lsereno

I'm jealous! My scars are small, but I'd prefer to just have one in my belly button! They are doing this procedure on some patients at the Kaiser South SF Bariatric Center. I've seen it called spider most often. Try searching the forums for spider and you might find some people who have had the procedure and can fill in more details for you. Lynda

Hi all, My goal for Halloween is based on losing another 10% of my body weight and averaging about 2 lbs. per week. I lost a little faster than than over the Labor Day Challenge, but I expect my weight loss to slow in the next two months. I will update my weight every Friday. I weight every day but I only log my weight on Fridays (except for the final challenge date) to keep myself sane. My Halloween Goal also includes reaching the following goals: 174 lbs.: I've lost 80 lbs. (32 pre-op and 48 post op) 172: I've lost 50 lbs. post op 169.9: My number starts with 16. I haven't weighed this since the mid-90s. 164: I've lost 90 lbs. (32 pre-op and 58 post op) 162: My Halloween goal and I've lost another 10% of my body weight (from 180 to 162) and I've lost 60 lbs. post op!!! The next 10% will take me to 11 lbs. from goal: 146!!!!!! Halloween Goal: SW-177.............CW-177...............Halloween Goal-162 Sept 2: Sept. 9: Sept 16: Sept 23: Sept 30: Oct 7: Oct 14: Oct 21: Oct 28: Halloween:

I used a one ounce medicine cup as my glass and a liquid measuring cup as my pitcher. I drank one medicine cup every 15 minutes while i was awake. Yes it does get better and it is so worth it! Lynda

Hi HDubSleevery, I've tolerated decaf coffee well since the first week after surgery. I use Starbucks Via Decaf Italian Roast. One of my fav Protein shakes is 1/2 C. plain soy milk, 1/2 C. Starbucks Via Decaf Italian Roast, and 1 scoop Gold Standard whey Protein French vanilla. I am cleared for caffeine now that I am 3 months out, but I still drink the decaf if I'm having it in my evening protein shake. Lynda

I do. Our gas bill was sky high the month after surgery. Since then, I just dress warm. I also resort to drinking hot water, warming my blanket in the dryer for a few minutes (feels great!!) and lingering in a really hot shower. If I get up and move around enough, I warm up, but if I am just sitting still reading or on the computer, I am cold. I know I will need extra clothes this winter, but I am waiting to buy warm stuff because I don't know what size I will be. I plan to wear scarves, undershirts, and boots this winter to help stay warm. I'm hoping the chill goes away as weight loss slows. I will put up with a lot in return for averaging more than 2 lbs. per week in weight loss! Lynda

My surgery date was 5/17. Today's menu: Breakfast: Yogurt smoothie (3/4 C. Plain Fage 0 Greek Yogurt, 2 strawberries, 1/2 c. Water, 1/8 C. orange juice) Mid-Morning: Shot of espresso in 6 oz. plain soy milk, chugged 2 oz. soy milk Lunch: 1 oz. Mongolian Beef, 1/2 oz. Ooolong Tea Marinated Sea Bass, 1/2 oz. salmon burger, 1/8 C. brocolli and spinach (Left-overs from dinner last night) Dinner: 2 oz. smoked pork chop, 1/8 C. Veg-All canned vegtables Planned Late Night: 1 C. soy milk with 1T. sugar free carmel syrup That gets me to 60 grams of Protein, somewhere between 600 and 800 calories, and it's pretty light on the carbs. Lynda

Use the Search Box in the upper right corner of this site and search the Forums for Checklist - there are some good ones people have already created. Here are a few of my tips: Don't buy a lot of food/drink ahead of time. You might not like/tolerate it after surgery. I developed lactose intolerance and couldn't use the pudding, cottage cheese, and milk I bought before hand. And I bought two six-packs of Jello and a big box of popsicles, but couldn't stand them after surgery. If you can, buy the

Are you drinking at least 64 oz. of fluids a day? I rely on Colace stool softener, extra Fiber through food or supplements, and glycerin suppositories if things get really backed up. I do exercise 6 days per week and I think that helps too as another poster noted. I'd bring it up with the Dr. Pooping a brick is not good for the ol' rear end. Might as well bring it up now before you get hemorrhoids or other problems. For example, after finding and repairing a hiatial hernia during my VSG surgery, the Dr. told me it could have been caused by straining to poo. Lynda

I'm so proud of you! You didn't have a hysterical melt-down. I might have! Be kind to yourself. You are doing a great job of making it through a super sucky time. Next summer this pain will be a distant memory and you will be a lot COOLER at your new, lower weight. I'm wishing for a miracle-cooling trend for you tomorrow. Lynda

Should be working. Try it again now if you are still having the problem. If it still doesn't work, try clearing your browser cache. For instructions, google "clear browser cache" and your browser and version, for example "clear browser cache" internet explorer 8 Lynda

I've been waiting all day to see how others reward themselves, but no one has replied. I haven't purchased any rewards for myself so far. It's been rewarding enough to fit into clothes I had outgrown, clothes I had bought and never been able to wear, and finally- new clothes in sizes I haven't seen in years. I've also been able to wear shoes I had to quit wearing as I gained weight and my feet hurt more and more. I also love looking at myself in the mirror and seeing my thinner face and body. This last week I wore a tucked in shirt for the first time in more than a decade! And I can finally feel the difference when bending over, sitting down, and sometimes even just walking. I always had rewards set up for myself in previous diet plans (mostly Weight Watchers) because losing weight was such a struggle and took so long. I had a mini-rewards for every 5 lbs. I can see myself doing that again as my weight loss slows, which I know it will as time goes by and I get closer to goal. Sometimes it would be something small- a new lipstick, perfume, or lotion. Sometimes something bigger like a new tech toy or a new purse or pair of shoes. As my final reward, I'm really looking forward to a new wardrobe when I get to my goal weight. Right now I am getting by with just a tiny selection because I know I will be shrinking out of them soon. Lynda

