Psych evaluation?

[Neostarwcc 31]

On 10/18/2024 at 3:29 PM, ShoppGirl said:

I am the same way with things, but honestly if they say don’t worry, try really hard not to. Our brains sometimes just make things into something that they are not. How many times have you worried for days over something that turned out to be not a big deal at all. I know I have done that my fair share of times. The 30th will be here soon enough.

Yeah true. And then when they schedule it I have to make sure I don't reschedule it I don't want to end up a 800 pound person here. I told myself I would never hit 400 pounds yet after my blood clots I did pass 400 pounds because I wasn't able to move or do anything at all afterwards. I mean after all this operation is so that I'll live 10 years longer than normal. I don't want to die in my 40s or 50s after all I'd like to make it to at least 60s. Now you said exercising will become much much easier but I also need the drive to exercise. When I weighed 300 pounds I could exercise a lot easier but I also didn't exercise much. When I met my wife we did a lot of walking but before that I wouldn't really walk much at all and couldn't walk much at all and I weighed like 280 pounds. Idk. We will see what ends up happening...

[ShoppGirl 4,777]

3 hours ago, Neostarwcc said:

Yeah true. And then when they schedule it I have to make sure I don't reschedule it I don't want to end up a 800 pound person here. I told myself I would never hit 400 pounds yet after my blood clots I did pass 400 pounds because I wasn't able to move or do anything at all afterwards. I mean after all this operation is so that I'll live 10 years longer than normal. I don't want to die in my 40s or 50s after all I'd like to make it to at least 60s. Now you said exercising will become much much easier but I also need the drive to exercise. When I weighed 300 pounds I could exercise a lot easier but I also didn't exercise much. When I met my wife we did a lot of walking but before that I wouldn't really walk much at all and couldn't walk much at all and I weighed like 280 pounds. Idk. We will see what ends up happening...

Yea well I’m not going to say that exercise is as fun as your favorite pasttime to start. It took motivation on my part to get started. Even at a smaller BMI than you I started by just going to the end of my street and worked my way up, But seeing the progress of being able to do it without being out of breath or my knees hurting as bad as I went further and further motivated me to do even more. Exercise is never going to be fun for most people. Although at this point I am doing different group classes and I like the ladies that I get to do it with so it’s about as fun as it can be. The surgery will help with losing weight and that makes it a bit easier to get around. You may also find you have a bit more energy. You will start with just getting around the house better, but if you try to do a bit more as your body can do it safely, you will see that it’s up to you at a certain point. . Everyone starts in a different place, if you are pretty much couch bound, talk to your doctor about a physical therapist to help you get started. I actually asked if they could have one help me just to do some of these exercises safely so I didn’t hurt my knees or my neck, but they said they are not trainers. They will help if your doctor thinks you really need it, though. If you just need motivation, Hopefully whoever you have as your support system will cheer you on if that’s all you need. I know that my husband sees how hard I am trying with my food choices and even the exercise that I do at home so he is doing everything he can to help with it if I have a late class for aerobics and he makes dinner or he got me some headphones so that I could listen to music while I’m walking. My friend helped me to get started by talking to me on the phone and she was walking at her house while I was walking around mine. Also, if you have local support group, i have been going to that and it really helps. But I don’t want to overwhelm you thinking about doing exercise that sounds unattainable right now. I was only trying to let you know that his surgery is life-changing and give you something to look forward to. You don’t have to think about all of that right now just focus on small goals Just being able to get around the house better will be a really good start. Some people choose not to ever really exercise. And of course that’s your choice too. Losing weight will still make you healthier, even without exercise.

Edited October 21 by ShoppGirl

[Neostarwcc 31]

I'm going to have physical therapy and a nutritionist that specialize in bariatric surgery after my surgery. I saw the physical therapist once already for a consultation he said that I would be working with him alot after my surgery and that we'd mostly be swimming and stuff. I'm assuming I'd be seeing him once a month but I'm not sure. I'm hoping it's once a month anyway and not more frequent because I have the hospital that has the bariatric program is an hours drive away. We have a hospital in our town but it doesn't have a bariatric program or a maternity ward anymore for that matter.

