Christinamo7

When my doctor asked me about goals I said 160 because to be honest I couldn't fathom even getting to that number. I was doing this to get rid of diabetes and weigh less than my man. And not technically less but obviously less. Doctor thinks I will go lower and if I do that's fine- but I would count that number as being successful. Ultimately you have to get to a number where you feel comfortable in your own body and can enjoy good health. It is fine to change that goal as you go through this process. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

you are fabulous! and I know you can do it. I went through this a number of years ago but it was regarding cake and ice cream. this method does work although a lot of the time in the beginning I went home and then really struggled with the fact that I hadn't bought whatever it was. food addiction is an ugly monster but we can defeat it. I have been able for about 4 years now to have a normal portion of a sweet, but not everyone can go back to moderation and I went a few years with none while working on those issues.

Fairlife milk has more Protein and is lactose free.

Hey Nashville!!! I had my surgery with Dr. Westmoreland in Murfreesboro! mine was with Dr. Spann at Vanderbilt in Nashville. we're in for a beautiful weekend!

I would love to chat sometime! I guess if I ever can't sleep I might catch @@KindaFamiliar in there, but I'd chat with any of y'all.

well. there are a few points where I vehemently disagree with my NUT. 1. the safety of artificial sweeteners. I would rather learn to live with less sweet and use stevia or real sugar or honey. 2. low fat dairy vs. regular dairy. my personal belief is that the whole fat (if from a good source) dairy is going to prove to be better for you. I am on low fat for now - but do not plan to stay there my whole life except with cottage cheese, sour cream and string cheese, they taste better low fat to me, always have. so, we formed a plan around my preferences and she is helping me figure out what that means in terms of my overall eating plan. even though we disagree, she is respectful and does not try to argue with me about it, although at the first appointment we had a very spirited debate. it is ok to not agree 100% with your NUT, I still learn things from her, and by following the plan my weight is dropping.

not yet, but I will. I've been in perimenopause for a while now. what a wild ride. I had a total hysterectomy last year, but kept my ovaries - hopefully another 5-10 years before they kick over on me. I'm not gonna lie. I love my sleeve, but the hysterectomy was the best surgery I've had so far. life changing.

getting older, entering the workforce at a desk job in my 30's, and a severely disabled child (I had to manage his explosive outbursts - he has ended up being 6 foot tall and I am 5'1 or 2" - I think there is a part of me that felt like the weight would help me manage him and protect me during his outbursts. my first husband divorced me and I was left homeless for a year with 5 small children, and having to rely on more grab and go foods as even though I had friends to stay with I did not have my own kitchen, and then finally my (good new) husband was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, which I think we both had to do a lot of emotional work to grapple with. a lot of these things together kind of knocked me for a loop for about 5 years, during which I packed on about 70 pounds of weight. in my teens I grew up on a farm (very active), in marching band and a cheerleader. certainly not overweight then - my junior year I had a 21 inch waist. Goodness, I miss that figure. in my 20's I was 20-30 pounds overweight but I was also going from baby to nursing to baby x 7 and it didn't *keep* going up - so I don't really think of that as much of a weight problem. I stayed right around 150 when not in the latter parts of pregnancy. I was a lot more active as a stay at home mom - I was very involved in taking care of the home and in playing with the kidlets.

@@JamieLogical has a whole EXCELLENT thread about running you might enjoy. please try to do a search for it as I don't have the link handy.

@@Babbs those x ray pictures sure got me! YIKES. yikes. yikes. I am really looking forward to my 6 month check up because I will have had my next cat scan about a week earlier, and I want to ask my bariatric doctor to look at the last one and this one and talk to me about changes they may see. my oncologist and bariatric doctor are in the same hospital system so they will have access to my tests.

