Lissa

Great job!!

I weigh every day, but I don't let the scale drive me nuts. I know that my weight is going to fluctuate daily and I use it more as a marker to know whether what I'm doing is working than anything else. I love those 5 pound overnight drops, but have to remind myself that it's probably just water weight.

I had to wait until all of my incisions healed for a bath, although showers were allowed as soon as I got home. No pool until the incisions were completely healed, either.

My recommendation is 30 minutes before and after. Reality is that I try to wait 10-15 minutes after drinking before I start to eat, then I have to wait 30 minutes or more after I eat before I can comfortably drink. If I try to drink before the 30 minutes is up, I feel uncomfortably full.

I slowed down on the pounds lost at about 7 months out, and, yes, this is where you have to start working harder. What I've noticed is that I lose more inches much faster now, even though the scale has slowed down. I've been shape-shifting for four months now and it's amazing to me to watch the muscle gains (from exercise) and the curves start really showing. I'm about 60 pounds from goal, but I'm loving the shape of the new me.

IMO, My Fitness Pal is the easiest app to use. It tracks protein, carbs, etc and you can customize the calorie count and protein goals on the website. It also has a way to track your exercise and activity level. I use MFP in conjunction with my Fit Bit. They work well together to give a realistic picture of what you're eating and burning daily. I'm Lissa912 on there if you want to add me as a friend.

Anytime, Pretty!

Happier days are definitely coming! Just imagine how stupid the ex is going to feel when he has to tell people that the gorgeous woman his buddies are ogling is his ex-wife.

I started out doing FIVE minutes on the treadmill. Every little bit helps and you just have to build on what YOU can do today. I didn't know then about the 30 second thing, but it's a great idea. Basically, when you're working on a new routine/machine/habit, start with what you can do easily, then add 30 seconds a day. Before you know it, you'll be doing half an hour at a time! That's how I conquered the elliptical. I literally could only do a minute and a half when I started, about 5 weeks ago. Now, it's my preferred way to get my 30 minutes of cardio per day. You will do fine. Take those baby steps, they turn into marathons! Good luck!!

LOL, MK! I had a recumbent bike that went the same way a few years back! Now I wish I still had that bike!

My experience was similar to cookies' except that I didn't have to have mine installed or removed through my neck (thank goodness). Both were done through an incision in my groin. Mine did catch a clot, but I didn't have to wait for them to pull the filter. Some surgeons are more cautious than others. I felt no pain and it was relatively quick. The worst part for me was being forced to keep the knee straight and lay still after both procedures.

Slimies are a nasty little surprise that our sleeve gives us when we eat too much. There's really nowhere for it to go, so, as iegal said, you drool uncontrollably and, if you're lucky, that extra comes back up without an issue.

It's great that ice works for you! I couldn't handle anything colder than lukewarm and I've heard of others who prefer steaming hot drinks. It's all about what your sleeve tolerates well and getting those fluids into yourself.

Some people react differently to pain meds than others. I'm one of them. If I take a whole dose of Loritab, I will be up for days, cleaning everything in sight. Woe betide the person who gets in my way!! At a half dose of Loritab, I'm ready for a nice little nap. Perhaps your anesthesia is making you unable to sleep. Call your doctor and see if there is something that can help you get some rest. It's essential to complete the healing process. Good luck!!

Good for you for realizing what you needed and providing it to yourself!! I think God helps those who help themselves, and you're proof that He will watch over us, but he expects us to do our part as well! Keep rocking that sleeve! You'll figure out all the ins and outs that work for you as you go along.

Wowza!!! It won't be long until you'll have to buy something new to wear for pictures! You are rocking that sleeve and it looks like you're working out a ton! Great improvements and congrats on the weight loss!

I take Tums twice a day for Calcium, bonus is the acid inhibitor in them. You had a clot too, right? Ask your doc about pantoprazole. It's apparently the only acid reducer that doesn't interact with coumadin. I'm still taking the pantoprazole, even though I'm off the coumadin. Another quick heartburn solution that I learned while pregnant (eons ago) is to take about a 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda (the stuff in your fridge) and mix it into 1/4 cup of Water. It tastes nasty, but it's effective. Hold your nose and drink it and the heartburn should be gone quickly. It's high sodium, so don't do it often. Good luck!

It depends. Without being too graphic, did you do any major calisthenics? Really slow sounds like it was also pretty gentle and you shouldn't be experiencing pain. Maybe you worked your tummy muscles too hard and they are reacting today. If you have a fever, more pain, or big problems eating, then I'd call the doctor. Otherwise, you probably just need some rest for those sore muscles. Get ready, the libido kicks into high gear really quickly! I hope your guy is in great shape. He's going to need it to keep up with your hormones!!

So you don't fill up on water/fluids and not be able to eat your food. Water does slide through, but you don't want to have a sleeve full of water when that first bite hits. It can make you very uncomfortable and even cause you to vomit.

You need to friend request a lot of the folks from VST who are on there. I think my friends are mostly VST members and they are SO supportive. It's really nice to post my workout in the morning and know that I'm going to get a high five from someone! I'm definitely not as good as giving them back as I should be, but I haven't seen a single negative post on MFP. I'm Lissa912 on there.

Any comments on this elliptical? I found it for $250 on Craigslist. Pro Form Elliptical 400 LE w/ I Fit technology

I take Rx pantoprazole because of med interactions. Have your doc recommend something. And, yes, I didn't start taking the acid reducer until 3 months out. It made a ton of difference in my hungry feelings.

Yes, you did! Amazing NSV!!

Our tastes change after surgery, so maybe you'll be lucky and they will taste good to your afterwards. I personally like the Premier Protein bars and shakes that are sold at Sams or costco. There are ways to make most of the Protein Shakes taste better: using splenda/equal, adding SF syrups like Torani and DaVinci, mixing the protein with other liquids to mask that taste. You will eventually get used to the protein taste and it won't bother you as badly, but, just like beer and soda, it's an acquired taste.

OTR, I'm not sure where you're from, but my Kentucky granny was always dosing her kids and grandkids with blackstrap molasses when I was little. Your post brought back fond memories!