CanyonBaby

I am right there giggling with you...you made my day!!! These things just BATHE our egos, and rightly so! You have worked SOOO hard, and it is SHOWING!!! WELL DONE!

Just a simple follow-up: What do I have without Him? Not much, and nothing for the future. What do I have with Him: everything, and eternal life.

This is geared to the persons of Christian faith, be advised! Looking for love in all the wrong places? Been there, done that, and more than once, I'll add! I've been married before, divorced, dated any and all kinds of fellas over a period of years, and, I was living in Las Vegas at the time. Not much luck. Dated a bunch of real losers, and some pretty decent guys, but none that "fit" just right. I was getting on in age, losing my chance at having a family if I didn't "act" soon. So, I had me a chat with the One who made me, and who would be better than He who made the "one" for me? But I had to find him, and I had had no luck up to this point. So I made a list, just of the things I wanted and needed most in a life-partner. He could be fat, he could be bald, he could be a cop, he could be tall....but most of all he had to have a sense of humor! Then I decided to TRUST. Trust the One who made me and the One who made the "one" for me. I put the list in His hands, let go, and left it with Him. At the time I was seeing another fella, but he was just there, nothing special (sorry, Chuck!). One day, at my office, I heard some steps behind me. I turned around and saw a man standing there. I looked at his ring finger, no ring! I looked at him, REALLY looked at him and said to myself "THAT'S HIM!!!", the "one" I would marry. We chatted for awhile, he was new to the office, then went on our merry ways. Next day he asks me out. I told him I couldn't as I was seeing someone else. Poor Chuck didn't see it coming. I went to Chuck's and, as nicely as I could, dumped him. He never saw it coming, but then neither did I! After 2 months, which I felt was a reasonable amount of time, I asked the "one" to go out on a picnic, and we did. We dated for 2 weeks, then became engaged! He said he knew the moment he first saw me, and I said the same! We got married a year after that and have been married now for 18 years. So what is the big deal? How did I KNOW he was the "one"? My husband was chubby, balding (now bald!!!), is a cop, is tall, and has one heck of a sense of humor (he married me, didn't he?!)! Not a big deal? Well, that's where the best part comes in. My husband, who was the "one" made for me, by the One who made me, is exactly (EXACTLY) NINE MONTHS - to the day - YOUNGER THAN I. He was, indeed, MADE for me!!! So, if you truly want to find the "one" made for you, make your list, let the One who made you do all the work, and TRUST. You have to do this 100 percent, otherwise it will fail. Oh, and by the way, this works for dream houses, as well! Found ours last May. This list thing works like a charm! TRUST.

Welcome to your new life! You will find all kinds of supportive folks here, just ask a question - someone is bound to answer! If you use the search box in the upper right-hand corner of the page, you will find posts on just about every bariatric subject. I highly suggest the use of this tool, as it can answer so much, from others who have gone through the sleeve and other surgeries. Also use the different forums that pertain to your subject of interest. You can even find a bariatric pal there! Good luck to you!

Hang tight, you'll do fine! If you have any questions, just ask, or use the search feature in the upper right-hand corner of the page. All the best to you on your new journey!

Welcome! You will find lots of support here, so if you have a question, just ask! Someone is bound to answer. And don't forget about the search feature in the top right-hand corner of the page. You can find info on just about anything bariatric there! Good luck to you on your new journey!!!

There are probably a few different things going on here, including hormonal changes and the fact that you are not eating very much, if any, fat anymore. I, too, had terribly oily skin prior to surgery, I imagine it was because I was the BUTTER QUEEN! Now I have to put a very thick and LUSCIOUS cream on it (CeraVe in the big tub, find at Walmart), and do that twice a day. Summer will be worse as it is far drier here at that time of year. But think of it this way: if it's leaving your face, it's leaving other areas, as well!!!!!! Yay!!!

Have you tried drinking tepid water instead of cold? I will get nauseous from time to time (still- 4 months out) and it is usually because my stomach doesn't like cold water yet. It will, in time, I'm told. I also use water enhancer drops to help the water go in easier. Good luck to you...

Try having scads of sugar-free popsicles on hand, and EAT them! GaryG suggested Tropical flavor, which I have yet to find, but they sound awesome! Get RID of the stuff that is harmful to you, just get rid of it. Keep on hand things that are good for you, and follow a schedule. During the times you are not scheduled to eat, have a plan of action. DO something to take your mind off of eating. Garden, start a new craft, clean the house, DO something. Call your best friend, give support on this site, DO something!!! You CAN succeed at this, have faith in yourself! Write when you need to , someone is bound to answer. All the best to you....

