emily_0192010

I hiccup when i've had too much... for me it was simply a learning process. At first I had no clue so I'd just have a few tiny every now and then. Once I was confident I was good to go, at about 2 months, I started to try a little bit more and I have found some cues to tell me when I've had too much. At this point I just stop before I hit that point. Like I know that I can eat one egg, but one egg plus veggies and cheese? A bit too much, I would have to stop before I finished the whole thing. At the point where you are at, just go slow. When I stop, it takes a few minutes but then I get that "comfortable" feeling. It also doesn't help that I never get hungry to begin with. I know when I have gone too long based on how my body feels (tired and headachy when i shouldn't be) so I just make sure I eat at least once a day. My surgeon said that was fine, as long as I continued the Protein shakes. In fact he suggested it! Good luck. And as hard as it is to hear, it really is very individual. You will figure out your own boundaries soon enough. But don't push it on purpose!

Hey my fellow September Spitfires! I just realized that we are all either at the 3 month mark, or close to it. How is everyone doing?? I personally have had no problems and my weight loss has been steady. I am very happy

Congratulations!! It will be here before you know it! Waiting for the approval was the hardest part for me, it was all downhill (in the best of ways of course!) from there

I would suggest going to some seminars. I know Dr. Cywes and Dr. Pinnar host at least one a week at memorial, not sure about the others. You may already know the info they are presenting but it would give you a chance to feel out their personalities and figure which one you fit best with.

Yes! I did! I had surgery with Dr. Pinnar, who works with Dr. Cywes, out of Memorial. Memorial is also a center of excellence. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask. I also know a few other people who had the surgery in Jacksonville.

Good luck! You will do great. Tomorrow at this time you will be solidly on the loser's bench I had a drain for a week and it wasn't bad. It didn't hurt, just a little weird.

I did not do a leak test either. My surgeon said he did one during the surgery before closing. He said that the leak tests afterwards weren't very effective because by that point your stomach is swollen from the damage, and if there were any leaks it wouldn't show up at that point.

Awesome I was wondering about these... I have been sticking with the 10 buck cheap bra's from walmart... and I only have one at the moment... so I have to wash it a lot lol. May I ask you how much you paid at kmart? They seem expensive online since you can't buy them in singles.

That is an AMAZING difference! You look great, but you also look so happy and confident Congrats!

I'm that way too, only with my 14W's... I am right at that switch point between "womens" clothes and "regular" clothes and I refuse to buy anything until I am solidly a 12... I just won't. I hate trying on clothes and having them be too small. A good friend of my mom's brought me over a ton of 10's and medium tops... I can't wait until I can wear them

That is awesome congrats

I noticed this as well, and I believe someone else posted something very similar to yours asking the same question before. I think it is because this surgery, by itself, is still to new. There is no standard because there hasn't been enough time to form one. The surgeon's are still learning the in's and out's of the details. I'm sure in 10 years there will be more consistency, like you would find with other general surgery procedures. I think the people who are most successful are the people who took the time to do their research and chose the method that worked for them. I have learned that I am very carb-sensitive. If I am over a certain amount I don't lose, but the same is true for being too low. I know my limits and stick to them. I also think the people who are the most successful are the ones who make active changes in their beyond what the sleeve does. The sleeve doesn't prevent us from drinking milkshakes, etc. The people who are successful avoid these things for the most part. They simply learn how to do the treats as that, as treats. At least that is what I am trying to do. Don't forget if you are around the 3 week mark, you are most likely going to stall soon. That seems to be normal no matter what diet you are on. I think it is the body catching up to the surgery, like your body just said "oh shoot, what the heck??" and kinda slows down until it gets used to it, then you start losing again. You could also be a stair-case loser... where you stall for a couple weeks and then drop and then stall and then drop. Don't be too worried about the scale, just remember it is a marathon and not a sprint!

You feel positively skinny because you ARE skinny!! Congrats!!

Well my goal was to lose around 150 pounds, so I'm not at the 200+ level... but I will say that my weight loss has been steady around 3 lbs a week (average). I am hoping to keep this up! I occasionally "stall" but then it seems to even out with a larger drop the next week or so. Good luck!

This was HUGE for me when it happened!! I happen to be really short and for a long time I had to keep the tilt up pretty hard... it didn't block my view or anything (i'm not that short lol) but it was uncomfortable... the first time I went to adjust it and it thunked all the way down I was so happy I just about cried. I love driving so anything to make it more comfortable. My mom (we share the car, well it's technically hers but I drive it a lot more lol) even commented that she has to adjust the seat more because of all the changes I've had to make!

