Gastric Bypass

[iradney]

Y'know, as mean as this might sound, maybe you should let your Mom do it. The more you tell her she shouldn't, the more she'll rail about how she WILL have it and MUST have it and it's HER life etc etc. Sure, she'll lose some weight. But she'll gain it all back, and by that time, you'll be at your goal - fit, healthy, and downright gorgeous.

Sometimes you have to let people beat their heads against the wall, even though you want to warn them that it hurts, until they feel the pain themselves, they won't believe you and may even insist that it's pleasurable.

[jedimaster91]

Frozen veggies are much cheaper than fresh.

I bet you could make a delicious smoothie with frozen fruits and skim milk. Satisfy your sweet tooth and get gobs of vitamins and calcium at the same time. I also LOVE baked sweet potatoes with cinnimon mixed in. Tastes just like pumpkin, and chock full of Vitamins A & C.

Try growing some of your own veggies--even if you have very little space, some grow well in pots on an apartment patio.

If you're low on space and have a little extra money laying around, I highly recommend EarthBox. If you poke around Google, you may be able to find how to build one for cheaper. No weeding, moderate amount of watering, and you can fit several plants in the box depending on the type and size of what you're growing. Last year ours had pepperoccinis and an habenero plant. The habenero grew so well we had to cut it back a couple times. This year we're trying tomatoes, peppers, and some melons between two boxes. They're great for apartment dwellers who may not have a lot of space for gardening.

[Kiwi]

My own mother is doing this against my wishes.
She refuses to admit she eats much more than my BF who works a physical job. She thinks she eats healthy, total and utter denial. She is wilfully ignorant and already has the two most common side effects of this kind of surgery (mal-nutrition and an extremely sensative gag reflex), she has gagging fits if anyone so much as sniffs.

I believe she will die because of this surgery but no matter how much I argue she gets to decide what to do with her own body.
I have no advice, only empathy for you. It is incredibly frustrating to see someone who struggles with their weight, who won't admit they are the cause of their problems. Who wants the easy way out.

[lupo pazzesco]

First of all,

It's a shitty place to be, watching a parent destroy themselves.

Secondly, I'd look into free counseling programs, not for your mother, but for you. Sounds like you're what's called a parentified child, one who's taking the well being of your mom as your responsibility. I did that for a long time, and it really hurts you in the long run. Just had to say that because that's what struck me.

Now, on to the weightloss portion of it: I echo what everyone else said, talk to your mom's dr. Now. Faster. As for yourself? Rads mentioned sparkpeople.com, and as a member I can't sing their praises enough. It's free, it's useful, and it approaches weight loss in a logical manner. I joined last april and have lost 40 pounds since. It's a wonderful place, I suggest you give it a looksee. You are on the right track, and you sound like me, making healthy food, but finding the motivation to workout seems to be problematic. It will suck, but you'll get through it. There's been some really good advice on this thread so far. It IS possible to eat healthy on a budget, I'm a broke-ass poor college student, and I do it.

And smoothies are awesome! Take the chocolate milk AnaKhouri mentioned, add a frozen banana, little dab of honey and maybe some protein powder, and it's a healthy for you smoothie that tastes like dessert! I made one with soy milk before my workout tonight. Yum!!

Anyways, enough babbling from me, but if you need to vent about anything, be it parents or healthy lifestyle choices or recipes, PM me, I'm always willing to listen, even if that's all I can do. Stay strong, you're well on your way, and I believe you're going to do fabulously at this.