Weight Loss Surgery Info

congrats on the increased weight loss, jill and pat! you guys are awesome!
Amy
Proud Air Force Wife
no surgery date yet
CW 272.4!!!!!!!!!!!

There's nothing wrong with that either (avoiding certain foods that
you cannot control)! The important thing is that you find a balance
between not completely depreiving yourself (so that you fdeel like
you're on a perpetual DIET) and staying in control. I have beeb able
to control the M&Ms, but not the cookies, so I just don't buy cookies
(but I very occasionally just have one at my mom's)... and knowing
that cookies are a problem makes me too scared to try any ice cream
(and I'm ok with that).
Yes, it's sad and frustrating to know that, for whatever reason, food
is a weakness for us, but hopefully you can be encouraged that at
least NOW you have a tool to help you control it and the KNOWLEDGE you
need to control the part that the tool can't (what you put in your
mouth). After this experiecne you now have MORE knowledge and, in the
long run, that is a good thing. I do hear your frustration and
disappointment, though.
Lora

I was THANKFULLY only charged one insufficient funds fee by the bank. I called
them later that day and told them the whole drawn out story and they refunded my
NSF fee. The 'hackers' are somewhere in Europe, so I could not prosecute them
without the help of the FBI or something. But if you read some of my previous
posts today, then you know that I filed a police report and got squared away
with the bank and paypal. . . HOWEVER, I will be closing both my paypal and ebay
accounts ASAP! Also closed bank accounts and opened new ones, etc. . . Trying
to cover all my bases. . Thanks for your concern and input, Jill. I appreciate
it.
Amy
Proud Air Force Wife
no surgery date yet
CW 272.4!!!!!

congrats on the new scale purchase, pat. . i have a weight watchers one that
goes to the tenth of a pound.. . . i am happy with it. . have not used it
regularly enough to see how it weighs in comparison to the dr.'s scales, yet. .
but guess i will find out next week! :-)
Amy
Proud Air Force Wife
no surgery date yet
CW 272.4!!!!!!!!!

very smart idea, dee. i will have to remember that for future use! thanks so
much!
Amy
Proud Air Force Wife
no surgery date yet
CW 272.4

Congrats, Darlene! How wonderful that must feel! I am very happy for you.
Amy
Proud Air Force Wife
no surgery date yet
CW 275

Cathy,
It's good to see you back online again!
Keeping a health journal is so good for you (or it is for me,
anyway!). Keep up the good work!!
Try not to fret about your upcoming appt. with your surgeon. You are
doing the best you can, one day at a time. That is all you can do.
You don't need the stress of worrying about it.
When my husband was deployed a lot while in the Navy, I learned a
wonderful relaxation technique that I still use when I get really
tense and stressed out. First, lay down in bed, or sit in a comfy
chair. Tense all of your muscles as hard as you can for a count of 5.
Then relax all of your muscles. Next, starting at the top of your
head, tense only your scalp muscles and hold for a count of 5. Relax.
Tense only your forehead muscles for a count of 5. Relax. Next, only
your eyes, then your ears, nose, jaw, neck, etc., working your way
down your body. By the time you get to the soles of your feet, you
should be pretty well relaxed. It is important to only think about
the muscles you are working with as you progress through this
exercise. This is how I fell asleep most nights during deployments.
Jill
-34.4

Sharon,
you have no idea how right you were! hubby emailed the housing peoplee friday
to tell them I had pre-op appts. on the 12th and they said come in Monday and
we'll get you started. We were offered two housees. . picked the one we liked
best. .. signed the paperwork and then Tuesday picked up the keys!
When hubby was initially unavailable to go with me to pre-op visits, I did not
cancel. Instead I tried to make other arrangements with a friend to accompany
me. When hubby found that our (and saw how determined I was) he confessed that
he had really wanted to be there for my appts so he could learn everything I was
learning and know what to expect, etc. So, THEN, he decided to try to
reschedule his conflicting appts. They approved his request and rescheduled his
appts for those days. So hubby and I will be in El Paso (meeting Joan and/or
Pat??) from March 11-13. Woo HOO! I am guessing depending on the outcome of
the pree-op appts., that they will schedule my surgery (give me a date) while I
am there.
Amy
Proud Air Force Wife
no surgery date yet
CW 272.4!!!!!!

Naomi,
Thanks for letting us know! I will try Sears tomorrow and see if I
can find something that fits AND that I am able to make myself
purchase! At least Sears has nicer dressing rooms than a thrift store!
Jill
-34.4

ummm.... ok..... that works too.....
Pat
sueofastor@... wrote:
You mean, more like "eat your heart out?", lol.
In a message dated 3/4/2008 4:24:50 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
pat.0913@... writes:
I wasn't thinking of affirmation.I
Pat
**************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money &
Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)

Lisa, you are NOT a failure. You just realized that something you
thought you had "conquered" still needs work, and it's ok to feel bad
about that (for a little while, anyway). I think of it as a positive
thing to know what we/I can and cannot handle as far as food... and I
expect (hope?) that it will change as our/my new habits get stronger.
When I realized I could have just 2 M&Ms, I thought it would be that
easy with other sweet things, too (I'll just have part of a cookie...
or perhaps just a bite of ice cream). It hasn't been. I cannot have
cookies in the house because not only can I not just have HALF of one,
I can't even have just one! After the cookie incident, I do not trust
myself to even taste ice cream (a very old and dear "friend").
We developed our bad (often completely unconscious) habits over many
years, yet somehow we (or at least I do) somehow expect them to just
fade away after surgery. I wish it was that simple! From my
perspective, it is actually better that you ate so much of the pizza
without really thinking about it (at least that's how I read your
post... feel free to correct me if I'm wrong)... that's better (in
terms of a mindset) than if you had mentally said to yourself that it
tasted so good you didn't care if you ate the whole things and got sick.
Perhps you CAN have that pizza again, but next time you can make sure
that others in the family are sharing it, so you CAN only have one
piece and won;t be tempted to eat more than that. I counseling there
are three approaches to solving any problem: 1) try changing the
cognitive (thought) aspect and then wait for the feelings and
behaviors to change, 2) try changing the way you feel about something
and then wait for the thoughts and behaviors to change, or 3) change
the behavior and wait for the thoughts and feelings to "fall in line".
From my perspective, learning to change the things that made us
heavy, and might cause us to stumble in getting the weight off or
keeping it off, can utilize all three. Perhaps this is just a case
where you change the behavior (sharing the pizza with others) and the
change in emotions and thoughts will follow. (I hope that makes sense...)
Lora

Now, I know that costs vary WIDELY from place to place and from
surgeon to surgeon, but I find it very frustrating that all you can
find online are "average" costs for various PS procedures. Since I
have not been busy at work this week, and have been weighing my PS
options (both for later this month and for this winter), I spent part
of the last couple of days asking for PS estimates.
Don't know how useful this will be to anyone else, but it would have
saved me some time if I had known approximate costs, so I will post it
anyway. The prices I was given are as follows:
1)abdominoplasty (with minor liposuction as needed for body
contouring, but keeping in mind that the amount of skin removal would
be minimal because I will have already undergone the panniculectomy) -
surgeon #1: $8300, surgeon #2: $7400, surgeon #3: $7600
2) brachioplasty (bat wing removal) - surgeon #1: $7000 (this also
includes lipo and/or skin removal for "side boobs" if necessary),
surgeon #2: $5800 (no side boob attention, but removal of any excess
skin in the armpit itself), surgeon #3: $6200.
Lora

Lisa,
You are not a failure. A failure would have gone back and bought more. You
recognized the danger zone and will avoid it. In the meantime let yourself enjoy
the treat you had tonight knowing it will be a long time before you have
another. We all have weaknesses and it's impossible to think that we will never
enjoy those things we love. Moderation is the key. Put it in perspective, how
much would you have eaten before sugery? Don't be too hard on yourself. Then you
will feel bad and want to eat more to make yourself feel better(if you are
anything like me)
Debby
Lisa <lisaatwell1968@...
While at Trader Joes tonight, I decided that I would pick up one of
their organic cheese pizzas for the kids to have for dinner. 1 of
those fills up 2 kids nicely. Well, they had this super duper thin
crust pizza w/ ham, onions and cheese that was just calling my name.
I figured I could have it for dinner tonight and then for lunch
tomorrow. It was lovely. The crust was a flaky pastry rather than
pizza dough and it was not chewy but lite and crispy. DELICIOUS! I
ate 3/4 of the pizza. I was not hungry when I ate the last 1/4 that
I downed. If my son had not eaten the other piece, I would have
consumed the entire pizza and been really sick. It was not that it
was a pizza, it was the crust. My biggest downfall was pastries. I
love pastries. they have the most wonderful flaky goodness. I can
never have one of these pizzas again. I want to cry. It was like
finding your best friend and I could not stop. I really thought I
was going to sail through my food obsessions. I am not thrilled by
sweet tasting things anymore, chocolate does bang my drum like it did
before so I thought "hey this is going to be okay". I just totally
caved tonight. I really disappointed myself. It was so easy to fall
back into that old habit. Way too easy. I know that I just can not
have anything but what I am regimented to now. I can not trust
myself with 1 or 2 of these or a lick or sip of those...I feel like
such a failure.
Lisa A

