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I was only in hospital for 2 days so nothing really was needed. Biotene for dry mouth was only thing I wished for. Bring sweatpants so your walks are less awkward . You won’t be able to put on a shirt bc of the tubes/ wires. Hair elastic! HW 242 SW 236- December 20, 2017 CW 196 GW#1- 199 GW#2- 175 5’6”

To be truly full from within means that our “tank” is mentally full. In other words, our self, although beaten up, bruised, and broken sometimes as a result of our journey down each of our unique life’s path - is repaired and felt as whole again. Like a patchwork quilt that only gets stronger as a result of its many tears and reparations. How does one achieve this, you ask? Borrowing from Aaron Beck’s cognitive triangle - we have three components of the mind that work to repair the self: THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, BEHAVIORS. These are the different components that must be running on all four cylinders to ensure that we aren’t at risk of developing or perpetuating an unhealthy relationship with any of the topics mentioned above, for the purposes of this article, specifically - food. Thoughts To Repair The Self Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy is a 25 cent term to describe the process of looking at the old tapes we run in our minds day in and day out for years upon years, and stopping them in their tracks, and replacing them with new ones. A hallmark approach in Byron Katie’s book “Loving What Is,” is to continuously challenge one’s thoughts by asking “is that really true?” 13 If we deem that we can’t say with absolute certainty that a thought is true, then we can replace it with a more constructive thought. For instance, if we find ourselves with a running narrative that goes something like “you are just never going to be someone that stands out, it’s ok you have other good traits,” then what is the behavior and feelings that it produces? Perhaps the person goes on feeling invisible like many people who are overweight feel. Maybe the person gives up on trying to stand out in the way they look and participate in life. Feelings To Repair The Self For my clients suffering from depression, I will often assign them a task of doing one social event, one bout of exercise (if they have never been inclined to exercise), and one learning activity (lecture, take a CE, attend a webinar, go to a pottery class, painting class, attend a speaking event). Many of them balk at the idea. Some of them have been doing things their way for years and there is an undercurrent of fear related to breaking their routine. It is almost as if the depression has a voice that says “don’t do it, you will only feel worse.” We must realize that when we have depression, our mind is sick. It is no longer serving us, and the messages are coming from crossed wires. In order to uncross those wires, we must physically and literally put one foot in front of the other and re-engage in those activities that we know from the research lead to a sense of happiness or at least contentment. Behaviors To Repair The Self One of the biggest misconceptions about our mind is the idea that we must feel a certain way to engage in certain behaviors. In other words, we must first feel happy if we are going to go to a social event and relate to others in a positive way. However, the cognitive triangle mentioned above is tri-directional14, meaning our behaviors can influence our feelings and/or thoughts, and vice versa. This is powerful information. This means that we don’t have to wait for happiness or joy to come around to engage in behaviors we know lead to more happiness. In fact, one of my first interventions with my patients who suffer from depression is the “just do it” approach, meaning they are given the task of doing three behaviors they don’t necessarily feel like doing in the six days in between their next therapy session. To explain depression via a very simple analogy- it is like the flu for the mind. What do you typically do when you have the flu? You cancel your appointments, stay in bed, drink lots of water, and get lots of rest. The reasoning is that if we minimize the number of life events for a brief bit of time, we will heal more quickly, and we do. BUT, this is not the case with depression. The same intuition we use to combat the flu is the antithesis of what we must do to combat depression, yet somehow our instincts tell us to do the opposite. When we feel depressed, our inclination is to isolate, do less, and wait for the clouds to part. The problem with this is that this type of behavior is what feeds the depression. Suggested Behaviors Benevolence - reaching out to others and getting out of our own head, focusing on how to make someone else’s life or day better through connecting or giving. Play- engaging in something that requires enough effort that we can’t run old unhelpful tapes (I’m not good enough, other people must be more disciplined than me, things will never change, etc), but provides us with enough fun that we leave the activity feeling light, like surfing, artistry, building, writing, playing an instrument, etc. When we are kids, we spend about 95% of our day playing and even trying to find play in our responsibilities (have you ever watched a kid brush their teeth or get dressed? it is never a straightforward buttoned up process). Yet, as adults - we flip that on its head and spend 95% of our time being a human doing vs. a human being. Learning- engaging in novelty is something our brain requires to feel happy and fed. It could be as simple as learning a new card game, all the way to enrolling in an MBA course. When we allow our minds to do what they are best at - our minds give back to us. Connection- We are social creatures by nature. There is a physiological rewiring process that occurs as result of being in near proximity to other humans. It is how we survived so long ago, and our minds still provide the payoff. We are not meant to live in isolation, yet so many of us drift in this direction when they are depressed. Even introverts require some social connection. While extroverts tend to thrive and recharge their batteries on social connection, it is true that introverts recharge in their solitude. However, there is a difference between being alone vs. lonely. As introverted as you may think you are, none of us are immune to going from alone to lonely if we don’t make time for some social connection. Exercise- There are about 99 reasons to exercise and happiness is one. I’m not going to waste space and wax poetic about the many benefits of exercise because I’m sure you’re well aware. But in addition to producing endorphins that have been proven to make us feel better, as far as weight loss goes- it also makes us less likely to put junk in our bodies. Ever do an intense sweat session and then make a beeline to the nearest McDonald’s? I didn’t think so.

