rebecca_dsu

someone on the biggest loser had a lap band before getting on the show?? Wow...I didn't know that was allowed. That's eye opening. Good luck to you in your own journey!! I'm like you, in that I need the sleeve as a tool...because I can eat wayyy too much

Good luck girl! Heal fast! Come back and update us in the next few days

My surgery date is this friday, and boy is the mental warfare raging. I've never been of normal size...(okay, I was from birth until age 5). So I have a very deep rooted attachment to those foods which give me positive affirmation, feel good hormones bring me pleasure via my tongue, etc. Counseling didn't help, because it's truely an addiction, and I just wonder is this really going to work for me. I keep trying to imagine what it will be like when I wake up after surgery and the deed is done, and I have my first "mental hunger" for the "feel good" response needed from something sweet. I know there is going to be a lot of tears, a lot of shouting at my husband that I did this for him (which is only half true...I am doing it for me too), a lot of regrets and remorse. But in the end, as the weight drops, I hope to be excited about where my life/body is going. Sadly I have not fully embraced what is about to happen to me because I'm fearful. Fearful that life without food (large quanities of unhealthy food) won't be as "sweet" as life has been with food. But let me say that right there is a lie that my subconscious believes, because the more I eat, the worse I feel. The more my body hurts, the lazier I feel, the less I want to do the things that do bring me "feel good" hormones, that last and leave me in a better place than when I started...like the 11 mile bike ride I took this weekend. Hiking to the top of mountains (real ones..ha!) in the Smoky Mtns. Kayaking. So, for now, I'm clinging to the hope that losing this weight will replace what is currently bringing me pleasure (but leaving me heavier and unhealthier), with something that is lasting and that will help me to live a long, healthy, and most important to me, active life. And I'm so tired of the yo-yo dieting, of the struggle to lose 10 lbs and have one weekend of "fun" and gain it all back...the endless dieting cycles. I do know I am down to 2 options...the surgery, or "let myself go" and ballooning back up to my highest (320) or higher which means giving up the activities I do enjoy. I don't have one single more "just try this diet" in me. Only radical change such as this is going to help me. Ready or not... here comes the sleeve. I will embrace it...but first it will embrace me

If you have too...go drink more! How about some sugar free jello? Don't fail...you've come to far to fail this close to surgery! You can do this!!

They are neither Protein nor vegetable really... if you look at the nutrition label on them, they have only 3 carbs and only 1 gram of protein per serving, and not a lot of vitamins/minerals. If I HAD to classify them, I'd lean towards a veggie (though they really aren't). Sooo... really they are just a low carb vehicle for sauces with no real nutritional value...ha. Remember that your first priority is protein, then complex carbs... I don't know that these really fit either of those priorities.

You can use the search box (on the line with Forums, Community, Photos...etc) and change the gray box to say "Members". Then put in their name, search, and when you get to their profile page, send them a message. Good luck to you!

Some people take a heating pad to help with the gas pains. Also, have you thought about some individual packets of crystal light, or Protein powder like the nectar brand that can be mixed with Water for your return flight home? And last thing is some folks take a small pillow to press against their stomachs while traveling home. Good luck to you! I hope to find you and say hello when I get there on Thursday! If you find you've forgotten something and need me to bring you something, shoot me a message (I don't leave until Thursday morning). I don't mind at all!

These are folks having surgery on the 12th (that we know of so far): Vermillymomma82, monkee94, Bellanana5, Karmen081020, angiemorda, Michelle Bell, BKLYNgal87, Hazel Eyes, Lavender, akarigger, mariadt, olemissgrl82, Tpool, ilopez73, BloomingFaith, epeeler I've been keeping up with a list here: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/79098-june-2013-sleevers-the-list/

My husband uses it in his smoothies (he's not a sleever though). It is pretty darn flavorless, but it just doesn't desolve as well as whey protein powder does. The texture is too gritty, and it's very obvious when you've put it in something. I don't care for it... but he does... It's just a texture thing for me. I don't want to feel my protein powder on my tongue when I take a sip of my smoothie.

My question is... what are the other choices? I assume you've tried and failed many diets in the past, and this is a last resort? So are the choices to do something radical or live what's left of your life completely unhealthy and morbidly obese? I think you've made a good choice I think you are making a good choice to get healthy and making a radical change to improve your health. Good luck to you!

Ha! Thanks for the hilarious story Congrats on your 2+ miles...and for not letting that butterfly defeat you!

If you do plan to have kids, some folks are leery of the IUD because it can perforate the uterine wall (though the chances are slight). I'm with you and BCP's make me go crazy....b*tch arse crazy...(and I've tried 6 different ones to no avail). So my husband and I are sticking with the condoms and will be extremely careful.

Wow! Talk about an "upgrade"...fantastic! Good luck to you!

So sorry you are having breakouts. You have a lot of hormone changes going on, and I've been told that our fat cells also hold on to a lot of toxins, and sometimes breakouts are how your body gets rid of those toxins (skin, urine, and waste are how your body eliminates toxins). As you are losing the fat, those toxins are being released in your body, and your body is eliminating them. Continue to stay hydrated, and use a good face/body wash to keep the pores as clean as possible. It will eventually clear up. (I know it sucks in the meantime)

I don't think she quite understood which surgery you meant...ha! Takingcontrol... they've had their lap band removed (surgery 1) and is asking what/how people are eating in the window before surgery 2 which will be the sleeve. (Not after sleeve surgery)

I did Medifast for 3 months, lost 22lbs, and promptly gained it all back + 15 more within a year after quiting (I couldn't eat another one of those packet foods/soy Protein bars....yuck!!! It gets old fast). I am just like lipsticklady...until the size of my tummy is smaller, all of my loses will be for not. I am doing this to maintain losses from years ago and stop gaining weight back, and to continue to lose down to my goal. Here's my thoughts, though the decision is yours... yes you will lose weight on Medifast...but how will you maintain it? Have you never lost weight on another diet and failed to maintain the loss? But on the other end of the spectrum...here is a gal who lost the weight with medifast and is maintaining, but she has severely changed her eating habits for life. http://gardengirlkp.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

Thanks sara! You look great...and I'm sure those kids give you plenty of exercise for sure! Ha

I've updated "The List"...please let me know (in that thread) if I missed you or you had a date change. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/79098-june-2013-sleevers-the-list/ Tomorrow OUR month begins!!! Whoohoo!!!

Congrats to you!!! You look great! Do you mind if I ask what your exercise regimen has been? And approx how many calories you now eat this far out? (I'm getting sleeved next week)

Awesome news! And that's hilarious about the potatoes... I hope they were yummy!!!

My surgery date is next Friday, June 7... one week to go!

That is fantastic! Congrats to you!!

Congrats on your loss...and what an amazing concept to use the sleeve to keep off the weight you've already lost. I admit, I hadn't even thought of that being a tool to just maintain and not necessarily lose. (though I so see you still want to lose some more...but to already have the majority lost is awesome). Proud of you! Good luck. I think you are doing a very smart thing by being proactive toward any regain.