byebyedarkpassenger

If you get a December date, that gives you a month to train the puppy not to jump on you or any other people. It's a good lesson for the rest of his life so why not start now! There are a ton of YouTube videos on the subject. I looked up "train puppy not to jump" . Here's one, for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLeGDj6WOCE. Good luck!

My BFF of 20+ years has seen me exactly once since surgery. That was over 2 months ago. And she lives 1.9 miles down the street... My advice: It's worth clearing the air with your friend - give it your best shot before walking away from the friendship or letting her words fester in your head.

Goal weight 199. I'll get starting weight on Monday. Thanks so much for organizing another challenge again, Steph! And good luck to all participants. We can do it!

Final weigh-in: 223.6. Why couldn't my stall start next week instead of last week! Thanks so much for doing this and congrats to all participants! No onto the next challenge...

I've noticed a huge difference pre and post surgery. I tell people I've become thinner and dumber. I have a friend whom I beat at a word game online at least 8 times out of 10 and this has been going on for years. Then suddenly after surgery I could not for the life of me beat her. Now I'm back closer to winning a bit more than half the time but still feel like I'm not as sharp as before surgery.

I'm in! For the four remaining days. This is just the inspiration I needed - I've slipped up over the last 2 days. Thanks and chugalug, everyone!

CW 223.8. Have a great week everyone!

I'm in VA, have a plan through Obamacare, and it covers WLS. CareFirst PPO silver plan. I was really lucky that the plan didn't require a 6 month supervised diet and I was approved before I even knew the surgeon's office had submitted the paperwork to the insurance co. This is the first time I've had insurance that covers WLS and I'm grateful every day that treating my morbid obesity was made AFFORDABLE and ACCESSIBLE.

Today I weigh in at an unbelievable 226.8! I couldn't be more thrilled.

To those of you for whom the days of shopping in the large size section is a thing of the past, congratulations! I'm at the very beginning of this journey, still buying plus size clothing, and thought it would be interesting to see who else here gets frustrated with the "fashion" industry. What are your gripes? I'll start: - Fabrics that cling to every lump and bump on your body. - Capris. They're a two-fer: They make me look more rotund and highlight my cankles at the same time. What a bargain! - Why does it seem that stores never have in a large size the one cute thing that catches your eye in the smaller sizes?

Weighing in two days early... 135.4. Thanks Stephh! I meant 235.4. Wishful thinking!

So here I am, six weeks out and doing extremely well, and so grateful that my journey has been so smooth. And now for my next hurdle: I have managed for the past six weeks to eat the vast majority of my meals alone or with close family. The thought of eating with others fills me with dread. I inevitably become the focus of attention, people comment on what I am and am not eating, on my weight and physical appearance, and then the conversation turns to how fat everyone feels (regardless of their size) and then talk of diet and exercise. Ad nauseum. Every. Single. Time. Aaaargh! So I have avoided eating with other people. Problem is, I'm going away for 4 days with people who know of my surgery but with whom I have not shared a meal since surgery. Then I come home and have a house guest for 3 weeks. So like it or not, I'm going to have to deal with eating around others. Have you felt the same way, and how have you managed it?

Thanks for the laugh! Yup, this describes my routine perfectly! Oh, and I'd add looking forward to the scale the morning after a haircut!

My plan discourages soups, at best they say to strain out the excess liquid and just eat the solid bits.

Thank you for your thoughts! I have to say that every reply has resonated with me - from bristling when people question whether you're allowed to eat something, to avoiding going out to dinner... I've also "prechosen" menu items before going out. All really good tips. You guys rock! As for me, well it's time to suck it up and use all my tools to get used to eating with humans again...

My sense of taste only changed for a couple of days, about a week after surgery. I couldn't tolerate any type of Protein drink, apple juice or applesauce but white grape juice was ok. Everything is back to normal now (6 weeks out). The list of foods I am allowed is still relatively narrow but I LOVE to smell food. I'll detour and drive down streets with savory food smells every chance I get. It doesn't make me hungry but really satisfies this need to "experience" flavors.

Thanks for sharing! It sounds like a wonderful option for people who might need it.

What has kept me from emotional eating (so far) are the following: 1. Making a commitment to myself that the sleeve is going to be my key to success and that I will not undergo surgery if I can't commit to the program. I'm about six weeks out now. 2. Logging my food. Every bite, every day. 3. Realizing that emotional eating is diminished in a crazy way whenever I exercise. 4. Realizing that binge eating is diminished in a crazy way whenever I exercise. My binging and emotional eating usually take place either after something upsets me or, more usually, in the evening when I get home and have time to reflect. So I've started to exercise during what I consider to be my "witching hour", 8-9 pm, and it has done wonders for curving my cravings. Just looked at the clock. I have 10 minutes to get to the gym or else I turn into a bottomless pit. Gotta go!

236.4 today. I'd like to revise my goal to 228. Thanks and good luck to all!

I spent 2 nights in the hospital and for me it was just right.

I have to drink a few sips of water before I start eating. I feel like this dislodges the gas that has accumulated in my tummy and I burp it out quite easily. Then when it's time to eat, I have no noisy gas issues.

I'm 50 and about 6 weeks out. About 10 days postop I hit a tough spot where I couldn't make it through more than 3-4 hours without needing a 20 min nap. I'm over that but energy levels are not better than preop... Yet. I expect they'll get better as I lose more weight and continue to exercise.

I'm about 6 weeks out. Breakfast: 2 oz oatmeal with skim/lactose free milk, half a scrambled egg. Lunch: 2-3 oz tuna fish with light mayo on 3-4 whole wheat crackers. Dinner: zucchini spaghetti and sauce, or broiled fish with vegetables, or homemade brown rice and lentils - no more than 1/2 cup of whatever. My night binges are hard to beat so I have 2 oz of Greek yogurt with Splenda shortly before going to bed. I'm doing ok, losing somewhere around 2-3 lbs a week.

That is one seriously awesome achievement! Congrats!

Good morning all! Today I'm 239.0. Thanks!