butterfly23

Why are the NBA Finals and the NHL Finals at the same time? Both seasons are super long, couldn't they arrange them over different weeks? Why I'm at it, why are the NBA playoffs (not finals) only on cable and not regular TV? At least the finals are on a non-cable station (and start today, Go Warriors!). Lastly, why did ESPN keep using our ex-coach (who we fired) to be the game announcer so he could make digs at us? Did I say go Warriors?!!!

@@BigRed808 congrats on your approval - do you have a date? Best of luck as you prepare for surgery!

@@tanyarahmes not weird at all, in fact there are lots of threads about this - just search "food funeral". Congrats on your approval and your surgery date!

@@Proud2BMe that is awesome. Congrats on your success, I noticed that you have lost more pounds than you now weigh which is amazing! Take in the compliments, you deserve them for all your hard work.

YAY! It will be here before you know it.

Totally agree @@Kindle! No WLS regrets, yet my gallbladder infection 6 months post-op because of rapid weight loss (cholecystitis sure is painful!!!) was by far the worst part for me.

@@BariBlanca congrats on your success thus far! Glad you posted...hope you find inspiration here like I do.

This applies to many on this site. I was high weight of 421, surgery weight 385, current weight 245 and I'm not done yet! You can do this!

@@ophelia150 I do not have the balloon (had sleeve) but just wanted to say best of luck, you can do this!

@@Inner Surfer Girl fantastic feeling, yes? I did the same last month and after being required to get my suits online, it is liberating and worth celebrating. I can't wait until you post about you surfing as a NSV - it will happen! And you'll be in a cute swimsuit to boot!

@@sbdooly73 yes you will make it through this! The first few days were tough for me, but just keep looking towards your surgery and trust that by doing this liquid phase, your liver will shrink and make the surgery easier for your surgeon and recovery easier for you. You got this! Congrats to your son!

This is fantastic, thanks to both of you for sharing! Love the visual and the tips in the article. Another good mindfulness and eating resource http://thecenterformindfuleating.org

@@anitavee oh no, that is horrible. Glad you are there though so they can give you fluids. Let us know how you are doing I truly hope you feel better.

@@FocusOnMeNow so fantastic! Must feel amazing, you've worked so hard to get here, celebrate! Enjoy shopping in your new sizes

Exactly one year ago today I got my sleeve. As part of my process of losing weight, I have decided to post my story. Warning, emotional dump below. Thank you to everyone who reads. I am so grateful to BP and to everyone who has the courage to share as I learn and am inspired by your stories – so I decided to post my own. I cannot imagine going through WLS without BP and you all. Figuring out why I got fat – and how to heal myself I have literally spent the past 30 years in different types of therapy trying to figure out why I do not take care of myself, love myself or feel worthy of love. Through the process, I have learned a lot about myself, done some hard work yet was still very overweight (high 421) and struggled daily with basic self-care. I am a social worker and have also spent the past 25 years working in the helping profession, yet I was not helping myself. I am so grateful to be able to say now that I am taking care of myself, really for the first time in my life of 44 years. Thank you WLS. I have been in talk therapy on and off since I was 14 when I tried to kill myself because of nightmares and flashbacks from childhood trauma that scared the hell out of me. I was in a group for sexual abuse survivors for many years because of the sexual abuse from my grandfather - a known sexual perpetrator that my mother moved into our house for free babysitting. I have done focused healing work on my abuse from him and the immense abuse and neglect from my mother. I have done somatic body work and EMDR for trauma, couples therapy with my husband to work through how my trauma and his trauma trigger each other, a formalized emotional eating disorder program for my binge eating (and of course Weight Watchers numerous times, nutrisystem, South Beach, Optifast, you name it) and copious amounts of psychoanalysis, CBT, solution-focused therapy, hypnosis, acupuncture, psychotropic medications, self-reflection and journaling, self-help books etc… And I weighed 421 pounds. Enter my decision to get the sleeve. I had been resistant, buying into the myth that if I tried hard enough, I would figure out how to take care of myself and not overeat. After struggling with enough energy at 421 pounds to run a non-profit, take care of my family and go to school for a masters in social work, I took a year off from school and signed up for the weight loss program at Kaiser. I always heard that in order to take care of others you must take care of yourself, but for some reason I thought I could be the exception. I was finally motivated enough for WLS. A year later I got my sleeve at 385 pounds, and today, exactly one year after my surgery I am at 253 pounds with another 100 to go. I could never be here without WLS and my learning to finally and truly start taking care of myself. I realized that the solution was inside me the whole time – realizing that at my core, I felt I was a bad person and had to show everyone else this by my weight. I was using my weight as a boundary because I couldn’t say no or take care of myself. In addition to WLS, I have started mindfulness training, worked hard on self-compassion (based on Dr. Neff’s work) and letting go of the shame that kept me big (Brene Brown’s work). I still have a long way to go, but today I wanted to honor how far I have come from the scared little girl who was traumatized to the adult I am today who finally is not scared to be healthy and take care of herself. Happy one-year surgiversary to me!