What does it mean to be “full from within?” "This concept refers to the idea that we no longer have this psychological “black hole,” that needs to be fed through external things such as; food, drugs, alcohol, spending, relationships, gambling." ~ Dr. Colleen, The Psychology of Finally Being Full From Within To be truly full from within means that our “tank” is mentally full. In other words, our self, although beaten up, bruised, and broken sometimes as a result of our journey down each of our unique life’s path - is repaired and felt as whole again. Like a patchwork quilt that only gets stronger as a result of its many tears and reparations. How does one achieve this, you ask? Borrowing from Aaron Beck’s cognitive triangle - we have three components of the mind that work to repair the self: THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, BEHAVIORS. These are the different components that must be running on all four cylinders to ensure that we aren’t at risk of developing or perpetuating an unhealthy relationship with any of the topics mentioned above, for the purposes of this article, specifically - food. Thoughts To Repair The Self Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy is a 25 cent term to describe the process of looking at the old tapes we run in our minds day in and day out for years upon years, and stopping them in their tracks, and replacing them with new ones. A hallmark approach in Byron Katie’s book “Loving What Is,” is to continuously challenge one’s thoughts by asking “is that really true?” 13 If we deem that we can’t say with absolute certainty that a thought is true, then we can replace it with a more constructive thought. For instance, if we find ourselves with a running narrative that goes something like “you are just never going to be someone that stands out, it’s ok you have other good traits,” then what is the behavior and feelings that it produces? Perhaps the person goes on feeling invisible like many people who are overweight feel. Maybe the person gives up on trying to stand out in the way they look and participate in life. Feelings To Repair The Self For my clients suffering from depression, I will often assign them a task of doing one social event, one bout of exercise (if they have never been inclined to exercise), and one learning activity (lecture, take a CE, attend a webinar, go to a pottery class, painting class, attend a speaking event). Many of them balk at the idea. Some of them have been doing things their way for years and there is an undercurrent of fear related to breaking their routine. It is almost as if the depression has a voice that says “don’t do it, you will only feel worse.” We must realize that when we have depression, our mind is sick. It is no longer serving us, and the messages are coming from crossed wires. In order to uncross those wires, we must physically and literally put one foot in front of the other and re-engage in those activities that we know from the research lead to a sense of happiness or at least contentment. Behaviors To Repair The Self One of the biggest misconceptions about our mind is the idea that we must feel a certain way to engage in certain behaviors. In other words, we must first feel happy if we are going to go to a social event and relate to others in a positive way. However, the cognitive triangle mentioned above is tri-directional14, meaning our behaviors can influence our feelings and/or thoughts, and vice versa. This is powerful information. This means that we don’t have to wait for happiness or joy to come around to engage in behaviors we know lead to more happiness. In fact, one of my first interventions with my patients who suffer from depression is the “just do it” approach, meaning they are given the task of doing three behaviors they don’t necessarily feel like doing in the six days in between their next therapy session. To explain depression via a very simple analogy- it is like the flu for the mind. What do you typically do when you have the flu? You cancel your appointments, stay in bed, drink lots of water, and get lots of rest. The reasoning is that if we minimize the number of life events for a brief bit of time, we will heal more quickly, and we do. BUT, this is not the case with depression. The same intuition we use to combat the flu is the antithesis of what we must do to combat depression, yet somehow our instincts tell us to do the opposite. When we feel depressed, our inclination is to isolate, do less, and wait for the clouds to part. The problem with this is that this type of behavior is what feeds the depression. Suggested Behaviors Benevolence - reaching out to others and getting out of our own head, focusing on how to make someone else’s life or day better through connecting or giving. Play- engaging in something that requires enough effort that we can’t run old unhelpful tapes (I’m not good enough, other people must be more disciplined than me, things will never change, etc), but provides us with enough fun that we leave the activity feeling light, like surfing, artistry, building, writing, playing an instrument, etc. When we are kids, we spend about 95% of our day playing and even trying to find play in our responsibilities (have you ever watched a kid brush their teeth or get dressed? it is never a straightforward buttoned up process). Yet, as adults - we flip that on its head and spend 95% of our time being a human doing vs. a human being. Learning- engaging in novelty is something our brain requires to feel happy and fed. It could be as simple as learning a new card game, all the way to enrolling in an MBA course. When we allow our minds to do what they are best at - our minds give back to us. Connection- We are social creatures by nature. There is a physiological rewiring process that occurs as result of being in near proximity to other humans. It is how we survived so long ago, and our minds still provide the payoff. We are not meant to live in isolation, yet so many of us drift in this direction when they are depressed. Even introverts require some social connection. While extroverts tend to thrive and recharge their batteries on social connection, it is true that introverts recharge in their solitude. However, there is a difference between being alone vs. lonely. As introverted as you may think you are, none of us are immune to going from alone to lonely if we don’t make time for some social connection. Exercise- There are about 99 reasons to exercise and happiness is one. I’m not going to waste space and wax poetic about the many benefits of exercise because I’m sure you’re well aware. But in addition to producing endorphins that have been proven to make us feel better, as far as weight loss goes- it also makes us less likely to put junk in our bodies. Ever do an intense sweat session and then make a beeline to the nearest McDonald’s? I didn’t think so.

