Czuck1983

I've yet to try full on fried chicken, however I did just the other day have some lightly breaded chicken cutlets. I had two small pieces (measured at about 2.5oz) and had no problem with it. I even got a little daring and dunked it in some buffalo sauce... I've been seriously craving something spicy.

I will be hopefully this coming weekend, the following week is the first of 2 pride parades that I'm going to be marching in, so I'd like to go while showing some pride. Lol.

I've become much more comfortable in my own body these last few months. Even my therapist has been amazed at how much more positive and outgoing I have been, and in turn it's also helped my marriage a bit. There was a point where we were struggling a little, and I realized that my own personal unhappiness was weighing me down in many ways and effecting our relationship. The loss of inches has also helped me a lot with some other issues, I've been very open on here about being transgender, I have noticed recently that my dysphoria has subsided a lot, although much of that is also from being on hormone replacement therapy as well. My journey to surgery actually began because of my issues shopping for women's clothes. Back in October, I went out shopping with a good friend, and I couldn't find a single thing that fit and looked good on me. We went to Torrid, Lane Bryant, Avenue, all places that are made often for plus sized girls, but at 6'2" and 325lbs, there wasn't a single thing for me. I absolutely lost it, and cried out that I need a store called "Fat Fucks R Us." While I haven't been shopping for new women's clothes as of yet, I feel much more comfortable and positive about the idea of shopping.

My doctor prescribed me this after surgery as well. He explained to me that after gastric surgery, the chances of gallstones go up exponentially and that it will help reduce the chances of it happening. If I recall, he said it's only for a few months or so, but he made it sound like it's pretty common to take. But he also admits to being very conservative in his treatments.

Well I'm sorry about the fire pit, but glad to hear he is doing well. His health and well being is obviously more important... does he have any friends who might be able to help him?

That's great to hear.... I did mean that question for Kay to be honest... but again, good that your husband is also doing well.

I'm glad to hear everything has been going well. Hope it keeps up that way. On a different subject, How has your husband been?

To be honest, my meal plan has been a bit sporadic... I've struggled with the infamous foamies on and off, so there was a period of almost 2 weeks where I maybe had one meal every 2 days and spent the rest of my time drinking as much as I could. I drink a 12oz Powerade every day and also keep a water bottle near me at all times. I have a 40oz bottle and usually get through 2-2.5 fills a day. 2 weeks ago, as detailed in a previous post, I got really bad and for about 4 days or so was barely able to drink half a bottle a day... I ended up in the ER with 2 bags of straight saline and a banana bag. Since then, I've been doing really good and in all honesty, been eating small quantities of just about anything I wanted. This past Sunday, I had a bunless hotdog for the first time since surgery; Wednesday I caved to a deep craving and hit up Taco Bell. I ate just over half of a beef burrito (should have stopped sooner but it was so good I lost control... not going to do that again). Today I had 3 raviolis with a little bit of shredded cheese and pasta sauce (that was my third time having ravioli since being approved to try anything). I don't drink protein shakes anymore, honestly, I haven't had one since surgery, I couldn't stomach them at all. Also, obviously those were not my only meals through the week, just the only ones that might not necessarily be bariatric approved. I guess it hasn't effected me much on the scale, I weigh in twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays... Monday I was 236.2, Thursday I was 231.4. So I guess the Taco Bell didn't kick my ass as bad as it could have.

So just a small update on my numbers that have me super excited. This week I made it down to 230lbs, that's a 95lb drop from where I started the year. I actually got a little teary eyed when I saw that number on the scale yesterday. The most exciting part isn't just the number on the scale, but what that number says about my health in general. When I started at 325, my BMI was 41.7, which classified me at "morbidly obese." And while I hide my weight well (most people were shocked that I was looking at surgery at all because they didn't realize I was quite so heavy) it definitely had it's effect on my physical abilities and the way I felt in general. Now, at 230, I'm down to a BMI of 29.5, which is classified as "overweight." I don't recall exactly how long I would have been considered "obese," the earliest I can remember of being very aware of my weight was in 98-99 when I was in 10th grade and wrestled in the 275 weight class. So I know that it's at least 20 years that I was quite that large, but not sure how much earlier then that I was doing that poorly with my body. My next goal is my primary goal, at 194 I will no longer be considered overweight at all... so that's only about another 36lbs from where I am now. Which shouldn't be too hard considering how far I've come in such a short period of time. I think I would like to make it down to 185 as a standing weight, putting me at a potential BMI of 23.8.

Thank you. It's all been a long time coming. I ignored and hid that other side of me for way too long.

I can certainly relate to some of that myself... between the surgery and starting hormone replacement therapy very close to the same time, there was a little bit of tension in my house. My wife was terrified that I would gain more confidence with the weight loss and want to find somebody else; while simultaneously fearing that as I begin the gender transition, that I would decide I wanted to be with a man (even though she knows that gender and sexual preference are two different things). She still struggles a little, but I do everything I can to make sure she realizes that she's the only person I have eyes for.

That looks delicious... I've been hesitant to try some of these meatless products... I'm too much of a meat person...

How did everything go? How are you feeling?

Best of luck tomorrow, I'm glad things worked themselves out and you didn't have to postpone anything. I know how nerve racking this stage can be, you're well prepared and seem to have a good mind about everything. Now it's time to take a deep breath and try to relax a bit. Tomorrow will go down seamlessly and before you know it, you'll be up and about and feeling amazing. Best of luck to you and to your husband, I'm glad to read that he's doing well and recovering.