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1-year surgiversary -- my "official" before/after comparison pics

MsJacquiiC — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 04:25:47 GMT

So - I had my 1 year post-op consult a couple days ago. I am officially down 165 pounds from my highest weight! I'm Loving This Journey!!!!!

Okay - My surgeon's office took a picture 1 year ago and also for my recent consult. I've posted them in my WLS Journey photo album too :)

2 things about the before/after pics that are a bit on the "unusual" side for me:

They're full-length pics and I'm not ashamed to share them now since I've made personal progress and more happy with myself as a person now more than ever!
I'm actually smiling in the after pic! o.O --- I've never really liked smiling in pics before - but I see more and more of my most recent pics are of me smiling - It's almost a cathartic experience of sorts.

What A Difference A Year Makes!

Jacquii.

Front view beore/after pics - 1 year post-op roux-en-y gastric bypass with Dr. Stephen Boyce of New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery - Knoxille, TN. My surgery date was April 28, 2009 ==> Thus far I am down a total of 165 pounds. Progress = actually smiling in the most recent photo!

Side view beore/after pics - 1 year post-op roux-en-y gastric bypass. My surgery date was April 28, 2009 ==> Thus far I am down a total of 165 pounds. I have a ways to go to get to my goal, but progress is being made daily!

Spring 2010 - Study in Forsythia...
Jeans too big - Tee too big ==> Me posing anyway :)

((GASP --> a full length picture <-- OMG))

Black&White -- I'm standing right in front of my desk - My little stuffies posing in the background :)

Potato Salad Alternative ((mock southern potato salad))

MsJacquiiC — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:36:21 GMT

This is a great substitute for potato salad found at WLS Journey Recipe Central. It's made with cauliflower and is low-carb alternative that tastes remarkably like REAL potato salad - I love it.

Enjoy :)

Jacquii.

INGREDIENTS:

1 large head cauliflower
� cup diced celery
� cup diced vidalia onion
� cup sweet pickle relish
2/3 cup light mayonnaise
3 tsp Splenda
4 tbsp yellow mustard
2/3 tbsp cider vinegar
salt & pepper to taste
3 hard boiled eggs

DIRECTIONS:
Preparation Time 10 min * | Cooking Time 8 min:

Boil the cauliflower for about 8 minutes in salted water. Let cool and cut into cubes. *
Mix all ingredients (except for the hard boiled eggs) together and pour over cauliflower.
Chop hard boiled eggs and mix into salad mixture. *

* Let the cubed cauliflower and hard boiled eggs sit overnight in the refrigerator before adding ingredients together. What results is a nicely chilled salad.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:
4 servings | 179 Calories | 9g Protein | 15g Carbohydrates | 10g Fat

Sugar-free Banana Nut Bread

MsJacquiiC — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:28:21 GMT

For those that can tolerate bread - here's a deliciously healthy banana bread as found on WLS Journey Recipe Central. It's sugar-free so consider it low-carb in comparison to regular banana nut bread.
-------------------------------
-------------------------------

Preparation Time 15 min | Cooking Time 45 - 55 min:
8 servings | 160 Calories | 4g Protein | 25g Carbohydrates | 4.5g Fat

Ingredients Required:

1⅓ cups all-purpose flour
� cup SPLENDA� No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
1 teaspoon baking powder
� teaspoon baking soda
1 pinch salt
1� cups mashed bananas
1 tablespoon canola oil
⅓ cup reduced fat buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla
� cup chopped walnuts *

* Black walnuts or pecans or a mixture of the two can be used to create a uniquely flavored banana bread.

Cooking Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9X5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
Blend the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
Add oil, buttermilk and vanilla to the mashed bananas. Mix well. Pour banana mixture into dry ingredients. Stir until just mixed.
Add chopped walnuts. Stir until just mixed.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated 350 degrees F oven 45-55 minutes or until rich brown and the center is set.

I absolutely love this bread - it's a very nice, guilt-free sweet treat. For added loveliness add a nutty frosting:

2 cups splenda - 2 tablespoons vanilla soymilk - 1 tablespoon vanilla flavoring - � cup pecans
Blend splenda, soymilk & vanilla flavoring to a syrupy consistency - then stir in pecans.
Drizzle over the banana bread ==> YUM!

Hope you enjoy ;)

Jacquii.

TWODERVILLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MsJacquiiC — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:12:52 GMT

I had another AWESOME wow moment just today - I posted it on my Facebook page:

The Following Text Is Quoted:

TWODERVILLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND it's official ==> I do indeed have a real, actual collarbone LOL - Woohoo!!!!!!

I weighed in today at a doctor's appointment - And the nurse immediately slid the dial to 300 - It didn't work! She had to slide it down to 250 LMAO -- Anyway - I weighed in at 297 -- It's the first time in several years I've been under 300 pounds!

This is me doing the happy dance :dance: LOL

Jacquii.

Well - I had a couple wow moments today!

MsJacquiiC — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:21:35 GMT

Well - I had a couple wow moments today actually - I'm not sure if they really classify as wow moments - but I'll share anyway :girlhide:

Took a shower this afternoon and I could actually wrap the towel around me! Before - it always seemed like even the biggest towels fit me like a large hand towel of some sort. So - I had to grin at that!
It's finally warming up in Tennessee - I'm so tired of winter and ready for spring -- So I walked to my credit union earlier today. Usually 45 minutes one-way. I call my Mom or a taxi cab to get back to the house. But I called my Mom and she didn't answer the phone ((turns out she wasn't feeling too well)) -- So instead of calling a taxi cab - I simply walked back to the house! So got in an hour and a half of walking today - and didn't even break a sweat doing it.