Debby,
I posted your pics. WOW do you look great. I am so glad you could run
that race. Have you been running long?
Lizanne

Lora,
Our Trader Joes had lots of Apple rasberry, apple wild berry and apple
strawberry. I picked up a dozen but can get more if you want. Let me know where
to send them.
Debby

While at Trader Joes tonight, I decided that I would pick up one of
their organic cheese pizzas for the kids to have for dinner. 1 of
those fills up 2 kids nicely. Well, they had this super duper thin
crust pizza w/ ham, onions and cheese that was just calling my name.
I figured I could have it for dinner tonight and then for lunch
tomorrow. It was lovely. The crust was a flaky pastry rather than
pizza dough and it was not chewy but lite and crispy. DELICIOUS! I
ate 3/4 of the pizza. I was not hungry when I ate the last 1/4 that
I downed. If my son had not eaten the other piece, I would have
consumed the entire pizza and been really sick. It was not that it
was a pizza, it was the crust. My biggest downfall was pastries. I
love pastries. they have the most wonderful flaky goodness. I can
never have one of these pizzas again. I want to cry. It was like
finding your best friend and I could not stop. I really thought I
was going to sail through my food obsessions. I am not thrilled by
sweet tasting things anymore, chocolate does bang my drum like it did
before so I thought "hey this is going to be okay". I just totally
caved tonight. I really disappointed myself. It was so easy to fall
back into that old habit. Way too easy. I know that I just can not
have anything but what I am regimented to now. I can not trust
myself with 1 or 2 of these or a lick or sip of those...I feel like
such a failure.
Lisa A

You mean, more like "eat your heart out?", lol.
In a message dated 3/4/2008 4:24:50 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
pat.0913@... writes:
I wasn't thinking of affirmation.I
Pat
**************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money &
Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)

Thanks SO much, Lisa! I have sent you the info. I don't have them
often (and don't eat a whole one at once), so a dozen will last a
while. They are so yummy and a convenient way to carry something
healthy and sweet. SOmetimes I just can't stomach a protein bar!
Lora

Hi Gals..
My daughter buys the fruit leathers at Cubs Foods here in MN...just an idea.
Lisa <lisaatwell1968@...
I got the last 12 apple-strawberry fruit leathers at my trader Joes.
The customer service person said that she'd not heard that they were
going out of stock but it was strange how few leathers of any type were
on the shelf. Anyway, please private email me your addy and I will
send these little gems out to you.
Bon Appetite!
Lisa A
~sending well wishes to all!!~
Jo in MN

I got the last 12 apple-strawberry fruit leathers at my trader Joes.
The customer service person said that she'd not heard that they were
going out of stock but it was strange how few leathers of any type were
on the shelf. Anyway, please private email me your addy and I will
send these little gems out to you.
Bon Appetite!
Lisa A

Wow Melisa,
That sounds like fun :o) I would have oh so done that, but knowing me I
would have been right behind them flipping them off LOL. You were sooooo
much smarter than I would have been. Glad everything turned out ok for you.
Edie

I do. It's myspace.com/plm919
Pauleen
Allison <allisonmarie22@...
Thanks Judy!
Does anyone else have myspace?? I'm addicted!
~Ally~
Atlanta, GA
Lap RNY 7/12/07
251/237/167/130
HW/SW/CW/GW

Thanks Lizanne,
I joined a running group a month ago. I have never run before. I actually
joined because they have a group within the group that are walker/runners using
the Galloway method. I thought I would be with them but the coach told me no. He
said he was going to make a runner out of me. I didn't believe him then but now
I am excited about learning to run. I am slow but I did it. I am hoping to be
able to increase my distance soon.
Debby
--- On Sun, 7/6/08, lizanneflowers <lizanneflowers@...
From: lizanneflowers <lizanneflowers@...
Subject: [WLS Friendship & Support] Posted Debby's Running Pics

I wonder if you could use sf maple syrup.. This would be a great family style
breakfast dish. I love recipes like this for holidays, when I'm cooking for a
crowd. Naomi
lizanneflowers <lizanneflowers@...
Cups
An easy, fun and unexpected breakfast (or anytime) dish.
Maple syrup and fresh herbs infuse the ham cups with flavor. Serve
with toast or on a toasted English-muffin half.
Total Time : 35 minutes
Prep Time : 15 minutes
Cook Time : 20 minutes
Servings : 6 servings of 2 egg cups each
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine, melted
12 slices (about 810 ounces total, prepackaged or from the deli
counter) Black Forest or smoked Virginia ham, cut a little thinner
than a slice of American cheese
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill or chives; if using dried
herbs, use 1 1/2 teaspoons
12 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Optional
Additional dill or chive sprigs for garnish
Toasted, buttered whole-wheat bread cut into triangles
Directions
step 1 Position one baking rack in the middle of the oven and preheat
the oven to 400 degrees F. Using a pastry brush and the melted butter
or margarine, generously coat the inside of all 12 cups in a standard-
size muffin tin.
step 2 Fit 1 slice of ham into each cup, pressing down gently to line
the cup. The ends will stick up over the edges of the cups before
cooking. (The ham shrinks considerably during baking and will form a
more cup-like appearance.)
step 3 Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of maple syrup into the bottom of each ham
cup, followed by 1/2 teaspoon of dill or chives. (If using dried
herbs, use 1/8 teaspoon.) Crack 1 egg into each ham cup.
step 4 Bake until whites are cooked and yolks are firm, about 20
minutes. If any large bubbles form on the eggs during baking, pierce
them with a toothpick or wooden skewer while they cook.
step 5 Remove the baking pan from the oven and season the eggs with
salt and pepper. Using 2 teaspoons or small spatulas, carefully lift
the full ham cups out and place on a serving plate. Garnish with
fresh herb sprigs (if using) and serve immediately.
Chef's notes
Pasteurized eggs can also be used, although the eggs will appear more
scrambled.
To keep the ham cups from leaking during cooking, make sure that each
ham slice is free of holes.
The ham cups can be served on top of a toasted English-muffin half or
with whole-wheat toast.
You can add 1 Tablespoon of grated Gruyère, cheddar or Swiss cheese
to each ham cup before cracking in the eggs in Step 3.
Maple syrup is rich in minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium.
Nutrition facts
Serving Size: 2 eggs (64g)
Calories 120
Calories From Fat 60
Total Fat 7g
Saturated Fat 3.5g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 95mg
Sodium 590mg
Total Carbohydrates 6g
Dietary Fiber 0g
Sugars 5g
Protein 8g
Nutritional information provided by Compu-Food Analysis, Inc.