Anyway it will take some motivation to exercise. I often forget to exercise. I'll say I'll do it and then don't do it. I will do the physical therapy exercises at my physical therapy appointments but I often forget and don't do the exercises afterwards at home. The therapist from the bariatric program gave me a rubber band to use to do curls on and my wife hasn't been reminding me to do those nor have i been doing them on my own. The rubber band has been sitting on the coffee table for 8 months. But I'll start doing some walking today I have an appointment after my wife gets off of work. So that will be some walking exercise for today and I can go for a walk tomorrow after she gets home from work. Or I can walk alone when she's at work. I'll just need to remind myself.

[ShoppGirl 4,777]

3 hours ago, Neostarwcc said:

I'm going to have physical therapy and a nutritionist that specialize in bariatric surgery after my surgery. I saw the physical therapist once already for a consultation he said that I would be working with him alot after my surgery and that we'd mostly be swimming and stuff. I'm assuming I'd be seeing him once a month but I'm not sure. I'm hoping it's once a month anyway and not more frequent because I have the hospital that has the bariatric program is an hours drive away. We have a hospital in our town but it doesn't have a bariatric program or a maternity ward anymore for that matter.

Anyway it will take some motivation to exercise. I often forget to exercise. I'll say I'll do it and then don't do it. I will do the physical therapy exercises at my physical therapy appointments but I often forget and don't do the exercises afterwards at home. The therapist from the bariatric program gave me a rubber band to use to do curls on and my wife hasn't been reminding me to do those nor have i been doing them on my own. The rubber band has been sitting on the coffee table for 8 months. But I'll start doing some walking today I have an appointment after my wife gets off of work. So that will be some walking exercise for today and I can go for a walk tomorrow after she gets home from work. Or I can walk alone when she's at work. I'll just need to remind myself.

If you have a phone or some sort of Alexa device try setting a recurring reminder to remind you daily. Or maybe regular alarm clocks have that option now. Don’t overdo it but just get into the habit of doing something. Start with what your physical therapist recommended. They are very knowledgeable and know where you are currently fitness wise. Also, if the physical therapist is too far. See if the bariatric physical therapy specialist could set up your program and do your evaluations but you can go to someone local just to do the exercises. They usually have someone evaluate and change your exercises ever so often and the other people there just help you do those exercises in between. So in other words, The specialist will decide what exercises you need to do and send those records to someone closer for you to do them more often. Not certain if that’s something that they like to do but it couldn’t hurt to ask.

You Can break your exercise up too. My watch actually tells me to stand up every hour and I will walk around the house a bit. Before I got it I would do a little extra walking when I went to the restroom or got up to get a drink. It’s just something you do a few times a day so a little extra adds up. You could do your bands then. Or when you eat your meals you could do them. Just divide up how much they want you to do for the day so your not doing too much. It doesn’t matter when or how you do it or where you are starting from any little bit is progress. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend walking too far by yourself if it’s been a while since you have done it though. When I started I would go alone but I did wait until my husband was home from work and I took a phone with me so if I needed to, I could call him to come get me. Even still I just go around the same block over and over so I’m not far from home if my knees start hurting me. Sounds like your team is taking good care of you. I think you will do just fine.

Edited October 23 by ShoppGirl

[Neostarwcc 31]

He just had me work an elastic band and said to do that but I ended up not doing it. But I can walk probably for 2 minutes or so everyday and increase it to 3 minutes next week. Especially when I have to go to saranac next week for my last followup before my surgery. I kind of want to tell them I've been exercising. I don't have a smartphone my wife has one and brings it to work with her everyday but I have a computer that I can setup reminders on. I go on it every morning so it would work perfectly. If that doesn't work I do have a tablet that I can use for reminders but I'm not on my tablet very much. I mostly just go on my tablet to check my email once every few days.

