Search the Community

So I'm pretty sure every mirror I have looked in lately is broken...I am not sure who the heck that person is starting back at me! It's crazy the changes I see with only having lost 40lbs so far! I can't even fathom what I will loom like at my goal weight .... Am I the only one with a "broken" mirror?!?

The Stumptuous site is fabulous; thanks, Marie, for letting us know about it. I'm just starting to use weights again (I, too, have back trouble) and love the common-sense advice and smarty-pants attitude of the site. I didn't find anything on Water weights. However, you may be able to modify traditional weight-training exercises -- on land -- to avoid injury. One great thing about weight training: It does increase your metabolism, not just during the exercise itself, but by increasing the proportion of muscle to fat in your body.

Fantastic advise, thanks! I seem to be in my workout clothing during the day. It's cold out. Sweaters and jeans seem to be my standard. This will be my first summer at my new weight. I cant afford plastic's. It has me a bit self conscious. The websites are a great help. Still trying to find my own style. It has been fun shopping. I treated myself to a little black dress to wear on my new years date with my husband. So much to Celebrate this year.Any one else have new years plans?.. would love to see a thread to see how others bring in 2015 with pic's... Thanks again Jenn

Fantastic post! 40lbs loss (the sidebar in your profile says) is significant. I posted somewhere else - four people told me Friday I look ‘healthy’ which is a lovely way to note the weight loss without being personal - “have you lost weight?” Is very intrusive! It is really hard to get a mental picture of my size now - seems you are the same @Miss Topaz - but our other halves seem to have a better idea of it than us! Keep up the good work, my friend

I think part of it is having no date, right? It is hard to keep your eye on the prize when that is the case. One thing that helps me is to have a reward goal. For me it is the cutest night shirt my husband bought me for my birthday last year- and it didn't fit me. It is the most awesome print- perfect for me! Whenever I falter I have that to hold up, maybe eve try on, and look at. What is the specific thing you have been told to do? Diet for six months? Lose a certain amount of weight? It seems like you are kind of up in the air and that has to be hard. Just remind yourself what your ultimate goal is- to have surgery that will be the ultimate aid in controlling your intake and helping you finally lose the weight. This is a hurdle you must do to get there. Man, I feel for you and the main thing I can do is send a hug your way. Obviously we all share many of your problems or we would not be resorting to something so extreme. ALso- try to eat plety of protein to keep you full longer- and also whenever you want to blow your diet go for a walk or exercise.

Hey there....only 7 days out and looking at my food intake. I'm getting about 2500mg of sodium a day, almost entirely from the soups I enjoy (blech to the low sodium!). This is around the rda...but certainly seems high compared to my caloric intake of about 400 calories a day. I'd anticipate it getting better when I move to mashies in about 2 weeks but don't want to slow weight loss in the meantime. Thoughts?

Welcome! Don't fret about gaining a bit of water weight post op, just keep doing what you're doing and the pounds will slowly follow. You are in the healing phase after all, not the weight loss phase. Start getting a bit of exercise in and drink lots of water and the weight loss will be slow but steady. Good luck on your journey,

I'm only 3 months out so forgive me all but my NUT told me to maintain cause its your body trying to adjust to the weightloss and that it will kick start again. I've followed this and it does. I was nervous when I hit a 2 week stall but I started dropping weight again. I'm sure everyone is different so find what works for you.

I read through and am sorry you have felt so down. Look on the bright side- you are only 50 away from goal! You've done an amazing thing losing the weight you already have, and what you really need to do is get your head in the game again. I think your Dr is wrong when he says you are going to have a good time losing weight because the metabolism- there are people on this board 2 or 3 years out still losing weight. I think you may need to switch some things up, but there is hope!!!

I would suggest upping your calories. Preband I was eating 1200 cal per day and was losing. Then suddenly it stopped. I increased to like 1500 for a week and lost weight. I think I settled at 1400 calories, but everyone is different. You should try gradually increasing your calories or talk to Ur doc. Maybe?

