mbrinmn

When is our next get together. I'll make sure I can make it!

Oh shoot. Went to put our next meeting on my calendar and saw that I am not available that afternoon. Darn!!!

Excellent plan, Lori. Count me in!!!

She doesn't sound like a true friend. All my friends have been very supportive even if they didn't agree with my decision. It's times like these that you find out who your true friends really are. She is not one of them.

Take it from someone who is almost 51. Get your head around the fact that your body is beautiful at any age. You're going to have stretch marks and cellulite and scars and bruises. If you're worried about how men will see you when you're naked, don't. Just remember that they don't have "perfect" bodies either. Find someone who loves your courage, spirit, resilience, intellect, and strength. You have a lot of years ahead of you to start hating your body now. You should see it when you're 50! It doesn't get any better unless you have a disposable income for all the plastic surgery in the world...and even then, you won't be happy with the outside unless you've come to terms with yourself on the inside. It will get better. You're only 21 and I remember how hard that age was for body image. I stopped looking in the mirror so often when I was about 30. You are not the whole of what you see in that mirror!!

Your own pillow (or pillows), a heating pad, and chapstick. Those are the things I could have really used when I had my surgery in Tijuana. The heating pad will really help the shoulder pain that most patients experience. I've heard that pain is a common side effect of anesthesia. Mine was more of a very bad ache and I would have loved a heating pad for that. I also was glad I had my iPad, because the hospital I went to had wifi...Hospital Mi Doctor.

Can't make it, but the reservation might be under my name since I made it through open table.

I had the same thing a day or two after I got back from having my Mexico surgery. My pubic area cramps were really bad. I took ibuprofen and used a heating pad. The diarrhea is probably just your body getting rid of all the medications and fluids they put in you at the hospital. I hope it's not anything more serious, but it's good that you're getting in to see a doctor. Because everyone is different, I can't tell you this will pass and not too worry, but my exact symptoms only last about 2 days. Marybeth

Don't feel blue. It take overnight to put the weight on and it's not going to come off overnight. The sleeve is not the gastric bypass. It's meant to be slower so you can be more methodical in changing to a healthy lifestyle.

What you're experiencing is the famous 3 week stall. It will pass. Keep doing what your doing. Mine staff started half way through week 3 and ended at end of week 5. You're going to hit LOTS of stalls, so don't get discouraged. I'm eating just a prescribed and working out like a fiend, but I've been in a stall since mid January. Not too worried though because I recently moved to size 16 jean...with no "W" next the number! My goal is size 14 by end of March, but it's just a goal, not a do or die situation.

Heating pad...or make sure the hospital will make one available. iPad. Chapstick. And your own pillow or two. The pillows and heating pad are more important than the rest.

Good earth on the 21st sounds awesome. I'll reserve seating for at least 8. Ask for B Pals if you don't recognize anyone.

Yep, it's your first stall. Don't fret it. I'm in my second stall after almost 5 months. This one has lasted a long time, but I've already lost almost 75 pounds. I hit my first stall right on schedule...the dreaded 3 week stall. Stalls will happen over and over. You just have to go with the flow and keep doing the good stuff...exercising, eating healthy, feeling positive.

No regrets whatsoever for me!!! And nothing for me was really the "worse part." I could have been released the day after surgery, but my program called for 2 nights hospital stay. If there was a "worse part" it would have been in the first 10 hours or so after surgery when rolling over and sitting up was uncomfortable. But all the walking I did after surgery really helped me with that. Everybody is different. My first week was a snap and it has been ever since. I've been really lucky! Maybe you will be too. Here's the best advice I can give... Be prepared for stalls in weight loss. They will happen soon and more times than you'd hope. Celebrate the little victories of a pound here and a pound there. You're not on the game show The Biggest Loser and your weight isn't going to melt off. Don't let the scale rule your life. I weigh in once a week, but I know some people who only weigh in at their monthly or quarterly doctor's checkup. Judge your weight loss by how loose your clothes get, how slim your face looks, and how much energy you have once you've hit your sleeve weight-loss stride. Good luck and take care.