@@My Bariatric Life Exactly. What the word means. It calls for definitiveness; and in the human world, in my opinion, it is hard to use that word as there are so many variables in life. And since there are as many opinions, viewpoints, and belief systems, we also must tread carefully when evaluating one another's faiths. Faith. It is what I live by. The very definition of faith, in MY book, is believing in things not seen. I don't have to SEE love to know it is there. You cannot SEE love, but TRUST that you have it, by a loved one. By the things they do, say, and eminate. My Lord Jesus died on a cross for me over 2000 years ago. I didn't have to see it to know it happened, I didn't have to see Him rise again to KNOW He DID. There were eye-witness accounts and recollections. I, fortunately, had the blessing of being raised Christian, but I didn't come to REALLY know Christ until I allowed myself to see what He has done for me. In all of my life and the adventures I have lived through, He has shown me repeatedly He was there, and in control of the situation(s). How? By the way things worked out, whereas things could have turned out SOOO differently if I did not trust in Him to handle it. And He did that because I asked Him to. In most cases, not knowing what to do, I would ask Him to take control, and whatever He saw fit to do, or have me do, would be ok by me. Thy will be done. This is where faith steps in, and trust. I trust Him to do the best for me, because He promised He would, and has made it more and more abundantly clear every time I LET Him have control. The biggest rut I see people have in following this path, is themselves. It's kinda like that trust game, where they tell you to fall backwards into someone's arms, and they will catch you. You can't see them, but you KNOW they will not let you down, will not allow harm to come to you. You just have to trust. The more you trust Him, the more you see what miracles can happen as a result. What stops EVERYTHING in it's tracks, in my opinion, is when the person all of a sudden STOPS the trust, and takes back the task. So why should He continue on? Since we humans know SOOOO much, why should He step in and take back the control. Arrogance on the human's part? Fear? Whatever the reason, you are no longer trusting the One who made you, who promised you (because you believe in Him and what He has done for you - that cross-thing again) to fulfill the promise, or do what you have asked. One thing we must remember, as Christians who believe in creation and in the fall of mankind, is that we are still human. And this is a broken world. Bad things happen, and many times, with no apparent reason. But there is a reason. And those "unanswered" prayers ARE answered, just not necessarily in the time-frame we would like, or the answer we WANT to hear. We must accept what He has done, or not done, as His plan; and in OUR eyes, for better or worse. It goes back to the faith-thing. We MUST trust that what happens, what answer is given (or not), is part of the plan, and GO WITH IT. I could tell lots of faith-stories that I have experienced over the years, but what works for me is not necessarily right for everyone. And not everyone will have the same results, as we are different people, with different plans. I am married to a police officer. My faith (and my husband's) carry us through VERY difficult times. I have had many serious health issues over the years. Once again, my faith steps in. I have had loss, and I have peace. Because I believe in Heaven and an eternal life with Christ in Heaven. He lives in me, and I in Him. He loves me, and I love Him. He died for me, and I would die for Him. He rules my life, and I let Him. Because of this verse "I also know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. When things get tough, scary, sad....I repeat this verse, and it gives me comfort, peace. Doubt will always rear it's ugly head, because we are human. We LIKE to have control. We NEED to have control (at least in our minds). That is where trust and faith come in together. You ask about getting 100 percent doubt-free. Not possible, as humans. But God, who made us, KNOWS we're human, and steps in to show us those miracles WHEN (but not always!!!) we show faith. The more you learn about God, with an open mind, the more you will WANT to learn. I hope this LONG dialogue helps answer some of your questions. You've heard the phrase "Leap of Faith", well, that's what it is. I have leapt, been caught, and am eternally grateful. Thanks for asking, and thanks for listening!