So... Those are my 2 wow moments for the today!

Share yours if you like :yes2:

Jacquii.

originally posted in the forums at http://wlsjourney.org/community-foru....html#post1325

34 days to go

AlanBond — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:32:54 GMT

Well, I have got my leave of absence arranged at work. Talked to a co-worker about my surgery and we discussed the benefits. I see my sleep apnea Dr tommorow for a check-up, cant wait to see him next time as the new me will be emerging.

2010 is gonna be a great year!!!

AlanBond — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:49:08 GMT

:welcome2:

Well what better way to start a new year than by starting my journey blog. I have a surgery date of Feb. 9th for my DS with Dr. Boyce. I am so excited and thrilled to begin my new life toward normalcy. I'm planning on a six week recovery period with an additional 2 weeks available should I need it. I want to make sure I am fully acclimated to my change in dietary requirements and my system has regained some degree of 'normalcy'. I travel extensively by car in my job and eat out a whole bunch, so I really need to be prepared to meet my bodies needs properly.

Best wishes for happy & prosperous 2010!!!

Alan

Another "Woohoo" Moment ==> Me in Jeans for the first time in 3 years!

MsJacquiiC — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:30:14 GMT

Picture of me 6 months post-op roux-en-y in jeans for the first time in 3 years :yay:

View Image In The Journey Members' Photo Gallery!

I had bought several pairs of jeans and corduroys back in 2006. In fact - I had bought a lot of new clothes to update for autumn/winter that season. Nice stuff actually. Well - I wore the stuff for about 3 months before I started gaining weight....again. So I ended up packing the clothes up. I actually surprised myself by not actually just throwing everything away - I'm not generally a pack rat LOL

Who would have thought that 2009 would see me in those damn clothes again!?!?!? WILDNESS I tell ya!

Anyway - I managed to squeeze my fat ass into all those clothes - some of the jeans were even a bit too big - so I'm styling and profiling this season :P Seems I bought some pretty timeless outfits - so everything's still in style :thankyou:

Jacquii.:singingintherain:

100+ POUNDS GONE FOREVER = YAY!!!!!!!!!

MsJacquiiC — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:29:27 GMT

Well - I had my 6-month post-op consult this afternoon. I will officially be 6 months post-op roux-en-y gastric bypass on the 28th October. I weighed in today and was 325 pounds - down from my highest 438 pounds - so do the math WLS PEOPLES!!! 113 POUNDS GONE FOREVER!!!!!! :yay:

Not to shabby for less than 6 months post-op. I was so happy and astonished. I say thank you to everyone for all the support here. You all have played a part in my success thus far and I hope to play a part in your success as well throughout the coming weeks, months & years!

At anyrate - Just thought I would brag today :queen:

Jacquii.

On my way

AngelC — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:14:37 GMT

Hi my name is Angel. As of today, I'm 5 days post-op of my gastric bypass. Before I dive into that I want to provide some history. (Note: I'm not posting this to get any sympathy, just to let people know that even the hard stuff can be overcome)

I would say that I've had noticeable weight issues since high school. According to my parents it has been since the 3rd grade but meh. I have always been tall and therefore larger for my age. I was wearing junior sizes in 6th grade. In high school it was more and more of a challenge to deal with my weight. After I went to college, I did the typical thing and went nuts. The weight didn't pile on all at once since I had classes all over campus and it was most effective to walk. I moved to CA after I was done with school. I now didn't even have my school walks to help. I really enjoy the taste of food. I would pretty much eat to the point that I was uncomfortable. I thought that was how I knew I was full. Things just built up and built up. At my highest I was 390 and was miserable. I was able to lose 90 but ended up putting about 60 of that back on. In 2006, I had the most stressful year. In Jan, my Mom and Grandfather passed away. In May, my Grandmother (who I was now in charge of her estate) passed away. Aug I found out that I had fibromyalgia. To top all that off, in Oct I was laid off from my job. It took my at least a year to get my fibro symptoms under control. In March of this year I decided that I needed help, and asked for a referral for the surgery.

I was able to attend the orientation in April. I was excited, I was motivated, I was in for a shock. In May, it came up during my psych eval that I had been diganosed with depression but had never attended therapy. I was given a list of things that I needed to do before I could move forward. I got my letter in June that said I was on inactive status until I had completed the items. Now I was angry, frustrated, and generally discouraged. At my eval, I hadn't lost that much weight. But I kept at the suggested diet, while I was completing my list of things to do. Wrapped all that up around the first part of Sept.

I have to drive almost 2 hours to the center that would be doing my surgery. I made the trek again in mid Sept to find out if I could be made active status again. Went back through the psych eval and found out that I was back in. YAY! Since I was there, I asked if I could see a surgeon rather than have to spend another day driving back and forth. Amazingly, they were able to work me into the schedule. I found out that I had made my goal weight without even knowing what it was. Double YAY!! I wasn't able to meet with the case manager that day, but was able to get in the next week. At that meeting I was given the date of Oct 26. They call me back on Oct 6th to ask if I could move up my date to Oct 12. After some paniced phone calls I was able to say yes.

So here I am 5 days post-op. My surgeon was amazing and I had some of the nicest nurses around, even if I did seem grumpy when the took my vitals every two hours all night. I was able to walk that afternoon. My biggest concern in the hospital was that it did take me a long to be able to pee. Later that night, that was no issue. :rolleyes:

I feel very blessed for being able to start my journey. I'm up to the pudding/yogurt/cream soup phase of eating. My superglued holes are healing well. Considering what was done, I'm amazed at how quickly I'm able to bounce back.

I'm looking forward to being able to post all my progress and watching everyone else's.

Well... I just saw the most succulent chocolate brownie...

