FocusOnMeNow

@ onesleevemama - How far out from surgery are you?

There are about 1001 methods of birth control and most are healthier than depo which can also contribute to weight gain. Depo seriously depletes your bones of calcium and if you are under 29 years old it can prevent your bones from EVER maxing out your bone density. You should discuss the benefits and risks of each with your doctor. There are several low dose birth control pills, iuds, and many other methods. I believe there is also a low dose weekly patch version of "the pill." If you are capable of getting a period you can conceive. You can also be fertile for several weeks before you actually get a period if you are coming off depo. So please consider one hormonal method (patch, ring, pill) and one barrier method (condoms, diaphragm, etc), and/or an iud. IUDs are THE most effective form of birth control out there. Of course consult with your Dr. for what is best for you.

You'll do great. Today is the first day of the rest of your life:-)

Also, are you mixing these shakes with milk? I have heard that many folks develop lactose intolerance. Have you tried unsweetened vanilla almond milk instead? Its yummy and easy on the tummy. Also you might want to check and see if there is actual lactose in the shakes if you have not been mixing with milk. I agree with ideas above to add pure unflavored Protein to soups. You might also want to try Isopure zero carb. Its kind of like kool aid flavored Protein Drink with 40 grams of protein and it is also a "clear liquid." If the shakes don't agree with you just get your protein somewhere else.

I am also under the impression that those who exercise are more likely to keep the weight off, and it also increases muscle mass which is so important because when we are losing weight this fast, we are not only losing fat, but also losing muscle mass. Muscle is what not only keeps you strong but keeps your metabolism revved up. I certainly hope that this couch potato can also form better habits post WLS and have horrendous knee pain now. But I can't let it stand in my way anymore. I have 6 more weeks to walk, stretch, and do yoga. But I know I'm going to have to take it easy except for walking for about 6 weeks after surgery.

@@choosehope - I agree to remember your name:-) Also, I think that the important thing to remember is that for a lot of us who have chosen WLS, it is because other typical diet and exercise programs have NOT worked for any of us. We cannot do this alone, we need a stronger tool in our arsenal. For many of us that tool, which we will use to strengthen our success with diet and exercise is WLS. However, for myself, and because I knew that I could not do this by myself (because I have tried 1001 times before). I also recognize that "it takes a village." I started up therapy (actually prior to deciding on WLS), and this can be helpful. Attending WLS support groups is also helpful. This forum is helpful. When you set a surgery date you will also likely be assigned a NUTtritionist and/or dietician to help you as well. I also hope that about six weeks post surgery to get signed up with a trainer. I also struggle with those shows like 600 lb life and Extreme Weight Loss. On the one hand they show some of the struggles and the psychology that got them there (and some of us here), but on the other hand there is still somewhat of a freakshow nature to them that I just don't like, especially if there is not really a happy ending for the person. I mean give me a break, if the person lost 80 lbs instead of the 90 lb goal then I still think that they deserve the skin surgery down the road once they lose the additional 10 lbs because the fortitude that it takes them to do that is tremendous. Some resources for your soul: A Course In Weight Loss by Marianne Williamson, and also the Beck Diet Solution by Judith S Beck. Neither book is about a diet. Its about overcoming some of the excess baggage that has been weighing down our hearts and minds in order to help free us from emotional eating. Go into your appointment and hold your head high, and resolve to make the best choices that you can make one day at a time. And try to surround yourself with a support team, which can be friends, family, therapist, or support group. Tomorrow is another day! You can do this!!!

Kitty Chick, Might it be worth getting together for some "girl time" one on one with her where competition for men is not an issue? Maybe just go out to lunch or go get your nails done? Maybe you can tell her that you miss her friendship and see where that goes? Perhaps, without meaning to you said or did something insensitive or perhaps she was having a particularly bad day that day and so was just extra sensitive. Then take it from there. If she doesn't respond to your invite or doesn't tell you how she also misses your friendship then maybe just move on. But if she does maybe you can then INVITE HER to some social group outings, and then see if she responds in turn. If she does then great, if not then just know that you did what you could and move on. I wouldn't suggest this for every friend or acquaintance, but if she was truly your best friend then perhaps its worth pursuing. Good luck!

