rebecca_dsu

This is a fantastic question as I also love my bike... I'd imagine having surgery in the abdomen area would make it uncomfortable for a while though. I'm sure your surgeon can answer that question if no one here can. (though I'm patiently waiting for someone here to give us a yay or nay) I am a leader for a meetup.com group and have organized a 34 mile bike ride for 28 people on the Virginia Creeper Trail 6 weeks past my surgery date (it was set before my surgery date), so I do hope I'll be back riding by then...ha!! (thankfully the first 17miles are all down hill!!)

Congrats to you and I hope you have a speedy recovery!

I didn't know you could eat pansies.... i have been told we can eat the little violets that grow wild here, and the young dandilion leaves... that's fascinating (and beautiful)!

I was told to do 1 week, low carb diet.... but the calories do not matter. (they don't want me to cheat...so they say eat low carb to my hearts content, but keep it low carb). And drink water...

In my financing research I found it cheaper to go through my local bank (Regions) with a non-secured personal loan. The interest rate was lower, and a lot of the medical financing companies sound all good with their offers until they mention the "small" loan processing fee of $800 - $1,000 (on top of the interest you'll be paying). My bank's fee was $100.

Look at your teeny tiny waist! You go girl! Lookin' hot!

"sleeve" study...ha! Freudian slip What would it hurt to sleep with it on a few nights and see how you sleep? I know a couple perfectly healthy folks who still use a cpap to sleep because sleep apnea doesn't effect just the obese. I know it's not the sexiest thing to wear to bed, but if you have trouble sleeping, or would sleep better with one on, why not give it a shot And if the sleep study wouldn't cost you much, I would probably do a follow up... but it's your decision

Ha! That is a strange combo! I do love me some watermelon though, and since it's mostly Water anyway, I won't feel bad about having it post surgery (when I get to the full liquid stage...which my doc has Watermelon and papaya in that stage as well...). Funyuns have hardly anything to them though...they kinda melt in your mouth...so I can see how you can eat a whole bag...ha!

Happy Birthday to you!!!! Your successes with the surgery and your intense dedication to working out are going to ensure you have many more "happy" birthdays. Great job fiddleman!!!

Well for most women, sex starts way before the clothes come off. Getting in the "mood" is so important... if we are stressed, or have a long list of "to do items", for me something simple as having a sink full of dirty dishes is enough to keep me distracted (so my husband knows a fast tract to get me in the mood is putting the dishes in the dishwasher for me...ha!!). You can't put sex in a box... so is your fiance showing you "love" outside the bedroom. Does he meet whatever needs you need him to outside of the bedroom? Are you guys spending quality time together before sexy time? Is there a connection happening first, or are you just crawling in to bed and expecting magic to happen. Sometimes we want to figure out whats going on, and since the sleeve is new we may try to focus the blame on it...but is it really? I'm just asking...I'm presleeved so I don't know the answer. Just asking to make sure there isn't something else going on... If you feel sexy, I don't think the issue is with your body... something else is going on. Do you find your fiance sexy??

Goodness, I hope this story ends with him in jail or worse.... I don't think I can read the rest if you actually gave him another chance after this. Hoping and praying this story, your story has a good ending...or a new beginning!

