emily_0192010

I've never heard of it, but it sounds fun! Good luck

Awesome NSV!!! I bet all of us ladies remember the day we realized our boobs stuck out further than our tummy's I was sooo happy when this happened!

All I had to do was write out a list of past diets/exercise attempts and what my approximate weight was during each. Nothing official. I have Aetna if that helps...

I don't believe it's joint pain, just like really really sore muscles. I was doing light yoga (I could do the whole program pretty easily), stretching (not pushing it though), leg lifts, crunches, push-ups (tried lol). And, NOT all at once. The only thing I do every day is stretch. So these were spread out around 3 days I believe.

Thanks for the input everyone! I have not had my levels checked, but i'm 1000 miles away from my doctor, so hopefully this resolves itself! I also don't think it is calcium related. I never gave up milk and I eat yogurt every-other-day, plus there is definitely calcium in my Protein shake that I drink daily. As for Water aerobics- I'd love too! I used to before my surgery but then I moved and the gyms with pool access are extremely over-priced and ridiculous. I tried desperately to get a membership somewhere, because I actually used to like the gym, but I simply can't afford it. I suppose I'll give it some more time and if it doesn't go away ask my doctor (my gp or my surgeon?? hmmm...). It's just weird how sore it is... I never completely gave up exercise, just amped it up a bit. Plus, some of the muscles that are sore were unexpected- like around my ribs and my forearms. That was what made me think it could be more than just normal soreness.

I've never thought of using those before. It kinda makes sense though. I know with babies that have reflux are often encouraged to use pacifiers because the sucking helps keep the acid level lower (it forces you to swallow more frequently). Thanks for the tip!

Hey everyone Recently I started to up my exercise. I don't have access to a gym so I've been doing yoga (the free videos on cable) and basic at home workouts (like push-ups, crunches, etc). I also walk a lot and my plan was this week or next week (weather dependent) to start jogging at the park near here. I always stretch very well and I'm careful not to over-do it or push myself too hard. I know sore muscles are to be expected, but mine are incredibly sore. Keeping me up at night even with advil sore and lasting for days type of sore. I've tried hot showers, gentle stretching, just giving it time, taking a break from the exercise. Could the reason its this bad be because I'm not getting in enough Protein? I am definitely hitting my min every day, and I normally go over but is this my body's way of saying that I need more? If not, what do I do?? Even my ribs and forearms are sore lol. Thanks everyone!

Yay! I'm happy for you May will be here before you know it!!

Melanie! I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. I can't even imagine... my sister is everything to me. I'm glad to hear that you are feeling better and are still on track. It's nice to have you back!

Good luck with the wait! I used Aetna too... I think I called them every night lol! Finally though they had my approval and I actually called my surgeon's office and told them. They then called the insurance for the code and I had my date the same day I was sooo excited! It won't be long now!

Good luck! This is the first major step towards being sleeved I remember the date of mine just as I remember my actual surgery date! Let us know how it went!

I know I didn't have any major memory loss per say, but I would forget little things that I wouldn't before... like things I had to pick up from the store. I used to be able to remember a phone number but now I have to write them down, etc. Not entirely sure why... but I know it definitely started after surgery! Nothing major though.

Absolutely the opposite with me!! I can't handle spicy foods AT ALL... it kinda sucks lol. I was never a big spicy-hot food fan, but I could tolerate medium-hot wings... now I have to go mild and it has to be very light I'm glad you can still enjoy your favorite food!

That's awesome!!!! I always feel so great when someone says something... especially when they are someone I don't talk to a lot because it feels more genuine to me... I dunno why lol. Congrats and keep up the great work!!! I see you've lost just about 30 lbs already!!!!!!

First off, congrats!!!!!!!! No matter what that is amazing that your doctor considers you to be at goal! You said you wanted to be 140, and you are currently at 154 right? A large portion of that could be extra skin, if you have it. I remember reading during my research phase pre-sleeve that many people who had tummy tucks or skin removal surgery would have 10+ pounds of skin removed. I think ultimately if you are truly happy with where you are and the size that you are, and your doctor said that you are healthy... then awesome! You are at goal. Maybe you'll be one of those people who ends up below goal There is a chance then when you up your Water and cals you might drop some more weight just from the change. I know some people boost their calories for a little while to break stalls, etc. The extra water won't hurt either! Congrats again and let us know what you decide

For some people, YES!! However it is very rarely permanent. Our stomachs produce a hormone called ghrelin, that is the "hunger" hormone. That part of the stomach is removed so many people don't get hungry or crave food anymore. However, ghrelin is also produced, in smaller quantities, in the pancreas I believe so over time our body compensates and you get that back. I am 6 months out. At the beginning I had to force myself to eat, but now I do get hungry. Though not nearly to the extreme that I used to feel. Its more like I read my body more and know when I need to eat. Like if I start to get a headache i'll eat and feel better. I also have my appetite back, but its nice that I feel satiated after a few bites. This was one of the reasons I chose this surgery. Even if it was only a chance of it happening, I really hoped that it would. I was on phentermine for a couple months and for the first month I had that same "oh shoot, I need to eat" feeling and I loved it. It finally felt like I wasn't tied to food, and the surgery gave me that as well. It helped me break the need to eat. So now I really am only eating when I need to. Yes, I still enjoy an occasional treat, but for the most part food is just energy now. Once I got past the head hunger and using food as an emotional crutch, but honestly that didn't take long for me

At three weeks I still got twinges after sitting or standing for too long, or if I reached above my head (I had to do that for work, to get things off shelves). I found it helped to switch it up. So I would sit/stand/walk etc. Just break it up. You mentioned before that you can't eat much. At three weeks I was just coming off of full liquids, so I was still doing mushy foods at that point! Now as for the "feel like i've been kicked" not sure about that. Again though, call your surgeon's office! I was very reluctant to but at one point I had too, it really is no big deal. You probably won't even talk to your surgeon, just the nurse. I would ask about your rash and the pain. Feel better!