I live by myself, did not have anyone stay with me. I made sure my house was prepared for when i got home, fridge prepped, house cleaned, laundry done etc. so I could relax for a few days. A friend stopped over a few days post op and did some minor chores for me (scooping cat litter, dragging garbage bins to the end of the driveway) but i could have done them myself with some discomfort. I was driving 4 days post op, mostly bc i was bored and wanted to get out of the house but I also was in school and had to attend class. The first few days are the worst then you should notice dramatic improvement each day, a week should be plenty as far as having help around. Personally, I would really try to get 2 weeks off of work if you could..i definitely needed it.

I’m 6 days out and the first few days i could feel every sip going down and had slight pain (really more pressure) and then about 4 days out it just stopped. I was at work on Monday and I’m just doing everything I usually do routine wise like nothing ever happened haha. It’s hard to believe I had a major surgery last week. And in the last 24-36 hours I am instantly able to drink fluids very easily. I worked from home today and spaced my snacks out well and had time to knock out all of my fluids before 4pm. I had 2 24oz cups of crystal light (one morning, one afternoon) and I had to catch myself drinking too fast bc I totally forgot I had even had the surgery. Haha. Hope that makes you feel better! you will love your new stomach and the new you!

It will get better I promise!! I was sleeved on Valentine’s Day last week and I know everyone is different but this will give you hope. First 2 days were really tough for me. I had awful nausea and gas pains first 24 hours and threw up a lot. Which was pretty much dry heaving and that hurt my stomach even more. I could barely get out of bed and my husband had to pull my arms to help me change positions bc i was in so much pain and was scared to move. BUT!.....there is a silver lining! Every day I kept feeling better and better. I even went back to work yesterday (desk job) and if you had told me that last Thursday I would have thought there was no way in hell I would be back at work that soon. I have even only been taking my pain meds at night to help me sleep and am taking nothing during the day. The last 24 hours everything has finally started feeling more normal and I’m adjusting to the schedule and I think timing your protein shake and water and snacks is the key to feeling the most comfortable trying to get fluids and protein down. YesterdAy I didn’t keep much of a schedule and it was so much harder than today. Today I set off reminders on my phone and it made everything feel so much better going down. I hope your pain gets better as quickly as mine did and you can start enjoying your new stomach and the scale dropping every morning. You can do this! A couple or three miserable days is worth a lifetime of a skinny New you and happiness!