Thank you but I actually still feel big.... I am 164 pounds 5 ft 4 I need to lose 30 pounds to reach my goal weight but I am finding it extremely hard to that! exercising is not helping Oh wow 80 pounds well done! I cnt wait to lose 80 pounds!!!! I lost 56 pounds since July 2nd 2012... I am happy I did but I am pushing for more but its just not coming off... It's just getting harder am frustrated and starting to get demotivated:( I don't understand why it's not coming off!!!! not even a pound!! shall I increase my calorie intake!? Thanks

Just wondering how you were doing? I also had surgery on 4-21-11 and I have lost 18 lbs so far. Still somewhat sore where they secured the port to a muscle, but other than that I feel SO much better, have more energy and have had no more acid reflux, indegestion, bloated and uncomfortable feeling. Trying to walk on my treadmill every day to burn those calories. Another tool that I have found is that drinking this Protein powder from unjury.com is really helping me lose weight, it's the best tasting that I've found and it has 20 grams of protein, only 180 calories and 1% fat with 8 oz of skim milk. (Of course I only drink 6 oz of milk.) fills me up, lasts long and really taste great!! And NO CARBS!! Unjury Protein Powder, I think someone said you can get it at Walmart now, but I get it on line. A girl at work told me about it. Her doctor told her of it when she had surgery. My doctor's office didn't tell me anything. They recommended slim fast. Duh! that is loaded with carbs! Good thing to have friends. Take care. Kim

Everyone is different. I know when I'm exercising a lot I have to increase my calories to lose weight. You should try increasing your calories. You can also try something called carb cycling, google it and it can really pull you out of a plateau. What kind of exercise are you doing? You may need to switch that up too. Doing the same thing lets your body get very good at figuring out just how little calories it must expend to accomplish something, so sometimes you have to change it to surprise your body. Add weight training. P90x is fantastic. Or Jillian's 30 day shred.

Hi Havin, I am 5'9 and my highest weight was 320. I am now down to 250. I lost 40 lbs myself before surgery. My BMI was quite high so I qualifed. It sounds like you would. This is a very personal decision for each of us but hopefully with the right information you will get what you need to make the decision. Good luck. I'm glad I did it.

I feel your pain. I felt like I tried everything also and the weight just kept creeping up. I would diet with friends and be more strict with the calories and more intense with the exercise and still lose less than they did. I would diet for literally 5 months to lose 20 lbs and my diet buddies would lose 2 and 3 times that. Being banded the weight has come off slow for me, but has come OFF nonetheless. I think you need to keep researching your options and see what seems right for you. I wish you the best.

I am in the soft foods stage and I need serious help with meals. Can you guys please share what your daily meals look like? I'm not much of a creative Cook and still don't know what seasonings/fats I can use. I'm scared to gain weight since I'm on actual foods now :/ Sent from my iPhone using VST

Now my hubby and I flew from Portland, Oregon to Juarez Mexico. We stayed 1 extra night before his surgery because we wanted to make sure everything went smoothly. After he had the Sleeve done he was released the very next day but we stayed an extra night in the motel just to be sure. Now the Airport was huge and going thru Customs on the way there was no big deal, but after was a different story. Luckily we had a wheelchair that I requested before we were ever dropped off at the Airport. It was a good thing because you are kind of weak afterwards but as far as pain NOPE!! He could have dne it all by himself. I had my RNY 2 hours from where we live. The Dr has his out of towners stay a week in the Motel before he releases you. I couldn't have done it all by myself because I was real weak. I walked everyday 2 to 3 times. Just to try to gain my strength back. But that is the difference in the surgery's. He wasn't as weak as I was. I would really prefer if it was me that I had someone with me. You are a BRAVE PERSON> I am such a chicken. LOL GOOD LUCK

For my height I need to be at 134 but I think I would like 145.. im blk and still want my curves lol not looking to be stick thin.. I just want to be healthy!!

Hi all, I just wanted to suggest to all of those that hate most cardio...I do too but I found a solution...the rowing machine! I believe most gyms have them. They do not require you to put all of your weight on your legs so are great for those of us early in our journeys. Now I love rowing and can go for an hour at a fast speed...although this will not replace walking, which you should do more of as you lose weight. Shauna

Okay, for the last three weeks, things have just been strange. After my last appointment, I immediately gained some weight. Which, of course, bummed me OUT. I had no restriction, and was going on willpower, which always wavers when I am depressed. So, I've been gaining and losing the same five pounds for 3 weeks. But, strangely, my afternoon meal, always comes up after just a few bites. Evening meal, I feel no restriction, and can eat more than I think I should be able to. And certainly more than I can eat at noon! Makes no sense to me. My daughter graduates from high school this Wednesday. I have been fighting the urge to go to bed and throw the covers over my head for awhile. I can't believe she is so grown up! So, my emotions have been on a rollercoaster with that. Plus I am planning a big party for her this weekend. BUSY! Anyway, I had this goal in my head when I had the surgery. I was told it was pretty unrealistic, but peole say I am kind of stubborn. :tt2: I wanted to lose fifty pounds by graduation. As the months have gone by, I worried I wouldn't be able to do it. This a.m. I stepped on the scale, only hoping to NOT have gained, and VIOLA! I am ONE pound away from meeting my goal. I have until Wednesday to lose this stinking pound!! I am reaaaally excited to do it!! I am working my backside off to do it! :smile2:

I agree with you! My situation is similar to yours and sounds like our cheapsake husbands were separated at birth. I told my dh to consider it an investment cuz our grocery bill will probably go down at least half of what it normally is. Not only because my portions will be smaller but I am limiting everyone elsdes processed/junk food. I say go for it! If the money is not an issue. All bills can still be paid and you will not go into debt...just do it! A year is a very long time. I have gained about 25 lbs just waiting around these last 3 months for mine...I told dh if I dont get it done soon I will just have more to lose when I do.

