TakingABreak

I will have to disagree with this suggestion. Don't use protein shakes before you absolutely have to! I made the mistake of supplementing some of my meals with shakes to "prepare myself" for the pre-op diet. Big mistake. You will get to the point where they are DISGUSTING, and you don't want to increase the timeline of that by drinking them before you need to. And there is no such thing as preparing yourself for pre op.

I guess this was one of the reasons why it may have been in poor tastes to assume someone should could would have the surgery. I guess a better questions may have been would more public figures openly have surgery if the stigma of the "easy way out" was removed from this option? And would that then be a public health courtesy or disservice ? I think that's a great point. I think public figures would be more apt to have WLS if the stigma was distinguished. Even in the episode of "This Is Us", where Kate discussed weight loss surgery, it wasn't very positive and the risk factors were over exaggerated, in my opinion.

I remember the months leading up to my surgery. I was stir crazy. The one thing I can say is to do as much research and reading before hand as you can. Be prepared! I continuously see things now, that I didn't know before mine. I tried new recipes before surgery too, and did a lot of soups for the pureed phase and froze them in baby food containers (they look like ice cube trays, but silicone). Also, start an exercise routine now, so it's a habit prior to surgery.

I also started this process with the hopes to get pregnant after my 12 month waiting period. So I wish you the best of luck. You are doing the right thing. Its hard, but try and ignore the people who don't understand. I would also limit the people you tell, for a lot of reasons.

Patience is a virtue. Stalls are inevitable Stick to the program. Learn to love yourself again.

I needed to read this today. Thanks girl!

I eat lots of yummy carbs. Potatoes, beans, whole grains, fruits... I try and limit to about 60 max per day. But without my carbs, I'd hit a mental wall half way through the day.

So if you are like me, often times I buy something and it sits in my closet and by the time I realize it, the expiration for return has passed. I've been doing something a little different lately. I've been buying all my transition clothing from either TJ Maxx or Marshals. They accept all clothing, even without a receipt, as long as the tags are still on. Therefore, I leave the tags on the clothes until I actually wear them. And if I found that I shrunk and they are too big, NO PROBLEM! I just return them for store credit and get something new. I also don't feel hesitant in buying clothes that don't fit yet, because I know that I don't need to worry about the return policy. The best part about it is, they have super cute clothing, especially Marshals. They have 1x-3x (14/16-22/24) in plus size and obviously the standard women's sizes. I find a lot of tops there for around $10, which happens to be cheaper than Walmart most of the time.

I actually have adult night terrors due to PTSD and they have lessened substantially since I’ve used my CPAP. So it’s very possible that your dreams were due to the apnea’s.

Agreed.

Ok. And I’m disagreeing with someone. and I quoted you saying "If you don’t want to participate in a thread, there are literally THOUSANDS of others". You were implying that myself or Rainbow Warrior didn't need to comment on her thread... we could have just kept scrolling... And once again my response "It's a public forum... you don't always get the answers you *want* or *like*"

Since when is bold print qualify as an attack? I think he was just trying to emphasize the question he was asking. I could be wrong, but this is my take. I know its easy to jump to conclusions, but Frust stood up for herself, and that's that. No need to jump in and stir up unnecessary drama. That's my thoughts.

its obvious that no one is participating for a reason. Its okay that Frust has differing opinions and thoughts, and its also OK that other people disagree. It's a public forum... you don't always get the answers you *want* or *like*

You've got to be kidding me, who exactly attacked Frust? I SPECIFICALLY SAID, "I know you mean well" Therefore, I know you aren't referring to my comment. And Rainbow Warrior just posed a question to think about.... Lets not create drama where drama doesn't exist.

This is correct, but you will also visit a Respiratory Therapist, which mine is in the same office is where I get all my CPAP supplies from. My RT helped me more than the technician did at my sleep study. And remember, when you get setup to have your supplies, you can always exchange your mask during the "return" period. For example, I went through 6 different masks before I found one that I liked. My supply company was able to get me a new one, that was covered by insurance, within a 30 day return window. Don't suffer with a bad mask, when there are other options. I tried many styles and finally landed on one. My supply company also does mail delivery of supplies, so once a month I get a package with all of our stuff, its wonderful!

