Latest Blog Posts - Members

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Sat, 26 May 2012 04:28:00 -0700

I cannot believe the last time I updated was in February. I have been going non-stop and this weekend is all about rest and relaxation. I have been traveling for business for the last 5 months and just got a new job within my company. It has been a crazy ...

OMG OMG OMG

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:24:00 -0700

...because one of my favorite protein snacks has been reincarnated and I am doing this right now - Since I am all about being honest and up front, I have to tell you first that I am giggling inappropriately at the packaging of said product. This is the same product I fell ...

Crazy people!!

Wed, 23 May 2012 18:37:00 -0700

Today, I left work early because....well because I was bored. So I am walking through a very busy area to catch the bus and there are literally hundreds of people walking through several sets of doors. This woman walks through the door in front of me and before I realize ...

Politically Incorrect about Food...well, maybe...

Tue, 22 May 2012 23:02:00 -0700

I have been watching a lot of documentaries about food lately, and have found new motivation to eat and drink healthier. The latest one, "Forks over Knives" touts the "plant-based" diet (i.e. something close to veganism) over eating meat and dairy. I don't think I will ever go vegan, but ...

Another Low!

Tue, 22 May 2012 07:42:00 -0700

I got down to 176 this last week! I have pretty much stayed there, but happy to see another number on the scale every morning! I guess I am a stair step loser, I tend to stay around the same weight for a week or longer, then will notice a ...

Web Cast Presentation PLUS interesting Q/A

Sat, 19 May 2012 10:00:00 -0700

If you missed the LIVE VSG done by Dr. Cirangle of Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco or want to watch it again (we do!), click HERE! Dr. Cirangle also answered many questions from members and patients via Twitter. The Q/A was very interesting and helpful. Check it out!!Please let us know what you ...

Simultaneous Live Sleeve Surgery and Twitter Feed

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:26:00 -0700

Dr. Paul Cirangle will be performing a first-ever simultaneous LIVE VSG surgery via ...

An old demon surfaces...

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:52:00 -0700

Yesterday was the second of my 3 days off from work...and also a very scary day for me. What should have been a relaxing day of meandering thru my "to do" list, after several weeks of working 60 hrs/week, turned into one where an old demon surfaced, making me question ...

Obese. Oh well.

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:11:00 -0700

How Do I Know If I Am Overweight or Obese? Thank you The Weight Of The Nation. Posted: 15 May 2012 04:21 AM PDT Everyone is watching the documentary The Weight of The Nation. It took over my Twitter stream, since it's full of RDs, dieticians, nutritionists, weight loss related Tweets who clearly are promoting it, ...

Yay!! Acid Was The Culprit!!

Sat, 12 May 2012 16:58:00 -0700

I am soooooo happy to report that my INSATIABLE HUNGER was just acid!!! I am so relieved! I put a post up on the Sleeve Board and got a a lot of responses of people saying it probably was just acid and that I should up my dosage of Prilosec. It didn't kick in ...

I did it...batwings and all...Mother's Day pic with mini me!

Sat, 12 May 2012 13:10:00 -0700

Just wanted to share a quick pic from our outing this morning, going to breakfast with my hubby and younger daughter (older daughter has a bit of a tummy bug and couldn't go with us at the last minute). It was a great morning! In my sleeveless maxi dress (first ...

1 1/2 years post op w/ pic

Fri, 11 May 2012 20:49:00 -0700

A year and a half! Man does time fly! I'm doing great and feel awesome. Ive finally made it to my goal weight of 145 which brings me to a total of 142 pounds lost. That's just shy of half of myself! I have to admit that it didn't really ...

Sun, Fun and Voltaren...

Thu, 10 May 2012 12:36:00 -0700

Hey folks! Yup, I am hurting, but working through it. I had some questions about how to treat pain after WLS, as NSAIDs are NOT acceptable for daily (note: DAILY) use. One of the NSAIDs I use is a topical, called Voltaren. It is argued that it still makes it ...

Alive & Staying Positive...

Wed, 09 May 2012 16:43:00 -0700

I am lacking in words of wisdom today, but I did want to pop on to say, "I am still alive, I swear!" The possible hernia/seroma is actually a weird seroma just under the skin, so it was scarier looking than anything else. I was given instruction on how to ...

A Week Of Lessons

Mon, 07 May 2012 09:47:00 -0700

So, my period came and went. The week before my period, I had massive PMS cravings......during my period, it did get better. HOWEVER, *I* didn't get better. I was still bad too many times. Let me be more specific.I still have some dietary limitations, being one month out from surgery. ...

20/20 Interview Confessions.

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

I am aware that I did not share the details of the interview with 20/20 this week in my previous post about the show. I wasn't purposely keeping anything from you, in fact I wished I had documented the process as it happened, but I only had a phone and it happened so. ...

Do I Dare to Bare? And Other PostOp questions...

Sat, 05 May 2012 06:25:00 -0700

I bought my first Maxi dress the other day (online...so I don't have it yet) and am daring myself to try more styles now that I maintaining my normal weight. My batwings are ready...as both of my daughters have stated (along with my BFF - who is now 4 months ...

