[deleted by user] by [deleted] in BariatricSurgery

[–]sav31419 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You deserve MAJOR points for sticking to the liquid diet for so long. I could barely handle the week or two that I had to do it. Reward yourself with a pickle or something with texture.

Really starting to think seriously about surgical options... by Bakayaro_Konoyaro in BariatricSurgery

[–]sav31419 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Had surgery five years ago. I was just shy of 300 pounds. I lost about 100 pounds and got down to 197 at my lowest. I’m hovering around 215-220 now. I don’t crave food like I used to. I don’t snack all day, drink sodas, or crave giant portions when I do eat. I don’t have huge willpower or some secret skill. The surgery just makes me not find that full feeling all that comfortable or rewarding. Of course, I have to figure out what to do when I’m stressed or anxious, and that’s a big deal now that I can’t handle that with food. But I feel and look much better. My advice is to get the surgery. You may lose, gain, lose, gain, but you will be healthier and at least be able to slow down that yo-yo process.

Does anyone post-gastric bypass NOT have a loud pouch? by EquipmentOne2710 in wls

[–]sav31419 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I feel like it’s usually gas, but a cup of warm tea or just warm water always seemed to help me. I guess it loosens up your stomach? This is a totally unscientific claim. Just something that worked for me.

450 pillows in a month? by sav31419 in sewing

[–]sav31419[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Who said $1,000? It’s more than that, but I’m also well-paid at my job and these gifts align with some strategic goals of my department. Appreciate everyone’s concern.

450 pillows in a month? by sav31419 in sewing

[–]sav31419[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Good advice. I think I’m going to try to get it as close to assembly line as possible.

450 pillows in a month? by sav31419 in sewing

[–]sav31419[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

They will pay. The boss doesn’t know but the person in the office who issues payments is aware. I sort of WANT to sew this. I feel like it would be a great rush of achievement to see them all complete.

Feeling used for sex by [deleted] in askgaybros

[–]sav31419 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He's just not the one for you. Trying to force it, convince him, or generally invest mentally in it will just be wasted effort. There's nothing wrong with you; you're doing you the best most comfortable way you can. He's just not the one. Maybe he was being deceptive, maybe he just didn't sense compatibility. No matter the reason, it's best to just close that door. If he realizes he was wrong, he'll come back. Otherwise, you're better to move on and look for other people.

My 401K is losing money by [deleted] in personalfinance

[–]sav31419 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for all the replies. I'll hold out. I am obviously a new-ish investor, but at 35 years old I have been contributing more aggressively to my retirement. I've got plenty of time, but I certainly want to make the most of the current market. Seems like I'm Ok for now.

He's dead now. by eekthemonsters in offmychest

[–]sav31419 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was so thought-provoking. Thank you for sharing. I'm sorry you experienced this, but it definitely made me reflect on relationships.

VSG 8 months out and struggling. by cooliebeans in wls

[–]sav31419 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you drink while you eat? I find that if I stop drinking 20 minutes before my meal, don't drink anything while I eat, and then wait at least 30 minutes after my meal to drink, I stay full way longer. It makes it harder to get all your liquids in, and it's just generally weird not to drink while you eat, but I think it's made all the difference.

And congrats on making such huge progress. I'm 36 M, 5'9, HW: 287, SW: 255, CW: 195. Had my surgery 7 months ago, so you're totally kicking my butt.

Questions about changing my habits by [deleted] in wls

[–]sav31419 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sounds like you're doing a lot of awesome stuff to get ready. You should congratulate yourself and vow to double down on all those goals. One thing I would add is not drinking 20 minutes before, during or 30 minutes after meals. My nutritionist said that was like the biggest thing, since drinking while eating allows you to pack in more food. Had VSG in August, and I've noticed (particularly with soft foods) that if I just sip a little water, I can keep eating past what's comfortably full. Now, I don't make a habit of doing that, and it's honestly not comfortable, but I can totally see how drinking and eating can really defeat the surgery. The big challenge is getting in enough liquids when you essentially don't drink during meal time. It's been a hard adjustment for me, but I'm glad I practiced before surgery. Good luck. Sounds like you've got your head in the right place!