MsJacquiiC — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:56:32 GMT

...at the Billy's Time Out Deli here in Oak Ridge. I know I shouldn't have even been in the deli - but I was craving some onion rings - they have the best beer battered onion rings in the entire city. So I did enjoy 3 onion rings. They were delicious too.

Anyway - at the register. I was paying for the onion rings - I saw the most succulent chocolate/walnut brownie I'd seen in years. I said to myself before I even considered buying it, "I should not even be considering buying this bad boy." The cashier looked at me a little strangely - so I suppose I didn't only say it to myself, but I was saying it out aloud, whilst I debated silently as to whether I should tell him to ring it up.

Long story --> short: I bought it. I told the dude, "This is gonna be 600 calories of fabulocity!" The Time Out Deli has been a favorite of mine for years - Oh my god! Not only are their onion rings the best in the entire state of Tennessee, but they make the best cheesesteak pita.

So anyway - I took one sniff of that bad boy chocolate/walnut temptation from the devil and I bought it.

I've just eaten half of it - I do not think my pouch likes it. But oh my! It was the most succulent piece of chocolate I've had since my surgery which was back on April 28th this year. So 6 months. Actually - it's the ONLY piece of chocolate I've had since my surgery 6 months ago. I do have to say it's the BEST piece of chocolate that I've had in 6 months LMAO. Um... Oh boy was it good! And I have half a piece left which I will save for later or tomorrow...

So far it's stayed down. I'll tell you if I puke it up later LOL

Thanks for reading my mini-novela.

Jacquii.

i have a date!!! YaY!!

PLUSMAMMA — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 03:18:15 GMT

so i went to my doctors apt this past week and i was down i haden't gotten the last of the pre op stuff done because my pcp was on vacation then it was like everyone need something from her so i didn't get an apt till a week before my surgeon's apt :cry: so my surgeon's apt was this past tues and the appointment's for the last three things i needed done all were on thursday. so before i left from my surgeon's office the doc came out and said that we are setting a date. i was i like shock then after the shock i wanted to cry i was so happy i got out that building and started texting ppl i called home . i am just so happy oh so my date it's Nov. 19th YAY!!!

When you're born obese...

BaronessKate — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:40:12 GMT

My battle with being overweight started at birth. I was born 11 lbs 3 oz. I suspect my mother had gestational diabetes but that wasn't something they were aware of in the 1950's.

I was the smart, fat and unpopular girl throughout my school days, a story I'm sure a lot of us can relate to.

But like a caterpillar morphing into a butterfly, college was a revelation, I was beautiful and it only took the Right Guy to convince me.

Mr. Right Guy and I married about 30 years, three kids and about 100 lbs ago.

To his credit, Mr. Right Guy loves and cherishes me no matter my size. In fact it's a little disconcerting now that my weight loss doesn't impress him positively or negatively.

I've lost that 100 lbs, and his reaction? "I fell in love with you for your brain, you've alway been my beautiful girl".

But in August of 2007 the arthritis in my left hip became so bad I had to have a hip replacement, I was only 51. The weight I continued to carry almost guaranteed that I'd lose the other hip as well. Losing one hip was more than enough. Once more I went on a strict diet and lost 30 lbs in 3 months---and regained it within another 6.

My mom developed Type II diabetes in her late 40's and then my eldest daughter was diagnosed with it in her mid 30's. How I escaped it I don't know, but I knew I wasn't going to be able to avoid it forever.

So a year later, I finally came to the realization that dieting was not going to ever be successful for me and that I needed radical help. I jumped thru all the hoops and qualified for an RNY in January 2009.

The RNY took care of the diet/calories in and I got a dog last Christmas to encourage the exercise/calories out. He's my "personal trainer". We walk everyday, and most mornings it's only because he insists (and I just can't turn down those big brown eyes)

Over the past 9 months I have gone from 286 lbs to (currently) 175 lbs, from a size 26 to a size 12 (10 if they're sized right). My arthritis is so much more manageable, and my blood sugars are always within normal limits. I feel healthy.

I want to lose another 30 lbs before the end of the year---at 5'7", 145 will give me a normal BMI, something I've never enjoyed.

The weight is coming off slower now 1-2 lbs/week but the scale is still moving in the right direction.

I can get there from here :yes:

Post op hurdles...

medmann — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:16:45 GMT

The Following Text Is Quoted:

Originally Posted by medmann

Hello all, my name is Paul and I had a Rouxs en Y on May 10th, 2002. I had it lap and have lost close to 180 total lbs and am in great shape. I have survived a huge bout with alcohol and 2 divorces since surgery (topics for another discussion!). I am here to talk about my unique long term side effects from surgery. First, I want to make it clear I am not complaining. I would never go back to my life as an unhealth, unhappy, obese and dying human EVER! I am just educating both Pre and Post on my situation. My first and foremost problem post surgery is Severe Reactive Hypoglycemia. It is bad! I have had 18 seizures in 4 years due to sugar and carb intake in my diet. I have to monitor my diet to the letter daily and check my sugar 3-5 times daily to avoid seizing. I did not have any diebetic issues prior to surgery. My GE Specialist tells me it is technically Hyperinsulinism, or too much Insulin in my blood. I guess my pancreas just isn't gonna come aboard the changes I have made to the system. The second problem is new. My labs have always been spectacular. No difficiencies and levels are text book, sometimes even better! My last labs produced horrible results in IRON. I have been diagnosed as Severe Anemic. In fact, as we speak I am levaging my colon (drinking this soapy-tasting, salty mix) for a dual Esophagogastroduoenoscopy and colonoscopy tomorrow morning. I knew I would continue to battle these little hurdles the rest of my life and I accept that the freedom granted by Gastric Bypass comes at a price. I just want to see if anyone...ANYONE...has these severe symptoms. Let me know. Thanks:puke:

Get in touch here or on facebook

Not feeling it today!

yvonne71 — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:32:09 GMT

Today I am just feeling bla! I don't care, don't want etc! I should be feeling great, happy with all that I have done! I have lost 104lbs since my WLS Jan 19 of this past year. So why do I just not care right now?

