LindaS

I am loving this thread because I spent 20 years as a journalist and currently teach college English. Other than this board, I mainly hang out in writer forums where people tend to write in complete sentences. One thing that really impressed me with this board is that so many posts use complete sentences and paragraphs. I also love it that many put spaces in their post to break up big blocks of text making it easier to read. I think I even read a post from Amanda3.0 suggesting that strategy to someone, and I remember saying "thank you" in my head to her for doing that.

My surgery costs were all inclusive, so my follow-up appointments were included in the cost. I also got several meetings with a nutritionist and a personal trainer.

I am so happy that you posted this! You look fantastic. You so deserve this, and I hope you lose the 20 pounds quickly. :-)

I completely agree with Lissa -- the hardest thing about this was the pre-operation liquid diet. Right after surgery, it was very hard to get 64 ounces of Water down. It worried me, but it happened eventually.

You might be surprised to find out your teachers have had the surgery too. I had mine just a couple of weeks before the fall semester started. As a teacher, I don't want to hear details about my students medical issues. I don't excuse absences because I don't want to have to know or confirm things that are really not any of my business. My policy is that you are responsible for what you miss, and I don't make up in-class work. However, if a student comes to me well before the date, I try hard to accommodate them. The key is planning in advance.

I track Protein and Water, but I use Myfitnesspal, so it also tracks calories, carbs, sugars and fat, I don't pay any attention to the sugars and fats. I do look at the carbs and calories, but I'm not concerned about them. My daily protein goal is 70 grams. I usually meet this without going over 1,000 calories.

The hospital times and diet requirements seem to be all over the place depending on your surgeon. Where I had my surgery seemed to be very cautious on all requirements. My post-op diet was very slow. I believe I was on liquids and Proteins for 8 weeks. I can't complain though. My surgery experience was wonderful. I have never had any problems, and I haven't had to throw up since my surgery. For me, taking the food slowly afterwards worked well. It was much easier to be on a liquid diet after surgery than it was before surgery though.

I haven't been able to post an actual weight loss since February, but I can see and feel the changes that are taking place in my body. I can feel and see muscles in my legs and arms that weren't there. I was reading a blog the other day where someone said she is now into "self molestation" because she keeps feeling her emerging bones and muscles, and I completely agree! If you haven't taken measurements yet, do so now. You'll be surprised at the changes.

I was excited about the surgery until just a few days before I had it and then I became nervous. I had a great presurgery meeting where I was able to talk about the surgery with a nurse from the floor, and she really explained how everything worked at the hospital. If you can do this, I highly recommend it. My surgery went well. I haven't had any problems. I spent three days in the hospital (normal for my doctor). My pain was pretty minimal. I had gas pain the first day, but I quit taking pain pills that night. When I first came back to my room after my surgery, I was pretty out of it. My husband was there, and he became very concerned. He said I looked like death warmed over. My blood pressure was in the 40s and 50s and kept setting off alarms when it fell too low. Within a couple of hours, I was doing much better and even walking around.

You look fabulous! I know that we still need to continue to lose and work on losing, but we also need to enjoy where we are right now. You tucked in your shirt and wore a belt, and you looked great! That is an awesome NSV. There is no need to worry about a little extra up front. Think of how far you came and Celebrate that success! I don't mean to suggest you aren't celebrating your success. I just think we can all use the reminder (I know I can) to be happy with what we've accomplished and not always focus on what still needs work when we are out socializing.

I have stretch marks at hip level on my back as well as along the underside of my stomach. I have a couple along my breasts but not many. I don't mind the stretch marks. As for the surgery scars, they are fading fast, and I don't mind them at all.

Jeni, I was a size 10 in shoes before surgery and yesterday, I was able to buy a size 8. I had read on here so often about people losing shoe sizes as part of their weight loss, and I was hopeful. But then it didn't happen, and I was thinking it wasn't going to, which is exactly when it happened. LOL

My 20-year high school reunion was in 2009 (before my WLS). I had someone do that to me at the reunion -- ask behind my back who I was and then get all gape-mouthed in shock to learn it was me who had gained so much weight. I've had it happen twice since my surgery. The first was a co-worker who didn't recognize me. It was kind of cool because another co-worker witnessed it and found it as amusing as I did. The second time was more recently when a guy thought my husband had replaced me (with me!). :-) That felt pretty good. And I wouldn't mind another reunion to show off my smaller self to that gape-mouthed person. LOL

The first time after my surgery that I went out to eat with my in-laws , my mother-in-law grabbed food off my plate. I was stunned. A couple of weeks later, we were out with them again, and she did it again. That time, her action stunned my fil and husband and me. My fil even said something about maybe I wasn't done eating. She corrected him saying I was (even though I was right there and could speak for myself). The very next day, we were eating somewhere, and I made a loud comment about her not taking my food. It came off as a joke, and everyone laughed, and she hasn't tried to take food from me since. Since surgery, I tend to stop eating in the middle of my meal. I do it to give me a chance to feel out my belly. I would rather take this break than eat a single bit too many. I didn't even realize I was doing it until my husband asked me about it. He thought something was wrong. He has also thought that I did it because I was done eating. I've talked to him about it, and I've explained what I'm doing. I didn't even realize I was doing it until he noticed. It could be that you are doing something similar, and your husband is misreading it as you being done eating. As for the stepdaughter grabbing more than her fair share, I don't think that has anything to do with your surgery. It is something I've struggled with my own kids about way before I even thought of having surgery. We have 6 in our family, and I cannot let my oldest daughter get her food first because if she does, there will not be enough for everyone. The kicker is that she then throws away food that she doesn't eat. And just tonight, I bought a gallon of orange juice because we were out. My son poured himself this giant 24 ounce glass of juice. An hour later, he was pouring himself another one just as large. I guess no one else wanted juice. All of this was to tell you that I know where you are coming from, and I have no advice but lots of sympathy! Hugs!

