Hi just wondering why you are anti-Rny and Pro DS??

Hi there I had surgery a few days after you. You look great! How are you feeling and how much have you lost? Are you tolerating just about everything?
I am down 110 pounds total- 10 i lost during my pre surgery liquid fast. I went to my doctors support group mtg last night and this topic came up. The nutritiionist said we should try to stay under 1000 cals max at this point and for the forseeable future. They also recommended we try this fitday.com so I went on and signed up today and I am already shocked that I am picking too much and going over my calories! I eat so little, I just didnt think it would be that high! I had about 1200 yest...so not too bad, but I am so glad I found fitday because I think it will help me keep better track of what I am taking in. How much more do you want to lose or are you done?
I would like to lose another 20 pounds I think.....but I am really happy at this weight too! I  have gone from a size 28/30 to a 14! I'll take it!
Well congrats to you and keep in touch....
Best,
Deb in Boston

Hi I cant think of anything extra to add, just wanted to wish you luck and remind you what great hands you are in. Dr. Ameri is the BEST! I am down 110 pounds- almost 8 months out- best decision I have ever made. I am so happy for all the joy you have ahead!
Thinking good thoughts for you....and don't hesitate to ask any questions before or after!
Deb

Oh this post made my morning! Wasn't it AMAZING and so much FUN?! I got a work out outfit from my inlaws and it was an xl instead of my usual 3x and it was TOO BIG! I am still dying over this. Thankfully everyone had the sense to give me gift cards and cash to buy new clothes which was so nice. I had the best day just enjoying everything and everyone and for once posing for the pics and not worrying about ruining them. What a joyous time! Thanks for reminding us of our blessings! More joy to come in 2009!

Hi I am 7 months post op and have lost 105 pounds so far- including my 2 week pre op diet. I am extremely happy with my results and feeling great. I did want to lose another 20 pounds or so but would be fine it this were it. The question is- could this be it? I have only lost 4 pounds in the past month....it seems like everything has come to a screeching halt.

All of a sudden everything changed, I am not getting sick at all anymore, I can tolerate just about everything, can eat more at one time, and biggest thing- I feel hungy ALOT! I am so bummed about this- I didnt think it would come back so soon or so strong.  I am trying to keep track of everything and be careful to get my protein and liquids, and I am exercising every day. I have noticed this change coincided with the return of carbs to my diet. So I am trying to limit them.

Has anyone had a similiar experience and or have any advice to keep moving forward? Like I said I am thrilled with my results but wouldnt mind losing another 20....and it seems so early to be coming to an end of the weight loss?

Thanks for reading,
Deb in Beantown

Hi I had a similiar experience on Thanksgiving and know EXACTLY what you mean. We were going to my brothers and his wife's family was there- these are the size 2 girls from Long Island who I have spent the last 8 years suffering around because I feel that they never accepted me or bothered with me because of my weight. I couldnt wait to get over there and made sure I looked extra nice- I was anticipating a big reaction! I am 6 months out and have lost 100 pounds.
Well my sister in laws parents were so nice- gushing about how great I look etc. But the little witches didnt say one single word! I was stunned. I talked to my sister in law today and she said once I left they were all talking about me and her sisters couldn't get over how amazing I looked etc. She said they didnt know if it was ok to say anything because they weren't sure they were supposed to know I had the surgery!

Oh well I guess you have to just feel good about how great you look and feel for yourself and not worry about everyone else- although that is awfully hard to do considering what we have all been through.

I know for me, this has been one of my biggest emotional scars- because I actually had to drop out of being in my brothers wedding due to my weight. He is my only sibling and he was fuious with her because she (also size 2) picked these tiny strapless little designer bridesmaid dress that only went up to a certain size. I bought the biggest size and planned to have a seamstress make it work for me, but there wasn't enough material and it was a really unique designer pattern and we couldnt match it. I was mortified, but there was no way I was going to stand there with those skinny girls and ruin all their wedding pics and be humiliated. It was a BIG drama. I was so embarrassed. It all worked out in the end and my husband (fiance) at the time and I ended up doing a reading and we had a good time, I was so happy i wasn't up there in that dress. But it's a scar I am still trying to heal- believe me. So Thanksgiving was very disappointing for me when they didnt compliment me. Even though it really had nothing to do with them!

Ok thanks for letting me reminisce and remind me how far I have come from that very sad place!
Congrats on your success and enjoy it!

Hello I hope someone didnt already post this and I missed it- but I am 6 months out and thinking about what to eat on Turkey day. Thankfully I am not cooking!  I was wondering what tips people have for making good choices that day.

I am thinking of having turkey, deviled eggs, cheese and crackers and asparagus prosciutto boursin cheese wraps- now all this will be from about 11am til 4pm not in one sitting! For dessert my MIL is making a splenda cheesecake for me. I may have a glass of wine at some point.

Things I am planning to avoid: gravy- already got sick from it once, stuffing- my favorite- very sad about this, all the starchy veggies- too heavy and i dont love them anyway, the crescent rolls- again very sad about this! So that's my plan- any advice?
Gobble Gobble
ps sad is a strong word- i am down 100 pound and couldn't  be happier overall!

