Hello All,

This might be pre-mature, but what can I say-Im a planner!  How far in advance do you need to buy tickets to attend the conference? 

Also...who is planning on attending the Houston conference???

I am really excited about going, any information you can give me would be appreciated!


See you there!

Nicole

Whoopie for you! Congrats on your success! You are well on your way to a happier and healthier life.
Take care and keep enjoying life!

Dear friend of Michelle's,

I'm so glad you agreed to let Michelle send your note.  We all have our frailties whether we admit to them or not.  I'm so sorry to hear about the isolation and lonliness you've experienced.  From what you've written, I'd say those people have missed out on a good friend.

 I've had major depressions several times in my life and spend the rest of my life fending them off and I hate the fact that some people still have "issues" with mental illness.  They are the same as physical illnesses.  I'm glad you have ECT as an effective therapy - that's a great blessing.

We're all here for you on your weight loss journey and  as a sounding board for other issues in life as well if you need that.  I've found this to be a very supportive group and am thankful to have it as a place to come on a daily basis.  Please add me as a friend if you want to - I'd be glad if you did.

Please take good care of you.

Hugs,

MJ

I see those as well. Thanks for responding. I see your post and you offer some good advice. Sounds like you really know your stuff. I'm about ready to change my mind after looking at some of those photos.

WOW!! I needed the wake up call! Thanks! Need to get back on track and stay on track - I started the low carb diet a week early because i didn't want to be screwing up the 2 weeks that I needed to be on it... but boy it's just like all the dieting I've ever done - i stick to it for a good week or so and then loose focus. No more of that - all the crap is in the garbage and to the store tomorrow to buy the cheese and the snacks that I need!! This is the rest of my life and I'm going to control it!!

Thanks for not sugar coating it!!

Mine shows Chike, "My Dinner Diet Dinnerware", Isopure, and a one incision lap band surgeon.

I didn't realize we get different ads.  Weird.

OH! My bad. There is a banner right under "chat" that keeps changing from ad to ad. Right now I am looking at one for Chike.

No, you don't understand.  I don't know which ad you refer to.  Once I find the ad I can find the photos with no problem.  That ad isn't showing up for me at all.

Ah yes, the people that love us; that is all that matters isn't it!

Hi Barbie,
My sugery is two days after yours and I am on the same diet. It is hard but everytime I go to reach for something I should not I just keep picturing where I want to be. I figure if I can't make it through this then liquids are gonna kill me.  I just take it one day at a time and KNOW that I CAN do this! So can YOU!

I am glad for you. You look like you have youth on your side. Keep up the good work.

That is what hospitals charge, doesn't mean that is what ins pays.

I don't know the going rate in the US, my doc charges $8750 for surgery and 3 nights in the hospital.

I take the cherry lozenges andthey are 400mg each.  They are delicious and I take 5 per day.

I remember looking at pics like that shortly after I had surgery, and it horrified me.  Thankfully after an almost 80 lost, I don't have very much sagging.  Hopefully that will continue to be the case after the last 20lb!

mary

How to get your protein and water in at the same time.  Since you are sip sip sipping away you will have to pee in the middle of the night.  Before bed put 2-3oz of protein shake on the nightstand.  After you pee have some of the shake.  It's at a time when you least expect to get your fluid and protein in...but it worked for me.  PS  If you are getting you fluid in, but not your protein...try 2-3oz of cottage cheese too.

Hey Guys (men)...Just a reminder we have a Men's Forum here at OH.  It is a great group of guys and very supportive.  Check us out and bookmark it if you like what you see.  Brian                   http://obesityhelp.com/forums/men/

Kohls or Penneys would be the way to go...Yeh, it's a guy talking...what does he know?  Well I used to shop at the big and talls...had the same problems with fashion.  It seemed whatever I got at Kohls looked good and in fashion.  Just my thoughts.  Brian 

