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Just Dance!

Well I'm totally committed (or my husband would say I need to BE committed!) to exercising. I know that the scale staying at 18lbs lost for a week was because I needed to get up and shake what my momma gave me! I am doing Zumba on Tuesdays/Thursdays, but I was searching for something I could do at home. Low and behold, I bought the Just Dance 3 for the Wii. HIGHLY recommend! Everynight when my hubby goes to bed I get my controller strapped on to my wrist and I go to town. I'm sure if anyone was videotaping me I would go viral instantly because I'm sure that is a funny site to see! It actually lets you keep track of your week and your "sweat points". Not sure really what that means, but I'll take it!   NSV of the week: Going back to work and having two boxes of Krispy Kreme GLAZED donuts on the table and not even having a desire to eat one!

mags2u

mags2u

 

Sleeve Surgery Steps

Saw the nutritionist yesterday and had the pysch eval today. Saw the doctor afterwards and my last pre-op step was to set the endoscopy apt, which is for feb 7. I'm not nervous yet, I'm very excited! I know that may change but for now I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

momof4

momof4

 

From: Reaching My Third Goal

Knowing that I had to do something about my weight which was completely out of control. I made an appointment with Dr. Misra, (Beverly Hills, California) to discuss what options are available for me. I went in with the notion that i was going to do the lapband. After advising Dr. Misra about the ups and downs of my weight issues and I wanted a more "permenent solution" she strongly suggested the Vertical Sleeve with the STARR treatment. Hearing this wonderful option I decided with the advise from my husband and daughter- this was the right choice for me.   My surgery, scheduled July 13th 2o11 in Santa Clarita. Amen the surgery went off without any complications and I was realeased the day after. Coming home was a challenge due to the fact we have stairs in our home. Taking the three days to finally master the courage to walk the steps to go upstairs. I was able to rest more comfortably. The first couple days as you know were dealing with the gas issues and the lack of sleep. Only able to take a couple of sips at a time seemed so odd to me. How am I surviving on just a few sips of protein? But, I did, and the third week I went to see Dr. Misra and to my surprise I was down 20pds. I was in a state of shock... and since then, I have continued to lose consistly 20pds per month.     I am proud to annouce that as of today I met my 3rd goal of 199. I am so happy that I made this final decesion to do something about my weight issues. Needing to thank all my friends and family for their most incredible support and kind words. And to my friends here on Vertical Sleeve for all their wonderful eamils, suggestions and great advice.   Its now onto the 4th goal. I am hoping to reach my final weight goal of 150 by the end of June of this year. I will keep you all posted on the progress.   Once again... thank you "ALL" for every sweet emails and kind words you have so graciously given me.   Maddy     Source: Reaching My Third Goal

Maddy

Maddy

 

One Week From Vsg Surgery - Need Help Posting Ticker..

I dunno...do I just cut an paste the code created on LilySlim.com? Well, here goes....   <a href="http://lilyslim.com/"><img src="http://swlf.lilyslim.com/NkNXm8.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="LilySlim Weight loss tickers" /></a>   <a href="http://lilyslim.com/"><img src="http://swlf.lilyslim.com/NkNXm8.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="LilySlim Weight loss tickers" /></a>   If anyone can lend some advise on how to put this ticker in my blog, profile, signature or wherevers, I'd be grateful.   Well, it has been one week since my VSG surgery on 1/17/12. I stopped pain meds night before last. Feel really good. Can bend over and pick things up off the floor with out too much abdominal discomfort. Slept well without meds last night. I feel the need to get moving! Will go for a nice long slow walk tomorrow and even drive tomorrow. So excited. So glad, so happy. I put beneprotein in everything, well except water. However, the only 'everything' I've had since surgery is protein shakes, yogurt, strained miso soup, and tonight my buddy gave me a packet of dried hot sour soup, which I strained, and I put 2 scoops in 8oz. Have only drank 4 ozs of it for one meal today (saving the rest for next meal). Not at all physically hungry. Mentally hungry? No not much, but heck I wouldn't dare jeopardize anything to thwart the success of my weight loss goals with my new sleeved tool!   I would like to thank having to take chewable vitamins for getting to chew and crunch on something.

