marfar7

@@marfar7 been seeing "less and less of you" you are getting so much smaller i better not blink I don't think you are throwing the towel in/giving up i think people sometimes set their goals too low -(or high, whichever way you want to look at it ) weight goal might be unrealistic stalled for months, maybe your body is trying to tell you something like "give me a break, i like this weight" or "i'm happy, why aren't you?? mentally, saying you want/need to lose 13 more lbs to goal - might/does sound "easier" to get to who knows, taking the pressure off yourself, you might end up losing more weight too,.....later!!!! 23.3 BMI would/will be great but.............i bet you are looking terrific now too!!!! whatever works for you is the best/right answer i get it about dwelling on that # but we all should/and do know that all that matters is how you feel, and i'm sure you do look amazing too!!!! you've lost 95 lbs bud!!!!! too cool!!! thats terrific fingers and toes crossed to help you break your stupid stall keep up the good job for the rest of your healthier, happier, longer life kathy congrats Kathy, I always enjoy reading ur responses, so supportive and positive. Thanks for ur opnion. I figure that if I know I only have 13 lbs to lose, I will be more motivated to get there, vs a longer road which may give me more worry to actually get there. Thanks for ur positivety.Always enjoy reading ur repsonses. I'll keep u informed on my progress, Congrats on ur success. If I can have the same succes, I'll be elated! Have great wknd. Marci

Actually, I had my revision at once, 9 mths ago. Thats normally how my surgeon does it. he figures that he's taking out 85% of ur stomach anyway, so the damaged part will be taken out. If u don't have a healthy 15% part of ur stomach left, u have no business getting a revision. After 2 1/2 yrs of frequent vomiting, my band had finally had enuf and slipped. After a yr of conservatively trying to fix it (unfills/fills/tweaks), it wasn't meant to be. For the first 2 weeks following my revision (gastric sleeve) I regretted my decision. it took my dr an extra 30 minutes to remove my band as it was embedded into my stomach, leaving me more sore than usual. But as my hubby reminded me about 10 times a day: It had to come out anyway. Might as well add a sleeve to the mix while he was in there. I don't regret my decision. I knew if I were to lose my weighttloss tool, I'd probly gain all the weight I had lost back (as is, I gained 30 lbs over a yrs time after my slip and unfill). Instead of having it removed and "thinking about it" (which I would normally do with a big decision like that), I thought I'd take a risk and just do it. So glad I did. I've now got 13 lbs to my goal weight. I advise u to research, research, and research. Why won't ur dr do revisions? Is there anyone else around u that can give u a 2nd opinion? I've heard of drs that require a waiting time between removal and revision but never heard of one who won't do a revision. Good luck to u!

Saw another post about this (actuallt it was about the 5 day pouch test) and it brought up more questions for me: Is our new stomachs stretchable and if so, will doing like 7 to 10 days of liquids bring us back to the restriction I once had? I've read both that u can and can't stretch ur stomach. I've read that since we don't have an actual pouch, the test won't work on us. I've also read that u CAN stretch it and a time of liquids can bring u back (even tho scientifically it sounds impossible that u can shrink the stomach by doing just liquids). If we could shrink our stomachs so easily, why would we have 85% of our stomachs removed in the first place. After a 4 mth stall (I eat the wrong foods in small portions but notice myself becoming hungrier and eating more) I decided to try 7 to 10 days of liquids only to give it a shot (altho I haave doubts that it'll work). Started yesterday. Drank Protein shakes and tomato Soup and literally starved. Coulda eaten my arm yesterday. When I read a couple posts about the liquid diet being unneccessary, I rethought my diet. Then I got on the scale. Lost 3 lbs. Haven't seen the 140's since getting married 2 yrs ago (after which my lapband slipped and I gained 34 lbs). So now I'm a little undecided on what to do. I'm pretty stoked about the loss. My plan is to get to my goal weight (most likely 135-140) and then Ill be able to easily maintain it with my portion control. I've been able to maintain my current weight for 4 mths fairly easily. Not sure what to do now. Advise? And yes, I know I'm sposed to track my food, protein first, lots of Water. So plz don't just give that advise....

