katesuccess

Maybe a little trip someplace, or tickets to an event like theater or concert, knowing fitting those seats is NO issue now! A spa day is good, trapeze lesson, personal trainer package? I have decided a massage every 50 pounds is perfect for me. Have fun imagining, and let us know what you decide on!

That's fabulous Tampa! Congratulations and well done! I love that you have found not only how much better you feel but that you are able to eat the things you want in healthier quantities. I just did the calculation for me (since I am starting close to your starting weight) to figure out where I would be in that timeframe and it felt so encouraging. eggs for posting your great news. Kate

Hey JustWatchMe - congratulations on your weight loss! First of all, know that any swimsuit will look better on you than it did 45 pounds ago. Nice going! Secondly, consider an alternative that I see more and more among fit and sporty women. I got a great looking swim top that hangs down to my hips (Target, underwire for support AND inner panel to control with outer panel to hang down). Then I bought some sport-shorts that are just above the knee to compliment the color (black pants and top is blue with a bit of black in it). They stay put well, so no tugging ro creeping, and have coverage in those less-than-cute parts of my thighs. I feel so much more at ease in this and less whale-like since I'm not worrying about as much jiggling or coverage or even sunburned thighs. Worth a thought maybe. I'll likely do that even when i lose weight, since i'll have saggy-skin-but-thinner-thighs then - LOL!

Anjalika - that likely just means you're on Julie's radar and she's putting your name in for whatever comes next. I got my doc to make her referral November 1, and they didn't get it in the WLS clinic for a few weeks, and only then because I started calling various offices to see where it got stuck and help up. Finally they got it, and I had my call with Julie in January. It lasted for maybe 20 minutes or so. She's great - rotates going to the various support group settings too. Anyway, I got all my tests done (she sends you a list after your phone call) and then called to say they were done and could I get a psych appt. That started taking forever - and soonest she could see me when I called in mid-january was the end of April! I kept at the customer service and kept asking why it had to be a psychologist who was overbooked, and finally got moved to a social worker, who was wonderful. I'll also say I got moved I think because my work is seasonally sensitive and I couldn't do it this year if I meant waiting as long as the clinic was suggesting. Anyway, once that got done April 1, I was able to set an appt with Dr. Landers right away, I think he just had a hole in schedule. SO - long way around to saying if you NEED to move it up, they'll listen and do what they can sometimes. I doubt I'd have gotten very far if I were just antsy and impatient without a reason. When you go to your orientation class you'll likely get to hear not only Julie, (who's great) but also the nutritionist and Dr. Landers. He was really superb, lost of fun, but excellent background and training and fullest info I ever expected to get. My hubby went with me and it pretty much erased his doubts. Good luck you two! We Northwestern Women can do this!

My op is 29th April too where in uk r u? X I wish I were in the UK! I spent three weeks in London last year, and never wanted to leave. I'm in the Pacific Northwest, in a city near Seattle. You?

Hi Healthier2be, I know it may not feel this way, but your friend being honest with you about why she was the way she was is a complement and her honesty May be a sign of how much she values the friendship, even if she can't stop herself from feeling jealous right now. Instead of not talking about weight issues with her anymore, how about returning the favor and asking her how YouTube can best keep up the wonderful friendship you have had without making things worse or weird? "Would you rather I not talk about my weight loss?" Or "I promise not to talk about it nonstop but do you want to hear when I have those non-scale victories that feel important to me?, or is it better if I just don't mention that part of my life?" something like that--because this may be a deepening to your friendship to work through this, rather than diminishing it. I feel like real friends who are willing to do the self- work on their own issues are such a rare thing. And you also have every right to your own feelings and appropriate sense of self protection in this. I hope you too can find that wonderful common ground of easy friendship again.

I was bringing some of tHe food, so I could control it a bit ( my surgery is 8 days away). I'm allowed one lean frozen entree each day, so knowing what the menu was I calculated something that approximated the same calories but would allow me to eat from The Easter dinner we were having. Like most of you, I realized how much food we all eat! Seriously, people ate as many calories and appetizers as I had allowed myself for the entire meal. So I brought vegetables and low-fat hummus, but someone else brought homemade sausage, dripping with fat. Anyway I did well with dinner, but my niece who I am closest to made dessert. Darling little egg shaped layered cakes! She and I both are the heaviest in our family, and she knows all about my surgery coming up. She was so sweet and talking to me aside and letting you know her feelings would not be at all hurt if I passed on her dessert, or if I just wanted a little bite of her instead. I could have kissed her for her thoughtfulness, understanding, and discretion! I had two small bites, and it was plenty--even before surgery! I never would have had that resolve before. Anyway, Happy Easter everyone! Kate Ps and with all my work and running around yesterday, I lost two pounds! Wild!!

Yay! I'm in. Current weight 278, goal weight 263. I'm having my surgery the 29th so I'm not sure if that will hurt me or help me in this particular challenge. But I'm ready to give it a try, and it's my first challenge too. Thanks Bea!

