SKCUNNINGHAM

I am just short of 9 months since surgery. Here is my weight lost history Monthly Loss Tme frame Cumulative Loss 13 2 wk preop 13 18.5 Month 1 31.5 12 Month 2 43.5 11.5 Month 3 55 12 Month 4 67 10 Month 5 77 7 Month 6 84 9 Month 7 93 6 Month 8 99 5 Month 9 104 Minimum - it might be one or two more. I started out for the first 3 weeks just trying to get in my fluids and as much Protein as possible - I was probably managing maybe 40 grams of protein. After that, until about 6 months, I was as 60 grams of protein, and 60 minimum ounces of Water, and about 500 calories. I didn't eat bread, Pasta, rice or potatoes and didn't drink alcohol. I also stayed away from sugar. At 6 months I upped the protein to about 80 grams, and the calorie count to around 800. Same thing with the carbs and sugar. I have pretty much held there, except it doesn't bother me if I exceed the protein count occaisionaly, and the calories flex up to 1000 now. For the past three days, I have exceeded that and have been eating more of my restricted carbs and sugar. Today I am getting back to normal and will be strict again starting tomorrow and stay strict until I give myself a break for Christmas. I didn't do much exercise to start, just lite walking. Then I bought an elliptical and started Zumba, and was doing both. But, I sprained my ankle badly cleaning a closet, which put most exercise on hold for me. I really haven't started back, but will resume my exercise next week. I plan on hitting it hard to help me get the last 15 pounds off, and to firm up my saggy jiggly self. And, my goal is to make exercise a part of my normal routine, to help me maintain my goal weight. This is what works for me. I wish you good luck on your journey. Sharon

I can totally relate to this post. This holiday season is the first one I don't mind being in pictures - in fact I tried to get a formal family portrait taken when the kids were here, but couldn't get it scheduled. I will get that done Christmas! BTW - even though I am 100 pounds down and within 15 pounds of my goal, I don't feel or describe myself as "skinny". Skinny to me is model-thin, and I am nowhere near that - and I won't be at goal weight, either. I am still about 8 pounds from hitting a "normal" BMI. I sort of mentally think of myself as normal now.

S O T V A A N T D I I O I N N ! G ! Excellent Results! Congratulations

S O T A N D I N G

I just read your blog. What a wonderful experience you are having. Good luck with your "sleeve journey" (Yours REALLY IS a JOURNEY) I will check out your blog each week.

I think what you are feeling is the effects of the surgery and excess acid in the stomach. Are you on meds for acid? The thing that made my hungry feeling go away was warm liquids (broth or tea) and a GASX strip along with the warm beverage. I was taking Famotidine (Pepcid) morning and evening and a prilosec at night. If you work to get your liquids in (64) and try to get your grams of protein (60) in, and you get your acid under control your hungry feelings should subside. I think the acidy/ crampy feeling, combined with head-hunger is what you are experiencing. ,

Wow - so close! You have done an amazing job with your weight loss. Congrats!

I have been shrinking back through stored clothing, and have recently discovered some pretty camisoles I don't even remember having. I like them enough I ordered a couple of more. I like them because: They are pretty Some are shape-wear, and help hold in the jiggly middle Even if they are not shape wear, the cami keeps me from having to look at the jiggly middle The extra layer is nice to wear, since I am ALWAYS COLD. Thought someone else might like to give camisoles a try. And, since this post is about undergarments (yes, I know all camis aren't always "under" garments - but bear with me here) - I am celebrating an NSV about underwear - I dropped another size in briefs! Finally back in 7's. YEA!

Wow! Impressive results! Congratulations!

CT - you are a great guy to think of doing this. I hope she enjoys her evening!

Your mirror does not lie! I see a beautifully thin woman - so vibrant you are about to pop through the pictures. And I agree with Diva - if you had told us 34, I would have believed you with no questions asked. Belated happy birthday!

I agree 100%. This is the first year I wasn't scared of Thanksgiving - scared that I would eat myself sick. I just returned from my first of two THanksgiving feasts (today and tomorrow). I did fine. I am full - won't eat again for hours. Had two bites of buttermilk pie at the end of the meal. Sugar overload - made me kind of queasy. Hope everyone here on th forum had a great celebration.

Make sure you are drinking a minimum of 60 oz of Fluid each day. Without proper fluid, nothing will move through your system. I take metamucil and benefiber most every day in a Protein smoothie. If I don't have a smoothie, they are fine mixed in Water. I can tell a difference if I miss two days of metamucil/benefiber. BTW, you can take up to 3 packets of benefiber a day. I also take about a tablespoon of flax oil in my smoothie each day. THis works for me. If you have really gotten yourself packed up, you may need something more harsh than what I recommend. Good luck.

