songsmith

@, wow! You were so fortunate they found those clots. Guess I shouldn't whine too much about a month's delay, especially since I'm super excited for your upcoming VSG (everyone's really). @@LovelyBrown, the psychologist on my psych exam approved me but suggested I seek additional counseling to get the issues I have with food sorted out to maximize my success. That was a good call on his part. The toughest thing about his exam was the zillion page questionnaire I had to fill out! I'm completing six months supervised diet before I can even schedule, so I'm envious.

He doesn't want me to have it over the Holidays if possible because he wants me to enjoy them instead of recovering or being in pre-op. After all this time, I just want it to be over! I forgot about the Holiday, so wasn't able to talk to my case manager. I will see if I can get something in for the end of January, at least. He should be home. He might even be home after two weeks, but you never know with these things. Just think of it. Your nephew will never know the current you. He'll always remember the cool, slender aunt he has so much fun with! It's really exciting.

That is so exciting! So soon! Guess you really well have something to be thankful about in November. My hubby told me last night his business is sending him out of the country in January. Since I don't have a date, he can't guarantee he could be here and wants me to wait until February. I'm so disappointed.

Talk to your NP. Make sure you are logging your food counts accurately by using an online tool like FitDay or MyFitnessPal and that you include everything--even your coffee/tea and "no cal" sweetener and that 1/4 oz. of cheddar you had the other day. (Wait. That was me.) I miscalculated twice last week and went over my counts even though I was carefully measuring and planning. It happens. Stalls also happen. They can be maddening. Have you taken measurements of yourself or written down things that have changed physically for you (crossing legs, not breathing so hard, feeling like you fit into that movie theater seat more easily, stuff like that). It's really tough to get through those periods. Can your surgeon point you to a support group you could attend? It always helps me to realize I'm not alone even if no one there actually knows how to fix it. I would make absolutely certain I was eating correctly 100% for quite some time and still experiencing weight gain before I even thought of putting myself through the expense and health ramifications of another surgery. You know what? You can do this. You went through I don't know how many months' weight loss before your pre-op diet, a week or two or even a month of pre-op, plus all the post-op relearning. You've lost forty-eight pounds. That is freaking amazing. You should be damned proud of yourself. Your hard work will pay off. Sometimes it takes our bodies a little extra time to catch up.

Hi. Ten years ago I was a fat--but in shape--power lifter. Today I'm a more fat and out of shape lump waiting for surgery. One thing I learned during my lifting phase: do not exercise an injury. Give it time to heal. Definitely see a PT and let them assess your damage before you try anything else. I'd guess rotator cuff impingement of some kind since that's normally what gets messed up with shoulders. After you get checked out, your PT will probably give you strengthening exercises. If you decide not to see someone--and you really, really should--you can search for rotator cuff strengthening exercises and find several suggestions. Here's just one of them.

I'm curious about people's plans for Thanksgiving. My insurance company wants six months' of dietitian visits prior to surgery, so I won't even be in the pre-op liquid diet stage over Thanksgiving. Still, I'm supposed to be dieting during this period. I haven't planned any food funerals, but not sure I can resist stuffing and gravy. And I have it easy compared to many of you! So how are you going to approach the Holiday?

I fibbed about having a cold when I had my gallbladder removed last year. << That's not as major a surgery, though. Take lots of Vitamin C and zinc and chicken broth (you can have broth, right?). Hope you feel better soon!

...@@jobillandjosh, I wasn't confused by soup. But now I am! Good point about the liquid. @Inner Surfer Gal, I also am having the sleeve, but the information I was given said not to drink 30 minutes before a meal and up to an hour afterwards. Maybe they give generic info until the actual surgery is performed. Still doesn't solve the Soup Conundrum.

@@KChelper, I messaged you. The "KC" was a giveaway. Dr. Hoehn will also be my surgeon in January. I hope I locate some buddies from the same practice when my time comes. It would be fun to compare notes! Hope your surgery (everyone's surgery, for that matter) went great and life is treating you all well.

I won't have surgery until January, so the leftovers shouldn't be there! I have considered strategies. First, eat my turkey before anything else (Protein first). Next, eat veggies. Save stuffing (in smaller quantity) for last. I don't need Desserts, but stuffing is what I call a "comfort food." Just like Peanut Butter, I can't have it in the house! I'm also hunting around for ways to make it less carb-intensive. I hadn't thought about cranberry sauce like that at all. I'm the only one who likes it in my family. I thought if I did have it that I would make from scratch so I can have some say in what goes into it. Thanks for the nibble reminder. It easy to graze all day!

I wish my dad could see me. We lived in different states while I was growing up, so all he saw were brief instances of his kid getting larger and larger. My mom? Well, I wish she could see me so I could say, "Hey, mom. Remember when I was a size 12 and you told me I looked as big as my 300+ pound aunt? Remember when you would buy used clothes from her and expect me to wear them? I'm smaller than you ever were. Go me." (Not that I've had my surgery, yet, but yeah. I am petty like that. Also, I'd never say that to my mom! She'd have slapped me silly. )

Mine is in January, but I don't have a date yet. They don't set that until after I attend the last pre-bariatric class conducted by my doctor's surgery. I sure wish it was scheduled, though! I'm in Kansas.