I read somewhere (?) that the part of the stomach that they leave is made up of
muscle that doesn't stretch and it is just from mis-use that we learn to eat
more. I have always wondered if it is true or not. I read so much on the
net and so much is not true or only half true. Has anyone on here done any
research on this subject. The article (which I can't find) also said that if
we only ate for 15 minutes and only 3 times a day we would not ever gain any
weight back as long as we made good food choices. That somehow the theory was
the only way to gain weight after wls was to eat too many times a day or to
graze. ??? Naomi

Eggs in Maple- Ham Cups
An easy, fun and unexpected breakfast (or anytime) dish.
Maple syrup and fresh herbs infuse the ham cups with flavor. Serve
with toast or on a toasted English-muffin half.
Total Time : 35 minutes
Prep Time : 15 minutes
Cook Time : 20 minutes
Servings : 6 servings of 2 egg cups each
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine, melted
12 slices (about 810 ounces total, prepackaged or from the deli
counter) Black Forest or smoked Virginia ham, cut a little thinner
than a slice of American cheese
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill or chives; if using dried
herbs, use 1 1/2 teaspoons
12 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Optional
Additional dill or chive sprigs for garnish
Toasted, buttered whole-wheat bread cut into triangles
Directions
step 1 Position one baking rack in the middle of the oven and preheat
the oven to 400 degrees F. Using a pastry brush and the melted butter
or margarine, generously coat the inside of all 12 cups in a standard-
size muffin tin.
step 2 Fit 1 slice of ham into each cup, pressing down gently to line
the cup. The ends will stick up over the edges of the cups before
cooking. (The ham shrinks considerably during baking and will form a
more cup-like appearance.)
step 3 Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of maple syrup into the bottom of each ham
cup, followed by 1/2 teaspoon of dill or chives. (If using dried
herbs, use 1/8 teaspoon.) Crack 1 egg into each ham cup.
step 4 Bake until whites are cooked and yolks are firm, about 20
minutes. If any large bubbles form on the eggs during baking, pierce
them with a toothpick or wooden skewer while they cook.
step 5 Remove the baking pan from the oven and season the eggs with
salt and pepper. Using 2 teaspoons or small spatulas, carefully lift
the full ham cups out and place on a serving plate. Garnish with
fresh herb sprigs (if using) and serve immediately.
Chef's notes
Pasteurized eggs can also be used, although the eggs will appear more
scrambled.
To keep the ham cups from leaking during cooking, make sure that each
ham slice is free of holes.
The ham cups can be served on top of a toasted English-muffin half or
with whole-wheat toast.
You can add 1 Tablespoon of grated Gruyère, cheddar or Swiss cheese
to each ham cup before cracking in the eggs in Step 3.
Maple syrup is rich in minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium.
Nutrition facts
Serving Size: 2 eggs (64g)
Calories 120
Calories From Fat 60
Total Fat 7g
Saturated Fat 3.5g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 95mg
Sodium 590mg
Total Carbohydrates 6g
Dietary Fiber 0g
Sugars 5g
Protein 8g
Nutritional information provided by Compu-Food Analysis, Inc.

Yes, that's why I'm just eating 2 small candies (about the size of
lifesavers).
Edie

I have a coworker who is also large, she is also diabetic and eats the wrong
food *every day *... I just worry about her sooooo much. Anyways, when
people comment on my weight, she's always happy for me, but I can see in her
face that she is... jealous? wishing it were her? I don't know. But yeah I
see it too.
Oh well, it's my time to shine :o)
Hope your all shining today!!!
Edie

Thanks Judy!
Does anyone else have myspace?? I'm addicted!
~Ally~
Atlanta, GA
Lap RNY 7/12/07
251/237/167/130
HW/SW/CW/GW

Hi alex!! So nice to hear from you. Its on july 23 I don't know the time yet. My
preop is friday then I will know details)
How r u doing?
Judy -- MY DAY 07-23-08 2 1/2 wks. to go!!!
262/234
HW/CW
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/nynativecagirl/
http://www.myspace.com/nynativecagirl

What is a herniated bowel? You better dumb that down for those of us that
aren't nurses!! Is it like a rupture type occurance as in a ruptured appendix?
Naomi

Cathy, you should be very proud of yourself!!! You are doing a great job.
my nut is a big believer in a food journal. She says if you don't have time to
do it everyday, you should at least do it 1 day a week to keep yourself
honest!!! Naomi
cathymonsell <Sarrah345@...
predicament!
I've lost 144 pounds as of today, and I just passed my one year mark on
February 22nd.
It's hard, because when you lose lightning fast like I did, I knew it
had to come to a grinding halt at some time. I mean I'd lost 150 lbs
as of October 15, 2007!!!! That's nearly 8 months time.
I'd also lost down to weighing 163 pounds as of my surgeon's appt in
December. (I think that's 154 pounds lost.)
But I had gained back up to 176 pounds and I freaked out! Each day is
a challenge to do the right thing, and further proves to me that the
pouch IS a tool!
I'm down to 172.8 right now, and I'm keeping a food journal and
fighting tooth and nail to get the weight I gained to come off. I see
my surgeon on March 12th and I'm scared to go in there and get some
kind of "lecture" about having regained some weight.
I think having a lot of stress in your life really makes it hard. It
becomes easier to grab something "quick" and not healthy if you're in a
really stressful place in your life. I'm dying to figure out how to
relax and get some real peace in my life!
So, I'm here and hoping to lose this extra weight, and I'm even hoping
to lose more before my "honeymoon period" ends. But I'm also afraid
I've reached that end already.
I'm glad to have you all here, supporting me, even though I should be
supporting you all more.
A special shout out to my dear friend, Jill....you are an angel sent
from above and I don't know what I'd do without you!
Many hugs to everyone,
Love,
Cathy1
Lap RNY 2/22/07
317/172.8/150-160...somewhere around there

Oh, how I wish I had lost my taste for Diet Pepsi, but alas... I
still LOVE the taste of it. It's not quite the same once you let it
go somewhat flat, but since my surgeon only DISCOURAGES carbonated
beverages rather than FORBIDDING them, I do occasionally indulge in
half of one as a treat.
Lora

I think we are all in the same predicament!
I've lost 144 pounds as of today, and I just passed my one year mark on
February 22nd.
It's hard, because when you lose lightning fast like I did, I knew it
had to come to a grinding halt at some time. I mean I'd lost 150 lbs
as of October 15, 2007!!!! That's nearly 8 months time.
I'd also lost down to weighing 163 pounds as of my surgeon's appt in
December. (I think that's 154 pounds lost.)
But I had gained back up to 176 pounds and I freaked out! Each day is
a challenge to do the right thing, and further proves to me that the
pouch IS a tool!
I'm down to 172.8 right now, and I'm keeping a food journal and
fighting tooth and nail to get the weight I gained to come off. I see
my surgeon on March 12th and I'm scared to go in there and get some
kind of "lecture" about having regained some weight.
I think having a lot of stress in your life really makes it hard. It
becomes easier to grab something "quick" and not healthy if you're in a
really stressful place in your life. I'm dying to figure out how to
relax and get some real peace in my life!
So, I'm here and hoping to lose this extra weight, and I'm even hoping
to lose more before my "honeymoon period" ends. But I'm also afraid
I've reached that end already.
I'm glad to have you all here, supporting me, even though I should be
supporting you all more.
A special shout out to my dear friend, Jill....you are an angel sent
from above and I don't know what I'd do without you!
Many hugs to everyone,
Love,
Cathy1
Lap RNY 2/22/07
317/172.8/150-160...somewhere around there

Lisa A,
I totally understand how you feel. I don't have many ocassions to
sit on the floor, but when I have I have died because of the flailing
to get back up. I haven't taken a BATH for years. Getting out of
the tub was just too humiliating. This past week I stayed at my
brother's home and he has a huge tub with jets. I decided I would
try it. I did, and I still flailed trying to get out of the tub. It
was slippery and I was still afraid I might fall. Now that I have
written that, it's pretty embarassing.
Lizanne

Debby, the best thing about this entire journey has been the relationships that
have developed. Little did I know that when I went to the OH conference last
year I would meet you, such a great woman, become your ANGEL and remain
friends. You have been a great inspiration, for you to get up out of the
hospital bed, start running practically right away and not stop has been truly a
Gift from God for you. I enjoyed meeting you for lunch whenever you came down
and I my only wish would be that you lived closer so we could meet a little
more. I was honored to be your Angel and I am proud that you have done so well,
make me look good! I have the card and Angel you gave me on my desk at work,
every time I look at it I am so happy for you, and everyone that crosses my path
knows who you are, actually all of you but they know about you because I was
your angel and they knew I had to go see you that day and all the other times.
I talk so much about this
group** that they all know how important this entire journey has been to me. Of
course, I'm collecting "angel children" because now I have Maria and soon I will
have Amy. All special, makes me proud to be an Angel.
I would be honored to have you as my Angel! I know that you are super busy and
can't get to the pc during the day as often as you'd like, so that's why I had
not actually asked you because I didn't want to give you one more thing to do.
but I'd love to have you as my Angel, I'd like nothing more than that!!! :)
**P.S. Group: I don't mention names or personal issues to anyone!

