byebyebmi

Hey, just so everyone knows you're not alone! I'm just shy of 3 months and am about to hit my 4th week at the EXACT same weight. I have significantly increased my protein/bumped my calories up to 1200-1300 and swapped out diet iced tea w/ artificial sweetener for lemon water. The only thing I haven't done is a ton of exercise but I have gone on some long walks. But really, it just seems like a true stall since it's been so long at the same weight. I was hoping to be less by this point for a vacation i'm going on this week but it is what it is! Hopefully it breaks soon

Thanks...I can keep walking every day, my appointment is only 11 days away. Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey guys! I'm 4 weeks out as of tomorrow (Monday, May 23rd). I know it won't be until about 5-6 weeks until I'm cleared to go to the gym, which I assumed meant lifting a tiny bit more and being more flexible, etc. I've always wanted to do the Couch to 5K program and now after the surgery is the perfect time to make that a reality. My question is, is running something I have to wait until I'm cleared for or is that allowed just like walking is? Thanks!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi Everyone, i'm Erin! I just turned 30 years old last week and my surgery date is April 25th. My Doctor is Dr. Onopchenko (he's awesome!) from the Atlanticare group in South Jersey. It took me awhile to get here but i'm nervous and excited to be exactly two weeks away from the date. I was referred by my PCP in May of 2015 and went for my first appointment with Dr. O in June of 2015. I got all of my clearances done pretty quickly and could have done the surgery as early as end of August last year. However, at the time I wasn't ready and I knew that my clearances were good until May of 2016. At the time, the thought of having the surgery seemed to scare me into thinking I could do it on my own and I decided to use thadddt as a springboard to getting myself heavvlthy. I did pretty well. I lost 30 pounds and went from 291 to 261 and I think at one point even dipped into the 250s. But it took me 9 months to do it and at 5'4 i'm still over 120 pounds overweight. Plus, a few months ago I started to eat like I had before and was creeping back up and finding it hard to stop the behavior. So I started thinking about surgery again after I realized that the whole 'doing it on my own' thing wasn't really going to stick. In fact, in 2005 I had lost 90 pounds, but gained back 140 which had brought me to the 291 that I was. Right around the time the sleeve popped back into my head, my doctors office called to remind me that my pre-certifications expire on May 13th. I asked them what they needed from me and they said "literally nothing other than picking a date". So I went there last Friday for the authorization appointment and chose their first available appointment: April 25th. I started the 14 day pre-op diet today which for me consists of two Protein shake meals and a small meal of lean protein w/ vegetables. Plus sugar-free Jello and popsicles of course . I honestly cant believe i'm doing this, and I hope I can go through with it. I am 100% sure that I can't do it on my own and I've already proven that to myself. My fears are about the complications and getting through the first 30 days after surgery. In October of 2013 I had a pulmonary embolism from the Nuvaring and it was the most horrible scary time in my life. It left me with constant fear, anxiety and panic attacks almost every day. So my fear is knowing that PE's are a potential complication of getting the sleeve (or any surgery really). My surgeon is well aware and I will be on blood thinner injections for longer than most people (At least a month). I'm terrified of going back to daily panic attacks after the surgery thinking that its going to happen to me again every day. But...I keep telling myself that the risks of getting the sleeve are way, way less than the risk i'm putting myself in being 5'4 and 260 pounds every day. I really, really want my life back. I have my own business and I want to be more confident about my appearance. I want to go on roller coasters again and shop wherever I want and not get so tired all the time and feel so BIG. I hate looking at pictures of myself because I always look so much bigger than I feel. I want to travel and take a million photos and be in love with them. Plus my brother is getting married in Fall 2017 and I want to look amazing for that! Most importantly, I just want to know that I am at a healthy weight and cutting my risks for things like diabetes, high blood pressure and a bazillion other things that obesity puts me at risk for. It's great to meet everyone here and see all of the support. Thank you a million times!