CAsleeve

CAsleeve

 

4 Weeks Post Op

Well its been 4 weeks since my surgery and today I was going to get my fill for the 1st time. Unfortunatly due to the incision where the port was placed still bleeding, my surgeon requested to r/s out a week. Hopefully it will stop bleeding by next week, because I am really getting anxious to start this journey! I would really like to start my weight loss...   I am not sure if this is common or if anyone has gone through this, but it is starting to wear on me . I am tired all the time and just want to be healthy and happy again.

Stacy F

Stacy F

 

How Many Calories Should I Be Taking In 4 Weeks Post Op?

I was sleeved December 28th and am on a pureed diet. I log all my food into My Fitness Pal and am getting about 800 calories/day. I have lost 24 pounds and have only lost about 1 pound in the past week. Is this too many calories? Of course fitness pal informs me my metabolism is going to diminish due to lack of calories, but there's no way I could take in 1290 like they're suggesting without eating or drinking junk. How many calories is everybody else getting around 4 weeks post-op?

jabsimmons

jabsimmons

 

Exercise, And I Think My Mom Is Finally On Board!

Yesterday Dr. Oz did another show about WLS. This one was about gastric bypass, and whether it should be available to more people (mainly diabetics.) I just happened to come across it, and my mom just happened to be over visiting me. Like I mentioned before, my mom has been very anti-WLS (for me anyway) because of what she saw on the Dr. Oz show about lap band. I was going to change the channel, but she said that she had wanted to watch it and asked me to leave it on.   We watched together in silence until Dr. Oz started talking about who would currently qualify for bypass. He said that a woman of 5'4" and 200 pounds would qualify. After the segment ended, she looked at me and said "he just described me. I'm 5'4" and (a number close to 200) pounds." She was absolutely shocked that she would qualify for gastric bypass. After talking about it for a while, she finally said that it would be a good idea for me to go ahead with the lap band. I felt like a thousand pounds had been lifted off my shoulders! What a relief to finally have her start to be okay with this.   Lately I've been throwing myself into this physician supervised diet as much as I can. I've been eating much more sensibly, tracking my calories, working through my emotional issues, and exercising. That last one is no minor thing for me, either. Because of the fibromyalgia and the bulging discs in my back, I haven't been able to exercise like I used to. I have been doing tai chi and yoga, but was really longing for pilates. I love pilates - it was the main contributing factor in my last large weight loss success. I love the way it makes me feel, how it improves my posture, and how quickly it trims me down. But I thought that with my issues I would never be able to do it again.   Thankfully, I found a program called Classical Stretch on PBS. It is a combination of pilates, stretching, tai-chi, and ballet-like moves. I watched it for quite some time before I decided to go ahead and try it. I have been doing it every day for several days now and I have to say it does not aggravate my fibromyalgia nearly as bad as I thought it would. My back, though, is not happy, and that is my fault. Instead of going slowly, I decided to go ahead and dive right in to the moves where you are required to bend at the waist and hang your head to the floor. I should have known better. My back popped, and I have been hurting since yesterday. But I do have to say that it doesn't hurt nearly as badly as it has in the past. At least this time I can walk, and it is manageable with the prescriptions that I have. So I am soldiering on. I figure if I'm going to hurt, I might as well hurt and do something instead of just sit around and be depressed about how much I hurt.   I've also been practicing amazing restraint when it comes to sweets lately. Today is my boyfriend's birthday, and I bought him a frozen cake a few days ago. I made it until today without eating any, and today I have only had one piece. Now it is sitting in the refrigerator calling to me. I have the feeling that I might have to white-knuckle it until bedtime, but I WILL NOT EAT MORE THAN ONE SLICE. I have already done a fair share of prayer and gotten out my hunger tool box. Did I mention that the cake is chocolate?   Oh well, off to do some sudoku...

Caribear

Caribear

 

My Journey Started

I started my 6 month pre-surgery diet with my first Dr. visit December 8, 2011. I am about 1.5 months down now. I am using this time to try to get use to adding protein to my diet, increasing my water intake, some exercising every day, and cutting out my vice - Coke Zero's!   I am also using this time to try to find out everything I can about having the sleeve surgery.