My team will be taking good care of me after my surgery yeah. Even if I choose not to have the surgery they want to keep me in the program because I'm overweight and eligible. But I want the surgery because it should be a good tool for losing weight. Next Wednesday is just around the corner and hopefully I'll get all of my questions and concerns answered. I think even if I'm hungry though as long as I fill up fast I don't think I will eat as much as I am now. My problem is I am NEVER full even if I eat 3k calories in one sitting. It's ridiculous. The surgery should definitely change that.

[ShoppGirl 4,777]

12 hours ago, Neostarwcc said:

He just had me work an elastic band and said to do that but I ended up not doing it. But I can walk probably for 2 minutes or so everyday and increase it to 3 minutes next week. Especially when I have to go to saranac next week for my last followup before my surgery. I kind of want to tell them I've been exercising. I don't have a smartphone my wife has one and brings it to work with her everyday but I have a computer that I can setup reminders on. I go on it every morning so it would work perfectly. If that doesn't work I do have a tablet that I can use for reminders but I'm not on my tablet very much. I mostly just go on my tablet to check my email once every few days.

My team will be taking good care of me after my surgery yeah. Even if I choose not to have the surgery they want to keep me in the program because I'm overweight and eligible. But I want the surgery because it should be a good tool for losing weight. Next Wednesday is just around the corner and hopefully I'll get all of my questions and concerns answered. I think even if I'm hungry though as long as I fill up fast I don't think I will eat as much as I am now. My problem is I am NEVER full even if I eat 3k calories in one sitting. It's ridiculous. The surgery should definitely change that.

You may be able to do it with an old school alarm nowadays. I just don’t have one to know for sure. You for sure can just turn it off and turn it back on but I don’t know about the recurring alarms. Anything that works for you though. Did you get started? Walking is great too, but I would do the bands if that’s what the physical therapist suggested. The ordering Dr would probably feel better about sending you back if they feel that you are doing what they recommended for you.

[Neostarwcc 31]

On 10/25/2024 at 6:31 AM, ShoppGirl said:

You may be able to do it with an old school alarm nowadays. I just don’t have one to know for sure. You for sure can just turn it off and turn it back on but I don’t know about the recurring alarms. Anything that works for you though. Did you get started? Walking is great too, but I would do the bands if that’s what the physical therapist suggested. The ordering Dr would probably feel better about sending you back if they feel that you are doing what they recommended for you.

No I haven't started yet. My wife was off of work today and we went grocery shopping and I stayed in the car. I saw my friend and his wife that I haven't seen in over 20 years at the grocery store as my wife was going into the grocery store. They passed my wife but only know my wife by name so they didn't stop to say hi but they have a son that's I'm guessing maybe 10 or 11 years old. I haven't talked to my friend or his wife since they got married I was an usher at their wedding but it was nice to see them I didn't say hi because they were in a rush to get their groceries home and they didn't notice me had they noticed me they would have stopped to say hi. But next time I see them I will definitely stop and say hello. Hopefully after I lose 150 pounds lol.

But my friend is kind of a family friend so he's seen my sister and my mother since and said hi to them and asked how I was doing and he knows that I'm married now and he knows my wife by name. He also has a daughter that is probably close to being in her early 20s now but she wasn't with them today it was just their son that I knew nothing about.

So in 4 days I'll know when my surgery is. I'm really excited for it and am looking forward to getting the surgery done and over with. I'm looking forward to losing the 150 pounds I want to lose so that I can go into public situations like this morning and actually say hi to my friend instead of being like "he is probably not going to recognize me weighing almost 450 pounds when we last saw each other I weighed like 280." There's always my voice and my face which is how I recognized him, that and he didn't really gain much weight over the last 20 years but... idk... I just didn't think he'd recognize me weighing almost 200 pounds more.

