feedyoureye

Sounds like you are doing great! Congrats on your loss and upcoming wedding.

Girlfriend! The challenges from life never cease! I am hearing lots of good things about eating your greens, flax,canola oil and walnuts...some of this fight can be tasty! I am having some health challenges right now too, and you remind me to de-stress and get on with it. Love abounds! Hugs to you.

Mount Olive also makes sugar free sweet pickles... yum!

6+ months here, I never had buyers remorse, but lots of adjustments to get used to for sure. I love it now, and continue to learn new things about my sleeve life every day. I tell myself I am eating out for the company, and not so much the food, but as time goes on, the food is in the picture more. I can eat anything now (good and bad!), but started out as a vegetarian that became lactose intolerance for the first month... that is better now and I can eat any dairy without problems. If you search this site, you can find lists of the yuck factor from WLS. Skin, hair, puke, pain, wrinkles, food mourning, 3 week stall (look that one up if you haven't already! People starting out go CRAZY when that shows up) and worse. In fact there are few here who did not experience at least one or two of these things. I know for me, perhaps my posts focus on the "glow" of the results, because they are really more important to me than anything bad that has happened to me. A chance for a longer life, my knees and joints are not yelling at me as often, I can up my exercise with JOY! Hike and interact with nature and people better, look hotter in cloths! Junk some of my meds and compete better in the work force. I recognize myself in the mirror after 20 years of WTF is that?! I am grateful and want others to have the chance to feel the same way. First month was the least "fun" of the process so far, but really, the 20 years before that were really the worst part! Not everyone is ready for WLS of any kind... heck not everyone is ready for regular dieting at any one time. The sleeve just evens that out by controlling how much you eat at a sitting on any given day.Sometimes I resist that control, but mostly I enjoy it. A LOT.

Ok. I am wearing a size 12-14 (mostly 14) pants, and L-XL top with a couple of M's thrown in to confuse things. I went to the Goodwill to try on some pants... and had to try on about 20 other things too of course... it was 40% off day so..... I was flipping through the jackets and saw one that was cute... tried it on and it fit.... SIZE 6. WTH? Then saw another I liked, tried it on SIZE 8. I guess this is what they are talking about (vanity sizing that is). Kind of makes it hard to figure out what is real... I guess trying them on is how to get the job done. I can say I "wore" not "wear" a size 6 now.... perhaps this is how brands get customers addicted to them.....?

Lets be honest here..if you thought it was perfectly fine you wouldn't have asked.
My doc wouldn't operate on anyone who had smoked 30 days before surgery.
Nicotine kills your circulation (hence smokers wrinkles) as well as other problems... other chemical components can cause problems too... Here is one medical paper that talks about it...there are many more listed on google...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1323208
I would say, if you must smoke, wait at least until your stomach heals... over 8 weeks. Please don't take these comments as rude... I think the people here are just looking out for your health and success... I am also an ex-smoker, and sometimes it is said that ex-smokers are the most down on smoking of anyone... I think this might be true!
Abstract
The association between cigarette smoking and delayed wound healing is well recognized in clinical practice, although extensive controlled studies have yet to be performed. The documented effects of the toxic constituents of cigarette smoke--particularly nicotine, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen cyanide--suggest potential mechanisms by which smoking may undermine expeditious wound repair. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor that reduces nutritional blood flow to the skin, resulting in tissue ischemia and impaired healing of injured tissue. Nicotine also increases platelet adhesiveness, raising the risk of thrombotic microvascular occlusion and tissue ischemia. In addition, proliferation of red blood cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages is reduced by nicotine. Carbon monoxide diminishes oxygen transport and metabolism, whereas hydrogen cyanide inhibits the enzyme systems necessary for oxidative metabolism and oxygen transport at the cellular level. Slower healing has been observed clinically in smokers with wounds resulting from trauma, disease, or surgical procedures. The reduced capacity for wound repair is a particular concern in patients undergoing plastic or reconstructive surgery. Compared with nonsmokers, smokers have a higher incidence of unsatisfactory healing after face-lift surgery, as well as a greater degree of complications following breast surgery. Smokers should be advised to stop smoking prior to elective surgery or when recovering from wounds resulting from trauma, disease, or emergent surgery.

cottage cheese or greek yogurt...shortly you can add Kashi go lean Cereal with milk... the cereal has 14 gms of Protein +whats in the milk, and tastes good!
I also bake things with Bobs Red Mill low carb baking mix... I had chocolate donuts with almond butter for breakfast today...Check eggface for great low carb high protein baked recipes.< /p>

It's easy to talk about someone who can't talk for themselve. I appreciate us all wanting to discuss "giving up" or "self esteem" or how we will act in three years or how ONLY losing 75 pounds is half a$$ (my words). The truth is it is scary to see someone with the same tool as us not lose as much as we or perhaps she would want to in three years. The statistics also say that many people experience a bounce at three years. I have also lost weight and swore I would never gain it back, yet have, and also have personally never gotten to goal on a diet... but have been dieting sense the age of 8. We don't know her story. I still think getting to goal is a mystery... almost as mysterious as those that never get fat. I am very close to goal, and really, I still don't understand it. Bless her heart, there but for the grace of God go I! I prefer to stay humble. I don't really know what the next three years will bring...

That should shut some neigh sayers mouths right up!