Ur right. I guess I was trying to take the "easy way" out and not take responsibility for getting the weight off the healthy way. woke up ready to eat my arm this morning. After 48 hrs, I'd had enuf. Had 1/2 an egg and 1/2 pc of bacon for Breakfast. I guess the 48 hrs of liquids helped fill me faster (last week I could eat 1 egg and 1 pc of bacon). It's actually probly cuz I actually slowed my eating, which I normally don't do. Thanks for ur opinion. I KNEW it was a dumb idea but I had visions of grandeur, sine I lost most of my weight during the 4 week liquid phase. I starved for 2 days for nothing. Actually, I lost 2 lbs. Hopefully I can keep them off. .

We went to Disneyland last month (So Ca) and we were in line (an upside down one in California Adventure - one with a harness) with a mother/daughter team. The mother weighed at least 300 lbs. I worried for her during the entire 30 minutes line. I was mortified for her cuz I just KNEW they;'d turn her away. I was amazed when she actually fit. While at Knotts berry Farm a few months ago (SO Ca). hubby and I went on the Excelerator (an extremely fast roller coaster) and my 6'1" hubby barely fit. If he had been 1" taller, he probly wouldn't have. And he's not overweight at all. His knees were literally up to his chest. Not sure if they have height requirements or not. Just an FYI - not that u asked about height requirements. Soon will come the day when u won't even have to think about whether or not ull fit. When that day comes, make sure u treasure the feeling. I don't even enjoy coasters much (scare the crap outa me) but enjoy getting in them now cuz I know I'll fit perfectly. Have fun!

I had the same reaction for the first 6 mths (been able to eat about 4 bites of it now, 9 mths out). If I took more than 1 bite, I ended up with severe stomach cramps and diarrhea. not worth it to me. But I'm stubborn. Kept trying it every 2 weeks or so just to test it. Mistake. Shoulda given up on it forever. Now I can tolerate 4-5 bites without issue. Don't want to push it tho.

I've never had problems taking pills. Up till a few months ago, I took about 10 at a time. until the nite when I had to give my husband the heimlich when he choked on a handful of pills. Literally couldn't breath. Try to do the heimlich on someone taller and bigger than u. It took 10 times for him to choke them up. Now I take them 1 at a time. Never had a problem with taking them. even right after surgery. My dr told me if I had no problems, I could take whatever I had. He gave me liquid Vicodin post op but that was the only liquid med I took. can't stand the taste of the chewable bariatric vits so I don't take them. I think it's better to take a pill if I won't take the chewable ones. Good luck!

I find that I can no longer tolerate certain fake sugars (sorbitol being the biggy). They were fine before my sleeve and now an Atkins bar or the low carb/calorie coffee drink (that's sooo yummy, btw) at my local coffee house tears up my stomach. Gives me horrendous cramps and diarrhea. Early on 1 bite of ice cream did the same thing. Nowadays (I'm 9 mths out) I can eat about 3 bites of ice cream, but that's it. Most dairy is fine, something bout ice cream. Other that that I can eat everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. That's a bummer for me, to be honest.

After 4 long weeks of liquids, I dream t of my first soft meal. Refried Beans with a dollup of sour cream, taco sauce and a pinch of cheddar cheese. It was like a steak and lobster dinner. All I had dreamed and more. For the following 4 weeks I ate alot of canned chili (with melted cheese), cottage cheese, yogurt, canned chicken and tuna with mayo, eggs, refried beans, tilapia, and canned fruit/veggies, avocado. Basically the only things I couldn't have were tough meats (white meat chicken{not canned}, pork, red meat, fresh veggies/fruit, bread products, nuts, seeds. Most things r considered soft or semi soft (oh, and no Jerky allowed! lol. Guess thats probly self explanatory). I'm sure ur happy to be moving onto the soft phase. The 1st 4 weeks were like an eternity for me. Thought it would never end. Good luck to u and have fun with the advanced diet...

Wow. I've never heard of this! Maybe when I get off the last 17 lbs I'll grow a little? Nothing so far. Still 5'5" - always have been... Wonder why my dr never mentioned this...

