WLSResources/ClothingExch

As someone who has not had bypass surgery, I'd say you're fine. The Water isn't spilling out from your fingertips, you're not in pain, you haven't vomited, etc., etc. From here on, though, do be mindful of your intake and how you take it in. Use any little trick to help you remember. Example, put a kitchen timer or alarm clock or shoe on the kitchen table or any place you'll notice it easily, but don't usually place the item. You wouldn't even have to use the device. Its being noticeable in an unaccustomed place will keep you on path.

Fie on technology.

Is the question my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to feel like Audrey Hepburn of "Roman Holiday?" I'd be a fool to pass it up. Near the end of the movie, a reporter asked which of the European cities she'd visited had been her favorite. She began a politic reply, but quickly switched gears to be true to her heart, "Rome. By all means, Rome." By all means, the clothing exchange, six years running. It started from pure, unadulterated selfishness. A few months after surgery, I needed a new wardrobe, but knew it would be the story every two or three months. As a participant in one of the local med center's support groups, I volunteered to arrange an exchange in conjunction with a meeting. We did it twice and it was a wild success. The location was problematic, though, so I set out to identify a compatible organization to host us. Partnering with a non-profit that outfits underprivileged women who are entering the workforce has been ideal all around. What isn't adopted within our group is donated for the host's clients. The neutral site gave me the luxury of including WLS people from other med centers in the area. I've just extended the invitation to the bariatric practices' non-surgical patients -- common goals, common needs. In the early I became aware of how much I enjoy seeing others re-outfit themselves as they go along. We have fun in the process. Even people who are uncomfortable about wearing pass-alongs stop in to bring things they no longer wear. I'm especially grateful that it makes me happy to see people finding "new" things despite my having gone in reverse with my own program. It reassures me that I'm not done yet.

Maybe what you saw as "cooling" was his feeling more comfortable with you and starting to get past the initial "being on best behavior" stiffness/formality? He may also have been impressed by your taking a risk. Good for you.

Just tried a couple of times on one post. Both times, I got an error message, paraphrasing it as "your effort at registering a reputation thingie won't take." Also, when I click open and review notificaitons (I do it from the top-right of my laptop screen), I can go into each notification in the list. Howeve, when I check the very top box to clear all at once, they don't all clear -- only one at a time. FYI

Then it took a l-o-o-ng time for the first click to turn into a "like," so long that I forgot I'd clicked. In the words of Miss Emily Litella, never mind.

SparkPeople.com ran this three-part series, "Think You're Too Heavy to Exercise?," to encourage and reassure newcomers to exercise and weight loss. Part 1, "Getting off to a good start" -- http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=584 Part 2, "How to keep going when the going gets tough" -- http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=587 Part 3, "Tapping into the mind-body-spirit connection" -- http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=589

@@2goldengirl, I think the insurance company has much to do with it and I get the feeling that the process has become more complicated that it was in general when I went through it 6 1/2 years ago. As I've said, I was seeing a therapist at the time -- not about weight, but about live overall. She wrote a 7-sentence letter and that was it. She indicated that I understood what I was in for and was ready, willing and able to follow the program. There's also the problem of some people communicating poorly. More than once posters have said that their own surgeons require the lengthy, involved psych eval, a procedure into itself, not that it was the insurance company. There's no way to know how accurate those posters may have been.

One of the "stars" of SparkPeople.com (I'm really not touting Spark, but I've been a member since my surgery) is a woman who started at about 460. She, too, started with the hand cycle. She's a non-surgical weight-loser. It's taken years, but she's now about 220 and still at it. For those are immobile because of weight, injury or some other physical disability, one of Spark's teams is Chair Exercise Team. There are lots of options online for chair exercises, videos, et al., easy to find by googling. The team, though, has a sticky topic listing much of what's available. For anyone wanting to take a look, here goes: http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_individual.asp?gid=32265 Among its own videos (see the Articles and Videos tab) are quite a few chair exercises positioned for people who have desk jobs. Fyi, Spark is not geared to WLS, but many members have had surgery and there are at least several teams for them. So that I don't seem to be 'selling' the website, let me say Livestrong.com.

I don't think there's anything wrong with it either. What I question is what some people report as a two-hour battery of questionnaires and questions. All that's needed -- and rightly so, I think, given the life-changing requirements and nature of WLS -- is that the individual understand that there are risks and is capable of understanding and following instructions. Some other, small aspect, too, which eludes me at the moment. Methinks that no one questioned the OP's telling her psychiatrist, unless I misread some posts already in place?

You've had a long, uphill journey, but see how far you've come. People who have the medical issues you've listed are freed from them after losing weight. Other health issues are greatly improved. That is signicant, indeed. If your surgery practice has support groups, start attending. You can also check with other hospitals in your area, as most welcome people from other practices to attend their groups. Not only will you find support and expand your world, you may even develop a friendship or two that goes beyond the group. Of course, take part here in BP, too. As an adult, you have a say in the food on the family table or, at least, which of it goes into your mouth. Your family is negative about surgery out of ignorance. It may matter very much, however, that they are generally supportive and loving. Invite them to a couple of support meetings with you. When they hear and talk with others who have had surgery or or planning for it, they'll have an opportunity to better understand. Their getting insights may also make things easier for you, as trying to make your own family understand often is a task and a half. In the end, if they are still opposed, well, so be it. This is about your life, your health and your future.

