SKCUNNINGHAM

You look great! You have a beautiful hour glass shape. Way to go! How did you set your goal weight? I still have 35-ish pounds to lose and wondered how you picked your number.

Your progress is amazing. You look wonderful! You have rocked your sleeve!

In my six months since surgery, I have occaisionally moved up a pound, then lost it back then lost down further. Those are the only gains I've seen.

My name is Sharon. I will be 55 this Christmas. My highest weight ever (last year in September) was around 263. I was 253 when I scheduled my surgery with Dr. Nick and 241 when I had surgery. I am 168-170 now. My goal weight (I think) is 135 - but I may decide to stop at 140 - depends on how I look and feel and at what weight I can maintain without living in the gym 6 days a week. I have been waiting to start participating in this forum until I got this close to goal. I need a push to persevere the rest of the way. So I have lost approximatly 83-85 pounds in 6 1/2 months (including the 2 week preop). I started out in 24W's and had just moved into 3X tops. A guys 2XL T shirt was tight on me. Now, I wear mostly 14P pants and XL or L tops. My waist is still proportinately too big compared to my hips, or I would be wearing 12P pants. I am broad shouldered - not big bosomed (I am a B+cup size - I was only a D 80 pounds ago). At goal I will probably be in 10's - maybe some 8's - depending on how small I get my waist. My body is built in a way that I don't think my skeleton would wear a size 4. Unlike most of you on this thread - I have not been a faithful hard exerciser these last six months. I was enjoying Zumba classes, and working out on my elliptical - then I sprained my ankle cleaning fat clothes out of my spare closet. I haven't done anything but streching for 3 weeks while I have been wearing my boot cast. One more week and I will be out of it (fingers crossed). My plan (post boot) is to exercise for 45 minutes-1 hour a minimum of 3 days a week. Zumba, cardio and body weight exercises (squats, lunges, and core exercises) and maybe incorporate some light weights. My time frame is this - I want lose 15 pounds by October 15th, then the next 15 pounds by January 1st. At that point I will determine how low I want to go.

My name is Sharon. My highest weight ever (last year in September) was around 263. I was 253 when I scheduled my surgery with Dr. Nick and 241 when I had surgery. I am 168-170 now. My goal weight (I think) is 135 - but I may decide to stop at 140 - depends on how I look and feel and at what weight I can maintain without living in the gym 6 days a week. I have been waiting to start participating in this forum until I got this close to goal. I need a push to persevere the rest of the way. So I have lost approximatly 83-85 pounds in 6 1/2 months (including the 2 week preop). I started out in 24W's and had just moved into 3X tops. A guys 2XL T shirt was tight on me. Now, I wear mostly 14P pants and XL or L tops. My waist is still proportinately too big compared to my hips, or I would be wearing 12P pants. I am broad shouldered - not big bosomed (I am a B+cup size - I was only a D 80 pounds ago). At goal I will probably be in 10's - maybe some 8's - depending on how small I get my waist. My body is such that I don't think my skeleton would wear a size 4. Unlike most of you on this thread - I have not been a faithful hard exerciser these last six months. I was enjoying Zumba classes, and working out on my elliptical - then I sprained my ankle cleaning fat clothes out of my spare closet. I haven't done anything but streching for 3 weeks while I have been wearing my boot cast. One more week and I will be out of it (fingers crossed). My plan (post boot) is to exercise for 45 minutes-1 hour a minimum of 3 days a week. Zumba, cardio and body weight exercises (squats, lunges, and core exercises) and maybe incorporate some light weights. My time frame is this - I want lose 15 pounds by October 15th, then the next 15 pounds by January 1st. At that point I will set my final goal. This is a great sub forum - I really appreciate the support it (and all of you all) offers. Thanks a bunch!

