Forsythia

Liquids in the hospital (two days), purees immediately upon going home (although they said I could stay on liquids for a day or two more if I wanted). Stayed on purees for a week and was on to soft solids for a month. After that I was cleared for a general diet.

I was cleared for swimming and weight lifting after 6 weeks. Mentally it took me another four or so to actually work up the nerve to use the pool at the gym. LOL. Now I have all these accessories. Like a kickboard and these swimming paddles for my hands.

This happens ALL THE TIME. The big myth is that everyone thinks the weight is going to fall off consistently. Not so much. I had a 12 day stall two weeks after my surgery. Basically your body is all like "hold up, what?!" But the weight will begin to come off again. Just follow the plan!

You can always call them too. That's what I did. I tried to find out via the BCBS IL website but finally I just called them on my lunch hour and got confirmation of their policy for my PPO that way. I suppose I could have hunted them down. I know exactly where the BCBS IL building is here in Chicago! LOL. It's right next to the Aon center, which is the building I used to work in!

I don't regret the decision at all. I will say however, that the entire time I was going through the process (all 6 months of the program plus the couple extra I had due to scheduling issues) I was all like "Do I need this? I've lost 70 lbs before.. why can't you do it now?" The whole time. Until I was actually on the books scheduled for the surgery - then s#!t got real. I rationalized that I could quit anytime. But I never did quit, because I think deep down I knew I was not going to be able to keep it off without help. I wish I would have done it before I tipped the scales into diabetes.

I know nothing about Cigna, but I am from Chicago too! You might try the insurance forum down the page. There are usually quite a few posts about Cigna.

A food scale is quite helpful. There might come a point in time where you can eyeball 2oz of chicken, but to start off, get a food scale that allows you to tare out the weight of your plate/bowl and weigh out 2 to 3 oz of food. Mine is an Ozeri and cost about $20 on amazon. You might be able to eat a lot of cheerios, but only a very small portion of chicken or tuna or turkey. Dense foods take up more space and you end up eating less turkey lunch meat than you would that bowl of cream of chicken Soup. The first two weeks I was home I got a pang when I hit my stop point. Now at almost 3 months I don't get that at all. It's up to me to be mindful of what I am eating, and how fast. And also working past that brain want vs legit stomach need. Brain wants an 8 oz fliet mignon done medium rare with a nice twice baked potato on the side. Stomach says no. LOL.

You can take solace in knowing that most food in commercials is all fake. I used to work in advertising. One of clients was McDonald's. We had a food stylist who worked for us for all of the print shoots. Even food in the commercials was fake if it was not being eaten!

I'm sure my lack of running will come back to bite me in the ass during the zombie apocalypse! Lets just hope they are slow zombies and not fast ones. LOL! But then again, I'm much smaller now, so I will be able to run long enough to make it to safety..

So I thought I would post some pictures. The one with the dinosaur is pre-surgery. In April Size 26W. The one with me in the mint top is a couple weeks post surgery 24W pants and 2x top. And the one in the dress is from today, in an 18/20 dress. And with curly hair. The top of the dress is actually a bit loose. I might be more like a 16 in the chest area. I miss my boobs. LOL! So that's that.

Thank you.

So I imagine you are in recovery right about now! Hope everything went smoothly for you.

You should do whatever it is you enjoy doing. I always use the recumbent bike, but depending on the day alternate between the elliptical and the treadmill on an incline. I also take a Body Works plus abs class one day a week, and swim two days a week. I also lift weights on the treadmill/ellipitcal days Some people like Zumba. Some people like to run and only ever run (I personally will only be running during the zombie apocalypse). Some people like to bike. It's not about what machine is going to burn the most calories, it is about finding something that you like and sticking with it - that is how you become successful. And at first honestly you might find you hate all of the cardio. There was a time when getting on the treadmill was a terrible slog and made me so bored. So I had to mix it up in order to stay motivated.

Oddly, I have no issues with Isopure. It does kind of have an aftertaste. But I like to cocotein water. But I like coconut anything. popsicles, shampoo, lotion, toasted coconut rum balls. I could go on...

I had my sleeve on 5/5/14. Cinco de Mayo. Some people have a margarita, I had surgery. LOL. I'm in a bit of a stall right now, but I'm okay with that. I'm down over 60 lbs, so that's nothing to be sad about! I'm working out like a fiend and eating the way I'm supposed to. And I can buy clothes from Old Navy in the store instead of having to order online in the plus section now. Yay!

I bought.. well okay my husband bought me some stuff from Old Navy today. I got a dress - its a little big on the top size 18/20. I think a 14/16 would have fit on the top but been too tight in the hips. But who knows.

Sweet! Also, I love the cat's eye eyeliner. I suck at doing that. Lol!

Champion makes a nice one you can get a kohl's. Comes in bra sizes as opposed to S/M/L/XL http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1019017/champion-bra-double-dry-high-impact-sports-bra-1602-womens.jsp Actually Kohl's has a lot of work out clothes for good prices, but you can only find them online. Same with Old Navy. Super cute stuff, online only.

Look at you, Ria McSassyPants. That's your new name now, by the way. Ria McSassyPants..

I like knowing I can have a bite or two of something delicious, like a filet mignon, then know I will have to box it up for later. Rather than eating all the steak, two side dishes and cake and feeling bloated and miserable and guilty afterwards, I can have a couple bites of each of those things without stuffing myself. I don't miss all of the stuffing my face to quell my emotional pain, and the post gorging guilt afterward. Occasionally I will miss the act of going out and having a drink with a special meal or whatever with friends/family, but I feel the benefits outweigh the detriments.

I am now a fully actualized member of my gym. I took my first class Wednesday - Body Works plus abs. Basically it was a fast and light weight lifting class. I'm still sore two days later. And keep in mind, I lift weights multiple times a week using heavier weights than the ones used in that class. I loved the class and must find a way to go to it every Wednesday. Tonight I swim. Also a big yay for me. Weight wise, I'm down 62 lbs since surgery, over 80 from my high weight. I'm almost three months out from surgery (three months will be 8/5). I've gained a couple back this week with all the water retention my period caused. But I know its temporary and will go away in a couple of days. But I hate it because I get all swollen. I can feel it in my legs and ankles - they get so tight. Ugh. I'm not even a salt person either, And I get in my water. I guess that is just nature mocking me. This will pass though and the water will go away. Lately, I've been noticing I have really been losing weight in the boobs. This makes me sad. I always had a nice shaped rack. No to big, not too small. And now.. its just sadsville up in there. LOL. You can't spot train your fat to disappear from places and stay on others. Even though the new boobs are smaller, the overall picture is smaller and I will just need to come to terms with what I see in the mirror.

My stripper name is Princess Elmwood! LOL!

I gained 5 lbs this week due to aunt flo. She is a cruel mistress. And as a lady we are more susceptible to hormonal fluctuations and weight retention anyhow. You're gonna be fine. Just stick with the plan and exercise!

I drink something then wait 30 minutes, and if I find I still want the item I will have a bite or two of the real thing. Before I would have had all of the Cookies or the whole pizza. But if I have the room left in my calorie/carb count I will have it, otherwise it will be on my mind all night. I find I generally don't get craving except for during my special *snort* womanly time (sorry I tried to type that with a straight face and totes couldn't).