Today, hubby and I went to the mall. I saw the cutest pair of overall shorts at The Gap. I proceeded to tell hubby that I can't wear overalls cuz they make me look like a"fat farmer". He said "But ur not fat anymore". Nice of him to notice something that I don't even notice. I'm still bigger on top than bottom (size 7/8 on bottom, XL on top still) so overalls are not flattering to me but I ended up with my new size 8 denim shorts. Yeah. No more "fat lady stores" for me. It's taken 3 yrs of weighing 100 lbs less to be aware ot this however... Good luck to u!

Oh and about the alcohol: 1 fancy drink during the whole cruise was enuf for me. Now I have nowhere to store that fancy monkey-head coconut I got my fancy daquiri in!!! I'm not a huge drinker and they're quite pricey onboard...

While I haven't been on a cruise since my sleeve revision (July 2013), I've been on 4 cruises since my lapband in 2009 (3 to Mexico and 1 to Alaska). Actually lost a couple lbs on the first one (make sure u get a patch of Scopolomine from ur dr before leaving otherwise ull learn really quickly IF u get seasick - and by that time, it's too late). I ate whatever I wanted to (including bread, Pasta, rice and Desserts - especially the chocolate melting cake that Carnival specializes in every single nite) and managed to not gain at all. Neither did I lose. I'm only familiar with Carnival (but I'm sure they're all the same food-wise) but u can eat very healthy while on a cruise. One mistake I made was to eat an 11pm room service dessert nightly. For some reason the room service chocolate cake tastes twice as delish! And u will have plenty of opportunity to work off the all u can eat buffet in port (or if u prefer, the ship has onboard gyms - I saw them once). We always eat Breakfast and dinner in the dining room (seems fancier to me to be served) and lunch either at the buffet or in port. U can get chicken, fish, salads, veggies, fruits, eggs, etc anywhere onboard u may go. Have fun. Don't overthink it too much - leave the counting at home where it belongs. Looking forward to another (this time Carribean!) cruise this Fall. Are u going Eastern or Western? Carnival or Royal Carribean? Have fun!

My daughter in law is pregnant with our first grandbaby. She's about the same as u - 26 weeks. So nice to c pics, as she doesn't post many pics of her progress (she lives about 1,000 miles away). She's having a boy also (Elton james). Congrats! U look fantastic! So many women use pregnancy as an excuse to gain a bunch of weight. Looks like u have it under control...

I think I lost most of my weight with the lapband due to bulemia. Thru up almost everyday. It was so easy. I just bent over and up would come whatever I just ate. Had sleeve revision last July (8 mths ago) and I've thrown up twice (my fault. Ate too much). Sometimes I actually MISS easily throwing up. Now it's much, much harder. If I overeat, I just hafta ride it out. It won't come up as easily as it used to. 16 lbs from goal. Very happy with my sleeve. Easily maintaining for about 4 mths. Good luck! I think ull be happy with the revision...

It WILL get easier with time, but while ur on liquids - IT'S VERY HARD. I was on liquids for 4 weeks and I had buyers remorse also. Wish I woulda left my slipped lapband in (not possible but I thought it). I thought I'd literally starve. I started getting hungry on day 10. The "Hunger Hormone" removal on me didn't work as planned. But it got much better when I was able to eat soft foods. Much better. Now 7 mths later I wouldn't trade my sleeve for a million bucks (well, maybe for a million! LOL) Good luck! How much longer r u on liquds?

About a week after surgery I started gettting intrusive thoughts that I couldn't control. Like I'd think of something (like the Powerade I was drinking) and compulse on it for hours (who made it for the first time, why was it called Powerade, who came up with the word Powerade, who came up with the letter P in the first place) about everything. Constantly from morning till nite. After 3 days of this I visited my psych who told me it was probly either the lasting effects of anesthesia or my lacking diet. That he had no scientific evidence of bariatric surgery doing this but he'd seen it and other stuff with it before. Just recommended I wait it out. It lasted about another day or so and it was over. Thought I was getting schitzophrenia or something. Scary stuff. I take a small dose of Celexa a day to prevent depression (haven't had a problem with it since losing weight but when I totally go off it I start to feel blah so I continue to take it.) Small price to pay. Good luck to u...

