Creekimp13

Oh FFS.... Two funny things. One...if you click on the link to the rules...it's broken and doesn't exist. Two....I'm not ranting about ANY SPECIFIC MEMBER. This rant is about patterns of behavior, gross generalizations, and comical stereotypes....that this place is ripe with. Also...please note the description of the Rants and Raves board: "Want debate? Get it here. Gripe, complain, moan, fight, rant and rave. Enter at your own risk!"

I think they're placating you. I think it's insane that they're not giving you a calorie goal to work with. Individuals vary so much. Some experience a lack of hunger...some experience extreme hunger. Some experience restriction so bad they can barely get a couple of spoonfuls of food in at a time, some are like you...and experience much less restriction. My doctor explained all these possible outcomes...and the possibility of being an outlier. I'm shocked and saddened this wasn't discussed with you...even as a remote possibility. It really bothers me that these procedures are often sold on false expectations. I feel like I had full disclosure from my group...which I'm grateful for. I'm really sorry you didn't. In particular...the standard answer at my group...is that no matter what, we will work with you and help you succeed, we'll customize to meet your needs. I feel like your clinic is trying to stick you back in the same mold everyone else is in....when it's clear your experience is a little different. I'm sorry they're not doing more to really help you cope with your unusual circumstances.

I cannot imagine my husband telling me "I won't even discuss" something I cared about. If he ever tried that childish nonsense, the marriage would be over. And he would be responsible. I don't want to be married to a controlling child, and I'm not sure why you want to be.

Did your PCP give you a reason? Do you meet bmi requirement, etc?

Continuing bariatric support is important. If you can't see a bariatric group, at the very least be vigilant about your PCP visits, make sure there is no other underlying cause to explain your weight loss.

I liked it when I was a kid and you got to spend a whole day making valentine mailboxes, with glitter and construction paper and sticking them on your desk. Then, everyone had to give everyone else little miniature valentines, and the really cool ones had holograms and stickers. And boys had cooties, and girls had cooties, and the teacher had adult cooties...and we all played heart bingo and made our moms cards out of paper doilies. Your best friend would bring her favorite stuffed animal in, and you brought yours, and you would spend the night at each other's houses making costumes and decorations and having a stuffed animal wedding. Until you decided it would be more fun to use her real cats. Then you got them dressed and had a cat wedding. I miss cat weddings, and stickers, and cooties.

The Rants and Raves board, the Lounge, the guys and girls rooms....could maybe have a more discrete backroom feel that omits them from Trending Topics and updates? They're generally off-topic and might be taken with a grain more effectively if they're not stumbled into accidentally through other menus. If you have to actually seek them out, and pull down the menu to find them.....it's more likely you'll understand what content to expect. Might spare the newbies, and keep the pertinent information front and center....while also allowing an edgier sub rosa retreat. $.02

My hubby keeps ice cream, soda, candy, chips and fast food....at work now. My kiddo sends healthy recipes and we have cook offs and exchange pix of the new dishes we're trying. My bestie takes me walking.

For Valentines....I get my husband a weird couples grab bag from the local sex store. We laugh our butts off at the weird crap inside....attempt to use some of it, and hurt ourselves. Laugh a lot....and enjoy the absurdity. My kiddo...I'll send a care package to. This year, it's unicorn pajamas with red hearts. She'll love them. Also got her some bath oils and fancy soap. Getting my mom flowers. I like to arrange them myself. She gets some fancy bath oils and soap, too.

If you're insurance accepts weight watchers...you're in luck. Does weight watchers employ physicians now, or is your PCP signing off on your Weight Watchers documentation?

My surgeon required us to lose 10% of our body weight....for me, that was 27 pounds. I remember being upset about this, but now I understand it. You really need those months to learn self discipline for optimal success.

Because many insurance companies require six months of medically supervised weight loss. Also because there are a million other things that need to get done... Nutrition counseling, psychological clearance, seeing a fitness trainer, attending a support group, going for a ton of medical tests...Upper GI, Endoscopy, EKG, Chest films, Blood work, etc. etc... Everything takes time. And that's really good...because it's not a decision you should rush into. Six months of research....was about right for me. I wouldn't change anything.