Beginning to wonder :o/

kay illingworth — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:33:34 GMT

Have i screwed my pouch up or not.... God i hope not..

I had my surgery on the 18th of march 2009 and to start with i was eating tiny amounts... well recently ive felt hungry and found myself to be able to eat more... nowhere near the amount i used to before surgery but the difference is noticable and although i havent put weight on i havent lost any for around 3 weeks now either...

Am i just paranoid???... i dont know what to think and im not booked in to see my surgeon for another review as yet.

My journey

kay illingworth — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:55:34 GMT

Hi Everyone.
Im new to WLS Journey and id like to thank Jacqui for inviting me to join...

Where do i start... well at the beginning sounds a good idea so here goes.

When i was 15 i started to put on major weight gain and my cycles became eratic, after lots of tests etc i was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and was told that that was the main reason for my weight gain ... My G.P said otherwise and so i started with all the diets etc but to no avail and slowly but surely my weight just got heavier and heavier.
after several years of battling with weight my G.P put me on diet pills and sent me to weight management and even that didnt help, i became so depressed that in the end i did use food as my friend and so the weight gain became even worse than before and in february 2008 i weighed in at 280 pounds..had blood pressure of 180 over 110 and had secondary diabetes, i was so desperate for help i went to my doctor in tears and he told me that with my consent he would put me forward for a RNY as it was proven to help with P.C.O.S as well as the weight, diabetes and blood pressure and so my journey really begun.
I did lots and lots of research on Open RNY and what it involved and soon found it was going to be my best friend.
After all the tests i was approved for the surgery and on the 18th of march 2009 i had my surgery... % months on and i am now 62 pounds lighter and healthier than ive ever been, im a 16/18 in clothes now instead of a 24/26 and im still losing weight although the weight had slowed down a great deal now i know i still have lots of weight to lose (roughly 42 pounds) but i can honestly say even though ive had a tough time getting used to my new way of life, it really was the best thing ive done and im looking forward to watching my 5 year old son grow which without a doubt if i hadnt had the operation i probably wouldnt get to see and looking forward to spending a much happier healthier life with my lovely husband .

Giving Oprah a weight loss surgery break.

Bariatric Girl — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:33:21 GMT

Today I heard Oprah and Dr. Oz are in the process of suing several companies who claimed they endorsed a particular product...one is called acai berry. After this product appeared on the show, the company went crazy selling the stuff, touting endorsement with pictures of both Oprah and Dr. Oz on the product. They finally said "not so fast". Lately it seems I can't go anywhere on the internet without beng assualted by acai berry ads. This is the phenomena of Oprah. Any time she endorses anything or even looks like she is, the product becomes an overnight success.
So let's assume Oprah were to have weight loss surgery. First of all she has to deal with the cameras on her 24/7.

Will she fail?
Or scarier, will she succeed?

If she succeeds, I can only imagine all the masses of uneducated people following suit....wanting surgery....thinking it is a magic pill. As much as Oprah does, if she were to have WLS she would cause thousands to suddenly seek it out. There are not enough docs or facilities available to handle all the people that would follow her. And then she would have to deal with the possible deaths that would could occur from sheer numbers of percentages. That would be more than she or the Oprah empire could handle.

Oprah is also human and surely she has fear just like the rest of us. Don't you believe that she is also feeling like she may fail yet again just like we all thought? And if she doesn't fail and actually makes it work, there will be a massive stampede. In a way Oprah is between a rock and a hard place. Even if she spent tons of time educating people about the process there would still be the irresponsible souls that would do it anyway. When they fail because of inadequate education, it would be Oprah's fault.

Wow, never have I been so grateful not to be in Oprah's place. Yep.... she has fame and fortune but not only does it not make you happy, sometimes it is the very reason you have backed yourself into a corner that you can't get out of.

Be careful what you ask for....
Be grateful for what you have....
And most importantly, no one has a perfect life because of being skinny or having tons of money.
And best of all...maybe...just maybe the acai berry will go away.

Ms. Fatty interviews me!

Bariatric Girl — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:19:19 GMT

Special thanks to Ms. Fatty for interviewing me!

MsFatty.com Home / Around The Interwebs / Fireside Chat with The Bariatric Girl

Fireside Chat with The Bariatric Girl
Remember, if you are severely obese, bariatric surgery remains a legitimate option for you in your weight loss journey.
I�ve posted here about my online pal, The Bariatric Girl. Today I�m going to post the little fireside chat we had about weight loss surgery recently. Enjoy!

1. Yvonne, you have been fighting obesity your entire life; tell us something about the transformation of your mind that happened during the transformation of your body?My mind lagged well behind my body and that still hasn�t gone away entirely. Old habits die hard and so did the memories of my body. The strange one was when I was in the grocery store and felt like people walking by were literally on top of me. I was so used to people going around me and since I don�t require as much room, they walk closer and it was almost claustrophobic at first but I�ve adjusted.

