Lisa821

I can finally fit my bum in the bucket seat of our new car. Well we bought it brand new a year ago. My butt was so wide that it didn't fit within the curvature of the fancy leather seats. Also the seat belt latch would dig into my hip. I am 2.5 months postop, have lost 45lbs and 2 inches off my bum/ hips area. I am thrilled! My hubbub drives that car regularly so I haven't sat in the seat in about a month. My usual driver is a trailblazer and I have always had plenty of butt room in there. Oh and another NSV is when I sit in our recliner I have space on each side of me. Love it!

on a related note...I'm really looking forward to riding my motorcycle this summer. I bet my bum with look much better with less hanging over the seat! I also wonder if I'll need to buy a more plush seat for comfort because I've lost alot of padding on my backside. Last summer I caught a glimpse of my reflection from the side in the window of the gas station. I was sitting on my motorcycle, my belly all rounded out, my chubby arms hanging and my kiester hiding the seat. I would love to replace that horrible image with a slimmer, sexier motorcyle mama! LOL

I just realized I'm half way to my goal. I want to lose a total of 90lbs and I've lost 45! Whoohoo! This is awesome! I'm 2.5 months post op. I know the weight loss will slow down but I'm on Target. I was hoping to be wearing cute sun dresses this summer and I think I will get to!! I love my Almanzo! Just like Laura Ingles! That's what I call my sleeve...Almanzo. lol, I'm a dork.

I just felt grossed out when someone was eating a plate of chicken wings. I have been with them while the did this many times in the past but right now it grossed me out. What is with that? I am shocked by this feeling! Anyone else experience this?

I think it was right around my 5th week when I got so sick of being exhausted that I actually started looking at eating like a job. I had to have two protein shakes a day, ate 6-7 times a day, I had to have mashed potato to get higher calories and I was able to eat meats. I would always start with my meat and could only eat about 1/2 cup of solid food at a sitting. However, I could drink a whole EAS protein shake over 35 minutes. It was hard and truly felt like a full time job. Now alot more of the swelling in my sleeve has gone down and I can eat about 3/4 cup of solid food at a time. I still eat 5-6 times a day. I have to, otherwise I don't get enough. My doctor is aware and is fine with that because not everyone can function on three meals a day. I have had only one pretty long stall at 3 weeks, which is quite common. Now I lose 1-2lbs/wk and sometimes 3. Like LVikingFan, I wonder what your Vit D is?? Also, I'm an RN and have worked with post op patients on a medical/surgical floor and i know that surgery truly takes alot out of a person. You not only had a procedure you also had a bleed so I would expect that you would be very tired for quite a long time. I would advise you to keep reporting to your doctor about your fatigue. I hope what I have told you helps.

I did not experience a bleed of any kind but I have been exhausted since about my 3rd wk post op. It has gotten a little better but I'm not sure why. I am 9 weeks post op now. I think I am getting a little more energy because I can consistantly eat 800 cal/day, 60-70g protein/day, get plently of fluids and always take my vitamins. I take a chewable gummie multivitamin, sublingual B12, Vit D3 50,000iu, Iron and 2 calcium chews/day. I was really bad at eating and taking my vitamins at first. Also, I had to return to work right away. I guess that's my "perfect storm"....perhaps. But I do know the exhaustion that you speak of. It sucks! I really hope it gets better for you soon.

Oh my gosh! I am so glad you guys responded to my post. I feel very weird about this. Some of the feelings I get are shame, disgust, fear, frustration, confusion, sadness....it is just about the weirdest pile of emotions for me. I know I used to scarf it down like that so I bet that's where my shame, disgust and sadness comes in. The rest of the emotions could be what I am feeling for that person??? I too used to love Man vs. Food but now I have zero interest. Portion sizes have gotten out of control, its true! Even when my 8 yr old orders off the kids menu its too big for a kid. I think I am just now seeing my old way of eating for what it really was and I'm trying to process it along with the emotions that come with that. This will be the main topic at my next therapy appt. Must be a food addiction thing.....hmmmm....perhaps?

I think its related to anemia which means you need iron. A friend of mine, with the sleeve, had the same symptoms and needed iron infusions weekly for a while. Yup, IV but she felt a huge improvement after the very first infusion. If I were, I would see a doctor today. The other thing may be something called benign positional vertigo, which is an inner ear problem but usually easily fixed with Epley's Manuevers. They are body positions. No matter what, I would see a doctor for evaluation today.

Thanks friends!!!

