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I'm glad you updated us. The first few days were rough for me, but then each day got better and better.

Congratulations Beaglemamma! You have definitely rocked this sleeve. Your willpower is amazing with both the food and exercise, good job. I really want to pick it up a bit on the strength training, this post inspires me.

Welcome to VST! I found my own by googling for counseling services and found a clinic that listed weight loss surgery evaluations on their service page. I did a quick search for Seattle and this one doesn't say, but they do say they do assessments. Might want to give them a call and explain what you need. Sound Mental Health As it turns out I continued seeing the counselor who did my evaluation and it was really beneficial throughout the pre-op process and early post-op. Unfortunately I changed jobs and it was no longer feasible to keep going. Good luck and congratulations on your date! Keep us posted.

I'm so happy things are going well. Great job on the weight loss so far, that's excellent!

Tiff is correct, you need go back to basics. BUT I also want to let you in on a little secret...I do not always eat super healthy. I really try to get my Protein in through food and don't use Protein drinks if I can manage it through food, but this is tough because I also try to watch the amount of calories and carbs, I don't want to be grazing all day long in order to get enough protein. I completely understand that it is a tough time to stay committed to healthy eating, but I've found that if I prioritize: what is coming up this week, which days do I need to cut back on carbs because I know this special thing is coming up? it makes it so much easier. Long before I was even thinking about surgery my grandmother sent me an article that compared thinner/average weight people's habits to overweight/obese people's habits; it discussed how the average person would naturally scale back in areas to compensate for a splurge where an overweight person might just "give up" feeling "I blew it now, I might as well enjoy it." I don't know how scientific this article was, but I'm really trying to live with a different mindset now and train my mind and body to naturally compensate. For example last Friday I had a holiday party to attend. So for all of last week I didn't allow myself many extras...didn't have orange cream bars in the house (my vice), didn't go out to lunch (although I usually only get salad, but with teriyaki sauce), and I don't think I even went out with my husband to dinner, just in preparation. I didn't feel deprived or sad, it was just life. On Friday I was able to snack on appetizers and NOT feel guilty. I did not drink any alcohol or have any of the Desserts because I wanted to snack and chat. It was great! I am in no means trying to make you feel bad for your eating, we all must figure out what works for us. Just trying to maybe give you an idea of the way things are working for me. It's not that I will never have junk food...today I got a bag of chips from Subway with a salad and ate a lot of them on the way home (I'm having cramps), but for dinner that means I have the second half of that salad and probably no evening snack. I'm okay with that because I made the decision (probably not the best one) to have the chips and I'm not going to beat myself up over it. Good luck! You CAN do this...you just need to find your rhythm, the pouch test might be a good way to start.

I'm so happy for you, you're well on your way!

Carolyn, I totally agree. I feel that I'm lucky to get through the holidays with any loss. I'm still trying to work it, but between the special events and being emotional, I haven't truly worked my tool to the best of my ability. That's one thing I love about though, it will still be there and it keeps me pretty on track even now. Chancie, that is AWESOME! Yes, I too always am cold now that I've lost weight. I need to get a good winter coat. But, I'd rather be cold than fat any day of the year:-)

Tiff, I don't think your worry about quitting to be ridiculous at all. I've known a couple friends to gain weight after they quit, but I've also known one person (my brother in law) who quit last spring (doctor finally got through to him, I forget what the problem was) and he started exercising and is now down 50 lbs.!!! Good luck to you and I know you know that we are all here to listen when/if things get hard and you need to vent. I also haven't done New Year's resolutions for a few years, but mine were always pretty specific with a sort of time line attached, except the "lose weight" one that never seemed to pan out. I just seem to be in such a better state of mind and health and once again looking forward to the future, I feel like I'd really like to set some new goals.

Welcome and GREAT job so far! If you're doing this well pre-op, you will totally rock your sleeve. Good luck and let us know how you're doing.

I love your outlook on this!