2. One thing that we�ve discussed via email is how our �no cheat rule� has contributed to success. A lot of people think that having the bariatric surgery is the �easy way out� in a sense, because you�ll never have to worry about wanting to cheat ; ie, no self control needed after you get the surgery, it just �happens.� Further reading into this topic though, and you will find that some people that have had the surgery actually cheat and get fat again. I�m sure having a tiny pouch that you can�t fit a lot of food into helps tremendously, but if some people are still getting fat, then it seems to me that yes, a transformation of mind in also necessary. Talk to us a little bit about why you feel a no cheat rule works for you and why some people gain back all that weight even after surgery.
ABSOLUTELY. We did not get brain surgery. We just got a smaller stomach but if we don�t change what we were doing before, you can go back to obesity or switch to something new to abuse or another method to self medicate. Now you�re pretty safe the first year because your metabolism is still being tricked so you can eat pretty much what you want and still lose weight. We call that the honeymoon period. Approximately after a year that�s over with so it�s just like being put magically into this thinner body but your metabolism has smartened up. You must start the lifestyle change immediately after surgery because if you wait until the honeymoon period is over, it is much MUCH more difficult because you�re days of losing no matter what are pretty much done. For me that was a good trade. Take me back to normal and I promise to eat right and get some exercise�.like getting a do over. If you start right after surgery, you�ve had a year of forming good habits.
With certain kinds of weight loss surgery it is designed to make you ill if you eat certain things like too much sugar. The truth is you will lose your cravings if you stop eating something completely. The no cheat rule makes it black and white. I look at sugar as poison so it�s very simple. I tried to stop drinking Coke for years and the funny thing is�now I don�t even remember what a Coke tastes like. The reason some people gain weight back is because they didn�t deal with the issues in their head that causes them to use food to self medicate. There�s another group of people that gain back 20-40 pounds and end up being more miserable than when they weighed 300 pounds. You must fight to keep that goal weight when you reach it or a whole bunch of head games start telling you that you�ve failed again. It may seem impossible to most that a woman that has lost over 100 pounds can feel like a failure because she�s gained back 20 pounds but it happens every day. We must learn what really makes us happy in life and what we want will follow. FOLLOW YOUR BLISS! Don�t expect the bad or that�s what you�ll get.

3. Let�s talk about shakes. I know that people that have had bariatric surgery often live on these things for the first few months. I haven�t had the surgery, but I enjoy the unrefined, low sugar shakes I prepare myself as meal replacements. Have any good suggestions or recipes for the kind of highly nutritious shakes bariatric people use?
I actually still drink a shake every morning. It�s super important to put something in your body for breakfast so you won�t throw your body into starvation mode. When you do eat, the body hangs on to those calories like crazy because after sleeping for 8 hours and then waiting hours to eat after waking makes your body think it�s starving. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card. I actually drink MetRX extreme chocolate. I put a lot of ice in it and blend it so it comes out like a chocolate shake�at least as much as I can remember a chocolate shake. There is a great blog called �the world according to Eggface� that has some of the best recipes for weight loss people. Great recipes and a great blog!

4. Talk to us about exercise. I hate exercise. I have a rebounder and that�s the only thing I do; it is excellent. Do you love/hate exercise? What exercise has been the most entertaining for you? What is the most useful for health?
I always hated exercise but I am asked often if I �work out�. I found yoga. Many people automatically assume that yoga is only for people that can bend like a pretzel. For me yoga is like slow dancing by yourself but at the same time you are increasing your range of motion and burning calories. It is said that ten minutes of yoga is as good as an hour on the treadmill. There are great videos online for beginner yoga and there�s a great DVD called �Heavyweight Yoga� that you can get at Heartfelt Yoga: Home. I think it�s super important that you find something you like and something that is easy to do. I can do yoga anywhere, anytime. If you absolutely cannot find an exercise you like, then dance! Walk your dog. It has been proven that exercise can be a huge benefit to people that are depressed. Whatever you do, it�s just really important not to �hate� it. If you believe it�s a drag, it will be!

5. What is a typical day of meals and drinks for you?
Well you might be surprised. I have completely changed the way I feel about food. I look at it as fuel. For me I had to not look at food as a sexual experience anymore. If every time we went to fill up with gas there was an ocean breeze (in Texas), dancing naked men (or women), hot music etc�. well you�d be wanting to go get gas again sooner than necessary. I eat as boring as possible because it works for me. I look forward to that shake in the morning and the rest of the day is mostly protein. I try to eat vegetables and fruit in the right amounts. The more water you can drink the better. I actually hate water so I have to put something in it to make it possible for me to drink. There are so many things on the market that you�ll find one you like if you keep looking. I know a lot of people don�t want to hear this answer about boring food but too much food and the wrong food is the substance that makes me an unhappy person. I will not go back to the obese person I was and food can no longer be the end all/be all for me. It is fuel and I cannot afford for it to be the thing I look to for self medication of my anxiety in life. Food is fuel now�no longer a drug.

6. Do you have a favorite �appetite busting� food or drink?
I love these meat sticks called �Ostrim�. You can put them in your car or purse or pocket and it doesn�t matter what temperature they are. When you are out somewhere and you allowed yourself to get so hungry that you�ll eat anything you will certainly mess up. Ostrim meat sticks keep me from going through that drive through when I shouldn�t. They come in 4 flavors and taste great. Being prepared for what you�ll eat each day will keep you out of a lot of trouble in the long run.

7. I gotta ask� when you were fat, did you have really wide feet and a hard time finding shoes to wear? If so, after you lost the weight, did your feet return to a normal width? This is a crisis issue with some fatties I know, including myself. When I got fat I could no longer wear pretty shoes.
I was asked this just the other day. I lost a shoe size but some have reported as much as a size and a half. And yes you can wear those pretty shoes again. I know when I was obese, it was so painful and I really didn�t feel like putting those pretty shoes on my big body. I�ve made up for a lot of lost time now.

