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And they will ,love, you are too obsessed with each tree, how it is growing, to lean back and notice how lovely the whole Forrest is! Old granny-saying is: A watched pot never boils! I might add --don't sweat the small stuff. I know you have said you honor and respect my courage against all odds. Well I just had to do something I never thought I would have to face. I just got off the phone with Ameican Electric Power, I had to bring up my c-/pap and TPN and its attendant bag refridgeratio needs as a valid basis for a medical extension on my electric bill. Don't really like " putting out everything on Front Street" as Miss Cleo the Psychic said in her TV ads. Sure you and my followers on Bariatric Pal know of my trials, snares and pitfalls, but I hated to do it. I kept telling myself that's for sick people on Life Support, well Duhhh, I guess I am at least on Life Sustainment. But it was pride- swallowing time and truthfully between the moving expenses in November, the Hospitalization in December, I just didn't even have the minimum payment to avoid cut-off. Tomkitten and I were planning a trip this week to our local meat market, could use my Ohio Direction card(plastic type of food stamps) there but it would be $1 round trip transportation. Sad to count pennies like that, but at best a Hard Candy Christmas, like Dolly Parton sang about. Usually I bake a Birthday Cake for Jesus, now that 🎂 is off my diet, maybe make it Chocolate , store it in the Fridge and Tomkitten will get joy of it! If you knew how little cash I have, you'd cry too. Not doing my ulcers any great good worryi,g and stewing, tried selling items on our local radio program called TRADIO, supposed to be buy, sell, barter or give away, this week everyone is interested in the last. I was offering a item with a retail value of $159 for $30 or best offer. Not a call this week, and Tomkitten found me in the kitchen 😢 crying. Only thing close to a gift for him, a 💇 hair cut. Big whooping Deal there! And he's such good guy, I'm so blessed to have him and such an ungrateful way to show him. And as I lose weight I am starting to resemble relatives I never thought I did, right now today I look like Mama's older sister Aunt Grace, don't get me wrong, I did love her lots but she did have a thin face and a long willowy neck. I think mine looks more like an old turtle's emerging from a battered shell. Maybe after my body comes to terms things will look better body-wise. I think sunlight and a light dusting,of freckles would help, but at my age they might merely resemble rust spots! And January 2019 so far looks sunnier☀ Today I don't even care if they d/c my PICC line, I fear it is only a band-aid over my many other problems. Said Frust8 at least you're standing up, breathing and if you put your dentures in you won't frighten to children and horses in the street. You're gonna make it after ALL! Then I ruined everything by sticking my tongue out at my reflection! And mine is not pretty like Gene Simmons👅, got a big scar on it from when was 10 and tried to bite it in half during my grandma's funeral. Story available upon demand.

I feel a little out of the ordinary here. I took a little over four weeks off. I want to be solid in my routine before I go back to work (I work in an office - but they're 10 hour shifts.)

I'm 36- I weigh around 240 and I'm 5' 6". I was this weight at the age of 12. I managed to lose 100 lbs when I was 17 or so with an extreme diet where I would just eat a can of soup and a nonfat yogurt and that would be all my food for the day. A bit disordered. I kept off 80 lbs of that for around 10 years and then it came crashing back on in a 3 month time period and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I manage to lose 30 lbs or so, but, then it creeps back on. I have one kid, I gained 80 lbs while pregnant due to preeclampsia but was back to prepregnancy weight in just three weeks, so, just water weight. I know that I really have to do some kind of weight loss surgery. I know how to lose weight, I've done it before and maintained it for years, but,it just doesn't work anymore. I'm thinking I should do a real gastric bypass since I've lost the weight before and kept it off and now can't lose, so, probably can't get away with the less drastic procedures. My insurance will not cover it. My work got a new plan a couple years ago and they did include gastric bypass. You just had to have the insurance for a year. So, I met with a doctor, did my monitored diet and all that crap and then by the time the year was up the insurance company dropped weight loss surgery. I was furious because I did all the preapproval work just waiting on my year to be up and then they pull that crap. I will be doing this in Mexico. I have no comorbidities other than slightly elevated liver numbers. Cholesterol under 200, glucose under 100, a1c was normal. My doctor hates it because she has to tell me my labs are perfect after lecturing me about the health concerns of being a fatty. But, you all know exactly how that is..lol Here are my concerns. I love fruit and vegetables. I eat around 800 grams of them per day. The UK does fruit and veg servings easier, 80 grams is a serving and thus 800 grams is 10 servings. I'm guessing that's why my lab work is good despite being obese. Obviously, I won't be able to eat ten servings of fruit and veg a day after surgery. What will I still be able to eat? I've already mostly dealt with my food demons, gave up soda in my 20s. I'm still drinking coffee. Will I still be able to drink coffee after bypass? My life sucks as it is. I can't get promoted at work and I know a big part of that is my weight. I'm the person that gets phone calls from other locations on how to do things. I work at a level three pay grades above my current level but can't get promoted to that level. I'm married and my husband is a normal weight vegan, so, that whole relationship sucks too. Everyone assumes that I'm lazy. I had a well-meaning friend invite me to go walking with her, a one mile loop. Seriously? I walk 5 miles everyday. Will my life suck less after bypass? I've mostly given up alcohol, but, weight loss surgery will have to be a secret from my local relatives. I will have to occasionally be able to drink a little alcohol. I will have to be able to drink a little coffee. I want to be able to eat fruit and vegetables. I just don't want to make my life worse than it already is. I'm lucky, never really had a binge disorder or anything like that.

