SuzyB

Saw dietician tonight. I have now lost 60lbs post op (sleeved 26 April), 76.5lbs including pre-op. Those are numbers I never thought I would or could achieve so- woooohoooooo!!!
For a non-tall person, whose BMI is now just below 27 (started at 41) and whose health is changed beyond recognition, all I can say is thank you sleeve, I literally couldn't do it without you, lol!! You have changed my life forever.
I have now revised my target weight, which gives me 14 lbs to go (don't know why ticker keeps showing 7lbs). Cosmetic surgeon says my boob job will take 5 of those lbs away.... It's all getting soooo close....
Am away back to my happy dance (which I can now do for way longer without losing my breath, ha ha ha!!!) Normal service resumed soon......

I started this journey in size 26 and got my tummy stuffed into size 16 jeans this weekend!! I know that's really 5 sizes but 10 just sounds so much better!! My surgery was June 28 and it seemed to take forever to go from 3X to 2X but, like everybody says, the sizes go down faster as they get a little smaller. I know I can't wear 16s in everything but was thrilled to fit into these jeans (I had gotten a great deal on them from ebay, just figuring if they didn't fit now they should later). Happy, happy dance!!

I can't wait to try this.
Thank you

So I'm from Pittsburgh and if anyone follows baseball they know we are in the playoffs for the 1at time since the early 90's....anyway I'm a huge fan....my boyfriends co workers got tickets and included me....so I'm 6 weeks post op and haven't had to worry about a social food packed scene....I watched everyone eat like fools lol and I had my cheese and Protein Bar and water.....I made it....then they decide to go to the Olive Garden....oh no haven't been to a restaurant since surgery.....but I am so proud.....did not touch the salad or breadsticks and ordered off the light fare menu which was scallops and tilapia....had a few bites and boxed the rest.....best part was I didn't feel bad that I couldn't eat the other things and was completely satisfied with what I got.....now I know.I can do this

Try and get up and go for a walk for 10 minutes today. Depression can take over your life so easily and it is important not to let. Even a little walk will help.

Try and get up and go for a walk for 10 minutes today. Depression can take over your life so easily and it is important not to let. Even a little walk will help.

I have no prep diet. Nothing after 11pm tonight. I have been eating high Protein and low carb so I have lost about 25lbs since making a decision.

Today I rode on public transportation for the first time since surgery... I realized half way through that someone was sitting next to me , and I was relaxed and enjoying myself. Previously I would be tense the whole way trying to make myself as small as possible... Felt liberating.

Icing recipe is at the end.
Wet Ingredients:
1.5 c no-sugar added applesauce
2 eggs (or equivalent liquid egg substitute)
1.5 cups no-calorie sweetener (Splenda)
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp. nutmeg
Dry Ingredients:
1 c.
Atkins All-Purpose Baking Mix
1 c. chocolate Protein powder
¼ c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 tsp. salt
3 tsp baking powder
Directions:
Pre-heat your oven to 350. If you are me, this entails re-lighting the pilot, kicking the oven three times, turning it up to broil and then back down to 350, but I digress…
Mash the bananas up in a mixing bowl (or simply add applesauce, if that’s what you are using). Why the bananas/applesauce, you might ask? Both provide a LOT of moisture for your end result without adding the fat of butter or oil. I don’t generally add oil to my baked goods, but your mileage may vary!
Add in the rest of the wet ingredients and stir until eggs are fully incorporated.
From here, what I do is usually put the dry ingredients in a sifter and sift it directly into the wet ingredients. You can either do that or mix them in another bowl, your choice. Stir wet ingredients and dry well until the mixture is the consistency of a pudding.
Line a cupcake pan with cupcake cups and add one heaping tablespoon of the batter to each. Remember to tap down your pan after you’re done (just tap it against the counter to ensure there are no air bubbles at the bottom).
Pop the pan in the oven for about 12 minutes. I may sound like a broken record but I cannot say this enough. Protein baked goods cook a LOT faster than their regular counterparts. The outside forms particularly quickly. I’ve found 12 minutes to be the perfect cook time in MY oven. Yours may be different. So don’t leave the kitchen. Go do something else while these are baking (tune in tomorrow for the protein icing recipe and that can be what you are doing…).
Remove from the oven when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow them to cool fully before trying to eat one. All that will happen if you try to eat them hot is that most of your cupcake will stick to the liner. That’s no fun.
Icing
8 oz. package of fat free or reduced fat cream cheese
1 package of sugar-free pudding mix (I used vanilla)
2 tbsp PB2 (omit, of course, if you are not making Peanut Butter icing)
½ c. milk