I was thinking for a typical gym workout: 1. Stretch for about 5 min 2. 10 min full body warm up on a treadmill, eliptical or recumbant bike. 3. Go through the circuit training stations on my gym's weight machines. 4. Moderate-slow paced 5-10 min cool down on a treadmill. 5. 5 min stretching My best guess is that the whole work out would take about an hour. Of course that depends on how busy the machines are. If it's too busy I can always do laps in the pool, shoot hoops in the gym or do free weights. When I was a high school gymnast we would do weight lifting by using free weights. We would find out the heaviest weight we could lift three reps. Then calculate something like 75% of that weight to use as our workout weight. Then do three sets and still be able to do 8 reps. Does anyone know of this process? Is it still used? If so, what was the percentage? It's been so long but I can tell you, I dropped fat really fast. Of course I was a young athlete with a speedy metabolism AND I probably only had like 15 pounds of fat to lose. I miss those days of having a sleek, lean, tight little body. I know I probably won't get back to that but I sure can get healthy this way. That's my goal...to get healthy and stay healthy. So far I quit smoking the day before surgery, had VSG, lost 31 pounds and now I'm designing my workout. Next I have to start that workout and stick to it. Thank you all for being here! Lisa

I made a mistake on my previous post.... I meant to say that "depending on the amount a person needs to lose to meet their goal" a person could possibly reach goal in six months. Especially if its under 100#. That's just my opinion and I know that everyone is different. Just offering encouragement and hope.

I'm a nurse and have noticed with my patients who are following our healthly lifestyle program that they tend to gain water weight when they are on antibiotics or when they are sick. I don't think it's to crazy to think that when we are sick our bodies say "hey, i need that extra water to heal this body" and it's holds onto it. Water is needed in our body's chemical reactions to break down fat and to eliminate our body of toxins. So of course water is used in healing. My friend, who is a nutritionist says, the more water I drink the more weight I will lose because my body "knows" it will always have enough water to do what it has to. And with that, I raise my glass of ice tea with a dash of raspberry crystal lite added for flavor and say "Here's to us sleevers. May your teeth be floating every day"! LOL Big hugs to you!

I'm just over 2 months post op. I have lost 39 of the 90 pounds I want to lose. I was 235 and I set my goal at 145. My doctor wanted my goal at 135 but I also think that it's too low. I wanted a goal that was I believed I could achieve with some effort but I just don't want to spend more than 4 days/wk working out. I have a very busy life with a full time job, part time job, four kids and a marriage. Even 145 is gonna be a challenge but I believe a challenge is healthy in anyone's life. I think I may meet that goal by six months. If I don't that will be fine with me. I can clearly remember thinking (prepop) "if I could just lose 50 pounds, I would be thrilled". I am only 11 pounds from that!! Once the economy takes a better turn, my hubby may get a call from his union. When he's working again I can decrease my work hours an increase my work-out time. We gotta do what we gotta do....right? All in all, I believe a person can reach goal in six months by break it up into smaller monthly goals. Good Luck! You can do it! Big hugs!

I went with him 11-2-11. Everything went great! Dr Almanza and all staff were wonderful. Surgery center and recovery house was extremely clean. I recommend it and plan to go back there to have plastic surgery in the future. I've lost 40 # in 2 months with no postop complications. My only complaint is that I'm pretty tired but that is common. Best wishes.

LOL! Hilarious! That's great. So far mine have been part way down. Kind of look a little like a plumber.

Good for you for putting the scale away. I just couldn't do it when I was in my 3rd wk stall. I guess like self torture....lol It won't last forever, I promise! Big hugs, Lisa

Lol...I have named my Almanzo cuz my surgeon was Dr Almanza and Almanso was that guy I liked on "Little House on the Praire" as a child. You know, the one Laura had a crush on and later married. I never did figure their age gap out?? Lol. I also pretend they mine is speaking Spanish when its making noises. I'm such a dork!

I love your post! Congrats!! You have done a spectacular job!! WOW!!! I was just thinking today(2months postop) that I am 7 pounds from my halfway point. I want to lose 90 and I have lost 38. I got the biggest giddy rush when I realized that. My doctor said he thought I should be 135 pounds but I just don't want to be. My goal is set for 145. I may change my mind later. Again, good for you! You are an inspiration!

I had my VSG in MX and paid $4500 plus $400 for flight and $70 for one night hotel. I am very happy with how everything went with the surgery in MX. I have been encouraging friends and family to go there, well those who have a true need for WLS. I plan on going back there for a "Mommy Makeover", tummy tuck with breast lift, in about a year or two. It will cost $4700. When I was down there having my VSG, a lady was there having the makeover. She was doing great. She showed me the incisions and she said her pain was manageable. She too had her VSG there about one year prior. If you're interested I can get you their phone number or email address. Either way you go, I believe it's worth every penny.

I seriously never thought I would want to post pics. However, I feel pretty darn good and am totally amazed at the changes. Those swim shorts are so loose that they hang. No pulling, stretching or crimping anywhere. Actually hang like a skirt. The best part is if I tried to wear them in a pool I would literally swim out of them. Time to pack them in the Good Will box! I just love that! Now, the swim top fits like it should've from the beginning but I was in so much "size denial" that I bought the size that I believed I should be. Oh well! LOL! Its so cool to see the chub in the area of my armpits skrinking both in the front and back. I'm definately reclaiming my waistline too. This is all from a loss of 38 pounds. This is good and there are some new issues that popped up too. Like seeing my food addiction for what it REALLY is. Wow! However, there is help and I'm getting help from my therapist and support group. Thanks to all of you who help me find my way through these emerging issues and my other surgery-type issues. I promise to be here for you too. Big Hugs!!

Thanks everyone! I am thrilled!

I'm waiting to wear sun dresses of all types during the summer! I'd love to tuck in jeans in sexy boots too but I really can't wait for the femine things.