Ginger Snaps

I thought I saw this posted somewhere here but now I don't.... so in case it's not here... I just found out about an online shop where you can send in your old designer clothes for cash or buy someone else's used clothes at really good prices. Like online garage sale. www.thredup.com == see some cute stuff there -- and they have plus sizes, too.

@rmckellips -- You're gonna love shopping! It's so much fun to go in a dressing room with a size smaller than you're wearing and then realize that size is too big, too!

As far as I know it's all flavors and colors... I really like the grape Wylers light... reminds me of the purple Koolaid my mom had in the fridge all the time as a kid growing up (yeah, with the real sugar in it). It's still one of my favorite comfort foods when I have a cold or stomach flu -- ice cold Koolaid -- except now, no sugar.

Sounds like you are on track and moving forward! Best wishes!

I haven't been through anything like that but you DID say "any advice"... It gets better. Once you get past the initial shock of surgery, you will start feeling better every day and get stronger. Be your own best advocate -- call the doctor when you need to, demand they listen if it doesn't seem like they are and take the best care of yourself you possibly can -- it's your time! Best wishes!

I agree with a lot of other posters -- you look beautiful but the dress does seem a little old or frumpy for you. Personally, I don't believe in that "little black dress" theory -- black looks terrible on me. I do much better in bright colors or jewel tones (like dark plum or not too dark navy blue). And a v-neck or scoop would probably be more flattering on you. For me personally, boat necks just make me look wider. For $20 it's not bad but I think you could do better.

You go girl! One side effect of surgery I didn't expect... how much more confident and sexy I feel! So far, my new man is enjoying that confidence!

I have to put in another thumbs up for Gwynnie Bee... I've gotten some really cute clothes from them (and some losers that I immediately mailed back). I do the 3 out at a time plan, so I always have at least 3 cute dresses to wear that fit nicely. It's been fun having to "dump" my online closet and put smaller sizes in. I think I pay $80 a month and if I went out to buy something in my size, I'd probably spend that much, but now I get 3 dresses instead! Only problem (and I know, it's a good problem)... I'm down in the 10/12 range now and I'll be dropping more soon so nothing from them will fit anymore... a good problem to have! Ginger

I had a similar experience yesterday. I've been working out with a trainer since March except for 1 month off for surgery. She did an assessment yesterday to see changes since March. While a lot of things have improved (especially upper body), I'm still tight in the hip flexors affecting lunges and balance. It's funny, she was so easy and gentle when we first started working out and now she gets tougher and tougher each time (because I'm stronger). Face agilities just like you did lifting for the first time... it's never fun to start but it's GREAT FUN to see improvement and feel your body getting stronger. We all have to just bite the bullet and DO IT sometimes! Best wishes!

@rockyroad It's one of the rules I was told. Not to drink 30 minutes before a meal or 30 minutes after. The meal should take about 30 minutes, so that's 1-1/2 hours of no drinking. From what I understand there are a couple of reasons... You need to fill up the stomach with food to get that full feeling and stay feeling full. If you have a drink with the meal, you fill up with liquid, too, which doesn't sustain the full feeling. It also washes the food down faster, again making you feel hungry again sooner. I think it's a very common restriction and I'm sure you'll hear about it sometime during your education classes or meetings with the surgeon or NUT (nutritionist). Best wishes during the entire process!

I agree completely about the isolation exercises... I feel so much better and stronger and more balanced since I stopped doing the isolation machines and started doing more of the full body stuff. My upper body is definitely improving in strength but there are some things I am not strong enough to do yet so I do still supplement with tricep stuff with free weights... wanna try to avoid as much arm jiggle as possible!