Hey guys , I will like to try out a few grass-fed whey isolate proteins that don't contain any heavy metals . The ones I've found have aloot of carbs or alot or calories . please helllp !!!!

Great to hear all! I think I hit a stall or something—- or def possible that I’m overreacting . I haven’t moved the scale since Friday. I started more exercise yesterday and upped the protein/ calories to 700 so hopefully that helps?? First stall for me. @Lilly... not sure other than only eating protein even though cleared for all foods. I heard advice to stay at this stage for as long as possible bc you can’t go back once you start with carbs and sugars etc?? Don’t know- making it up as I go along . Haha HW 242 SW 236- December 20, 2017 CW 196 GW#1- 199 GW#2- 175 5’6”

Hi All, Being nearly 40 and fed up of being a fat bloke I’ve decided to get myself some WLS. Thinking sleeve as don’t like the re-plumbing idea! My GP has referred me to the NHS bariatric service but I can’t face the wait so am looking at private options. Curently thinking of traveling to Belgium using either Prof Dillemans or Chris De Bruyne. Does anyone have any experiences of these guys and of getting aftercare back home in the UK?

Oh jamieohhh I am not going to be your favorite person. i am your height and at your age probably the same poundage.At 37.4 BMI you are a time bomb, sure you might not detonate today or even tomorrow, but eventually,it will happen. Let a Bariatric Granny tell you how it is. I told myself I wasn't obese I was a big [emoji66] and most of my life off and on, i was. I was born when the Second World War was finishing, my mother nursed me, yeah breastfed is best fed, at least Mama and her family thought so. My mother's doctor insisted she feed me a 8oz bottle of Carnation evaporated milk formula after each nursing. Its well know once fat cells develop they are there for life. Sure you might deflate them. but they'll hang around. At the age of 1 --I was 35 inches tall and weighed 36 lbs. Yeah the size of a chunky 2 to 2 1/2 year old. I remained tall and although I slendered out some my flesh has always been soft, I became bone strong but never muscular. And yeah I played as much as everyone else. Things were going on fairly smooth until puberty hit. Went from a 30AA to a 34C kaboom, still pretty good until I turned 15. I want from 110 to 175+ in less than 6 months. Mama drug me into the doctor cause I was still eating normal portion sizes. Doctor reassures her it's just puberty, as soon as her hormones level out she'll lose that weight. Been waiting close to 60 years, hasn't happened yet. In my early adulthood I continued to gain albeit slowly. I left 100--l and and went into the 200s by the time I had my children I was about 250ish, every pregnancy I lost but then it got me again. I was never a binge eater exactly, I was a mommy and rather than refrigerate things I scraped out many a casserole. I might also mention I am double-jointed-- one of its cute facets is joint laxity. The selfsame ability to clap the soles of one's feet together predisposes you to arthritis 85%. So it hurts to move, I was offically diagnosed with degenerative arthritis at 25, although I continued to try to stay active it hurt more and more. I was the reverse of most, I gained weight because I didn't move as much. And my joints began to break down until they were bone on bone. Partly from arthritis but a good contribution from lugging excess pounds around. Now I've had 2 knee replacements, sure they're good to have but at best 85-90% as good as natural ones. I really should have my hips done too but hope my weight loss surgery will buy me some time there. You will, by the time you reach my age- 72, be over 300 lbs like me. You do know overweight does shorten your lifespan? Also increases your chances of diabetes and cancer. The fact I've dodged both is a minor miracle. It is a fluke that I have low blood pressure, low cholesterol, no diabetes and no cancers, no heart disease.What I do have sleep apnea, have to sleep with a c pap mask at night, lungs and legs that won't let me walk too far. On my good days I walk with a cane. If I try to do something I have to rest half way thru. Your body slows down, you either sit down a lot or you stay lying down in bed cause you hate the pain. You pop NSAIDS like they are m&ms, you take so many you get gastritis and an ulcer. Ulcer hasn't been fun, constant hunger sensations that food doesn't satisfy. People your age start dying and you wonder if you'll be next. And you get sick and tired of being sick and tired. Life gets tedious, instead of Good Morning Lord, it's a beautiful day" it becomes" Oh Lord why did You let me live another day?" This is why at 72 I am planning surgery. I have stared my own mortality in the face and it isn't pretty. I should have a RnY early-mid