You're doing fine! I am 6 weeks out from surgery and hit about 50oz a day of water and 40g of protein a day. I get nauseous when I drink still. I drink warm water and that helps some. I eat about 400 calories a day. I had a nearly two week stall and just recently went down 3 pounds. My first two weeks out of surgery I only got 10-20oz of water a day! I've lost weight, but I still see other people who had it the same time I did losing way more. It'll happen when it happens... but it'll happen. I had a lot of regret at first, but it's shifted to envy of other people. lol! Our brains are bastards.

I was poopin' just fine prior to 9-10 days ago. Going every day. Then screeeeech. The train stopped.

Awesome good luck! I’m scheduled for 1/9/19

Don't beat yourself up for 174 calories! It's 174 calories of real/not over-processed food! This is where you want to get to, not run away from! Personally, I consider a 10/1 ratio acceptable of calories to protein (174 calories vs 17g protein) for real foods. Sure you get more protein/calorie in protein drinks, but you want to move away from those as you get further from your surgery. I think you're doing fine!

Ive been on a 14-day preop diet, 7 days full liquids no food, 7 days clear liquid no food. I have NOT cheated. Now I'm on the 3 days of clear liquid so 10 days of fasting thus far. I was so bad by day 7 developed the shakes, got light head and stumbled a few times catching myself before I fainted. I'm only getting about 800 or less a day calories, 70 avg (some days lower some days higher) carbs. I'm not in ketosis and I have not lost a pound. I haven't gained but I have not lost. There is no way my liver is shrinking.. I'm just suffering. Im one of those people if I don't eat I don't lose weight. When I was in Weight Watchers, if I didn't eat all my points for the week I didn't lose weight. I only lost weight on the weeks where I came within 5 of my assigned points. So the lack of weight loss is shocking and yet not shocking to me at the same time. But I want to know has this ever happened to anyone else. I called my dr hysterical and the PC called me back and said don't worry about it keep doing the diet and it will be okay. But will it? My surgery is early wed morning next week and its Friday now. I have no reason to lie, I have not cheated at all but I'm extremely tempted to go eat some eggs since this has happened. My regular doctor had to take me off my diabetes meds because my blood sugar dropped so low, that is why I was shaking so badly. That should show I'm not cheating. Why am I not in ketosis? I don't have strips but I have been in ketosis before I remember how my breath smelled and I lost 12 pounds in 7 days so I know I'm not now.

This right here is why I don't necessarily say I don't get hungry anymore, because I'm not sure I EVER got hungry, I just ate. I think I was experiencing a rush of chemicals (hormones? endorphins? dunno) that literally gave me a high when I over-ate. I posted about this early on, because a lot of people assured pre-ops that after the surgery you would "eat to satisfaction", and after surgery I thought they were nuts because I wasn't feeling the same high, which I identified as "satisfaction". Then when I described all of this to friends over the past few months, I realized that most people DON'T feel a chemical feedback loop when they eat a lot (and never have). So... Is that food addiction? Whatever it was, I was absolutely looking for a certain spike in good chemicals that I achieved by over-eating. Now I don't feel that at all. Now everything is much more focused in my taste buds and the capacity of my stomach. There is absolutely no point anymore in overeating, because I do not get that rush and all I get is a stomachache. So after a lot of accidental Pavlovian conditioning, that seems to have worked its way up my behavior chain and now I not only don't over-eat, but I'm not having the impulses to seek out food I used to. Now, when I rarely DO feel hungry, it's a real sensation that my stomach is empty and that my body wants quality calories, and I tend to go for healthier foods. I'm coming up on 10 months, so will report back if any of this changes, but what I lost appears to be my easy route to my "fix". Totally changed the way I interact with food.

