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Definitely a keeper Lucky you!

You look fantastic! Thanks for sharing your pics--very inspirational.

You look fantastic! And thank you for sharing your pics--very inspirational.

I plan to talk to my PCP before I leave for surgery to see if she is able/willing to be responsible for my after care--even without complications, somebody has to order my blood work, right? If she can't/won't, I'll find someone who will. And, as already mentioned, in case of emergency, the hospital (ER) cannot turn you away.

Here's the explanation for the dreaded stall (you can read the full details here, including what to do about it): The Inevitable Stall By Diana C. A "stall" a few weeks out is inevitable, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a saber tooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. Breathe, and fuggedaboudit for a few days.

Thanks for being such a great resource!

Good luck to both of you! Wishing you a speedy recovery and much success!

Definitely talk to your NUT, but in the meantime, this booklet might be helpful--it was posted by one of the other VST members in a different thread and it has very detailed information about not just diet, but other things to know pre- and post-op.

I just received a message that my signature was modified to remove external tickers, but I only created one because my surgery countdown ticker that I created here isn't working properly. As you will see below this post, the ticker start value shows that my journey started 15,786 days ago, which translates into more than 43 years, which is more years than I've been alive. It's a minor issue, I know, but when I saw others with external tickers that showed a more realistic start date, I created one. I didn't know it was against the rules and I apologize. However, can the VST ticker issue be looked into?

It's also equivalent to about what a healthy 9-year old should weigh--doesn't it feel amazing to have lost that much? You must feel so happy and healthy--congrats! I can't wait to know the feeling.

I am still pre-op and I have only told 2 people so far: my bf and my bff. My bf swears that he's supportive of my decision to have surgery, just not my decision to go to MX to do it, but just last night he made a comment that he doesn't understand why I wouldn't spend the money I'm going to spend on surgery on a personal trainer for a couple of years to get the same results. After many failed attempts at diet and exercise and after reading this Time article yesterday titled, "Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin", I'm not so sure that's true and I already know in my heart that I need this tool to help me make the most of diet and exercise. Similarly, my bff is trying to talk me into postponing surgery for a year and trying diet and exercise in the meantime, in hopes that I'll change my mind about the surgery, so after these reactions I decided to hold off on telling anyone else until after surgery. I'm not ashamed of my decision--quite the opposite, actually--but I just need peace of mind and unconditional support at this point in my journey, so this is my choice.

Have you read this information about stalls? http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html -- very informative.

Congrats! What an inspiration!

Here's the website that explains the glycogen-water weight-stalling connection: http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html

Looking good! Wishing you continued success!

Congrats! I have a similar goal--can't wait!

My doctor's office suggests getting the wheelchair at the airport on the way home--airports are huge, plus you shouldn't be carrying anything. Be careful!

I haven't gone yet, but I was advised not to bother exchanging to pesos, that you probably even do better price-wise using dollars.

I think you did the right thing and your instinct is also telling you that you did the right thing--keep listening to it! Also, in this day of people posting way too much personal stuff on the internet, I would never let anyone have pics of me naked, let alone have a sex tape--I have seen way too many judge shows where people posted those things online after a breakup out of spite and you just don't want that. Good for you for taking a stand and remaining strong in your decision!

Thank you for your honesty and for sharing your story. I am really working on trying to change this behavior now, especially since I know the sleeve won't cure the impulse. Last night I woke up hungry, but instead of immediately heading for food, I sat in bed for a few minutes, which allowed my brain to become more alert and I was able to talk myself out of it. I think a big part of the problem is that I head to the kitchen before I can even think most of the time.

I'm still pre-op, but I have read that this happens for a few days a month around that time for ladies who have already been sleeved. How long since your surgery? Maybe you could allow yourself a small indulgence then go back to your proper diet in the next day or two?

Stay-at-home mom

Wishing you great success!

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