skinnyrita

I'm excited that my total gym arrived and is set and ready to go. Does anyone out there have one? What has your experience been as far as helping to stay fit while losing weight? How are you using it and how freequently?Any advice?

I'm not sure about restylane, but see Shark girl's comments below about her experience. Shark girl, what's the ballpark $$ for injections? I may wait to see if the new Allergan comes out - thanks for the info!

Saving money for restylane. Going to get my lips done[emoji105]

Since I see patients in a clinic it's inevitable that some of them who haven't seen me for months are shocked at my weight loss. It reminds me that I have actually dropped significantly although my brain has gotten used to it. And the way I look now. Lately, the thing I'm battling ( and I think it's body dysmorphia) is that my middle area actually looks bigger to me now than a few months ago after I'd gotten VSG. I've measured with a tape measure which doesn't show a gain but I feel thicker in that part. I'm very self- conscious about this and even though I fit into a size eight pant, I won't wear them because they tend to push fat up into my middle and makes me feel/ look fa. . Anybody else have this issue?!

I'm frustrated with the scale , not because of my weight but because it doesn't give enough info about BMI etc. thinking of getting a new one. Tell me your scale stories please !

Awesome job!

Well I did some research but my surgeon really emphasized VSG. She doesn't do lap bands at all. I didn't have 100 plus pounds to lose just about 80. If you have a lot of weight, RNY might be more efficient, but as others have said, there's a greater risk of complication with that . Still talking to surgeons and people on this board could be helpful. Also read up on the procedures and risks. Your knowledge of your own body, different health conditions, and age will play a big part in your decision. Good luck! When are you thinking of having your surgery?

Hi. Cowgirl Jane. Sometimes it's necessary to get a fresh perspective and if your current counselor is not helping you it's good to to look for someone who can take you to the next level. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience, I think it's important to find someone who practices evidence- based psychotherapy. A coach is fine for some, but if you go that route try to find someone who is also credentialed/ licensed as a therapist, like an LPC, or LCSW. I went through coaching supervision myself, and in my opinion, that training would have been inadequate to help someone, had I not already had my masters degree, hours of supervision, internships and years of experience. I'm not bashing coaches in general but for your protection, try to find a credentialed counselor. Your state licensing board for counselors will usually have a website with names, licensure, how long they've been in practice and if there are any pending actions against that individual. Then there's fit. If you call and request a brief phone contact ( usually that's free) you might get a sense of how they practice and their personality, or go on their website. Best of luck to you in your search. I had several great counselors along the way, and they can make an incredible difference when you find the right one.

ISG - great thread! One of my favorite spice blends is herb de Provence it's an earthy blend of rosemary, thyme and other spices which I use in eggs, soups, and my crustless quiche recipe. I'm also in love with caramelized shallots. I make a steak salad with blue cheese and caramelized shallots on top. Very tasty!

Sending up prayers for a speedy and uneventful recovery!

My best experience after WLS is dropping a pants, dress size every few weeks. My worst experience? Paying for clothes that I won't be able to wear more than a few weeks!????????????

My husband just got back his lab results and has a 7.4 A1c. We want to start monitoring his blood glucose levels. I know that many of my Bariatric friends either have or have had diabetes in the past. Do you have any recommendations as far as an accurate glucometer? Pros and cons please.

How did you guys set up the ticker?

I developed a burning, tingling pain in my back on the left side , below my scapula about a month after my surgery. I went to an Ortopedic specialist who did an mri and found nothing. He said the nerve pain was from deconditioning ( flabby muscle) and not having my scapula lie flat because muscle wasn't holding it properly. He recommended physical therapy which didn't completely cause the pain to go away. What has helped is the strengthening exercises and poses of yoga. I still have some of that burning pain when I'm tired or haven't moved in a whil, but it's not as bad as before. See your doctor or an Orthopod first to rule out other types of problems, but it could be helped by exercise and conditioning. Hope this helps!