March at Mount Carmel in Columbus Ohio. It will be an uphill battle for me, I may not heal as quickly as the younger people on Bariatric Pal. But the hope of a thinner healthier life is still in front of me. I find I'm not ready to die yet, I am committing my remaining strength towards this goal. I've been given hope, I was a failure with diets & the surgery will give me a new tool to work with. Would I have listened to somebody like me at your age? Probably not, I still thought I could beat it with the right diet, Lord knows I tried so many of them. One of my doctors said to me "I'd like you to weigh 148 pounds" told him I would too but I've lived long enough to realize without surgery it isn't going to happen. And any rate I hope you take my advice, get your surgery and improve your life before it's almost too late. God Bless Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi, I’m 31 y o female, been fat as long as I can remember, finally got so fed up and decided to take the plunge last year. I will not spend another decade as a fat person. Saw the surgeon in Nov 2017. I know I’m a good candidate (241.5 lbs and 5’4”, BMI was 40+). As per the usual practice, he referred me to several specialists (dietitian, psychiatrist, physiotherapist, and endocrinologist) and will see me again in March 2018. FYI, he recommended the sleeve. First was the dietitian. I’ve been put on a simple diet by her. She prescribed the standard -500 cal daily thing and did not put me on any food restrictions. I think she wants to go gentle and just take baby steps. I’ve lost 10 lbs so far. Sometimes I feel good about this as I’d never lost any weight at all, much less keeping them off but sometimes I’d read about someone losing 40 lbs on their initial pre-surgery diet within the same time frame and I’d feel like such a failure again. Second was the endocrinologist. Blood works confirmed I have Type 2 diabetes (have suspected so, was afraid to get it checked). Blood pressure is also through the roof. Am now taking Forxiga and Metformin XR combined with Lisinopril for the blood pressure and vit D pills for some reason. I feel like a total failure sometimes. I’ve seen the physiotherapist twice. Both times she was too afraid to prescribe any exercise because my blood pressure is very high and ended up prescribing me some very mild form of exercise (like standing-up-sitting-down rep, lifting 9 oz bottles rep, that kind of thing). I admit I seldom do these. I walk everywhere and I feel I burn more calories doing that. I haven’t seen the psychiatrist yet, I’m meeting him this week. There are also other non-health issues intersecting with this surgery that make this journey especially hard. I have parents with Narcissistic personality Disorder (NPD) and am Low Contact (LC) with them. There is no way am I involving them in this journey. I am also an expat and don’t really have friends. Colleagues I can talk to, perhaps, but not confide in. My support system is literally only my girlfriend of 11 years. Oh yeah, that’s right, I’m in a same sex relationship, too. LGBTQ is officially condemned here but most people generally mind their own business. We do have gay pride here. Still, I can’t risk upsetting my healthcare providers (I know they’re supposed to be professionals blah blah but you can’t control personal bias and I feel more comfortable with them not knowing). I really need a support system. There are support groups here of course, but for the reasons stated above, I can’t be completely honest about my situation and feel what’s the point of even going. I have anxiety and am easily stressed out in social situations which will make me feel restless, leading to sleeping troubles which will drive my blood pressure up again. I feel more comfortable with online forums hence here I am. ETA - I'm also concerned about juggling work with the surgery and all its pre- and post- that entail.

So what province are you in? We have Mrs Gamgee in Red Deer Alberta and Lesliesbari living somewhere in the mountains of British Columbia, her surgery must be in Vancouver or Victoria because she talked about how long a flight it was to get there. I've been to Niagara Falls, Leamington,Kingsville, Point Pelee & Pelee Island, Ontario and BC for the Centennial of Confederation. So I know a skosh about some Canadian locations. At any rate Good Luck or if you're in P.Q. Bonne Chance on your future surgery. I'm in Central Ohio, 14 miles from our state's Geographical Center. Hope to hear more of your WLS journey. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Grass fed (or otherwise) bone broth does not have a good complete protein in it. It's quite deficient in some key essential amino acids. It's high in collagen. So if that's your sole source of protein, you're potentially in for a world of hurt. Just my opinion...

