Miss Mac

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-fitness/ This will help. You are not a quitter. You are a deep thinker. Thanks for the example of balance verses / over exuberance. Exercise feels awesome. Pain not so much. Mark's Daily Apple is an informative and encouraging website for people who are serious about taking responsibility for the fitness of their human container, no matter what your starting level is. I even bought the Vibram Five Finger Barefoot Shoes that he recommends, but since they are expensive, I got them on clearance from the Travel Country website. Go you!

My whole care plan has been hijacked by my weight. My prescriptions are all to alleviate conditions caused by my weight. Therefore, my relationship with my doctor must include conversation about my weight. The best advice he ever gave me was that my back problem is a front problem. he became my physician in 2010 after my previous primary was ignoring my concerns about my rediculously and alarming high blood pressure (215/110 when I went for a procedure at the pain clinic), which caused a stroke 2 weeks later. Thankfully, I had just moved during those two weeks and was taken by ambulance to a different hospital, where my current primary was assigned to be my attending physician. As a team, we tried everything in a weight loss protocol over these past three years and my body was not responding in spite of our valient effforts. So, last August he referred me to the bariatric clinic to get weight loss surgery. Do we talk about my weight? Yeah, all the time? Am I offended? No, because he's not beating me up with a harsh tone. He is gentle and cautious in his conversation and knows that weight problems can mask a delicate psyche. That's the difference. He is not a green meanie. Here's to all of the good doctors out there who want the best fo us!

This is my response to another poster's concern about co-morbidities. I thought it would be helpful to post it here as a separate post. Here is a complete list of co-morbidities that insurance companies use in evaluating your case. I got it from dsfacts.com. DS stands for duodenal switch. Hope this helps. Maybe you will find some you see as familiar. I also provided a heartfelt letter for my packet, which explained why I need the surgery and how my weight and co-morbities were degrading my quality of life. In that letter, I explained when I started gaining weight and listed the diets and exercise programs that have failed me. I told them about family members who have died of conditions on the co-morbities list. I included a list of the medications I am taking for conditions related to my obesity. I shared info about surgeries and joint replacements and other treatments necessary because of my weight. I told them about inconveniences and the adjustments I have had to make to function throughout my day, and how how the weight itself prevents me from an effective and agressive exercise program. Then I closed the letter by explaining how the surgery would drastically improve my quality of life, and thanking them in advance for approving the surgery which would surely extend my life and reduce the need critical medical care in the future. When composing any good presentation, follow these 3 rules: 1. Tell them what you are going to tell them. 2. Tell them. 3. Tell them what you told them. Good luck. Obesity ComorbiditiesTo follow is a list of comorbidities (additional conditions or diseases) related to obesity which may help you in qualifying for weight loss surgery. Family history of heart disease Family history of stroke Family history of diabetes Family history of heart attacks Hyperinsulinemia Diabetes High blood pressure Coronary-artery disease Hypertension Migraines or headaches directly related to obesity or cranial hypertension Congestive heart failure Neoplasia Dyslipidemia Anemia Gallbladder disease Osteoarthritis Degenerative arthritis Degenerative disc Degenerative joint disease Recommended joint replacement from specialist Accelerated degenerative joint disease Asthma Repeated pneumonia Repeated pleurisy Repeated bronchitis Lung restriction Gastroesophageal reflex (GERD) Excess facial & body hair (Hirsutism) Rashes Chronic skin infections Excess sweating Frequent yeast infections Urinary stress incontinence Menstrual irregularity Hormonal abnormalities Polycystic ovaries Infertility Carcinoma (breast, colon, uterine cancer) sleep apnea Pseudotumor cerebri Depression Psychological/sexual dysfunction Social discrimination Premature death For more information on the NIH qualifications for weight loss surgery: Gastrointestinal surgery for severe obesity. Proceedings of a National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference, March 25-27, 1991.

Here is a complete list of co-morbidities that insurance companies use in evaluating your case. I got it from dsfacts.com. DS stands for duodenal switch. Hope this helps. Maybe you will find some you see as familiar. I also provided a heartfelt letter for my packet, which explained why I need the surgery and how my weight and co-morbities were degrading my quality of life. In that letter, I explained when I started gaining weight and listed the diets and exercise programs that have failed me. I told them about family members who have died of conditions on the co-morbities list. I included a list of the medications I am taking for conditions related to my obesity. I shared info about surgeries and joint replacements and other treatments necessary because of my weight. I told them about inconveniences and the adjustments I have had to make to function throughout my day, and how how the weight itself prevents me from an effective and agressive exercise program. Then I closed the letter by explaining how the surgery would drastically improve my quality of life, and thanking them in advance for approving the surgery which would surely extend my life and reduce the need critical medical care in the future. When composing any good presentation, follow these 3 rules: 1. Tell them what you are going to tell them. 2. Tell them. 3. Tell them what you told them. Good luck. Obesity ComorbiditiesTo follow is a list of comorbidities (additional conditions or diseases) related to obesity which may help you in qualifying for weight loss surgery. Family history of heart disease Family history of stroke Family history of diabetes Family history of heart attacks Hyperinsulinemia Diabetes High blood pressure Coronary-artery disease Hypertension Migraines or headaches directly related to obesity or cranial hypertension Congestive heart failure Neoplasia Dyslipidemia Anemia Gallbladder disease Osteoarthritis Degenerative arthritis Degenerative disc Degenerative joint disease Recommended joint replacement from specialist Accelerated degenerative joint disease Asthma Repeated pneumonia Repeated pleurisy Repeated bronchitis Lung restriction Gastroesophageal reflex (GERD) Excess facial & body hair (Hirsutism) Rashes Chronic skin infections Excess sweating Frequent yeast infections Urinary stress incontinence Menstrual irregularity Hormonal abnormalities Polycystic ovaries Infertility Carcinoma (breast, colon, uterine cancer) sleep apnea Pseudotumor cerebri Depression Psychological/sexual dysfunction Social discrimination Premature death For more information on the NIH qualifications for weight loss surgery: Gastrointestinal surgery for severe obesity. Proceedings of a National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference, March 25-27, 1991.

