mnbsleeve

Congratulations crosswind!!!!! I can so relate to your experience of thinking "this is it." I'm not near 100 lbs lost yet but I can't believe I'm this far out!!! Sounds like you have attained some true success!!!!!! Good work!!!!

WOO HOO!!!! Congratulations!!!!!! It's a great milestone! When I reached onederland I had not been there for years. It felt sooooo good!!!!

I never was a sweets person pre sleeve (more of a pasta/carb girl) and even less so now. But I find that if I have one bite of something I like, it's enough and I feel like I had a whole portion. Having said that, everyone is different and like Pasquini said above, if your challenge with sugar is bigger than you may need to do the "detox" thing :-) Good luck with this!!! You'll nail it!

Wanted to wish you both the best of luck with the upcomming surgery! For me this has been an incredible journey!!! It's an adjustment, but well worth it! Keep us posted!

YES! YES! YES!!! I tell my husband that I feel like I getting back to me. I totally get it. It sounds weird but I always felt like a thin person trapped in a fat body! LOL I'm sure we're not alone on this! :-)

For me it took almost 35 pounds before I started to really get comments.... but now! Even a 1 or 2 lbs loss and people ask: "are you losing weight? you look great" LOL I guess proportionally the weight loss is greater closer to goal... which is great because the loss slows down and we need the encouragement LOL But I remember going to my hair salon, after loosing close to 70 lbs (I see this gal every three weeks mind you) and one week I come in and she asks, "are you losing weight?" I cracked up! I had lost about 2 lbs. since I saw her last but like 70 overall. I though, yeah just a little bit! Funny how she noticed those two but not the other 68! :-)

You look AWESOME!!! Happy 365 days!!! Way to go on the kickboxing girl!!!!!!

Oh my gosh Lisa! You look like a different person!!! You're looking GREAT!!!!! I just love this sleeve. I just posted elsewhere that I don't think I would have gotten this far with out mine! Congratulations!

I didn't have this regret per se... however, it's so natural to feel this. After all we just underwent a major change to our bodies! We have had a familiar way of being for years... since birth. We know how we feel, we understand our body cues and sensation and suddenly, all of that is out the window. It's a huge adjustment both physical and psychological. I've been very, very happy BUT I will not lie I had a couple of episodes where I woke up in the middle of the night with the thought "OMG what happened?" and "It's IRREVERSIBLE." Once just recenty at 9 months out! It passed of course and I truly am happy with my decision. But for me both co-exist at the same time: I am happy AND at times I am confussed and concerned about this new body and all the unknowns .. many still to be determined. If that's not a reason to have some apprehension, I don't know what is. I do remind myself that even with the most joyful experiences in life (marriage, children, new jobs, new homes... whatever) these feelings Are completely normal and part of the human experience when we face change. I hope these posts are helpful to you Jenn. Sending many, many heartfelt good thoughts your way!!!!!!!!

Great idea! Especially if you know you are going out to eat!

Yes! Just a little sweet seems to go a long way! (Bless this sleeve! )

LOL Too funny!

I was told that if you're flushing your system with enough fluids, the body can handle one or two cups of day - both the stomach and dehydration factor. I think that probably too much more may be to much stimulant in general. I myself drink "mate" (pronounced mah-tey). It's a green tea. It has a little less caffeine than coffee and it's easier on my stomach. But definitely a stimulant. I do enjoy a good cup of coffee now and then! Especially a nice expresso, as gmanbat says above LOL

Advocatemom, I also wanted to add that it's not uncommon to hit some stals at this point. I stalled big time all through my weight loss... up to 4 weeks. It's just now, beginning at around month 8, that I began a more steady, albeit lower, loss. I know sometimes it feels you're doing something wrong! But hang in there! You are doing what you're suppose to. Focus on that and trust the weight will come off. I would suddendly get this big loss; two or three in a row. I think in the beginning especially, our bodies are just making huge adjustments. I just wanted to let you know your experience is not uncommon. I've had it and read lots of people here too. So hang in there!!!!! We're rooting for you!!!! Lyra, I too wanted to thank you for the great resources posted above!!!

