Beach Lover

I am 7 months post op and I totally understand your frustration right now. I think we go through periods of this and it must be totally normal. Think about the times you have been on a diet and did well only to get frustrated, give up and gain it back. Well this is no different except it is much more permanent with the potential to gain it back if you cheat the sleeve. You must fight this frustration and overcome it. Each time you do this you will get stronger and more confident with your new life. Change up some recipes, go to a grocery store like Trader Joe's or Whole Foods they are fun to go to and you can really find some new foods that will work for you. Buy yourself a new outfit to celebrate that beautiful new figure you are sporting. Remember you are doing terrific and we are here to support you! I am fighting the good fight also. Don't let the losing weight slower get to you it is still coming off and you look fantastic!!

Central Florida chimming in on the East Coast and believe me we do get cold! Not like the sub zero people but we just don't tolerate cold well at all. I have been wearing jeans, long sleeves, turning the heat on, turning on fireplace and wearing hoodies outside. Thank goodness for a nice cup of hot coffee with some premier protein shake in it!! Stay warm you northerners!!

Wow you are doing terrific!! Congratulations on your new life..........your going to love the new you!!

Definitely ditch the carbs! My body is so darn sensitive to them I immediately slow down in the weight loss when I eat them. Have you tried the 5:2 diet? There are threads on here and you can google it as well. A lot of people have had success with that. Your vitamins are important so I would suggest you get back to that. Exercise is definitely a great start!! Get plenty of sleep, vitamins, and cut the carbs back. You have already lost 70 pounds and the last 50 will be harder to take off but it can be done. Hang in there!!

Congratulations! I still have 6 pounds to get there and it feels like it will take forever to get there! Reality is it won't but it feels that way! I am very excited for you.........Keep up the great job!!

I have heard of others having this pain which signified they were getting full. Others have the traditional runny nose, sneezing or hiccups.

I started out at 293 and couldn't believe that I was actually that big. This is the first place that i truly felt comfortable in telling the truth about my weight. I had never done it before now. None of us here would judge you. I am glad you decided to be truthful with your weight we will always support you. You are doing terrific!!

Took your survey! I don't cook much because I never know who is home and most of the time I can't decide what I or someone else wants to eat or if I am in the mood to dirty up the kitchen. I would much rather go to a restaurant and pick out healthy alternatives. That part is new instead of getting what I really would like to eat. I am a good cook but shut down when I have to figure out new stuff.

You can do it!! Keep us posted on how it goes!!

This should help answer your questions. https://www.jeanchatzky.com/taxes/the-money-mom-tax-deductions-for-weight-loss/

Oooh, thanks! I'll definitely have to try that! I've never been to Boca Raton (or south/eastern Florida) so we're thinking about going down a few days early and having some fun on the beach before the surgery. Definitely good to hear about the puree/liquid thing... I was NOT looking forward to that. I'll certainly contact you with any questions and I'll let you know how it goes! I'm hoping to go down near the end of next month. It's so exciting! If you go on Orbitz or Kayak you can get some good hotel deals. I always stay at a Fairfield Inn in Deerfield which is pretty close to the hospital and the doctors office. It's a very clean hotel and has a good Breakfast. I think I paid like $74 a night and it could be cheaper if you tie inthe flight, hotel and car all together. There is a theater called IPIC that is amazing and in a great shopping area. It is a little pricey but the seats are leather recliners and if you sit in the upper section you get your own waiter with pillows, blankets and free popcorn. The food there is awesome also.......A total experience!! I am very excited for you! Let me know if I can help you with anything!

Overall I would say YES I have enjoyed my weight loss journey. It has had it's highs and lows especially in the beginning with the head hunger!! Once the healing was well under way and my life was coming back together and noticeable weight started coming off the shopping began! Now I am 87 pounds lighter at 7 months and have gone from a 22/24 to a 14 and a from a 2X to a large top. I am finding a new person in myself and look forward to the day my BMI is normal which isn't to far away! I have learned to eat a whole new way and recognize the things in my life that triggered eating. Life is good!!

Congratulations!! I am so happy for you!! I vow I will get there...........Thanks for the inspiration!!

