WLSResources/ClothingExch

@, I was at SparkPeople.com earlier. One of today's featured articles covers exercise tips for beginners and I thought of you. I haven't read the article, but it probably will give you at least some useful info. There are countless sources of info for people new to exercise That's cool, you don't have to read everything. http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=743

@@cheri02, later last night I wondered if I'd come across as negative toward you. I'm glad you took my message as it was intended. When you discover with little fanfare -- in a matter-of-fact fashion -- that what you want to lose weight and make amazing changes to your benefit in every conceivable way, you will succeed. It occurs to me now that you can work on a second list of why you've had little success in making the changes needed for the six-month program. Again, be brutally honest with yourself. Whatever you enter in the list will not tell you that you're failed or will continue to fail. They will teach you things about yourself, some of which you may never have been aware. Think of these incidents as another exciting part of the journey. "Cheri, meet Cheri."

I felt that way when I noticed my clavicle protruding.. I felt that way when I noticed my collarbone protruding. I still haven't decided which word I prefer. That didn't stop me, however, from doing that slight motion of raising my shoulders and moving them forward whenever I was in front of a mirror. I suppose it's an equivalent of making duck faces. Enjoy your lumps, @Missy407.

@@cheri02, you're asking questions that only you can answer. It sounds as though you need to be brutally honest with yourself in order to find out. The only way you or anyone loses weight is to change bad, old habits and feel positve about making the changes. It includes casting off the passive vocabulary. It's disingenuous and dishonest to say "...my eating has not really changed." It is you who must change the way you eat. If I were in your place right now and, by some fluke, was approved for surgery, I'd first sit down with pen and paper to craft a list of reasons that I want to lose weight. Each item on my list is specific and narrow. For example, I would write "To again wear my favorite black knit dress with red trim," not "To fit into smaller clothes." I'd work on the list over at least a few days, adding goals as they occur to me. Then, when the list is lengthy and seems rather comprehensive, I would take time to carefully consider whether I am willing to make the changes necessary to achieve the goals. I would hate to have surgery that would forever alter my innards if it were for no good reason. Weight loss, not surgery, is the ultimate goal. I don't know what was going on when you began to explore the possibility of surgery, so I'll throw in one more thing for in case it resonates for you. Too many people come along with not-good-enough reasons to have surgery. A common one is "to look good for my wedding." "Looking good" or losing weight in general is for a better life, not for a single occasion. I've come across women who had surgery and in fact looked fabulous for their weddings. Once the party was over, however, so was looking fab. How tragic to go through surgery for one day out of a lifetime, especially when you consider the divorce rate. Such a bad yet true joke.

Y'know, it may be that the votes against mentioning WLS in a dating ad extend to omitting that you've lost a ton of weight at all. Your surgery and weight loss are of great significance to you, but a stranger is unlikely to get it and doesn't really need to know before real getting-to-know-you process begins. Unless, of course, she has the same on her résumé. If you haven't used Ok Cupid, you might give it a shot, too. I can't say anything about it, but a woman friend likes it. Don't give up on the websites; people do have great success. Have fun with the bars, too. It'll be fun to hear how that develops for you. You're on notice now that, when the time comes, I'll be the self-appointed, superannuated flower girl.

You are the cat's meow, the man of the hour, the tiger on the loose. Just one little quibble: Take a look at your List of Changes and tell me that you haven't come a VERY LONG way. Ptish-tosh on "a very long way to go." You'll get there in 10 swings of a handbasket, whatever that means.

Then don't wait if you don't have to. Your London trip is no cause to delay surgery. As to your husband eating the "yummy" things, which might those be? Hmm? The four basic food groups: Sugar, salt, grease and starch? Break them down to their essence and they don't sound so yummy any more. In seriousness, you'll have time to think ahead about how to eat while you travel. Celebrating your surgery with a trip sounds mighty good to me.

You're talking about a tad more then two months after surgery or perhaps a little more. You should be good to go regardless of the procedure you have. Present the question to your surgeon/staff along with all your other questions. If you haven't yet taken the first step -- attending the intro info session -- you can pose the question there.

