Sosewsue61

Good - was worried the pain would get the best of you and make it impossible to manage, much less do any weigjt loss program. For me - the VSG has been a good choice but I do not have your medical issues. A main concern with rny gastric surgeries was the malabsorption of key vitamins and the incidence of ulcers in the stomach portion that is bypassed. My nurse practioner at my PCP has both issues, and the two testimonials at wls group both had B and iron deficiences. The % difference of overall weight loss between the two is negligible IMO as long as you are compliant to the rules - no drinking during meals and for 30 after, never ever overeat the sleeve capacity, don't graze on slider foods, eat balanced protein and nutritionally sound carbs. Good luck.

This phase is one of the harder transitions, I became sooo averse to any thick shakes. I diluted ready-made Isopure blue raspberry with crystal light lemonade and drank it all day long - one bottle is 40gr and then tuna salad and cottage cheese or high protein yogurt like Siggi made up the difference. Hang in there as swelling and healing take place you will be able to eat more solid protein. Also bone broth soups, it has more protein than regular broth - blend chicken and black beans with chicken bone broth add some spices.

Question: - won't going off the steroids and going low carb reverse the weight gain, especially if you already do portion control? How long have you been at this high weight? What will you do for the back pain without the steroids?

Yes hormones are crazy weird after surgery and fast cell turnover I'm guessing could contribute to UTI's. It hasn't happened to me, but I am over the hill (menopause). You may want to switch protein drink brands if you are still using them, not sure the acidic content of any food choices but maybe stick with bland food for a week and really increase the plain water. Did you get tested - take antibiotics or the med that coats the uninary tract? You could also be getting a kidney stone?

I would take more than two weeks off - at two weeks it was very difficult to take in enough at one sitting to quench your thirst as you will have inflammation, plus you can't eat and drink at the same time. I would take 4 or 5 weeks off. If you can't, get a Dr's note in order to take enough breaks to drink water and get a snack. (It's understandable that you can't take things in the lab.) Are you on a rate - expected to meet quotas daily? If so - definitely take more medical leave - use FMLA. Good luck

Hopefully that is it!! Yay for you!

Welcome aboard! Use the 6 months supervised program to examine your relationship with food. This is major surgery and permanent - but that's what you want - a real solution that helps KEEP the weight off. Follow the plan and you will be fine. Check the surgical options - I chose the VSG and am very happy with it. I am not craving food, I enjoy what I eat but no longer controlled by it. Take your wife to an info mtg so she can here about the metabolic differences obesity causes in our bodies and how the surgery gives us a better chance at success. Welcome and good luck.

So post a typical day of food choices with amounts.

What advice would you give your best friend if she asked the same question? Let go of the guilt and shame, trust yourself You do not need to be perfect at this - plan an indulgence, journal what you ate and let it go. I don't know if you are upset over nonstop snacking from emotional eating, or just having a dessert sometimes. Keep your nutrition high and you will be less tempted to graze. Find a hobby that keeps your hands and mind busy. Drag out your fat pants and try them on, then lay them on the bed and put your skinny ones on top and ask yourself if you want to ruin all that hard work. Snap a picture with your phone and use it as a reminder when you need a boost. Hang in there, it's not over.

The herniated muscle on the rear wall of the vagina - it is lax toward the rectum so it 'pushes' in that direction during some positions and is uncomfortable. (Also, not to be gross with tmi, but with pooping it pushes toward the vaginal wall and causes some strain there, esp if any constipation - which is def uncomfortable. So....this surgery is likely to be covered by insurance I'm hoping)

@Joyful4 they have soup.

It's where they pulled your stomach out through and likely a little muscle and nerve soreness, but if it doesn't improve past another week then get it checked. Maybe wear a support garment and see if that helps.

Truly my fav grain.

It's just acid reflux. Try sleeping propped up a little at night and ask for a PPI, omeprazole or prilosec, sometimes it's tricky finding the right one. Sometimes rapid weight loss cause this and your gall bladder can act up with rapid weight loss as well.

@mooseprejean welcome back it has been awhile! Looking mighty fine!!

Cheating is not a solution to your problem. Listen to yoyrself - go reread your post a few times. - While you are fat, you seek less attention and have no problwm being faithful. You fear more attention will lead to cheating. You sound like getting excess attention is the problem. The problem is in your head, your upbringing, or both. You need counseling to sort this out, it could be a high libido or it could be an addiction or other problem. If you are committed to your marriage, you DON'T CHEAT period, regardless of libido. Self-sex. But you could be using this libido thing because you secretly want to cheat, better examine this closer.

@kakatlady612 (shhhh I'm a square dancer too. I like to get them hooked first with contra because it only has about 12 basic calls and once they realize how much FUN it really is.....and WOMEN LOVE TO DANCE)

@336Mike google contra dancing in NC. http://www.contradancelinks.com/schedule_NC.html The people are all very genuine and it is great exercise, always done to live musicians - not at bars - and they teach it before the dancing starts. You don't have to take a partner - everyone dances with each other, and it is traditional to ask a different person for each dance.

@Charity G well they can do lipo on the mons when they do the tummy tuck/LBL surgery. I plan on getting a separate vag rejuvenation from a surgeon that specializes in that - I have a herniated muscle on the posterior wall from some rough childbirth.... sometimes makes good ole missionary a little uncomfortable. Sex is still great but my booty is now a flat textbook down the pants!!! Goes with the 'tennis balls in tube socks' titties!!! All going under the knife after stabilized goal weight - hopefully a year from now.

Up your activity, you didn't mention that aspect of the journey. Sometimes you need to add 100 calories of protein and up the water intake to get it moving again. Also are you eating the same foods over and over - add more fish or try a new vegetable. Our bodies get used to routine, shake it up. Good luck.

Could be carb withdrawal or a virus, hard to tell at this point. Prior to starting this liquid diet did you reduce carb intake at all?

Hot tea with a touch of honey and lemon. A hot epsom salts bath, naps - lots of naps, more tea... Sorry you are sick. I just got over the flu, not as much puking as serious headache, dry cough, sore throat and exhaustion for two weeks straight. Take care of yourself.

I did change during the six months required dietician supervised program. I was required to quit soda and did in one week, I substituted ice tea for diet coke and the following month I cut back on carbs. I just added a new change each month. I was required to keep a food journal and activity journal - I bought a fitbit for that. The fitbit also recorded my sleep habits - awake times, restless sleep, etc - that was sufficient evidence that I probably had very mild apnea that did not require a sleep study or a cpap. If you really don't want surgery then just keep horsing around being half-arssed about making changes!!! And do the clinic's staff a favor, quit and stop wasting their time - there are other patients to see that WANT to change their lives. You don't have to be perfect, but you do have to try harder than this. Giving up soda is a good place to commit to - stop buying it - who is the adult in the room? If I can give up 8 cans a day of diet coke habit × 32 years anyone can do it.

Water retention in the muscles is normal. Up your liquids and protein a little and give it some time.

It's really nice of you to support her. Just cheering her on is great, taking her on a shopping spree and listening when she needs to vent. Tell her you are proud and that she is brave. Doing the table clearing or dishes so she can go to the gym. Taking walks with her if this can become a permanent routine for the two of you or finding a shared physical activity like biking or dancing or swimming. In all honesty more than that can be annoying, especially making suggestions to her diet - especially if you have never experienced being obese, it can come off as superiority or micromanaging and don't be constantly watching what she eats. She has to weather these ups and downs herself, and find her own groove on this journey. This journey can be tough at times, but no success is ever easy.