I was at my drs office most of the day the day before my revision. Had to retake he nutrition class (it had been 3 1/2 yrs since I last took it), had my hospital pre op (labs, ekg, registration) and then my final appt with my surgeon. But I think they did it that way cuz I live 3 hrs away and they were trying to keep it easy on me, less travel time. Just ask when they plan on ur surgery. Easy enuf to do...good luck with ur surgery!

I stayed 2 days and 2 nites (the average for my dr). I was in a lot of pain so my dr offered 1 more nite but I just wanted to get home so I refused it. 3 days sounds good but 5 like alot for a average stay. Good luck with ur surgery!

I wore jeans home from the hospital. It was cuz I forgot to bring sweats and we lived 3 hrs away so I had no choice. They were luckily really loose. After getting home, I remember wearing yoga pants and elastic waist skirts for a couple weeks. Mostly cuz I was bloated, nothing to do with incisions. Good luck!

I'm of the school of thought that "everything in moderation". I don't count carbs. Last year, I was on Atkins for 4 weeks. I was miserable. Woulda killed my mom for a cookie. Lost 12 lbs but gained them back as soon as I started eating carbs again (I think thats what happens when u restrict ur carbs that much. U gain when u have very little carbs). My husband is a total model of that: He uses Atkins Induction often. He aims for as close to 0 as he can get. It gets a little ridiculous when he counts the 1/16th of a carb in the pepper he uses on his food. Anyway, if he goes off his "diet", he will eat a whole package of Cookies, a 1/2 gallon of ice cream, a sandwich, 3-4 beers, etc in 1 day. A couple days later he will see a 5-6 lbs gain (which he loses rather quickly with Atkins but thats beside the point!). It's just my theory but I've seen it alot with people who restrict their carbs alot (like under 20 gms a day - as per Atkins induction) who then eat carbs gain quicker. Not sure what u deem as "low carb" ( I think the technical term "low carb" is under 60 or 70 a day, which I agree is pretty healthy, but lower than that and u get tired easily.) Carbs are what give u quick energy. It's why marathon runners carb load before a marathon. So I've lost 100 lbs without counting carbs (except for the 4 weeks last year). I eat everything but only small amts of it. It's why I had wls in the first place - so I'd never have to diet, count anything, or weigh anything. I listen to my tiny tummy and stop when it tells me to. Usually it's about 10-12 bites (about double of what it was at 3 mths!) but occasionally (maybe 3-4 days a month), I find I can eat much more. I will eat 50% of a portion (which scares me a little but I'm right back to eating about 1/4 of a portion the next day) Low carbing it works. Not gunna argue with that. I've read the scientfic facts behind it and the reason u lose (insulin resistance) and I can't argue with it. Hubby lost 80 lbs with Atkins. It works for him. Doesn't work for me. I don't like it. I will argue with anyone out there that what works for me is small portions of everything. I never feel deprived, I don't count anything, I don't feel like I'm dieting. I believe it's cuz I'm lowering my calories. Off my soapbox now. Good luck to u with ur upcoming surgery. Do whats best for u, but follow ur drs instructions.

The only time I've ever run in my life was in the Army. Becuz they MADE me run. Hate running. It NEVER got easier, day after day. I burn just as many calories by walking. Just takes me a little longer. It's nice that I'm pretty patient...

What I'm sposed to take: 1 bariatric chewable multivit, 2 Ca+/Vit D, and twice a wk a sublingual B12. What I actually take: I will occasionally remember to take them. Less than once a wk. My last blood test last month showed a "dangerously low Vit D level" so my dr gave me Rx Vit D3 (which (ve never heard of). I've been taking it daily.

I take Rx Prilosec (40mg 2x a day) and OTC Zantac to keep my reflux under control. At times I've tried to lower my dosage but I wake up with either heartburn or reflux. Guess I'll be on them forever. Small price to pay to combat obesity...good luck...

Love Mexican spicy food. However, I don't enjoy it like I did pre op cuz I can't drink Water while eating. Thats when I miss drinking the most - when I eat spicy foods. I don't think spiciness would cause any problems with ur new tummy.