned!

I identify with mine too. Heck, I've loved them so much because they hid my tummy as I got bigger. Plus they fed my twins good for 13 months. Also, I love my figure 8. However, if my back ever starts to hurt or I start to hunch...they are gone. Well at least smaller, I could never let them go. I'm tall and the worst thing is to see a tall person slouched over.

Ohh, hope you feel better soon. Complications suck! Hopefully in a few weeks you'll be good as new. So sorry you're going through this!

My Dr said the same about dairy esp cheese which can be a gateway to little to no real dense Protein. However yes, the fruit part was a SHOCK! My Dr/Nut both say to stay away from most fruit (except berries and a few mellons) in very small servings. Their plan is pretty much protein, veggies, fruit, lastly carbs - for life.

I shop at Amazon, Drugstore.com, and anywhere Google takes me that is cheap. That is crazy @ $100 a month. Hope you're able to find them cheaper!

2 years for sex. Now that's some real healing. LOL, Nope we're talking about plastic surgery.

Not sure what your Dr/Nut told you, however mine told me: I'd be able to drink more and more every couple of days. I was told to start with an ounce work my way up to 2 ounces and then double from there.

Ohhh, feel better soon! Hope this passes quickly for you.

Congrats!!

I usually drink my Water in 23-24 oz bottles. I've always been a gulper. To combat that, I fill my mouth with water and then sip it down slowly. The other sip way (small sips back to back) was way too much for me. Also, I still get too full on water. So by filling my mouth, I can regulate myself better.

I haven't been able to do protein shakes at all since I had surgery (10 weeks). My suggestion would be to watch for anything with milk (whey products especially). You may have a tolerance to the new shakes or you may need to switch up the flavor.

Looking great!!

My Dr said give it 2 years. Now each Dr is different but most say the skin will still form and tighten up to 2 years post-op. The least amount I've heard is 18 mo.

Do NOT get frustrated with yourself. Some people lose slower than others. My Dr wasn't especially happy with how slowly I've been losing but she was more concerned about the long term than the short term. I never felt like a loser just because I wasn't having huge losses. Keep up your great work, do what feels best for your body, and let yourself enjoy this process as much as possible. Best wishes to you!!

My fave na'an is the EXCELLENT garlic butter followed closely by the chocolate that they make at my hubby and I's spot. We have had to wait until I'm wayyy out from surgery to even walk in, because the smell of the na'an literally makes me want to giddy. Plus, we're regulars so we always get freebies. It's going to be interesting to see me not eat the na'an. Good thing my kiddies and hubby like it. So I'll bring mine home for the kiddies. Edit: makes me go giddy