heynowkc

Thank you for this post.

I know how you feel. I have been going through this since my birthday (Nov22) right before the holidays and throughout the holiday season. Now that the holidays are over I'm starting over again!

@@chesneyfan81 Thank you! I will call them!

If there are any sleevers in the Richmond / Henrico area who know where there is a support group that meets here (or would be interested in maybe starting one?), let me know. I lived in Fredericksburg and had my surgery in Fairfax almost a year ago. My time was split between Richmond where I worked, and Fredericksburg where I lived. I never got the chance to go to any of my surgeon's support group meetings in Woodbridge because of the distance and my work schedule. About 3 months ago (almost exactly) I moved to Richmond. I haven't been exercising regularly since the month before, and the 3 months after the move. I really need motivation and would love to talk to some others who have been through this!

I am not a thin person despite losing over 220 lbs. But to be honest, I don't actually feel like anybody treats me differently. Even in public where I'm a stranger. I'm still the same person I always was, very chatty (even with strangers, random check-out clerks, etc.) even when I was almost 500lbs I was always energetic and a tiny bit hyper, even if I was slow or in pain or sweaty or whatever. I've always been easily liked by most people. Always say hello, always held my head up high. I guess... I don't know. The way people respond to me just hasn't changed much. I can't say why. Maybe I had blinders on before. I guess for me the difference is/was... even now, I'm often the first to engage with people. If you're engaging them and you've got a smile on your face or whatever, it's hard for people to automatically ignore you. I have heard so much about people feeling as though they were "ignored" when they were at their biggest. I never really felt that. Maybe when I lose the next 100 lbs, I'll notice a big difference in how I'm treated by society/strangers/etc. But for now things are happily the same as they have always been.

I think my NUT (and probably most NUTs) refers to "fruit" in the more commonplace/widely understood culinary sense. As in sweet fruits like apples and bananas. And cucumbers/bell peppers/etc. = vegetables.

Perhaps your NUT was being overly dramatic? LOL. Maybe wait until you're on solid foods and then ask again. I started this journey at 491 and had surgery at 422. With so much to lose, I still barely eat any fruit and it is recommended to me only as a VERY occasional thing and only after I've gotten in my Protein. There are actually a LOT of things I am not allowed to have at all (rice, wheat, grains of any kind, Beans - yes beans! - corn, etc.) UNTIL... I get closer to goal weight. At that point I will have different guidelines to follow. Maybe he/she means no fruit EVER "for now?"

@@Dub That might be the greatest message board post I've ever read.

I just went there for the first time last week. I'm going again soon for sure. I was with someone else and couldn't look around like I wanted. Really liked the julienned root veggies. I bought two bags of those but that's all I got. Did not know they had sugar free chocolate covered almonds. Definitely going to check that out. AFTER my 5-day pouch test.

As of this week's weigh-in (Wednesday) I hit one of my major goals of 200 lbs lost since my highest weight. Here are my stats: HW: 491 (2.5 months prior to surgery) SW: 422 CW: 290.5 Total loss: 200.5!! I'm really exited to have hit this milestone. This month (and last month) has been my slowest rate of loss since surgery and it's been very frustrating for me (even though I'm thankfully not in a stall!), so it was good to make this goal this week! I'm still about 135 from my ultimate goal and my surgeon's ultimate goal for me. It's just crazy to think that I ORIGINALLY had about 335 lbs to lose and now I "only" (haha) have 135 to lose! It's been almost 11 months since my highest weight and I've come so far. It's mind-boggling to me. So, I don't know if anyone else has done this, but I totally threw a party this weekend to Celebrate my accomplishment and invited all my friends/loved ones. I also happen to be moving (about an hour away) this week so I guess technically it was a farewell to my fat party and just a general farewell party! Haha. Definitely something worth celebrating. This is the first proper party I've thrown since surgery, and it went really well. Just as an NSV I feel like parties have historically been very food-centric for me. Snacking the entire time, always going back for more. But this was different. I thought it would be tempting to keep snacking on small amounts and that I would over-eat, but I absolutely did not. This really is a new me! Oh! And I made a really yummy cheesy riced cauliflower dish (made the recipe up myself) that everybody loved! So that's always a plus!

@@linzlou2000 Yeah I didn't see many people who had to do a 12-month program, let alone the 12 months of coaching. Very glad to know I'm not the only one. Looks like your surgery is coming up! I'm just over 9 months out. Good luck to you!

Yeah I also had Anthem BCBS and did the 12 months with a MyActiveHealth coach. If she didn't do the MyActiveHealth bit, that may be the reason she was denied.