Judy -- *******17 DAYS CLOSER*******
262/231
HW/CW
MY WLS BLOG: http://judywlsjourney.blogspot.com/

Everything you are saying makes it seem more like that type of vertigo!!! The
phy ther that I originally talked to had hers come on while she was out of town
on business. The worse feelings for me was if I would lay down in bed fast.
In the meantime, just in case it is potassium, do you have any lf yogurt?
Pretty good source of potassium. Naomi
"Mary B." <hunnybear713@...
I wrote it down and will check in to it. I just think it is so odd it would
just all of a sudden start up on Sunday. I woke up with it basically.
--
Mary in FL
LAP RNY 1/26/2007
317/296/167/140
BS/ SW/CW/GW

Naomi,
I wrote it down and will check in to it. I just think it is so odd it would
just all of a sudden start up on Sunday. I woke up with it basically.
--
Mary in FL
LAP RNY 1/26/2007
317/296/167/140
BS/ SW/CW/GW

Mary,
I do shower when I get out of the pool. The clorine spell gets to
me. But, eventhough I shower and use moisturizer, I still can smell
clorine when I go to bed at night.
My hair did not come in any curlier. I have baby fine hair that is
as straight as can be. No change there. I don't mind, as long as I
have hair.
Lizanne

I desperately need a jacket type outfit for next week and I am cheap
and my sizes hopefully will keep changing. I just went to Sears and
they had a rack full of clearance suits. Most were $90 or $70
originally. They were marked down to $12.99, I really needed a
jacket to wear with pants, but the sale was on jackets with skirts and
they were half of the marked price. They rang up for $5.99 each, so
I went wild and bought both. I will be wearing black pants and one of
the jackets!!!! If anyone needs clothes and you have a Sears nearby
it is so worth rummaging the racks. I also picked up 2 tops for $2.00
each! The summer type clearance was way down in price and most was
cheaper than marked. Naomi

Lizanne,
I was told getting into the pool wouldn't be a problem just as long as you
rinse your hair right after you get out. I use to go to the showers after
my water aerobics and was fine. I just can't get my color right either. I
had to take color OUT of my hair the last time because it turned so dark it
drove me crazy. This last time I did it came out more red than I wanted but
I am ok with it. I also have so many curls you would think I was shirley
temple.. lol. I gave up fighting them so now but a curl activator in it to
let it curl more. I will have to get pictures taken... you wouldn't believe
it was me.. lol.
--
Mary in FL
LAP RNY 1/26/2007
317/296/167/140
BS/ SW/CW/GW

I was wondering about soda are they ok to drink I was told nothing with
carbonation in it
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 4, 2008, at 11:45 AM, "Mary B." <hunnybear713@...
naomi,
I know what you mean. I couldn't believe how our taste buds change after
the surgery. I tasted the diet coke after my surgery (quite a few months
after) and I couldn't stand the taste of it... toooo sweet for me. I use to
drink the crystal light but that too is too sweet. I drink water or tea
now.
--
Mary in FL
LAP RNY 1/26/2007
317/296/167/140
BS/ SW/CW/GW

naomi,
I know what you mean. I couldn't believe how our taste buds change after
the surgery. I tasted the diet coke after my surgery (quite a few months
after) and I couldn't stand the taste of it... toooo sweet for me. I use to
drink the crystal light but that too is too sweet. I drink water or tea
now.
--
Mary in FL
LAP RNY 1/26/2007
317/296/167/140
BS/ SW/CW/GW

Lora,
I find my body fascinating. And I am being serious here. No titters
please. I am constantly touching it, and it's interesting to feel
how my legs feel when I walk...the combination of muscle and loose
jiggy fat moving, and how it looks from different angles. The change
is amazing. BUT them I look in the mirror and see the whole
thing...I am disappointed. I see that if taken as a whole,
the "package" is still fat, but as seperate parts I see so much
progress.
This is not quite the same thing as you are talking about, but body
image can be perceived in so many ways. Even my BGF, who has her ups
and downs when contemplating her feelings about my surgery, now says
that she is worried about becoming the "fat" one. That upsets her.
It makes me kind of mad at her. So....she just thought of me as the
fat one. That that is such a dispicable place to be. (I just must
be grumpy...see what happens when frustration builds up?)
So, although this is not exactly the same as what you are noticing,
my perception of my body image is becoming weird.
Lizanne

As confusing as you think your post may have been, it made perfect sense to me.
I am also going through the same size distortion. I gently squeeze into a seat
and worry I won't fit and there is 2 inches on each side empty, then I see a
space I think I can squeeze through and oops!!!! Naomi
Lora <cicerogirl@...
follows on things I had already
been pondering. I did a presentation on the state licensing exams for
a class at the university where I got my master's degree in counseling
last night. On my way in to the building I ran into one of my old
professors that I have not seen in almost 2 years. She was clearly
surprised to see me, but I don't know how much of that was just my
presence there and how much was my weight loss, which she didn't
mention (SURELY she noticed...?!?!?). Anyway, I only talked to her
very briefly but then saw her again later as she was running around
gettign ready for class. She had lost some weight right before I last
saw her. Now, either she has gained back that weight (and maybe some
additional weight), or I just don't remember HER size accurately, or my
brain is confused by my size relative to hers.
On a couple of occasions recently I have realized that I find it hard
to judge my size relative to other people's unless numbers (height and
weight) are involved (e.g., the support group last week), but I am also
realizing that there is such an odd mixture of things happening:
distortion or "tunnel vision" (sometimes I look at myself and see the
thinner me, but sometimes all I can see is the fat that still remains;
sometimes I think I won't fit into a seat or something and there is
plenty of room and other times I fit more snugly than I expected to
given how much I have lost), lack of a sense of body size relative to
other people, and in some ways this does not really feel like MY body
(the weight is distributed differently than when I was around this size
before... and there's the disgusting panni and unsightly bat wings).
I'm not even sure what I'm trying to say. It's all sort of confusing
and just a little disconcerting. I know we've talked before about
seeing only the remaining fat no matter how much we've lost, but ahs
anyone experiened any of the rest of this?
Lora
(-111 pounds, 6 months post-op)

I had an experience last night, which follows on things I had already
been pondering. I did a presentation on the state licensing exams for
a class at the university where I got my master's degree in counseling
last night. On my way in to the building I ran into one of my old
professors that I have not seen in almost 2 years. She was clearly
surprised to see me, but I don't know how much of that was just my
presence there and how much was my weight loss, which she didn't
mention (SURELY she noticed...?!?!?). Anyway, I only talked to her
very briefly but then saw her again later as she was running around
gettign ready for class. She had lost some weight right before I last
saw her. Now, either she has gained back that weight (and maybe some
additional weight), or I just don't remember HER size accurately, or my
brain is confused by my size relative to hers.
On a couple of occasions recently I have realized that I find it hard
to judge my size relative to other people's unless numbers (height and
weight) are involved (e.g., the support group last week), but I am also
realizing that there is such an odd mixture of things happening:
distortion or "tunnel vision" (sometimes I look at myself and see the
thinner me, but sometimes all I can see is the fat that still remains;
sometimes I think I won't fit into a seat or something and there is
plenty of room and other times I fit more snugly than I expected to
given how much I have lost), lack of a sense of body size relative to
other people, and in some ways this does not really feel like MY body
(the weight is distributed differently than when I was around this size
before... and there's the disgusting panni and unsightly bat wings).
I'm not even sure what I'm trying to say. It's all sort of confusing
and just a little disconcerting. I know we've talked before about
seeing only the remaining fat no matter how much we've lost, but ahs
anyone experiened any of the rest of this?
Lora
(-111 pounds, 6 months post-op)

It all depends on the overall condition of the person. I am sure there are many
elderly people who may be too weak to breathe deeply, but there are also many
elderly people who do just fine. It's not the age, it's the individual.
Your diaphragm is the muscle that you need to breathe deeply. For most
people, all they need to do to breathe deeply enough is just to be conscious of
their breathing.
Pat
lizanneflowers <lizanneflowers@...
Pat,
The reason I thought that was that I have an older friend who works
in an old folks home. They do sitercises (exercises while sitting).
She tries to get them to breath deeply and since most of them can't,
she has them yell to develop their ability.
I also read that a lot of older people die from pneumonia because
their chest muscles aren't strong enough to cough hard. I have no
idea about the arterial blood oxygen levels, I am just basing my
thought on these facts.
I am sure you have MUCH more info than I ever will. So...I don't
need to develop my chest muscles and improve my deep breathing? I am
doing this all in vain?
Lizanne

Pat,
The reason I thought that was that I have an older friend who works
in an old folks home. They do sitercises (exercises while sitting).
She tries to get them to breath deeply and since most of them can't,
she has them yell to develop their ability.
I also read that a lot of older people die from pneumonia because
their chest muscles aren't strong enough to cough hard. I have no
idea about the arterial blood oxygen levels, I am just basing my
thought on these facts.
I am sure you have MUCH more info than I ever will. So...I don't
need to develop my chest muscles and improve my deep breathing? I am
doing this all in vain?
Lizanne

Maria, tomorrow's the day!!! you ready?? did you get my email giving you my cell
number! I am soooooooo excited for ya. My moms b/d tomorrow and now it's your
re-birthday! I know there is a 3 hour time difference, not a problem have the
person call my cell or text me whichever. I just want to know how you made it
through surgery so I can share with the group. we're all gonna be waiting to
hear!