8. If someone is considering bariatric surgery, give us a spiel on your best advice for them.
My best advice would be to go online and research people that have succeeded and ask them how. Ask them what they did that make the difference between success and failure. You can find a ton of things for and against anything you research. Some people have lost loved ones due to surgery and they are just as upset as you would expect them to be. You will find blogs telling you that you are an idiot to consider it. For various reasons you will find blogs that say it�s the easy way out.
I also know people who have lost their lives because they were obese�one was a friend of mine. If you have tried and I mean sincerely tried and failed tons of diets, and if you are ready to sincerely put the effort into the lifestyle change, you could be a candidate. Even though it is difficult to believe, you also cannot buy into the belief that when you lose all the weight that your life will be perfect. You must be willing to educate yourself on what�s going on in your head and how you got obese in the first place. Choosing to have weight loss surgery is an extremely personal decision that no one should ever push on someone else. All I can do is live my life as an example and show others what a successful weight loss surgery journey looks like. You are the person that lives in your body so it�s your decision. Just like anything you do in your life that is a major undertaking, talk to those that have been in the trenches. My blog in particular will tell you a lot about what to expect.

9. In your layman�s opinion, what do you think is the best surgery, that is the safest and with the best outcomes?
The best surgery is the one you decide to have. It is important to go to a surgeon that offers all of them. Some want lapband because you can reverse it. Some want something else because they don�t want a foreign body inside them and have to go back for fills. Some don�t want their guts rearranged. That�s why it is so important to talk to your bariatric doctor because he or she is trained to ask those questions so that you can pick what is best for you.
I have known people that have succeeded and failed with every kind of surgery and even though you will see a lot of fighting online about which surgery is the best, that�s between you and your doctor and whether your insurance will cover it or not. Some people do not have insurance and self pay. The thing that is important is believing in the one you pick. Treat it as the miracle it is and show your surgery some respect. If you go in expecting failure, that�s what you�ll get. Don�t let naysayers rent space in your head. There�s always someone that will have something nasty or critical to say. Surround yourself with successful, happy people and you�ll find it easier to be that way.

10. What do you look for in a doctor?
Experience and the way you feel when you talk to him/her. Get feedback from his other patients. I am a member of Obesity Help.com and each member has their doctor�s name under their user name. The doctor�s page has feedback from his patients. Check out how extensive the aftercare program is BUT it is far more important to go to a good doc first. A doc with good marketing could make his program look like a million dollars but that doesn�t tell you how good he is. The proof is talking to other patients and asking a lot of questions.

Read more: Fireside Chat with The Bariatric Girl | Bariatric Surgery for the Brain : Ms. Fatty's Weight Loss, Dieting and Fitness Fun House

Stopping the unwanted comments effectively

Bariatric Girl — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:10:58 GMT

I want to continue on to the next step after figuring out that what other people think of us is not our business. (see this post)

http://bariatricgirl.blogspot.com/20...s-none-of.html

Talane Miedaner shares in her book "Coach yourself to Success" just how to protect yourself gracefully from unpleasant comments. It is a simple four step communication model that helps us build the boundaries that so many of us do not have. After we find out that it doesn't matter what others think of us, this is a system you can use when someone actually speaks to you in a manner they should not. I believe as weight loss surgery patients that we so often have blurred boundaries because instead of correcting the offending statements, we worry instead about why they don't like us.

Here is how to stop behavior in a graceful and effective manner.

1. Inform. "Do you realize that you are yelling? or, "Do you realize that comment hurt me?" or, "I didn't ask for your feedback." If they continue with the unwanted behavior, then take it up to step 2, but only after you've tried step 1.

2. Request. Ask them to stop. "I ask that you stop telling me now" or, "I ask that you only give me constructive feedback." If they still don't get it and the behavior continues, try step 3.

3. Demand or insist. "I insist that you stop yelling at me now." If they still persist, you take it to the next level.

4.Leave. (without any snappy comebacks or remarks). "I can't continue this conversation while you are yelling at me. I am going to leave the room." If you are in a relationship and the other person doesn't change his or her behavior after you've tried this model numerous times, you may need to leave the relationship and/or get a therapist. The people who REALLY love you will respect your boundaries.

The key to using these steps is to say them in a neutral tone of voice. Do not raise your voice up or down. Keep it calm and flat. You are informing the person...just like you would say "The sky is blue".

Let me repeat one of the sentences! The people that really love you will respect your boundaries. If they don't, then it is time to walk around them and continue on your quest for a better life...your ultimate goal.

It doesn't matter whether you've changed their thinking....it matters that you stop the behavior.

After years of being a total wuss I was surprised when I think back to how I applied this system in one area. Remember I am from the south where this happened a little more often. I particularly have a boundary regarding people using a certain derogatory word for a certain race. To me it is disgusting and cruel. Even though I let people walk all over me in every other area, I drew this line in the sand early on. Every one that knows me a little bit knows this about me and guess what? They never say it in front of me. I can't change how they think but I can change their behavior around me. The people that love me respect my boundaries.

Those of us that have not learned how to form these boundaries will possibly find this difficult to do but why would you allow someone to continue to speak to you in an inappropriate way? We have spent years as obese people taking the abuse leveled at us. It's time to stop the insanity.

Next time someone tells you that you took the easy way out, or you've lost TOO much weight, or you will fail, or whatever comments that we often hear....try it. If you don't respect yourself, how to expect others to respect you?

So here's to stopping the insanity! Remember to use the calm voice so that you can stop the critical voices that you've listened to for so long.

Toxic Trauma Drama at the WLS Ranch

Bariatric Girl — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:05:41 GMT

Toxic Trauma Drama at the WLS Ranch
RESPECT...a very important word in life. And here's a couple more...