The scar tissue you are referring to your friend had removed are what are called adhesions. To quote from an online source - www.adhesions.org "An ADHESION is a type of scar that forms an abnormal connection between two parts of the body. Adhesions can cause severe clinical problems. Adhesions occur in response to injury of various kinds. For example, non-surgical insults such as endometriosis, infection, chemotherapy, radiation and cancer may damage tissue and initiate ADHESIONS. By far the most common kind of ADHESION is the one that forms after surgery. ADHESIONS typically occur at the site of a surgical procedure although they may also occur elsewhere." Sometimes people form adhesions, sometimes they don't (I am speaking in general, not specifically about sleeve patients.). If you form adhesions and they cause you pain, a surgeon can go in and remove them. I had adhesions form NOT from surgery as a result of "female problems". After years of trying other ways to correct the situation, I had a hysterectomy. The surgeon removed a BUNCH of adhesions, along with everything else. Five years later, adhesions had formed where my female parts had been, and I had surgery to remove those. I was day surgery, I went in on Friday - had them removed and was back at work on Tuesday. I have not had adhesions form after other abdominal surgery (gallbladder)- so I am not particulary worried I will get them after my sleeve. If they do occur, I will have the surgeon go in and take them out. Hope this helps.

I was considering the band (reluctantly) as my insurance didn't cover the sleeve when I started the 6 month pre-op diet. Luckily, the insurance coverage changed to include the sleeve. This surgery was my first choice. It was the right choice for me - I don't regret having it for one minute.

I went to see the nutritionist yesterday for my 6 month followup. One of the topics I talked to her about was what level of carbs I should aim for each day (to get her opinion). She said I didn't need to count carbs, only to track the sugar grams. Does anyone do this? If so, how many grams of sugar do target for each day?

On Saturday or Sunday, get a notebook or do it at the computer - plan everything you are going to eat the next week, and when. Plan all your meals, your Snacks, your Fluid intake, etc. Make it work with your schedule (work, whatever). Make it total the calories, Protein, carbs - whatever you are counting. Work in things that fit with what you should be eating but enjoy (think of them as allowed treats). Then, buy what you need to execute the plan. Don't buy what you shouldn't be eating. Every day - follow the plan. It will eliminate you making a choice or thinking about what you eat. Make a bargain with yourself - you get a gold start for each day you follow the plan. When you get ten gold stars, give yourself a reward (non food related). Get a massage, a manicure - something to pamper yourself. Do this for a few weeks to build your habits. I've heard it takes 30 days to build a habit. You might think this is childish - the gold stars and rewards - but we are all children in the respect we are having to learn good eating habits.

I have had success (short term) with following a plan - then I fall off the wagon (whatever wagon it is) and revert back to my bad habits. That is why I wanted a permanent solution - which is the sleeve. To me, it's kind of similar to having your tubes tied versus remembering to take birth control daily. If I had given birth to a child each time I blew a diet (rather than just gained the weight back) I would have birthed a crowd of children.

This is great news - congratulations! Not only are you healthy - think of the $$$ you are going to save! I was able to get off my cholesterol meds at 3 months. My total cholesterol was normal, as were the HDL and LDL levels. First time in A LONG TIME. All 3 of those had been normal. I go on Friday to see what my 6 months labs say - I hope I get to stay off the meds and it isn't hereditary. I wish you continued success on your journey.

Going back to JUNIOR High - Dr.Stillman's Water diet Then, moving into college - Weight Watchers (for the first time) and joined a gym (for the first time) Then since college: Weight watchers (multiple times - lost the same 30-50 pounds for years) Scarsdale diet Atkins diet A diet where I did Protein packages twice/day and 1 sensible meal - went to a doctor each week and had to pee on a stick to prove I was in ketosis - did this two different time - lost about 50 pounds each time Diet pills - lasted less than a week on these - couldn't handle them - some quack doctor - I thnk they were pure speed - the john got high when I flushed the d**n things down it Modifast - the first time, I lost 100 pounds and kept it off for about a year - to 18 months Phen Fen - couldn't handle this more than about a month - one of the pills conflicted with another med I was on Modifast - the second time - lost 80 pounds to get ready for surgery and kep it off about a year. A doctor supervised diet where it basically Atkins and a whole bunch of supplements. I was taking 80 pills a day. He would have your hair analyzed and build you a unique program based on what you needed. I lost 100 pounds on it - but got sick of taking all the pills, and quit taking them cold turkey. BAD IDEA. Hypnosis combined with basically Atkins. This worked great - I lost over 100 pounds and was maintaining. Then I took a job where I traveled all the time, that didn't allow me to exercise 6 days out of 7. I quit listening to the hypnosis CDs and the weight gradually came back. Can't list all the gym memberships I have had. I do like to exercise when I am the size I am now or smaller. Hate it when I am larger. This is a fun thread!