Thanks for posting this. I just bought a box of Quest double-chocolate chunk bars at GNC yesterday. I'm going to check the ingredients when I get home, if it's got it, I'll return the box, and then try a single bar (on a day I don't have anywhere to go! haha) to see if I have the same reaction. I'm hoping not! I don't eat Protein bars much, but they are good to have around sometimes! Funnily enough I just tried the quest pumpkin flavor yesterday. Brand new flavor that was just released today. I split the bar with my roomie so I didn't eat the whole thing, but I didn't notice any reaction. Maybe that's a good sign. Thanks for posting this. I just bought a box of quest double-chocolate chunk bars at GNC yesterday. I'm going to check the ingredients when I get home, if it's got it, I'll return the box, and then try a single bar (on a day I don't have anywhere to go! haha) to see if I have the same reaction. I'm hoping not! I don't eat Protein Bars much, but they are good to have around sometimes! Funnily enough I just tried the quest pumpkin flavor yesterday. Brand new flavor that was just released today. I split the bar with my roomie so I didn't eat the whole thing, but I didn't notice any reaction. Maybe that's a good sign. ETA: I just read the part about them already being in the s'mores flavor. I have never had a problem with the s'mores flavor so I think I should be good.

I'd say this is a case where it might be good to carry some good Protein bars with you. I found this helpful when I went to Texas over the summer, especially on the plane. As for eating out at a restaurant, that can be tricky. A few months ago I got a little card from my surgeon that allows me to order off any kids menu, but the truth is I am not sure it's even really needed. Most waitstaff seemed happy to accommodate me even BEFORE I got the card. If you're eating at a restaurant, that could be the way to go depending on where you go. Lately I've seen a lot of grilled chicken options on kids menus. But a lot of times it's hamburgers and chicken fingers, which aren't the best choices. Sometimes you can order a side a la cart of grilled shrimp or other lean meats. Also if anyone in your dinner party is getting a salad you can always add grilled chicken on the side. I have utilized many of these tricks at least once! Since you'll be with your hubby it'll be easy for you to just add a little something to his dinner and just eat that. Maybe get a side of veggies if you need to. As for the game and tailgating, I have little experience with that. If there's a protein other than sausages/hotdogs then I'd stick with that. Grilled chicken or even part of a burger patty would be good!

I never had a lot of hair loss. I think this is because in the years prior to surgery, my body had already gone through the ringer in terms of anemia and being not only completely vitamin/mineral deficient but being so low on Iron that I had to have blood transfusions. I'd experienced some hair loss/excess shedding in the past due to these issues, but this was an extreme case and I'm lucky it was never noticeable to anyone else during that time. I suspect that the hair loss that many experience after surgery is somewhat related to the same issues. My only suggestion would be to make sure to take all of your Vitamins, make sure you get in your Protein and veggies, and closely watch your numbers and take extra iron IF NEEDED. (Too much iron is bad for you, so don't take it unless your numbers indicate you need it!) If your numbers are still low, it's worth it to get them up to where they should be so that you can hopefully see results (in less hair loss) in a couple of months. I didn't write any of this down, but I would say my excess shedding probably started a few months out from surgery and tapered off by 6 months out. I did get a shorter (not super short, just slightly above shoulder-length) hair cut around that same time. I can't imagine that would have stopped it completely so it must have just been timing. Everything is fine since then. I was nervous about the hair loss like everyone else, but honestly, my experience was so mild that if I hadn't been looking for it, I might not have noticed it at all.

Agreed. Swimming / water aerobics was my first post-surgery workout of choice.

I got my surgery date on a Wednesday afternoon exactly 2 weeks prior to surgery. I was at work and had to work late that night and wouldn't get home until 10PM. I packed my dinner. It was something healthy, I'm sure! I was eating so healthy in those days I'd lost almost 60 lbs by then (In 2 months!) I was allowed to have Breakfast the next morning before the drive north to pick up my liquid diet materials from the doctor's office. So my last meal prior to the pre-surgery liquid diet was a few pieces of bacon and 2 fried eggs - cooked by my mom. I don't even think I had biscuits or toast with it! SO BORING! I ended up losing ~12 more lbs on the liquid diet, -70 overall from my HW. I do kind of wish I had had some kind of "fancy" (or just indulgent) last meal. But it seems silly now. A little over 9 months out from surgery and almost 220 lbs down from my HW one year ago. No regrets!