If this is the case, I think God should worry less about fat people and more about starving kids in Africa. Lousy priorities.

For freakin ever. Nah, mine went really smoothly. About six months. Time flew.

I'm glad, Tealeal...cause that was the hope:)

Ya'll will note...I did NOT post this to the general forum. I posted it to the Rants and Raves board....cause it's a Rant. It's not meant to be helpful...unless humor helps....which it sometimes does. (and sometimes doesn't)

I never had body hatred. At 270, I never really minded how I looked. I've always felt like I looked pretty good. I was fat...so what? I liked me. But the health issues are HUGE. Mobility issues, risk for diabetes and cancer... And here's the big one....energy. I LOVE the energy I have now. I can carry all the groceries in without panting. I can zip up a few flights of stairs. I can trot down to the mailbox, or haul some trash down without even thinking about it (which is saying something, cause my driveway is nearly a quarter of a mile long) Do I miss being fat? Not even a little.

If you're eating steak, you should be cutting it into teenie tiny little pieces at first. Slow the hell down and cut it into tiny little pea sized pieces. Eat a few at a time if you want a bigger mouth full, but consider your safety. Putting something large in your mouth to chew up with the idea of spitting it out is not only gross...it's dangerous. Yes, doctors DO have to surgically remove hunks of meat that get stuck. And NO, drinking flat or dilute soda is NOT the norm. There is no one on the planet who loves soda as much as I do....but I understood when I had surgery that it was something I had to give up. Empty calories and insulin spikes are not compatible with bariatric surgery....fizz or no fizz. And who the hell could gag down FLAT soda? Bleh! Creating "loopholes" to continue extreme habits is bonkers in my opinion.....it's self sabotaging and is a few steps away from a crossover eating disorder. You wanted blatant honesty...I think what you are describing sounds pathological and should be discussed with a therapist.

How about instead of teaching women to "follow safety rules", we teach men to not be predatory rapists? The focus is dated and needs to change.

Have decided to remove myself from this one.

I think the point LalaDee is making....is that sexually predatory behavior....isn't funny or entertaining to women who have been raped. Treating it like a joke, or like "it's no big deal...get over it"....is victim shaming. So what if Lurkin Larry is a 14 year old boy? HE is the person who needs to be corrected if you're passing out corrections. Why "correct" another woman for voicing her concern about sexual predation? You are essentially saying...you have the choice to be raped or not. Which is absolute bullshit:) Rape has nothing to do with having a choice. Why defend and accept rapists? Fluff....I'm picking on you here a little because you took someone's comments and made them a platform for your political rant.... instead of just accepting that LalaDee has a different perspective than you do and is entitled to express her concern. I'm doing the same thing to you now. Do you enjoy it? Live and let live...that's all I'm saying. And send the "corrections" to the people who commit the crimes, not the people who are upset about them.

The nose is a common site for edema. If you're in better shape, and eating healthier, it will be less likely to be puffy. (even if it wasn't that perceptibly puffy in the past)

1. Yes. Omeprazole was actually prescribed to me for 4 months after surgery to help protect my new sleeve. At first you just open the capsules and swallow the contents....later you can swallow the whole capsule. 2. Sleeve is associated with higher instances of GERD. 3. Carbonated beverages are generally frowned upon for life. 4. Alcohol is discouraged before 6 months post op and is generally cautioned against.....because it has empty calories, because it is metabolized differently after surgery, and because there is a risk of cross over addiction with WLS.

What mechanism does your doctor suggest could be causing this alleged damage to your mitochondria? Kinda sounds like the problem you had before the surgery is still giving you issues? May I ask your age?

I'm not thin yet, but the improvement has inspired different reactions. Getting more smiles from men my age, more casual conversation, more attention. On the one hand.....it's awfully nice to not be invisible anymore. On the other hand.....it's kinda hard to take. Part of me is really irritated these same guys wouldn't have even made eye contact 60 pounds ago. And of course...no one suspects a fat middle aged women. We could commit the perfect crimes because no one notices us or sees us. A part of me is sad to give up being able to commit the perfect crime:)