Thank you ALL for such great support. It's hard when we both can't agree on something. But that being said, I am an adult and I make my own money and I can decide what I do with it. I didn't complain when hubby wanted to redo the kitchen (even though I thought the old kitchen was fine, 7,000€) and I didn't complain when he wanted to get custom made desks instead of just buying furniture(5,000€). I realize it's a big investment, but like most of you said, in a year I could be a whole new person. At this moment I have no co-morbidities, just a BMI of 40.8. However, in the last year I gained 25lbs, what will another year do? I have high cholesterol now, and heart problems and diabetes run in the family, plus in the last 6 months or so I have been experiencing back pain and pain in my knee that I never had before, which makes teaching really difficult since we stand a lot. The plan for now: hubby was going to go with me to the consultation, but he really doesn't like to do that sort of stuff so I'm being "nice" and letting him off the hook. I told him he didn't have to go. That way, I can talk to the doc in private and let him convince me that I need the surgery right away. Then when I go home I can tell hubby that the doc thinks I need to do it right away and that waiting another year might be dangerous for me. (which it very well may be), that should be enough of an incentive to at least get him thinking about the idea. Getting my FIL in the act won't do much, my hubby doesn't listen to him, never has and I doubt ever will....however its good to have some support here in Portugal, and also, it sounds like he might be willing to donate a bit to the cause. Ain't that the truth....fortunatly I already have a job, but I work with adults and teenagers and no matter how good of a teacher I am I still hear snickers from the kids and comments from the adults about my size. Here in Portugal it's just not acceptable to be this big and they assume that your lazy or sloven if your over weight. I have told him how difficult it is and how I feel and he understands, and he is still looking for ways around the waiting list, but the truth is, there isn't a way and if I want it done now I will have to pay...and he just can't accept that. Amen sista! Isn't that the truth, I'm always putting his needs before my own and then I go eat a chocolate bar. And the matter of factly telling him is what I think is going to happen. Thats how I got to the consultation point. I told him, I love you, I'm not going to fight with you, I'm not upset with you, but I'm going to make a consultation and see what my options are. And it's up to you whether or not you want to sulk about it or support me. Thats EXACTLY how I feel. I wish he would agree but if he doesn't then we are just going to have to agree to disagree. Sorry for such a long post guys....thanks again!

