Spiceyfrog

So, how did it go? I remember in the beginning thinking when the heck are people going to start noticing and I think it was around the 50# mark. Keep up the good work!

Congratulations - all of your hard work has paid off. I am less than 5 pounds away and cannot wait until the scale reads 130!!

Congratulations and keep up the good work!

I don't think you can start too early. I started a couple months in advance and wish I would have interviewed a few more surgeons. I feel now, like I rushed in to it because I was soo stinkin excited. I am looking to have two more procedures around christmas, so am asking my bariatric surgeon for plastic surgeon names, when I see him on February...so I have more time, this time around.

I cannot tolerate meat, so I tend to eat the same thing(s) every day. For lunch I either have a greek yogurt, babybel cheese, 1/2C cottage cheese, 1/4C cashews, Protein bar (Quest, atkins, etc.) or some type of Soup.

I would be able to eat tacos based on the ingredients, but would never be able to finish an entire taco. I am seven months post op and still cannot eat hamburger. Have you tried a few tortilla chips with a lot of refried Beans, maybe some taco seasoning and shredded cheese? I bet you could even chop a boca burger or veggie burger and add that Protein if you needed more volume. You would still that taco taste, but a bit lighter.

@@DangerMouse007, isn't it funny how after you have a bad experience you really don't want to try it again? I have been told many, many times that I need to continue trying meat, but I am scared to death because vomiting is not really my idea of a good time :-) But, someday I will try again!

I always cringe when I hear this. I am so glad my program allows me to continue with Protein shakes! Even at over two years out if I didn't supplement protein with shakes and powders and bars I wouldn't be able to get in all my protein Same here, I would not even come close because my shake/milk have 33 of my 60 grams!

Love it!

The only food that I really cannot tolerate now (seven months post-op) is meat. Sometimes I do miss it, but most of the time I do not. I can eat turkey burger and some pork, but pretty much everything else is off limits for me. I, like you, am still able to enjoy things in much smaller quantities. Some people stick to their plan like glue, but I am a firm believer that "if" you can control what you eat, there is no harm. For example, when we go to McDonald's, my son orders what he wants and I order a fruit and yogurt parfait (no matter what time of day). I will eat 3-5 of his french fires, which satisfies my craving and have not done any harm in my eyes. Last week, we went to Logan's Roadhouse (they are famous for their dinner rolls). I ordered Soup and had two bites of a dinner roll and was satisfied. It's fine if people want to follow their diet to a tee, but I find that if I just have a little of something, my craving is satisfied and I am done with it.

@@BLERDgirl, can you share how you prepare veggie burgers from scratch?

The grill part of your question is just fine, but I would try BBQ sauce with caution or use sugar-free.

I did get a card, but have never used it. Like other posters have said, most items on the kids menu are crap and have no nutritional value anyway. I tend to order Soup almost everywhere we go (partially because I cannot tolerate meat) and if I don't order soup, I share something with my 10 year old.

This will be a huge learning curve for a very long time. For me, it was basically every time I tried something new. I can remember one time, I ate 1/4C of chili for dinner and was fine. The next night, the 1/4C was dirty, so I was lazy and used the 1/3C and it made me throw up. When you think about the difference between 1/4C and 1/3C, it's probably like a tablespoon and that made all of the difference. The first time I ate eggs, it was just a half of a scrambled egg, you will learn to error on the small side, if you don't like throwing up :-) Good luck, it will come with time.

Your hunger will feel the same as it did before, once you get to the point of feeling hunger (at least mine does). Take full advantage of not feeling hungry at this point in your journey. If I recall, it was a solid 4-5 months before I felt the hunger feeling again. Just like before and on any other diet, if you are feeling hunger, try drinking some Water. Nine times out of ten that will solve the problem. As others mentioned it can also be head hunger, so try to refocus your energy on something else, something that will take your mind off that hunger feeling. Hang in there and good luck!

You look great and congratulations on losing half of your total body weight - AMAZING!

Congratulations! Onederland is a great place to be :-)

I had a breast augmentation/lift and brachioplasty and I paid $11,100 out of pocket in Michigan.

Looking for some advise and/or encouragement from those who have had Brachioplasty. On December 29th I had brachioplasty and breast augmentation/lift and so far am not happy with either procedure, but that is another story. Since about day 3 I have been getting a sharp, stabbing pain in my left elbow. When I went to my post-op appointment last week, I mentioned it to the surgeon and he said pain is good because that means the nerves are reconnecting. After further conversation, he said if it continues and I am still getting the pain at my three month appointment, there are some further tests he can order to determine if there was nerve damage. I am still having the elbow pain, but now I have noticed that each night in the shower, as I gently wash that arm, no matter what part of the incision I touch, it creates pain in my elbow. It quickly goes away, but is VERY painful, like a knife. Has anyone else experienced this and if it did, when did it go away or improve? For the most part my incision is still numb and I realize it is still early, but I just hate having to be so cautious with that arm and really do not want to have to deal with this for three months before he decides to order further testing.....from washing it to not putting my elbows on tables, to the position of my arms while sleeping (still elevated). Thanks in advance!

I have just been gently going over them (one or two swipes because of the pain created) with a loofah and antibacterial soap, in fear of infection, I have by no means been scrubbing them. It did cross my mind that the incisions was very raised, but I know it early, so I am glad to hear of your great experience @jess9395. My arms were wrapped for the first week and when I went to my post-op last week, my surgeon said I could take the bandages off, so I am just two weeks out today. I know, like most things it's a waiting game, I was just concerned about permanent nerve damage, but time will tell.

I would call ASAP because nothing will make it better except medication. I developed it after my RNY surgery in June and just had it last week after my plastic surgery. In June they said it was caused from the antibiotics I had been taking. Apparently antibiotics kill of some good microorganisms/bacteria, which allows this fungus to multiply into thrush. It never even crossed my mind when I had surgery a couple weeks ago and as soon as I got that funny fuzzy feeling on my tongue and noticed it was getting white, I knew right away. The first time I was giving a liquid that I had to swish, swirl and swallow and this time I was given tablets to dissolve on my tongue. They were both effective, but the liquid tasted much better and was only in my mouth for one minute, the tables take about five to completely dissolve. Good luck.

@@Sunshine3073, I had a breast lift/augmentation and brachioplasty a week and a half ago and my insurance company (BCBS) paid the hospitalization/anesthesia portion, which amounted to around $6,000. During one of my preop visits the nurse asked if I had ever considered a tummy tuck and I said yes, but I don't know if I will be able to get it covered because I don't have a ton of hanging skin and these two procedures were more important to me right now. She said, if I were to come back when I am 18 months postop (insurance requirement), it would be covered, she said she has been billing for over 15 years and they have never asked for pictures.

@@leanora27801, you look fantastic and that is just amazing that you have lost 185 in ONE YEAR! Now, is not the time to let this stall bother you, keep up the great work, you are very close to your goal!

@@Kathy Coop, you have done an amazing job and look fantastic! Keep up the good work!

Congratulations, you look great! I am seven months out and stuck at 135, which is five pounds from my goal. It is frustrating because it was so easy for me to take the other 95 pounds off. I would like to blame it on the holidays and the fact that I just had my first plastic surgery and cannot exercise right now, but sure would like to get that last 5 pounds off.