Paula Bee

I stumbled across this blog today, and the writer is inspiring and funny. She is down-to-earth and honest. I bookmarked her site, because I think it is worth following. www.300poundsdown.com

First of all, we have been where you and your husband are... a number of times. I am glad you see the one thing you can control. That is a turn around from my previous thinking, which was what I EAT and how much of it is the one think I control. You are an encouragement to me. Just do it! You are, and I will, (although I am still chewing on my knuckles a bit. I wonder if that counts as solids?)

My mom has early onset Alzh and lives with us. Some days she can be totally contrary, and yesterday was one of those days. I took her to the dentist to get her new lower dentures, (which we are paying for, btw, as she is financially not able to support herself,) and we got into it right away... over what is irrelevant... it could be anything... things that I have told her over and over and over, and I don't expect to her to remember, but she is bound and determined that I never told her. It reached a point when we got home that I called my sister to plan to send Mom for a vacation there. Until you have a parent living with you, you don't realize how STRESSFUL it is, and that is when I eat... the more stressed I am, the more I eat. I know it is a victory, but I didn't last night. I went to bed early and willed myself to sleep so I wouldn't think about eating. I was so hungry/stressed that I could have chewed my knuckles. Today I am starving.. I have eaten just as I am supposed to, but I am starving. I am sure it is head hunger, but that doesn't feel any better. To make matters worse, Mom has been walking around like pitiful pearl saying, "What am I going to do that week when you are not here? I will just have to call you if I forget something." Oh, no... my husband works from home and will be here, and I am NOT answering my phone. I will tell family members to call David and I will call him once a night. I have chewed my two knuckles up... let me go see if David or Mom will let me chew one of theirs.....

Carol, I would love to meet you. Your surgery is a week after mine. Did you go to the Memorial Hospital meeting? I had them unfill my lapband for the last time, and the doc was just terse. I figured I would never see him again, so I blew it off. I wouldn't want them to do my surgery, however.

I know

I am excited for you! Sast time I lost weight, I lost it in my eyeballs, too.. my contacts kept popping out and my eye doc remeasured my eyes to see what the issue might be.. lol...

Today is the first day that I have felt stress from my family, and it is arising because family members, (other than my husband,) are worried about me going alone for the procedure. My crippled brother called and wanted to DRIVE TO JACKSONVILLE (10 hours) so he could go on the plane with me and make sure I was okay. My husband has been with me to OCC two of the three times I have gone, and he knows that I will be well cared for, and the surgical procedure is with one of the best bariatric surgeons in the world. He got so mad over my siblings butting in to our business, and I think it is because, deep down, he wishes he could go. We really are not worried, except for my discomfort on the plane. It is so embarassing to ask for a seatbelt extender and to find myself spilling over into the next seat. Also, I am having pain in my left knee and hip, but they have put me on the aisle where I can stretch that leg. I have a wheelchair arranged to take me from one gate to the other on the layovers. I really think we have done everything we can do to make the flight the least painful it can be. Funny... we are more worried about the flight than the surgery. In the mean time, I haven't told anyone in my family except my oldest son, who will be one of the people who can check on me or make decisions. I have told everyone else that I am going to have my lapband worked on, (which is true.) I am just not up for any lectures on how the band didn't work and what makes me think that this will be more successful..... yada, yada.

OMG... I will be so horrified if they get in there and can't do it because of scar tissue... seriously upset after 4 weeks of slimfast and lean cuisine. Nobody has said anything to me about that... I am flying back and forth from Florida, and at 700 bucks a pop it becomes problematic for me. This just kind of freaks me out. What kind of things did you do when you were at the hotel the 5 days after surgery? I figure TV and my kindle, but I am not bringing my laptop... I am not bringing anything that isn't essential. Thank you.. Lord, I am freaked out now.

Lori, your story sounds so much like what has happened to me. I didn't sever a tendon, but I take medications for fibromyalgia, arthritis, bipolar depression, cholesterol, blood pressure... Almost from the get-go I had problems. I couldn't swallow many of my pills, and suggestions to cut them or have the doctor change them were problematic, as many are time released, and changing antidepressants is a no-go once you have found a balance of meds that work. I would get a little fill, then swallowing my pills would irritate my band and we would have to go back for an unfill.. over and over... Here we are 4 years later, weighing the exact same thing as I did when I got the fill, only I have horrible reflux all the time, one bad knee, and one bad hip (which makes exercise miserable.) My gastric sleeve is the week after yours, and although I am afraid to be out there by myself, I cannot wait to get this done. I need this to work.

