Christinamo7

@@VSGAnn2014 thank you! I love language. I was an English and History major in college. one of the reasons I fell in love with the husband is his broad vocabulary, lol.

This past week I had my 3 month post op check up. other than disagreeing with my NUT, which I always do it went pretty well. My only real struggle is constipation which I am currently managing on benefiber, a stool softener and MOM capsules. If I am still needing the MOM at 6 months the NP said they would refer me to a gastroenterologist because she feels there are better medications (prescriptions) to manage the constipation. I have lost 37 pounds, (37!!!) which is just a bit more than 30% of my excess weight, and I am really quite pleased with my progress. The bloodwork all looked GREAT, except my WBC. it is high again. boo. Iron is excellent, Calcium - perfect - everything else was just exactly as it should be! WHOOP! WHOOP! I have shared on other threads that a high WBC and resulting tests showing enlarged lymph nodes in my belly is why I had to wait so long for my surgery, finally having a normal WBC and cat scan in November, I think which cleared me for surgery. I am pretty disappointing that it is high again as I had hoped this was all behind me. none of the possibilities for what is causing the lymph node problem are things that I am wanting to walk through, but I have a good team of doctors. I have already reached out to the doctor in the oncology clinic to see if we need to move forward my July CAT scan. this morning I walked almost 4 miles and felt great! I am so thankful that things at least settled down enough to let me get my sleeve, now I need them to settle down again so I can continue to enjoy this new life!

@ thank you for your kind words. I am sure I will keep everyone posted, if and when I know anything. let us know how you like this doctor! I was fortunate, I knew I wanted to use the clinic in the hospital system I work for (so I could read my actual medical record) and there were 3 doctors. I liked the first one immediately and he has been wonderful to work with.

@ I am highly skilled at "l'esprit d'escalier" so I like having responses for common situations that come up. feel free to use these ones as your own.

Congrats! I am so excited for you. my plan is a lot more moderate on the carbs issue - but you will be fine. it's amazing the things I love and just don't even want now.

all of the things you listed! I have learned that I can do a lot of things I never thought I would be able to do, and that you really can change your life.

my daughers already rob me of my clothes, and we're not even CLOSE to the same size. I can only imagine, at least if I get smaller I can steal their clothes in retaliation!

wow. medicine is practiced differently everywhere, isn't it? I have had blood tests and EKG's in doctors offices before.

have you tried drinking them at different temperatures? what other options are allowed on your plan at this time?

don't worry about what other people think. you're going to be in your 40s soon, and one of the wonderful things that has happened to me as I have gotten older is I really don't give a d*mn about other people's opinions. You're not a failure if you choose WLS, in fact I think you're a winner. if you had any other sort of disorder no one would judge a bit for choosing surgery to help correct it. why should obesity be any different?

the cuts and scars on the outside are not much of an issue with the sleeve, so I am not sure how I would rate the benefits. You still have healing on the inside and such. I hope someone comes along that can offer more perspective and insight. Let us know how your path goes along, Claire. wishing you all the best.

sometimes I say to people "surely you did not mean that to sound as rude as it did?" "or do you realize you said that out loud?" but most of the time those comments are related to someone who has said something truly tasteless in front of my son who has a disability........... you just can't imagine the things that come out of people's mouths.

@@VSGAnn2014 for me it is because I use a lot of ingredients that can vary - fresh herbs and home grown tomatoes just as an example rather than cans of stuff and dried ingredients. but I don't really worry about tasting things while I eat. if I taste, I eat less when I sit down, or just sit and enjoy company. I don't track my food every day, and really I do a lot of batch cooking on the weekend, so I'm not tasting all the time either.

And brave. My friends it takes a lot of courage to make the changes I see you all making. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

isn't that so motivating!!! I love it!

find reasons to be proud of your body! for me, I have been through a lot of struggles in this old body. I have made some incredible human beings. I want to be my best me possible, but I am not a spring chicken, and I don't expect to look like it. I'll settle for not ending up looking like an elephant (with skin 5 sizes too big) when I'm done. and if my naked body offends anyone they don't need to be looking, lol.

what an incredible success!

quiet relaxing place to eat. except Breakfast during the week. I eat my scrambled egg on a slice of oat toast on the way to work. there are 6 traffic lights. I can promise I will hit at least 4 of them red. one section at each traffic light and then by the time I get clocked in and settled I can drink again. Also if I find I am liking my food too much to eat slow I put the plate out of reach for several minutes, and then I go back to it. that is usually enough to take the edge off and help me to slow down. That happens if I wait too long to eat.

my restrictions were walking only for one month and then as tolerated. but you do want to make sure you are not pushing yourself too hard - a lot will depend on how you are doing with the eating. I have not had issues with eating -but some people do and obviously that would affect how much you work out. listen to your team, and listen to your body. a snapshot of where I am: I am 3 months out. I walk 3 miles almost every morning. I do a bedtime yoga routine about 5 nights a week. 2-3 nights I do a routine on my pilates reformer machine - unless I have done some heavy gardening, but as spring moves into summer it is more pilates.

I can't wait til my wedding ring fits again! No manicures for me though. I do too much artwork with charcoal and pastels. My hands are always a mess and I'd quickly ruin a manicure. I get the gel manicure, it lasts a month full even with french tips and I do all kinds of crazy artsy type stuff and gardening. :-) but the rings, I am so happy I can't stand it.

I posted a recipe earlier on another thread for touchdown taco dip. it's pretty tasty.

mmmmmmmmmmm cheese. I'd say once it's melted, it's a pretty soft food.

how long do they want you to wait before you start? There are a lot of yoga poses and pilates moves that are lovely for shaping up the arms and upper body strength and then also good old fashioned choices like push ups, or weights. rowing maybe too? what kind of exercise interests you the most?

I was the same way with regular coke. I really enjoy an ice cold Vitamin Water zero lemonade flavor now. so please keep looking for something you will like.