Congrats! Lynda

At three months, I had lost 42 lbs. I lost 48.25% of my excess weight. The percentage of excess weight loss will vary with what the person's goal weight BMI is. For me, I have set my goal at 135 lbs., which will put me at a BMI of 21.8., pretty close to the middle of the normal range for my height of 5'6" My starting weight on the day before surgery was 222, so I I had 87 lbs. to go to my goal weight. Lynda

I walked for the first six weeks then went back to working out with a trainer. I was pooped early out and just tried to walk 4-5 days per week, slowly building up to a walk of 2-3 miles at least twice a week and at least 1/2 mile to a mile a couple of days per week. I've seen a lot of people do a lot more, but I just didn't feel up to it. Lynda

Does your plan allow Protein drinks? In the weeks following my surgery, I had two a day to get my calories up to 400 per day and my protein at the right level. I'm down to one a day now and hoping to be on all food shortly. For the liquids, try the Water at room temp or hot. For me, I could tolerate liquids chilled or hot. Room-temp make me sick. I liked Sleepy Time tea in the evening and watered down Crystal lite earlier in the day. Best wishes in these early weeks--they are the hardest! Lynda

Ill be 4 months out on Sept. 17, and just in the last week have I felt like I have most of my pre-surgery stamina back. It's been a slow, steady improvement from needing a nap after doing very little, to needing a nap after a strenuous morning, to needing an easy day after a busy day. I still don't feel strong enough to tackle big projects like an all-day cleaning marathon or long, busy vacation. At first, I thought it was because I was older, but I see a lot of people in their 50s and older who bounced back quicker than me. My doc said it takes some people up to 6 months to get their strength back. After I heard that, I quit worrying. I am doing a good job of getting my fluids, Proteins, and Vitamins every day, so I know it's not that. And I exercise for 30-45 minutes 6 days a week. When I get that super-tired feeling, I try to indulge myself if at all possible, because I feel it's my body sending me a message. Lynda

Tiffy-kins: Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I owe a huge debt to you for the courage to have this operation and the ability to focus on success on my journey. Great idea for the affirmations and I am going to put some up today! Coffeetx: I've found I can eat bad for me foods too. But I'm with Tiffy-kins: just because I can doesn't mean I should. I usually talk myself out of it by eating my protein first. Once I get the required amount of protein down, I don't have room for much else. And I don't want to lose my hair or have protein-related health issues, so I'm usually pretty good. But I fall off the wagon occasionally. I just tell myself, the difference between me and a non-successful person is that I climb back on the wagon and keep going! Lynda

Congrats Diva! The girls look great on you! Lynda

Today, I was getting dressed for a day around town and as I pulled my size Medium tissue T by Mossimo for Target over my size 10, fit 4 Merona for Target jeans, I didn't like the way my shirt looked outside my jeans so I finally thought, how will it look tucked? I tucked it in and it looked -insert drumroll here- GREAT!!! It's the first time I've worn a tucked in shirt with pants without a jacket to hide the bulges since the mid 90s! Yahoo!!!!! And I still have 42 lbs to goal. What next - a belt? And I wore it all day with sandals and at the end of the day my feet were not screaming for mercy! With nearly 50 lbs. less of me than last summer, I can actually wear the cute sandals I have in my closet instead of my uber-support shoes. Do you think my family will notice if I just wear this outfit night and day for the next week or so while I cackle madly with glee while wagging my tushie around and swinging my sandal-clad feet? I love you sleeve- I don't care if I have to eat more Protein than I want, swallow handfuls of supplements twice a day, and force down a Protein Drink every night- you are worth every bit of it! Lynda

Congrats and thanks so much for sharing. Our height and surgery weight are about the same. It's so helpful to see what I might look like at a healthy, normal BMI. I can't wait! Lynda

Second the back of the hand for IVs. I have small veins too and that's where they put mine for this and for another operation I had many moons ago when I broke my ankle. Lynda

Right after the surgery, I tolerated the

Irene, So glad you are feeling well enough after surgery to be posting and hanging out on the boards with us! Haha- the new girls will add a little to your weight. Those IVs are cruel to the scale - I weighed 216 the morning of VSG surgery and 230 the morning after I got home from surgery. It took 8 days to dissipate. Lynda

You're making me feel better! At 178 lbs and 5'6", I have size 16 pants ( baggy), size 10 pants (fit good), size 12 pants ( can't even pull them up!), and two pair workout pants in large. One pair fits great and one is baggy. Same kind of thing with my tops: from 1x down to medium, with varying fits. At least my bra and undie size seems consistent! Lynda

At 14 weeks out, I can't eat that much. So my 2 cents is try to find out how long therapy might take and consider doing them in tandem. You can continue to work on the therapy as you prepare for surgery and during recuperation. One area of concern with that approach is though I can't eat a lot at once, I could eat a little all day long if I chose. I'm working hard to only eat the three meals and one Protein drink my plan recommends and to eat protein first. So for me, there is no room for a binge right now. Lynda