style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:#d8dde8;color:#5a5a5a;font:normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif;position:relative;"> Hey BariatricPal Members! Happy Mother’s Day from BariatricPal! For everyone who is a mother or is a mother figure, thank you for all that you do! For everyone else, I hope you will take this opportunity to thank your mom and any other mother figure in your life. You moms out there do a lot for us! This newsletter is all about treating yourself, treating yourself, enjoying your family, and becoming healthier together. Here’s what you’ll find: A Mother’s Day Meal to Celebrate Be a Great Mother: Be Good to Yourself Time-Savers for a Healthy Family Have a great Mother’s Day, and enjoy the newsletter. Then spend some time with your family, and don’t forget to logon to BariatricPal and discuss family, recipes, and whatever else is on your mind. See you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Be a Great Mother: Be Good to Yourself Mothers often find themselves putting everyone else first. You might feel so busy you can’t squeeze in a quick workout. You might cook your family their favorite meals while you depend on nothing but canned tuna and hard-boiled eggs to stick to your WLS diet. You might skimp on sleep so you can take care of the house and get the kids ready for school. And the idea of losing yourself in a good book or spending a few hours at a day spa? Those may be distant dreams. Are You Putting Yourself Last? Too many mothers feel they need to put others first. After all, taking care of your children and maybe your spouse and parents is your job, right? Add that to possible duties of housekeeping and holding down a job, and your time and energy are easily accounted for. Weight loss surgery magnifies the problem. You may feel guilty about surgery, especially if it was expensive for your family. You may worry that WLS pulls you apart from your family, since you need to eat a new way and set aside time to prepare food and work out. You may fight the guilty feelings by trying to put everyone else’s needs and wants behind yours – and that just doesn’t work. The trouble is, you can only give so much for so long without taking care of yourself. You need to make the time to recharge regularly and to keep up with your own emotional and physical health habits. If not, sooner or later, you will not be able to give your best to the ones you love. You’re Not Selfish; You’re Smart What happens when you think about putting yourself first? What feelings come up when you think about making your own meals before you make your family’s, or going to the gym in the evening instead of coming directly home from work, or postponing the housecleaning so you can meditate? If you’re like many weight loss surgery patients, you may feel guilty. That’s not fair or productive. When you take care of yourself, you are in a better position to take care of others. You will be stronger, happier, and more cheerful when you are healthy. Take some time to identify what you would ideally do if you did not have family responsibilities: which foods would you eat, what kind of workouts would you do, and which hobbies or relaxation activities would you pursue? Then figure out which ones are necessary for your long-term stability and work them into your life – even if it means making some of them a priority over less important things. Really, it’s okay to skip the dusting for now if you need that time to plan a few healthy meals. Take Care, Mother or Not By the way, being good to yourself so you can be at your best is not just for moms. No matter who you are, you can give your best if you are at your best. You’ll be better father, friend, son or daughter, and coworker. You’re not being selfish when you take care of yourself. You’re putting yourself in a position to give your best to the world. A Mother’s Day Meal to Celebrate After weight loss surgery, holidays are about more than just food. You can focus on family and on other fun activities besides eating. But the truth is, you’re likely to end up around the table at some point if you’re celebrating Mother’s Day. Almost all family gatherings tend to revolve around food, so instead of fighting it, you might as well make the best of it. Mother’s Day Breakfast in Bed If your Mother’s Day includes a little pampering at home…lucky you! Fresh fruit salad, cottage cheese with raw veggies, and Greek yogurt pops with fruit are some of the easy and healthy options you might want to ask your little helpers to serve you. You can also enjoy breakfast in bed or a more luxurious brunch at home with the help of The BariatricPal Store. We suggest whipping up a batch of instant Protein Pancakes in chocolate chip, golden delicious, or blueberry flavors. Serve them plain or with fruit or Greek yogurt for yourself, and let your children make their own feasts with toppings such as whipped cream, syrup, peanut butter, and fruit. For an early morning or mid-morning treat while hanging out with your kids or spouse, everyone might enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or cappuccino – protein included! Mother’s Day Brunch Out Are you going out for Mother’s Day? Lucky you! While that buffet or 12-course menu may look like a disaster at first glance, there’s a good chance there are plenty of healthy choices for you. Look past the breakfast pastries such as muffins, danishes, and doughnuts, doughy options like bagels, pancakes, and waffles, and fatty options like bacon and breakfast sausage. Think that doesn’t leave you with much? Think again! Check for any of the following. Omelets and egg white omelets with add-ins such as vegetable and natural ham. Fresh fruit. Seasonal fresh vegetables. Simple protein items such as cottage cheese and yogurt. Smoked salmon. Freshly carved turkey breast. The rules of your weight loss surgery diet hold here, too. Keep portions small, eat slowly, and You’ll have even more to celebrate than Mother’s Day when you realize you just got through Mother’s Day brunch without losing control. A Time to Reflect and Be Grateful We know not everyone celebrates Mother’s Day or approaches this day in the same way. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t take the time to reflect and be grateful. Any opportunity is a good one for realizing all that you have, even though life can get tough sometimes. You may be grateful for the opportunity weight loss surgery has given you to get healthy and have a new lease on life. Maybe you’re thankful for your family and friends who support you and make life worth living. Maybe you’re happy to have a job that puts (healthy) food on the table and a roof over your head. These things are simple and basic, but remembering to be grateful for them can truly make you appreciate them and be a happier person. So, have a wonderful Mother’s Day, and keep working towards those goals for weight loss and health! BariatricPal is there for you at every step of the way, so we hope you will keep contributing to the forums. Thanks for all of your support!

I know it sounds crazy and I NEVER thought I would ever feel this way but I want the weight loss to stop! my original goal was to get down to 160 lbs Well I am currently at 141lbs when I started my journey I was 219 lbs. I am not happy right now I find myself getting depressed at times, I am having bady image issues. I try to tell myself it's only because I have gotten used to seeing myself one way for so long that I am not used to seeing myself thinner but to me I am starting to look sickly this is the wildest experience ever! for yrs I was so unhappy with my weight it was constantly on my mind every day all day now that I have lost the weight I now feel like I have lost too much weight and right back in the same boat about feeling uncomfortable in m own skin! going shopping used to be hard because everything was too small now everything is too big! I was only happy for a few months with this weight loss. I am actually trying to gain back at least 10 lbs. Is anyone else going thru anything like this?