Is the entire $10,500 due up front or can you make payments? Call Nancy the front office manager she can fill you in. I know it had to be paid in full on the day of surgery. You could probably set a date with her and make prepayments to fit your budget and when it is paid you will have your surgery. He really is a great surgeon and Nancy is fantastic. Goodle Dr. Shillingford and you will get his number. I actually called the two cheapest options (outside of Mexico) that were posted. Here's a little info for those looking for a cheaper surgery. Dr. Borland's office (New Iberia, Louisiana) - $9,800, but doesn't include the lab work, EKG or chest x-rays. Payment is required before surgery in the form of 4 cashier's checks. The original consultation with the doctor is done over the phone - you don't see him until surgery. The lady didn't give me much more information because apparently she was busy. Dr. Schillingford's office (Boca Raton, Florida) - $10,500, but includes all the lab work, x-rays and EKG as well as a 2 night stay in the hospital. Payment is required before surgery and they take pretty much all forms of payment including credit cards and Care Credit. The consultation is directly with the doctor and after that, you can go ahead and get the lab work and such done and if all is well, they will schedule surgery for the next day, which is great for those of us coming from out of state. Nancy (who was very sweet and helpful) also said the surgery was performed at a "real" hospital and it's one of the Bariatric Centers of Excellence. After weighing the two, I'm going with Dr. Schillingford. It seems like a better value and it gives me a good chance to dip my toes in the surf before my appointment! Thanks to all for the info and suggestions! I am so glad you chose Dr. Shillingford he really is a good person and an excellent surgeon. After my surgery and I came back for my post op check he literally spent an hour plus with me answering every question that I had. At no time did he ever make me feel like I was taking his time. The hospital that does the testing was done so quickly I couldn't believe it. I might have hit it at a good time but literally I was taken from dept to dept and done within and hour and a half at most. The other nice thing is Dr. Shillingford doesn't keep you on puree and liquid forever after the surgery. He gets you back on food pretty quick and everyone I know that had him for their surgeon did not have any trouble doing this. There is a restaurant there called BJ's on the Beach and you absolutely have to go there before surgery!! It has a beautiful view right on the beach and the food is really really good! If I can help you with anything please don't hesitate to ask. Nancy is amazing and will answer your questions and help you with absolutely everything! Good luck to you!!

Is the entire $10,500 due up front or can you make payments? Call Nancy the front office manager she can fill you in. I know it had to be paid in full on the day of surgery. You could probably set a date with her and make prepayments to fit your budget and when it is paid you will have your surgery. He really is a great surgeon and Nancy is fantastic. Goodle Dr. Shillingford and you will get his number.

I have season passes so I go quite a bit. You shouldn't have to much trouble in the parks getting something that you can eat. At the Magic Kingdom there is a restaurant called Be Our Guest that is really really good and you can order from a vast menu. They bring the food to you after you are seated. This is only during lunchtime after that you need a reservation for dinner. There is also a great restaurant by the Castle that has a million choices. Their grilled chicken ceasar salad is pretty good, baked chicken and ribs are awesome. The vegetables are cooked pretty good and soft enough. Epcot has an amazing amount of choices by the ride Soarin. You can definitely get salmon, chicken, salads etc. there and the prices aren't as bad as you would think. Animal Kingdom has a great restaurant called the Flaming BBQ.....I think it is something like that but there food is outstanding. They also have a Rain Forest Cafe in the park. Hollywood Disney has a restaurant in the back of the park right before the show Lights Motors Action (you need to see this show!) they have I believe jerk chicken, cuban sandwiches, etc. The commissary also has some good food there. There really are some good selections at all of the parks. You are going to do so much walking around and will be burning up the calories!! At the Market Place there is another restaurant created by the Rain Forest Cafe people and it is called T REX it is really amazing! Have a great great time you deserve it!!!

I'm 53 and still use protein drinks to make up the difference. I went through the same thing as you and eventually found some good recipes and went to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's to find some different alternatives for food. This is truly the key to finding new foods and keeping the choices different. I must admit however there are days when I eat very little because I just don't care about food that day. I am a carb addict so I stay totally away from carbs unless they are in my fruit or veggies. If you look up bento boxes and go to www.theworldaccordingtoeggface you can get some great lunch ideas and many other recipes and food ideas. Best wishes to you!

As JeanZ said if you are already taking an acid reducer you may need to switch brands or increase the dosage. Some people have to try several different brands to find on that works for them. Acid can seriously feel like major hunger. If you are getting all your liquids I would check into this. Call your surgeon if you need to. Most people do not have true hunger feelings this early on. Best wishes to you!!

Wow!! I am very impressed with your progress!! You will be at goal before you know it!! Way to go!!

Just at RJ said you are doing great. I wouldn't push past the 5 ounces however especially early on. Your body will give you plenty of cues when to stop. If you get a runny nose, sneeze, or hiccup it is time to stop. These are all bodily clues that you have reached full. Sounds like you are doing great!

Welcome to the forum and good luck with your visit to the surgeon.

After surgery your vagus nerve is very sensitive. When you start hiccuping, sneezing or get a runny nose you need to stop eating. You have hit that point of totally full and you shouldn't go any further. After some time you will begin to realize full before this happens but I still occasionally have this happen.

Hang in there! This will be an NSV for you and your smile will be huge!!

I'm a hiccup-er! Runny nose for me and an occasional sneeze.

Congratulations you are even more beautiful than you were preop!