New_Hope

New_Hope

 

First Appointment And Stress And Guilt...oh My!

So today was my first doctor's appointment with Dr. W and he was fantastic! I felt very comfortable and he answered all of my questions without making me feel like I was just another faceless paycheck. His staff are also a bunch of supremely competent and amazing nurses who went to the extra mile to help me schedule some other appointments. Overall, it was amazing and I wouldn't be so stressed except for one thing...my insurance does not cover gastric surgery. At all. Zip, zilch, nada. So unless the doctors and hospitals go back to accepting chickens as a payment method myself and my family (who rock!) are going to have to come up with the money before I 'go under the knife'. That part definitely creates a ball of stress in my stomach, along with an unhealthy amount of guilt. The fact that my folks are willing to scrimp and save along with me for this makes me feel so unworthy. My mom almost brought me to tears saying that this was important for her, because it is important to me and that she would do what she could to help me pay for this. She keeps reminding me that 'where there is a will there is a way' but golly, I sure do wish that the way was a lot easier!   Adios, ya'll and if anybody knows how much a kidney goes for on the black market, let me know! (joke)   ~Lyra

Lyra

Lyra

 

Feeling Sick

I had my gastic sleeve on December 27th. Ever since I have moved to solids I get sick when I eat, feels like I am having a panic attack. My heart starts racing, I get sweaty and weak, and I feel like I cant breath. I even ended up in the emergency room on Saturday night because I couldn't get it to go away. They said it was anxiety... but I dont get it... why only when I eat???. They say its similar to the dumping syndrome but I thought we werent suppoed to have that? I have tachycardia anyway and I take meds for it, the doc increased my meds but Im not real sure if its helping... im trying to watch carbs and fats but ughhh its hard... Anyone having similar issues????

halimc28

halimc28

 

Please Help! Hungry

I was sleeved 01/18, and I can't seem to get full. I am so hungry that I feel weak. On my diet I can eat beans and mashed potatoes. protein shakes crystal light and popsicles. I'm just not getting enough to eat. Should I be this hungry or am I doing something incorrect. ? Please help i am getting tempted to eat the wrong thing to get full...although i wont but i feel like it! Any ADVICE WILL HELP.     Thanks

Smilecharmer

Smilecharmer

 

Week 6-- Only 6 More Pounds To Onederland

So yesterday was my 6 week post op... here are my stats   5'7'' HW: 265 GW: 250 DoS: 238.1 CW: 206.8 total loss: 31.3 lbs   I am sooooo excited right now. I am so pleased with my results so far I could just scream! I have to be thankful that I havent really hit any kind of real stall, and I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that im at the gym every day. I am down 2 more pant sizes and I am really happy that I saved all of my old clothes cuz i seriously wouldnt have had anything to wear. lol.   I have to admit even tho im seriously happy, I need to get back on track with taking my vitamins, and eatting on a more regular schedule. Issues is the vitamins are kinda gross even tho ive tried a few different ones, and the im just not hungry most of the time. But I will do better, because i don't want to fall in any type of deficiency.   So a lot of people have been asking me what kind of regemin i do for work out so here is my schedule.   monday- zumba tuesday- kick boxing and circuit training wednesday- free day thursday- arms and shoulders, 5k run friday- kick boxing and circuit training saturday- legs,back and glutes, 5k run   I know it looks like a lot and it is for only being 6 weeks out, but i make sure to listen to my body.. and i cant wait to go see my doc in 3 days... I want to get released to do full workouts so i can start doing ABS!!! i want my tummy flat, and ROCK HARD.   Its funny cuz before the surgery I always like to do some type of activity, but a lot of the time the motivation wouldn't really be there.. and now i have the motivation for like 5 people, mainly because i really don't want the lose skin, but also because i didn't just get this surgery to lose weight while i sat on my ass. I wanted to be able to get back into sports and not be in so much pain all the time. THIS SURGERY IS THE BEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPEND TO ME AND IM GOING TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF IT WHILE I CAN!

blackanese25

blackanese25

 

I'm Preop b***h.