This is how I address this issue. I try to stay on top of the acid, and not wait to treat it after it is there. I take Pepcid (Famotadine) morning and evening (just morning after about 7 months) and a Prilosec every evening. I count my Protein grams - early on I tried for 40 a day, but by the end of the first month I tried for 60 as day - split pretty evenly in 3 meals or 3 meals and two small protein Snacks. I am now at a minimum of 80 grams per day. The amount of protein is important to track, so you can have a clue if your body is telling you it is truly hungry, or if it is just "stomach music". If I split my protein that way, I know I am getting appropriate nourishment. Hunger to me is a true "empty feeling". If I had a gas gauge, it is the feeling I get when the needle of the gauge is on empty. This happens if it has been 4 hours since I have put protein in my stomach. So if I get that feeling, I look at the clock. If it has been four hours, I eat either a meal or a protein snack (baby bell cheese or Jerky are my go to protein snacks). If I don't have one of those with me, I go in search of protein to eat. Gas / acid is anything my stomach is telling me except that empty feeling after four hours. If I was exercising heavily, it may happen sooner, but that exception aside, anything else is gas or acid. It doesn't happen often, as long as I stay on my meds, chew my food really well, don't eat spicy foods, don't eat sugar, and don't eat white carbs. (all of those things cause my stomach to react) I swear my stomach has tried every sound, every feeling I can imagine to try to convince me I was hungry. My standard response is to drink something - preferable warm (broth or hot tea are my go-to things) but if warm isn't available, I will drink something else. I also put a GASX dissolving strip in my mouth to help with the supposed acid. If I don't have one of those, any antacid will do. Then I quit worrying about it and quit wondering if I am hungry. People's signals for hunger differ, like the signals for being full. That is another reason to use the clock and how long it has been since you have had protein. You will need to learn what your signal is. Another thing about spreading out your protein. It isn't good to try to get all your daily protein in one part of the day. My nutritionist said I can't absorb more than 20-25 grams of protein, anything over that passes through and has to be dealt with by the kidneys (I think - maybe the liver). So I am not a fan of those 35-40 gram protein "shots". Good luck with this. It does get better, once you learn how to use and to communicate with your sleeve. I can't remember the last time I had a problem with the gassy/acidy stomach.

I agree with the above two posters. Discrimination against fat people is real. Some folks do it consciously and deliberately, others are probably not aware that they are descrimintating. I am currently conducting a job search. I am considering taking early retirement at the end of the year, but I want to continue working. So I am putting myself out there, competing against people half my age. At least I am not having to compete against people half my age AND half my size. I think I will be treated totally differently than if I had been doing this search pre-surgery and 104 pounds larger. I am worried I will be discounted for my age, but at least I don't have to worry that is my age and my weight. I will keep the forum updated on my progress. Interest thread!

Dr Nicholson was my sugeon. He heads up the bariatric practice at Baylor Plano. Plano is on the north side of Dallas and has easy acces to Interstate 35 and Highway 75 - the main arteries to Okalhoma. I recommend Dr. Nick highly. I couldn't be happier with both the surgeon and his entire staff. It took me a year of working at prep to get approved for my surgery - primarily because I was on four insurance programs during a 12 month period (my employers were sold twice and I got laid off once). Dr. Nick was a 'Center of Excellence' with all the carriers (I think that's the term). His staff person that works to identify and ensure you meet the insurance requirements was OUTSTANDING. Each of the four carriers had different requirements, and she kept me up to date with what I had to do. With her guidance, I didn't have to re-do anything for any of the insurance carriers. When I met with Dr. Nick, I was asking him the risks of problems with the surgery, and asked him to tell me in plain English what I could tell my mother so she wouldn't worry. He told me he would be happy to call my mother with me and talk to her, if I wanted him to do that. And, he let me go home after one night in the hospital.And, he didn't nickle and dime me for money over what my insurance paid. Obviously, I am a happy client of his.

I tried beer at about 4 months - didn't cause any problems other than 4 oz made me tipsy (drinking it slowly). I tried tequila around the same point - didn't cause any problems other than 2 tablespoons (sipped slowly) made me tipsy! Last week (almost 9 months) I was attending a business dinner. I had a shot of fine tequila in a brandy snifter, which I sipped on before and with dinner. I define sipping as inhaling the fumes and basically wetting my tounge with the liquor. It took me before dinner and the three course meal to get half of the drink down - and I could definatley feel the buzz. I plan on keeping alchohol in my life - I enjoy it. But I certainly can't drink much of it. I don't think the calories will have a negative effect on me - since I won't drink much.

I donated blood about 5 months after surgery. I had been anemic at 3 months post op, and went on iron supplements and eating red meat regularly. My hemoglobin was fine the day of donation and higher at 6 months than 3 - but still borderline anemic. I have been borderline anemic most of my life. I plan on donating blood once or twice a year, but no more often that that.

