oolismom

When I started this process I could not believe there was any way to gain weight. You could only eat this little amount or you'll be ill....This doesn't taste good, that doesn't set well....Well I was wrong....Over the holidays at Christmas I finally had a chance to bake and did I...My kitchen looked like the Keebler Elfs kitchen...Every counter filled, then Cookies boxed up and counters re-filled...Well stupid me fell into that cookie dough habit and gained 4lbs. over 2 months....And I have had issues going on at home, mother in a pre-dimentia state that has increasingly gotten worse all while I've been trying to get my business degree....So in 3 months another 6lbs. gained....I know I'm a stress eater and I know I've fallen back into my old ways of eating...I'm so angry with myself and I feel like I've waisted my money....Yes I lost 100lbs but my support system is losing her faculties slowly and I feel like I'm on my own so who cares what I do...I'm not being held accountable to anyone but me...Which I am an adult and should be able to deal with this but ??????.....I'm afraid I've stretched my stomach but yet I still can only hold about the 3oz. and that is something I don't want to do....I'm the one doing the cooking in the home but 9 times outta 10 I can't eat but a half a cup of whatever I cook...I cook from scratch and not a bunch of startchy stuff...Turkey/chicken no beef....Salads, fish...all the right things except when I get to the quiet part of the night and relaxing....Help me....I know I need to get the stress under control but.... Maybe I shoulda of joined the astronaughts that were sent to the moon for a year.... kim

I'm so glad I checked back in to this site....I see I'm not alone in the clothing dept. I'm down a little over 100lbs and my jeans were starting to be super baggy and my T's well lets just say they're better to sleep in now....I am a seamstress so I took the pants in but the shirts were not worth it to do the same. But I'm having issues with clothes period....My style has always been t-shirts and jeans just be comfortable. I'm not one for "loud" clothes, prints wild colors etc....BUT I want to look like a girl and I'm still in my sweatshirts, tshirts, jeans...I'm having a hard time I guess mashing the two together...I have given away a ton of clothes to a family friend who needed clothing so I have no problem with elimination just replacing with stylish comfortable non-guy looking stuff...I don't know how to explain it...Well here...For example....I didn't have a coat that fit so I went and bought a Carhart hooded jacket...Warm as hell for the cold Oregon winters BUT it's a guys coat....I love the coat but it's deffinately not a girly kind of coat....I guess I'm not sure where I'm supposed to fit in yet.... I cut my hair really short because I have been losing it due to the surgery....But I'm not a guy...I feel like I'm having an identity crisis here....Who or what am I????

Hey all.... Don't forget that Holiday Inns, Howard Johnsons and some of the hotels do have banquet rooms for meetings as well....

Yayyyyyy Jodyjetson..... I have given soooo many clothes away, most of them new, and am waiting to buy till I lose another size I think.....If I can wait that long.... Good job.... kim

Wow...i feel like a toad now....lol....Bocco your body is ten times more broke up than mine and I'm whining???? Ya shoulda told me to "Shut the hell up"....Holy hell....I'm like you, when I feel like eating, I prefer to "create" my own Protein meals and flavors....I use the Weight Watchers/Lean Cuisines for lazy, don't want a bunch of food meals because they have a good portion of protein in them...A lot of sodium that I don't like but like I said, lazy times....Fast foods I don't do, period. I've had too many friends work in the industry and I know the yuck in those foods, so I stay away from them.....But I do like Chipotles more natural get what you want TexMex food.... ChavaBling-Thank you for the compliment I am 51 and defffinately don't look it (fat don't crack! I always say, lolol) but damn does the body let ya down at times....I've never asked for help from anyone except for when by back goes out and it pisses me off...I'm used to always goin and takin care of my mom and trying to help my dad, do what I can, keep household and animals inline and I get really frustrated when I'm not "in control"....I'm not one for doing much away from home because I'm in school all week, have homework and 2, 79yr olds(parents) that I help out , so when I'm down it hurts our "system" I guess you could call it...You notice that all the docs that tell us to lose the weight are always twig bodies too? Just wanna shove a Twinkie up their noses....Ass', walk in our shoes!!! Thank you guys for all your helpful words....I know I'm in a down cycle of my "head trips" (bi-pole) so I know this will pass but I wasn't sure if my food taste-lessness was changing again or if the farther out I get do I lose my appetite again before it comes back.....I just wasn't sure if it was the bi-po or the hormonal thing with the stomach changes, ya know what I mean???? And with my regular doc out till Dec. I just thought I would run it by y'all....so Thank you guys..... kim