Congrats I bet that for the first time you'll be able to set a new years resolution and keep it! That is a brilliant way to start the new year!

I haven't experienced it myself, but it sounds like you may still be swollen, especially since you were just sleeved (congrats by the way!). I don't know what size sips you are taking, but at first I literally had to take such small sips it was like I wasn't sipping at all. I just constantly had a little bit of Water in my mouth and I let it down very very slowly or I was very uncomfortable. If I take too big of a sip now (I am almost three months) I get that tight feeling, almost like it is getting stuck. I imagine it like a funnel, you can get the amount in but if you do it all at once it gets stuck for a moment. I would also ask your doctor about it. You should be seeing him/her soon and if not it can't hurt to call. I have heard of people getting strictures (very rare). Besides, it can't hurt to ask to make sure. Good luck!

You look amazing and so happy Congrats!

I've lost almost 75 lbs, and nobody except the people who know have commented. I definitely look different though, so I'm not sure if it is a politeness thing, like they don't want to accidentally say something rude because if they said "wow you look good" it could make someone wonder if they looked bad before, etc etc. It bugs me sometimes because I do work hard and at this point I wish it was more obvious, but I know eventually it will be impossible to ignore. I also decided not to share photo's until I am much closer to my goal... I want the shock factor I have moved around a lot, so I have friends in my facebook all over the country and in Canada... I can't wait to see their reactions when I post an "after" photo for the first time... I've only told a couple people so for the rest of them it will be a surprise!

WONDERFUL!!!!!! I have always *loved* rollercoasters and I've been to quite a few parks. I've been to Islands a LOT because I live pretty close. I know that ride from before they made it HP style and it is one of my favorites! It has been a few years since i've been... it has always been on the back of my mind that I wouldn't fit and I didn't want to go through that. One of my goal "rewards" (once I save up of course!) is to go on a rollercoaster tour of the US (and through in Canada's wonderland, cause that place is awesome). CONGRATS! I know it must have felt awesome to be moved into a smaller seat

This was really difficult for me as well, especially since I ended up having a bad reaction to the tape... i literally just sat there and picked at it and used whatever I had around (lotion, conditioner, rubbing alcohol, etc) to try to get it off. I was really careful and only used tiny amounts since my skin was already so sensitive, but I had to get it off! Honestly in the end all I did was pick it off and then gently washed my skin after. I actually liked when the lint/etc stuck to it because it made it easier to see and to pull off. Good luck!

Hmmm.... I know for myself that my cravings have generally been stronger (but that's just me, everyone is different). The awesome thing about the sleeve? You CAN'T eat that much! So for you, it would maybe be just a couple mms or a couple pretzels. I'm not sure what diet you plan on following, but I found that the harder I stayed away from it, the more I wanted it. I am not terribly strict with myself, just as long as I don't go overboard on anything and I always have my Protein first (which means I don't really eat anything bad since I don't have much time). But, I also try to take my mind off of it. I distract myself. I try going out for a walk or listen to my music or just stay busy in general. It doesn't last long and it's not that bad. Plus, if you do overeat... well you learn not to really quick! I hope some other people with more experience chime in as well. You may want to browse the "powder room- ladies gone wild" for some more insight.

Congrats I'm so glad to hear that you had such a positive experience! My surgeon was okay, but doesn't have the bedside manner I was hoping for He didn't actually do rounds, he only swung by because I was having an issue with the pain meds. Because of VST I have also met two people in RL that are good friends One of them actually used the same surgeon at the same hospital with the same insurance and is right around the same age as well! This really is an awesome resource Also, congrats on fulfilling your promise. I bet you can't beat that feeling!

Hey I am 11 weeks out tomorrow and it does get better! I can take normal sized drinks, but I can't take more than three in a row without a little break. So i'm not sip sip sipping anymore but it is definitely better. It takes me an hour to get my 14 oz Protein drink down. For me that is really good since Protein shakes have always sat very heavily for me. I don't time Water since I rarely can have it next to me to do so, but I can get 30 oz down during work (say 6 hours) and I do NOT have constant access to it. Bottom line is, it does get better!

WOW!! You seriously look amazing! Congrats on how far you've come I'm looking forward to seeing pictures when you get to goal!