I am also a big subscriber to the "you are only as sick as the secrets you keep." While I also agree its not something to blurt out on the second date when you are just getting to know someone. I think it is after two months perhaps worth telling the truth. Something like you are "in recovery" from bulimia and overweight. If he can't accept that then he can't accept you. If he does accept it then he can accept you and love who you REALLY are not just some projection of what he wants you to be. So if you want to keep it 100% real with him and have an open and honest relationship then go for it. If you want to hide your past and will forever just be waiting for the other shoe to drop till he finds out about gasp 'WLS' or your past abusive relationship, and that somehow he's going to reject you for that, then you have some serious shame issues. You need to accept yourself first. My personal philosophy is this: this is who I am warts and all take it or leave it. And if you leave it then good riddance. I don't need people in my life to judge me. But I do need love and support in my life to be the best person that I can be (even if that means that some of my warts have faded).

I heard that arm circles are also good for gas especially if its in your shoulders. Good luck.

Ok so here's my post-surgical plan: I am going to get some of those medicine cups (like the ones that come with cough syrup) they are exactly 1 oz each. If you are drinking water (or other fluids) for 8 hours a day. Then one should aim for 8 1oz shooters per hour or 1 shot every 7.5 mins. I am going to try to find an app to ding me every 7.5 minutes. Of course, all these things are easier said than done. If you tried to increase your intake to at least 6 oz per hour (ie a shot every 10 minutes) and you can handle that then maybe try to upgrade to 8 per hour and take it from there. I hope this helps and I certainly hope that it works for me (and you). Good luck!!!

I am now scheduled for August 17th and very excited plus a little bit scared (of course). I am more worried about the psychological after effects and how I will cope with stress without food than I am of any actual surgical complication. Hormonal swings can really effect my mood and I have heard that they can be severe in the two weeks or so post surgery. Also, for Ms Aliz, if you are having surgery in August, then I do sincerely believe that you will be down several sizes by Thanksgiving. Most weight is lost in first 6 months and so within 3 months you will have lost 1/2 of that. So that is something you can look forward to and an intermediate goal to work towards. Also if anyone has any ideas for how to cope in those first few weeks please share. And yoga and taking a relaxing hot bath, while good ideas are not really doable in the first few weeks. Also when I mentioned to a friend she asked if I could get a bathtub in my office and boy would I be pruny:-) I am thinking just reading self-help books, doing a lot of journaling and walking when the sun comes up each morning to get in some exercise and sunshine before it gets too hot are my strategies for now. I am going to try to incorporate yoga and weight training into my routine over the next six weeks until my surgery. I know I will have to take six weeks off but I guess that I had better start now to make healthy habits to last a lifetime.

I am looking into liquid vitamins. Not sure if they are better or not. BodSmith makes a "prenatal" for sale on amazon that has 100% of both Biotin and Iron. Not sure if this will help or not. I also ordered Nioxin System #4 shampoo, conditioner and scalp treatment. Per reviews on amazon the scalp treatment actually causes sprouts to grow after a few weeks. Again may not help in short run, but cannot hurt in the long run. Hope this helps.

I appreciate the article and realize that changing behavior and consequences really is about making better choices that become habits. But the definition of an addiction is when something sincerely interferes with your life functioning and you want to stop but can't. That is how food can be with me. My knees hurt and I want to lose weight but hard to implement hours on the treadmill when one's mobility is so limited. I think and hope that the sleeve will give me a great tool, that will set me up for about 6 months of good habits and then after that it is up to me not to go down the slippery slope. And actually I had a dear friend who I found out had been an IV drug user for 30 years. They really wanted to quit and had wanted to for several years, but they didn't have the tools. I connected them with the tools and they quit. Not cold turkey mind you but they did it. My friend also quit smoking as well. I was so proud of my friend, but then realized that I needed to focus on me and my own recovery from my addiction.

Actually if you search you tube for Biggest Loser gastric sleeve there are a number of former BL contestants who are now sleevers

I believe that I saw a VSG you tube video from a former Biggest Loser contestant who gained all the weight back and more, and so opted for the gastric sleeve instead. I cannot recall her name.

Sorry to hear that. I am self pay. I have 2 consultations tomorrow. I am hoping to get scheduled for mid-late August because I will have to be back at work before Labor Day. If I cannot get scheduled then, I will probably have to wait till November. I don't really want to wait another day.

You should have no trouble with the patch and it has absolutely zero interaction with Tylenol.