Jessiquoi.... First off, where do you work? I don't wanna be in your way....lolol kidding....It is stressfull and trying to work and deal with our own stuff and our parents starts to ware on a person....When I started this whole journey I had a pretty lucid support person, Mom, and of course dad followed and so on... Now my Mom has the on set of Vascular Dimentia and it's like I'm talking to a 5yr old sometimes....But if your mom is still all good upstairs, set her down just the two of you and explain your concerns for yourself and for her and what the upset does to you especially when you're trying to work....It makes you wanna pull your hair out!!!! Your blood pressure and stress levels need to be normal for surgery or you won't get it...Maybe Mom can help de-stress things for you...Hell, give her a job to do....Have her help prepare for your post op recovery at home, food, books etc....Maybe she wants to be more a part of this with you than you realize...And she could be worried about losing you, if you have lost a dad, shes also lost a husband, she could be scared....ease her mind so things can be all Zen again....lolol Good Luck kim

Well, bocco, today I had a pepperoni stick and 3 Wasa crackers, a chicken sesame lean cuisine minus the peppers and green beans, and a half of cheese sandwich. Ice tea and water....

Hey brittanykins.... Beings you're a vegetarian isn't there a supplement for hair like Biotin that you would take??? I have many friends who are vegan/vegatarians etc, and it seems like they took vitamin supplements for their hair and nails. I took this a year before surgery and nails grow fine and a little hair comes out here and there but I'm like you I have so much of it....It scares me that I might lose too much so as soon as I can get my head back on straight I'm going back to the Biotin...And I do wear my hair short and spikey like so to conceal some of that....But i'm used to thick hair and want to kepp it too....I haven't seen where the shampoo kits have made a difference in my Moms thinning hair so I can't recommend any of those, someone else maybe could I just haven't seen any results of proof....I know too sometimes I used Coconut oil as a scalp treatment/conditioner maybe that could help...But stay true to your natural stuff ask at the health food places, but you want to see some actual results....Why, if we have to lose our hair, why could it not have been our mustaches or leg hairs some place that requires waxing for cryin out loud.....lolo kim

Hey Apurnell.... My docs told me to not be so concerned with the protein the first few weeks just to do phase 1 of clear liquids, etc....In fact I didn't even get started on vitamins until after the first doc visit 3 months after then we discussed the protein intake.....If you're not getting enough protein they will let you know when they do blood draws and then modify what needs to be done....I did the same thing...Worried the next day about getting all the little cups of that nasty Isopure in or a protein drink....Good luck, all I could do was sleep and do my walking around to prevent blood clots in my legs.... It does get better so hang in there..... kim

I hear what you're sayin Bocco....But nothing tastes good.....I remember a WW Leader said once, if it doesn't taste anygood then why is it in your mouth? So I eat, normally, good foods it just seems like I'm going thru a down pit and nothing is "good" so I go without except for liquids....I'm not getting the required protein even though blood tests have come out normal....I'm just not in a good mental place right now I think with the back and school withdraw, it's just all got me down and angry at my body for letting me down when I've been trying to do better for it.....make sense?? It's hell to get old I guess, i wasn't ready for it....

Okay....I have a question for y'all.....My surgery was May 18th this year and ya know how when you went to see your docs and they always told you, "If you lose some of that weight it would help your knees AND back...." I think they lied to us!!!! I have lost almost 100lbs since the start of my journey and my one bad knee that usually acts up has been acting up AND I just had to withdraw from Fall term at school because my back has been out for over a week....WTH???? I feel like I'm falling apart!!! Okay, I do have 2 ruptured discs but I've lost the weight that was adding pressure so why now???? And my head, Lord, I feel so down in a hole that I just don't care about anything right now....I take my meds, food tastes like crap to me and makes me sickish, my back is almost back to where it was but I feel like a "Debbie Downer" and it's starting to piss off one side of my head.....Anyone else goin thru anything like this....???? I have tried eating Soups and my boxed foods and nothing sits right or even tastes right.....Not sure what to do....I don't see the stomach doc till end of November and regular doc is back from maternity leave in December.....AAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaarrrgh...... kim

