Fairysaddle

Wow, this was fun to look back at. I've been stalled for almost a year now, and I needed that reminder of how far I've come. I'm far from my goal, and haven't gotten near that 200 mark yet. But I've hit all the others. :scared2: I just got my first bike a couple weeks ago, and have been happily hauling my 4 year old DD around in a bike trailer since. So I guess that accomplishes both "riding a bike" and "running around with the kids." I'm having so much fun this summer doing things that I thought I would never do. We even went camping - in a tent! Never, ever thought I would even WANT to do that one. LOL! It was a blast. Thanks for bumping this thread. I would love to hear more updates, and hopes from the newbies. My new goal. I want to Bike to the Bay next year! :wink2: And, I'm still hoping for that "Vacation the I could never do before" at my 200 lb mark. Have a great time at Dorney Park! And, good luck on the 5k, Summer. You will get there!!!

Never mind... I went to the bike store today and got the answers I needed. :thumbup:

Thanks, Kim! I'm not as worried about the sound quality as I am about the comfort and fit. (Although I don't want BAD sound quality, either.) The iPod ones were OK, but they did tend to fall out every now and then. You like the comfort of the type that fit into your ear, then?

My white ones that came with the ipod just self-destructed. I would like to replace them with something that stays in place a little better. What do you use? What have you tried that didn't work? I got some over the ear ones from Walmart once. They didn't stay in place well at all. I still like the concept and I'm wondering if I just bought a crappy brand, or if the whole design isn't very good for exercising? Then there's the ones with the little silicon ring that you actually put in your ear canal. How well do those stay in place? Thanks!

Anyone know if there is a theme to this month's post-op support group? I might actually be able to make it this month.

Ugh. Add me to the cookie hall of shame. :tt2: I just made my last batch tonight. I promised the kids that we would make some cookie cutter cookies, and didn't have time before Christmas. The problem is that they don't eat them - I do. Having little kids really does make things tougher. Not to blame them, I do realize it is my own extreme lack of self control. I probably would have made some cookies without them, but at least two batches were completely for them. The cookie cutter cookies, obviously, and I was a good girl and gave away ALL of my Santa's Whiskers cookies because I thought I was the only one in my household that ate them. Well, the next day my son was crying that they were his "favorite". So, I was guilted into making another batch - which sits in my fridge calling my name, completely untouched by him after eating one or two right away. :mad: I really, really need to get my butt in the gym and work. Our insurance is expiring and we are HOPING that without my "morbid" we might qualify for a lower rate. DH is self-employed, and with my weight our insurance costs about 1 1/2 times more than our mortgage! Realistically I know that insurance is band-unfriendly when it comes to rates, but we have to try. It's destroying us financially.

Congratulations and welcome to the Band Wagon! It's good to hear the you are feeling better. But you have a ways to go before you get to eat, and it's a tough time of year to be doing this. Sorry. Strain some soup through a collander. I found that having something savory really helped. Also, popsicles or jello are great for having something that you can "eat". I started on pureed soups about 2 weeks out. It was slightly bad, but so many people on the boards were allowed to start mushies and even eat that I was feeling pretty deprived and created my own intermediate stage between liquids and mushies. I pushed the "if you can drink it through a straw" rule and threw soup in the blender. I'm not recommending it, just saying what I did. :biggrin: (It is very important to give yourself time to heal, so please don't push it yet. You aren't even 2 weeks out.)

Congratulations, Julie! I'm glad to hear that your surgery went well. Just keep going one day at a time, and this month will be over before you know it.

Funny, I just posted this on another forum... Check this out, San Antonio Bariatric Surgery - New Dimensions Weight Loss Surgery - Side Effects Hibernation Syndrome Two or three weeks after Gastric Bypass or Adjustable Gastric Band, the patient’s body "figures out" that it is not going to be receiving its accustomed calories for a long time. In about half of our patients this results in what we call the hibernation syndrome, where one’s body falls back on its built-in evolutionary response to a low food supply. The person just wants to rest and be as still as possible until the food returns. Energy level drops through the floor, and the patient can become emotionally labile (tearful or irritable). There can also be a component of depression caused by the loss of the previous relationship with food. This syndrome can be unnerving for patients because it comes at a time when they are just beginning to get over the pain and other effects of surgery. They believe they should be feeling better but they just want to curl up and go to sleep. The good news is that this is not a dangerous or unusual thing, and will resolve in about two weeks when the body figures out how to use fat as its main energy source. <H3> </H3>

Congratulations!!! I'm so happy that things are going well.

I was completely dreading liquids, too. That scared me a lot more than the surgery. But it wasn't nearly as bad as I was making it out to be in my mind. Just keep remembering that this is a very short period of time in comparison to the rest of your life. Broth goes a long way to satisfy the savory. You will get sick of sweet stuff. Jello and sugar free popsicles are a great way to satisfy the need for some texture. As for feeding the family - it won't kill them to eat junk for a month! Whenever DH was around, I made him deal with it. When he wasn't, the kids ate fast food or something that I could pull out of the fridge/freezer. If it took more than throwing it in the microwave, they were out of luck. :thumbdown: I only sat with them if we were eating in front of the TV. Yep, sign me up for Mother of the year! LOL! But, seriously, 99% of the reason I had this surgery was to get healthy for my kids. I have never stressed over my body image, even though I do appreciate that particular benefit, it was not my motivation. So I wasn't going to stress about being a little bit selfish when it came to having to psychologically deal with liquids. It is very tough psychologically. Give yourself a break and accept that. Don't fight it by trying to be Super Mom. Your family can make some sacrifices, too.

CHRIAS is starting a lower delaware practice. So it wouldn't be too terribly far for you. I'm not sure where it is, though, probably Dover. Check their website. I think there was a sign saying that they were making appointments for the new site last time I was in the office. So it is probably already opened, or will be very soon. (I didn't pay that much attention, since the current location is about 10 minutes from my house.)

Good luck! I don't know about the robe. You will have to get up and walk, but you will also have an IV. Some very loose, stretchy pants or a skirt would probably be a better idea. Going to the bathroom with an IV is tricky, so make sure they are very easy to get on/off. I remember all the "last meal" plans I had. Then I went to the doctor for my pre-surgery appointment and she told me to start low-carbing immediately. Aaaaahhhh! That was probably the worst emotional crisis that I had, because I had everything all planned out, then I didn't get to say my food goodbyes. LOL! It seems ridiculous now, but at the time I was a mess. Nobody had warned me about the low-carbing period. Wasn't somebody having surgery today, too? Or was that last week? In either case, check in to let us know how you are doing! edited to add - I always like to have my own pillows. Preferrably with bright pillow cases so that they don't get thrown into the laundry. Your cell phone & charger. Comfy, SLIP ON shoes for walking in. And make sure you ask for an extra gown as soon as you get to your room. They ran out when I was there, and it would have been nice to be able to wear an extra one (on backwards) as a robe when traipsing around the hospital.