@@ld33 -- That's good. You may not have come across it yet, but more than enough people expect or hope for magic and, therefore, are alternately disappointed, angry or otherways miserable. My apology for misunderstanding that you were asking about feeling different in the psyche rather than the abdomen. (Did I get it right this time?) Your question is a new one to me and Interesting. You won't have your own answer until you wake from surgery, of course. Please post what you discover when the time comes.

You are a brave, little soldier now fully-fledged, to mix metaphors. I've never been numbed for an adjustment, having been told by other bandowners that the method is to be numbed by needle, much as a dentist injects before drilling. Where's the sense in that?

No reason not to try a bar or two. Eons ago when I went to bars I was sometimes aware of my own bias that the people I'd meet only went to bars. That's patently unfair, of course: You come across people with a full range of stories. If you dance, you're probably set with options. If you like trivia, you can find bars that have trivia nights. And more. Any bar-sponsored activity opens opportunities to begin conversations. At best, you'll come across someone you'd like to know more about. In the middle, you'll have had a pleasant evening. At worst, a blah evening, but at least it provided a change of scenery. Go with a friend(s) or by yourself. Try both ways to see how you feel once at the bar. After, you might choose to play it by ear: Solo when you feel particularly outgoing and with your own company if your mood is fair to middlin'. Okay, @@CowgirlJane and @@bikrchk cast two votes against an experimental profile to include WLS status. My reference to success was the type under your own steam and man-of-action, grab-the-gold-ring nature, not the success of coronary bypass itself, but their point is well taken. I was wondering. Great idea to view the whole bar-going effort as a way to polish conversation-starting style and possibly make contacts for many purposes. That's how I viewed job interviews if I hadn't been on that route for a long time. I'd accept interviews even if I knew I wasn't interested in the job just to have the practice and keep warmed up. @@RedJoy86, you do have to let us know how things go.

@@RedJoy86, I'll try to put together a few ideas that no one else comes up with to pass along. In the meantime, why do you think your online profile isn't getting attention?* What did you write about yourself? Which online site are you using? As to that last, I don't do the online thing, but our BP cohorts may have some input on which they prefer. Off the top of my head, how about a continuing ed class in a subject that really does interest you? At the very least, you'll be learning something that matters to you. * Don't say that you like quiet walks, quiet talks or things of that ilk. Everyone likes them. Mentioning them won't catch any eyes. LADIES: If you use the dating websites, would you respond to a man who includes his WLS and that he's achieved success with it? As long as he has other interesting attributes to go along with it? I'm thinking of the "achieved success" part at least as much to say that he achieves what he sets out to do as the fact that he isn't overweight. Should RedJoy try it at one site? (Sorry, RedJoy, to talk about you as though you're not here. And sorry that I seem to have forgotten that you're not looking for advice as much as hearing experiences. There's no way around it. You've got to expect to acquire some sisters and fairy godmothers. Maybe even some potential dates in your part of the world. Ooooh, that's it, you rascal! You are good.)

There's much to be said for shallow and vapid in those who really are neither. Enjoy it, Kindle, milk it. Strut.

If you mean "cold sores" on your lip, I've only heard the term as a euphemism for a type of herpes. I don't have it, so I'll just give you the common knowledge. You may have picked up the virus at any time, I think, and it waited until now to surprise you. Ask your regular doctor if there is a test to confirm the herpes virus. If it is, just don't kiss anyone or share forks, etc., while you have the boo-boo or feel one coming on, i.e., a sensation of something in the brewing stage. Doing so is a good way to lose friends and lovers. If herpes is confirmed, ask what you need to know so that you don't infect others for their lifetimes. Are you saying that you're leaking Vitamins or asking if you are? I don't know what it means to leak vitamins.

It's a rare surgery of any type that doesn't hurt right after to one degree or another. Different people have different pain thresholds. I hope your question isn't implying that you think weight-loss surgery is magic. Far from it. There is work to be done and there are habits to be worked on. That goes for the losing stage and the maintaining stage.

I repeat from last time: You guys are so cute.

I'm glad I got to this part because I was ready to grab FMcF by the hand to find that cretin with me and then FMcF and I would kick him or her, whichever it may be, in the shins. Hard kicks. The good news is that that person has to go through life being himself.

@@Valentina, the next time you go out during daylight hours, turn your face upward and feel the sun.