Hey there... My doc told me if I was still feeling that HUNGRY feeling it was because I wasn't getting enough protein....60-100grams was what I was told to get in me....Feeling sore he said was because I had lost the weight and was feeling better and moving more and my body wasn't used to that yet....There are some soups out there with high protein levels and I had little portions throughout the day to get me through....But talk to your doc for sure....It may be somethin else.... good Luck kim

Seashelles..... Take a BIG breath first.....You have yourself burried in worry before you get started....Just breathe first....Deffinately agree with Cococat....We here have all been where you are and guess what, we are all here for each other....So when ya need us just holla....If your covered by your Insurance then you are 3/4's the way there....(lucky, I had to pay cash!).....Just don't take NO for an answer it's your health not some pencil pusher sittin at a desk...But right now that parts outta your hands, start getting your cupboards and frig preparred for your post-op phase.....I was nervous up to the knockin me out part and 4months later I'm still nervous....I know my job is to get 60-100grams of protein a day, and what happens if I don't and all the BS that goes with post op....I give it a year before my nerves are settled a bit....So you are not alone there either....This is a HUGE life change if we weren't nervous about anything else that would do it.....You along with all of us have a great journey ahead of us, and it's life so nothin goes perfect but give yourself the chance to see how well you handle the obstacles if you have any.... Ask questions both of your doctor and all of us, cuz you know we will be honest with you and we are living it....Write stuff down that you want to remember..... You will be fine, things will go fine with Insurance, prepare for you post-op....My doc suggested starting a journal, you may want to do that.... Hang in there, holla when ya want us.... Good Luck- kim

Ok I have another question.... I'm almost 3 months post op from having sleeve surgery and am dealing with feeling sick when I eat BUT I'm noticing that at night I am getting seriously hungry. Normally I'm not but since the surgery, and after I was feeling better, I get hungry. I might have some melbas and cheese but that doesn't seem to be enough protein or something to keep the pangs away, and they really get to hurting. I'm alreaady dealing with feeling sick after a very few bites at meal time and I have to walk it off or go outside walk around but this seems to be the opposite, until I take a bite of something....I'm really getting frustrated.... I'm paranoid about stretching my stomach and I'm sick if I eat, then sick-ish if I don't eat....AAAAaaaaaa!!!! (yelling loudly) I see my doc next month but damn what am I doing wrong? Has anyone else dealt with this crap???? Thanks in advance- kim

Congrats to you...Just take it easy and do what your doc says....You will not be sorry...This has been the best thing I've ever done....I bet you will feel the same way....Rest up and feel better soon.... kim

I was in about the end of August for mine about 3months or so before I could sleep for a while not all night on my side. I find now is better but it seems like the stars have to be in alignment to be comfortable all night long on my side and it's been 4 months....Give it time....I got frustrated with it because I have a bad shoulder too and need to have it propped up or flung over a body pillow and I'm a belly sleeper. But it seems I still have to be careful and like I said get everything lined up right and comfortable. I think some nights I just get wore out readjusting things and I go to sleep. Good Luck kim

Oh good...See you're stress is letting up too...I forgot about using the heating pad, great idea...I did a warm shower that way I had some peace and quiet but thats just me.... But things are gonna b good for you....Time is all.... Chat later....kim

I had to walk every few hours to prevent blood clots in the legs so my dad would wake me up and make me do my "walk abouts" as he called them....But walking, like I said up and down our hall way was my start then I walked around the house, I just kept pushing myself....Now I walk all over school campus and my hip joints hurt but thats a whole other thing....You do have to push yourself a little but don't hurt yourself.....The insicion that hurt the worst was where they pulled the drain tube out and the same one was where they removed the leftover stomach piece....hurt like hell....I held my left side every time I tried to stand up....but once I got moving I was good....You just had your surgery so take it easy but don't let your legs get those clots either.... Keep on movin Sister!!!

