jmw1982

As others have said, the Protein is needed to maintain muscle and prevent hair loss. Protein is required to help the body heal after surgery. Concerning empty calories and sugars, it was explained to me that sugar craves sugar. Additionally, your body digests simple carbs faster than protein. So if you eat empty carbs, your body will crave more, and you will continue to eat, so even with the smaller amounts, you still still be taking in too many calories.

I had to stop my birth control pills a week before and was able to resume a week after surgery. Several years ago, I was on the depo shot. In addition to the actual cost of the drug, you will also need to make a doctor's appointment every three months to have a nurse give you the shot. They won't let you give it to yourself. When you pick up the prescription from the pharmacy, it will just be a vial, no syringe. It also has a known side effect of large weight gain, so be aware of that as well.

I think one of the hardest things about a stall, as I'm in one right now, is before my sleeve, this is typically when I would have thrown my hands up, and gone back to my old habits. If I'm not seeing progress, what's the point? I know that things have changed for me and I have to continue following the plan in order for the sleeve to work, but it is still frustrating, especially when the number on the scale increases.

I hated shopping for clothes at my high weight. I would have 2-3 pairs of pants from Walmart, a single pair of jeans from old navy, and maybe 10 shirts. I would wear the pants until I wore out the thighs and then replace the one pair. As a result, I don't have a lot of clothes, but I plan to maintain this system while losing. Once I am at a size/weight that I feel comfortable shopping for clothes, in my mind this is a size 12, I will likely go crazy and need a bigger closet.

My boyfriend is a larger man. He was very supportive when I was going through the pre op stuff. Don't misunderstand. He's still supportive, but it wasn't until after surgery he told me more about his ex. She had surgery, lost 100 pounds, and left him. I have reassured him this won't happen with me. If a man didn't want me at my highest weight, he doesn't deserve me once I'm thinner. I'm the same person, just a different package.

I find the worst is from others who are obese themselves. Particularly health care professionals.

I bought a pair of jeans yesterday, size 16, a size smaller than what I thought I was wearing. I anticipated in another 2 weeks they would fit. Well, when I got home, I tried them on. They are snug but I was able to zip them without incident.

I can completely relate. I didn't tell my family because I knew that not only would they not be supportive, but would intentionally try to sabotage me.

I want to be able to wear a pair of heels without worrying I'm going to break the shoe or fall and break my ankle.

I was given the guidelines of full liquids, pureed, ect, but my surgeon also encouraged adding foods faster than the schedule saying that would help heal quicker. I'm 2 weeks post op, still doing lots of Protein shakes, canned tuna, yogurt. Any solid or semi solid foods, I make sure to take small bites and chew very well.

Concerning exercise...When you try to go to the gym, people stare. But there are also weight limits on the machines which defeats the purpose.

I was told to wait 6 weeks for strenuous exercise including weights in order for the muscles in the abdominal wall to heal. I've been doing yoga which seems to be helping with the back pain.

I'm having the same problem. I don't remember this when I've done the Adkins diet though.

I was able to sleep on my right side while still in the hospital. On my stomach for limited amounts of time, maybe 10 minutes. I'm only a week out and can sleep on my stomach but still wake up when I need to change positions.

I'm still in the hospital. A 2 day hospital stay plus 2 days at the recovery house was included in the Mexico package through Bariatric Pal. I'm up moving, sore, the only pain is when I burp or hiccup.

I think I'm waiting for blood work to come back. But in any case, at the hospital waiting.

Me too!

I haven't told anyone and don't plan to. However, it's also been frustrating and lonely to not have someone to vent to about many of the hiccups that have occurred.

I haven't told anyone and don't plan to with the exception of my significant other. I worry though that my plan to explain the weight loss with diet and exercise will cause another round of, "It took you long enough" and "I told you if you just watched what you ate..."

I figure I will be able to get away with doing the girl thing, of ordering a salad or Soup, and just picking at it, but not actually eating. Most men are so used to women not eating on dates, I don't anticipate it being an issue.

I would say I'm not excited. I want to have the surgery and have gone to great lengths to get it but part of me doesn't want to get my hopes up. What if this becomes another failed attempt at losing weigh? I can't let myself imagine the possibility of success in case it doesn't work.

I just paid my deposit. The plan is surgery next week. Wow, it just got real.

I would agree they use the word obese as a title, a judgment, not a diagnosis. You can tell when a doctor or nurse walks in the room if they are making judgments about my weight, how I must be so lazy and do nothing but eat all day. This attitude is reserved for overweight patients whom they assume chose this life. You aren't going to have your physician shaming you and passing judgements about how you got the flu, or ingrown toe nail if you are normal weight. But those same simple, common health issues become about weight. "Maybe if you ate fruits and vegetables instead of soda and chips, you wouldn't have gotten sick. Maybe if you exercised more, you wouldn't have issues with your feet."

I completely understand why the OP takes such offense to the label of obese. I am considered a healthy obese which seems to be a contradiction in terms. When I was pregnant, my OB forced me to take the 3 hour glucose test 4 times despite all the results being within the normal or even hypoglycemic range. They just couldn't understand how someone so fat wasn't diabetic. I also have a history of epilepsy. I haven't had a seizure in 16 years following brain surgery and have been off all seizure medication for 6 years. There are no medical devises, metal plates in my brain or any other risk factors. However, this didn't stop a masseuse from refusing my massage appointment a few years ago. I think this was simply an excuse after she saw me to not have to touch the fat rolls, but regardless, I no longer disclose this when I make a spa appointment.

I am trying to go to Mexico. I live within driving distance of Tijuana. Even though my insurance here will cover the surgery, the hoops I have to jump through, length of supervised diet, copays, testing, and deductible, it will be cheaper, quicker, and less hassle to go to Mexico.