Hmmm, about those abbreviations, I had to look up HCG because although I know what it is, I didn't know exactly what it stood for.  I copied this:

hCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy.  During pregnancy, the substance almost completely controls the woman's metabolic functions.  Generally, the hCG used in the diet protocols, is synthetic. 


This is a hormone used in conjunction with a VLCD...Very Low Calorie Diet.


PCOS is a metabolic syndrome caused by the ovaries producing too much male hormone...testosterone.  It causes cysts on the ovaries and insulin resistance and a whole other mess of symptoms that make you mostly miserable, like serious weight gain that is resistant to weight loss.  Boo hoo, that's what I have, but I am currently whooping it's A$$!

Mary   

I know that even if I do have WLS I still need the self disiplin, I just feel like having the surgery is more of a tool to teach it to me, I know you dump when you eat foods that your not supposed and stuff like that, and I feel like thats what i need in order to learn the self disiplin I need.

Like I said I want to try it on my own the thought of all the risks with the surgery I have a 3 year old and I want to be here to see him grow up, I dont want my weight to kill me and I dont want to have sever complications from WLS and that kill me.

I am giving it my all to learn the healthy ways to eat and the right choices. I have no clue how to fix a healthy meal I cant find anything online with free help to teach me or give me a meal plan. I feel like if I could have someone tell me weekly or even monthly what my meal plan is dor each day I could do it, but having to think it on my own I have no clue and it makes me feel hopeless. I would so much rather lose the weight on my own then have WLS I just feel I have no other options.

I had a tough day on Tuesday.......I was feeling sorry for myself and upset because of my swelling issues.  By Tuesday night  I was done with the pity party and focusing on all the good that has come since shedding all that weight and having plastic surgery.


Offerings of the Day
Finding Gifts In All

We can reframe bad days by spending some time before going to bed each night to review the gifts we received that day.

When we have good days, we often find ourselves going over the details later, enjoying them a second and third time as we feel the joy of our good fortune. When we have bad days, we may find ourselves poring over the details of our misfortunes. However, we can reframe those bad days by making it a daily practice to spend some time before going to bed each night to review the gifts we received that day. Regardless of our evaluation of the day—good, bad, mediocre—we can call forth the many blessings that were present. This practice transforms our consciousness as it reveals the fullness at the heart of our lives.

Some days it’s easy to recount the gifts we’ve received; on other days, we have to look harder for the offerings of the day, but once we do, we will find there are always quite a few. We can keep it simple and be grateful for the fact that we have a roof over our head, nature, food, and our health. Once we have fully experienced these gifts, we can move outward to the gifts that may require a little more thought such as the gifts of forgiveness, tolerance and acceptance that we may have learned that day. We can also always be grateful for the people in our lives who support us, no matter how bad our day may have been.

Just reviewing the many positive offerings in our lives provides a context for our difficulties that puts them in proper perspective, but we can also make an effort to see the gifts even in adverse cir****tances. This can be challenging and may require some practice before it feels authentic, but we have all had the experience of a disappointment or loss leading to a surprising gain. Just remembering this and trusting the give and take of life can help us to remember that sometimes the best gifts of all are the ones we don’t recognize right away. In addition, the lessons we learn in the face of adversity are offerings in their own right, allowing us to count patience, wisdom, and fortitude alongside the other gifts of the day.

HI and welcome to our corner of the world.....

CONGRATS on taking control. 
I asked my Dr about Ali a few years ago (before I started my own journey).  He discouraged me from using it.  He actually said, if I didn't mind soiling my pants I could use it...... I asked him to clarify and he did....     
Since Ali stops the absorption of fat it slides through the body quickly and easily and often times with little warning, ergo, the pants soiling.  

I once ate a Full Bar as a snack meal when on the road but didn't look into it as a serious weight loss plan.

I just want to toss out a couple thoughts..........
"You mentioned you don't think you have willpower or self discipline to stick with something to lose weight."  I have a number of friends who had WLS...in order to lose the weight and keep it off you still need will power and self control.   

I lost my weight by eating healthy and exercising.  Bottom line its all about calories in and calories out.  I did not starve myself.  I ate all day (and still do).  I finally learned that I can't lose weight by eating only 800 cals a day.  Yes, I would lose temporarily but I would crack and go back to old/bad habits and regain the 40 or 50 lbs I lost......PLUS MORE.  When I started on my journey I started out by eating about 1,800 cals a day (hey, I was almost 300 lbs at that point so I need more food to keep the body working), PLUS I worked out 6 days a week.

The difference for me this time and the hundreds of times in the past I failed was this........ I finally realized I would die very young if I didn't take control and I I wanted to live.  I hoped it was not too late for me but I decided to take control.  I looked into WLS but decided I would give it one more try.   I sort of sat down and talked to myself and decided to make me my priority for the first time in my life.  I told my friends and family I was going to be selfish but I had to take the time to focus on me.  I tried to select healthy foods for every meal and snack.

Hope you post often and share with us...
Best Wishes on your decisions and journey!

PS about the willpower and self discipline.  I used to think I didn't have the will power but I am realizing that it's not so much about my will power as it is about the process I use to get healthy.  If you use the right process the body is amazing and forgiving and will regulate itself naturally but you have to give it the right foods.  The reason we can't resist eating what we are not supposed to is because half the time we are starving ourselves without realizing it and the urge to eat is unstoppable.  Once you start eating right and exercising you won't have to worry about will power.  I find that exercise also helps to control my appetite.