I tried so many protein drinks before surgery and haven’t even attempted then after surgery. They make me heave. Drinking organic grass fed beef bone broth instead. Having no issues getting all my water in, and more. Plus thick soups too. I count myself very lucky to have had no issues at all. Good luck to those about to join the February surgery gang, update us on your progress if you have already been done. Have a wonderful day

@mstipps I spent my afternoon checking out some of these-- it's cool bc I wasn't really aware of most of these lesser know U.K. Bands. Anti Clone was pretty cool. Skindred and Sodom are the only ones I really knew. I'm into Soil, Coal Chamber, Rammstein, I miss Mudvayne but love Hellyeah, Slipknot, Machine Head, Lamb of God, System of a Down, etc. so I guess more mainstream stuff-- but I love a good metal festival with unknowns. Just fun to go and feel the energy and meet new people. Have an awesome time!!!! [emoji3]

Have had a lapband for 6 yrs. over the last year I have gained back about 35 lbs and also have developed a hiatal hernia that is causing minor issues as of now. My dr said I qualify for the sleeve bc of the hernia and numerous health issues . I’m 56 I’m looking to hear others experiences of. going from band to sleeve such as recovery, difficulty, regrets if any etc. I really want to be sure I’m doing the right thing. On a side note my family and friends think it an extreme thing to do bc I’m now only 35 overweight. But I know I’ll blink and I’ll be 50 over and then 60 and before I know it I’ll gain it all back it’s just a matter of time. I’m scared but tired of the pain and problems I’ve had from a lifetime struggle with obesity so I’m open just as I was with band. Any advice or sharing is very appreciated. tIa

Congrats! I’m about 8 weeks out . You’ll continue to lose bc you should be eating smaller amounts and mostly proteins for the next month Keep it up! HW 242 SW 236- December 20, 2017 CW 197 GW 160

Hey all! So, I had my surgery (RNY) at 7 am on the 5th. Surgery went perfectly and, after a very easy hospital stay, I went home the next day! My recovery has been pretty great (a few pics below). I've had *very* minimal pain, I think I only had to take the pain meds 4 times, and even then I only took the minimal dose to sleep. I don't think I really have any pain at all, at this point. My fatigue level is also getting better day by day. A few days ago I was worn out just walking around the mall, now I'm itching to get back to work! The biggest thing is that I had my post-op appointment today- total weight loss so far is 20.5lbs (woo!). I haven't used any insulin since two days pre-op, either! Amazeballs. They cleared me for pureed/soft foods (advancing as I tolerate things) which I am SO freaking happy about. I was beyond tired of broth and water and Gatorade! With all of that good news, I do have something I'm starting to wonder about- if my weight loss is going to suddenly stop now that I'm no longer on clear liquids. I mean losing 20lbs bc you've only had clear liquids for 2.5 weeks makes sense, but now that I'm adding in food, I wonder. I mean, in my head, I'm sure it won't stop- but it's still something I can't help but think about. Also, speaking of eating- does anyone have any tips/tricks to silence the head-hunger? And please none of that "just think about why you're doing this" crap. I realize that works for some people- and that's great, but sorry, that's not really an effective strategy for me. I'm looking for something I can *do* in those moments, not 'happy thoughts'.

I woke up being asked how I was feeling and if I was in pain and not to scare you off or anything but I have a very high pain tolerance and FELT that pain. Lol I was so out of it that after they were done assessing my pain and health during the short time that I was awake, I passed right back out. I don't think I was awake again til the middle of the night when they came to check on me. Then I passed back out. You can expect to be out like a light most or all of the first day. I don't know if they'll be on your case about walking that first day, probably not. Expect to not even be worried about being fed. You won't even be hungry but they will give them things to swab your mouth with the next day. What they may not tell you is, they will let you wash up and brush your teeth the second or third day.... And the less needy you are, the more available they seem to be. My mom is a nurse of some sort and she told me that they all love it if patients aren't so needy. If you're needy, they complain about it in the break room which is why they may take forever and a half. Useless information, I guess? I don't know.... Hw-273 Sw-226 CW-136 GW-130 Size- 4 or 6, Small in sweats. Small in shirts. depends on how it's cut or made. Bra Size- 36C Surgery Date- April 26th, 2017 RNY "Only those who try will become" FFX

Ugh feel so bloated today .. today makes 1 week post sleeve for me! My back hurts so much... Not even sure why though bc I walk a lot throughout the day.