Nope 5 at the most...It kind of depends on your system....Kinda personal but, if you can pass gas that helps, don't hold it in...And you gotta relax your self to let your body do what it needs to do to pass that gas....Make sense??? Just like if you know ya gotta pee but it helps to hear Water run cuz it relaxes you....Breath deeply, walk around....I still have to walk around after I eat because feel sickish for a bit....Sip on your water.....a warm shower maybe....See what works for you but if its too long seriously call your doc.... kim

Agree...you can have mine and GNC.....I also found some online at Amazon....You might check at some of the gyms as well, not sure but it would make sense, a Protein drink!! Good Luck

Hey Maddy.... Yeah the gas pains were uncomfortable....Thats from all the gas they blow us up with in the ER....I did what I could of walking up and down the hall slowly...I was told to get liquid Tylenol Extra Strength which to be honest I felt fine with that more than with the pain meds.....It seems like it took a few days to get over that....The tears, we just had someone else with that topic....You are gonna find you are more emotional too....You won't know why, frustration, irritation, just plain pissed off at the world, but remember you just went through a major surgery and hormones are gonna be screwy for a while....This will all even out some after you've healed a bit and if it doesn't I would call your doc. But give this some time too. Hey, my neighbors dog was just lucky I felt like crap and couldn't walk fast or I woulda shoved his toy ball in his nose for barking all day, I got very touchy....Relax this is truly worth it and you will forget what you're going thru now until you read a message like what you have written then it all come flyin back at'cha..... Hang in there...I'm here usually late if ya need a shoulder.... kim

Oh my gosh....I was sooooo like you when I wanted to sleep....I usually slept on my belly and because of a shoulder surgery I sleep with my arm flung over a body pillow. I slept with a foam wedge with the pillows propped up under one side, right side because of the right arm, that way my upper back at arm was supported and I was able to be kind of on my side too. My insicions on my left side hurt for quite a while so that being said it has been little by little to be able to get almost back to where I was before. My surgery was in May '14....I know it's frustrating but give it time.... Good luck.... kim

Hey Cassiper..... I did the same thing....I was told here in Oregon under the Oregon Health Plan if you have diabetes then you were eligable. Could this apply to you and Kentucky as well??? I found, again here in Oregon, the best care I could get was 5hours away. The medical center took cash, credit or they did finance as well. Shop around before you sign on the line. There are really good Doc's out there that can work with you. I had contemplated cashing out my IRA, financing, credit card, but I was lucky enough I had been hurt at work and had some settlement money that I paid for mine with. I see your BMI is about what mine was at, here's an idea: While you're working on getting your BMI down find an outpatient clinic that could do the surgery and check the costs...Then when I scheduled the seminar date, ask to also speak with the finance dept. and tell them that you would like to make regular payments BEFORE your surgery date. Then you have 2 goals to hit, your BMI and getting your bill down as far as you can till that date and then ask to finance the balance. Even if I was getting an unemployment check I would send a payment. I look at it like this: It's government money, let them pay for the surgery. I used some of my financial aid from school to help pay for mine. What can they do, it's your money....There are ways to get what you need if you really work it..... Keep tryin, don't give up, this was just a minor set back....Getting my BMI down took me almost a year, seemed like forever but in that time I completely changed how I ate, shopped, read lables, worked some walking into the mix and I am sooooooo glad I had that time....Drop the sodas, drink the water or teas or whatever.....Work on you for you....Basically get your ducks in a row before hand.... Good luck and hang in there if it's meant to be your path will be lit up..... kim

Holy Mackrel Dee.... That would be stressful....I think this woman needs some help and at the very least an attitude adjustment....Someone did that to me one time, made some dumbass comment, I stood there and looked at them like, you didn't really just say that did you?? Some guy told me one time I was intimidating. I use that when needed, that day I needed a little restraint along with the intimidation factor. But too, I was in an abusive relationship, mostly verbal but still and when I left I took my guts with me. It seems everytime I've had to have any surgery, I don't know why but I've gained more balls than any guy. I try to be a lady but if it comes out of me verbally I do not apologize if I mean it.....So let her have it Dee, you are not a door mat any more and I'm sharing my guts with you....Let her have it....

Hi Mellytoon.... Yep we get very emotional after surgery...We hurt, we feel cheated while everyone eats what they want....There were days I sat in my chair and cried, wondering if I had made the right desicion or what the hell did I do this for....Now, surgery was in May, now I could cry because my closet that had un-worn new clothes in it has been getting cleaned out. I can't wear the damn clothes and I have no real money for new ones....(Not gonna charge any, my other bad habit I had to quit a few years back....lolol) There's still times now when I know I USED to be able to eat that and now I can't just because my stomach won't take it I wanna cry....I think this is just an emotional road we merged onto....Hang in there....