@@dunnadunna sounds like you are ready for the 27th! Congrats on kicking the nicotine, that is not easy! Shows that you are really committed to WLS, yourself and your family. Glad you found BP, keep us updated.

@@Inner Surfer Girl thanks for this! I love the "surf the urge"- only heard about this concept a few months ago and have really been trying to use it. My mantra is "any positive change" and identifying small steps which are more easily attainable.

@@Kathy812 thank you and congrats to you on your own success! I really appreciate everyone who took the time to read my story here. I felt really vulnerable being so honest and worried no one would read or care - but you all really honored my experience and I am so thankful. I took advice shared here about celebrating - went to the farmers market and bought some flowers and yesterday splurged on a pedicure. Didn't spend too much overall but really felt like a treat! I also started work a collage, which I will post when done as a creative outlet of my experience with WLS. I also forgot to mention that I have incorporated gratitude practice into my day as much as possible to re-train my brain. Today I am grateful to BP and this forum for us to learn, inspire, heal, laugh and sometimes cry about this crazy WLS experience.

Wow - I really appreciate everyone's kind words and support! @@2goldengirl I am not sure what I will do yet celebrate as it will be after May 11 when I graduate with my masters degree (yikes, I cannot believe it) which honestly is reward enough. Thanks for your support, I guess I am celebrating in my own way by this post! @@reree6898 thank you and congrats on your success! Yes, prioritizing self care is hard and I always erroneously thought it was selfish if I did - in fact, it is selfish if I do not as those around me suffer. @@liposuction68 I appreciate your sentiment as I do not really have the $ to purchase anything right now but I your post made me think of making something (ritual?) to mark this time so thank you for that! Perhaps a collage. @@byebyebmi thank you and isn't Brene Brown amazing? So inspired by her research and techniques. @@Valentina sometimes liking ourselves is enough or for me at least not hating anymore. That is many positive steps forward! Of course I'd prefer to always step forwards, but WLS (and stalls!) have taught me that often it is one step back but then two steps forward. @@Inner Surfer Girl you awesome! I am trying to barter a trade for a massage with my partner and I know you have one coming up soon too.

This is a huge study - almost 200,000 people and the results should be taken seriously although I agree results need to be replicated as any generalizable peer-reviewed research should be. It is hard to link to a journal article as most are in a paid journal, but reputable sites like Medscape have a lot more info on this study than the mainstream media outlets. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/861991

@@Inner Surfer Girl, yay! You deserve more than an ata girl, in fact you deserve a massage! Bask in your success, you have earned it and thank you for being such an inspiration and always taking time to share your experience and wisdom.

@@Kittymappus I am so jealous! I am about to graduate with my MSW and wish I had a chance to take a class with her...and yes, I found Brene Brown too (and she is a social worker, yay for social work!) and between their work, I have finally found my solution and am gaining the skills to address my shame and self-hatred through self-compassion. I hope you are successful at getting into one of her classes!

@@Inner Surfer Girl -- love Dr. Neff's work and have posted about it before. Her book on self compassion has helped me be successful with my WLS as lack of self-compassion was why I got so big. I am so inspired that I am going to try to go to one of her Mindful Self Compassion workshops later this year if I can save up the funds. I try and use her techniques daily and it has transformed my life....so much so, that I gave over a dozen of her books away to friends this past Christmas. If you haven't gotten her book, I highly recommend it (less then $10 on Amazon). It all started with her TED talk, which I encourage you and others to check out if you have not already. http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/The-Space-Between-Self-Esteem-a

@@Monie717 not only normal, but expected (and for many, will continue post-surgery with hormone dumping). For me, enhancing my emotional regulation skills and ability to sit with moments like you describe has been one of my biggest goals since I used food to cope for so long and knew I had to change that to be successful. Best of luck this weekend, Monday and beyond!

@@J.lynn thanks for sharing! It is refreshing to see this trauma-informed approach integrated into fitness coaching.