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13
Judy -- My Day July 23, 2008 -- 27 DAYS TO GO
262/234
HW/CW
MY WLS BLOG: http://judywlsjourney.blogspot.com/
JUDY'S JOURNEY
http://www.myspace.com/nynativecagirl

I have never heard that. When I was working as a respiratory therapist I
checked thousands and thousands of oxygen saturations and arterial blood gases,
and many elderly people had higher levels than I did! It all depends on your
overall condition. You can train yourself to breathe correctly, and it becomes
second nature.
Pat
lizanneflowers <lizanneflowers@...
Pat,
As we age I have heard that deep breaths are harder to take. When I
walk the treadmill I concentrate on breathing deeply. With each 4
steps I breath in through my nose, and then with the next 4 steps I
breath out through my mouth. The treadmill is so boring that having
anything else to do really helps take my mind off the monotony. So,
it's almost a meditation, a healthly workout for my lungs and for my
body.
Lizanne

Pat,
As we age I have heard that deep breaths are harder to take. When I
walk the treadmill I concentrate on breathing deeply. With each 4
steps I breath in through my nose, and then with the next 4 steps I
breath out through my mouth. The treadmill is so boring that having
anything else to do really helps take my mind off the monotony. So,
it's almost a meditation, a healthly workout for my lungs and for my
body.
Lizanne

Amy,
It sounds like you are ready. Keep busy tomorrow so you are not so nervous and
enjoy the visit with your mom.
Debby
--- On Sun, 7/6/08, the_sander_family <the_sander_family@...
From: the_sander_family <the_sander_family@...
Subject: [WLS Friendship & Support] 36 Hours!!!!

I can't believe it, my life is going to change so soon!!!!!!! Been
extremely busy this weekend. My Mom flew in yesterday morning and we
had my "final" meal which consisted of sushi ~ funny, it was good but
it just didn't have the hold on me as it once did ~ I think my body
is ready for this, I've committed myself to this change, everytime I
try and take a step back away from my diet my body steps in and says,
no thanks.
We bought a Cuisinart ice cream maker this weekend so I can start
making EggFace's SF ice creams but the days of eating them are in my
future.
I start my liquid diet tomorrow and also the meds prescribed by Dr.
Sudan. Also I have to drink the GoLytely (uggg!) A friend of mine
was over tonight (she recently underwent a colonoscopy) and mentioned
how awful the stuff was. I am planning to stay at the house all day
long.
Hubby and I went out to see "Get Smart" tonight, what a GREAT movie
and really made me laugh, sure needed it. I am starting to become a
little more nervous but I know I am in good hands.
Also, we went shopping today at Kohl's and I bought myself a Vera
Wang sweater for the fall (size Large) and also a pair of size 16
Vera Wang jeans ~ I really lucked out because both items were only
$4.00 a PIECE!!! They will be tucked away until I can fit into them,
a good daily motivation.
Well, need to catch up online, talk to everyone soon!
Amy
Pre-Op 255 36 Hours and counting to RNY.......

Limit Beloved Treats
"I don't believe in deprivation. But I never keep goodies in the
house because, when it comes to candy and cookies, I have a hard time
eating just one. Instead, I go out and buy a single serving of my
favorite treat once in a while. I love really good chocolate. I'd
rather have a small portion of the really good stuff than waste
calories on things I'm not crazy about."
Juliana Maggio, registered dietitian, The Miami Institute for Age
Management & Intervention
Move Those Buns
"The squat works more muscles and bones than any other single move.
Stand in front of a chair with your hands crossed over your chest and
feet 16 inches apart. Keep your head up, back straight, and slowly
lower your body (breathing in) until your butt touches the chair.
Don't rest, and come back up (breathing out). Try doing 10 at first,
working up to three sets of 10 to 15 reps."
Brian Killion, fitness trainer and owner of Killion Fitness in
Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.
Listen Up
"It's been proven that people who listen to music while exercising
lose twice as much weight as those who don't. It keeps you moving and
staves off boredom. I'm also a big believer in visualization: Put
pictures up everywhere of how you want to look. Have quotes around
the house that you can repeat when you feel weak. Then strap on the
headphones and get going!"
Lacey Stone, Equinox trainer and founder of Lacey Stone Fitness in
New York City
Sneak in Some Ab Work
"You can sneak in some really effective ab exercises almost anywhere
and no one even needs to know. Whenever you're sitting in your car,
at your computer, even at the movies or on an airplane, try the
following: Draw your navel in toward your spine without rounding your
lower back. Open your chest and draw your shoulder blades back and
down. Relax your neck and sit up as straight as you can. This will
make you look taller and take loads of pressure off your spine."
Sharon Carlstrom, fitness director at the Atlantic Club in Red Bank,
N.J.
diet tips
by Judy posted:02/26/2008 01:57:PM
Having lost 150 pounds and being able to keep it off for 3 years I
have learned a few tips/tricks...my favorite is chewing gum while
preparing a meal AND when putting away any leftovers...it works!!

Like a scene out of Star Trek, someday our doctors may simply wave a
handheld device over our bodies and instantly diagnose any malady. In
the meantime, however, it's important to keep abreast of the latest
tests that can help us stay healthy - especially those that uncover
risks before symptoms actually occur.
The following five tests are not yet considered as routine as
cholesterol or blood-sugar tests, but chances are your doctor already
is familiar with them. Not every test is necessary at every visit,
and your insurance company may not pay unless it considers a
particular test "medically necessary." Still, ask about them. Here's
why they may be important to you.
CRP, or C-reactive Protein
This is a simple blood test that measures the amount of inflammation
in your body. In many ways, CRP is the best "crystal ball" of health
ever devised in a single blood test. Elevated CRP levels have been
shown to precede and predict heart attack, stroke, colon cancer,
diabetes, high blood pressure, Alzheimer's disease, aneurysms, sudden
cardiac death, abnormal heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation and
even macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.
CRP is a protein made by our immune system that fuels the fire of
inflammation in our bodies. The higher your CRP level, the more at
risk you are to develop problems. Optimal levels - less than 0.7
milligrams per liter - predict good health.
It's important to understand that CRP doesn't diagnose any particular
conditions - it's not specific. It just identifies whether you're at
risk for illness. It's best to check your CRP during your routine
annual physical, when you feel fine. If you're sick with something,
your CRP probably will be elevated.
The good news is that CRP levels can be lowered by exercise, modest
weight loss, taking a multivitamin, eating a diet rich in fruits and
vegetables, and certain medications such as aspirin and statins
(cholesterol-lowering drugs).
Vitamin D Level
Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones because it's needed for
calcium absorption. But new research also is identifying an important
role for vitamin D in the immune system and in the prevention of
cancer, including breast and prostate.
Studies show that more than half of American women don't get enough
vitamin D. It's known as the "sunshine vitamin," because your skin
makes it when you're out in the sun. That's why people who lack daily
sun exposure or who use sunblock when outdoors may be deficient in
the vitamin. It's almost impossible to get adequate amounts from
foods, despite fortification of dairy and some soy foods. All
multivitamins contain vitamin D, but for most people even that is not
sufficient. You may need to take a vitamin D supplement. Most people
should get between 1000 and 1500 IU of vitamin D3 daily. (D3 is the
natural form of vitamin D. It's more easily absorbed and stays in the
body longer.) The best way to know if you're getting enough vitamin D
is to get a blood test.
H. pylori Test
About 20% of Americans may unknowingly be infected with the bacteria
responsible for stomach cancer, heartburn, ulcers and even eye
disorders. The discovery of H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) infection
as the primary cause of stomach ulcers worldwide earned Australian
researchers Robin Warren and Barry Marshall the Nobel Prize in
medicine for 2005. The bacteria also have been found to cause stomach
cancer.
H. pylori is a chronic, potentially lifelong infection of the
stomach. It can cause stomach pain, heartburn or indigestion, but
it's often silent, causing no symptoms. Infection typically occurs
when a person eats contaminated food and ingests the bacteria. The
infection can be cured with a combination of antibiotics and
antacids.
A blood-antibody test can show if you've ever been infected, and a
stool test or breath test can identify if you currently have an
active infection. Fortunately, successful treatment of H. pylori
eliminates the increased risk of stomach cancer, ulcers and related
disorders.
Aspirin Check
Aspirin has been shown to be a powerful preventive measure for people
at risk for heart attack and stroke as well as for colon cancer, and
it's estimated that as many as 50 million Americans take aspirin
daily to prevent a heart attack. What's not clear is the optimal dose
of aspirin for prevention. Most people are taking a baby aspirin (81
milligrams), but research has shown that 10% to 20% of people are
resistant to aspirin and require higher dosages in order to benefit
from its protective effects.
An aspirin check is a test that determines the effectiveness of the
daily aspirin for an individual. This is important for people who are
taking aspirin therapeutically for cardiovascular disease as well as
those at increased risk for heart disease who are taking aspirin for
prevention. The test can be ordered by your doctor but also is
available directly from an online lab.
Insulin Level
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by an excess of insulin production
in response to eating. The glucose tolerance test has long been the
standard way to identify someone with diabetes. Until recently,
glucose tolerance tests measured only blood sugar, or glucose levels,
which are raised when a person has diabetes. But measuring your
body's insulin-production levels improves the test by being able to
identify your risk of diabetes long before symptoms emerge.
Typically, to do the test, your blood is drawn twice - first after
fasting, then again two hours later after a glucose drink. Your
insulin levels are recorded. If the results indicate that you're at a
higher risk for diabetes, the good news is that you also have time to
take action. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented by adopting a lifestyle
that includes daily exercise, weight control and a low-glycemic diet
that reduces the intake of sugar, refined grains and starches.

