Texarkolina

I understand on the clothing thing. It is hard to find great pieces when you are plus sized. I lost weight a few years ago and was really frustrated at having 3 options--wear clothes that didn't fit well, spend a fortune on clothes, or get a couple of things in each size and wear them over and over again. Hope your ankle is better!

My surgery is scheduled for Monday July 23rd. Im 55 and excited but also scared. I still have one son at home. I'm having surgery in MX and I feel comfortable with my surgeon and part of me can't wait for surgery and the other part wants to reschedule... I appreciate reading all of your posts it helps to calm me down and look forward to my new life.

If you hold up a pair of size 28 pants and a size 26 together, the 28 is larger by about 3 to 3 1/2 inches in the hips. If you hold up a size 2 and a 4, there is only about 1 inch difference. The larger the size the more weight you will have to lose to go down to the next size. I have been all over the chart and the difference between a 20 and a 22 was about 25 pounds for me. However, I only had to drop 13 or so pounds to go from a size 14 to a size 12. This chart may help you. http://www.womenssizechart.com/

How is your new life? I am down 90 pounds, I just saw a 1 on the scale for the first time this week. 199.8 but I will take it. I admit I wasn't as good as I could have been for a few months, but I am back to seriously sticking to the program and I have seen the scale start to move again. On the other hand, even though the scale wasn't moving, my belt was. I have gone from a snug 50 waist pants to 38's that are now loose. My wife bought me some size L shirts that I argued with her were going to be too tight. They fit perfectly. My biggest victory though was at a family event I mentioned my weight to my 31 year old, very fit, son, I weigh 5 pounds more than he does. As my wife said to me, "Honey, when I look at you now I don't see a fat guy anymore....you are normal." I never thought normal would be so good!

Oh Man! I haven't even thought about the boots. No more ankle-high boots.....but tall slim pretty boots. Yes--added to goals and things to celebrate--Thanks!

When that happens to me I swear I am going to give a "Oh Yeah Baby" at the top of my lungs. :D

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can lose the weight on my own. I know that I can start on a very low calorie diet and become a gym rat and eventually lose the weight. How do I know? Because I have done it many times.
However, I also know, without doubt, that I will also eventually gain each and every pound back and they are likely to bring their nasty little friends. How do I know this? Because I have done it many times.
I know the same behaviors and eating patterns will result in weight loss with or without the sleeve. What I am looking for is something permanent that I can keep with me that will help me keep weight off. I do not feel like I have failed but rather like I have taken control.

I understand that the naysayers may really think they are being helpful. What I would like to say is, "oh crap! Eat less and exercise more? WTH didn't I think of that?" ....and go from there with some sarcastic remarks about them being on the verge of a great discovery that could change mankind forever and having the means to end obesity once and for all with this amazing knowledge. But I don't. What I often say is, "If I could do it on my own I would have done it by now." That one shuts them up pretty fast. I have also prefaced my sharing about the surgery with, "I am telling you not because I want your approval or blessing, but because you are important to me and I would like your support with this very important decision I have made." That one is for family and good friends that will be supportive but concerned for my safety.

Day one for your brand new baby tiny little stomach--day one of a better, healthier life for you. Congrats.

Statistically, obese people earn less throughout their lifetime than normal weight people. We pay more for food, clothing, life insurance, health care, and transportation. Being big costs way more than your copay.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/02/business/02money.html?pagewanted=all

When that happens to me I swear I am going to give a "Oh Yeah Baby" at the top of my lungs. :D

Yep, I was trying to make a funny! I was in economy (I'm too cheap to pay more) but this was my first time flying since surgery. It was just amazing to not hit all the seats walking down the isle, to lift/pull down my own carry on, slide right in to the seat, and have so much spare belt! I could pull it loose when we were in the air, I had extra legroom because my butt wasn't pushing me out. I kept pushing down on the arm out of old habit when it would jam on my saddlebags. The guy next to me asked if I wanted it up because I kept touching it, not realizing it was all the way down!!
Also, the energy and stamina I had today was great. A day like today of flying across country used to exhaust me, but I felt awesome. Had my Jerky, my Protein bar, my Blender Bottle and powder. Drank tons of Water, too!!
I am so happy because for the longest time I got to a point of hating traveling because of how hard it was in me. I'd have bruises for weeks from jamming every seat, bumping into strange metal knobs.
On top of it, I was able to pack for a whole week in just carry on!! Whoo hoo smaller clothes!!

