Babbs

Wow! That's coming right up! You're going to do great!

Have you had a physical recently? Blood work?

Awesome! When is your surgery??

Yup, unfortunately the bill comes due at some point. Really not worth it, especially when you still will be able to eat that stuff when you are all healed up. Fortunately, you will be losing so well and feeling so good with all your healthy eating you probably won't want to

@@Strangefruit I totally hear ya. I've been at this for almost 15 months, just going into maintenence, and it's not easy. I get "battle weary" some days, and have the EXACT same thoughts you have had. I think "Fuck it. I'm 48 years old, I want to enjoy the time I have left and EAT WHATEVER I WANT. I don't mind being pleasantly plump. I'm middle aged, I'm SUPPOSED to be plump!" The problem is if I just ate what I wanted and paid no heed to what I was eating, the pleasantly plump turns into morbid obesity. I've been there, and it takes a toll on my health unfortunately. High blood pressure, diabetes, sore joints....you name it, I had it. For me, that's the motivation to fight to maintain a normal weight. Let's face it, obesity affects us differently the older we get. It's not just a vanity thing anymore...it's really life and death for us. I would like to live longer than both my parents did. They both died untimely deaths due to heart issues. I cant do that to my kids...I WON'T if I can prevent it. Good luck and I'm rooting for you!!

I feel like I know you after reading your whole amazing blog You are a huge inspiration to me! I can only hope I do half as well maintaining as you have. Congrats on 4 years of your new life!

A few saltines aren't gonna kill ya. Use them if you need them for your upset tummy. Just don't eat the entire box

@@4MRB4PHOTO LOL

I'm always amazed how fast you youngun's lose weight! Great job! You look great!

I have a tendency to agree with these. I HONESTLY think it's just our own projection. Like I said, I feel a little more confident, so I'm treated as such. I became a Realtor in my mid life after deciding to change careers. At 45 and obese, I hit the gate running (figuratively) and had no problem getting business and have been fairly successful for a new agent. I really didn't let my obesity get in the way of my success, and obviously my many happy clients didn't seem to mind, either. I never felt when I went to a listing interview I would be not be chosen over another Realtor because of my obesity. If it happened, I just chalked it up to the other Realtor having more experience, personality differences, etc.... Like I said, I'm just even more outgoing now than ever before because I feel more comfortable in my own skin. I think people respond to that, not my outward appearance so much.... We really need to get out of the ol' "Oh I'm fat, so nobody likes me!" mentality. Nobody likes the victim mentality, and people pick up on it. And will treat you that way. Eleanor Roosevelt said it best: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"

Oh yes, I notice i'm being treated differently. I sometimes wonder if it's because I'm more normal size, or because I just carry and present myself differently now. I was always a confident person, but now I feel more comfortable in my body, and I think people respond to that in a positive way. I feel my clients respond more positively to me, and that may be just what I'm projecting, also. Kind of a catch 22. Definitely more attention from the opposite sex. Even for an old broad Luckily my husband is not the jealous type. He knows I'm his one and only, and have been for the past 28 years.

@@CowgirlJane I'm not the one that considers it simply restrictive...the medical community does. I was just pointing out the differences between the sleeve and the bypass, and by definition, the sleeve is just a restrictive surgery. But I also understand there is the ghrelin that gets removed which helps hunger. Believe me, it's turned into so much more for me other than a restrictive surgery.

Ha! One boiled egg and half an English muffin? The first 5 or 6 months, you can barely eat just the egg! Sleeve surgery is a RESTRICTIVE surgery alone (although you do get a little extra help with hunger from the ghrelin that is cut away) Bypass uses a combination of restriction and malabsorbtion. Although the bypass is the "gold standard" of weight loss surgeries, the Sleeve is becoming more popular because of the sheer safety of it and lack of side effects. As a rule, weight loss is slower at first with the sleeve as opposed to the bypass, but long term losses seem comparable. Both cause restriction where little food can be consumed in one sitting. With the bypass, Vitamins will need to be taken seriously for the rest of your life. Any surgery is just a tool. You'll still struggle with head hunger, and food choices should still be smart and nutritious. Forever. So choose the tool you feel will serve you the best for the long haul. Do your research to weigh the pros and cons of each. Good luck!

Good job and great attitude!

And a cute bunny at that! You look great!

@@anna9/15 Don't worry about the future. It does no good and wastes energy. Start with the NOW. Just keep working on getting your Protein and fluids in the best you can and let yourself heal. Talk to your surgeon and NUT about what kind of foods you should be shopping for at this stage. This really is all so temporary. Soon going to the grocery store will be just another annoying chore you have to do, and you'll have a good idea about what you need to buy and prepare for meals at that point. Hang in there!

So much this! Would it help if I told you that what you're feeling is normal and that things will progressively get better and better over time? Because they will. It's tough going early out. So many changes to deal with. But soon you'll hit your routine and and start really seeing the weight loss and things become normal again. It just takes time. And do me a favor? Punch the next person in the face who says we all took the easy way out

I always emphasise how important it is during this process to wear clothes that fit. Even undies. There is just something about well fitting clothes in smaller sizes than we were before that make us feel great!

Interesting! I love eggs! Although some of those grossed me out just a little....

If people want validation for their bad choices, I'm not going to give it. If people want honest to goodness support for things they are truly struggling with, they've got my support and empathy. And I've given it time and time again. This is a public forum, not the campus of a liberal arts college. Tact and tone may vary.

I think people project how they feel, and most people I see after losing weight look so much healthier and happier, therefore looking younger and more vibrant. Besides, so what if it does make someone look older? Is vanity more important than our health? I'd rather have a few more lines in my face now than be obese and unhealthy. The trade off is worth it for me!

Pics! We want pics! Congrats to you!

Yippee! Don't worry, be happy! It will slow to 1-3 per week soon. Take it while you can

Yup. I've been drinking coffee from about a month out post surgery. I'm 14 months out now. Because of GERD, I would limit myself to 1-2 cups a day, but now that my GERD is a little more under control, I have 2-3 cups a day. Just all depends on your plan. I think mine allowed it at 6 weeks out, but either way, it was the ONE thing I wasn't willing to give up. A girl has to have at least 1 vice!