Hey Joanne!
Welcome back!!! How's your computer? How are you doing?
Dawn in PA
Lap RNY 06/27/07
305/278/177/140
HW/SW/CW/GW

Lora, I go to Trader Joes a lot. I will check and see if they have them and get
back to you.
Lisa A
Lora <cicerogirl@...
The Trader Joes near me has stopped carrying the organic fruit
leathers in the apple varieties (appple strawberry, apple/reaspberry,
etc. -- the only ones I liked!). Just wondering if anyone else shops
there and has seen any that they might be willing to pick up for me
(I'll send money for both the items and shipping, of course!)
Lora
Lisa A
284/271/168/135

This actually is 906 calories. The nuts alone are 165 calories. I
really do need to stop eating them! *L*
Dawn in PA
Lap RNY 06/27/07
305/278/177/140
HW/SW/CW/GW

Hi Jo,
I agree about the fluids and yes, you need to stop the soda's even being
diet soda. You are not suppose to have the carbonation from the soda, it
swells your pouch and will hurt. Some do start drinking it again after a
year or so.. some sooner, but I am afraid to even try. I do not want my
pouch to hurt.
--
Mary in FL
LAP RNY 1/26/2007
317/296/167/140
BS/ SW/CW/GW

The Trader Joes near me has stopped carrying the organic fruit
leathers in the apple varieties (appple strawberry, apple/reaspberry,
etc. -- the only ones I liked!). Just wondering if anyone else shops
there and has seen any that they might be willing to pick up for me
(I'll send money for both the items and shipping, of course!)
Lora

Lizanne, take a deep breath, sweetie... I understand the fear and the
frustration, but you are NOT done losing. Neither is Dawn (and
neither am I, lol). I think maybe you're letting a normal stall get
to you more than it would otherwise (heaven knows they are frustrating
enough, especially when you're being "good") because you are feeling
pressured to lose as much weight as possible before your hernia
surgery. I know that I am certainly feeling additional pressure (and I
don't even have a hernia surgery date yet). Please remember that this
is not "just another diet". You are doinbg what you need to do and
the weight will come off. Even on OH, the people who are getting
"revisions" are primarily people who want to go from lap band to some
type of bypass or people who REGAINED weight after initially LOSING IT
following RNY. *Very* few people will out and out claim that they
followed the RNY rules and still did not lose the weight (and I would
bet that, for the most part, most of the few who DO make such a claim
are not being truthful (with themselves OR with others)).
You are not done. You will not be "obese" for the rest of your life.
I just KNOW that you will continue to persevere and the pounds will
start to drop off again soon. Heck, the next thing you know, we will
be having to listen to how you need a SECOND tummy tuck because you
lost so much weight after the first one, LOL! ;) Just teasing you,
of course!
Hang in there.
Lora

in perfect shape, I do not like it, just not enough support I feel like
I'm gonna fall off. it is at my work in Sacramento off northgate.

Judy,
Some people add normal food flavorings such as vanilla, peppermint,
rum...etc. Use your imagination. Plus, what you think is great
before surgery may not be yummy at all after surgery, so don't stock
up.
I don't drink them at all. I just couldn't stand the smell in the
beginning, I couldn't stand the smell of most things right after
surgery. I do use South Beach bars at 140 cals and 10 gr protein
though. I eat enough calories that I get about 100 gr of protein a
day now.
Lizanne 251/145/125

Jo,
All fluids count but get rid of the soda. You can't have it after surgery.:(
that was the hardest adjustment I've had. I really miss it.)
Debby
Gastric Gal <gastricgal@...
64 oz of water? or all to gether of your fluids for that day?
example...7 oz water in protein shake...24 oz diet pop...32 oz water.....7 oz
water in protein shake
~sending well wishes to all!!~
Jo in MN

Lora,
I wanted to comment about the surgery first. There is a fairly new
procedure for people who fail. They go through the mouth and staple
the pouch even smaller. That works sometimes on people who just
overeat (like who doesn't, I mean we all did at one time or other or
we wouldn't have gone through this surgery). I wonder if that really
works.
Second...whose fault? The surgery is supposed to be a tool for us to
use. What if the tool isn't all that perfect? In my case I have
never felt full nor have I dumped since the first couple of weeks
after surgery. I am assuming that the malabsorption part is working,
but how would I know for sure. I don't plan to fail, although right
now I am in a funk about the weight I am GAINING!!!. Whose fault
would that be if I am following all the rules but I am gaining? I
don't think I could be to blame.
But, I do believe that the reason that this surgery fails is due to
patient error. We still have to control ourselves. This is nothing
different than all the other "diets" except that our pouch should
give us warning of inpending doom. Your question is difficult to
answer.
Lizanne

I had a CT on my throat, the CD show's my head and neck, you should see teet
appear and dissapear, we got a good laugh out of that :o)
Edie

Debby said it, I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Hopefully this is an
adjustment and you'll be loosing again soon.
Good luck,
Edie

Lizanne and Dawn,
I am so sorry that you are having such a frustrating time. I too would/will
be frustrated if that happens to me. I don't have anything to suggest since you
both seem to be doing everything you should. I can only hope your body adjusts
and begins to lose again. We will all be doing the happy dance with you when you
post new numbers.
Debby
lizanneflowers <lizanneflowers@...
Dawn,
You must be so frustrated. I definately feel your pain. But we are
not healthy. We are healthier, but still overweight/obese.
I think mine has stopped for good also. I have upped the exercise
and followed all the other rules, except I can't get in all the
fluid. I am gaining. I am scared to death that this is all there
is. I think, "so I went through all that hassle from that stupid
open surgery, and I am only going to lose 75 lbs?!?" Yes, 75 lbs is
a lot of weight, but I am still obese. And the plastic surgery for
the alien will reduce my weight so maybe I will be on the borderline
between obese and overweight. But that's not what I want. I don't
want to be overweight and if I were cheating, I could understand not
losing. But I am behaving. And I am exercising everyday except
Monday, when I let my body rest and take care of other things that
need to be addressed. What can I do? I am not going back to eating
fruit popsicles only. I hate protein shakes. I am truly frustrated
and scared that this is all there is. Great!!! Now I am still
overweight, but less obese. Who cares!!! That was not my goal!!!
Sorry...I just had to rant for a moment. Life is certainly NOT fair.
Lizanne

Sharon,
I get this news letter also. To me, most of it seems like BS. She
wants to promote her CDs and classes, but some of her stuff is way
off base as far as medical facts is concerned. I wouldn't stake my
medical knowledge on something that was written on her site. JMO.
Lizanne

