4me4them

The past two weeks have been really difficult. Thursday we had to put our faithful dog Maggie to sleep after a short fight with aggressive cancer. First real emotional/stressful strain since I began this journey last July. I'm a glass half full kind of person so I know that my eating was not as bad as it would have been before I started...but it was not healthy. I'm more disappointed in myself for totally not exercising the two weeks. so this morning, I duly noted the 2.5 pound weight gain over the past two weeks, put on the running shoes and took Roxy, our remaining dog for a walk/run. As we were leaving the driveway, the man that lives across the street, whom we have a very casual relationship (we wave and say hi) says... "I hope you don't mind me saying something (at this point I think he is going to mention that Maggie hasn't been barking at him through the bay window which was a favorite pastime of hers) but whatever you are doing it is really working! Last week I saw you and I thought you had company...I didn't recognize you!" Just when I needed to be reminded how far I have come and that I do have the tools to go further, an almost stranger provides the spark...thanks neighbor!

I LOVE your solution....very proactive

Congrats on being on this side of it! Things will absolutely get better. Don't stress (it will work against your healing), drink tiny tiny sips as often as you can so you don't get dehydrated and hang in there!

I had heart complications when I had my surgery and had to take horse pills that could NOT be crushed. Wasn't easy, filled me up, but I was able to take them as prescribed...

Yay! A twofer...

I really hate anesthesia. I have a hard time shaking it off. However...I hated being over 300 pounds more. When the time comes for surgery write down every question and concern you have and ask away! You can do this!

BTW...after the above mentioned 3pounds I dropped 8 the next month...

Take a deep breath and repeat after me....this stall will not last forever... They happen. I just finished a two month period where I lost a total of 3 pounds. 3 measly pounds. Stay on your plan and trust your body.

Not fun Glad you are on the recovery side!

It took a while for me to "crash" off sugar and that made me hate the world! It does get better....make sure you are getting your Protein and drinking enough. Sometimes though...I was just plain not a happy camper and I would tell my husband that I was HANGRY....hungry+angry. Not a good combination!

Super! Do what they tell you to and you will be fine! Best wishes!

I weigh daily and record once a week (on Saturday morning). For me, seeing it daily helps me keep it in perspective....it is not unusual for my weight to fluctuate based on salt, hydration.... When I was only weighing once a week, I never understood that because all I knew was I hadn't lost anything for an entire week of work. Now I know if I"m trending down for the week....and I'm actually less focused on the Saturday number because I know/understand that it will be different by Sunday!

First, congrats on the decision to pursue a healthier life! Know that this stage does NOT last forever and IS totally worth it to prepare your body for the coming surgery. I did things to distract myself....such as cleaning...which is not something I normally want to do! I think I was kind of "nesting" in that I wanted everything clean and neat when I came home. So even if it isn't cleaning find something to do. I'd also recommend trying to find some form of Protein shake you can tolerate. GNC has a clearish one (kind of like Kool Aide) that isn't thick like most...maybe give that one a try. The protein will definitely help the "real" hunger... Hang in there!

I wanted to know what the hospital stay length was and what the follow up schedule was...I had read that some surgeons do the sleeve as an outpatient which I was not interested in....also wanted a sane follow up schedule as I live over 70 miles from the dr.

LOL...I totally know what you mean. My neck gives "turkey" new meaning! Oh Well, I don't have to look at my neck when I'm out running, playing with my grandaughter or any of the other things that loosing almost 90 pounds has given me!

OK, I'll bite. I'm really concerned by your use of "NOT" and "refuse" in reference to a practice that at best can be expensive and at worst after surgery can lead to severe dehydration, chemical imbalances in an already compromised body and consumption of absolutely useless calories that would be better spent on Protein. Are you seriously saying that partying in the way you did your first three years of school is more important than the REST.OF.YOUR.LIFE? I know it will be easy for you to dismiss my comments as those of someone out of touch because our ages are very different....but I can tell you we ALL have to make changes in our lifestyles for surgery to truly be the tool that helps us get healthy. Drinking Water flavored with all the cool fruit they have in a bar seems like a relatively small price to pay compared to what you can gain by getting healthy. Sorry if I've offended you....but the point of the forum is to share the truth, even when it is not what we want to hear. Good luck!

For me, when I had enough room to examine it, it was nervousness about whether I could really do it...I didn't want to fail at what seemed at the time like a "last resort". I had that through about the first month of my 3 month supervised diet....but when I went in after the first month and met with the nutritionist ( a requirement for my doctor) and I had lost weight....I was like OK, I can do this. So let the butterflies fly! But have the net ready to capture them eventually because you will find strength and success in the smallest things and then you will know you can do it! Good luck!

I didn't have kids at home at the time but my husband and adult brother who lives with us were there....they can make toast. I cooked after the first 3 days and it didn't bother me...I like cooking so it was a relaxer for me. There were only a couple of times in the immediate after surgery that I thought....wow that would be awesome to eat...but it really wasn't a problem becuase 1 I knew I couldn't at that point and 2. I knew I could again some day

Right there with you....first time in 11 months I've had a gain for 2 weeks....total of about 2 pounds. We can get back on track and I'm going to beat the h e double hockey sticks out of that 2 pounds....they will not define or defeat me!

I too have struggled with overeating at times....I'd like to blame it on stress but I know it is a choice. I don't have the "waste food" issue though because I think it is kind a cool that I can order something healthy that I like and then have it for lunch the next day....and maybe the next....it's all in perspective people!

Good luck! It seems like you took your prep seriously. I do think it is OK to whine a bit....just don't drink any

Yay you! Thanks for sharing....I hope to join you soon...

Wow, that is a lot to deal with , sounds like you were treading Water there for awhile...congrats on not totally going off the deep end (OK, enough with the swimming metaphors). I'm glad you are starting phase 2....starting over sounds as if you didn't make progress the "first time" which you did....give yourself some credit for weathering the storms that have come your way! Good luck!