I got my call today, YEA!!!!!!! I'm surprised that I only have to see a nutritionist once, watch a DVD and fill out some paperwork. I can't believe it's all happening so fast. Im more than thankful to myself for making that call. This all started just a few days ago and now I'm on my way. Finally I will become healthier and will have the body to match my personality and smile. It still hasn't all quite hit me yet. I'm so appreciative of this app and all of the people that are willing to share their advice and experiences, I'm sure I will have lots of my concerns eased and questions answered just from reading some of the threads.

In my first 7 days being sleeved, the top 10 things I have learned :
1) In the world of competitive sleeping, I am a Gold Medalist. I can (& do) nap anytime, anywhere.
2) I am hanging up my stethoscope. My new fulltime job is to "sip, sip, sip". Staying hydrated is hard work.
3) The sounds coming from my new stomach are not lady like.
4) I am no longer a bashful burper.
5) Daytime TV sucks.
6) Not every belly twinge is a potential leak. I am a nurse, so I always look at the worst case health scenarios first. Hard habit to break.
7) Isopure gags me, but is tolerable if made into SF Jello.
8) Old Navy makes super comfy yoga pants, even if I never assume a "Lotus" pose.
9) Clear liquid diets are doable for a few days. My favorite flavor is blue.
and last, but definitely not least, as a wise forum member once advised me:
10) Never trust a shart!

Great news... the clinic is financing half of it for me. It's still going to be tight. But I can do this. I'll probably save a lot in food anyway! Hoping for December 2013 surgery.

I gave in and called the dr. He peerscribed doxcpin. I have to take it at night and see what happens.

Why does the partner have to change on your schedule? People will not tackle their health and weight issues until they're good and ready....and not a minute sooner. I don't know about you, but I was overweight for decades....then one day I decided to do something about it. But for many years before, doctors and relatives had been urging me to do something....I just wouldn't....until the day I decided enough was enough.
My wife married me when I was 400lbs and she was running marathons. Thank god she didn't decide I needed to be on her fitness and nutritional plan or we would have never been married.....so no....it's not a problem unless you make it one. JMHO

It might depend on how important it is to you that your partner make those changes. You are doing what you think is best for you, but you can't make someone else choose the same way. I believe that all we can control in life is our own behavior and our own choices. We sometimes expend a whole lot of energy trying to make someone else do what we think they should do. We nag, we plead, we insist, we punish, we guilt-trip, and we even yell. Most of the time, our efforts wear us out more than they work on the other person.
You keep going & do what you think is best for you. We all pursue WLS because we believe it will afford us a better life in some way. Would it be awesome if your partner would also commit to a healthier lifestyle? Sure it would! But if your partner isn't willing to make changes, how willing are you to let go of needing he/she to change?

I have my date and I just have to do my preop appointment with the surgeon and the hospital. That will be sometime in the next 2 weeks. Then it is onward to surgery.

