Ginger Snaps

I love these forums... where else could we talk about issues like this? I'm new to the dating scene and since I have practically NOTHING to wear that might be date appropriate, I'm going shopping before every date it seems! What a problem to have, right???

@@Beni Thanks! 50 pounds for me was 1/4 of my body weight and let me tell you, it feels GREAT that it's gone! Of course, when I look in the mirror I don't see what I think other people see and I recently ordered some Life's Good tshirts off Amazon and couldn't convince myself to buy Mediums... ended up with large's which are kinda "large" on me. Guess the brain will catch up one day!

TMI if any men read this post... but if I don't start my period soon I'm gonna start hurting people... I always gain some weight but I'm only up a pound, so after I start, I'll probably drop a couple. But the PMS is killing me (well, making we want to kill my kids and dogs and anyone else close by)! And, I've been doing great on my food plan, never craving carbs or wanting to eat unhealthy things but over the past 2-3 days I'm thinking about chocolate and chips and toast with butter and grabbing bites of things as I walk by (even if it's almonds or fruit). I hate being a girl sometimes...

I'd be curious why you say you definitely want the sleeve. That decision, which surgery to have, is best decided between you and your surgeon based on your medical conditions and history. Know what you're interested in but keep open to the possibility the doctor may think the bypass is a better option. I kept a list on Notepad on my iPhone of questions to ask my doctor. As I thought of them, I'd add them to the list and then just open up the list when I was there and ask away. Obvious questions for the doc -- which surgery would you recommend? Why do you recommend that one? What are the most common complications you see (my doctor said he sees ulcers most commonly)? How much weight and how fast can I expect to lose? What do you feel makes a patient very successful after surgery? What reason do you think contributes to people not being successful or failing to lose? Do you think this will help my ______ (asthma, apnea, diabetes, blood pressure, reflux...)? If I have questions or complications or am worried about something post-surgery, do I call you or your nurse or PA (my doctor said to call him and answers calls within about 3-4 hours if during the day)? For the NUT -- what will my post-surgery diet be (assuming they work with your doctor and know that answer)? Do you work closely with my doctor? If so, what do you think about his followup care, etc.? I'm sure others will have a lot more. Usually the doctor will give you a little presentation about what the surgeries are and what to expect and then you'll end up with more questions! Best wishes!

Had my three month visit yesterday. I was really trying to hit that 50 pound mark but missed it by 1 pound. Arghh!! The surgeon was very pleased with my progress. He kept asking about complications or how I've felt, like he couldn't believe my answers about feeling like a million bucks! He told me I looked great and when I said "Thanks to you", he said no, that I had done all the hard work and his part was just a small part of it all. Very nice surgeon! I told him I would be his poster child for relative lightweights and he asked me if I would be willing to post before and after pics on his website and Facebook page. I told him sure. Well, when I posted my pics on his Facebook page, I didn't realize it would post to my timeline and all my friends and family would see it. I hadn't told them all about having surgery. I got SO many positive likes and comments about my weight loss and not one negative comment about having had surgery. So, the cat's out of the bag, now!

I had surgery back in June and the longest stall I've had was about 5 days. Until the past two weeks. I stayed at the same weight for 10 days and was kind of going crazy because I felt like I was doing everything right. Well, on day 11 I lost a pound, on day 12 I lost another one, and this morning, day 13 another one. I was hoping this might be an encouragement to anyone stuck in a stall... just stay on the plan, keep going and try to stay positive. If you are following the food plan, you will lose weight (especially if you're still early in the process). Hang in there and focus on what you have control over... the food that goes into your mouth and the exercise you do. The weight will fall in place.

I just talked to my surgeon yesterday and he said taking ibuprofen with Prilosec for 1-2 days would be ok, so of course, today the hip doesn't hurt at all. Just the SUGGESTION of ibuprofen cured it! lol

I'm a firm believer in bananas -- there's probably not more than one day a month I don't eat one. And that night, I'll have muscle cramps! When I first started exercising hard after surgery, my NUT told me to add a few more carbs into the diet (I know, carbs... scary!). I usually do a piece of fruit before a workout. That gives you some fast-energy carbs to use during the workout. Then I eat a Protein meal after -- a shake or some meat, Beans, etc. Listen to your body -- if you're hungry, eat! Just make sure what you're eating is healthy. I'm thinking you may need more than a salad unless it has some chicken or something in it.