Joyful, I find it hard to guess people's motives at times. It might be jealousy, a genuine concern for you, or something else, sometimes it's hard for us to let people we care about live their own lives without our input...I'm sorry people are thinking you should live your life their way (and I don't quite understand it if they personally have had wls, because you are trying to live like them sort of). BUT, here's an example, I would love any of my overweight friends or family members to look into this surgery (unfortunately most are not heavy enough for U.S. standards), but when I think about my little sister doing this same thing, I don't want it (I know crazy, it doesn't make sense). I have a sister who is 14 (from my dad, not my mom), who I have not seen in a year. Like me she has been overweight since she was about 3 mos. old, but she also has a very good self-esteem. I'll be seeing her next week and although I sent pictures last week so she wouldn't be too shocked, I worry a little because she's always looked up to and copied a lot of what I do. It's not necessarily that I don't think she could ever follow in my footsteps, I just think a big part of my success are the things I've learned along the way with my failed attempts to lose weight other ways. I just wouldn't want her to start looking into it now and getting it at 18, without getting her mind prepared through attempts and lessons learned from other methods...people fail at wls too! But I know it is her life and although for me it took years of yoyo dieting, she is a different person with different experiences and does not need to follow MY path to be a success, it's hard as someone who loves her so much not to want to push my ideas on her. I hope this makes a little bit of sense and not saying this is the motive of whoever is discouraging you, it's just something that has been on my mind this week and seemed to sort of give a little insight to why someone might not seem super supportive. You know who you are and in the end it's up to you to make the best decisions for your life. So you can always employ my method...smile and nod;-)

Stoongal, that was one of my goals also and it happened to be 184 as well in order to make it. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Wow, that seemed to go by quickly. I'll be thinking of you.

Not in the least, this has been one of the best things I've ever done for myself both for my physical and emotional health.

Welcome to VST! I don't have any answers to your questions regarding your surgeon and facility, but I wanted to say it's normal to be nervous. Each doctor requires a different pre-op diet or no diet, with mine it was dependent on each patients' needs. I'd suggest that from today forward that you follow your doctor's plans for you. Good luck and keep posting your questions and concerns.

Judy, it makes me so happy to read this! Congratulations on working your tool. Merry Christmas to you as well!

Tiff, I love your honesty. I completely understand about trying to figure out the best way to lose the last pounds, "back to basics" or just being "normal" and eating a balanced diet. My surgeon told me at my last post-op visit that once my weight was stable 2-3 months we could start trying to conceive...I of course took that to mean 2 months after I reach goal. You'd think I'd rush to lose these last 8.5 pounds, but I'm enjoying being normal--eating normal. Sorry to hear about the food police situation. One of my good friends started that up around 2 months when I went to regular food, I stopped planning anything that included eating with her, it must be so super annoying because you can't do that...I was at my wits end with her and I only saw her on weekends for the most part, I don't know how you're dealing with it. I think the new year is a great time to commit yourself to working out. You've done amazingly this past year in getting healthy, so this next year you can tack this on to your journey.

Katrina, my fingers and toes are crossed for you!!! Do you know at all how long they usually schedule out for?

Yay for you!!! You are doing an awesome job, what a great hump to cross.

If you really want to shovel, I can call you up when/if the next storm hits...I'm still sore. I feel really bad for you in SoCal, how horrible it must be to have moderate weather and great beaches :-) Did I mention that is one of my favorite areas in the country?

Good job working your tool, the scale is moving in the right direction and that is definitely an accomplishment during this season! That's good that you've been able to use your bike, I probably wouldn't have gone back to the water class either, I didn't give mine a second chance.

Excellent job on the weight loss...I love getting out of each number bracket (90's, 80's, 70's), congratulations for being done with the 170's FOREVER!!! Also, great job on getting moving, I'm bummed because tap dance is now on break and I just called and found out Jazzercise will not be in session because the parking lot isn't all the way cleared. Maybe we should try an exercise/get moving challenge or something in the new year??

I'd never heard of them, but just did a quick google search and found the nutritional information (if this is the correct thing). Booster juice Nutritional Information Just from clicking on a few of the them, they might be a little high in carbs/calories for a really early pre-op food. I guess really early out you wouldn't be able to get through much of it anyway. I know my first couple/three months out I really tried to stay under 30 grams of carbs per day, and it seems one of these would definitely put you over that with just the drink, BUT every surgeon has their own recommendations and many things seem to work for different people, so it might be okay.

That's great news! Now just the pre-op diet and you'll be sleeved before you know it!

I can actually post early today because we're off due to snow. I ended up with 20" at my house. Yesterday we spent a total of 3 hours shoveling AND I'm so glad I do not have to go to work today because my back is so sore!!! I must have worked muscles that have never been used in my entire life. BUT, I actually was able to do it and not hurt much during the process, which is an NSV in my book. Okay, now to the weigh in. This morning I weighed in at 156.5 lbs. I got to this weight a few days ago, but I will take it! It's two pounds down from last week and the lowest I've ever weighed!!!