Thanks for sharing your story! I wish I had done what you're doing 20 years ago. I'm 55 and (like most of us here, I bet) have lost a lot of weight on various diets over the years only to gain it back--and then some! I wish I had done it when my kid was younger so I could have done more things with her, modeled a more active life style, had more fun--everything. My surgery isn't scheduled yet, but should be sometime in January. I was going to ask you about Disney, but you answered my question already. We had planned on going over Christmas. This past weekend I broached the subject with my family. I'm terrified I'll need a scooter, and I really, really, really don't want to do that. I know it would bring out all the old self-hate. But I also know at my weight an activity level that I just can't walk 10+ miles a day. We have a week to think about it, but it's looking like we'll go next year. Hopefully by then I'll be near or at goal.

I won't have my VSG until January. Your posts have really inspired me. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. (It can never be said enough: You look faaaaaaabulous!)

@half-of-bri, congrats! You must be excited. My surgeon won't begin to talk dates until after I go through their class in December. Makes me want to make puppy dog eyes at my case manager to see if we can get things going!

Thanks, 2Goldengirl. That does make me feel better. I was so bummed last night. Worst, I calculated out calories/protein/carbs with various combinations and messed up the amounts and went over in a couple of places. I was kicking myself. I haven't lost very much and really am worried that my insurance company will nix everything. On the other hand, I trust insurance companies so much that I also think they'd deny me if I dropped my BMI below 40! Guess I'm just paranoid. On the bright side, I joined the Y last week and feel a lot better about myself because I made the commitment. I'll probably be this way until after my appointment next week.

I feel you. I go for my 5-month dietitian check-up next week. I've stayed very close to my starting weight even though I have changed my eating habits and limit my calories. Last month I gained 3(!) pounds. No excuses. I did eat stuff I shouldn't eat last month. Since then I've been (I think) good. I've been trying to get in 60-70g Protein and keep calories under 1200. I'd also like to minimize carb intake by keeping most carbs to veggies and maybe some Beans or oatmeal because of their fiber+protein combo. Last night I tallied up my meal and I was way under calorie-wise. I'd have been over 100g protein if I added in 500 cal with protein and the only way I could get the calories via carbs would have put me over the calorie count. What's wrong with me? I used to be able to juggle all of this info! I'm so worried I won't lose and then the insurance company will say, "Tough. No surgery for you!"

My surgery won't be until January, so seeing your photos gave me a great boost of enthusiasm. You look terrific. I'm so glad you took photos every month. Think I will do that, too. It's a great idea. Did it help you during those times when you thought you still looked the same? I know when I've dieted before I never felt thinner even if I went down 3 sizes. I looked the same in the mirror (to me, anyway). You look like you are having so much fun. Makes me excited for all the things I couldn't do because of my weight: swing dancing, running with the dog, hiking and so much more. Thank you for sharing!

Hi, everyone. I'm 55 and have been heavy all my adult life. I look back now and kick myself for not doing this sooner. There are so many things I missed out on. Two things got me started. First, I started thinking about my father, dead at 67. Now here was a man--a carpenter--who was not heavy and was (I thought) in great shape, yet dropped dead from a heart attack. I'm packing 130 extra pounds for years, have high blood pressure, am pre-diabetic, have joint pains--the usual. If he had problems, what did that mean for me? I want to be around for my husband and daughter and grandkids (if I ever get any). The second was simple. Years ago I did think about it. Our insurance didn't cover it (under "cosmetic" surgery) so I thought that was true for all insurances. Twenty-five years later I read about someone's surgery that was covered and the light dawned. My husband has a lot of worries about the surgery. It helped a little to tell him part of it would be covered.

I get cramps all over my body since I started high blood pressure meds four years ago. They're horrible: quads, hamstrings, calves, abdomen, tongue (I kid you not). Your likely culprit is an electrolyte imbalance (especially since you're exercising/dieting pre-op and no doubt loosing a lot of fluid). Calcium is the easiest to rectify (chew on one or two calcium-added Tums). No-Salt is a potassium salt (and safer than a supplement since potassium is fat-soluble and stored in your body) and should help with potassium intake. Neither of these helped me (again, the meds). I finally realized that magnesium and manganese are also electrolytes. Now I take a magnesium tablet once a week, which seems to help. My primary physician also suggested "No cramps" or something like that. They're OTC quinine tablets. I take one if a really bad cramp starts up. They work, but I always wonder if they really work or if it's the placebo effect. I find that drinking something like sugar-free Gatorade helps just as well. Hot compresses help to loosen up your muscles.

Mine has been horrible. I'm required to see her once a month. She asks me what I've been eating, whether I'm taking Vitamins and if I've kicked my caffeine habit yet. That's it. I asked her what I should be shooting for: calories or carb/protein intake or something. She said, "Oh, you've dieted enough to know what you need." I feel like I'm floundering. OTOH, the post-op binder they gave me looks to contain a lot of helpful information.

Beck Gal, congrats on your date! My insurance requires 6-month diet before surgery, so my pre-op educational class will be in December and surgery some time in January (gastric sleeve). Nervous. Super nervous I'll mess up the diet and/or lower my BMI and my insurance company will retract coverage.

I'm doing the six months' prior diet right now (three months' in). I see a dietitian once a month. She asks me what I've been eating, do I take Multivitamins, am I off the caffeine. She has offered no suggestions for what type of diet to follow. I gained 3 pounds last month (after losing 10). I know why and am definitely back on track, but it would be so much more helpful if she'd offer some guidelines. What am I paying her for? Sorry, what is my insurance company paying her for? They might as well waive the requirement for all the help she's provided. OTOH, the post-op binder has diet suggestions. They should have handed me that right off instead of making me see the dietitian! There was a prevailing attitude when I was growing up that WLS was the "easy" way out. I think it's still that way. A lot of people don't realize that people still need to watch what they eat, that WLS is not a magic pill that does the work for you. It's a tool.