Not wanting to sound like a pain...

Thu, 03 May 2012 16:11:00 -0700

Hey Folks!Many of you already know I have a "Pay it Forward" deal with swimwear -- if you do not know, I have an album with swimwear available for the cost of shipping. PLEASE, please private message me if you want a suit! I have had to go through & take all ...

Mahalo!

Thu, 03 May 2012 13:45:00 -0700

For those of you who need a pep talk, I highly recommend making as many friends on Obesity Help as possible!!! I have been in a funk, mainly because I have not followed my own advice (support, talking about feelings, understanding surgery & the time it takes to recuperate, what else am ...

Eeyore and My Inner Dialogue...Another Month Without Swimming

Thu, 03 May 2012 10:49:00 -0700

Sigh... Another sigh, as I collect my thoughts. It has taken me over a week to write this, but I am in a funk. Funny, if someone would have told me I would be so goal oriented to stay physically active, that having to stay inactive for two months would ...

There will always be people who disagree.

Wed, 02 May 2012 22:17:00 -0700

Today I found out that I am now a diabetic. I haven't started treatment yet because I'm waiting for the endocrinologist to send over the test results before I go to my primary physician. Now, I posted on my Facebook that I was diagnosed. It wasn't a complaint, merely just ...

21 months out update & Splitsville

Wed, 02 May 2012 12:47:00 -0700

August 2nd 2010 I put myself on the operating table for a healthier & happier life. Everyday I work at making that happen. I'm weighing in at about 125lb - 128lb depending on the "ms. piggyness" of my eating. I range like crazy in sizes, anywhere from a Misses 2 to a Jrs 7 and usually an ...

Watch 20/20 next week!

Wed, 02 May 2012 10:12:00 -0700

MM Interview for 20/20 today
This is all I have right now. Will blog more later. OMG!ABC 20/20 Share on Facebook • Technorati Links • Subscribe to this feed

Maintaining in PostOpLand Goalville

Wed, 02 May 2012 03:35:00 -0700

Hello All! It's been a few weeks since my last blog and I think we tend to forget about OH when we are in PostOpLand Goalville (you know...living our glamorous postop lives...haha NOT!). So here is an update...and some thoughts.First of all, I have derailed myself by means of the Carb ...

Exercise...Excerise (Physical and Mental)

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:35:00 -0700

Hello all, How are you? I hope you all are all having an awesome day!!!! This weekend I went skating. I had not done this since I was a kid. Boy, I loved it. I thought about how it was a good form of exercise. I plan to add this to ...

Making Friends With My Sleeve, Sabotaged By PMS

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:02:00 -0700

Wow, last week was a booger!!! Starting on Monday, I had HUNGER, real hunger....and I felt like nothing I ate satisfied me for long. Then it hit me......PMS!! The entire week before my period starts I want to eat a house, and then a house dipped in chocolate, then ...

Lots of Thoughts, and I included my Surgical Bill...

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:07:00 -0700

Okay, so I want to start with my usual sigh & eye roll, so come on -- try it, it actually makes me feel better, and might make you feel good too!! There is an old saying, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger," well, here is my Brenda-ism on that one: ...

Bariatric Eating.com fails.

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:54:00 -0700

Bariatric Eating .com fails to fill customer orders - and does not respond to complaints in timely fashion

Dating 101 and beyond??

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:44:00 -0700

Really there should be a site for the dating rules book- OH YEA- I forgot there are no longer rules it's a take and give what you want world now. I wish I had rules to play by that would guide me through the MENTAL CRAZIES of dating. OK they said to ...

Got Rid Of My Sidekick At My Two Week Checkup

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:20:00 -0700

Ahhhhh, got rid of that annoying JP Drain!! Yay!!!Tuesday, I woke up and felt some pretty bad pain in my muscles around the tubing for the drain. I called the nurse and she asked if there was a bad odor, any kind of puss, etc., and the answer was no. Knowing ...

Where Have You Been, Young Lady?

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:25:00 -0700

I smile because it’s expected, I go because I must, I hold it together because it’s what I’ve always done. Does it make me a liar to smile when I don’t mean it? 2012 has not been kind to me and mine. January We were supposed to move back to my childhood ...

"Moving" on

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:59:00 -0700

Sometimes I think it is necessary to take a break and truly THINK about what it is that YOU want. What makes YOU happy, and what YOU want to do with your life. That is what I have been doing for the last month or so, an I am pleasantly surprised in the changes ...

Debilitating...something

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:16:00 -0700

It isn't depression. I don't know what it is. I have been on a journey to correct and find the right meds for my brain, and I am thinking I am on the wrong path. My doc increased one med on Friday, and decreased another, I am not doing well. That is putting it mildly. ...

Is that a Crime Scene in My Pants?

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:53:00 -0700

Ah come on! Ever feel like you must have done something wrong, and Karma is rearing it's head to remind you to do right? Well, I happen to know that I behave better than a lot of folks out there, so I then start asking, "Is Karma going to kick ...

Loving Me ...