@@Valentina, you've clearly taken great strides in the past several years. You're never too old to start or resume something. To me you are a spring chicken. I was 61 1/2 when I had surgery, and how often do we count the half years? An R.D. is a great place to start. I hope your appointment is with an R.D. rather than a nutritionist and that the individual is knowledgeable about the nutritional needs and consumption capacity of someone who's had sleeve surgery. You'll find support here in BP. Another excellent source of support is an in-person, bariatric support group. I urge you to attend the meetings held by your practice and/or others in your area. Most welcome outside patients to the meetings. Welcome aboard.

You need to ask at your doctor's office about stopping prilosec five days prior rather than 10. I know nothing of H. pylori, prilosec or breathing tests, but it seems that you're asking a medical question or, if you follow your own desire, you may negatively affect the breathing test.

That's thoughtful of you. I may be back!

How wonderful that you're discovering that you deserve better on all fronts. You'll find good support here at BP. It would also be a good idea to take part in your practice's support group. Given your history, have you considered therapy as well? Taking on super-major changes can be daunting from time to time despite the most positive attitude. Working with a therapist can go a long way. Best wishes, Robyn.

Apologizing for sharing great news and happy excitement? I'll hate to see you when you're grumpy or asking for help or say that you're confused. And I'll carry on when I'm good and ready. Okay, I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMildi. You're on your way. Keep on truckin'

Me again. Work more steps into the day. If you drive to the supermarket or work, park farther back from the building. When you get home from the store, take one bag of groceries in at a time. If you use local public transportation, get on and off one station farther from your starting point or destination. Take the stairs for one or two flights rather than the elevator. As you lose weight and recognize that exercise is increasing your fitness levels, increase steps. Whatever it is, moving is better than not moving.

@, you wrote: "I am not an exercise person.... I am not a gym person, I would feel too uncomfortable in front of so many people. I have been looking at work out videos online but have found them to be more advanced and I need baby steps. I want to set myself up for success. Any tips for a very overweight beginner?" In no particular order or grammar, and some obviously following recommendations already given: Leslie Sansone's walking videos include one for indoor walking, meaning your living room. Don't recall the title; you ca find it in her listing. Do your walking outdoors, too. Keep a journal of things you see along the way -- the odd, beautiful, fun, whatever strikes you, whatever you may never have noticed before. It makes for a nice record of yet another aspect of your journey, literal and figurative. The "Sit and Be Fit" series (also a program on many public TV stations) provides a valid workout. Unless you do have mobility problems (e.g., spine issues), I wouldn't rely only on chair exercises. As an aside, though, there are many others in addition ffrom Sit and Be Fit -- e.g.,. Chair Dancing series. Your public library will have some for loan or be able to get others via interlibrary loan. If you opt for chair exercises, this gives the opportunity to test-drive before buying. SparkPeople.com and Livestrong.com have loads of videos and articles on starting an exercise program. Please, please ban phrases like "I'm not an exercise person" and "I'm not a gym person" from your mouth. They are another way of saying "I won't do it and you can't make me." Do go to a gym. Pay the daily fee for the Y or similar a few times to test the atmosphere and attitudes you'll encounter. YOu'll have opportunity to work with personal trainers who can guide you as you're ready to advance. Of course people will see your weight but they'll also know you've decided to make positive changes in your life. The good ones will be supportive and give you tips and encouragement. The ones who love working out will be especially so because it's human nature to share the things they love.* Many will be too self-involved to notice someone else. Anyone who may be sneery doesn't count. You have the right to live, be seen and thrive. You already know that because of your decision to have surgery. Definitely yes to cardio, but you also want strength training. Each has its own benefits that combine for maximum benefit. Cardio first, then strength. Sparkpeople absolutely has info on how often for each, etc., etc. * Many years ago, chubby and visiting a close friend in Boulder, I was noticeably heavier than she and her athlete-friends. As I'd just lost weight, I bought running shoes and huffed and puffed (a 25 ft above sea level resident at 6000 ft) on the bike paths near her house (she heard me breathing when I got back to the house). She told some friends of my purchase and first forays. Each was excited for me. Among them was the then-U.S. record holder for half-marathon and an Olympian. The salesman who helped me choose my shoes was just as encouraging. The good ones you meet will be thrilled for you . Go forth and be gorgeous and proud.