Compassion, Empathy

Don't we know what these words mean anymore? The fact that so many people simply forego any hint of the golden rule just blows me away. So many dish it out but certainly don't want the same in return. Forums, boards, and blogs are sometimes a vast wasteland of disrespect and anonymous bullying.

The squeaky wheel so often gets the grease because so many boards don't have a lot of structure. It sort of reminds me of the old West...Cowboys and Indians...before Marshall Dillon rode into town...... pretty much whatever you can get away with at the expense of other's feelings just so long as you bulldoze your point through because you have to prove how right you are and how wrong someone else is. It is not a place for the weak at heart....like me.

Yup, go ahead and call me a Pollyanna. I'm just plain worn out from toxic trauma drama on forums, boards, and blogs....well wherever it is.

I'd love for the moderators to put a little icon before each of the applicable threads that says TTD.

As weight loss surgery people we are already very vulnerable and after a lifetime of negativity due to obesity, I don't understand why we must continue to pile more anxiety upon our already stressful lives. The other problem is that it starts (usually) with a post that isn't so bad but it's where it goes that gets dangerous. (sorry Dad for the language but this is a bland representation of reality)

Example-
Alice: I like orange and I can't see why anyone would like red...I mean what are you thinking?
Betty: Well I like orange too but if you like red, you're nuts.
Cheryl: I like red, orange sucks and you can go to hell
Betty: Cheryl, you're a freakin' bitch!

Dawn: Betty you're freakin' bitch because I've liked red longer than anyone so you don't know crap!

Alice: Don't call my friend Betty a bitch and your surgery type sucks too.

Cheryl: You're fat and I'm at goal

Betty: I can lose weight but you can't fix ugly

Truth be told we all have a right to like orange or red. We can agree to disagree. In the meantime a newbie comes to the board looking for some real support, something that might save their life. So....newbie goes away, newbie loses out on good info OR newbie joins in the fun and never figures out how to fight the demons that are the reason for their obesity because they are too busy picking the "right" side. If you HAVE to be right, you HAVE to make someone else wrong.

The other mega fall out is just as potentially harmful. The veterans give up. Why would they want to stay? Their exit is a two fold tragedy. You lose some valuable experience and maybe I'm wrong but I'm thinking you might want someone to hang around that knows something. The other unfortunate part is the fact that veterans lose out on continued education and the all important accountability factor.

Stress causes us to trigger our food addiction (or other addictions) so what do we do?.....we jump right into ramping up the demons. Some people are perfectly unaffected and can play this game but so many are not. I have watched this first hand and I've seen several women sit and eat all day when the toxic trauma drama starts.

Are we our brother's keeper? Maybe...I mean...

I know I can't save the world but I can lead by example and do the best I can to keep my eye on the prize. Each time I take my eye off the prize, I am veering off course...and not walking toward the goal I want more than anything else....and when I participate I also help others veer off course too.

For me...the veterans are the parents in this community and when we fight it is just like the parents arguing in front of the kids. They are already coming in new and vulnerable and when we fight, we just screw them up a little more and feed the monster disease of obesity and addiction.

I'm saying the serenity prayer a little more every day.

If we really understood it, we'd get out of the business of stressing out and getting all pissed off over totally insignificant things that we cannot change. Life isn't fair but there's no use in wasting energy on things we can't change when we still have so much to do to work on ourselves. Since I am no where close to doing it all just right and until I figure out a way to do that, I don't see how I can spend time trying to tell others how to act. I certainly don't appreciate someone telling me how to act so I'm pretty sure no one else likes me to tell them they're doing it all wrong.

And then we have trolls....the ones that do it just to start a fight. We have aggressive trolls, passive/aggressive trolls, famous trolls and anonymous trolls. They start a fight for the fun of it and then everyone gets involved over an issue that was fake in the first place!!

I've been really active on the boards for almost 8 years. I have learned so much in those 8 years and the online support forums have figured out things that some of the bariatric programs haven't even begun to cover.... but for the life of me it is almost more than I can take sometimes when my WLS brothers and sisters start butting heads over things that don't matter.

Call me a dreamer...but I still hold out some hope that it can happen one day...

but until then I'll continue to do my best to offer support and help to those that want it and try my best to avoid the toxic trauma drama.

So fight if you want...but for now I'll just continue to answer to Pollyanna, Goodie Two Shoes, Naive Girl, whatever....

I'll be the one sitting in the corner singing Kum ba yah.

p.s. Here's the great recipe for life that I posted before.

A GREAT RECIPE FOR LIFE...

1.Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to the God of your understanding about what is going on in your life.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today. I am thankful for______________'
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
17. Forgive everyone for everything.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________.
Today I accomplished _________.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. You'll be smiling before you know it.

26. READ 7 AND 14 AGAIN!

3rd Month Post-op Consult

MsJacquiiC — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:09:03 GMT

I'm blogging this post...
Month #3 Post-op feels pretty damn good!

The Following Text Is Quoted:

Originally Posted by MsJacquiiC

I celebrated my 3rd month post-op on July 28th :yay:

I just got back from my 3rd month consultation moments ago - Great news to share with Yawl = I'm down 79 pounds since my surgery - From 438 --> 359 = SweetNESS! I also got to hug Dr. Boyce and tell him how much I appreciate his expertise and skills. It was so important to thank him for a job well done!

Anyway - At this rate - my 6th month consult will see me at the gates of Twoterville for the first time in many many years! I never ever imagined I'd see 200 pounds again...

Just thought I'd share :)

Jacquii.

About WLSJourney.org :: The Journey ((copied from the forums...))