Dawn,
You must be so frustrated. I definately feel your pain. But we are
not healthy. We are healthier, but still overweight/obese.
I think mine has stopped for good also. I have upped the exercise
and followed all the other rules, except I can't get in all the
fluid. I am gaining. I am scared to death that this is all there
is. I think, "so I went through all that hassle from that stupid
open surgery, and I am only going to lose 75 lbs?!?" Yes, 75 lbs is
a lot of weight, but I am still obese. And the plastic surgery for
the alien will reduce my weight so maybe I will be on the borderline
between obese and overweight. But that's not what I want. I don't
want to be overweight and if I were cheating, I could understand not
losing. But I am behaving. And I am exercising everyday except
Monday, when I let my body rest and take care of other things that
need to be addressed. What can I do? I am not going back to eating
fruit popsicles only. I hate protein shakes. I am truly frustrated
and scared that this is all there is. Great!!! Now I am still
overweight, but less obese. Who cares!!! That was not my goal!!!
Sorry...I just had to rant for a moment. Life is certainly NOT fair.
Lizanne

Dawn,
That does not sound like too much. It doesn't sound like 800-900 calories.
What did it add up to? Just curious. I think I eat more than that.
Debby
Dawn <scottndawn@...
I thought so too, so I did start journaling. I'm coming out exactly
where I thought I was - between 800-900 calories a day. The only
thing is the nuts... that's my downfall. I like to eat nuts, so I'm
cutting those out now too. Bummer! But I have to see what it is
that is making me halt so badly.
We just went food shopping this afternoon, and I decided to turn in
my normal protein breakfast bar (South Beach Meal Replacement) for
some Weight Control Oatmeal. It's lower in calories, so we'll see if
that helps any. The protein bar certainly had more protein in it,
but it packed 220 calories for breakfast. That's a lot, but I was
willing to take it because it carried 18 grams of protein. I'm going
to try this and see what happens.
Here's my meal today:
Breakfast:
Pure Protein shake (1/2 of it since my son took the can on me and
drank the rest of it)
2 slices cheese
Lunch:
1 slice pumperknickel bread with 2 tbs skim ricotta cheese and a
sprinkle of cinnamon
Dinner:
1 cup homemade soup (chicken broth, chicken, cooked broccoli,
carrots, peas, beans, celery, onions, garlic)
super small salad (4 pieces of lettuce, 6 squares of cheese, balsamic
salad dressing)
Snacks:
1 handful peanuts
Exercise:
3 miles - Walk Away the Pounds video
Walked around Walmart for about 2.5 hours
Fluids:
40 oz decaf coffee (first thing this morning)
1/2 cup 1% milk
10 oz decaf tea
40 oz straight water
Does this sound like too much?
Dawn in PA
Lap RNY 06/27/07
305/278/177/140
HW/SW/CW/GW

64 oz of water? or all to gether of your fluids for that day?
example...7 oz water in protein shake...24 oz diet pop...32 oz water.....7 oz
water in protein shake
~sending well wishes to all!!~
Jo in MN

Thanks lizanne so much info given in all these months and now that its my turn I
drew a blank.
27 DAYS TO GO!!
"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13
Judy -- SURGERY DAY July 23, 2008- 3 1/2 weeks to go :)
262/234
HW/CW
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/nynativecagirl/
http://www.myspace.com/nynativecagirl

We've had over 50 inches of snow this winter. I am so ready for Spring. NW
Indiana gets more snow than we do because of Lake Michigan.
Pauleen
Lora <cicerogirl@...
I'm in SW Ohio, between Dayton and Cincinnati (closer to Dayton). I
bet you guys get LOTS of snow!

Jenn,
I can use any prayers that you are willing to say. I am still
feeling a little yukky. I am not sure if I am nauseated from the
lyme disease or the antibiotic, but everytime I eat I feel sick.
Similar to what happened right after GBS. And I am tired a lot.
I went to my surgeon today. She removed the 9 stitches that hold my
belly button together. That bled like crazy. Finally she put a
tablespoon of something that looks like petroleum jelly in there and
covered it with a bandage.
I asked her about only having 10 days of antibiotics, yet everything
I read says it takes 3 weeks to cure lyme disease. She said to call
my PCP and get more, I definately needed the 3 weeks worth. That's
on my agenda for tomorrow.
I'm not exercising, so I have been worried I would gain weight, or at
least not lose weight. I forgot about being sick when I eat and that
must have helped, because I am still losing. Only 20 lbs to goal.
YIPPEE. I will be happy if I make goal and can fit in a size 10.
What could be more wonderful except for how healthy I am getting. It
is just so exciting to see my goal just down the road. It almost
brings tears of joy.
Lizanne
Open RNY 8/17/07
TT 6/2/08
251/145/125

Welcome to the board. I was told about a pay monthly support group.
something like 50 per month. I do not go. I am a firm believer in support,
but between my vitamins, aqua therapy, etc there is just no money left, so this
is my support group. I probably spend more time on here reading and writing
then I should, but it really helps. Naomi
itsup2mekt <itsup2mekt@...
Welcome new member! We are so glad you are here. So we can get to
know you better please copy the information below and paste it into a
new message board post. Then simply answer the questions and post!
Again, welcome! We're glad you're here, and look forward to getting
to know you better!
1. Name: Dori Weber
2. City and State: Elk Grove CA
3. E-mail Address: Dwebers@...
4. Are you: Considering Surgery, Pre-Op or Post-Op: Lap band pre op
5. Date of WLS: March 17th 2008
6. Surgeon's Name and Location: DR. Laura Machado
7. Type of Surgery: Lap Band
8. Highest Pre-Surgery Weight: 270
9. Insurance or Self-Pay: insurance
10. What is the name of the insurance company that covered your WLS
(if applicable): ppo
11. How did you hear about this group?: Katy Weber itsup2mekt -
(sister-in-law)
12. Birthdate: 7/22/63
13. Occupation: stay at home mom
14. Married or Single (if married what is your spouse's name?):
married
15. Do you have children? If so, what are their names? Dakota 16 and
Dalton 14
16. Hobbies: Shopping
17. Anything else you would like to share with other members: after
being ok'ed for surgery, my doctors office is now telling me that I
have to pay almost $3,000. for a support group, this was a big
surprise because when I asked them before
they said that there would be no cost to me and they will only do the
operation if I pay the 3 grand for their group! Anyone have this
happen to you?

Hey everyone,
Sorry I have not been on in a while. We went on vacation and then
got back and have been busy. We are going to be moving before the end
of the year so we have been looking at houses like crazy. :) Very
happy about getting to move into a new house with David. We were
having problems but a little time with each other away from our every
day life helped our talk and worked things out. So I Talked to Nancy
at Kaiser and she had to send me another test in the mail. I some how
lost the one I got before. She said once I fill that out and send it
then she will put me on the list :) surgery goal weight is 279 and im
at 282 :) I'm sending that into her tomorrow so I should get a call
from her buy next week. Hope everyone had a great 4th.
Melisa

$3000 for a "support group"?!?!? That is outrageous! (Isn't that
about 1/3 of the cost of the surgery itself?) I have heard of
similar things that some surgeons are doing, but all of those have
been things that were a few hundred dollars not THOUSANDS of
dollars! My personla opinion is that there is a special place in
hell for people who try to take advantage of people who are desperate
to lose large amounts of weight... it's not quite as hot there as the
spots for child molesters and people who torture helpless animals,
but almost... {grrr...}
All of the surgeons here in my town offer their support groups free
of charge for however long you want/need to attend (and they are only
suggested, not mandatory).
I know your surgery date is getting close, but is there any way you
can contact a different surgeon?
Oh, yes, and welcome to the group!
Lora
(-111 pounds, 6 months post-op)

This really has nothing to do with anything, but it was kind of cool...
when I was looking at the CD they gave mne of the CT scan images
(trying to see for myself if I could locate any kidney stones), I
noticed that my alien is QUITE visible when you scroll down through the
images... you can just watch the abdominal wall thin significantly and
push outward (even though I was lying down for the exam).
I should have been a doctor... or maybe just a radiologist. I find
this stuff fascinating.
Lora

New Member Questionnaire
Welcome new member! We are so glad you are here. So we can get to
know you better please copy the information below and paste it into a
new message board post. Then simply answer the questions and post!
Again, welcome! We're glad you're here, and look forward to getting
to know you better!
1. Name: Dori Weber
2. City and State: Elk Grove CA
3. E-mail Address: Dwebers@...
4. Are you: Considering Surgery, Pre-Op or Post-Op: Lap band pre op
5. Date of WLS: March 17th 2008
6. Surgeon's Name and Location: DR. Laura Machado
7. Type of Surgery: Lap Band
8. Highest Pre-Surgery Weight: 270
9. Insurance or Self-Pay: insurance
10. What is the name of the insurance company that covered your WLS
(if applicable): ppo
11. How did you hear about this group?: Katy Weber itsup2mekt -
(sister-in-law)
12. Birthdate: 7/22/63
13. Occupation: stay at home mom
14. Married or Single (if married what is your spouse's name?):
married
15. Do you have children? If so, what are their names? Dakota 16 and
Dalton 14
16. Hobbies: Shopping
17. Anything else you would like to share with other members: after
being ok'ed for surgery, my doctors office is now telling me that I
have to pay almost $3,000. for a support group, this was a big
surprise because when I asked them before
they said that there would be no cost to me and they will only do the
operation if I pay the 3 grand for their group! Anyone have this
happen to you?