I often cook in batches on the weekend and freeze some lunches for grab and go, others go in the fridge, so I can mix it up. by cooking ahead and freezing I can have variety in my weekly work lunches, and not feel like I am eating the same thing every day and oh the headaches that are avoided because I am only making them out of the right foods for me at this time and in the right amounts. I simply don't have the ability to have a high mental function first thing in the morning.

you_are_fabulous. that's all.

not just every doctor, but even with the same doctor the instructions will vary from patient to patient according to their own medical needs. my doctor often has patients on a two week liquid pre op diet to shrink the liver for their own good, because the liver has to be able to be moved to get to the stomach. However, I had a recent CT scan and my physical exam showed him that I did not need to do that part, just liquids the day before surgery and clean out my bowel. It is the HARDEST part of the process to me. I was on liquids for two weeks after as my stomach healed, but you can get through it! hang in there, it's worth it.

you are all so BEAUTIFUL! I am in Nashville, Tennessee

I agree. I do not want to be treated as if I am worth - less because of being obese, and thank God my husband has found me attractive at any weight I've been (highest 267) but - I do believe it would have shortened my life, and was certainly beginning to cause health problems once I got into my 40s. I hope in the future we will see more science looking into why and how people become obese. I would love to see long term studies on WLS differentiating between those who were always heavy from childhood - those who gained at puberty - those who gained after a trauma and those who gained later in life. I became obese *after* all my children were born and I went to work at a sedentary job, but I really believe I piled it on to protect myself, my middle son is severely disabled and I needed to be able to handle him and to handle his explosive outbursts. He is in a group home now in his 20s, really needs the around the clock support - he is doing well and enjoys his visits home, but only wants to stay a couple of hours. I am ready to let the weight go. I don't need it. I have an aversion to fish I think because growing up in Michigan there were always commercials focused on PCB. I truly believe that is where my dislike came from - I continue to work on it, but so far, I just don't like it.

it's such a challenge isn't it? sometimes we are not really allowed the am and pm break we are supposed to have. I just find a quiet minute for my snack, or I TAKE one. not really supposed to have my drink at the front desk, but I stick it behind my monitor. If I am out there, I try to plan a snack that I can put in my cardigan pocket and not just skip it. Now that I can drink more at a time getting in my fluids is much easier, and I am up to 80-100 ounces a day. I say this hoping it will encourage you that it will get easier. we're learning a *new* way to live and it is just going to take some figuring out! I wasn't cleared for more than walking until my 1 month follow up, and I kind of remember that pulling pain - so I think you are probably in normal range for that, but if you are concerned please follow up with your team.

thank's for the recommendation! I have been shopping for a sports bra because mine are getting too big around. I will try to pop into a local store to try one on when we are out shopping for a graduation dress for #2 daughter this weekend.

my doctors plan only allowed fish during soft foods - BUT, I dunna like fish. wish I did, but I do not. so they had me very gingerly try scrambled eggs and ground meat. we usually use ground sirloin combined with ground turkey, and I did not have any problems with any of those items. I am really thankful to have a team and NUT who are willing to work with different food issues to find a good plan for each individual patient.

Dub. I am in a similar place at my work - trying so hard to make a change! I spend so much time at work, it's difficult to have things be so lousy. to the OP, for me if I don't have a meal, snack, meal, snack, meal then my weight loss STOPS. I don't eat much at a time, but I seem to need to spread it out. Some days it is hard to get everything with my liquids in. I try to pack up my Snacks, and honestly most of my meals on the weekend so I can just fill my cooler in the morning. for me snacks have been either a power crunch Protein bar (because I love the triple chocolate) a Protein shake, light string cheese with 2 pieces of lunch meat, a small serving of cottage cheese with oh, maybe 3 strawberries, or 1/4 of a banana, or else I will have 1 ounce of almonds and one ounce of dried cherries, or maybe an extra small serving of lima Beans. I don't know how this will change as things move along - I am only almost 3 months since surgery- but this, for now keeps me loosing weight. There's only been 3 different weeks I didn't loose and it was always when I cut out my snacks. as for beverage I *really* like Vitamin Water zero. the LEMONADE is my favorite! they are sweetened with stevia- Walmart has the best price for the multipacks. I hope you get some more ideas, because it is all so much easier when things are planned out and you don't have to try to figure food out on the go and stressed. Off to pack my lunch box now!

what can you accomplish in a month? wow. I am amazed when I see my month end summary. hmmmm. I might need to step up a little, it would be awfully sweet to make 100 miles in a month. map my walk says I have walked 32.7 hours - 16426 calories - 44 workouts - 90.1 miles in April. this is just from working out - I don't track my daily in the course of living walking. I am so thankful for this sleeve.

Nothing to be ashamed of! we understand that this is a rest of our lives battle. You're ready to fight it again, and at least you are catching it before getting back to 255! what steps are you taking? how is it going?