Amanda131

This past Sunday I officially completed a two-year old goal to run a half-marathon. It still feels a bit surreal. I would say that I can't believe it, but everytime I try to walk down a flight of stairs I am VERY aware that my muscles put in 13.1 miles. :smile1: My husband and I both ran the marathon. Although he and I have been training together with a local running group since July his knee has been causing a lot of concern and we weren't sure if he'd be able to follow through with the race. While I'm proud of my accomplishment, I am in awe of him. He put in 13.1 miles on a blown knee. That's strength. My bestie, Dana, came into town to watch us run (and wrangle our munchkin while we were running). We stayed at the race hotel so that we could sleep a bit later and not be so stressed on race morning. This worked out awesome as Dana and our four-year-old daughter were able to sleep a lot later than if we'd been coming from home. My parents meet up with Dana and the munchkin that morning to form our cheer team. They were AMAZING! You think that having people cheer for you is nice but not necessary until they are there cheering. Holy smokes- they made such a difference for us. It was so motivating when they were there at miles 7, 11 and the finish. I am so thankful for them. I finished in 2 hours and 43 minutes which was 2 minutes faster than my goal time. I would've finished almost three minutes quicker than that except that I drank more Water than usual before the race and had to make a potty pit-stop. Very disappointing. After the race, the hotel proved a fantastic choice. We were able to go back, stretch and shower before lunch. Our cheer squad took us to lunch where the soreness and fatigue began to seep in. Naps followed shortly thereafter. Since early December I've been thinking that I will work towards the goal of a full marathon for next year. On Sunday, at mile 12, I was convinced that people who run full marathons are idiots and no one in their right mind would choose to do that to themselves. I'm happy to report that I'm finally starting to entertain the idea of a full marathon again. Just so you know, 11 months ago I weighed 316 pounds and was winded walking a flight of stairs. I didn't even attempt running until this past July. I was 245 pounds then and was able to run at a 14 minute pace for barely 7 minutes. I joined a local USA Fit affiliated run club in July and followed their program which required three "homework" runs a week and a "long run" every Saturday morning. I can now run at a 12 minute pace for over three hours with my highest mileage being 14 miles. I've made some amazing friends and truly found depth within myself that I never imagined existed. I was NEVER an athlete. In fact, my one foray into athlectics in 5th grade playing softball resulted in my being encouraged NOT to sign up again the following fall. I share all of this so that others may realize that this accomplishment is just as much within your grasp as it was mine. If long distance running is a goal of yours, I will be happy to share any of my experiences. I will say that the nutrition requirements for this type of activity are very different than what we traditionally follow post-VSG. I can share how I've coped. I am over the moon and looking forward to the next challenge. Setting such an intense physical goal and meeting it has taught me so much about myself. The most important lesson I've learned is that it truly is mind over matter. The body can do anything the mind believes it can. Now for pics! :smile1: Amanda

After a SIX Month stall that turned into me slightly giving up and gaining three pounds, I have lost five pounds. So I can add two pounds to my overall weightloss. The stall is dead! WOO HOO! As funny as this may sound, I worked hard to not freak out during this stall and then slight gain. I didn't want to fall into old destructive routines. I really feel successful for this and on top of the world now that losing is happening again. I need to update my ticker... I am now 203. Three pounds from onederland. I can't wait!

Since surgery 14 months ago, I've had many best moments but my top would have to be the morning I went out with my running group and ran 14 miles. I started to think about how far I'd come in merely nine months from the girl who could barely climb a flight of stairs. I actually started crying. FYI it's really hard to run and cry.

Thank you all! Coops- my big change came when I agreed to do a liquid diet with hubs for a few days prior to a procedure he was having. I did Muscle Milk, G2 Gatorade, cream of chicken and egg drop Soup for two and half days. I swear my sleeve shrunk during this time and I lost the cravings for crummy food choices. I originally lost 8 lbs. but gained 3 back when my glycogen store was replenished. As a runner, I need the stored energy so I am okay with that.

Thank you! I had surgery in March 2011.

Hi BBJ- I'm came into this post late so I'll be brief. Marriage is too hard to go into it without the promise of great sex to smooth out the rough edges. You're worth toe curling big Os AND a best friend that treats you right (that means not holding your former size over you). But you're smart and have already figured this out. I wish you peace and strength as you work through this break up. They're never easy; even when you do it for all of the right reasons. He hurting and likely to lash out right now. Continue to follow your instincts. It sounds like they're dead on. Hugs- Amanda PS Hubs (even with a 50 lb weight gain) still makes my toes curl after 11 years. That's what you deserve. Hold out for it.

I promise this will pass and you will be able to drink quickly again. I literally chugged a 20 ounce G2 Gatorade this morning after my run- drinking half in the first gulp. Most of us didn't get here because we were ambivalent about food. Therefore it's completely natural to mourn this change in your relationship. In time, you'll be able to enjoy sweets, more than 3 bites of soup, and even a buffet line but in a manner that is much more healthy and normal. You'll be able to experience these things with pleasure rather than guilt. I'm there and it's a wonderful place to be. Give yourself time.