Dr Nicholson was my sugeon. He heads up the bariatric practice at Baylor Plano. Plano is on the north side of Dallas and has easy acces to Interstate 35 and Highway 75 - the main arteries of Okalhoma. I recommend Dr. Nick highly. I couldn't be happier with both the surgeon and his entire staff.

I would recommend pulling up your big girl panties and go be social with your friends. Visit, laugh, talk to them like normal - just don't eat. If someone asks why you aren't eating, another good lie to tell them is that you are fasting today due to medical tests the next day (everyone understands prepping for certain tests - colonoscopies, for example). Deflect the questions about you with questions about how they are going to celebrate their holdiay. People love to talk about themselves more than wonder why you are doing or not doing something. Have a clear image in mind of something you want to do or wear when you are at your goal weight before you go be around the food. If you indulge in the food, you will be that much further from what it is you desire. Nothing you can put in your mouth will make you feel as good as being thin will. A moment of fleeting pleasure from food is nowhere near as satisfying as knocking down the barriers that stand between you and being at your goal weight. Try to enjoy the holiday - as I few days where we focus on being thankful for the blessings we have received. There are many things I am thankful for besides being able (or not able) to eat a huge meal. You have a wonderful thing to be thankful for - you have been approved for surgery! YEA!! You have been given the key to join the "skinny" people - it just requires you to perform certain tasks - like your preop prep diet. Hope this doesn't seem harsh - I don't mean to be. Preop is not easy - the "head" part of the preop is much harder than what you aren't eating. The "head" part after surgery is much harder than the eating part, too. Try to get a handle on being around food and not letting it bother you. The sooner you can master this, the better for your success. Good luck. Sharon

I waited six weeks from diagnosis to having my gallbladder out. During the six week period, my diet became more and more restricted. At the end, I was only eating milk toast, buttered noodles, and potatoe Soup. By five and 1/2 weeks out, I was in coninuous pain from the gallbladder, whether I was eating or not. The doctor wanted to move up the surgeon, but I didn't want to as I was having a second unrelated surgery at the same time as the gallbladder surgery. I made it to have my gallbladder out as scheduled, but the doctor who did the surgery told me, after looking at my gallbladder, that it would have ruptured if I waited another 24 hours. Ask your doctor / whoever is reading your labs there recommendation. It depends on how easy your surgery is going to be and how quickly you recover if you will be well enough to travel.

I chose Dr. Nicholson over doctor Kim. Dr. Nicholson was a "center of excellence" (may not be the right term) for the four different insurance companies I went through during the year I was preparing for surgery. I knew going in to my preparation for surgery, that insurance was going to be a challenge for me, and I wanted a surgeon I could stay with no matter what. I am extremely pleased with Dr. Nicholson, his staff and my results following his guidelines. I would imagine Dr. Kim is also a fine surgeon but I really didn't consider him after researching Nicholson, going to his informaiton seminar and meeting his staff. Good luck picking the surgeon. We are very fortunate in DFW to have some outstanding surgeons to select from.

Have you ever had surgery before? If so, how long did it take to to recover and feel clear-headed enough to use the computer? I had surgery on 2/22. I was in the hospital overnight - home the next afternoon. Doc wanted me to stay another nite, but I wanted to recover at home. My main issue with recovering from surgery is it takes me a few days to get over the anasthesia - I kept falling asleep and was groggy for a couple of days. On the plus size, I had no nauseau or vomiting, and was able to drink fluids - so the surgical recovery wasn't a problem. My incliniation would be to take the classes - it will give you something to focus on while you are recovering. But everyone's recovery is different. Good Luck.

One way to make chicken broth more interesting - season it with soy sauce. I love it that way. Also, my heating pad and a weight support belt were my best friends after surgery. I wore the belt 24 X 7 except when showering, and the heating pad on low when I was lying down or in the recliner. Hang in there, it gets easier. Sharon

I can relate to this post. People are telling me I have lost enough weight. I am not even in the normal BMI range yet!I still weigh 150 pounds - I don't think that is "skinny" on a person who is 5'4" tall. I remember when I graduated high school at 135 pounds - my (soon to be ex)boyfriend at the time told me I would be much prettier if I would lose some weight. (SIDEBAR: I also remember at that size, I wore 12's and 14's - and now I am into 10's and 12's. So there is definatley something to this vanity sizing these days.) Someone told me "you don't need to lose any weight, your husband loves you the way you are". While that statement is true (about him loving me), he also loved me 103 pounds ago - so that is not a determinate of my stopping point. That person was well-intentioned, unlike some of the jealous nozy people who make some of the rude and stupid comments mentioned by posters on this thread. It was nice attending a class last week where no one had ever met me before. They just thought I was a normal person - not some ex-fat person who needs to be watched like an animal in the zoo.