What about a honey mustard sauce?! It may have less sugar than the BBQ sauce. You can also make it yourself and control the honey... keep it less sweet. Just a thought.

WOO HOO Amanda!!!! That is the BEST feeling!!!!!! You go girl! Enjoy your awesome accomplishment!!!!! Congratulations!!!

I wanted to add that the one thing I miss is having those huge salads I used to eat! LOL I've always loved veggies, since I was a kid. But of course, pre-sleeve I would have HUGE salads. Now, since I focus on protein first, and don't have much capacity, I generally get a few little leaves of something in and few other veggies... but not much! :-) I do juice vegetables to satisfy that craving! :-)

Like you, I've always liked fish but it's definitely my go to food now! I was never too fond of red meat but now I just can't stand the thought of it. Same for fried or fatty foods in general. I've always loved vegetables and still do! Yes, overall for me there's been a "switch" of some kind where I automatically turn to healthier foods easily. In fact, sweets or deserts I only need a taste literally and I feel I had a portion. I'm really happy with this and hope it doesn't change because it's really helped me not feel deprived in any way. For example, before I would pass on pasta (which I LOVED) because I knew better. Now, when I pass I can take it or leave it! Or I can have a very small portion/taste and I feel like I had a full portion and I'm okay. Again, I just don't feel deprived!

Don't beat yourself up! It's a common experience! I LOVE riding my bike and sometimes I just drag my feet... and when I am out there I am crazy loving it and wonder why I didn't get out earlier and when will I be outhere again?! It's that first little step sometimes that, for some reason, glues us down. But even athletes experience this! For me it's a deal I make to get dressed and get to the location, then, if I don't want to do it, I don't have to do it. HA! I ALWAYS want to when I am ready to go! It's cutting that deal/commitment with myself that's the secret for me.

For cardio I really enjoy spinning. I take a spin class at the gyn about 3 times per week. I also ride my bike out doors. I also walk quite a bit - both outdoors and on treadmill. Those are my cardio staples. But also hike, use weights, dance, and yoga, which I LOVE!

I just wanted to clarify my post above: I meant to say that if you have a job that allows you to keep sipping your fluids it helps. If your job takes you out and about in such a way that it's difficult to get your shakes and fluids in, it's more challenging the first couple of weeks for sure since that process does seem to consume lots of energy and focus - al least it did for me. Hope this is helpful!

I took two weeks off but was definitely up and around no problem at 4 or 5 days. I have a job where I mostly sit and I was able to focus on sipping my water / protein shake. I think there are several issues to consider. One is physical exertion since your body needs time to heal and you may feel more fatigue due to healing and lack of calories. If your job is physically demanding, you may need much more time. The other issue is that you really need to focus on getting fluid/protein in. If you fall behind it's difficult to make it up since you can only take in so much every 8 to 10 minutes in the begining. At least for me, it was a lot of work. Then you get into a routine, plus your body heals and your capacity starts to increase. I can say that when I hit week two, my energy was great and I pretty much felt normal. The only thing is I was still having to focus on fluid/protein, later food.

I recall that after several weeks on liquids I did literally salivate around food! But when I finally started eating mushies, for me at around week 6, one teaspoon was enough!!! The first time I ate a scrambled egg, I took one bit and by bite two I couldn't stand to look at it! It would freak me out! But things do normalize. I noticed that some foods fill me up way more than others. For sure dense proteins seem to shut everything down. But I have to say, even at 9 1/2 months out, the infamous slider foods do fill me up!!!! There is definitely restriction. Hang in there. Things change daily. In the begining it's mostly about healing, then adjusting, then things settle down and you get a new normal! Congrats on your surgery and best wishes for a super speedy recovery!!!

PS: loving those shoes!!!!! :-)

WOW!!! You look incredible!!! I LOVE the pics especiallyl the last one with your eyes closed, face toward the sky! Looks like a shot in a magazine LOL You look fantastic!!! Congratulations!!!!!