Thanks for the encouragement ladies. I hate whining and not being an encouragement on here. *sigh* I just sent an email to the RD and will see what she says. @kakatlady612 I truly don't know if I have any switches available. I can't do soy cuz of er/per+ BC--onc's orders. The other vegan proteins are high in phytoestrogens as well. And the egg white protein gave me ringing ears and asthma worse than milk (although I'm not allergic to eggs that I'm aware). I do have some milk sensitivity but am ok with cheese and yogurt in small amounts.

Thanks. I will send an email to the RD now. Am seeing the doc on Thursday. So even though the swelling is mostly coming back down overnight, you don't think I should just suck it up? I can't have any other type of protein powder because of hormone pos BC and asthma. I tried so many different kinds including the chicken one (horrible), egg white (bad asthma), a ton of diff wpp (asthma, ear ringing, swelling). I almost feel like I need to quit whining , suck it up, and just get through it? I'm ok drinking the wpp 1 time per day--don't seem to have the overwhelming symptoms I do after having all 3 meals of it for 9 days...

I had some intense heart burn type pain for about an hour ... but it goes away- likely just gas from surgery. Slept for a solid amount of time. Near no pain at all (had laparoscopic bypass), only a bit when sleeping bc i couldn’t sleep on side yet. Movement was fine and back to work easily within a week and that was only to get eating habits in line Best decision ever— no regrets and nothing too big to worry about at all HW 242 SW 236- December 20, 2017 CW 198 GW 160

As my husband lay in a hospital bed, recovering from a total hip replacement, I searched diligently for a way to show my love and support. Then, I found the perfect answer, “licorice and Oreo cookies!” After 50 years in the workforce, my mother is retiring. Though she is not happy about it, I want to find a way to celebrate her many years of hard work. Oh, I know! I will bake her a pie. A cherry pie! That is her favorite. Hard to believe, but our oldest son, Craig is turning 27. He is a wonderful young man with a great wife and an adorable son, Skyler. That surely is cause for a special family dinner. Prime rib, all the trimmings and of course, I will bake a cake. I suspect... As my husband lay in a hospital bed, recovering from a total hip replacement, I searched diligently for a way to show my love and support. Then, I found the perfect answer, “licorice and Oreo cookies!” After 50 years in the workforce, my mother is retiring. Though she is not happy about it, I want to find a way to celebrate her many years of hard work. Oh, I know! I will bake her a pie. A cherry pie! That is her favorite. Hard to believe, but our oldest son, Craig is turning 27. He is a wonderful young man with a great wife and an adorable son, Skyler. That surely is cause for a special family dinner. Prime rib, all the trimmings and of course, I will bake a cake. I suspect that many of you are just like me. Even after 19 years as a weight loss surgery patient, when I feel the need to show my love, support or appreciation for someone I use food. It seems we all do. And that, I am afraid, has been the case since the beginning of time- you know, killing the fatted calf and all that. We love, we celebrate and we motivate with food. I have been wondering if it would be a futile endeavor, or would it actually be possible to change this behavior? Now, I know that I cannot be responsible for everyone else, but I can be responsible for the choices I make. One day, one event and one holiday at a time. So, now that the good candy from the gingerbread house is about gone… along comes another sweet holiday, Valentines Day. You know, expensive dinners, heart-shaped cookies, cakes, and candy. In years past, Valentines Day has been the perfect excuse to bake giant heart-shaped sugar cookies with white icing and red sprinkles. But, this year I am going to do things differently. I know, it will be tough, now that Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups come in a heart shape, but I am committed to showing my love for my family and friends without using food! I have decided to spend my cookie baking time, writing heartfelt letters and notes of appreciation to those I love. My hope is that my words will fill their hearts, and that they will feel loved and appreciated, warmed and emotionally fed, and that they will not miss the cookies. Won’t you join me this Valentines Day, by doing what you can to fill someone’s heart – rather than their stomachs? I love you – here’s a note!

I have them and used them when I couldn't handle my vitamins. My thought process- it was better than nothing until I had a viable replacement for the giant, terrible tasting chewable vitamins I had. My surgeon literally laughed when I mentioned them and said it was BS that you can get vitamins that way. I have recently discovered that Flinstone vitamins are acceptable by my surgeon's standards and they are SO MUCH easier to chew, swallow, and no nausea to follow. Probably not the same quality as the ones I can't stomach, but I would rather take something than nothing.