I'm 17 days out and cant believe the difference from just a few weeks ago. Follow your team's orders and take it day by day and you'll be fine and it will be a memory soon. My best advice is to get as many fluids as possible. I set a timer to go off every 15 mins to remind me to sip. The times I was a little dehydrated it made everything worse with headaches and dizzyness and I wanted to cry. When I was hydrated the world was a better place, lol.

I just bought a Portion 8 container and I love it. It is extremely customizable and has 8 1oz compartments but can be expanded. Its hard to explain but you can look it up.

I personally think it's hard to blame the psychiatric evaluations on instances where the wrong person gets WLS. Most programs only require candidates to meet with the evaluator for one session, and even though I believe MAJOR problems would probably be detected, and I don't doubt that the evaluators are mostly competent, I wonder if anyone can truly assess a person's mental health in an hour. If someone wants the surgery and doesn't understand their own mental instability or the fact that they are overall a bad candidate, they can answer however they please and be cleared by the therapist. I have suffered over the years with OCD, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, etc in varying degrees at different times. I am also educated, articulate, a business owner and a good conversationalist. There is no way the man who did my psych evaluation could truly understand the mental health risk I was taking by having the surgery. I was well aware that the health anxiety from this could spark some major panic, or that the hormone fluctuations afterwards could have me on more of an emotional roller coaster than others. Fortunately since I am aware of those things I made sure I had proper medication, a therapist and a supportive group of friends & family. However, if someone is doing WLS for the wrong reasons and just wants to be skinny or find a husband and isn't concerned with a lifestyle change, being healthy and doing it for themselves then I doubt that would be the type of person who would assemble the necessary support team. Then when the surgery is done and they are left without any emotional first aid kit, they end up like this woman with transfer addictions, no healthy coping skills and no personal responsibility for why those things are happening. And of course, they blame it on the surgery. Anyone of any age considering the surgery needs to take a look at their emotional and spiritual situation and be completely honest with themselves. No one knows us better than us, and if something doesn't feel right it usually isn't. Plus, if for some reason someone finds its not the right time and they could benefit from counseling then its just a temporary pause and they are doing themselves a great service. I think everyone of every age contemplating/getting WLS should have a regular or semi-regular therapist before and after. As I think a few others mentioned, sometimes people wont realize mental or emotional issues until after the surgery, and since its permanent those people only have two options: get help or fall apart. And if they already have that person in place they will be well equipped to tackle the problem and have a real chance at being a great success story.

I just sent you a message Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

April 25th here! I feel exactly the same. Just trying to take it one day at a time but every day that gets closer I think "am I really about to do this?????" Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I love the SDC About Time Chocolate Peanut Butter. Throw some PB2 in there and unsweetened vanilla almond milk and it's 29 grams of protein and tastes like a peanut butter cup. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

April 25th Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Vineland NJ! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I went to http://www.nashuanutrition.com/store/protein-powders/protein-powder-samples-1-serving.html They have a bunch of different brands and a bunch of different flavors in individual packs. I'm so glad I did because I ended up finding one I absolutely love and more than a couple that I didn't like or were way too sweet. Saved me a lot of money and aggravation of buying a tub of it and having it sit on a shelf for the rest of time.

Amazing job I just wanted to say that I love Brene Brown as well. Keep up the great work!