Hi everyone! I'm Jennifer. 32 from Alabama. It's been awhile since I have been on here. I hope everyone is doing well. I had surgery Aug. 28th, 2008. My start weight was 493 pounds and I currently weigh 324 pounds. I am very happy to have lost the weight that I have lost, but I need to lose more. I am almost 6 foot tall, so I don't look too terribly bad. But I would like to weigh around 250 or less. I know I need to up my protein, water and exercise. My question is... I have been having problems with my blood glucose and blood pressure dropping on me. Would it be wise (with my glucose dropping) to do the 5 day pouch test? Any other tips you have for me to get back on track? Also I am still taking my daily vitamins but should I up or lower anything to get the weight loss started again or does that have any effect on it? I guess I just need you guys to tell me what exactly you would do if you were in my shoes at this point. I don't have the extra money to go out and buy the expensive gym packages or protein powders or bars but I do want to do things differently than I am now. I'm not eating horrible things, I'm just not eating enough of the good for me things. I'm not drinking my water as I should and I am not exercising like I was. And, I have lost all motivation. It has been 6 months since I have lost more than 5 pounds and kept it off. So it goes without saying that changing those things will help greatly. Anything else I should know? Do any of you have sucess with keeping a food jornal? Anyone wanna be "keep each other movitvated and inline buddies? I will need someone who I could call and chat with because I don't get online as much as I use too. Thanks you guys and have a wonderfully blessed weekend!

I am NOT an expert in DS but what you are describing sounds like ERNY to me.

Did they tell you to eat a high fat or low fat diet?

Your post is just what I needed to read. This past month I was eating the wrong things in the way of sweets. They didn't make me sick or I would have stopped. The doctor told me yesterday that I have to tell the head hunger NO and do something else.  I have to go back to see him in 3 months and he has told me to lose 8 lbs.  He also finally gave me a weight that I should be at. He said that I should weigh 195 lbs. My lowest weight that I have reached in my two years since the surgery is 191.  I know that I can do it again, just like you said, with your help!!
Terri

Hi all - Im trying so hard to stick to the low cab diet before surgery. I do so good on some days and then all of a sudden I have bad evenings here I hit the chips or the nachos and i can't stop!!! OMG!!

I don't want to sabotage myself as the Dr said how important it it to stay at 20g carbs/day.... but I don't know if I've done it yet.

I do really good at breakfast and lunch, but afternoon and then after dinner are the worst times for me... I work from home, so I can graze and maybe I'm just not as prepared as I thought I was. I don't know what to snack on sometimes and then find myself eating something bad....

Any suggestions??? And snack ideas??

Thanks for all your help and support.

And PS - Can anyone answer me this?? If Im 230lbs, you can guess that my carb intake was crazy high (hundreds/day??) So, even if I stay at 50g or less a day - will that be ok for surgery?? The whole liver issue?? Dr did say 20g/day...

HELP!

I went to the doctor yesterday for my 2 year check up. Actually it was more like 2 yrs and 2 months. Had my labs drawn back at the end of January. This past month the head hunger monster has been after me and I have given in to it. I have had such a craving for sweets and went ahead and ate them. I kept telling myself if only it would make me sick I would stop, but I didn't get sick. Since the last time I saw the doctor I had gained 5 lbs. He told me that I should weigh 195 and told me to lose 8 lbs. I have to go back in three months instead of 6. This evening I am feeling bloated and don't know what has caused it, hopefully it will go away while sleeping.  For me it might be coming down off all the sugar that I have had lately.  I would check with your doctor for some answers.
Terri

I am doing very good so far.  If I overeat I am eating the good stuff.  I have exercise 3 days so far also.  My goal for March was to lose 8 pounds  and I have accomplished that already.  Goal is 1 to 2 pounds each week since my honeymoon period has been over.  But as large as I still am, if I follow WLS diet structure I should do more than that but I do not want to set unreasonable goals for myself.  I just hope I can keep up the zeal I have now to get back on track. I am starting to really believe I can do this, I can get back on track. Yes I can with your help!! 

I was on it, and it was the most deplorable experience next to my lapband experience.

My period lasted for 35-60 days, I became anemic, I mysteriously gained 40lbs in less than a year without any change in my food intake/exercise, let's not forget the lovely funky hair growth on my chin and in between my boobs at the ripe age of 22 (that was fun) I had horrific mood swings, one day I loved someone, the next day I had homicidal thoughts, and plans mapped out on how to fulfill those thoughts, it was scary, I only had 3 shots, and then they had to put me on other hormones to counteract the horrible side effects. The bone/joint issues that it can cause scare the crap out of me, and now that I have to take Calcium Citrate, I'm not taking anything that can cause further bone/joint damage.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_93344.html

http://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/birth-control-depo-provera


It's just not something that I would consider. I wish I would have never trusted my ob/gyn to inject me with it. I was only 21 and back then, I can admit now that, I trusted my doctor, because he should know best, right? Well, my firsthand experience, and horrific side effects, taught me to never completely trust a doctor without doing my own independent research.

I'm still juggling with the fluids schedule before and after meals.
And I have learned the hard way that I have to chew my food way more than I use to.