I haven't bought much, to be honest. I'm a few days away from being a year out from my HW (when I started losing) and I'm just over 9 months out from surgery. Thankfully I know a couple of ladies who have lost weight and periodically have given me some clothes. Pants,, shirts. etc. I've bought a couple pairs of pajamas in smaller sizes, a couple swimsuits, paid a small amount (basically shipping costs) for another WLS friend to send me a handful of items, and my sister in law bought me a couple of shirts about 4 months after surgery. Without her generosity and the hand-me-downs I've received, I would be lost. The biggest purchase I've made so far is work pants. I started at a very tight-fitting size 34 pant. I lost 70 lbs prior to surgery, and not long (maybe a couple months?) after surgery I ended up buying 5 pairs of 24 pants in the same style/brand I was used to wearing. They were a favorite when I was at my highest weight and they are stretchy ponte pants (from woman within) and I knew they had "room to grow" -- well "ROOM TO SHRINK" haha. I couldn't fit them at that point, but they were on sale and I picked 24 a bit arbitrarily. I am in a 24 now and so a little while ago I started wearing them -- and I'm kind of wishing I picked a 22 instead. But these will easily last me for the next few sizes at the minimum. If you need pants, I definitely recommend checking out the woman within stretchy ponte pants. I am embarrassed to admit I still wear some of my bigger tops and pants on occasion. But I've gotten rid of most of them, especially the pants. I kept a few "emergency" pieces, but they (the pants) are probably going in the dumpster (they are in no condition to be handed down to anyone) very soon. Possibly even this week. Funny story, I was wearing some of my old clothes on a Lowe's run recently. I just moved and needed to pick up some hardware, and I had never shopped in that store before and didn't know any of the associates or anything. The woman checking me out looked at me and (very nicely) asked me if I've lost weight. I told her yes and couldn't help but asking, "how did you know??" and she said. "Well, your clothes don't fit!" Haha. DEFINITELY time to start replacing things. But I'm still so far from goal and am still losing pretty steadily so I'm not sure I want to invest a ton of money. And I totally agree that it's STILL really hard to find plus size clothes at consignment shops and good will. Even after all the weight I've lost it's basically pointless! Might have to see if I can pick up some relatively cheap items at Walmart, just to get me by! (At least I've got my pants!!)

Hey everyone! I just wanted to drop by and say thanks for all of the encouragement! I posted this just a few days before a big move and I've been so busy in the three weeks since the move that I haven't really had a chance to pop by and see all of your comments and to say thank you so much for the support and encouragement! I truly appreciate it! I hope all of you are doing well, especially those at the start of your journey!

Thanks everyone! It's been a true whirlwind! You're in luck, everyone at the party was already asking about this, so I typed it up this morning. Here is the recipe, @@MarciaN : KC's Cheesy Riced Cauliflower 2 T butter1 med yellow onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, diced 1 large head cauliflower, grated 1/2 - 1 cup chicken broth 1/4 c milk 8 oz velveeta/easymelt/processed cheese, grated 1 T dried parsley flakes (optional) - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. - Add onion & garlic and sprinkle with salt and pepper. - Saute for about 4 minutes or until onion is soft/translucent. - Add cauliflower to the skillet and mix with the onion and garlic, (add more salt+pepper if desired) stirring about 1 minute. - Add chicken broth and cook for an additional 6 minutes or until cauliflower is soft and almost all of the liquid is evaporated/absorbed. (You can add more chicken broth if you have a particularly large head of cauliflower, which I did!) - Add milk and stir. - Begin adding shredded cheese a little at a time, stirring until melted. Add more as desired. (The actual amount will vary depending on your personal taste and how big your head of cauliflower is.) - Add parsley flakes, stir and cook until any remaining liquid is cooked down (Should already be cooked down, but I think I added a little too much milk to mine!) - Add to serving dish and enjoy. (I grated the cauliflower with a regular cheese grater, but you can also use a food processor and pulse it -or use a grater attachment- if you want. Also, Green Giant has started selling bags of raw "cauliflower crumbles." I have seen them in the produce department at the Super Target.) Nutrition info: I plugged this into My Fitness Pal and calculated it for a half-cup serving (Roughly! I think my recipe made AT LEAST 8 cups so I calculated the recipe at 16 half-cup servings, this might not be exactly right) this is the nutrition info for 1/2 cup: Calories 63, Fat 3g, Carbs 5g, Protein 4g

Congrats! Looking good!

I have trouble with shakes as well. While I don't do bars regularly, the best Protein bars are probably Quest bars, they have the most protein/fiber and very little actual sugar, although they do have sugar alcohols. You can order these online or get them from GNC or the Vitamin Shoppe. My favorite is the double chocolate chunk which is their lowest calorie bar as far as I remember. All of their bars are good and range in calories from 160 - 200. I like: S'Mores Apple Pie Double Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter and Jelly The Cookies & cream (oreo) one is good as well but I get tired of it easily. Everyone else loves the cookie dough flavor and it is pretty good but not my favorite! The new mint chocolate one tastes like eating a stick of gum to me, so definitely not loving it! If you don't like milk-based or milkshake type shakes you might try Syntrax nectars protein powder. They have some fruit flavors (fuzzy navel, caribbean cooler) that you can mix with Water to make a juice-like drink or stir into some greek yogurt! They also have a Cappuccino flavor that I have yet to try. One thing I really have liked that I tried recently was mixing some of my pre-made shakes (Premier Protein vanilla) into any flavor of fat free, sugar free instant pudding mix (2 cups of the shakes, and one small package of pudding mix, pistachio is a fav!). So you have your own protein pudding. You could portion the mixture into individual size containers that way you could take them on the go!

I can't help but wonder how it's going for you! I am right where you are weight wise. I can't wait for 299.