Wow.....I am so happy I clicked on this post today. You totally inspire me and I am so impressed with you! Congratulations on your success and enjoy your happiness you so deserve it!
I just hit the 100 pound loss 6 months post op and I know how you feel....ROCK ON GIRL!
ps if you made any of those clothes you should consider selilng them- I would buy them- gorgeous!

Minus 100 pounds later.....

  6 Months ago today at this hour I was headed to Winchester Hospital- close to 300 pounds and freaking out would be an understatement.

Fast forward to today, conveniently, I hit the 100 pound loss mark this morning- exactly 6 months after my surgery! I did my measurements this morning and that is even more astounding- if that is possible! I have lost a total of 56 inches-of fat I presume! I mean that is almost 5 FEET of FAT! My BMI has gone from a 48 Morbidly Obest, to a 31- which is still in the obese category- which annoys me! But I am sure it will still be going down. I have gone from a size 28/30 to my all time low the other day of SIZE 12! I think that particular pair of pants ran big- but WHO CARES!?!

So those are the factual numbers and stats. But even more important are the changes in my everyday life. I am definitely happier, healthier, and more comfortable in my own skin. My sister in law was asking me the other day what it feels like to lose a hundred pounds and my answer surprised me. I told her I feel completely comfortable and normal, and that isn't the weird part, it was more bizarre to be so big, and feel so strange. I feel like I am the way I am supposed to be now, and it's not really a big deal, if that makes any sense.

I still have challenges, but things are getting better. I have been getting sick alot but its kind of part of the drill now, and not so dramatic and drawn out as it was in the early days. I was able to have a couple glasses of wine and lots of yummy appetizers at a ****tail party this past weekend so that was great. I have noticed a pattern, when i have wine, I am able to eat much more easily. I heard that it relaxes all your muscles so that's prob why everything goes down fine! Definitely not something to do every day but nice to know.

I still get sick from basic stuff that is fine one day and hits me wrong the next- that is most maddening. Eggs, most veggies, red meat and pasta are still off limits.
But crispy pizza, high quality bread, chicken, fish, cheeses and most everything else are fine in small amounts. I subsitute splenda for sugar in everything and they even have a splenda brown sugar now so I do all my baking and no one even notices the difference. I am still a soup addict, and yogurt, power bars and protein icecream will always be my staples.

I definitely need to work on my exercise routine, it has been haphazard at best. I feel like I have alot more energy in general, but if I do a workout it depletes half my calories for the day, and I cant just eat more like most people do. So I am working on that puzzle.

I still have 12 pounds to go to reach my original goal...and I had given myself a year to do that! I suspect I will be going below that goal, whether I like it or not. That is one of my concerns, being able to stop losing when I want/need to.

Right now the biggest bummer is my hair loss. It has been going on for 2 months now with no signs of letting up. Thank god I started with so much hair...but I can tell the difference big time. 

But overall I am finally ready to say I made the right decision. I did not feel that way for the first 4 or 5 months...I had serious regrets and even asked Dr. Ameri about my options for reversal....he laughed! Now I know for sure it was the answer for me...because honestly right this second, if i could get my paws on a Boston Kreme donut, I'd be scarfing it down! Hey I am still me, and thank god this tool keeps me in check.

Here's to the next 6 months and healthy years ahead. Thankyou to OH for helping me navigate this journey, especiall Eggface! I dont know what I would have done without you all, the info and support have been priceless. The journey is far from over so let's keep helping one another!

Thought for the Day:
"What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?"

Feel free to check out my blog.....
http://chubclubdropout.blogspot.com/

Oh boy do I know how you feel. I am 6 months out this week and have finally made peace with my decision- but it took at least 4 months for me. I promise you, you will be happy in a very short time down the road. I was miserable, prayed i would wake up and it was all just a dream. I even asked my surgeon what my options were for having it reversed. He laughed!
It was a rough road, but I am now down 100 pounds, have lost 54 inches, gone from a size 28 to a size 12 and I am so HAPPY! Do I miss Boston Kreme donuts and lasagna- hell ya! But I finally understand that silly saying that I used to mock: "Nothing tastes and good as thin feels" maybe because I am finally thin- or close to it- for the first time in my 39 years!
Please hang in there and stay positive, I pray you have a wonderful turn around like I did....what you are feeling is totally NORMAL!
ps do NOT try and overeat or stretch your pouch- the consequences are PAINFUL! I didnt do it on purpose but had alot of food intolerances and difficulties, and life was so much easier just eating soup and yogurt and protein ice cream.

oh fyi i was replying to Valerie's post and I do not like the Click if this was confusing!

I would also like more info. All I know is at the Low Carb store near me (Boston) they are always sold out of them and people seem to buy them up as soon as they restock. They always have a sign in the window that says the Shirataki noodles have arrived! Or something like that.
So they must not be that bad. I t hink $4 would be worth a try! I will prob wait awhile becuase I just experimented with Spaghetti Squash last night and it did not sit well. But that might be something you could try for your casserole. My husband was nuts for it...I microwaved the squash...scooped out the strands and used it like angel hair pasta, topped with grilled dhicken and roasted red peppers then tossed wtih olive oil and garlic...he said it was better than a restaurant italian dinner! I had 2  bites and it was soooo good. But i had a hard time digesting.
Mangia!