I agree with a lot of the other posters... it's all still new and you're emotional and things will get better. I actually stopped by Wendy's on the way home from the hospital -- my son was driving and he was hungry. It took a couple of times for me to convince myself and my boys... It's ok for them to eat what they want in front of me. It's my choice not to eat the way I used to but I'm not expecting them to change their way of eating for me. They've apologized sometimes if they're having something I really liked (the brownie sundae) but I just keep telling them and myself that I don't want to eat that way anymore and that I won't feel bad if they enjoy what they want. I haven't turned down a trip out to dinner yet, even since the first week or 2. I just find something I can enjoy or even sit and drink Water and just focus on the people around me. It's a mind shift but it can be done. And Red Lobster biscuits? Evil.... :-/

It's an interesting article but I'm not sure I agree 100% that those are the only exercises you need. My trainer teaches me a lot of full-body exercises that hit a lot of muscles at once to be very efficient but we also add in some small muscle exercises (like triceps) that are harder to work. I like to have a variety of exercises to choose from but I don't do all of them every time I work out. I agree about the machines, though... I've done that in the past and just don't really get any effect. But now that I'm doing more free weight and body weight exercises, I see a lot better results. Good for you researching and working to find out what's best for you. Ginger

I'm glad it turned out to be something that could be easily treated. Your adventure sounds like my nightmare... average bloodwork makes me queasy but trying to find a vein... ugh! I'm happy you're feeling better and we can all learn from you! Thanks for sharing.

I don't feel hunger either usually.... when I was first out from surgery and on liquids and pureed, I just ate small amounts. I didn't really feel hungry or full at that time. So, I just measured out a fourth of a cup or maybe half (after the first few weeks) and I just ate that much. I try to eat 6 times... Breakfast, lunch, dinner and Snacks between and a night snack. My snacks and meals don't look that different... all Protein. Work on getting in your protein... if you get the 60 grams of protein (or however much your doctor or NUT says) you probably won't have room for much more anyway. My NUT said to just focus on the protein and not worry so much about calories. So far, it's working great for me. And, make SURE you're getting enough liquids... drinking all the time except for the 30 minutes before and after eating. Best wishes!

Thank you all! And @Spring Dixie it's always been amazing to me how much younger people look in their after pics and surprise! It happened to me, too! This has been such a great thing in my life! I was a relative lightweight (BMI 36) and I thought I would be a slower loser because of that but I have been working hard to stay on the plan and exercise like crazy and it's been more successful than my wildest dreams! Jean size 16 to 10, 1X shirts (18-20 at Lane Bryant) down to mediums or larges. My waist went from a 39 to 32... WHAT???? I'm just oozing confidence now and feeling wonderful! Also got rid of sleep apnea machine and haven't had a Rolaids or Tums since surgery (used to eat 'em like candy!). I go see the surgeon next Tuesday and I may just end up hugging and kissing him!

@TashaB88 I had to be readmitted to the hospital for pneumonia 2 days after I was released from the surgery and I understand your frustration with the other doctors. Even though I was only 5 days out from surgery, they basically ignored me when I told them I had to be on a special diet and things like that. I called my surgeon several times asking his opinion on things they did including giving me giant pills to swallow and not having me on the bariatric clear diet instead of just a clear diet (that included fruit juices and Jello with sugar, caffeinated coffee). You have a right to question everything they do and you should definitely stay in close contact with your surgeon. You are you own best hero!

@TashaB88 I'm so sorry to hear you're having so many complications... it seems like it hits one unfortunate soul every once in a while and you hit the list. I don't have any advice except to tell you to stay strong, advocate for yourself if you feel like nobody's listening and aggressively work with your doctors to find out what can be done. I hope you find yourself on the road to a healthy recovery soon. Best wishes...

My throat was very sore too after surgery and the doctor let me have Cepacol cough drops to help with the pain. But, your's looks bad.... hope you called the doctor and let us know how it works out!

I'm not training for a marathon but when I started back weightlifting at 4 weeks, my NUT had me add in more healthy carbs (fruits/veggies). She said I needed that for the short-term energy that is needed when working out that hard. It definitely helped.

@tekjr1 I've always heard that if a week is particularly difficult for you, just repeat that week again. I know it throws off the timeline a little but who cares about timelines... it's about improvement and health! I'm just finished up week 4 and it was tough the first 2 runs but the last one was a lot easier. Be interesting to see what week 5 has in store! Ginger

Now THAT's something to celebrate! Woot Woot!

One pound could be so many things -- if you drank more Water than usual, if you need to poop, if you're close to your period... Just do what you're supposed to do and don't fret over the day to day weighs... as long as the overall trend is downward, you'll do great.