Oh Pinkbarbie, I completely understand! I just did my two daughter's Easter baskets, and now as adults it's more something I do just for fun. I bought only one bag of chocolate eggs, and the rest all things like dried fruit, some fun special cooking ingredients they like but can't afford, bubble bath, and the like. But darned if those chocolate eggs don't call out louder than the champagne Orange Vinegar I got them, or the Black Pearl rice! Sigh. I love those things, and made a deal with my pre-op self (we have surgery on the same day,) that I could have ONE little chocolate egg, and only one. I even said it out loud, lol. And that's all I've had. I know I really should not have even half that, but it was a good limit and I feel good about sticking with it. Oddly enough, having had one and set that as my boundary, it made all those other chocolate eggs quiet down! I hope your closet quiet down to, and that you are able to get some peace of mind from the chocolate cacophony. Hang in there, it'll be worth it. And by the way, Happy Easter everyone!

I like orange sugar free syrup in both my vanilla and my chocolate, and love almond flavor in my vanilla - even better warmed up! (Think marzipan.)

I'm in - though I'll have my surgery on 4/29. I'm hoping it'll keep me from mentally tanking about the two week stall people have.

Sorry you're having such pain on the stationary bike - ouch. I had that with me road bike and bike shorts helped; the ones with gell in the seat - and I got the most bell-filled ones I could find! Wipes - I love the ones called "Yes to Cucumber" which have a nice cleaning effect and a fresh clean scent but it disappears quickly and isn't sweet or flowery. Drug stores and Target carries them. Keep on spinning!

I started mine about ten days ago and have lost about 5 or 6 pounds, which is low for me at startup. I'm only eating about 8-900 calories a day max, and so feeling a bit frustrated. Still, I know it's helping to prepare me for surgery both head-wise and liver-wise, so I'm okay with it. I plan to try to figure out what would be the equivalent of a lean frozen entree at Easter dinner tomorrow night, since i'm allowed one of those per day. Wish me luck! My goal is no wine, maybe two tablespoons of brown rice, small portion of meat and salad and two bites of dessert. I know what they're serving, so i've calculated the calories too! Seems like I should be fine. And for the record, I'M STARVING TOO! I can't wait for my surgery and to get onto the next stage of this. Wow.

Hey Hopeful2B - I just learned today from one of my seniors about an amazing thing, and maybe everyone knows about this already - but it's an anti-gravity treadmill! It's designed to allow you to walk with far less pressure on your knees and ankles because the air pressure below your wait is buoying you up, so the end result is only about 30-40% of your usual weight on those joints while you walk. Some nursing homes, rehab centers, and sports fitness places have them, in addition to hospitals. This guy was raving about it, and how post-surgery it was allowing him to walk with a normal gait finally, even after doing some compensatory damage to the other leg - just with less chance of injury. I realize in your place or residence it's less likely, but any chance you can see if anyone around you might have one? They've been out a year or more now. Of course you'll be that much smaller soon, and so less weight on them anyway!

I ordered the sample pack two, and it came yesterday. I had my first one today at work, and should have done what they said and stirred it with a spoon. Instead I put it in my water bottle and shook it up vigorously--it took a while to mix and dissolve, but wow was there ever a lot of foam! Next time I'll stir it for sure. I have the cherry flavor, and it was very good.

Water, lots and lots of water! It'll flush the alcohol and help you feel better, once you stop feeling waterlogged anyway. I'm in preop diet too, and am finding I do better if I think of this as my "early surgery mode of eating," not a diet that is separate and "pre". Surgery. It's all a head thing, but then I never much ate because of stomache hunger - mostly head stuff; Family celebration, noshing/drinking with the girls, treating myself after hard day, etc. Also I'll bet that this won't affect your surgery at all--lots of people have less requirements. Just smile at the memory of a fun night out with friends and remind yourself no more imbibing like that until surgery is well past! If they know about it, do a spa evening together next time--mani-pedis, facials, moisturizers, and everyone brings their favorite mineral water! Party on!

It kind of sounds like maybe you are thinking about food you cannot have for a while and craving them, like the hotdog. Remind yourself that you can have those foods again later in small quantities and that you don't have to say goodbye to any of them forever. I am in the middle of my preop now, and it helps to think of this is the beginning of the weight loss I don't continue after surgery. I also think it helps if you really like the shakes your drinking! Get some that you like, and try to think of this at the beginning of the surgery process instead of yet another diet that you want to cheat on. If nothing else consider how much smoother your surgery will go if your doctor doesn't have to work around the larger liver. Good luck!