Yup. I'm NOT good with feeling hungry and it has turned me into a...well...b***h. Low blood sugar and no food in my belly makes for one irritable chica. Only a few more days! I keep thinking I could do just some egg beaters - it was allowed on the previous doc that I saw preop diet! *flail* But no, this doc doesn't allow it. Although I may ask him why and if it would be something he would consider adding for future patients - might help stave off cheating for a lot of people just to have that "solid" feeling. Only a couple more days of this! I can do this! Hope my husband can survive. I know I need to buy him something shiney for putting up with me haha.

circa

circa

 

Second Day Of Liquids Before My Surgery

hello everyone, well today is the second day of liquids. having no problem during the day but a little come evening time. determination is letting me push on. i am anxiously awaiting saturday and hope to be back on here blogging with you all.

xoxo313

xoxo313

 

My Mascara Story

I am a recovering faker. VSG Ready- I, too, have put on airs in order to keep those at bay who may threaten me in some way. That threat me be emotional, like potential rejection, or mental, like if they find out I am this insecure surely they will stone and flog me. But, I learned something while buying mascara. Want to hear it? Here it goes;   Usually I put on my make up, maybe some hair, and then sit in front of the closet for an hour thinking about what to wear and what it will say about me. I don't want to look unprofessional, but I don't want to look out of date, but I don't want to look matronly, but not like a trend follower... and on and on. So one day as I am sitting there going thru my usual, this commercial came on for Falsies Flared Mascara. Now, I don't consider myself a superficial person by any means...but, I do place value on MY OWN outward appearance based on how I feel about ME that day. In particular, I value having a pretty face and nice hair because it distracts ME from the obvious (I won't dignify IT with a name...you know where we are, you know what it is). So, on this day, this commercial came on and I thought "Dang, that stuff gives you 'wings'? I need lash wings!" *sidebar* All of us have SOMETHING we use to distract from SOMETHING ELSE that we don't find desirable about ourselves. Many of us here are natural caregivers, sweet and cheerful people with strong personalities. But, in efforts not to be the "jolly fat girl" or the "Big mean black girl" or the "Mammy, advice giving and enabling black woman" we mask our natural qualities (even if they align with those characters). Sadly, too often we feel so different then we look that we misunderstand or over exaggerate how others see us. Its time for us to see ourselves as we are- Created fearfully and wonderfully by God. So, I go to Walgreen's to buy the stuff that gives you wings and its like 8 or 9 dollars. Being the frugal lady that I am , I had to ponder; "Is this worth 9$?" Then I thought back on all the fast food meals I bought, all the money I spent on clothes that were "slimming" (yea, put on the fat suit then buy clothes that cover it up), and I thought about how messed up I was making my mind. Eat for comfort, lie about who you are and how you feel about it, then hide try to hide it, then be sad and angry about how OTHERS treat you? Psyco big gurl say wha?? To make a long story short, I did get my mascara...but I started putting it on to ENHANCE who I am, not hide me. I do still wear make up and sometimes hair...but because it makes me feel good to put that kind of time in on myself. I am sleeved and losing so I am having an even harder time finding clothes. But, I don't worry out what people think. If I FEEL good, then I'm good, dangit! And you know what else? Sometimes, I AM an angry black women, and sometimes I am in a jolly a$$ mood. So what? I now wake up everyday knowing that I am not perfect and I will say something real stupid today. And I will probably lose my keys, or trip over the corner of a rug...and I'm just fine with that. God didn't make no junk and HE made ME. He loves me unconditionally and knows the number of hairs on my head (and in my weaves)! I honor God by accepting me and accepting that I change daily and it's not always perfection. I hope that all of you feel me when I say- You are HIS and HE ain't make NO JUNK!

Mrs.Prisses

Mrs.Prisses

 

One Week Until...