First of all, make sure you are drinking 60-80 ounces of Fluid each day. Water is the first thing you need to be regular. Second - you need to make sure you are getting Fiber. Fiber comes from veggies and fruits and, for me, benefiber packets. You can take up to three a day, and the disolve into water with no problems. The other thing I do to keep things moving is to use Miralax. I add a capful of Miralax into my diet almost every day. Either in my Breakfast smoothie or in my water that I drink. If I skip the miralax for a couple of days, my system blocks up. Also - the more you exercise, the more likely you are to stay regular. If you are doing all of this and still stay constipated, go see your doc, something may be wrong. You are driving yourself crazy weighing multiple times per day and it is serving NO PURPOSE. Don't weigh more than once per day. Your weight fluctuates throughout the day for a variety of reasons. The only reason you want to weigh each day is to be accountable for monitoring your weight. After you weigh first thing in the morning, HIDE YOUR scale so you won't be tempted to torment yourself with it during the day. I hope you get better soon!

What a wonderful accomplishment! 229 pounds gone! Congratulations! Enjoy those new clothes - you earned them.

My doctor told me to plan on two nights - I went home after only one (my request). I was having no problems, and wanted to recover at home. I don't have any small children to take care of, my husband was there to take care of me, and he drove me home.

The primary reason for the pre-op diet is to reduce the fat layer surrounding your liver. Your doctor is going to move the liver during your surgery and the less fat around it, the easier it is to handle. You do not want the liver to be inadvertently nicked or torn during your surgery. That is an undesirable side effect. Some doctors, if they see there is too much fat around the liver will stop the surgery. After the patient wakes up, he / she finds out they didn't have surgery and they have to do more of a diet to further shrink the fat layer. Smkeller is correct - pre-op diets differ by person, due to your BMI and overall health conditions. Another benefit of the pre-op diet - it allows you to start changing your relationship with food. And- some people lose a good number of pounds during the pre-op - to jumpstart their loss.

WAY TO GO! You Look GREAT!

Congratulations! You have done great! You were sleeved the day after I was, we have similar starting weights, and the same weight target. Good luck on the rest of your way to goal.

Tomorrow is my Six-month sleeve surgiversary. I have lost 83 pounds! This is 3 pounds less than the goal I set for myself (as part of the Labor Day challenge) - but I sprained an ankle badly two weeks ago and haven't been able to exercise. Once I get this dratted boot of my foot and ankle, I will get back to regular exercise and break of of this stall I am experiencing. Even with that annoyance - LIFE IS GOOD. I have dropped from a 24 Womens to a 14 Petite. I am enjoying shopping in regular stores. I treated myself to a little shopping spree today, and I didn't feel like a freak from the circus wondering into the store (like I normally would pre sleeve). I have dropped 8 1/2 inches from bust, waist and belly; 9 1/2 inches from my hips; 2 1/2 inches from my neck and 5-6 inches off of each thigh. I have gotten off of all cholesterol meds; 3/4 of my BP meds; my anti depression meds; and retired my hated CPAP machine. YEA! It took me a long time to research WLS and make up my mind to have the surgery. I am SO GLAD I did. Attached are pictures from before and today. I still have 36 more pounds to go to reach goal - and I feel certain I will get there. Thanks to all of you on this forum for your wisdom, you humour and your unflagging support.