So I survive my surgery and no LEAKS! I was nervous cause I was a previous bander. My band came out after 7 years of complications in December 2012. I couldn't be more please with my recent loss. My surgery was 9/18 and I'm down a total 23lbs. Not bad at all

I was folding my laundry today (right out of the dryer -- that's an NSV all on it's own) and every item I pulled out was either yoga pants or a t-shirt. This isn't anything new from my fat days until I realized that I didn't wear these clothes all week because they were comfortable and all I felt like wearing, but because I SWEATED IN THEM every single day this week!!
I am no longer wearing my exercise clothes to hold down the couch but to...
EXERCISE!!!!!!!
And while I am wasting your time, I will throw out that I hiked over 10 miles today, logging 25k+ steps on my fitbit AND I am doing a Pretty Muddy 5k Obstacle course in the morning. AND I LIKE IT!!

I found this VST page and I have gone crazy nuts over all the information here. I am new to the site, and went to several, okay MANY profiles to look at all the profiles, before and afters and stats.
WELL..... I just discovered that you all can see on your profiles who has visited! ha ha ha....
Hi, my name is Angie and yes, I stalked your profile :ph34r:

Just got rid of the last few things I was hanging on to. I barely have anything left! My husband helped me load it all into bags. As I was throwing away a hoodie I had always worn, my husband asked why I was throwing it away when I loved it so much. It made me cry to tell him that I hadn't really loved it, I had pretend that I did with the majority of my clothes because I am young and want to look unique in my clothing choice, but my size wouldn't allow it. The hoodie I got rid of was a men's 4x. I do have a fun sense of style but I have never been able to show it before. I'm not all the way there, but I am a heck of a lot closer than I was before! Oh and I got rid of all those hangers that had the sizes on them. No more 26/28 for me! So now my closet is so empty, but I am hesitant to get things that I will get too small for... What a fabulous problem! I am 5.5 months out. I have lost 100 pounds. I never thought I would ever be where I am today. I am so grateful for this surgery, and all the people who supported me. I hope all is well with everyone else!

You are only 7 months out. Who cares if its slow! It will feel just as sweet whenever you get there... you have not stopped losing and you are only 14 pounds away. I say, chill out and keep doing what you are doing. Too early to freak.

Ok....
So I read some of the threads you have started, and, well, most if them are full of doubts and fears.
At least three are about dying, and several about not being ready so...
My take away? My opinion?
Your not ready. Plain and simple you are going into this with too many doubts.
Now I'm not saying that all of us should just feel "hey no problem let me just take the leap".
But I measured the risks and in my case (yes I have children I adore) it was a death sentence to stay obese (serious health problems)
I really feel that in your heart of hearts you feel this is not a good move for you?
I don't know... But if you go to your profile and look at all your started threads and read them again you might figure out why this might be a mistake.
Going in with so many doubts, ends up in regrets most of the time.

I could always lose some weight, but not enough to be at goal. I could lose 20-50lbs but still be there with another 50-70 to go. Diets were never successful enough for me. I need the forced Portion Control. I need the forced follow up appointments. It will always be a struggle but I have a tool that is forever a part of me.

Today was my 6 month follow up with my surgeon.
I have lost 55% of my excess weight. According to him, the average loss at 6 months is 40%.
My starting weight was 262. Surgery day was 249.
Today I weighed in at 194 on my scale. 196 on his. I liked mine better.
He also noted in my medical file the redness and itching under my breasts and pannis. He said if he puts it in my file, any Excess skin removal would probably be paid for by my insurance as medically necessary. YAY!!!
I walk 2-3 miles per day and can eat anything without issue( not that I do). I do have an occasional treat, and HORRORS!!!, have had soda a couple of times.
This is my journey and its a life long one.
Its been amazing so far.
Please don't bother to comment if what you want to say is negative. Don't want it or need it :-)

Thank you so much - excellent advice. I will definitely do that. I have an appointment tomorrow with immigration to see if they can either expedite my citizenship certificate or just let me use my British passport for this one trip. I've calmed down a lot today when i realized hey, I can always re-schedule. Yes I'll pay fees to the airline etc but I'm not gonna grow an ulcer over it. Thanks a bunch for the great advice - much appreciated - cheers !