Being a day off for us, my husband and I went to town. It is spring, now, so it's time for motorcycle gear. New for me, as I am 50+ lbs lighter than last fall, so a new jacket and helmet were in order. Lo and behold, a size large as opposed to a 3x (motorcycle jackets tend to run small) for the jacket!!!! And a size small (does this mean my brain shrank, as well?!) for the helmet, down one size. Then, the dress I had ordered on line came in the mail, so I tried it on. Down to an xl from a 2x! I looked in the mirror, and for the first time since I started all this in November, I thought "WOW! I look GOOD!!!!". I NEVER expected to see that "skinny" person again, and even though my husband tells me all the time I look great, you still have to hear it from yourself, you know? Kind of a "self-affirmation". With my new haircut, my "new" body, and a few new clothes, it sure turned my light ON! SO! For my motivation to keep losing, this is now going to be my motivation: whether or not I have money to spend, I am going shopping. Not necessarily to spend, but to keep my motivation going on losing the rest of my excess "baggage". When I feel depressed, sad, un-inspired to keep going, I AM going to go and shop. I WILL try things on I have never had the nerve to try on before. I WILL find that desire to keep on my path. And I needn't go broke doing it, because I DON'T have to spend money to find VICTORY in my experience! ONTO THE STORES!!!!!!

Can't blame you one bit! It is scary going back to school, thinking you have to compete.....but I realized when I did it (back almost 25 years ago - I was 31 at the time - law enforcement academy, and ALL men there...talk about scary...I came in 1st in class, 4.0gpa...but I digress...) that I was there for a reason...I WANTED TO BE THERE! It was what I loved, what I WANTED to do (as opposed to high school...I didn't WANT to do that!), so why not enjoy the ride? I really threw myself into it, and relished the challenges set before me. Scary, YES! Worth it? ABSOLUTELY! And even though I never became a cop after the training, it helps me to understand what my cop-husband deals with day in and day out, and I can help him. Once you get back into the swing of things, I think you'll really enjoy it, especially if it is in an field you love. For me, learning is a joy, and something to look forward to. Have fun with this, make it something to look forward to. It may be your last schooling days! Good luck to you on yet ANOTHER new journey!

Every person will have their different results, so I can't tell you yes or no. My own experience is this: diabetic on Victoza pre-surgery. Stopped meds prior to surgery once my fasting number went below 100 three times in a row. NEVER yet went back on them. I am diligent about my plan, and PLAN to stay in remission, but there is no guarantee. This was the number one reason why I had the surgery. The weight loss is a BONUS! The numbers go down gradually after the surgery, so don't expect it to be gone immediately. And the A1C test covers months of cell activity, so if your test was, say 2 months BEFORE you started your pre-op diet and had your surgery and your post-op plan, it will include all of that in it. You will need to have it tested again after at least 3 months from your surgery date to read a correct test with just your post-op plan. That will be the true result of IF your diabetes is going into, and staying in, remission. You will need to always be tested, as well. Genetics plays a strong role in diabetes, but it is not the only contributing factor. Staying diligently on your post-op plan will be essential to get and stay diabetes-free, but again, there are no guarantees. Good luck to you!

Time. Don't rush the healing, for fear of further injury. Good luck to you!

Oh, I hope you start to feel better about this. There is no doubt that this is serious business, but if you are seriously concerned about this, you need to talk with your surgeon so he/she can explain exactly what goes on, and what you can expect. If you're a person of faith, you always have that to rely on. It carries me through EVERYTHING. And I've had 22 - TWENTY-TWO surgeries. You will have a very peaceful sleep. You will wake from that sleep without remembering anything. You will have pain. It hurts to heal. Bottom line. There is always a chance of complications, and in virtually every aspect of life there are risks. The way I look at is this way: Yes, I can be nervous about it, by WHY not wait to be nervous until right before the event, and save myself some unnecessary stress? And by then I have realized that it is not as worrisome as I had previously thought. Hey, these guys know what they are doing, they've had how many years of experience? Who am I to question their ability at this? Do I trust my heavenly Father to bring me through this? Good questions to ask yourself, as well. Come here for any questions, someone is bound to answer! You are NOT alone in this! Good luck to you, sweetie, and all the best...

God Bless you, sir, you have hit a rough spot, indeed. We're with you, and are praying for your complete recovery. Keep us informed!

Try the water-enhancer drops in your water. It seriously helps getting in what you need! If the cold water hurts as it hits your new tummy, try tepid water for awhile. Good luck to you and welcome to your new, healthy life!!!