There are tons of exercise resources for people at all levels of fitness. So many who are obese and hesitant post in BP to ask for guidance. If we could have this topic as a resource specifically for beginners, it would be terrific. The number of offerings could become overwhelming, but better that than people remaining fearful or clueless.

@@FluffyWW, you have much to do, but think how good the timing is. You'll be so nicely shorn of fluff in time for summer. Your surgeon is at Montefiore? I'll be posting the next Greater New York Bariatric Surgery Clothing Exchange info in a few minutes. Watch for it in the lists of topics screen right. You certainly will be welcomed if you're free. I hope you'll also be notified at your surgery practice, as some Montefiore bariatric staff are on my contact list. Welcome to BP. It's a great place for support. Fun, too.

@@Inner Surfer Girl, my friend, you're the sweetheart of the Duplicate Demon. It's been happening to me on and off, but I'm less beloved by it.

@@katanne, before you spend a few hundred dollars on the stranger to do your psych evaluation, you may want to find out from your medical plan and your surgeon whether an evaluation/statement/recommendation from your own shrink will serve the purpose. When I was in the pre-surgery stage, my own therapist, a psychologist, wrote a seven-sentence letter to say in essence that I was psychologically fit for surgery. No extra charge. I've begun to wonder if surgeon's who insist on an eval for their own files are doing so to protect themselves from potential malpractice claims. Does anyone know whether malpractice insurers may be requiring something along this line? So many BP posts describe lengthy questionnaires and grilling that it seems a cottage industry has sprung up.

I do see the little red numbers at upper right of my laptop screen. Not always, so I don't know if I get no "likes" at those times or if they system is malfunctioning. Many people have had less than full-throttle connection to the site lately. Last night when I tried to log in, I got an "error" screen saying in different words that the site was out to lunch temporarily. I don't recall the name of the "error"-delivering url and I'd never seen it before. My guess was that BP was down to take care of system repair. No idea. @@Alex Brecher, can you shed some light?

Someone hit "like" on my last post, so I got a chance to see the above sentence and have it sink in. Going to a meeting where people are doing well is better than a meeting where everyone is moping, lost or feeling sorry for themselves. Just as the others at the session speak up about what's on their minds, it's up to you to speak up about your difficulties. People aren't mindreaders. Jump in to get a discussion going if you want help in figuring things out for yourself. It's your meeting, too.

I use my laptop rather than app-y things here and also find that the system has been weird for a week or so. When I first signed on to BP, I was getting emails, but they got out of hand. I switched to no emails (with the exception of Newsletter and maybe one other thing) and rely on the top-right corner for the red numbers that indicate private messages and the likes/you've been quoted/you've been mentioned notices.

No idea what that might be. I thought you were referring to the number of bedrooms in your house. Google didn't help. You don't need to make excuses or explanations. Two things will say all that matters: Your walking through the office door and the number on the scale compared to the number the last time you were there. You're fine. Don't make a bigger thing over regaining weight than is necessary. Restarting with a liquid diet makes no sense to me. You're not recovering from surgery, so it would feel like punishment. Making wise food choices and sticking with human amounts is the thing. Why not eat the way you did when you were losing weight so nicely? My suggestion to see the dietitian was based primarily on the idea of reconnecting with the world of weight loss and in case you needed a refresher "course" on planning meals. Take it for what it's worth. Get 'em, Tigress.

Happy Dance Happy Swim...Happy Laps Here's to displacing that much less water in the pool (something I'd been aware of in the bathtub)!

A picture won't mean anything. Call your surgery practice and ask about the port. Let someone take a look. It may be that it came undone from its mooring, in which case it will need to be repositioned. Another possibility is that you're merely noticing that it seems to be in different places when you are in different positions. Again, go in to be checked for your peace of mind instead of feeling terrorized at home.

I'm so sorry about the tragic loss of your grandson. That you spiraled off track is completely understandable and maybe even expected. There is no need to be negative about yourself. It means something important that you now want to take control again. There's also no need to fear going back to your surgery practice. Like you, I undid most of my good work and, as soon as I get a better handle on a few other, major things that need my attention, I will make an appointment. I've always told people who've lost their way that the surgery staff has seen and heard it all before. They want us to succeed and will always welcome us with encouragement. Make the appointment, see the dietitian, have an esophagram to be check that your band is in good shape and position, have an adjustment if indicated and build a support network. Track your food and start an exercise routine. If your practice offers a monthly support group, start attending it. If not, check with other practices in your area. Most welcome patients from the competition to their meetings. You can do this. The proof is that you've done it before.

Yes, it is as you think, made from semolina and of the same caloric value. I'd think it would be considered a soft food, but see what other responses you get.

It will help someone in BP to help you if you say where in Texas you're located. Alternately, you can check the website of the manufacturer of your band. If it is the Lap-band brand, go to http://www.lapband.com/ Another option is the "Surgeons" tab, above.

You've had a bad, unfair run lately. Nothing I say will change anything, but maybe I can shine a little light. At a job of yore, when things turned difficult or glum, we'd cheer ourselves by recalling that "You can't fall off the floor." Smash the stone to smithereens.