I am 7 days away from an 8 mile hike up to LeConte Lodge in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 8 days away from hiking 5.5 miles down from that mountain, 9 days away from a 7 day vacation in Hawaii, and 32 days away from being sleeved. It is going to be an exciting month. However, I have really struggled with the "food funeral". I have had binge like behavior for the past couple of weeks, and have basically let my "inner fat girl" have everything she wants, and the result of that...the added weight, the bloat, the heart burn, the sluggish "I just want to be lazy" feelings, etc have taken enough of a toll on me, and I have finally decided that enough is enough. It's time to start preparing my brain for what my body is about to go through. Today I kind of gave the following talk to myself... Dear Food, You have always been there for me. You were there for me when I was alone in the evenings after school, you were there for me when people hurt my feelings, you were there when I was alone, you were there when I was rejected, when I was awarded, when I was celebrated. You were there through the loneliness of my teens when I didn't have any "real" friends..during the long hour and a half drive from my mom's to my dad's house when I started driving alone. You were there through my college years when boys rejected me, when the school work got hard and continued on into the night. You were there in my lonely apartment in my early 20's, and there when I went through the financial crisis which landed me back in my parent's house feeling defeated. You were there when I moved to a new state at 28 with my fiance' and I was stressed about leaving everything I knew and loved behind other than this one man. And you were there when my dad died of a heart attack at 57 (obesity related) one week after that move, and through the months that followed trying to get his estate finalized while living 500 miles away. You were there in the nervousness of my wedding, and of being a new bride. You were there through the stresses of every long day of every tax season, and then when I went out on my own as a bookkeeper. You have been there every evening to help me alleviate stress lately. You have been what I've looked forward to at the end of the day. You have comforted me, you have praised me, you have distracted me, you have brought me pleasure. But you have also brought me pain. You have brought me "weight", literally. My bones hurt, my body aches, my feet are killing me, my back feels like it's in knots. My heart races these days with the slightest hill or stair case. You have made me depressed which caused me to ponder that death might be better than life when I feel I can't overcome your power. You are holding me back from my passions of the outdoors. I can hardly hike up hills these days without feeling like I'm going to die. My heel pain is just getting worse with every pound you add to my body. I don't feel sexy anymore... You are tearing apart my life and I'm only 32. I thank you for having been there for me, but I think in order to have the best life I can, I'm going to have to part with you, or atleast part of you. God has brought other things into my life to take over the work you were doing all alone. I have a husband who can comfort me and celebrate me. I have friends who can help me to not be lonely and a bible study group to strengthen me when I'm feeling bad. I have a bike, a kayak, hiking boots and a backpack that will keep me entertained. I have a fantastic gym membership and a mini home gym that can keep me distracted from work when need be. I have kitties who can sooth me on lonely days when I need "love" (okay, my husband can do that too if he's not working late) I will be okay with out large quantities of you. Our relationship is changing, and while I'll still partake of you, I need the best you, you have to give.... things that will make me strong and healthy instead of weak and lazy. The sugary things that I let sooth me have to go...perhaps one day I'll be able to enjoy a bite or two, but since you've turned me into a sugar addict, that day will be far away when I'm at goal and am finally in control. Here's to change! Tomorrow, I will start a low carb, 2 protein shakes a day (I have plenty of sample packets to choose from), and one protein + complex carb + either 1/2 a sweet potato or 1/2 cup cooked quinoa meal a day, food plan. I will get out of this sugar fog, and back into "the light". And I'll flush out the funk with lots of water and green tea. I'm ready to start my new life even though I am 32 days before surgery and am only required to do a 7 day low carb pre-op diet. I'm just ready! With my hike before Hawaii, and lots of hiking/walking planned in Hawaii (and fresh pineapple!!) I can stay on track until my surgery. Wish me luck fellow pre op and post op sleevers! I appreciate you and your stories and questions more than you know!! Edit: No need to suggest counseling...I've already been doing it for 5 months and will probably continue after surgery. I wish I could say it's helping with the mental stuff...but I don't see it.

The more you stress about it, the harder it will be to achieve. Put the scale away for a week or more, and stick to what you've been eating and exercise. The stress and anxiety around trying to get to that number is going to keep you from getting there. You have done awesome!!

I know how you feel.... I have never been below 215 as an adult or a high schooler even (I hit 215 2 years ago and quickly bounced back up above 230...) I have no idea what I will look like around 190, 175, 160.... and it's a bit odd feeling. I can't even begin to picture it in my head. But I'm hoping to find out!! Can you expect to wear an 18 ever again....of course... I would hope you can expect to wear much smaller than that as well! I think 180 is a good starting goal, and when you get there, you can see how you feel and revamp the goal. Nothing wrong with a starting goal that is higher...

I have tried the about time and don't like it because I'm not a fan of the taste of Stevia, and in all of their flavored powders you can reallly taste it. But if you like Stevia, you'll like it.

Sabra Roasted Pine Nut Hummus is my favorite!!

The smaller you get, the less pounds it takes to notice changes. When I was 320lbs, it took me a good 45 lb loss to see changes (and for others to notice). So since you started at 360ish, I'm honestly not surprised that you aren't noticing changes (but they are occurring and it is doing your body good internally!!). Hang in there! I bet in another 15 - 20 lbs you'll start to notice, and the smaller you get, the easier the changes will be noticed. Keep going!!

How far post op are you? Many folks report weeks and months of stalls and just like magic start to lose again. Is your body changing at all? Are you taking measurements? Still wearing the exact same clothing size since February? Have you tried mixing up your workout routine? Maybe it's time to try something different... biking, zumba, swimming, yoga, a fitness dvd. Sometimes just shaking things up will shake you out of a stall. (I don't think you are stuck here forever though ) Just keep going!!

Congrats to you!! I hope you have a swift recovery! Looking forward to watching you change your life

Heck out this thread from earlier today for ideas http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/78337-clothes/

Oh my goodness...that is amazing!! (My belly is my biggest problem area (and my upper legs).... your pictures are so very encouraging!

I don't mean to sound rude...but if what you said about what you are eating is true, you really need to have some tests done. Perhaps your thyroid isn't operating correctly. I took your stats and put them into the BMR Calculator and got 2,037 calories. This means at your weight/height/age, if you sat still all day, your body would need 2,037 calories a day just to function and to stay at the same weight. Lets say you are working out and burning 400 calories... that means if you ate 2,437 calories a day you would stay at 268. Something doesn't add up if you are only maintaining. Either you aren't being honest about how much you are eating or you have a metabolic/thyroid issue.... and I'm not sure that the sleeve is going to fix that for you. Have you shared your food journals with your nutritionist or doctor?

Love me some coconut shrimp to