@@Luvin_Life125 As I was laying in bed last night, TRYING to get to sleep, I was thinking I should tell you what I have learned about the Sleep-Number beds. First, if you can, try it out somewhere before you commit. If you know someone who has one, ask to try it for a night, or for a few hours, to see if it will work for you. The big downside of Sleep-Number is that once you buy it, you can exchange it for another one if you don't like it or it doesn't work for you, but I don't believe you can get your money back if you decide it isn't for you. So make 100 percent sure you LOVE it before you commit to it. They tend to be very expensive, and if you don't like it, or it makes your situation worse, you may be stuck with it. What my husband and I did was get a twin size, xl, to fit alongside his twin xl regular mattress, to fit on our king size frame. It works well that way. Another point is they tend to be HOT. Especially in the summer. I purchased the warming/cooling pad that fits on top of the bed, and a fan pushes either warm or cool (NOT cold) air throughout the pad. Each setting has 3 fan levels, but the room temperature needs to be at about 72 degrees for you to really notice the cooling effect. And then it has just a regular fan that pushes through room-temperature air, if you choose. The fan is rather loud, but I have learned to ignore it. Ask to hear it before purchasing it, because again, you can't get your money back, they just exchange it for another product. My husband doesn't notice the noise, but a bomb going off wouldn't wake him, either! Not sure how long the fan will last, and again, it is expensive. One nice feature about it all is the fact it is so lightweight. The mattress, with all the upper pads, are quite deep, requiring deep-pocket sheets, or at least the sheet grippers to hold them in place. It took me a LONG time to finally find my correct number, and that still changes from time to time. My set-up is as follows: the bed, the 2" memory foam pad, the heating/cooling pad. We adjusted the box spring on my husband's side with additional composite wood panels to accommodate the height of my set-up. Now they are the same height, so the bed doesn't look weird! Good luck in your endeavors, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Welcome to the site, and I hope you find the support you are looking for, I think you will! I am not what you were looking for, but I just want to say that no one here should judge you, and shame on them if they do...it's NOT what this site is about. You are here as legitimately as anyone else, and deserve ALL the support you need and/or want. You just ask all the questions you want, someone is bound to answer! You are NOT alone in this, we're here for you! All the best to you on your new journey!

Well done! You should be very proud of yourself, and always keep that dedication you have... it will help you win the battles you have yet to face. I am glad you found this site, it should really help you with any issues that may come up. But with your attitude and go-getter mind-set, I think you're going to do great! Thanks for the inspiring story, and good luck to you on your journey!

I guess the best thing would be to ask a pharmacist. They may have a really good suggestion for you, or might be able to point you in the right direction by suggesting where you could find them...they may know of an alternative source. Good luck to you!

I am so sorry you have to deal with all this CRAP. And sorry about that word, but I couldn't think of a more appropriate one! Where I live in Washington, we have a pharmacy called Medicine Man, where they create medicines specifically for those who wish to be organic in all aspects of their lives. They create all kinds of hormonal therapies ...based on a doctor who specializes in this kind of medicine's prescriptions. I have yet to look into it personally, but I'm wondering if they can make special concoctions for specific Vitamin needs. I see you are from Wisconsin (I was raised in Minnesota myself), but if you are near a bigger city, you may just have a pharmacy like it. It might be worth checking into specialty Vitamins, perhaps a liquid blend that would be better on your new tummy. They may just have done this before, and it would certainly be worth looking into. Just an idea. And thank you for always being willing to help out, and to answer folk's questions. And for having eloquent ways of answering, MUCH appreciated! Hope you have a great day tomorrow!

@B Autumn And thank YOU for the thanks! It certainly isn't something he or I hear much, especially these days where cops are now the "bad" guys. He loves his work, and wouldn't do anything else, and most of the cops we know feel the same. I also have fibro - had it for years. Doesn't help having it alongside everything else. It sure seems to me that those of us that have it, also have so many other issues, as well. And I think someday there will be a revelation as to how they are all connected. Long after I'm gone, I suppose! But today was a good day, lots of gardening, husband home for the day, able to get the doctor's appointment for tomorrow, SUNSHINE!!!!! Need I say more?! Hope everyone has a wonderful day tomorrow!

@@ridingrae That V-8 idea is FANTASTIC! So much so, I also got some Clamato, and added the unflavored Protein powder (and my powdered Calcium citrate!!!) to it, and WOW, was that good! 60 calories per 8 ounces, 12 carbs. What a really great change of pace, and it just hits that spot! Thanks for the idea!

@@Luvin_Life125 Since you've been sleeved, have you noticed any issues with the sleeve in regards to having to take so many pills? Have you experienced any ulceration or pain or has any of it been "thrown" back at you? Any negative results? I am curious as to how these things are affecting my sleeve, and was wondering if anyone had had negative effects from Vitamins, prescribed meds.... Have you noticed a greater production of acid? Sorry if this is intrusive, only answer if you feel comfortable. Thanks!