[ShoppGirl 4,777]

1 hour ago, Neostarwcc said:

No I haven't started yet. My wife was off of work today and we went grocery shopping and I stayed in the car. I saw my friend and his wife that I haven't seen in over 20 years at the grocery store as my wife was going into the grocery store. They passed my wife but only know my wife by name so they didn't stop to say hi but they have a son that's I'm guessing maybe 10 or 11 years old. I haven't talked to my friend or his wife since they got married I was an usher at their wedding but it was nice to see them I didn't say hi because they were in a rush to get their groceries home and they didn't notice me had they noticed me they would have stopped to say hi. But next time I see them I will definitely stop and say hello. Hopefully after I lose 150 pounds lol.

But my friend is kind of a family friend so he's seen my sister and my mother since and said hi to them and asked how I was doing and he knows that I'm married now and he knows my wife by name. He also has a daughter that is probably close to being in her early 20s now but she wasn't with them today it was just their son that I knew nothing about.

So in 4 days I'll know when my surgery is. I'm really excited for it and am looking forward to getting the surgery done and over with. I'm looking forward to losing the 150 pounds I want to lose so that I can go into public situations like this morning and actually say hi to my friend instead of being like "he is probably not going to recognize me weighing almost 450 pounds when we last saw each other I weighed like 280." There's always my voice and my face which is how I recognized him, that and he didn't really gain much weight over the last 20 years but... idk... I just didn't think he'd recognize me weighing almost 200 pounds more.

I felt the same way about my weight but you’ve gotta try really hard to get over that. I wasted a lot of years ashamed and in hiding. Don’t wait to start living until you reach that magic number in your head. Your taking the necessary steps to get there and your friend may be your biggest cheerleader when they know that you are doing something to change things. I hadn’t seen one of my friends in years either. We texted or sent cards and exchanged phone calls on birthdays and Christmas but that was about it. I always had excuses to avoid hanging out until she finally stopped asking. It was my new therapist that finally got me to reach out and make plans to meet her. She later said she could see that I had gained some weight but she didn’t pay much attention and all she really seen was her old friend that she missed dearly. She said she loved me the same and I hadn’t changed a bit. She has been one of my biggest supporters throughout all of this. And it’s not about my losing weight to her. It’s about my getting healthy and being able to do more things that I couldn’t before. I am happy that you should be getting a surgery date soon and wish you all of the best.

[Neostarwcc 31]

I guess you're right. I didn't really think of it that way. I'll probably never run into him again I haven't seen him or his wife in 20 years. We kind of had a big fight 20 years ago and that's why we haven't seen each other but about 10 years ago he ran into my mom and said hi to her and asked how I was doing. He asked if I still lived with her and she said no and said that I was getting married and he said that he was glad that I found someone. Had I said hi yesterday he probably would have said hi to me and we would have had a conversation but I didn't want him to see me 200+ pounds heavier. Especially when he stayed in the 200s himself.

[Neostarwcc 31]

I just got home from the bariatric clinic/nutritionist. The nutritionist didn't clear me for surgery and is going to follow up with me again in a month. Turns out she found out that I haven't been practicing mindful eating and since that can apparently completely reverse the effects of the surgery she's given me homework to practice that. I don't even understand mindfulness and it's NEVER worked for me so I guess I can't get the surgery and I have to try to lose 150 pounds on my own...

[ShoppGirl 4,777]

37 minutes ago, Neostarwcc said:

I just got home from the bariatric clinic/nutritionist. The nutritionist didn't clear me for surgery and is going to follow up with me again in a month. Turns out she found out that I haven't been practicing mindful eating and since that can apparently completely reverse the effects of the surgery she's given me homework to practice that. I don't even understand mindfulness and it's NEVER worked for me so I guess I can't get the surgery and I have to try to lose 150 pounds on my own...

I have never been asked to do mindful eating but I have heard of others who have mentioned it on here. My recommendation would be to start a new thread under that heading and hopefully others will respond to you about it.