It's easy to talk about someone who can't talk for themselve. I appreciate us all wanting to discuss "giving up" or "self esteem" or how we will act in three years or how ONLY losing 75 pounds is half a$$ (my words). The truth is it is scary to see someone with the same tool as us not lose as much as we or perhaps she would want to in three years. The statistics also say that many people experience a bounce at three years. I have also lost weight and swore I would never gain it back, yet have, and also have personally never gotten to goal on a diet... but have been dieting sense the age of 8. We don't know her story. I still think getting to goal is a mystery... almost as mysterious as those that never get fat. I am very close to goal, and really, I still don't understand it. Bless her heart, there but for the grace of God go I! I prefer to stay humble. I don't really know what the next three years will bring...

You know, here people are mostly WAY for the Sleeve, at an RNY site they might be WAY for RNY. People want to support what they have paid for. And others that don't know much about any surgery will talk about the gossip they have heard. Look at the statistics, listen to your guts, look at what people say third, and make a judgement from that in the end.

And I hope by now you know how I feel about you girl!

The more good habits we develop the better... even if it doesn't show up on the scale... better quality veggies and food, more Water, eating a little slower... affirmations in the mirror in the morning and evening... new shade of lipstick...learning a new recipe, deluxe shower gel, learning a new word in the dictionary every day... saving all your change for a nice haircut or trip to the museum..... this makeover is bigger than the scale! So while doing all the right things most of the time, don't forget to enjoy the moment.

You will be! Before you know it you will be posting your own pics here. Don't forget to take measurements and good photos before surgery... you will be glad you did.

Neither what you eat or a number on the scale makes you horrible. Don't forget that!

coops, the scenic route... I love that! I am pretty well taking the scenic route as well....

Reporting in girls! The scales dropped .8 pounds below my last low...I haven't been able to change my ticker in 5 weeks. I have been in a 3-4 pound bounce for most of that...There is hope! I was really feeling like I was at the end of my weightloss. I only change the ticker when I get to a new low number.

Reporting in girls! The scales dropped .8 pounds below my last low...I haven't been able to change my ticker in 5 weeks. I have been in a 3-4 pound bounce for most of that...There is hope! I was really feeling like I was at the end of my weightloss. I only change the ticker when I get to a new low number.

I started working on my physical fitness and balance about a year and a half before my surgery. Like yecats, it was a last ditch effort to lose the weight once and for all... My knees did not like it, or my feet and ankles.... I could just tell I was going to end up in a wheelchair if didn't claim back my health. After staying the same weight, then starting to gain with new meds, I started looking into WLS. I had been taking dance classes twice a week, and lead a 45 minute walk twice a week with adults with developmental disabilities. I still do this and add in other stuff now and then, gardening, walking the dog and hiking now and then. I picked dance class because I wanted to improve my balance and grace...I also love having a nice group of friends I have made during dance class.
We go out and attend festivals, performances and dance faires. When I started, I felt like I was clunking around and it was hard... but I made a plan to practice for at least 5 years and have at least one public performance. Taking the long view has helped me to stick with it and look for results that only can be seen over the long run. Find something you can get into, that you enjoy the view, or like the competition, or like the isolation... whatever you like. There are lots of ways to get more active.

I started working on my physical fitness and balance about a year and a half before my surgery. Like yecats, it was a last ditch effort to lose the weight once and for all... My knees did not like it, or my feet and ankles.... I could just tell I was going to end up in a wheelchair if didn't claim back my health. After staying the same weight, then starting to gain with new meds, I started looking into WLS. I had been taking dance classes twice a week, and lead a 45 minute walk twice a week with adults with developmental disabilities. I still do this and add in other stuff now and then, gardening, walking the dog and hiking now and then. I picked dance class because I wanted to improve my balance and grace...I also love having a nice group of friends I have made during dance class.
We go out and attend festivals, performances and dance faires. When I started, I felt like I was clunking around and it was hard... but I made a plan to practice for at least 5 years and have at least one public performance. Taking the long view has helped me to stick with it and look for results that only can be seen over the long run. Find something you can get into, that you enjoy the view, or like the competition, or like the isolation... whatever you like. There are lots of ways to get more active.

Srry for the delay in getting back ladies. I took your advice and the carriage ride against the lighted skyline was perfect! You ladies really know your romace and it paid of for me. HeHe. She actually cried and I told her of all the wonderful things she had supported me through and how I couldn't have done any of it without her. I thank you all for making her night so special.

I say work'em, you (and they) look great!

I did the Kim version of Divas bootcamp for two days, and I lost all the weight I had gained over the holidays. I'm back to my standard eating like before the holidays and am doing fine. It really helped me grab hold of myself and stop the madness quickly. (FYI 4 pounds in two days!)

Early on I was lactose intolerant. Lucky for me that went away by about the 6th week or so. Now I can eat anything in moderation. I can have a little "dumping" with too much sugar, which I try to use in only small amounts. Read up on cocoanut... it can really cause you problems....search it here...

Dehydration will cause dizziness. Sip sip sip...and walk walk walk. I know you feel like staying in bed, but make sure you walk every couple of hours... to the mail box or the end of the block. I would walk around the block and at times feel so light headed. My doc insisted all of his patients take 6 weeks off from work. I would have to say that was a little long for me, but 4 weeks was perfect. You really do have to think of all the changes in the first month as a job in itself! Drink drink and walk walk. You will feel better soon.