Hopefully you saw my reply in the thread. I wanted the sleeve and the doctor recommended RNY based on the amount I had to lose. I am so glad I listened to the professional. Very successful thus far. I plan to lose 100% of my excess weight, so I am glad I chose the RNY.  Good luck on your decision.

When I started investigating surgery as an option for me, I was sure I wanted the sleeve. After consultation with my surgeon, he said he would perform that surgery; however, based on my situation and what I had to lose, he recommended the RNY for me to have good results. I decided that he was the professional and he knew best. I had the RNY surgery and have lost 130 pounds so far and am not even at my one year surgiversary. I, too, was worried about dumping and bathroom issues. In fact, I bought adult diapers so that I could wear them on my drive to work and feared that I would need them while at work too. All these worries were for nothing. I had no complications, have had no dumping (never wore a diaper), and although I had diarrhea in the first 2 weeks, and a couple of constipation issues, I couldn't be happier with the RNY. I believe that following the proper eating plan helps prevent some of the complications I read about others having, so I agree with what Iloveravens posted as far as that goes. 

This surgery is not a cure all as it requires you to do the work, but I know that I would never have been this successful on my own (as proven by the past 30 years of battle of the bulge). This amazing tool has made it possible for me to be successful at last. I have continued to focus on protein first, some vegies (later in the process****asional fruit. I didn't deviate (I'm not perfect by any means, but figure I could eventually have all these foods sometime in the future and it was not worth sabotaging my success or risking problems) from the plan given to me by the doctor's office. I didn't try to have too much too soon. I have read about people eating pizza or steak very early on and I think that can only lead to problems. I watch the sugar counts in everything and my doctor's recommendation was to keep it less than 5 grams per serving (my greek yogurt is 7 grams, but early on I could only eat 1/2 a serving, so it was fine).  

So, no dumping ever, but I haven't tested it with too much sugar (yes I have had a bite of someone else's dessert-but one bite only). Really little challenges with the bathroom issues (but I understand your worries).

My only wish is that I had opted for surgery years ago. Good luck on your journey.

I'm a cat person, but I dogsit my neighbors pomeranian sometimes. We are not home enough to have a dog.

Today we helped my daughter that was still living at home move into an apartment about an hour and a half away as she is starting a new job on Monday. So, now it will just be my husband and I with our two cats. My other daughter has essentially been gone since college started almost 5 years ago and now lives about 6 hours away.  My hubby and I had 3 months without kids this summer when moved to Alaska for a summer job, so we know we will survive (and kind of liked it).

One of these was a foster kitty that we kept (thank goodness we only kept one of the 13 we fostered over a couple of years). We call her Miss Kitty. The other one, Sassy, is very regal, but getting older, so dreading the day we lose her. Had to have the other cat we got at the same time put to sleep this summer and that was rough. I feel like I will always have a cat.  That is the one thing my other daughter has missed the most since she moved out for college and I know it will be the same for my other daughter. Cats are always so comforting in my opinion, especially when you aren't feeling great.

I found that I was able to tolerate shrimp, scallops, fish, and chicken early on. I didn't introduce vegies or fruit for quite a while  and only very little after eating the protein. O would recommend staying away from carbs and bread as much as possiblr. The focus should be on protein. Yogurt was a good option if my stomach wasn't feeling great, but be sure it is low sugar. Sugar counts can be very high in some. I like Oikos Triple Zero Greek yogurt in mixed berry.  Good luck.

I am getting close to a year out and will likely keep the shake in the morning too. I commute as well, am not a huge breakfast fan anyway. I usually save a bit of it for the drive home as it takes the edge off until dinnertime. 30 grams of protein with low fat and low sugar is a good thing in my mind. I don't always have them on the weekend though, but it works well for weekday mornings.