This kinda choked me up, Miss Reverie......congratulations.

My psych evaluation was an interview that lasted about a half hour, addressing the issues presented by BryBro 63. My psychologist was sweet and non-judgmental and made the process painless. I wish you good luck and good health.

Mythbuster is on to something with the Tylenol. My gastoenterologist has fobidden me from taking ANSAIDS ever again because of the damage it did to my stomach, so I am not about to torture my new tummy. I just keep Tylenol on hand for bad days.

I agree with Bronco0605. I have the video Walk Your Belly Flat by Leslie Sasson, which is speed walking in place, with added arm, leg and waist movements that engage every muscle in the body. It can be done standing in place holding on to a walker if you have to. I also do strength training, one day with small handheld bar bells, and a second day with body resistance (wearing ankle and wrist weights) - things like: pull ups, push ups,squats, elbow crossed over to knee crunches, and lunges holding a gallon of laundry soap in each hand. Even Pilates kicks my butt. Sometimes, I even dance to the music for half an hour. My form stinks but it is improving. There are a lot of things you can do in a small space. The human body needs to move or we crystalize with inflammation and arthritis. Between the sleeve and exercise and losing halfway to my goal weight, my health and energy are improving exponentially. Exercise actually feels good now. Who'd a thunk it? I can't wait for weather nice enough to be outside. It is 14 degrees in Chicago today. Brrrrrrrrr. Also, I broke a stall when I quit eating so much cheese (one of my slider foods).

This made me smile. What a motivator for keeping up with your program.

9 weeks post-op Cup of hot tea with meds exercise before breakfast Breakfast: egg and either a piece of bacon or 1 oz of leftover meat from dinner (steak is my favorite) Mid-morning snack: usually 3 oz Greek yogurt with berries Lunch: tuna and egg salad or 1/2 cup of leftover stew or Soup Afternoon snack: 1 slice of deli turkey rolled with slice of avocado and tomato Dinner: 1 oz some kind of meat, with some kind of veggie Exercise: If I am having a good energy day, I will add a second exercise session. When this nasty weather breaks, it can be an after dinner walk with my sweetie. Bedtime: hot chocolate made with sugar free cocoa mix and whey Protein chocolate powder and lite Cool Whip When I quit eating so much cheese, my plateau broke and constipation quit.

I did not have the lap band prior to my sleeve, so I will let others with that experience address that. But I do trust that the sleeve can be the next right step for you. I wish you good luck and good health.

Congratulations on surviving your five mile walk. I get it. Before my sleeve I was rapidly becoming an invalid. I am in an exercise program now, but it takes a new decision every day to decide if I am going to sit and watch TV all day (I am retired) or get up and shake this body to the music. What kind of weather is going on where you are?

Today's weigh in for St. Patrick Challenge is - 184.

My man put a humidifier in the bedroom. I may still wake up with ketone horse breath, but not dried out lips. Also, bring out the Chapstick.

Same here. I have said before on this forum that Federal BC/BS is the best insurance I have ever had - ever. I am six months into my program and two months post-op and still have not received a bill for anything except my doctor office co-pays. Also, losing the first fifty pounds has made a remarkable difference in the pain in my joints. Even my posture is better. I will always have post-stroke mobility / balance issues, but the pain relief is noticeable.

Squats and lunges will do it.

Between weeks three and six, I lost the same pound probably five times. Things are back on track. Going into week nine, I just had my second closet flush. My man can eat bread and potatoes all day long and not gain weight. One difference between us is that he is active with man chores all day long, and I am more sedentary even though I am in an exercise program. The human body just was not made for so much sitting. I will be glad when spring comes so I can get outside to move and around more. Even though I have lost fifty pounds since my pre-op program, it just mentally does not happen fast enough. Oh well.

My favorite thing is to make meatball size balls with chocolate whey Protein and Peanut Butter, real thick like playdough. Then I chill them in the fridge and grab one if I have a day when I must have a something in between lunch and dinner.

I was allowed to walk to my heart's content. At two weeks, I was allowed to lift light weights only - no more than five pounds, but at the time, 2 was enough. At eight weeks out now, I can pretty much do what I want, but weights are still restricted to five pounds.

At the end of my four month pre-op period, I had lost 23 pounds, but the clinic submitted my weigh-in number for the day I first walked through their door.

Two weeks here...just kept it tame.

Yeah, everybody's program is different. Follow your team's advice.

My starting point and results are similar to NMJG.

Puree stage: banana, peaches, applesauce. I am on solid foods now, but am still just eating bananas (1/2 a day) or canned peaches or applesauce - sugar free. Probably when summer hits I will see how I tolerate melons.

Congratulations for getting back on track. You are your own best advocate. My trigger that has the most potential to trip me up in pain. When the sciatica acts up, a potato or potato Soup is all I can think of. My go to however is scrambled eggs...yum.