ValerieInMexico

You look fantastic, healthy and happy!!!!! Congrats!

I enjoy reading about the start of peoples journey. I have several friends, that would really benefit from this surgery and they just do not know anything about it. It is the best way to lose a lot of weight and have a chance at keeping it off, It is hard work, for sure, but the stats show it is one of the only way that morbidly obese people can lose and keep weight off, and it actually resolves so many health issues. Best of luck to you!!!!

I know the frustration. I almost through my scale out the window. Ended up going to three different offices to try their scales. All around the same. So, I am reading blogs and posts here on what other people tried. I downloaded a new app, BodyFast. I am working on an Intermittent Fasting program that is pretty easy to start. This stall is broken. Try it out. I chose a program where the fasting times and durations vary per day. Yesterday, and today, I have an 8 hour window to eat. I aim for 1000 calories. I go to the gym or do cardio 6 days a week. Good luck! We have to out think our lizard brains and mix it up

Mikey, high protein, low carb diets can cause problems for some people with kidney issues. You do not need 100gm of Protein, but good that it is not animal protein. Can you consult with a dietitian? For most people having bariatric surgery, high protein, low carb is the best choice, but a dietitian may want healthy carbs in the mix for some. There are shakes here in Canada, vegan, with a lot of greens in the shakes. Even fermented vegetables. Also.... beware of constipation! Just saying.... that fiber is important. 1000 is pretty common for pre surgical diet, I think. Best of luck. Really happy for you and GREAT attitude!!!

Those strangers in the OR really, really, really have a lot invested in a successful, uneventful procedure. They want a great record of success, remember that. It is normal to have anxiety before surgery. Deep breaths. Keep busy. Come here and look at the photos and postings of the successful people.

Very, very wonderful results! You look happy and healthy!

I had a telephone consult, to get a ball park figure, for a lower body lift. I am going for an actual consult on Jan 7. The surgeon is a well known surgeon in Newport Beach, CA. He does aprox 4 lower body lifts a week. The person I talked to told me that, just to give me an idea, the cost would be in the mid 30 thousands. Basically, I would have to choose between buying a new car and travel for a few years.... and this procedure. I may have to give up my retirement and go back to work for four years. That would be a huge choice just to look good naked. My lumps and bumps are well hidden with clothing. I have gone for a consult in Mexico already, with a very well known surgeon in Guadalajara. I have seen his work on arms and its amazing. I just have not consulted on lower body lift yet. I will do so in January as well. I just want to choose someone who does this body contouring full time. Some surgeons do about one body lift per month. It is a lot to think about. If I were young, I would do it. I would take the financial hit and really live life to the fullest. At 62,,,, not so sure.

I do not think you are over reacting at all! I have lost two trainers. The first got sick and died *brain cancer. I was devastated for his family and for myself and all the people he had helped. I could not find another to replace him and, in six months I found I had gained weight and did not feel strong. I found another one, eventually. Again, he became my mentor and my cheerleader. He decided to go back to Uni to get a degree in Physical therapy. I was so sad, but he did something for me. He talked to me about what I liked best about himself and my first trainer. He asked what I need from a trainer. He then talked to one of his coworkers and made a match! I asked for someone who would provide tough love, not accept my excuses, believe in me, cheer my success and they must have a good sense of humor. Mandy, is fantastic. Actually, just what I needed. She is a young woman who is a Mom of three kids. We just clicked! So, can you ask your trainer to recommend someone to fill in while he is gone? He knows you. He knows what you need. Good luck! PS: I need a personal trainer at this point in my life and probably, for ever. In the past I switched to small group training and that was great too. I just need a commitment to show up somewhere!

Hello, fellow cracker addict. I had to cut out refined carbs, wheat, grain completely. It took years of not being able to get off the last 30% of my excess weight. I feel so much better after cutting that out. I do have dry roasted almonds when I need to crunch. They are my protein for a meal. Very satisfying. Good for you for coming here and telling us about it. You are on your way!

A small fee would be OK, like $50, that is the fee charged by those locally. I would agree that the other two are very confident and know you will want them. Who is #1. That is amazing work!

.... I feel terrible that I feel this way but I’m struggling every day to be positive & proactive with my health etc. We love each other & will always be there for each other . Im just feeling a need to be around people that are like minded. It’s soo difficult when we change & grow because it does affect our relationships. Makes me sad I can really relate to this. One of my very best friends discourages me from losing weight. She has so, so many very serious health issues that are related to smoking, diabetes , high blood pressure, peripheral arterial disease etc. All of her friends have come to help her when she is hospitalized. She is one reason I am so driven to get my weight down to a normal, healthy BMI. She almost lost her feet last year. Still, she started smoking again, does not follow a diabetic diet, just does not take care of herself. She is beautiful, inside and out. Very caring and kind. I just have to distance myself a bit, because I need to spend more time developing relationships with friends who are on the same, healthy, journey. I will always be her friend, but I can not derail my plan in order to help her with her chronic illness. Not when she refuses to change. I can't watch her self destruct.

shawn, is it the actual surgery that is making you anxious? Or, is it the life after the surgery? If this is your first surgery, I think it is normal for some people to get anxious, especially if they fear surgery in general. I have never been anxious about surgery, yet my sister has always been. I love the drugs they give you before..... then you wake up and its all over. Think positively! And, nothing wrong with taking adivan if it is helping you. PS, I don't use drugs, but I like to think of the silver lining and for me, who has had a lot of surgeries, I love the falling asleep part of the sedative they give you.