I definitely had a hard time at first. In the past, I only had a few stores that I could easily shop in. As I lost weight, I didn't even know what stores to shop in because it had been so long.  My advice is to buy very few things as you will go through them more quickly the more you lose. At first it took 40 pounds or so before a size changed.  Now, it takes 10 pounds and things are baggy.  I still would like to lose 25 pounds or so, but have really had to replace my entire wardrobe, especially for work. I have survived by buying 2 pairs of black pants in each size for work and then some basic shells with any nice blazers/jackets that I could find on sale or had a coupon to use. I tried having a few things altered, but found that it was not worth the money. My advice to you is to shop at discount stores, use coupons, and buy very little at a time.  I found that Walmart was a good option for a pair of stretch jeans and shorts when I needed them for a vacation. It will get easier with time.  Now, it is so exciting to buy clothes because there are so many more choices and things fit so much better.  

No liquids in carry on. You can only take liquids you buy after security. I haven't seen protein drinks for sale at the airport. But you can take protein powner and buy water after security.

Costco sells premier protein and you can also order it online and have it shipped to your house for free.

So, I had decided that I would need to start using my phone to reply to this thread during the day since you all are on a much later time zone.  I had written an eloquent response and then it disappeared when I was trying to upload my photo.  I will try to recreate it, but I am typically never able to match the original inspiration when writing and trying to recapture my previous thoughts...LOL.

I did not go to the prom even though I was asked and he offered to pay for my dress and everything. I can't really say I have any regrets in life; instead, I would say there are things I wish I had done differently.  This is one of those things. I had moved out during my senior year and was supporting myself (hence the financial contribution suggestion).  It was a very good friend of mine, but he had romantic feelings towards me that I did not reciprocate, and I didn't think it was fair of me to go to the dance with him just to go to the dance (oh so noble)---even though that is exactly what happened when he went with another girl.

And, my daughters repeatedly reminded me that it is "Prom," not "the Prom."  How ridiculous we old folks are.  BTW, I think it was more than 5 years ago, because my girls graduated in 2011 and went to Prom their junior and senior years.

Here is a picture from one of those extravagant weddings that was held at a private estate in Napa. I liked this picture, but wished that I had my jacket on so the arms weren't so visible. It's a good before shot, although that dress ended up being a bit tight before my surgery.

I have a fast paced weekend planned. One of my daughters and I are flying to San Francisco early tomorrow morning, spending the day touring (rain or shine) and then going to Alcatraz and Angel Island on Sunday before we fly home. Whirlwind trip, but should be fun.  Have a great weekend everyone.

I can relate.  I am by no means at my goal. I would still like to lose 30 pounds and that will only put me in the middle of the "normal" range, but for the last couple of weeks people have been saying that I am getting so thin and should stop losing weight. None of these people know I had surgery. Somehow I managed to keep it a secret from everyone at work, even my bosses. So, when they say something, I reply, that yes, I am thin relative to what I was, but I am by no means at my goal.  I was 25 pounds less than now when I got to my goal before, and did not appear emaciated.  I have explained that I am working out with a trainer and my body is changing and that things will even out. It's flattering that they think I look thin, but it does make it difficult when I feel there is work ahead.  I haven't really noticed that they are saying it in a snide manner, but truly wonder why they think they should tell me what I should weigh. I think they are honestly surprised at how much I have lost and it is very dramatic now that I am buying and wearing new clothes that fit. I don't look sickly in the least. I look and feel better than I have in 20 plus years. I guess I will have to develop a more succinct response that will stop the conversation. 

Enjoy the "compliments" and keep doing what you are doing.  You know your body and that you are doing what you need to do.

First pet and street name....Fluffy San Gabriel.  Current pet and street name....Sassy Alhambra or Miss Kitty Alhambra.  All good possibilities; however, I will need plastic surgery to repair the sagginess before I change careers.

Beef jerky quite possibly saved my life in the early stages (well not literally).  It helped satisfy the chewing sensation and gave me quick protein when needed to tide me over. I always carry a package in my purse.  Seldom use it now, but it was life changing early on. I had to eat it for dinner recently when we didn't have time to eat before attending a musical due to traffic.  I bought one ounce packages of turkey jerky at Walmart too, which is very handy.

Although those items were on my list during the soft foods stage, you shouldn't continue eating them as you move through the stages. Once you are further along, your focus should be on protein, protein, protein.