I agree with Ivy... try it! GNC's 30 day policy is great! I have not found one that does not have an aftertaste, but the GNC brand one I mix in my yogurt with sugar free syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg and I can't taste it. I have added it to milk and Water, and you can definitely taste it. I have not tried it myself, but beneprotein was recommended to me. I want to try it I just haven't had a chance to yet. Apparently it is tasteless and odorless. The amount of Protein is lower however.

Last weekend I visited some friends... we pigged out on homemade hot chocolate-chocolate chip cookies (omgsh, delicious!) and wine... two days later I broke my stall and dropped four pounds! It was awesome

I didn't drop sizes until I hit close to 40 lbs, and then when again when I hit the 60ish mark (I waited a really long time though and I ended up skipping a size, that was awesome lol). The way I lose is I drop numbers, then I drop sizes while the numbers stall... then I start dropping again. At this point my weight loss has slowed down dramatically, which kinda sucks but I'm staying positive and just going on with my days. As for the craving everything in sight, I believe that is head hunger. It is hard because you can't really eat anything but your head hasn't caught up with that yet. It does get easier I promise! I was sleeved 9/19/2011 Six months ago!

Hey Dee I'm not in Long Island, but I'm close. I'm in Brooklyn, so only a train ride away! I'm sorry to hear that you are in a stall HOWEVER, you are what, 3 weeks out??? Guess what? That is the dreaded 3 week stall that pretty much EVERYONE goes through! It is just your body going on pause to sort through everything that is going on. You are doing great so far! As for the rash, I am definitely not a doctor, but is it around your incisions and the tape? I had a reaction to the tape. That wouldn't explain your back though. Just call your surgeon's office and ask. I had to do that for a few things and they are always very nice and understanding about everything. If you want to meet up one day, just pm me and maybe I can help some more in person ((hugs)) You are doing great, keep up the amazing work and don't worry about the stall!

Hi Lau! I am right there with you... I am now 21 but I had my surgery when I was 20. If you have any specific questions feel free to PM me. How to know you are emotionally ready? Honestly, you are the only one who can answer that. I have always been very emotionally mature for my age since I had to deal with both my mother and my grandfather being sick from a very young age. I knew that I could handle this emotionally. Emotions are pretty crazy during this process. You have your base problems, like why do we overeat in the first place. You have to deal with giving up food as a crutch. Find other ways to deal with those emotions. Some people turn to exercise, some people turn to alcohol. You have to make sure you have a strong support group (these boards, your parents, a therapist if you want, your friends, an in person support group) to make sure that you don't turn to the wrong things. After the surgery you have to deal with the extreme changes in your body. They might be good changes, but change can still be difficult. You will never eat the same way again, in public as well. You won't be able to drink the same way (you are a cheap date now lol, one drink has a lot of potency in your tiny tummy). You also have the pre-surgery emotions... the anxiety, the excitement, etc. It is a lot, but it is definitely do-able. You CAN handle it. BUT, the question is whether it is worth it or not. If you are seriously concerned, talk to a therapist a few times. They don't bite and they would be able to answer your question a lot more professionally then any of us

Awesome!! I bet next time you go in you'll be in one-derland!! You are doing amazing

I agree that IF you can go monthly, DO IT! The first couple months weighing in weekly might be nice as you typically see drops, but when you hit stalls or your weight loss slows down to 1, 2 lbs per week, its tough mentally. I think weighing in monthly would allow you to focus on the overall and you might not even realize you had a stall, if you did. That being said, I am a once-a-week weigh-er lol. For a long time I weighed every day, but not on purpose. Before I moved I exercised or played with my sister on our wii fit, and that weighs you automatically (until I finally figured out how to skip it) and it drove me nuts! I actually would make my sister (she was 5...) push all the buttons etc until it was past that point, but that didn't work for long because she started to read so she'd just tell me what the number was lol. Anyways, weighing in every day drove me nuts. I wish I could go longer than once a week, but I'm hooked! I would have to throw the scale out and go somewhere to weigh in to break the habit now.

I was drinking room temp Water (cold anything HURT for me), and warm broths, and... yeah, that was it for me lol! I couldn't do Protein shakes for a couple weeks (NOT so good, but I could barely manage water) even though I tried every day. So I was getting in a few sips of Protein shake a day I guess, but no where near enough. I was lucky that my mom made me homemade broths (yeah, she rocked... I had three different ones to choose from ), but in the hospital I drank the bouillon mixed with water fake broth stuff... it actually wasn't bad