Hi Everybody, I actually started this thread. I'm still overwhelmed by how the majority of posts are so sharing and supportive. I'm 7 weeks post-op (10/23) and overall pleased with my progress. I'm down 38 lbs since starting the process, 26 since surgery. (Want to loose another 50 or so...) I stall for a few days, then start to loose again. I've joined a health club and employed a personal trainer. The exercise makes a big difference! I'm back on caffeine (1/2 a cup of cold brew) and a glass or two of wine. Just nothing bubbly (only made that mistake once). Try to focus on protein when I eat and have no interest in snacking or sweets (make me feel really gross). Already feel so much better in my own body. Can't wait to hit the beach on vacation in January!

Before surgery, I felt like dieting was the equivalent of holding my breath. I could do it for a while, I could see super success, but eventually I had to breathe! I couldn't hold up the massive amount of will power necessary to continue on a path to a healthy life. It was like contending with an insatiable monster in my tummy who was always hungry and always in control of my thoughts and actions. I felt like I could not win no matter how hard I tried, and each attempt I made to over throw the monster left me weaker and fatter and sicker until I weighed 474 lbs and suffered from diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. It's been a little over a year and I weigh 265 now and I lose about 10 lbs a month still. I've lost the percentage that is normal, but I plan to continue losing. Sure, my dream is to make it all the way to 160, but this surgery was enormously successful already! Even if don't lose another pound. My diabetes is in remission, my hypertension is gone, my cholesterol is low, I don't take any meds, but the most amazing part is--THE MONSTER IS DEAD! When I eat, it feels like a choice I make for myself and that feeling is soo good, so incredible to me. I know if I'm careless, I could let the monster back in. That's a scary prospect that pops in my mind from time to time, but presently, the surgery helped me to overcome something I just could not do on my own. As you think about your own decision to proceed with surgery, consider not only what it can do for you right now, but what it may help you prevent for your future self. Sure, it's possible you might not get to your goal weight and/or maintain it for life, but you may never see yourself get bigger than you are now. You may prevent future health problems, and it will absolutely give you a stronger shot at success that you might not be able to achieve on your own volition. This is a big, big decision and goodness knows, I had major problems with my sleeve that resulted in terrible stent experience and ultimately a revision which I just had done, but I would do it all again knowing all that I know now. Very worth it! Consider that the the average weight loss for "most" is with little effort and happens in the first 6 months after surgery. If you are willing to risk the surgery and put in effort through diet change and exercise, you WILL reach your goals and be happy. Cheers!

Yeah, that's kinda why I went all angles. lol. I know there's nothing by the... exit. But the surgeon said at 7 days no poop to do an enema or suppository. Tomorrow will be day 3 on the Miralax and Colace... 10 days no poops. Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hey hun I am on day 10 of my 2 week only Medifast protein shakes diet. I have 4 more days to go and I am starving as well! Atleast you are allowed the veggies and some meat. I am not allowed even any of that! I cheated pretty badly yesterday but I am back on track today. My gastric bypass is scheduled the day before yours on the 18th. All I can say is keep busy as much as you can and try drink alot of water and have some decaf tea or decaf coffee to try and curb the hunger pains. I also have been sucking on ice and using crystal light flavored water and chugging it to ignore the hunger.I honestly also just flick on my 600 pound life everytime I feel like eating something and reminding myself of how I got to 300 pounds in the first place and never want to look back. Good luck on your surgery on Wednesday and keep us posted!!