Today officially marks one week until my surgery.   I did all of my pre-op testing this morning and barring some bizarre result will be in the OR bright an early on Jan. 31st.   Today I also started my all liquid diet to shink my liver before surgery. So far so good, but its only been six hours I'm really gung-ho about it all right now and I just hope my resolve doesn't fail me too soon.   I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. I'm excited to finally be starting on a life journey to being healthy along with a crutch to help me get through the first few months of change. I keep visualizing all the things that I will be able to do soon that I've always wanted to, but never been able to because I was too heavy. I'm nervous because I worry that, at least for awhile, I will be so sick (pain etc.) and weak that I won't be able to do anything at all. I also worry that I won't be able to change my eating habits for good and this will all be for naught. I'm both scared and hopeful to see what the next few weeks will bring.

AbacoRaveness

AbacoRaveness

 

Just Over A Month Ago...

So it's been just over a month since my Band surgery. I'm down to 218. That's 17 pounds since surgery. For a total of 38 since start of my journey. I have been stalled for the last week or so since last blog at 220 and finally start to slide down this past weekend. No real change in what I was doing just had a pause in weight lost. I DID fit into a pair of size 16 jeans, on the 11th. I couldn't breath, but they were on for a few minutes. By this weekend I was wearing those 16's and breathing just fine. Had to go to a Boyscout event with my son this Saturday and saw a few parents I had hadn't seen in a few weeks. One mom came up and said, " Well hello Skinny! You look great" I had some real tough time this past week. Tuesday night my daughter comes in to kitchen while I starting dinner and says on of the scariest things I ever heard from a 7 year old. " Mommy, my heart hurts". So after listening to her chest, her rapid heart beat and taking her pulses, ran her to ER, than followed up with a cardiologist friday. She told him it happens all the time, especially after gym class...Great sweetie. She is now on a heart monitor for next month, all other test came back normal. Hopefully we will know more if we can catch something on the monitor. Thursday I had to put my baby cat to sleep. She was almost 18 years old and on her way to kidney failure. Poor little Roo. Then I had to tell the kids, not easy. All of this stress, and I stay on track and lost a pound. I have been in the past an emotional eater. I would have made a chocolate cake to morn the cat or grabbed some crap to eat at hospital, while waiting in ER all night in past. So even though it was stressful , it was a good indicator of my progress mentally. I don't get a fill til mid Feb. I start back to school for Spring term of Nursing school next Monday. I am very exicited to start back up and to not look like the stay puff marshmellow man in my uniform now. I still have a long journery to go to a healther BMI and me, But I know I can do it and I' on my way.

suzbuni

suzbuni

 

Visit To My Primarty Care Physician Today

Well, I just had to write a few words about what happened today when I went to see my primary care physician. Let me tell you a little background first.   I am seven and a half months post op. I had my surgery June 18 in Tijuana, MX. And I am thrilled to no end with my results so far. Have lost right around 98 pounds. (It varies depending on the day.)   I was living and working in California when I decided that I wanted to have the surgery. I am a travel nurse, but my home is in Iowa. I traveled home to Iowa in June for a couple weeks off, then my husband and I were going to fly to San Diego and travel on to Tijuana for the surgery. I went to see my PCP the day before we flew to San Diego to get my meds refilled. I hadn't seen him again till today, so hadn't been in his office since June of 2011.   When the nurse called my name today, I got up to follow her to the exam room. As usual, she led me to the scale on the way to the exam room. In the past, I have frequently declined to get weighed, as I didn't want/need to be depressed by what it said. But in my new, current life, I am not afraid of the scale anymore. So I hopped up on the scale to see what it would say. (I had already weighed myself at home this morning and was 160 lbs without a stitch on!)   The digital readout of the doctor's scale said 162, which is about right, since I had a pair of jeans on and a pair of boots. The nurse went to write it down, and said "hold on a minute! What is your name again? What is your birthdate? When were you here last?" I told her my name, birthdate and that I was last seen there in June of 2011. She then replied "well who ever weighed you that day is an idiot! They wrote the wrong weight down. They wrote that you weighed 260 pounds!!!! I need to change that!"     I laughed and told her there was nothing wrong with the weight in the chart, that I had lost almost 100 pounds in the last 7 1/2 months. She was amazed and had all kinds of questions. When I told her that I had undergone a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy she didn't know what it was. So I gave her a short course on VSG.   Anyway, I guess I can count this as one of my NSV!   P.S. the doctor told me I looked amazing, and was SO encouraging. He thought I made the right decision and told me to keep at it.

