OKCPirate

BTW, nothing is really clear in this area...when you really dig deep calorie counting is a daunting deep hole: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2011/12/08/why-calorie-counts-are-wrong-cooked-food-provides-a-lot-more-energy/#.ViPg_vmrTx4 http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263028.php http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-is-a-calorie-emma-bryce It is a relative measure but an important one. Just understand that this should not be a complete freak out area, but one that should be tracked carefully but with an eye toward reality. And remember calories burned during exercise is not an excuse to eat more ...https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/why-you-shouldnt-trust-calories-burned-on-exercise-machines/ Here is why it matters: http://www.acrwebsite.org/volumes/v42/acr_v42_17017.pdf (we do think we can eat more it we see calories burned)

@@smb1966 - That is a GREAT question. It's tough and requires great discipline. I like the myfitnesspal.com site. But remember not all of foods have been verified and I have found some to be very inaccurate.

@@proudgrammy - It always cracks me up with a woman who chooses the moniker Proudgrammy to welcome a guy with a "hey dude" Please don't stop, but it makes me smile every time you do it. @@DistillerDave - welcome to the losers bench, can't wait to hear about your progress. You join a long line of lurkers who thoughtfully looked at this before doing it, and IMHO that is the right thing to do.

@@Alex Brecher - Dang straight. I did Protein drink research pre-surgery, and I have several buckets of protien powder sitting in my cupboard that I wish I could do something with. But I found what I like, thankfully before surgery so that was one less thing on my mind.

Read some of the stories and testimonials on this post...it will remind you why you began this journy and where you want to go...http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/195065-you-know-you-lost-weight-when/ God speed on your journey.

congrats, what a nsv. pick your obgyn well, hopefully with input from your nut.

@@Joseph44 that is so cool, GREAT job. well done

looking back, I quit drinking first, then changed diet, then weaned off coffee and soda, but i was in the gym or walking everyday. all the changes were made gradually with a written plan. I had to stay on top of my game for work and didn't have bad withdraws energy level was always good. it was a three week process

we all heal at different rates, but you will heal and it will much easier

You know the fatigue at one week out may be more of a tell that you had surgery than the food choices. I'm rethinking my previous position. I'm going with the "bag it" crowd.

Good article, highly reflective of one of the best TED talks ever: https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame?language=en

@@Bufflehead - HIPPA is not worth the paper its printed on anymore. Two things happened...one was ObamaCare, which put most people's insurance under the watchful eye of the federal government and there, well think of all the privacy the NSA, TSA and IRS afford you. But bigger than this was Economic Stimulus Bill of 2009 which created the computerized medical records act. The problem with that one was it allows sharing of billing codes linked to your information through third party providers. So they can track the drug choices your doctor makes by linking your pharmacy records (also included) with your doctor's billing code. Oh, so while they didn't "tell anyone" that you have the clap, the fact you got a pelvic, and an antibiotic on the same day is about virtual certainty that you do. You have to work really hard to keep things to yourself these days. Too many databases. And its not just government, big pharma, and insurance: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/02/16/how-target-figured-out-a-teen-girl-was-pregnant-before-her-father-did/

That is so cool about the necklace. Very cool. My son got me a 46" jacket for Christmas last year, and I thought, "oh dang, no way this is going to fit, and it did, little tight then, but it looked good. Now it looks great. And he likes it when I wear it at events and post the pictures on FB. The kids are looking at the INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MOM and are happy when they see that necklace on you. It may have embarrassed them when it didn't fit, but they love it when they see it working mom.

Probably not sleeve related. Migraines can be ocular. Google it.

@@laguerr13 - just lost my taste for beer, so no lust there, but last night, I found a very good Ethiopian restaurant in OKC (Queen of Sheba, absolute hole in the wall, but food and story is great), and me and the girlfriend just shared one plate. More than enough for 1.2 stomachs.

@@Michelle Tarver - I feel for you. A 'Hail Mary' might be talking to your boss. Explain the insurance problem, how that you need light duty for a month for the sleeve to heal, but you like your job but want to go to Mexico and get it done. See what they are willing to do. costco has a decent reputation for being employee friendly. It never hurts to be honest and ask. All they can say is "no" which is where you are now. And remember, some of our people have gone to extreme measures to get this done. There is a funny story how this lady was two pounds two heavy after her pre-op diet and she insisted of getting weighed again and she took off everything to make weight. That's the guts and determination required to make it sometimes.

Opps, sorry, the link disapeared...https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_loftus_the_fiction_of_memory

I only tell people who could use the surgery themselves. Everyone else get's "moved more, ate less" when they ask, how did you lose weight, which is true. But for new year's eve I posted this on FB And then on Jan 1 posted this Just a reminder some years you can accomplish your goals

When I was two weeks out I had to go to a dinner with a major presidential candidate, and they "honored" me by putting next to his wife. I just worked it out with the event staff at the hotel to make sure I had nothing but soup and Water. No big deal.

Did they check the gallbladder? Very close to same symptoms and pain as a heart attack. My mom had the same run-in, three trips to the ER before they figured it was gallstones. We are at increased risk, it was in the fine print.

@@VSGAnn2014 umm, coconut? might be getting a mounds craving with Halloween coming.

@laguerr13 "sometimes I regret not being able to finish a meal that is excellent" Dude you have to start thinking about the joys of leftovers...it used to be "an excellent meal." But that just made me full and uncomfortable for that night. But when I go out now, it's three excellent meals. Steak and eggs in the morning is the best.

@@WLSResources/ClothingExch Laurie, good post, reminds me of this TED talk on shame that was very powerful...https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame?language=en

@@TheProfessor - well said Doc, nice summery too