Starry*Night please be easy on yourself, don't dwell on regrets. You're starting purees, that is SO GOOD, you could be in my moccasins, 19 weeks solid of liquids, few very runny purees, protein shakes. Tuesday I made a mini- branch out to mashed potatoes gravy and 3 well-chewed shreds of Turkey meat. Doesn't sound too thrilling ? Honey it was the first MEAT I was able to keep down since before my RnY September 5th, I literally wanted to cry. You see I have a stomal stricture and jejunem ulcers that aren't healing well, I spent a Week in Ohio State University November28- December 5th, had a PICC line put in November 29th, I am on TPN feedings 14 hours a night, I couldn't get enough protein in orally to help my ulcers heal, this way I do have a fighting chance at healing. Do I regret my surgery? Nope my life was pretty abysmal before it. Obese, in constant arhrotis pain from dragging my heaviness around, my peers dying and I wasn't sure I wouldn't be next! Mad at my facility? Nope they took a chance on me and my surgery, many 72 year old women get turned down, many facilities have a cut-off at 60 or 70. Oh I am more than a little peeved that my body is malfunctioning, not healing as fast as some, the knowledge that I will end up with baggy saggy skin, it was stretched too many years to BOUNCE back. But I am Still alive, kicking a little complaining but I am not as short,of breath as I once was. I came into this world, red-faced,red hair and shaking my fists, probably go out the same way. But nobody better ever consider counting Me Out, I still have a lot to offer this sad old world, maybe I will stick around and straighten things out. Oh this challenge is not easy, and there is discomfort, my PICC LINE feels at times like someone stapled me with an industrial stapeler, but it will be a tool to help me get better, 14 hours wearing a bag of feeding solution , which is 8 pounds of dead weight, that's why it is in a black backpack, oh I do feel wearied but not 😟 worried. And I'm here if you ever want to vent more, and I am here for the long haul because I believe in tomorrows,i believe in the future and I believe in my surgeons, if I am broken now, they have the tools to repair and restore me! And I shall be victorious yet!

Hey there! I’m near Cleveland. Had bypass on 11/19

Challenge Starting weight: 133 Todays weight 134 Maintaining weight Fitness/exercise goal: Just found out my insurance pays for a gym membership. Checking out new gym's. Total weight loss at the end of challenge: (Post January 1st 2019) Check in: NSV Bought the cutest pair of roxy snow pants. Bring on the snow.

I had my surgery on the 10th. Came home yesterday and immediately stepped on the scale. Was 16lbs heavier then when I went in. Since leaving hospital I’ve been hitting the bathroom about twice an hour. I guess the iv fluids coming out. Weighed this morning and was down below when I went in for surgery. I also make it a point to walk for 5-10 min an hour to heal with soreness. Makes a huge difference. Good luck.

I was December 10 too! Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

I am on bland puree (absolutely no seasonings) for 10 weeks. Why did I do this?

Rachietach, my bypass was Dec 10 also. How are you feeling??

I don't count calories or anything. BUT, I eat the exact same food every day because I am on bland puree for 10 weeks (possibly longer... we will see). It's just easier to eat the same thing. I know that what I am eating equates to roughly 400 calories a day. Everything is low-fat and low-carb. I have a yogurt for breakfast, a hardboiled egg as a snack, 2oz of meat for lunch, and a soy shake. Sometimes a tablespoon of cream cheese. That's every day. lol. Dietitian and surgeon are good with that given the ulcer. Again, they are happy with my progress and everything... it's just me being scared it's "not going to work" or I will "never" reach my goal. I'm just getting started with exercise... just officially got totally cleared today.

I am 10 months post op and have been having pain in my left side, i went to my surgeon and he ordered a ct scan. Although I have no stones they did find i may have nephrocalcinosis, which is a build up of calcium in the kidneys, so i am deciding to stop the calcium citrate pills and just do the multivitamins. When i had my stomach scan before the surgery they found that it is oblonged (very long) which was why i never felt full. So even though my stomach is now smaller the shape is still the same and i can still get in a complete meal ie protein a side and some veggies (just smaller quantities). With that being said I don't feel I'm vitamin deficient anyway so taking supplements 3x a day maybe an overload and the reason for the build up in my kidneys. I have informed him of this but just looking to get some feedback from actual patients who may have experienced this

I only have to do a 1 day liquid diet to make sure there's nothing in the pipes when they start cutting. I had a 6 month diet that required me to lose 10% of my weight. I think that shrinks the liver. It will be nice to get the whole pre-op stuff behind me and move on to the post-op life. This last week before surgery is full of uncertainty.

I didn't lose anything the first week really. In fact, I came out of the hospital weighing 10 pounds heavier after 48 hours of IV fluids, Pepcid and protonix. It took several days to get rid of the excess fluid. I'm 2 weeks post op today and the scale is finally moving in the right direction. I've lost just over 8lbs since surgery

I needed to celebrate with someone who understands how great this feels! I weighed today and I have lost 52 pounds since the start of my liquid diet 7 weeks ago! I have so much weight to lose but seriously, its incredible that I have lost 52 pounds in 7 weeks! I will be taking pics again on the 29th to see if I can see the difference... but the last pic I took was on 10/29, the day of my surgery. So I wanna keep it close lol. I am so grateful to life and my doctors and you guys and myself for this surgery. I still have a long way to go but I already feel the wonderful benefits of a 52 pound weight loss!