I'm on Day 5 of a 14 day pre-op diet and it alternates between being really easy and really hard. I make sure to always have sugar free jello cups at work & home in case I need anything sweet. I also have sugar free tropical popsicles at home for when I feel like I need "dessert" or something cold, as ice cream/gelato are major downfalls of mine. Jello & Popsicles are considered "free" foods on my 14 day pre-op diet from my program so even if I went bingey and ate 4 in a row it would be ok. Although so far i've only needed one and been ok. I also have requirements for protein shakes (less than 10 grams of fat per serving, at least 18 grams of protein, low sugars) and I have one called "SDC About Time Chocolate Peanut Butter" that is AMAZING, plus I add PB2 to it and unsweetened vanilla almond milk. It tastes like a peanut butter cup. I already know that I have a fatty liver and i'm only 30 so i'm taking it very seriously. I think there are definitely ways to do the pre-op diet without feeling like going absolutely crazy like the popsicles, chocolate protein powder and really good lean meals like grilled shrimp or something. I'm trying to be as creative as possible. That doesn't mean I don't have periods of cravings that are REALLY strong. But I'm allowed to have sugar free diet iced tea so i'll drink one of them and even though they have artificial sweeteners which I hate putting in my body, it gets me through and that's all that matters right now. I hope that helps, and feel free to message me anytime!

About 6 months ago I came across this site on the Nashua Nutrition page where you can buy samples of individual flavors and try them out. I bought a bunch of different ones with flavors I thought I would like and I was SO glad I was able to do that because some of them I really liked and some of them were either gross or way too sweet. I was happy I didnt have to waste my money on a tub that was just going to sit there for the rest of time. Here is the link: http://www.nashuanutrition.com/store/protein-powders/protein-powder-samples-1-serving.html I hope it helps some of you out there!

Check out the Nashua Nutrition site, they have a section where you can buy individual flavors for like $2 so you dont buy a tub of something and hate it. http://www.nashuanutrition.com/store/protein-powders/protein-powder-samples-1-serving.html

I'm on day 4 and I think its only tolerable because I have protein powder I love and I pre-plan everything. I also keep sugar free jello at work and sugar free popsicles at home so I dont do anything stupid if I feel like i'm freaking out because i'm hungry and want something I shouldn't be having. I have also been experiencing some weakness/dizzyness and have been making sure to take my Vitamins, especially B's and D. But I hope that part gets better soon. I think I might need more water. Hang in there!

April 25th! On Day 3 of the pre-op diet today. @@Bethany Copley

Forgot to add a photo from my 30th birthday. I definitely had some help from spanx in this photo...looking forward to not having to use them Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey everyone! I'm looking for some advice from anyone who either pre or post operatively had anxiety & worry about complications to the point that they took medication. In 2013 I had a pulmonary embolism and for like a year afterwards every single minute of every day I was afraid it was going to happen again. Eventually before I went crazy I was given klonopin. I have had anxiety attacks on and off for the past 3 years if things get too stressful but over time they have decreased in intensity and frequency. I have fibromyalgia so i'm already in pain and because of my previous experience I know that after the surgery i'm going to be paranoid for like a month that I have an issue. I'm going to the doctor to pick a surgery date on Friday (4/8) and i'm going to tell him that there's no way I can go through with it unless him or my primary doc gives me something to keep me calm for a little while. Anyone have any suggestions for what works best or have any similar experience to share?

@@malice95 CONGRATULATIONS!!! And keep up the good work!

Hey Everyone! I'm not sure if anyone has ever heard of or tried Gwynnie Bee, but its a Clothing Subscription service for sizes 10-32. I love dresses and I need them for work but hate buying them when i'm continuously losing weight (especially with how expensive plus size dresses are!) I use them and I love them and I get complimented on the dresses all the time. When you're done wearing it you send it back in the free shipping mailer and they send you another one in a few days (but if you love it you can buy it). And every time you go down a size you just adjust the size you want! Heres a link for a free month if you want to try it out. Let me know if you have any questions or need dress recommendations. I can tell you what i've ordered and any pros/cons. Heres the free month link: http://goo.gl/n5toam

@@vsgjess awesome! i'm glad to find someone who loves it too! I do the three items right now, usually one for each networking event and one extra. I got a fancier one than usual last month and I've kept it in my closet to try to find something fancy to wear it to, lol. I even got a tropical one for a tropical themed rehearsal dinner. Its SO convenient to be able to have nice dresses without actually buying them and wasting money.

@@Rebeccaabrooks86 Hey! Where in Jersey are you?