MsJacquiiC — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:06:10 GMT

Hello and Welcome to The Journey.

I'm Jacquii Cooke, the Administrator and Owner of WLS Journey Community Forums. It is a pleasure to welcome you to this new online WLS Support Community. I truly hope that The Journey will become your primary online source for WLS support ==> So pull up a seat with your favorite protein drink in hand and make yourself comfortable.

A Few Tidbits About Me:

I'm a 34 year old Webmistress & Published Poet from Oak Ridge, Tennessee. As a Poet, I have published works in a variety of online and print journals, including my online poetry portfolio at JacquiiCooke.com. As a Webmistress, I am the primary developer & designer for a myriad of online venues, a seasoned graphics artist, and owner of several other websites. Amongst the notable is one of the internets most popular poetry forums, JPiC Forum For Writers.

My Own Personal WLS Journey:

I first became interested in the prospect of weightloss surgery after seeing an intriguing program on the Discovery Health Channel. I believe that was back in 2006 perhaps... Being a procrastinator, it was not until 2008 that I actually considered WLS a viable option and began acting like it mattered profoundly. Generally profound things take on the roll of obsession for me... So after doing an interesting rendition of the obsessed person's dance, I sweated a bit then got on the phone to schedule for one of the WLS Introduction seminars.

I was so thoroughly jazzed after the seminar that I directly scheduled for my first consultation with Dr. Stephen Boyce of then Parkwest Comprehensive Weight Loss Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. My consultation was on April 20, 2008 - at which time Dr. Boyce told me verbatim that at 400+ pounds I was a perfect candidate for weightloss surgery and that in no uncertain terms would he operate on me as a smoker. (I was a 2-pack a day smoker the day of my initial consultation. Apparently Dr. Boyce could smell the cigarette smoke :blush: ) It is with no chagrin and a lot of awe that I call April 20, 2008 the anniversary of my last-smoked cigarette. Thus far I have not lit up again. :yay:

Moving on... Long-story short: After having successfully jumped through all the hoops put in front of me (and some that were loftily laid behind my big booty -- apparently I'm ambidextrous in the hoop jumping game :LOL: ) I was finally able to schedule my own weightloss surgery. Dr. Stephen Boyce of the now New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery performed my laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on April 28, 2009. I'm happy to say that I have had no complications what-so-ever and have been feeling better the past couple months post-op than I have felt in years!

So... As the Owner/Administrator of Jacquii's Poetry in Color Forum - I thought it would be well worth my time and effort to invest a bit of dedication in creating this new online WLS Support Community! I've come to the realization that I am going to need all the support I can handle in order to make my own WLS a success for years to come. I truly believe that in this process of receiving support I too can do my part in offering support to others in hopes that success will forever be the name of the game. Thus WLSJourney.org and our WLS Journey Community Forums. It's a total mutually beneficial thing that I am quite happy to offer!

Again - I say: Welcome to The Journey, where we are shaping ourselves into healthier people! Be sure to introduce yourself over at the Howdy Hi Introductions section and tell us all about your WLS Journey. We look forward to many years of sharing our WLS journeys, supporting each other through the rough patches and smiling during all the phenomenally new healthy days!

Jacquii.
Jacquii@WLSJourney.org

The Journey Posting Policy ((copied from the forums...))

MsJacquiiC — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:00:45 GMT

1. The Journey Administrator, Jacquii Cooke, along with The Journey Moderating Team welcomes you and thanks you for being a part of this new, growing WLS Support Community. Welcome and enjoy.

2. In order to keep the forums running smoothly (with a minimal amount of unnecessarily negative drama) and to prevent problems, please follow these simple guidelines and posting rules. If you have any questions or problems, please feel free to Contact the Forum Administrator and/or Open A Support Ticket. We will be happy to assist.

General Rules

While debating and discussion is fine (in their appropriate forums of course), we will not tolerate rudeness. Neither insulting, racist, homophobic, ageist posts, nor posts of personal attacks or purposeless hate are allowed here. We reserve the right to remove offensive posts without notice. Our decision is final in these matters.*
Please refrain from posting meaningless threads, one word (or short) non-sense posts, or the such.

Advertising, spamming and trolling is not allowed. This includes using the forum, email, visitor messages, blog comments, picture comments and private message systems to spam other members.

The Following Text Is Quoted:

Quoted From Wikipedia:

Spamming is the abuse of electronic messaging systems to indiscriminately send unsolicited bulk messages. While the most widely recognized form of spam is e-mail spam, the term is applied to similar abuses in other media: instant messaging spam, spam in blogs, and Internet forum spam.

Please wait a reasonable amount of time before bumping posts.
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Each member is allowed one login account. Registering with multiple accounts is not allowed.
While we are quite happy to have constructive comparative conversations about competitor's products, we will not tolerate blatant adverts or the sort of 'ooh look, yet another bulletin board' threads.
We reserve the right to remove offensive posts without notice.
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We also reserve the right to ban anyone who wilfully violates the forum rules, as access to our Community forums are a privilege and not a right.

Moderation

Although the Administrator and Moderators of WLS JOURNEY COMMUNITY FORUMS will attempt to keep all objectionable messages off this forum, it is impossible for us to review all messages. All messages express the views of the author, and neither the owner of WLS JOURNEY COMMUNITY FORUMS, nor any un-affiliated WLS Centers will be held responsible for the content of any message posted on these forums.
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The Administrator & Moderating Team reserve the right to remove, edit, move or close any thread for any reason.

* Please Note The Following Disclaimer: The Journey is a WLS Support Group offered as a free online courtesy. The content found here is for informational purposes only and should not be misconstrued as representing medical advice. Consult your doctor before starting any weightloss program or exercise regiment.

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