Statistically, obese people earn less throughout their lifetime than normal weight people. We pay more for food, clothing, life insurance, health care, and transportation. Being big costs way more than your copay.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/02/business/02money.html?pagewanted=all

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can lose the weight on my own. I know that I can start on a very low calorie diet and become a gym rat and eventually lose the weight. How do I know? Because I have done it many times.
However, I also know, without doubt, that I will also eventually gain each and every pound back and they are likely to bring their nasty little friends. How do I know this? Because I have done it many times.
I know the same behaviors and eating patterns will result in weight loss with or without the sleeve. What I am looking for is something permanent that I can keep with me that will help me keep weight off. I do not feel like I have failed but rather like I have taken control.

I understand that the naysayers may really think they are being helpful. What I would like to say is, "oh crap! Eat less and exercise more? WTH didn't I think of that?" ....and go from there with some sarcastic remarks about them being on the verge of a great discovery that could change mankind forever and having the means to end obesity once and for all with this amazing knowledge. But I don't. What I often say is, "If I could do it on my own I would have done it by now." That one shuts them up pretty fast. I have also prefaced my sharing about the surgery with, "I am telling you not because I want your approval or blessing, but because you are important to me and I would like your support with this very important decision I have made." That one is for family and good friends that will be supportive but concerned for my safety.

That is something that I have been thinking for a while. Mention weight loss surgery and everyone has something to say....

That is something that I have been thinking for a while. Mention weight loss surgery and everyone has something to say....

5lbs down last week! YES!

To build on that, today...protein bar, chicke/bean/corn salad and sashimi for dinner. So lots of Protein today...was so easy to get back on track. In the
Past I would've been off the rails on my crazy train.

I think the key is to feel free to do something like 6 Oreos once in a great while then get right back on track. It isn't the one cheat that hurts you--it is the ones that follow. Besides.....everyone has a way to break a stall....some exercise more, some eat less....Before sleeve dieting strategy for me to break a stall was to sleep 10 hours a day for a couple of days and have one really bad for you meal. Worked every time.

I had sex the day I came home from the hospital. Everything was fine.

Best pre-surgery planning I have heard of!

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can lose the weight on my own. I know that I can start on a very low calorie diet and become a gym rat and eventually lose the weight. How do I know? Because I have done it many times.
However, I also know, without doubt, that I will also eventually gain each and every pound back and they are likely to bring their nasty little friends. How do I know this? Because I have done it many times.
I know the same behaviors and eating patterns will result in weight loss with or without the sleeve. What I am looking for is something permanent that I can keep with me that will help me keep weight off. I do not feel like I have failed but rather like I have taken control.

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can lose the weight on my own. I know that I can start on a very low calorie diet and become a gym rat and eventually lose the weight. How do I know? Because I have done it many times.
However, I also know, without doubt, that I will also eventually gain each and every pound back and they are likely to bring their nasty little friends. How do I know this? Because I have done it many times.
I know the same behaviors and eating patterns will result in weight loss with or without the sleeve. What I am looking for is something permanent that I can keep with me that will help me keep weight off. I do not feel like I have failed but rather like I have taken control.

Hi Everyone,
I am still exploring the sleeve as a bariatric option for me. Please forgive me for asking a couple of crazy questions here. First, when I read this site, it i s just unbelievable to me that post-op people are talking about wanting to eat less, wanting to exercise, and enjoying weighing (a lot) less without struggling to stay on the weight-loss program marathon. How does this happen? I mean, I get that your stomach is smaller--but the rest of this sounds like a total paradigm shift that comes with the surgery. Do many of you feel that the surgery changed (or will change) your mental outlook? Do you think that the surgery somehow changed (or will change) your emotional connection to food?
Second, and this is the really crazy question, I am reading about how much is required here--protein shakes, liquid diets, exercise, like, every day, counting Protein and carbs, plus all the pain and suffering of surgery. So why do the surgery at all? Were any of you tempted to think that, if you just did everything else on the list, and cut out the surgery, you would eventually get the same results?
Also, while I am on a roll here, I read "everyone loses at their own pace." Mostly, I have been gaining at my own pace for years. I really do not want to do this surgery if I think it will only get me in sight of the finish line. Like, I want to be a lean, strong girl. One time in my life, I would like the chance to be the girl I dream I could be. I am totally willing to work toward that.
I am sorry if I have asked the wrong questions here. I am just partly scared and a lot hopeful and scared to be hopeful. Thanks everyone! DeterminedGirl