I am 14 months post op. I am tall and can definitely eat like a normal person. I generally eat 1800 calories and have since about 8 months post op. For breakfast, I can eat an egg mcmuffin (minus the top bun) and a hash brown with no issue. I can eat most of a six ounce steak and about half of the sides. I can eat a small cheeseburger and a small French fry. I never appear "odd" or "out of place" in a restaurant. Actually, I was much more odd back when I ate an appetizer, salad, huge entree and dessert. Granted, there are times I wish I could eat more and even joke with my husband that "I wish I had my old stomach for this meal" but it's something I can acknowledge as a result of my former food addiction with a smile and shake of my head. I do not regret my decision. Rather, I'm thankful that I finally have an effective tool to stop that self-destructive behavior. This is merely my experience. Best of luck in your decision. Amanda

Crosswind- Thank you for sharing that you regularly eat 1700-1800 calories. I'm 5'10" and generally take in 1800 as well. I often, though, feel like a VSG freak of nature when I mention that on here as people discuss existing on 800-1000 calorie diets. If I don't hit at least 1500 I feel weak and horrible. So, thanks for validating my caloric needs. Amanda

We have a four year old so hubs had to go home when the daycare closed. Truthfully, I didn't miss him at all. I had a catheter so I didn't need help to the restroom, the nurses were fabulous and I slept like silly.

I don't drink often but I have had wine, jack and coke, and even vodka and red bull. I didnt add alcohol back until five months post op and then only sparingly. You have to remember the trade off. Yes, you can enjoy the drinks but they're liquid calories which will kill any diet- sleeve or no sleeve.

Congratulations! You deserve this. Now, enjoy the heck out of it.

I've also never thrown up. I actually haven't thrown up in almost 12 years... Since that rite of passage: the 21st birthday.

I went to a family wedding and hugged an uncle I hadn't seen since before surgery. He acted very odd during the exchange. When we sat down for dinner he admitted that he didn't have a clue who I was when I hugged him. Loved it!

Congratulations! An 11:50 mile on your first try is pretty darn good! You can absolutely complete any running goal you set your mind to do. Most half marathon training programs run from 4-6 months so definitely doable.

Sometimes, I feel like a weirdo on here.... I can definitely eat more than my sleeved friends. At one year out, I can eat a normal portion of food. I can eat about 5 oz. of Protein, a normal serving (not restaurant size) of veggies and probably a half to full serving of starch. If we are talking bad food choices, I can eat a small burger and most of a small fries. I can easily eat two slices of pizza. Honestly, the amount I can eat scares me as I have 30 lbs. to go. I lost weight so quickly early on that I failed to learn some of the good habits that are natural to others. I'm now having to teach myself not to drink with meals, always eat protein first, etc. Just another perspective...

Carbs are vitally important when pregnant. Ketosis is extremely detrimental for a developing fetus. Talk with your OB/GYN and perhaps schedule a nutritionist appt. I'm sure they can help you develop the best diet for you and baby. Congratulations!

I also had a hiatal hernia repair. Perhaps that's why mine ran 2.5 hours, too, rather than the 1.5 that appears to be the average.

I just asked hubs and said it was around 2 and a half hours from the time they wheeled me back until the doctor came to give them the post op report. He says he remembers thinking it was taking awhile. My doctor told him my surgery was "textbook" so I am guessing this is how long the average procedure takes. Hope this helps!

I had woke up, like others worried about my liver. I was also really worried that something would go wrong and they would switch from laproscopic to open surgery. So, those were my first questions. Evidently, everything was textbook perfect. I woke with a catherter that stayed for 24 hours. That was, literally, the most inconvenient part of my hospital recovery. I never had any nausea. I wasn't allowed anything to eat or drink until after the leak test the following morning. I did wake with a pain pump. I felt morally obligated to use it as much as I could. I was raised not to waste things. I remember getting some of the best sleep of my life in the 24 hours that followed surgery. I did make myself walk often between naps. I hope that your procedure was as easy as mine. I could tell I had surgery but truly was not in pain or nauseous.

I am in a position where I am over a large number of secondary English teachers- almost five hundred. Although I have fantastic writing skills, I am often running around like crazy and hammering out email responses in spare moments. I am always terrified of making a silly mistake. There is no mercy for the person over the ELA program! Obviously, the common mistakes bug me but I try to remember that the person making the mistake is probably as busy and scatterbrained as I am.

Iliana- Considering the night you had, I think you need to reframe this. Last night was a victory. The focus shouldn't be the fact that you ate half a cookie. Rather, let's focus on the fact that you realized what was happening and threw half of that cookie away. Our stomaches were operated on, not our heads. Of course emotional eating will still be a battle. You are doing great and overcame a major hurdle. You had a helluva a night that resulted in half of a cookie. For frame of reference, think about how much you would have eaten after a similar shift prior to surgery. Hugs! Amanda

I started losing hair at 4 months and continued to lose A LOT of hair until about the eight month mark. I would say that I lost about 40-50% of my hair. The good news is that at almost 13 months out I have regrowth all over my head that is about 3 inches long. My surgeon didn't address how to treat my hair, but my hairdresser said that coloring wouldn't adversely affect me. Basically, the hair was being released at the root due to my body... that isn't something coloring could effect. I choose to continue highlighting and now coloring. I could handle less hair. I couldn't handle less hair that was gray and discolored from the rest of my head.

I was also told 18 months and that you should not follow a low carb lifestyle once you're begin trying to conceive as this is very harmful to a fetus. Also, my surgeon said 18 months but my OB/GYN added that she wanted 18 months with three months of no weightloss prior to starting to try to conceive.

Four pounds away since NOVEMBER. It's largely been my fault but it's time to move on. I would love a lil' nudge from this thread.