Do you think you could persuade him to come to this community? If he read that he is not alone, and others develop addictions after bariatriatric surgery, he might connect with someone who has the same issue and can provide support.

Hmmm. Were they fresh strawberries? Did you chew them well, or slice them small? I used to have problems with bananas when I bit of a piece. I think it would get stuck. I now slice them lengthways, so they are not round. Theoretically, you could have bitten a piece of a large strawberry, that could block the stoma. Just an idea. Eventually it would break down.

The logging food is so key. Even when you know you are going to be over. ESPECIALLY when you go over. You see patterns. If I look back on the days I am over I see I make the same mistakes. Today I had lunch with a friend, and there were two landmines. One was match stick fries cooked in truffle oil and seasoned with garlic and herbs. I shared a serving. My portion was 200 calories. At the end of the day, what do I see? I am 175 cal over my goal of 1200. If I can learn to not snack, or just have ONE fry instead of 20, I would never be over. Oh, the other land mine was that she had a brownie with ice cream for dessert and kept offering me a bite. I told her that, for me, one bite could trigger are carb bender. I told her its as if I am a recovering crack addict and she just offered me a little bit of something narcotic. She got it, and promised not to do it again. We have to ask our friends and family for support.

I was six days out from a RNY revision surgery, a few weeks ago. I did so well preparing for the surgery that I decided to postpone it. The procedure I was going to have is one where the Roux arm is lengthened and the stoma reduced in size. The modification of the bypass has a 15% chance of complications. My surgeon was confident in his ability because he has only 1% complications with this procedure. If they are just working on your pouch and stoma I would not worry. That is low risk. I am losing weight again, slowly. I have learned so, so much from this forum. I have been reading the books and watching videos that are helping me understand why I am hungry. It was 2000 when I had my bypass. There is so much more information and tools available now. I am relearning how to eat properly and how important vitamins are. I will wait six months before I decide if I need the revision surgery. My suggestion is, study up and copy what the new RNY patients are doing. I feel I am a born again bypass patient. Best of luck!

Holy Moly! This is my last week at my casa in Mexico, then back to Canada. Its dinners and lunches for the next three days! Tonight it is dinner and a show with a friend who I really enjoy. We are foodies, but worse: wine lovers. Last week my will power lasted about 30 seconds and I agreed to split a steak and share a bottle of wine! Dang! Tonight I chose a restaurant that has lettuce wraps and lettuce tacos. Also, sugar free ice tea. Can I stick to my guns? I will bring my mobile phone. If anyone thinks about it, message me encouragement. 5:30 Guadalajara time. That is Mountain time I think. That little friend of mine, a diabetic, smoking 98 pound 70 something woman will live to be 100.... eating steak and drinking wine and smoking. Me: I am trying to be a pesca vegan tea totaler*sp. So.... I will be thinking of all of us who are struggling this weekend. I will say "cheers" with my sugar free icetea to our health!

Thank you!!!! I did very well. I almost fell off the tracks when I ordered an espresso and they put two little cookies on the saucer! I gave one to my friend and hid the other one under packets of Splenda so I did not have to look at it!!!

Your program sure is not serving you well. Sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders. You have figured out what to do. Any fluid should count towards your hydration. Good luck!!!!!

Deep down, I know the truth. It really helps to hear from people who have made their goal. I have been following "A pound of cure", and that is a program that allows fruit. My bad kid, brat-brain decides I can eat as much fruit as I want. Of course, that does not make sense. I will cut back to just berries, once a day. Thanks for the reminder. I will read the obesity code.

It has taken a long time for me to accept that I will never get to my goal weight if I do not completely give up wheat, sugar and most important: wine Even though I have cut my wine or drinks down to just a glass on a special occasion, the days following that drink are the ones I go off plan. When I get home, I want to snack. It may take two or three days for me to get back on track. I have only had 5 days, in the past 2 months where I did not log everything. Four of those days are days that I had a drink and went out for dinner with friends. It is like the sugar/carb cravings come back. I am ready to give it up for good. That may be what it takes.

I think your description of how your felt about food, after surgery, will really help people. What a great couple!

Great attitude!

Wow! Hope he is doing well! Just think positively. I hope you have some back up!

I found that walking helped the pain so much. The some nurses would tell me I was over doing it, but others would encourage me. I had an RNY, not laparoscopic. For me, if I know why I have pain.... it is not scary and then I can handle it. Of course it will hurt because it is surgery. I tap my wounds lightly, send love to my hurting body part, and keep moving. Pain meds are important to take immediately after surgery. Good luck with both ankle and surgery!