It sounds like you have WAY more issues going on than just weight loss surgery. If you love him and really want to stay with him, I'd forget about the surgery and work on ALL the other stuff. While it does affect those around an individual, weight loss is a very personal struggle. Whether he's stuck with a program before or not is certainly not the problem. We've all been there and know how hard it is to lose weight through programs and that's why most of us are here. Weight loss surgery is not the be all to end all, but it is a more powerful tool than any of the programs out there. However, habits do have to change in a major way and I think weight loss surgery really helps you focus on making good, healthy changes. Sure people can gain the weight back after sleeve surgery, but that's what support, support groups, and nutritionists are all about. They are the tools that also should come along with this type of surgery. That said, I still hear much more going on than just weight loss. Financial instability on his part, caretaking on your part, plus on both your parts it seems that there are some real trust and self esteem issues and what sounds like a lot of co-dependence. I think those are the things you really need to look and forget about agonizing over the surgery. He'll do it with or without your support; it's his body, after all. I know you said you are a therapist, but sometimes you get too close to the situation and even though you know what's best according to your background and your studies, it's hard to follow. If you really want to stick in this relationship, which sounds like it has more disadvantages than real happiness, maybe you need to find couples counseling. I think that having a professional to talk to rather than try to think this all through will really help. As far as the surgery goes. It's pretty neat and clean with little recovery time if there are no medical issues. People have been having "tummy tucks" for years and years. That's basically what the sleeve is, only they remove the part that's "tucked" instead of leaving it dormant in the body. He's going to have to make some serious changes in the way he sees and treats food, but the sleeve really helps with that. The limitations help remind you that you have to eat right. However, this surgery can't make you happier and it can't make a relationship happier.

Lori, For some odd reason, your picture shows up with my posts. Weird. Can you see that?

Any ideas for where to meet in February. Thought maybe Roseville would be the next best location for everyone coming from all different directions. Saturday seems to work for some, but would Sunday afternoon be better? Would more people attend? Work week nights are hard because of all the different schedules and weekly commitments. If you could carve out about 2 hours only just one time a month, would a Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon be better? We'd love to have more people joining us each time. There were 5 of us this past Saturday and we had a really good time.

Wow, only 20 pounds doesn't sound possible if you are carefully following the instructions from your surgeon. You should be eating so much less now that your stomach is so much smaller. That alone should have meant weight loss of more than 20 pounds. I know everyone is different, but if you stuck strictly to the healthy eating and eating habits prescribed by your doctor or bariatric program, I would think you'd be experiencing more weight loss. You should check with your doctor. Something doesn't seem right. Have you included exercise since your surgery? What are you eating on a daily basis and in what portions? Definitely food log if you are having issues with eating. See what quantities and portions your eating on a daily basis and adjust where necessary. I was sleeved August 27 and I've lost about 75 pounds so far. I have a Protein shake and Chobani 100 greek yogurt for Breakfast, the only about a 1/2 cup of food for lunch (because that's about all that will fit without making me feel very uncomfortable). I eat a half cup of cottage cheese or have a meat and cheese stick roll-up of dinner. I would estimate that my calorie intake per day is right around, or just less than, 1000 calories...mostly protein. Are you also taking Vitamins?

As you lose more and more, that fat will dissipate. But the loose skin will, most likely, not unless you opt for surgery. You might be mistaking that loose skin as fat.

Besides just the exercise, I'll have to ramp up a bit on my Water. I'm really good about drinking what seems like gallons at home, but not so much at work. Have fun Miaoreo on Saturday. I bet your friend will be AMAZED!! I'm like you...I want to tell every obese person I see that they really have to check out this surgery because it is so life changing.

@mbrinmn...doing well. Have been in a very long stall; almost all of December and now into January. But I'm okay with that. I'm wearing pants that are down 4 sizes down from where I began back in August 2014 and am into XL tops (down from 3XL womens not misses). Has anyone else had a really long stall lately? Are you still stalled or did you finally make it over the hump? Any tips? I'm getting about 65-80 grams of Protein a day, eating healthy. I do admit that I haven't gotten a lot of exercise lately, which is where I think the root of the problem is. I just joined a gym yesterday and am heading there today after work. It has a great women's only area with all the machines for every muscle group. Plus you can spin, walk/run a treadmill, or use a stairmaster or elliptical trainer while watching movies on a big screen. I'm really hoping to hit ONEderland before my birthday in March. We'll see if this new exercise jumpstarts my losing. I was doing so well until everything slowed to a halt around the 2nd week of December. At least I didn't gain any during the holidays!! Thanks for posting all your stories and successes. It is very motivating. Marybeth

I'll try to get to the Perkins early. Ask for B Pal group.

I'll try to get there early. Ask for B Pal group.

I'm coming to breakfast tomorrow.