Congratulations on becoming a mom! And way to go to keep the weight off!

ChunkyandFluffy - if your clothers aren't organized by size - do it before the surgery. Dig up all your smaller clothers and go through them. After the surgery, you are going to be passing through sizes rapidly - so you need to have a good idea of what you have in each size. Also - develop your strategy as to what you are going to do when you shrink out of your clothes. You will want to "burn the bridge" and get rid of them as you shrink out of them. Keep one "fat outfit" that you can try on and remember (and inspire yourself to never go back). Good Luck.

Anyone doing anything special to mark their 6 month surgiversary? I am pleased with my results, but don't have anything special planned - do you / did you?

It seems like my entire life, when it came to food, my brain was not piloting the plane - my stomach was in the pilot seat with my mouth as co-pilot. The two of them had me eating too fast, too much, and forcing the brain into a state of unconsciousness when I ate. In reality - the brain is and always should be the pilot of the plane.Here is an exercise to help you get closer to that point. I am not suggesting this for every meal - but it will help you change your habits if you practice this exercise. Measure out your serving of whatever. Put it in a small plate or bowl. Leave it on the counter. Get a second small plate or bowl. Take 3-4 bites of whatever from the first plate and put it on the second plate (spread away from each other). Take the plate or bowl to the table, place it there next two your fork/spoon and napking. Sit down - put napkin in lap. Take a deep breath, smile, and tell yourself - "I am going to enjoy each bit of this food to the fullest." Place the first bite in your mouth and start chewing. Continue to say the line about enjoying each bite to the fullest in your head as you chew. Say it to yourself ten times (slowly) for EACH BITE OF FOOD. Once the food is in your mouth, PUT THE FORK DOWN (the other food isn't going to run away from you.) The first bite - focus on the TASTE of the food. Think about the spices - preparation - etc. (Is it sweet? Sour? Salty? Spicy? ) After you have swallowed, take another breath and look at the plate. Pick up the fork - and put the second bite in your mouth. Repeat the steps from before with the mantra about enjoying each bite and setting the fork down. The second bite - focus on the TEXTURE of the food and how it feels in your mouth. Is is smooth and slippery? Chewy? Tough? Repeat the process for each bite of food until the bites of food on the plate are gone. When that is done, go back to your first plate or bowl and serve yourself another 3-4 bites, and repeat the entire process again (and again) until you are full and have gotten in your Protein. Surpisingly - there are many facets of enjoying food that I never took the time to think of, including: Taste; Texture and Feel; Smell: What type of food it is (Mexican, Italian); How it was prepared; Where the food originated (Much of our food in the US comes to us from outside the US); How the food is going to benefit my body, etc. Now, I don't think thinking of these is something you routinely need to do - but the point is to focus on the food when you are eating. Before my sleeve, I know I would rapidly eat until I reached a point of uncomfortableness and mental stupor. I don't want to do this anymore. I don't want to unconsciously eat - even if it is four bites of something. I don't want to eat until my new smaller stomach hurts (or slimes, or sends it back up). I want to eat until I am satisfied (not painfully full) - Tiffany calls this undereating her sleeve. Good luck with slowing down the pace of your eating - it is a hard habit to break.

I am days away from my six month surgiversary. The only carbs I get are from dairy (yogurt and cottage cheese), veggies, fruit (in my smoothies) and the occasional piece of flatbread/cracker or melba toast with cheese. On special occaisions, I may have 1-2 T of rice or mashed potatoes. I also have indulged in fried hushpuppies once in six months (just a couple). I do not eat white carbs (rice, noodles or bread(white or wheat)). Carbs are what I ate mindlessly before - I would anesthesize myself with them. It is better for me to stay away from them.

LMD - this is an outstanding post - thank you so much. I would add: DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week. DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it. Thanks again LMD - you are awe-inspiring.