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:27:00 -0700

I read a post today about someone being concerned about their bodies and I wanted to offer some words of encouragement to them and everyone else. (Heck, I tell myself these things many times.) Our bodies were not perfect before surgery and they will not be perfect after surgery. I hope your ...

NG Tube Diet. Wicked hot right now. O-O!!

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:38:00 -0700

Nasogastric Tube Feeding Crash Diet for Brides and More! Get one! O-o Feeling a little chubby before your big day? Are you horrified that you might waddle down the aisle on your wedding day? Is your fiancee upset by your love-handles? http://www.meltingmama.net/wls/2012/04/nasogastric-tube-feeding-crash-diet-for-brides-and-more-get-one-o-o.html Forget your typical crash diets, forget the Weight Watchers, nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, ...

Hyperthyroidism??

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 05:36:00 -0700

Does anyone know anything about hyperthyroidism?I am a bit afraid to Google it....I had my 6 month checkup on Friday. My weight is on track so that's good....but it seems my iron has bottomed out (my bad-the pills make me nauseous so most times I "forget" to take them. I ...

god i had more self esteem naked when i was fat!

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:19:00 -0700

i got down to 155lbs. now i am sitting at 169lbs. Summer is almost here and the image that use to be in my head of me looking like angelina jolie when i became smaller is way out of reach. I have completely lost my boobs and naked i look ...

Me And My Leaky Drain Are Doing Okay

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 12:41:00 -0700

So this coming Tuesday will be two weeks since I got sleeved. I seem to be doing okay. I am down 9 lbs, weighing in at 185, and I am able to tolerate all creamy soups, protein shakes and drinks okay. I am even taking my vitamins now. I did run in to a bit ...

I did it. I scheduled a consultation (.)(.)

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:14:00 -0700

I scheduled a consultation with a plastic surgeon for next week. EEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!I've been holding steady at or around my current weight for about a year now so I figured it was time. I desperately want a decent set of boobs proportionate to my frame. So, I googled plastic surgeons in my area and after clicking ...

Cooking with Brenda...

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:55:00 -0700

There are days I get an inspiring topic to work on, then I come back, and discover that I cannot find the original post that inspired me, sigh. Whomever wrote about the Heart Surgeon speaking out on Facebook - thanks! I did respond to your original post, but sigh, I cannot ...

Representing

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:30:00 -0700

I received a call today , once again asking if I would represent the Bariatric program at GMC ( my Hospital). This is exciting and OF COURSE I said Yes!! I really fell the support system for the Hospital helps and makes the process easier. So weird thinking I have ...

"Open Letter To Carnie Wilson..." O-o

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 05:24:00 -0700

Judith Beck, Ph.D from the Beck Institute and author of various health books wrote a "Open Letter To Carnie Wilson...""It's not surprising that you gained back most of the weight you lost after your first weight loss surgery -- so many people do. I'm glad to hear that you've now lost ...

I did not have the surgery.

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:10:00 -0700

I keep getting questions on Facebook about how I am doing post surgery and I thought I should just address it in a blog post so I don't have to keep answering the question over and over. I appreciate all the interest and good thoughts being sent my way but ...

Rain & Feeding my Friend the Squirrel...

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:55:00 -0700

What does the rain and feeding a squirrel have to do with anything? I have become so friendly in the last month and a half with a squirrel with a notched right ear, he comes to my sliding door looking for Fig Newtons & sunflower seeds. What else could I do while I ...

WOO HOO!!

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:32:00 -0700

Ok, I have been waiting for this day...400 friends on OH!I can't believe it. I have 400 people on here to share my journey with, THANK YOU!That was it. Doing the happy dance, and the "They love me, they really love me" chant!Happy Wednesday.

Marking off a goal!

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 06:21:00 -0700

One of my goals is to do Pole dancing classes and I justpurchased a month of Unlimited Pole Dancing! BRING IT!!!!!A little nervous about the upper body strength needed, and the heels I have to do it in, but I'm up for the challange! Anyone in the Albany NY area want to do it with ...

Me an Emotional eater!!!

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:09:00 -0700

" Carbo caller" is alive and well in my Psyche..... Monday really SUCKED ! I had Physical therapy for knee ( 2.5 wks post op) they drained another 60 plus cc's followed by Ultrasound to rule out blood clot in left leg. Spent my day sucking down sweet tea ...

Perspective

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:09:00 -0700

Everyone is different. I have posted about this before. But today I can't help but touch on it again. I am always amazed at the myriad of jobs out there. And how there is someone out there to fill each and every one. When I first stated on OH I sought out the ...

Inpatient EEG Testing and a little brain surgery, perhaps?

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:10:00 -0700

Posted: 09 Apr 2012 originally on http://www.meltingmama.net/wls/2012/04/inpatient-eeg-testing-and-a-little-brain-surgery-perhaps-.htmlI finally went to the neurologist's office today, after a ...

Thank You to OH

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:59:00 -0700

Today's post is a huge shout out to OH, and all of you.THANK YOU! I always know I have a resource available to me if I am willing to explore, reach out, and absorb. Obesityhelp.com has been a lifesaver. A source of inspiration, advice, knowledge, and a safe haven when I just ...