I have been doing the two shakes and 1 lean cuisine for a week now, and have 3 weeks to go until my gastric sleeve surgery. I haven't been too hungry before, but for the last two days I have been starving. I noticed some good ideas... I forgot to get the metamucil tablets, but will get those along with sugar free popsicles, jello, and some minestrone. I hope it helps... I mean, I am going to hang in there, but I am hungry. Also, I have just been kind of lazy and gone with SlimFast. Maybe one of the other, higher protein shakes will help. Also, I noticed that my mouth tastes awful... could that be the ketone release from dieting? Does anyone know what I can to to help it other than to brush or gargle multiple times a day?

Thank you all so much for your encouragement and kind words. It means worlds when one is lonely and depressed. I will make it.... I get by with a little help from my friends... all of you. Love and gratitude, Paula

EXACTLY!! My bi-polar is the problem.. meds have kept me stable w/o much change for about 2.5 years, and now, I am fast cycling to the point that I just feel totally out of control most of the time.. angry... anxious.. laughing.. spending.. weeping.. giggling.. wringing my hands.. weeping.. oh yeah, did I say reasonless weeping? The part that has me SO upset about it is that I recognize when these are happening and I just cannot pull in the reins... it is like watching from the outside. Anyway.. I think we are to the starting over phase. Hugs and thank you so much Paula

Hi, Ya'll, I haven't felt well for a while, both mentally and physically, and I just have been too tired to come on, but I think about you all often, especially my special friends. I am in intensive outpatient therapy for my depression 2 full days a week for 8 sessions, and I am hoping this helps me get a grip on my depression. They are also re-evaluating all my medications and side effects. I had gained a little weight..not sure why.. but now am back to my shown weight. Hope to start dropping again soon. My family in Baton Rouge got severely hit by Gustav and will be without power for 3-5 weeks... something else to add to my anxiety issues. I will cope.. got to - there is no alternate choice. Having my wisdom teeth out Monday.. they are all in and two are crowned, one is filled.. the one with the filling actually broke. Continuing with water aerobics on MWF.. really enjoying it and feel less lonely. Hugs to everyone

Awh, Girlfriend... I am so proud of you.. you are an inspiration.

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Hooray for you.. I think the nsv's are the most emotionally satisfying ones.

I know you are upset because he was unhappy.. good mommy.. He will be MORE unhappy if you die earlier because of weight related health issues. With regards to being embarassed? Who gives a flip! You are never going to see any of those people again, so who cares? Hugs!

SOOOOOOO glad to see you back!

I LOVE Paul Newman's peach and pineapple salsas. They are not too hot, but soooooo delicious. If I find I am trying to eat some meat that is too dry, I just put some of this salsa on it. It is perfect, and very very good!

Laffing and doing the happy dance with you.. much more fun when there are two. Gotta love that happy dance! Woot!!

You are special to me, too, and keep me inspired when I am too tired to be inspired by myself. I thank God every day for your support.

Alas... I, too, am an addict to the site. Even when I don't feel well enough to post, I lurk and read everything. This is a MAJOR lifeline for me, and I greatly appreciate the support and information I find here. Thanks, everyone!!

I am really feeling it for those of you in the Pacific NW.... I know the 100 degree temps have got to be killing you... Hugs....

I had better luck with my pills this morning. I broke them all up until they were small as a pencil eraser, and took them with my second cup of coffee. All but the one that cannot be broken went down my "warmed up" throat. After a few sips of coffee, the other one went down. When Kathie Gonzales did my fill on Monday, my blood pressure was low. She told me to go to my gp to talk about getting off at least one of my bp pills. I was VERY excited. That would be one less pill! I am using the EAS whey powder.. I have loved it from the pre-surgery days. I put a full scoop in my morning coffee for breakfast...mmmm... mocha! Maybe the low carbs are an issue with the exhaustion. I may try having beans for lunch to get the protein and the carbs in one swoop. Water aerobics is calling to me. I never want to go, (a depression and exhaustion thing,) but I always have fun after I get there. So, I shall head out. Have a good day, everyone!

Dang, Kim... it would be cheaper for you to fly back and forth than to drive! I wish you were coming while I will be in Baton Rouge visiting my mom around the 10th. My brother's divorce court date is the 12th. Any day after that I could meet up with you.