Lisa821

Establish a work out routine and stick to it! Two days ago I was cleared to start an exercise program. So far I just feel overwhelmed. I already play semi-competetive volleyball on Fridays and I think I'm gonna do the weight machines at my gym and/or swimming on Saturdays. Then Yoga/Pilates on Sunday. Because of my work schedule I really only have those three days for a work out. If anyone has any pointers let me know. I really don't know where to begin, I'm just spit ballin here. lol

THAT IS AWESOME!! Last Friday I was able to get my favorite old pair of jeans on and they were a little loose. Yesterday I was able to pull them on without unbuttoning them!! AND get this, the scale says I haven't lost a pound over this last week. There is absolute proof that I can lose inches even when the scale stays the same. Whew! I love the idea that my body is shrinking!

I went to MX 11/2/11 and had my VSG with Dr Almanza. I would suggested that you bring GasX strips, be prepared to eat/sip MANY freezies and sip water, make sure you walk frequently afterwards, wear a loose fitting sports bra and follow all postop directions from your surgeon. OH and by the way....after you drink the blue/purple stuff so they can check for a leak, DO NOT trust your farts. It is a great possibility that it will be a shart! It happened to me and many others. Unfortunately, no one told me ahead of time. Luckily, I had brought a lot of comfy clothes. They were nice enough to wash those clothes for me too. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

I want to figure that out too. Should,I eat more calories on days I work out? It will be hard cuz I feel like I have to work at getting in 800 calories as it is. plus when you work out you need more fluids which is just gonna take up space in my belly. I guess I'm just gonna have to dive in and try it. I play volleyball on fridays for an hour and saturdays and sundays I'll be swimming and lifting weights. I'll post about it and let you know how its working for me. you let me know what works for you, k?

I've read about others "not eating enough calories". I would imagine that each person is different based on their size, how fast their metabolism was preop, whether they're exercising or not....etc. So how do I find out if I'm not eating enough calories. I've lot 30 pounds in 5 wks, which is great but not really the steady weight loss I expected. Could it be that I'm not eating enough calories? Also, if I'm not eating enough, where should I get these calories? I am already struggling to get enough protein but then I'm so full of protein that I am literally working at eating so as to get "enough" calories. I am really starting to get confused. I lost like 16 lbs in the first two weeks postop. Then stalled for the 3rd week or so. Then I dropped a pound a day in the 4th week. Then nothing for days. Then one pound, then nothing, then one pound and now nothing for four days. Maybe there is nothing I can do about it but maybe there is?? I get in about 750 cal/day and about 60g protein/day. I just got cleared to start exercising but I'm concerned about burning calories when I already might not be getting "enough". This is starting to get to be ALOT to think about and sort through. In my past, if things got to confusing, I would eat my self into a numb state of food bliss. Thankfully, I can't do that now but I would like some answers. I can't afford to see a nutritionist. Long story but the jist is that my husband is out of work from the economy, I spent my savings on my surgery and wasted a ton of savings a year ago trying to get approved through my insurance company. (They denied me so I had to pay cash for all those appts). Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

Extremely good point Indymom. So obvious that I didn't even see it! I am very happy when I do the math. I have just spent sooooooo much time being attached to the scale that I am having a time letting go of it. I must remind myself that I want to lose a total of 90 lbs and I have already lost one third of that. It has only been six weeks now. This also shows me how fixated I am on instant gratification. That played a part in my obesity. These realizations are interesting and show me how intertwined my food addiction and dysfunctional coping is. This is great!! It's peeling off the layers that have been clouded with food. I feel like I finally get a chance to face these layers instead of skid over them, sort of like they don't exist. Food is/was a drug for me.....its very clear right now.

Thank you fellow "sleevers". Everyday i search the internet hoping for find something that will help me find the magic numbers. LOL! I know they aren't magic...I just like to joke around. I am someone who is crunched for time and I am a total efficiency freak. Therefore I have very little patience for trying different caloric intakes and protein levels. I may have been having a pipe dream but I was hoping that some fitness guru had come up with some sort of formula to help me get to those numbers faster. LOL! No such luck.

Last week I had my one month follow up with my primary care provider and everything was great with me physically and with my labs. I have since developed this sensation in my sleeve that I've posted about before. It's almost like a hunger pang. It can't be though because sometimes I feel it immediately after I finish eating. It's so weird. My health provider told me to restart Omeprazole twice a day and/or try TUMS or Rolaids. I have tried those things and sometimes it helps but not always. So then I called my provider again and asked if it was ok if I tried GasX and they said it was fine. I have discovered that sometimes that works too. Pre op I took Omeprazole once a day for acid reflux but never had any problems with gassy stomach. I am wondering if anyone else is, or has been, going through this? Maybe this is something that will resolve after more months on healing? Please chime in if you have any experiences with this. Thank you.

