meathead

Ladies, I'm not easily impressed but, I have to tell you, if someone organized what you have contributed here in recipes and pictures, with a pleasant binding and a cool name, no one can stop you from producing a best selling book. Oh. It ain't me babe. Just saying.

As I prepare for the sleeve surgery, I have a couple quick questions. Can the high protein powdered mixes serve as real sources of nutrition during this phase? It is easier for me to have 5 to 7 of them with 8oz of skim milk plus 2 meals of lean protein meat and mozzarella part skim cheese and green beans, than a third meal with fewer drinks. How important is it to stop drinking Diet Mtn. Dew?

You are a slice of heaven and a burst of sunshine. I thank you. What you shared with me was very kind and helpful and I appreciate it. I received it at an opportune time.

Let them whine as you take all the proceeds to the bank. Those recipes with the pictures are a gold mine. Guaranteed. No fooling. I was in marketing/advertising and done right, that book will rock the pants off the publishing industry.

I feel the same way and I haven't had surgery yet. Thank you for your openness and honesty. Semi-related: you girls making only those delicious looking, healthy meals. Write a cookbook, including the pictures. It will be a bestseller overnight.

Hey ladies, I mean no offense here. Afterall, I'm a very happily married man going on 40 years this year. But, I do want to say, if you don't mind, that some of you gals are really looking very, very, very good in those pictures, so be careful out there. There are many bad boys around who when they see the new you may be tempted to go a little nuts, if you know what I'm saying. Not me. Just take it from a red blooded old man that you are looking unbelievable!

First, I love that your husband was attracted to you plus a hundred pounds. I admire and respect that. It tells me you are much more than a piece of meat to him, that he values you for who you really are. Many guys I know don't spend a lot of time looking under the surface (me, included). Very likely at 140 lbs. you are a bombshell and they weren't kidding when they said he got a nice return on his investment. He got a beautiful woman on the outside as well as the inside. They weren't being critical; just the opposite. They were in awe. They were amazed how good you look. That's how I would have meant those words had I said them.

Thanks. I agree. I hoped coming here I might find a spark, you know? Something to inspire me to a greater commitment. MY "want to" and my willpower are weak. In my past I have made up my mind to do some difficult things and achieved them. My want to is just not strong enough. Like you say, I can do some things and I'm working on those. No bread for a few days. Lean protein from drinks and turkey bologna and low fat cheese. Salads. More water consumption. I want to turn the corner and go all out, but I am unable to. Part of it I suppose is my love for diet Mt. Dew.

I can't do it. I want to, but not enough. Whatever it takes to do this, is missing. I can do some things, but I can't do it all. I simply can't find the willpower to undertake this thing. It is too much. I thought the surgery itself would reduce my weight and my appetite so that I could get my weight down, keep it down, and rebuild my body. Now, I realize I can't even diet to qualify for the weight loss surgery.

Thanks. YOU ARE KILLING ME! Just kidding. This thing is too hard for me. Even if I can do it for a while, I can't sustain it. I need more than 1,500 calories a day.

I ask GOD to heal your body.

Sorry for your pain. You are likely past the worst. Good for you.

I can't fathom drinking 8 8oz glasses of water. Wish I could help you. I'm here sort of for the reasons you are. Down on myself. When I began preparation 2 years ago I lost weight w/o the surgery. Lost enough to see if I could continue losing w/o surgery. Here I be, back to where I was. Trying to prepare for surgery again and am struggling. Can't find the motivation or the willingness to sink my teeth into making the changes. Don't know why, so here I am. There is something brutal about this whole thing. I am recovering from a few very difficult, cell level, addictions and they were tough. In fact, I thought 1 would kill me withdrawing from it. I'm older, more physical problems, limitations, exhaustion is my constant companion. Am doing what I am supposed to for the narcolepsy ( it turns out ) and sleep apnea with CPAP, but my fatigue persists. Going for a walk seems like a lot of work now with little benefit. Feeling self-pity I guess. Whatever this phase is, it is the pits because I don't know what I can do except keep on, keeping on, trying to make changes. I want to have the surgery, wake up 60lbs lighter, 40 years younger, full head of hair, and exploding with energy and a positive outlook with gobs of confidence and not think about how little time I have left on this planet. I don't enjoy heading down the homestretch. I want the mother I didn't have to wrap me up in her arms and assure me all is well and not let go for a long time. Embarrassing but true.

Good question

I was looking for the way to introduce myself and couldn't find it. Your situation scares me. I don't have any advice, only concerns. I don't have a date for my surgery yet but it should be set in about one month. Did you lose a healthy amount of weight? Are you still at a net loss? From all you've been through are you able to find the resources that will help you to get back on track? Would you do it again? What advice do you have for someone about to undergo this type of surgery? Sorry I have nothing to offer you, but you have already helped me. I want this procedure to fix my weight issues once and for all. Knowing that can't happen, I wonder how difficult it will be to maintain a significant loss through the surgery over time. I am older now with other health problems making it more difficult to improve my overall health even with wls. It is going to be a battle and I have to prepare for that thanks to what you wrote.