100% on point for me Lisa... I was in a bad marriage, overweight and miserable, of COURSE there was no sex drive. Seven years out of that marriage and 56 pounds off my 5'4" frame, 14 pounds from my conservative goal weight, rocking size 6 jeans and able to wear all those lacy sexy things from the stores in the mall that don't carry any size above a large???? Um, yes, I'm feeling pretty frisky! lol Add a new man into that equation (who constantly tells me I'm hot -- I have to tell myself to believe and accept that)... let's just say if women are in their prime in their 40s and I've wasted 8 years of that, I'm planning to make up for some lost time! Sorry if TMI! lol

@beni I didn't tell a lot of people before surgery. Told the 2 friends at work who keep the candy bowl on their desks and leave chocolate for me when I am stressed. They were supportive and told me they'd slap my hand if I accidentally reached for candy after surgery. I told my best friend who took me to the hospital and stayed with me for 2 days. Told my kids (15, 20 and 23) and they were like "um, ok". I didn't tell a lot of other people because I really just didn't want the surgery to be up for popular vote and I had researched enough to know what was best for me. I read all the good and bad stories I could find and tried to make a balanced decision and just didn't want to hear stories of somebody's mother's aunt's neighbor's grocer who died during surgery. Since surgery I'm open about it and tell anyone who really seems interested. I haven't had many negative reactions at all. The only friend who has been slightly negative is actually the person that really motivated me to make a change. She is very overweight and is somewhat disabled by it. She is diabetic, she can hardly walk up 3 or 4 stairs without help and she gets so tired she can't stand up through choir practice. I and my other friend that helped me through surgery have both tried to convince her to consider the surgery but she says things like she knows people who have lost and gained the weight back and stuff like that. I think they are all just excuses and she's either afraid she won't be successful or she doesn't realize just how serious her health is. It's sad because she needs it desperately. I'm not sure what I've done to my hip. I've had bursitis in it for a while and it flares up now and then and gets sore but this has lasted almost 2 weeks now. I drove about 30 hours in 3 days 2 weekends ago and it started up a day or two after that, so I think maybe it was sitting inactive with my foot on the gas for so long that really irritated it. It's starting to creep to the low back now, too, so I'm going to see a doctor and figure out what kinds of meds I can take to maybe help it. Ibuprofen used to control it the best but that's off the approved list now after bypass. Thanks for asking!

@@jeweleez ... completely forgot about that IV part --- ICK!!!! I have terribly tiny flat veins that collapse about 24 hours after someone finally manages to hit a vein and get an IV in. 6 days in the hospital -- 5 different IVs. I actually refused the last one they wanted to start (when I was in with pneumonia) so they let me go home. I was becoming a difficult patient! lol I didn't mention about pain -- never had any pain meds after the surgery except the ones they give you IV just after the surgery. No real pain at all -- discomfort is a better word... that gas in the chest is very uncomfortable but I don't know how much of mine was gas versus the pneumonia. The only reason I ended up with pneumonia was that I was put on the cardiac floor instead of post-surgery because they didn't have room and the nurses on the cardiac floor don't want you up walking around a lot. My doctor and the bariatric coordinator at the hospital actually used my case as a training case for nurses on other floors for how to treat WLS patients.

When you have to buy new jeans 3 weeks after you bought the last pair because they are literally sliding down your hips and that's the only pair you own that remotely fit. And you go in the dressing room and realize you accidentally picked up a pair 2 sizes smaller but they're the ones that fit. I went from a size 14 to 10 and now 6 in about 6 weeks. I'm going to run out of credit on my Macy's card soon! lol

My favorite: Do not let fear make your decision for you. EVERY SINGLE SURGERY carries possible serious risksI read so many people on the boards "fearing" bypass and choosing sleeve instead. For me it was a no brainer with severe reflux and a serious addiction to carbs. I never looked at the bypass as "scarier" than sleeve. My doctor ruled out band immediately but I would have been freaked out by the thought of something implanted in me. That's not necessarily a "fear", it's knowing myself well enough to know I wouldn't be able to tolerate that comfortably. The experience has been wonderful and after following many of your steps above, I made the right decision for me.

Next on my agenda: Annual Spooky Tails & Trails 5K on October 26th... You can do a 5K or a 2 mile. I'm running with my friend's 11 yo son. He participates in Special Olympics and got hooked on running and did a kids' triathlon on Labor Day. We cheered him on with signs and everything. He'll decide if we do the 5k or 2 mile and we're going to plan out costumes for us. Maybe Batman and Robin or something. The goal for this one? Have FUN!!! Run For One and Healthy Living Fair Benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters November 1st 5k. Goal for this one is to run the entire race and hopefully get a time around 40 minutes.

OK, I'm struggling with a decision and would like some people to weigh in. I know it's my decision and only I know best, blah, blah, blah... but I could use some motivation and maybe even a kick in the pants. I signed up for a 5k tomorrow morning. I'm on week 6 of the Zombies Run 5k training and I'm running intervals of 10 or 5 minutes at a time with a 7-8 on the perceived exertion scale. About 10 days ago I really had a flare up of bursitis in my hip I think due to driving about 30 hours in a weekend. I laid off running or even walking on the treadmill and my weights routine for about a week to try to give it time to settle down. I ran/walked Wednesday morning and it didn't aggravate the hip -- but it still hurts. I'm trying to decide whether to try the 5k or do the 1 mile instead. I feel pretty confident I can do the 1 mile and run the entire thing. I'm very sure I wouldn't be able to run the entire 5k but could do intervals of running/walking and finish before they close the course (website doesn't say how long they keep the course open but they're usually open an hour and I could finish that even just walking fast). I'm nervous about trying the 5k because I don't want to play head games with myself and end up feeling like a failure because I can't run the entire thing. And, there's that "what will people think if I'm walking" thing. But, that's all just psychological and I feel like I should just pull up the big girl panties and do it. Give myself a break if I have to walk more than I run. On the other hand, if I do the 1 mile and run the entire thing, is it going to be a great confidence booster "woo hoo" moment or am I going to feel like I took the easy way out? Opinions?