I have only burped a couple times but I do **hiccup** when I'm getting full.....weird

I agree that if I wait too long to put food or a liquid in it can get painful. I am truly hoping that over time, as my sleeve stretches a little, it will resolve. My biggest frustration is not knowing if it's gas or acid so I end up popping everything I have in order to figure out what will work this time. It seems to be my luck that it's not the first thing I try that gives me some relief. I'm thinking about going back to clear liquids then progressing through the post op diet again, just to see if that helps. I'm getting pretty desparate. I really don't like feeling this way. Maybe we will get lucky and someone else will be able to help us out. Thank you for your response. Although I am bummed out for you that you're going through this too. It, sort of, nice to know that I'm not alone and I'm not making this up.

Here are a couple NSV's for me. I'm sure others have had these but I just couldn't wait to post an NSV so here they are. 1. I can wrap my bathroom towel completely around me when getting out of the shower! Sure the towel edges only overlap an eigth inch but they used to be almost 2 inches apart. 2. My butt fit into the theater seat at my childrens play! No more squishing my wide hips in there. I fit just right. Maybe in a year I will be able to say that there is room on each side?? As one could imagine from these NSV's, I carry alot of my weight in my butt/hips. So far that is where I am losing most of it too. I am totally good with that. In my pics, I can see wt loss in several other areas too. I'm excited to find out what my next NSV will be.

I am so glad that you called your doctor! I am a nurse and I have found that too many people wait too long to ask their doctor. Sometimes, it's just nothing and the person has borrowed a long time of worry for nothing. Anyways, I also had this pain you speak of at about 2.5-3 wks postop.(I'm about 5.5wks postop now) My pain appeared very shortly after my husband and I had...well...relations, if you know what I mean. It felt the same way you describe yours. In about seven hours it was almost gone but then, all of a sudden, it started hurting again. Not sure what triggered it. However, I have found that it's much better now. Over time the frequency of pain flare ups and length of time it was painful has gotten less and less. No matter what, do what your doctor says and don't hesitate to call them again if you have more questions or concerns. That's what they are there for. Take care. Big hugs. Lisa

I had Dr Almanza and everything and all staff were great! No one I was with had any true complications. Each person is different so if one nauseous and another isn't, its just the difference in people. That is not the doctor's fault. Also he probably had nothing to do with the robbery. That's his livelihood! Many people have their homes robbed and they don't move away. Things like that happen in life no matter what country you are in. My stand point is that everyone has to decide for themselves but let's report the good along with the bad. My friend had the lap band in the US and has had nothing but problems, then a revision to the sleeve and still has problems. Now they want her to have the gastric bypass to "fix" the problem. Ask yourself if you want that doctor. Now when I tell you one more detail, ask yourself the same question. My friend's problem is caused by scar tissue from the lap band slipping. No one caused the slipping. It just happens sometimes and people are told that before the survey. See how every detail needs to be there and how it effects someone's decision? This is just my opinion.

I just took the pain meds as prescribe with GasX Strips and I was fine. I'm sorry u are in pain.

Oh wow! I really have a hard time believing the changes in just a month. The pics show more than I can feel. I knew my jeans were looser and I could feel less chub in my belly when I'm sitting down. This is great to see the difference. The swim shorts I am wearing in the pics are actually loose!! I actually think my middle belly roll has disappeared and I'm starting to get my old hour glass shape emerging. I never thought I would be able to post pics but I'm just so happy that I really just want to share my happiness. My husband has said he noticed the changes but I thought he was just being nice. Now I can see what he is talking about. I am thrilled with my sleeve so far. No, it hasn't been all fun and games. There has been tough times and I know there will be more. The 3rd week stall really ticked me off. However, i got through it and proceeded to drop 6 pounds during the last 8 days. I really can't complain about that. I just attempted to attach the pics in order for you. I've never posted pics before so I hope this works. Thanks to everyone for all of their support. Big hugs! Lisa

I've read articles and talked to sleevers who mention "head hunger" and "true hunger". They said immediately after surgery u feel head hunger. Your brain wants u to eat, which means your old habits are speaking not true hunger which happened preop when u haven't eaten in 4 hours. Another confusion with hunger that I've heard about is when a sleevers has gas or acid or bloating. In those cases a sleevers needs advice from the doctor on an acid reducer or how to use over the counter gas reducers. Our doctors and nutritionists are wonderful resources on this topic.

This is how my wt has dropped this week. Down 1 pound on Sat, Sun and Mon. Total -3lbs. 0 on Sun. Up 1 pound Tues, but got my monthly "visitor" as well. 0 on Wed. Then down one on Thurs and Fri. Wow! Big change since that 3rd wk stall! A net loss of 4 in a wk!! I'm really happy with that. I said it before and I'll say it again, "it DOES keep getting better, just like they said it would"! Hang in there everyone who is frustrated in their first few weeks postop. I was in your shoes. I didn't believe them when they said that. But its true!! I promise. Big hugs

Awesome! I love your post! Can't wait until I get to post it as my observation of me.