Has anyone here become a Zumba instructor? I've been thinking about it. I was just curious if anyone had done it, so I can pick your brains.

Last weekend I went out with my husband and in-laws. I picked up a green tank top to wear because of St. Patrick's Day, and I bought it without trying it on. When I put it on later, I learned that it was showing off a lot of my breasts. My nipples weren't in danger of making an appearance, but it was a LOT of cleavage. I don't normally show cleavage. I wore the shirt anyway. My husband didn't say much other than to ask if I was sure since it was a lot more than I usually show off. When I first arrived, my father-in-law introduced me to an old friend of his and the friend's wife. The wife was giving me a look like I was incredibly loose. I started to feel a bit uncomfortable and started crossing my arms in front of me, but I stopped when I realized what I was doing. It wasn't covering anything, and it was stupid. Who cares what people think? I went dancing and had fun, and I never worried about what I was showing off. It's been a week today, and my husband and in-laws are still talking about my shirt and all the men who were appreciating my shirt last weekend. My husband makes comments to me when we are alone, and his comments are appreciative. My in-laws mostly comment about the people looking. I don't respond. And yes, I do plan to wear the shirt again. Frankly, the women from Survivor show more cleavage. I think this was more remarkable to my husband and in-laws because I don't usually show that much.

I don't count calories, but I do count protein. I've found I have to track my food intake to make sure I am eating enough protein. For low cal drinks, I like Sobe Water (the zero calorie kind), Propel (also the 0 calorie kind) and I have tried some low-cal hot drinks like spiced apple cider (10 calories) and diet hot chocolate (25 cals). For low cal drinks with protein, I love the Bariwise fruit drinks especially the Peach Mango flavor. These offer 15 grams of protein and have 60 to 70 calories depending on the flavor. I also love the Bariwise strawberry banana shake, which is 100 calories and 15 grams or protein. It tastes like a yummy shake and even has bits of real strawberries in it.

Your doctor will be the best source of what to expect since it varies so much from doctor to doctor. After my surgery, I spent 3 days in the hospital and went home with a drain. It was removed a week later. My doctor requires a pretty long liquid post-op diet (with protein). I wasn't supposed to eat even mushies until six weeks out. By reading this board, I've learned others are cleared to eat more solid foods much sooner. By three months out, I was able to eat most foods. I don't eat breads just because I don't like the way they feel when I eat them. Some foods my doctor/nutritionist recommends not eating for a year such as corn.

Losing weight is more than just eating less calories. I don't focus on my calorie intake at all. I watch my Protein intake. I try to eat 70 grams of protein a day. I have to eat protein first, or I won't get my protein in. This means my calorie intake is lower than normal eating. Although the weight came off pretty quickly the first couple of months (when I was on the post-op diet), it doesn't continue to come off easily. I don't eat pizza at all. The crust, which I used to love, doesn't appeal to me. It feels too uncomfortable to eat. My family eats a lot of pizza still. I have learned to stash Protein shakes at my in-law's house, so I will have something to eat when they order pizza. If I find myself without any alternative, I will only eat the toppings off one small slice. I prefer not to do that. As far as your pizza analogy, it might not be that you lose weight because you are eating one slice instead of four. It might be that you just quit gaining weight. It depends on what else you are eating and how you exercise. I exercise at least 5 days a week. I drink my Water. I eat around 1,000 calories a day but focus more on the protein intake. I haven't lost weight in over two weeks even though I've had several negative calorie days. My body is changing, but it isn't showing up on a scale. It probably will eventually, but it just shows that losing weight is more than just eating less.

Sally, I've had the most success when I mix up my exercise rather than doing the same thing all the time. A stationary bike can be great, but you should still do other things. Your body can get into a rut. Mixing it up helps prevent that. You can also mix up the intensity that you do on the bike. Maybe follow a couch to 5K pattern but do low versus high intensity on the bike.

Awesome, Blackberry! I remember before I was sleeved, I was so amazed to see your pictures showing your progress. I even made a point to show my husband. The photos were (and still are) so inspirational!

I had really thick hair to begin with, and I was losing hair starting about 3 months. I would get handfuls of loose hair when I washed my hair. I spoke to my stylist about it. Normally when she would cut my hair, she would also thin my hair. I stopped that after surgery. She recommended that I not wash my hair as frequently since that seemed to be the time when I lost the most. I've been washing my hair about every other day. My hair loss has slowed down a lot. I am about 7 months out now.

I've lost 7 inches from my breasts, but my cup size is still a D. My actual cup size before surgery may have been higher, but I was wearing a 40D. I'm now in a 34 to 36 D. The nice thing is that my breasts have lost proportionately with the rest of my body. I am not pointing south, but I have noticed that they are a bit deflated compared to before. I haven't ruled out a lift or fill in my future, but I said that even before my WLS.

My license expires this summer, and I hadn't thought of that! I had already decided that I wasn't going to renew by mail though because I want an updated picture!

I walk outside (I hate my treadmill). I use a stability ball and do core exercises with that. I also do Zumba. I've done the real classes, the Xbox version, and I just go the video series. I love all of it, but the Xbox version can be frustrating. I'm glad I have the videos to use at home now. I started the 10-day challenge today. You do a different DVD every day for 10 days and at the end, you are supposed to be down a pants/dress size. I also have a few workout DVDs. One I have but haven't tried yet is Jillian Michaels 30 day shred.