renee5d

awesome job! Running is my main exercise now, adding in yoga once a week and zumba when i can. I am addicted to running now...its crazy to think this time last year i too, could not run 1/4 of a mile...now i have my 7th 5k next weekend and im trainung for a half marathon in april! im already at the point i can run 10 miles non.stop and last year, i could not climb a flight of stairs without getting winded! I love seeing the progression...and i love my new collection of race t-shirts! lol

Started my Journey June 2011 surgery April 2012. Second picture Mothers Day 2012, 3rd picture at class reunion in September.
Last picture 6 month visit October 30th

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Hey everyone I've started a new Q&A video series on my YouTube Channel for WLS patients. If you have a question, please feel free to email me or post on my Facebook page. I'm always glad to help in any way I can!
Here's a link to the first video -

Just thought I'd share what the sleeve has done for me. The VGS is the best decision I ever made. Good luck to everybody....hang in there and make it happen! I'm here for ya if you need any support.

something to spice up my tuna

Hit the gym tonight for cardio and did 10 minutes on the elliptical, which is HUGE for me. Jumped off the elliptical and did 20 on the bike. When I got done, I felt HIGH from all the endorphins. Almost better than sex!!! LOL

I saw some bird seed on the road and, despite my sleeve, I ate the whole pile. What a mistake! There were ball bearings in that seed and the coyote had a big magnet!! Luckily a truck ran over him before he could eat me.

you are always my inspiration! You look mahhhhhvalous!

I had an amazing NSV this weekend! I ran my first 5k since my surgery 11/14/11 and shaved 4 minutes and 52 seconds off my last 5k time (before surgery)! And...my race T-shirt was a medium instead of a (very tight) Extra large! I even ran it in barefoot shoes! I love feeling so strong and healthy!
I've already signed up for four more! If you've never done a 5k...I highly recommend it...most of them have a walkers division, and, like me, I had to walk every so often to catch my breath. But, its a great way to commit yourself to training....like holding your own feet to the fire!

I doubt that's it. But, it's now on you to make the sleeve work by adding in more exercise, or refining your diet. Our bodies seem to have "set points" where they like to hang out. Mine got stuck between 265-260 for a little over 2 months and I've fought like heck to get below that number, but the scale is now moving again. Of course, on the way up, I was between 260-265 for over 8 years. I now know that I will have to fight harder and work more to lose the weight...and I'm fully expecting to stall around 210 and have to power my way through that number as well, since I was THERE for quite some time as well.
Step up your exercise and Water intake and change up your food routine, making sure you get the Protein you need. It WILL happen, but it may be very slow. However, you're not in a race and you've done an amazing job with your sleeve so far!
Good luck!!

For the first time in my life I ran outside in the real world, with the intention of running, and with a running buddy! It was amazing, we really ran, this wasn't just some slow walking, we kept up a steady jog pace up and down grades AND talked! I felt great and the only part of me to conk out were my lungs and throat which felt like they were sucking ice shards, otherwise I felt good. And ... we did 2.75 miles!!!! The most I've done alone on a tread was 1.5!!!! My running buddy is a former personal trainer and is in excellent shape and she said that I did really well. yay

Wow Renee is also my middle name hahaha!

My middle name is Renee, too.
Just wanted to share some news. I made it to onederland today! Just barely (199.8), but I will take that! Definitely doing the happy dance today.

Do you ever fill your bowl up or plate with something to eat and even go so far as to start eating and realize you had this surgery? And wonder 'how did I think I was going to eat all of this??'

Hit 200 this morning... maybe under by Friday??? Wish me luck, been trying to get to onederland since Valentine's Day! Oh well, Easter works too!

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hit onederland this morning too!! It feels like I slept with a coat hanger in my mouth...I cant stop smiling!!

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hit onederland this morning too!! It feels like I slept with a coat hanger in my mouth...I cant stop smiling!!

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hit onederland this morning too!! It feels like I slept with a coat hanger in my mouth...I cant stop smiling!!

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hit onederland this morning too!! It feels like I slept with a coat hanger in my mouth...I cant stop smiling!!

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hit onederland this morning too!! It feels like I slept with a coat hanger in my mouth...I cant stop smiling!!

I did it! I broke through that ONE-derland door!! And it was on my two month surgiversary this past Friday. I had not been under 200 since the end of 2006. I have lost a total of 40.5 lbs. (that includes 10 lbs on pre-op) and feel amazing. I can't say enough great things about the sleeve and my new way of life. What a blessing!
"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." (Hebrews 11:1)

Onderland is a happy place full of rainbows and unicorns!!!!!! 199.6 this morning!!! WOOT WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Onderland is a happy place full of rainbows and unicorns!!!!!! 199.6 this morning!!! WOOT WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

piperrenee  #71
sounds good to me!
tonight I took an onion, 4 little sweet peppers, 3 stalks of celery, all diced and dry sauteed then added beef broth and red wine.
then I took a can of low sodium /fat-cream of celery Soup and added in pre cooked turkey meatballs. 1 .5 hours and it was divine!

So, yesterday made 7 months post-op. I just got a chance to take a couple of quick pics, in other words, don't mind the lack of hairstyle and dressier clothes. I've been exercising all along, but in the last month I have really ramped it up. I'm doing at least 30 minutes on the exercise bike per day, plus trying to work some other area of my body with weights on a daily basis. Below is my before and my today picture. I REALLY wish I had a better before picture!
Stats:
Start weight: 352
Surgery weight: 337
Current weight: 263.2
Total lost: 88.2
I've been losing VERY slowly since late January, but I'm seeing improvement in my shape and feeling more energetic every day. Patience is the key. I'm more than halfway to my goal and I know I will get there!!!