View the people who say " you 're cheating" the same way you would look at someone who believes the Earth is flat. You know better but their complete and total ignorance is laughable when you know the truth. The surgery is just one of the many changes necessary to lose weight. If you can't control yourself, even after surgery you Will Gain Weight! If you can't make all the behavioral and psychological adjustments, you Will Gain Weight! It's not magic at all, pouf and now you are as skinny as you wanna be. After 8 months, I still work hard every day to maintain and further my weight loss. I'm 7 lbs from goal weight, but even when I reach it, I will have to work hard mentally and physically to maintain what it has taken me a year to lose, and 3 years from now, I will continue to have to work to maintain progress. Easy way out- my a--!

I just replaced my chewable "gummy" Bariatric advantage vitamins with a chewy Bariatric advantage tablet, because they quit making the starburst- like one. I've taken them with and without food, but every time I've taken them they give me an upset stomach. Has anyone else experienced this? If you've found a Bariatric quality vitamin that doesn't upset your stomach please share.

Love my Vivfit 2 because it is waterproof. I can swim and shower with it on without a problem. My husband got me the watch bands in different colors, so I can chane it up. The Vivofit also pairs up with their free app called " Connect" so you can log your exercise and communicate with other users.

Swimming is the only exercise I've done since my VSg surgery in May. Just about any kind of exercise you can do on land can also be done in water. Besides swimming check out water Zumba, water aerobics, water yoga and other things like water walking, water weights ( yes they have those made of styrofoam and the water adds weight to them. The water itself is a resistance tool which you can use to become leaner and toned. Water based exercise has allowed me to strengthen my knees and joints, not to mention increase my endurance. Our gym has water treadmills too. Can't wait to try that!

I'm sick with upper respiratory infection right now, my first time to be sick since my VSG in May of 2015. Usually I would be in the pool for water yoga tonight, but I have a fever and would risk giving the infection to others. I came home from work and fell into bed after eating a bowl of chicken pot pie soup from Jason's. I'm not too worried about calories or overeating (not hungry) just about being dehydrated. I will keep up my probiotic and my vitamins so I can get over this fast. Have been taking antihistamine and zicam. And drinking water like crazy????

Prayers for a safe and easy surgery. Aft 8 months I have never regretted my surgery!

More doesn't necessarily equal better. It may benefit you to tweak your program, for instance spinning 2 times a week and then something less intense and restorative, like walking, or yoga two days a week. There is a weight loss guru named Dr. Ray Hanish who is really up on the science and physiology of exercise. His podcast [url="http://cutthefatpodcast.com/ is available for free on iTunes. I think it surprised me to hear that overtraining can put the body into stress and just completely shut down fat burning mechanisms. I hope this helps!

Hey Everyone, I'm 61 and had vSG on May 15th 2015. I've lost 68 lbs and am approaching my goal. I never post on the 60s forum because it seemed that there wasn't much happening here. I'm glad to find its not true! I'll be 62 in March and hoping to reach my goal by then. There's a lot of strength and wisdom in this group- let's keep posting and encouraging each other!

I only hope when I turn 62 in 2 months I can also say I met goal! Congrats on your accomplishments and thank you for being such an encouragement through this process. Bravo!!!

Everyone seems to have a formula of what works for them regarding carbs. I'm no different but through some research I ve found its not necessary to for me to totally eliminate carbs . I had to find out where my carb tipping point was. Since surgery, I've almost eliminated simple carbs completely, but fresh veggies and some fruit ( low glycemic index, fresh) I can consume without a problem. My Protein intake is always first and if I eat too many carbs or overdo my portions, I get hungry again within hours. It seems when I've driven my insulin levels up with too many carbs, my body won't release its fat storage , so typically I don't lose any weight that day or even gain a few ounces. The surgery forces me to reckon with my habits and yes I struggle at times with my food desires, but then I have to consciously decide, do I want to lose weight today? Then I have to watch my carbs. I still like them, bread, even Pasta, but use them minimally as I continue to push towards my goal. There have been sacrifices made but I feel more empowered and determined as I deal consciously with food choices and growing realization that this is a long haul, not a sprint.????????????

I was able