I had to do 2 of them, because the first one I didn't actually sleep enough for them to fit me with a mask for the second half of the night. If you have any difficulties sleeping outside your home, I'd ask your PCP for a sleep aid for the study. Its extremely uncomfortable being hooked up to everything, and you have to sleep flat on your back for the study. This is because most apnea is the worst when you are on your back.

Its very true. My husband has sleep apnea and he is skinny as a rail! My sleep apnea doctor always says it has to do with three things. 1. Small chin 2. Short Neck 3. Overweight

Sometimes you've got to bring up your options to them. Doctors are really methodical about medications they prescribe. Sometimes I think it has to do with their relationships with pharmaceutical companies and reps, but regardless, I doubt they didn't bring it up because its not an option. Nuva Ring is very common form of BC for WLS patients. IUD's are a more permanent solution and my sister has one, and she bleeds two times a month. She is extremely irregular now, and has always had a regular period before. Plus, you have to be dilated for them to insert, which I heard hurts pretty bad, regardless if you've had children before. It should be treated as a last resort.

I have a shake every morning, and I do the same as you. I drink almost immediately afterwards. I guess I do this because in the hospital my surgeon said the 30 min rule didn't apply when I was on liquids. *shrugs* and my smoothie is a liquid... I don't observe the 30 minutes prior rule though. I don't believe that was ever a part of my instructions. I specifically remember 30 minutes after. @SleeveinIL, what were we told? I typically don't finish a big glass of tea and eat though. I wouldn't want to eat if that was the case.

did you ask about Nuva Ring? Maybe its not something you want to do, but its not affected by absorption. It's absorbed through the vaginal wall.... Its working great for me, at the moment anyway. I personally would never do an IUD.

I use my grill almost exclusively in the summer. I prep all my meat on grocery store day (usually Sundays) whether it be to marinade, season, chop, skewer, ect. Most of the time I have to freeze some of it, because the packages are bigger than we need for two people. We frequently do steamed veggies or a garden salad. I chop all my fruits and veggies for the week on that day as well. I also grill larger meat quantities on Sunday and Wednesdays for work lunches. I will also cook rice or a potato for my husband. I usually can microwave a baked potatoes and throw it on the grill and rice cooks quick. I always make dinner in 30 mins or less.

me neither!

I hardly ever go to Chick-fil-a, but my mom loves their sweet tea, and we went there for drinks a couple weekends ago. Two large teas cost us almost $6.00. I told my mom that McDonalds has tea for a $1.00, is it really worth the extra money, doubt it.

Its worth it though, feels amazing!

Food is everything, everywhere, imbedded in every aspect of our lives. Today, like many many days, my boss came up to me and asked "would you like ice cream from Mc Donalds?" and naturally it is for a "reward" of sorts for good performance for the day. I looked at him and said "you know my answer" in a playful way. It's crazy how food is our natural go-to for reward. I yelled out of my office to my friend across the way, "I am one STRONG lady!" because it's true. These last 5 months, I have withstood so many potlucks, ice cream socials, food truck days, donut or bagel breakfast, boxes of dilly bars, I COULD GO ON AND ON! A part of me feels defeated, the reason why? Why couldn't I lose the weight differently and still be able to partake in some of these things in moderation? I know the answer why.... I would never have done it. I need the dumping syndrome to prevent me from partaking. This surgery FORCED my hand. The other part of me feels accomplished, strong, and amazing. I have powered through every hard moment, Candy on Valentines day, birthday party cupcakes, s'mores at cook outs, frozen margaritas at the health club pool, bread at the restaurant, baked goods at Easter, ice cream on a hot summer day,....... I have said NO to everything. I have been strong and it has paid off.