Thanks everyone. I think there's a bit of truth in every one of these posts. I think my husband and I are both fortunate and happy to be married to each other, and I think we're both pretty great people, but yes, he screwed this one up and it really hurt. I'll talk to him about it when I've sorted more out, but I do know he loves me, and I know I'm very worthwhile as a person, but he's sort of missing that boat these days. I also know I don't want him to acknowledge me because I told him to--and I feel like I keep continually lowering my expectations in that regard, so once I figure out what I'm willing to ask for, I will. For now I'm just considering this part of loving him as he is--which we usually both do quite well. Guess it's my turn to work hard on that one! Incidentally, he's fine with my surgery, and his job is very secure. I wasn't expecting anything big either, just something from his heart. Giving him an easy out was dumb, and I sure won't do it again! I think it was more an attempt at self-protection against disappointment if he didn't do anything, and yet I still wound up feeling that way--so absurd! No more. In the future I'm going to be more clear about my needs.

Thanks so much everyone - your thoughtfulness and responses make me tear up here! Yes, I'll tell him how I feel (thanks PDXMan) or at least some part of it. It's a weakness of women especially (I think anyway) to want to have that feeling of being special or feeling loved without having to ask for it. Somehow that really takes the wind out of the sail for me anyway. I know that's my stuff though and not his. I'm just sad about it I think, and feel unloved and like I don't really matter except for the mechanics of what i do in our lives. Sigh. Not what I want to feel with surgery in 12 days and biggest week of my year right now. But again - my stuff not his. (Though after thirty years, I've sure as heck shared in all HIS stuff - reciprocation would be nice!) Wow, and I thought i was done ranting. Sorry. I'll let him know after this weekend when I can get some better perspective and maybe a bit more distance from the immediate hurt and sadness. And yes - I'll plan the trip together, but i'm also going to plan some time for me separately for sure. (I'll keep that punch in the junk in my back pocket though LiptickLady--Thanks!).

I can totally relate, my daughter had homework tantrums too, okay not just about homework either. My inner child stuffed it with food, so I have been determined not to keep up that pattern with my girls. I think one of the best lessons they learned from me was that it was okay to have an occasional tantrum about something that sucks, BUT we all have things to do that we don't like, but we still have to do them, "even the queen" we used to say! And yes, sometimes we just need to lie down and have a cry or feel sad, and then get up and face the rest of the day.

Sometimes we can be unintentional about our responses, and then they're hurtful. If you decide to tell them you had surgery, maybe preempt their naysaying a bit by saying something like "I really wanted to tell everyone, but this was a tough choice and I did not need to hear a lot of negative things about surgery or taking the easy way out -- I know as my good friend you will be happy for me and understand!" Or something like that. Since you will have a couple of months postop before you see them you can also tag on how good you feel, how glad you did it, and how you are looking forward to feeling more ready to do some active things with them, and then change the subject if they are being positive! Good luck, I know the friendship thing can be sort of hard navigate when it comes to telling something people seem to think they have every right to weigh in on (no pun intended!).

Hi Kateness. I am a mom myself, as well as a daughter, and both my mother and my children are very supportive, but have their concerns in the beginning asked if my husband. I would suggest this is a good time to take the lead in asserting your decision-making about your health, instead of thinking in terms of appeasing her concerns as much. I know they are well-meaning and she wants you to be safe, so this is a good time for you both to keep doing the research as you are. Perhaps she could go to a pre-op class to hear and learn more firsthand if she's concerned. But remember this is your choice and for me, just like I was the only one who did the eating, I am the one who will have to deal with the consequences and have the surgery if that's what I choose. On my mom side of things, it might help to tell her specific when she comes or not encourage you. I know that sometimes I think I know how best to support my adult daughters, only to find out there was something better I could have been doing. She might appreciate that anyway--tell her what is helpful, and that you appreciate how much she loves you and is concerned for your health. I know it has been set on these forms 1 million times, but significant obesity is far more life-threatening and health-detrimental than the stats for this surgery are indicating. Good luck! Kate

Hey KellySou, I had a serious Diet Coke addiction for about 25 years, usually drinking several a day. I got off it by using club soda or a soda stream with sugar free flavorings in it (like vanilla, Carmel, etc -- using those SF syrups like at coffee stands) or a wedge of orange or lime. I cut back to one soda a day, then two a week, and then one a month! Now it's easy and while plain water isn't a thrill, I add those liquid crystal light or generic squeeze flavorings and it's fine. I also drink iced herb tea by the pitcher-full. Think of all the money you'll save on soda too! If I can do it, so can you--sounds like you know your traps and are ready to beat them. Go for it!

I can understand your hesitation - I'd rather be eating a careful diet than Protein drinks too (I'm two weeks from surgery now) but the all liquids does help prepare you head-wise for how that will work afterwards -- though like someone said above, not all require it. If the pre-op liquids diet is a real negative though and you're really feeling avoidant about drinking Protein Drinks and artificial sweeteners (which granted aren't exactly naturally grown in an organic garden!) how are you going to manage all the post op weeks of doing only that? I've got several weeks before I get anything else! I'm hoping you can find a natural or healthier one out there! And just to toss it in here - I've not yet had any Jello or popsicles yet, and have just finished week one of the prep diet. Not bad, just not a big fan. Don you ever wonder what color they'd be if they didn't add coloring? Hmmm.

One of my top favorites is by Winston Churchill: Never, never, never give up.