Helen the Cat

Helen the Cat

 

Sooo Shocked!

Ok so my new goal was to be in a size 14 by feb 14th. I decided to go to the mall this weekend and pic out something cute in a 14 to see how far i had to go. well lo and behold everything i tried on was 14's and they fit!!!! I was soooo shocked! no spanks, no girdles, just me!!!! wow i'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and believing i can make my goal of a 12 or 10 in one year! wish me luck!!!

jennifer1

jennifer1

 

Just A Few Days

Its so flippin hard to think of anything else. Its just a few days away - do I have everything I need? Did I triple-confirm my reservations? Is the dog sitter going to be okay? What time do I need to leave for the airport? Will my husband get off work in time to make the flight???? All of these things are fine but I still keep rehashing them. I still keep looking for information on how to make things go more smoothly. Am I prepared for when I get back? Yep - I am. Treadmill is set up and working just fine, hubby has a few things he has to get to before we leave. Hopefully he gets them done or I'm gonna be one angry mama!

circa

circa

 

Day 4 Home After Vsg Surgery And All Is Groovy...

Ok, one thing I've definitely learned is at this point, I can really only sip water/liquids (and, that is the instructions given...take sips). It hurts, like heartburn, if I do more than just sips. So, sip I will!   I think today is a turning point as far as the pain factor. YEAH! I've taken the pain meds basically to sleep at night and I think I'm done with that.   I also think I might just go back to work this Thursday or Friday! Whoop Whoop! My original plan or atleast I thought is what I would do prior to my surgery was that I'd be able to go back to work a week after. If I go back this Thursday or Friday, it will be 9 days post surgery, not 7 days. I think is is truly possible.   So I bought my first scale yesterday at Costco. I also walked all around Costco with my hubby and then later in the day walked on the treadmill (slowly) for 30 mins. Anyway, about the scale, if my scale reads the same as the one used right before my vsg surgery on 1/17, then I've lost 12lbs as of this morning. Shoot, 12lbs in 6 days...what, what?!?! Yes, I will take that.   Here's a secret and something weighing on my heart. I told my work I was having 'female surgery' - not bariatric surgery. I feel absolutely horrible that I've lied about this really important life changing action I've taken. It will likely weigh on me to much and I will come clean eventually. It's all about the personal weight embarrassment issues I have. I absolutely do not like to lie, but I have. I'm sure the truth will prevail...or at least catch up with me. I have actually only informed my husband and three friends of mine about the vsg surgery. I haven't lied to my family, but I haven't told them yet either. I want to be healed up before I do.   I've taken a few showers, but my belly is looking rather frightful and I still have the bandage strips and patches on my incisions - five of them. I swear they are iron clad stuck there and will be hanging on like an unwelcome house guest for a while. However, I can fully envision looking at my future flat stomach (yes, there will be lots of hard workouts and time to achieve this) and will only tiny signs of incisions!   Today is the true first day I woke up and the thought.."Why did I do this to myself?"..didn't come first to mind. I totally know why and I an so thankful and proud of myself for having done it.   The excitement continues to grow...   One Love.

CAsleeve

CAsleeve

 

Post Surgery Surprises

I had my surgery on December 23, 2011 in a Hospital and was discharged about 4 hours later. I had done a lot of research online and asked a lot of questions of the doctors and other post op patients. The things that surprised me the most were: #1 - the SHOULDER PAIN! Oh that lovely shoulder pain, caused by the gas that fills your belly during surgery that puts pressure on the diaphram. It was unbearable at the time but went away after two days or so. Gas X meltaway strips were my best friend and still on standby. #2 - instestinal cramps! Surgery in your digestive system can cause peristalsis to stop completely, it happened to me, I found out four days later when it started again and the stomach cramps were like a twisting knife, thankfully it only lasted til I got to the bathroom and about 20 minutes later. But now I'm down 22 pounds and juicy as ever, "how you doin?" Once again this blog represents my experiences and I hope it helps. Thanks to my family... Dr Sal.. And God!

sandymax

sandymax

PatchAid Vitamin Patches

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