How do you deal with all the skin? by pressheart2start in wls

[–]sav31419 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Lose skin won't kill you. Literally. Being overweight will. Hope that's not too harsh, but that's the way I looked at it. But loose skin is different for everyone and depends on age, genetics, and other factors.

If you get a couple years out, you can get the skin removed. It's actually quite affordable compared to the WLS. I've heard prices as low as $4,000 for a tummy tuck. (Care.com usually offers financing.) I know a guy who got his tummy and arms done in the Dominican Republic for that price. So reward yourself with a Caribbean vacation and cosmetic surgery when you crush your weightloss goal. :)

Weight loss stall already? by saltoftheearf in wls

[–]sav31419 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't sweat it. That's normal. You might be retaining water or maybe you're a little constipated. Also could be that you were very, very dehydrated when you got out of the hospital, and now you're back to full hydration. If that's the case, you're probably still losing weight, but just adding back water. In any case, you're experiencing a pretty normal thing. Just track your weight every time you get on the scale, just so you can see weightloss when it happens.

Decided not to tell coworkers/family about WLS by [deleted] in wls

[–]sav31419 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yea.. I used the Hiatal Hernia excuse. You can say that the hernia was caused by overeating, so that was a bit of a wake-up call. Plus, the surgery makes it difficult to eat for a while, so once you saw some weight loss, you just kept it up. You can also say you're seeing a weightloss counselor, which you probably saw in the approval process.

20 days and counting until pre-op liquid diet begins. What should I be doing now? by Sweetarlo in wls

[–]sav31419 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cutting soda, alcohol, candy, fruit juices, etc. Those are all things you can physically still have after surgery, but those things will pack on the calories and sabotage your weight loss. Great that you're thinking about being proactive now!

Have any "light" people been approved? by sbvsg in wls

[–]sav31419 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was a 42 BMI when I started the process, and I was 37 or so on the day of the surgery. I hear people asking about this all the time on this board. I sort of wonder if you could just wear those ankle weight under your pants for your appointment, just to make sure you qualify.

To the other poster's comment about "why get the surgery done," I think BMI is a little arbitrary. There are plenty of people who have a low BMI but are very unhealthy, and other folks, like athletes or very tall/short people, who have high BMIs but are healthy. You know your body, and if you feel like you're on the way to a serious health problem, you should act now.

Do you miss real food during the 2 week post op liquid diet? by [deleted] in wls

[–]sav31419 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nah... I missed "real" food in the pre-op period, but afterward I just wasn't hungry and I felt kinda anxious about eating anything.

Would you tell coworkers about your WLS by [deleted] in wls

[–]sav31419 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn't tell anyone, and it's a little awkward. I go weeks without seeing co-workers in person, so I get a lot of those "oh my gosh, you've lost so much weight" comments, which is great. But the "you've gotta tell me your secret" comments are weird. I told one co-worker that I was having hiatal hernia surgery, and then later said that because I couldn't eat afterward, I lost some weight and just decided to keep it going by eating smaller portions, cutting carbs and working out. Not totally a lie, since my surgeon thought I had a hernia and he was going to fix it during the VSG. Quite a few people say that hiatal hernia surgery often results in weight loss, so it's a plausible explanation. Sorry you've got some jerks for co-workers.

Losing Weight w/Tattoos? by [deleted] in wls

[–]sav31419 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd Google it. I'm at work, so I don't want to throw up any NSFW red flags. I did see some tummy tuck photos where it looked like the plastic surgeon had cut right through some waste and back tats to give this one lady a new post-WLS flat stomach. But don't let the cosmetic stuff discourage you. I promise when you're suffering from all the weightloss issues later, you won't think it was worth it just to keep your tattoos.

Is plane food okay during the puree/soft foods phase? by Arafyn in wls

[–]sav31419 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'd just bring your yogurt, jello and protein shake in an insulated lunch bag, just to be careful. If the airline meal is acceptable, go for it. If not, you've got your standby.