Thanks, Lizanne. Yes, there were time I never thought it would come
off. Heck, there are still times when I doubt that the rest of it
will come off (I still have 75-80 pounds to lose). But I will keep
doing what I'm supposed to be doing... Like you, I'm trying to drop
some weight a bit more quickly so I don't have to put up with this
alien (and my disgusting apron) any longer than absoultely necessary.
Lora

Mary, I had a bout with vertigo a couple of years ago -- Benign
Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), although by teh time I went to
the doctor I had it almost no matter WHAT position I was in. My PCP
did some weird things with my head while I was in his office (just
rolling it, etc.), had me sleep semi-upright in my recliner for a few
nights, and gave me some meds to take for it so I could function.
Within a couple of weeks it had vanished, never to return.
Please don't let it get so bad that you lose your balance and fall!
Lora

Lora,
Mine is coloring fine and I have been doing it all along even with
some hair loss. Perms can really bleach out your color though that
is why most people perm first then wait a week or two and then
color. My mom was a hairdresser so I know a thing or two about color
and I use the professional colors that my mom gets from the beauty
supply so mine may last a little longer than the regular box colors
like clairol and loreal but I have seen no difference.
Lisa L.
Lap RNY 9/12/07
246/158/140

Naomi,
I agree with you.
Lora...you have done such a great job losing weight. There were some
weeks that I am sure you felt the weight would never go away. That's
how I feel. I feel that I have finished losing my weight, and unless
there is PS involved, I am at the weight I will maintain. Except
that's not even true as all I have been doing is gaining. THEY
say...that muscle increases your metabolism. I have a lot more
muscle than I did when I started this battle, and back before the
surgery if I ate around 1000 cals. I would lose weight. Now that I
have had the surgery, it appears that 1000 cals may be too much. Oh,
nevermind.
I was trying to congratulate you Lora. You should be soooo proud of
yourself after all you have been through emotionally and physically.
Lizanne

Sorry Lizanne,
I just can not bring myself to eat a pickle sickle! I will stick w/ the SF
yummy ones!
Lisa A
lizanneflowers <lizanneflowers@...
Eat Rite = Eat WRONG?!
Just a friendly neighborhood HG warning -- if you happen to stumble
upon pizzas or other frozen foods made by a brand called Eat Rite, be
afraid. Be VERY afraid. We've heard LOTS of buzz from subscribers who
are extremely skeptical of the accuracy of their nutrition labels.
Some have even had said foods TESTED only to find that their
nutritional content was shockingly higher than the labels state (we
have even SEEN these results, and although we cannot verify for sure
that the info provided in these lab results is true, we personally
believe it is). Consider yourself warned. We were lured in by the
personal pizzas years ago but ditched them when we finally admitted
to ourselves that the buttery-tasting crust and puddles of oil that
formed on top of 'em meant they probably had more than the 210 - 245
calories and 3 - 5g fat printed on the labels. In the meantime, drown
your sorrows in this very entertaining video about those same sorry
pizzas, brought to us by our good pals over at WhateverHollywood.com.
If anyone can help us feel better about sad news in the world of
guilt-free foods, it's these girls. And while you're there, don't
just watch their "Love at First Bite" pizza video -- watch ALL of
their videos. DO IT!!! These girls ROCK
Our Newest Obsession
Things You Need to Know About...
Text Message for Restaurant Calories... Yay!!! - Do you dream about
walking into a restaurant and having all the nutritional info (and
POINTS® values!) right at your fingertips?! Well pinch yourselves,
people, because that dream is now a reality. There's a database of
about a bazillion jillion chain restaurant foods and their calories,
fat, carbs, protein, AND POINTS® values -- and you can access the
nutritionals simply by texting the restaurant name and menu item to
DIET1 (34381). For POINTS® values, just add the word "points" (or
even just "pt") to the beginning. Within seconds you'll get the
answer sent to your phone! Go on. Try it. We've tried it out, and so
far the info seems fairly accurate... have fun and le t us know what
you think!
Electric Bras?! YUP! - These heart-rate-monitoring sports bras give
new meaning to the words "wireless bra". The bra sends info to a
watch you wear on your wrist (good thing... 'cuz lifting your shirt
to see if you're at your target heart rate would be a little
embarrassing!). Some of the fancier watches even track calories
burned and more. Check 'em out. They're fun and functional!
The Buzz...
Here's a weird one for you. We've learned that frozen pickle
popsicles -- or "Pickle Sickles" -- are taking the world by storm!
These chilly treats are made from real pickles and pickle juice, and
they're being picked up by schools and moms everywhere as a healthier
alternative to sugary popsicles. Freaky -- but we have to admit,
we're actually looking forward to tasting them!
***Paying more attention to food labels these days? You'll be happy
to know that ConAgra (one of the largest food companies in the world)
is launching its own nutrition guide featuring the USDA MyPyramid,
plus easy-to-read info making it much simpler to understand. Keep an
eye out for these specially labeled packages starting in May.
***Tomorrow's the BIG day, peeps! The latest (and greatest!) HG-
developed VitaTop is making its debut! DO NOT MISS THIS LAUNCH... and
our free-shipping special -- yay!!!
***Everyone knows that exercise is good for you. But here's a little
motivational info in case you're a couch potato who's convinced
you're a lost cause. Studies show that even if you start exercising
later in life, you can still reap HUGE health benefits from it. But
the earlier you get movin', the better! So consider this the kick in
the pants you need to start working out. Oh come on, just do it!
Lisa A
284/271/168/135

Mary,
That sounds terrible. Why can't you go to the Dr? I think that you really
need to be checked for anemia and B12. I know that lately I have been getting
massive headaches and I am pretty sure it is because I have not been as deligent
in my eating routine so I may be starving myself. As GBS patients, we really
have to make sure that we watch out bodies for any new or odd signs and then
jump all over them before we get really sick. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go to the
dr. and get checked. (ps, dont drive)
Lisa A
"Mary B." <hunnybear713@...
Hi all,
Over the last couple of days I have been feeling very strange... Vertigo is
what they called it on webmd.com. From what I am reading, it can be caused
by Anemia and low B-12. I know my shot is running out and I need to buy the
sublinguals but didn't think this would ever happen. Any other time, I
would just get really tired when it went low. Since I am not able to go to
a doctor yet, I have to read on the symptoms and go from there but it is
really a strange sensation. I feel like I am drunk and the room is
spinning. It takes a minute or so to get things back to normal and if I move
too fast, it lets me know. Makes me quezy at times too...
Nurses out there... any other idea what could be causing it? I do not have
to be standing either. It happens turning over in bed too. --
Mary in FL
LAP RNY 1/26/2007
317/296/167/140
BS/ SW/CW/GW

Lisa A
284/271/168/135

Hi all,
Over the last couple of days I have been feeling very strange... Vertigo is
what they called it on webmd.com. From what I am reading, it can be caused
by Anemia and low B-12. I know my shot is running out and I need to buy the
sublinguals but didn't think this would ever happen. Any other time, I
would just get really tired when it went low. Since I am not able to go to
a doctor yet, I have to read on the symptoms and go from there but it is
really a strange sensation. I feel like I am drunk and the room is
spinning. It takes a minute or so to get things back to normal and if I move
too fast, it lets me know. Makes me quezy at times too...
Nurses out there... any other idea what could be causing it? I do not have
to be standing either. It happens turning over in bed too. --
Mary in FL
LAP RNY 1/26/2007
317/296/167/140
BS/ SW/CW/GW

I'll be sure to let you know, Lora. I have NO intention of letting my roots go,
or going gray. I just did my hair this morning... but I think it's too early
for hair changes for me.
Pat
Lora <cicerogirl@...
After much hand-wringing about whether it was "safe" or not, I had my
hair permed 2 weeks ago. I have very fine, baby-soft (translate
to "stick straight") hair wi