Not PREPARING for... FINISHED! Finished my first 5k today since college (28 years ago). Ran/walked it in 46 minutes. I'm signed up for another one the first weekend in November and the goal for that one is to be able to run the whole thing. GO TEAM GINGER!!!

OK... results... I did it... ran/walked the 5k. I finished in 46 minutes. Ran the first mile, ran the last mile and walked in the middle. I wasn't first and I wasn't last. I DID IT! Thanks for all the encouragement... it was a complete mind game I was playing with myself on being embarrassed or whatever. The hip felt fine... still achy but it doesn't hurt worse, so we're good. @@Beni -- I agree about the NSAIDS... they were the only thing that ever helped the hip before and it's tough now dealing with the pain without it. But, it's not too severe and it doesn't usually last this long, so I can deal. I'll post the pics from the race as soon as they're posted. Thanks again for all your encouragement!

@@UrCaliGirl I chose bypass for a couple of reasons. I wanted the surgery with the most historical data and best success rates. i also had pretty severe reflux and my surgeon and I both felt that would be made worse by the sleeve. I also knew I needed help with the carb and sugar issue.. I was a major carboholic and I wanted the threat of dumping to help me avoid them. It's working like a charm so far! I've had 2-3 dumping episodes with either high fat or too much bread, so it's easy to say no to them now. Best wishes!

I had RNY in June. I'm feeling fantastic. Never had any vomiting, nausea, never took pain meds. I was readmitted to the hospital 2 days after getting out and stayed for another 3 days with pneumonia but even with that, I didn't feel too cruddy. The first month was strange... didn't feel bad or anything but staying on liquids and puree'd kind of sucks. It felt good to actually get to start chewing something. I eat everything I want (I just don't try things that aren't within the food plan). I don't do carbs except from fruits/veggies. I still drink a shake in the morning for Breakfast because I don't like to cook, I don't like the smell of hot food in the morning, the shake tastes good (muscle milk 100 chocolate) and I'm usually driving to work. Win, win. I eat tiny little amounts of everything. Love chicken on a stick from Chinese restaurant -- one stick is all I can eat. I can eat about half of the chicken breast from a Wendy's grilled chicken sandwich (don't touch the bun). I seldom experience any hunger unless I go from like lunch time to past my normal dinner time without eating. Then, it's not like a ravenous hungry or shakiness just a little feeling in the tummy that it's time to eat again. Small bananas, clementine oranges, small apple, and a handful of almonds -- those are my standard Snacks. I'm down 55 pounds in a little over 3 months -- only 15 from my conservative goal. I'm exercising like the Energizer Bunny... run/walking a 5k tomorrow morning (and I wasn't run/walking anywhere before surgery). I was a relative lightweight (BMI=36) and today it's 26. And I went from a size 16 to a size 6 jeans... I only bought 2 pairs because I'm still losing. Went from 16 to 14 to 10 to 6... skipping sizes. I'm amazed because lightweights usually lose a little slower than people with more to lose. This has been a wonderful experience for me. It's normal to feel apprehensive -- if you didn't it would mean you weren't taking the surgery seriously. There is always a risk for complications and you'll see people on the boards here who have had them. Most will say they would do it again. But, if you think about it, people with complications are more likely to come here for support and help. People who are successful go on with their lives and may not be on the boards as much. Anyway -- here's a story from someone who has been wildly successful and wouldn't change a thing! Best decision I ever made.

@4LgrLife_53 I found some sugar free popsicles called Outshine popsicles that are made with Stevia. They have really nice flavors like wild berry and strawberry kiwi... much better than the kiddie colored / flavored ones you usually find. You can check them out here: http://www.outshinesnacks.com/home.aspx I think it will let you search to see if there's a store that carries them in your area. They really taste great. They do have Sorbitol but I'm not sensitive to it.

I alternate days of cardio and weights. On cardio days I usually do a session of Zombies, Run 5k training -- a couch to 5k program. It's about 45-55 minutes of run/walking. Starts with very little running (15 second intervals). It's a lot of fun and I'm signed up for 2 5ks to see if it really works! I hired a personal trainer and work with her once a week to learn the right types of weight lifting to help me get the results I want. I also work out 2-3 times a week in between those appointments. I also walk with a friend at a leisurely pace for 1-1/2 hours on Sunday afternoons. We talk and walk and have a really nice time walking through a lot of parks in our area. The more I move, the better I feel. But, I injured my hip driving for too many hours 2 weekends ago and now I haven't been able to exercise for a week... driving me crazy but I need to rest up the hip. It's inflammed deep in the joint and I don't want to aggravate it.