ThredUP.com - I would buy work basics in the next size down as I was losing so I could dress well for work.

So happy for you. I can't wait to get to that point. I've changed my mind a few times b/c I want to be sleeved but know that RNY is the answer.

If I'm being honest, I don't understand the kind of obesity they suffer from. The vast majority of the cases they follow come from impoverished areas/families and the problem is not just quantity of food, but also quality. Daily fast food and meals consisting only of snacks. Generally the whole family is obese, the subject of the show just meets the criteria.

In addition I feel like they greatly over-dramatize people's reactions and I'd be surprised if they didn't also skew the time line. Many times they put someone on the scale supposedly 2 months post gastric bypass and they have gained/haven't lost. Having had VSG I can tell you, I am physically incapable of stopping my weight loss right now and I weigh less than 200lbs. If you're a 600lb person with a walnut for a stomach, you are going to lose.

As far as the alcohol goes, I bet it's a qualification for the show that they be non-drinkers, as you see they are never smokers either. I can't speak at all for RNY but I have a co-worker who is 2 1/2 years out from VSG and she drinks (a glass of wine here or there, etc).

I personally could care less about drinking, but like Roz I miss carbonation something fierce! I'm sure I'll try it again someday and it will hurt and maybe I won't miss it as much.

I live an active life (outside of my sedentary job) but I've always disliked exercise. My mom was a gym teacher, my sisters are all athletic, I was the "pokey little puppy" trailing well behind the pack on our regular family bike rides and hikes. Uhg. But to get some "built in" exercise I'm going to ride my bike to work this summer. I figure if I ride to work while the weather is not too bad, I can then switch to mornings on a stationary bike during inclement weather/winter.

I'm also toying with getting a puppy this spring for a walking/hiking companion. I lost my dog last week, and I can't quite imagine my life without a hound...

I don't think you can eat to much chicken .....LOL.....well maybe if it's fried. If you eliminate your carbs after awhile you can pretty much have as much "Good" Protein as you want. I don't drink alcohol but I'm assuming your body might DUMP on it. I dumped really easy so I couldn't have more than 8 grams of sugar at a time. I still dump if I have to much sugar so that keeps me in check but you do learn to eat around that....that's probably bad but I'm being honest. It takes me all day to eat a small piece of cake. Giving up carbonation was the hardest for me. I really missed the burn of carbonation but the misery afterwards kept me on track.

I don'****ch the big looser etc. It is depressing for me. It makes me so sad. How many of those people really can keep up all the "work" they do on those shows and don't gain their weight back? I'm not an exerciser and I'm still not. That's one BIG mistake people make. If you already exercise and you enjoy it that's a good thing because you will probably continue once you get to goal BUT if exercise is not a part of your routine now I wouldn't go over board. As soon as you get to goal and stop exercising is when your scales will start moving up.

The last week before surgery "enjoy" your food. You will be forced after surgery to follow the rules and that's the time you make changes. I desperately wanted to share a huge piece of chocolate cake at a local restaurant with my daughters and it never happened and I had feelings of regret.