Spirit Fire

Well, I didn't make goal. I weighed in today at 197. HOWEVER -- I did achieve a previously unidentified goal -- I didn't freak out or start my negative self-talk when I went through a 4-week stall at the 200 lb mark. I just continued to eat right, drink my liquids, exercise and I allowed the process to happen. Am I losing as fast as I'd like - NO; am I stressed about it -- NO. I feel great and I am healthier and happier than I've been in years. I will reach my ultimate goal -- but the time line is adjustable. I've joined the Halloween Challenge, my first 5K is on 9/22, I am in Onederland and I've reached the Century Mark, and I am increasing my liquids to 1 gallon a day-- All is well this Labor Day Weekend.

Has anyone tried the Dreamfields Pasta? I question anything that is "too good to be true" but I have tried the Dreamfields Penne pasta and it was tasty. I could only eat about 6 pieces of pasta, but it satisfied the desire. Below are two links regarding the pasta -- FAQ and the Nutrition Panel. http://www.dreamfieldsfoods.com/pro-faqs.html http://www.dreamfieldsfoods.com/downloads/Nutrition-Facts-Teaching-Tool.pdf Please share your thoughts. Thanks!

Congratulations! You must feel like a new woman! Brag all you want . . . you have earned it and deserve it and you inspire all of us! Way to Go!!!

My before and after album didn't seem to post . . . let's see if the two photos come through this time. Ahhhh technology!

Excited! I've reached 2 goals: 1) I am 100 lbs down 2) I am living in Onederland Could not have done it without the amazing support, encouragement and fabulous ideas and insights this forum has provided me. Thank you all!

How are you doing? How did it go at the ER? Hope you are feeling better!

I also had the same worries you had at only 1-2 months out. I did not feel the "full" feeling until I was on real food at about the 3 month time frame. It took a while for the ghrelin (the hunger-stimulating peptide and hormone that is produced in the cells lining the stomach and pancreas) to flush out of my system. I don't have any negative responses to food -- I seem to be able to eat anything. However, I am 5 months out, averaging a slow but steady weightloss of 10+ lbs a month. Because of my pre-op weightloss, I am almost at the 100 lb loss mark and feel great. I am constantly surprised at how full I am after only a few bites of food. It WAS NOT like this in the beginning. I am happily pleased that my body craves nutrient-rich foods vs. the comfort foods I so enjoyed before this journey. Give yourself and your body time to adjust to this process. 3-1/2 weeks out is still VERY early int he process so please don't get discouraged. In a few months you will look back and see how far you have come and how in tune with your body that you are. You have had a wonderful weightloss thus far -- CONGRATULATIONS! Enjoy it.

Weight Loss Simulator: hair color, etc. and is available for both men and women. This gives a nice visual "goal". Enjoy!!!

Thank you keldolbeth for the update! Patrick is truly an inspirational and motivational force. I want him, and all my forum friends, to navigate this amazing journey with increased health and success. Glad he has you to help support him. Thank you!

All done!

I have been away for a couple days and wanted to check in on how Patrick Curl is doing. I don't see any posts from Patrick? Any updates???

I am 19 weeks out from surgery -- I started the hair loss at the 16 week mark. My hair is fine, thin and I have eczema. In preparation for the inevitable, I have taken Biotin, hair/nails Vitamins, NuHair leave in serum nightly, and used Nioxin shampoo/conditioner since about 2 months prior to surgery. I knew these wouldn't prevent the trauma reaction from surgery, but I still needed to be proactive in some way. For those with thin/fine hair -- I don't lose my hair in "clumps" or "handfuls" because my thin/fine hair doesn't know what a "clump" is. I lose my hair in strands and I see them in my comb/brush every day or feel them in my fingers when washing my hair. It seems to be focused on the crown and I actually started doing the "comb over" technique which made me SO PROUD. Last week I went to my stylist who cut my hair short and in layers and I swear my hair feels healthier and is not falling out as drastically. I HIGHLY recommend seeing a stylist soon after the hair begins to transition. This week I have enjoyed the multitude of compliments on my new hair style. It is all part of the process and I hope my hair begins to regenerate at some point, but I think I will just continue to make more frequent trips to see my hairstylist to keep the illusion that my hair is as healthy as my body is becoming.

I had lovenox injections 2x day for 14 days. I had not problems with blood clots prior or post surgery, but was okay with the extra precautions.

I am having the same problem. My friend who has a beautiful chin/throat/neck line told me that she does this simple exercise while driving or watching TV or anytime throughout the day. Simply say the vowels A-E-I-O-U but OVER emphasize them using many facial muscles. You can truly feel your neck muscles moving. I have now done this for three days and I can feel a little tug in my jaw line letting me know "something" is happening.

I drank Nature's Best Isopure Zero Carb in alpine punch, grape, raspberry and orange for two solid weeks. I had to ad a bit of salt to them because they were just too sweet. Here's a picture of my First 2-week "meal plan"

My story is similar to Oregondaisy: I am four months post-op, and have started losing a significant amount of hair which was already thin to begin with. I have used biotin for months both before and after surgery. I take hair and nail vitamins. I use Nioxin shampoo and conditioner. I get 80+ proteins in every day pre-op and post-op. My hope is it will come back in, and I will enjoy it if it comes in curly, but just so long as it comes back!

No regrets for me! During the preliminary stage, I was frustrated with all the psych eval, classes, support groups, text book reading with quizzes, and numerous lab work and medical tests. In hindsight, I am grateful for the rigorous preliminary requirements as it was part of the journey for making an informed and considered decision. It was an important process for me to get myself in the right "head space". I even had to take a written tests to ensure I understood all the possible complications and that I acknowledged this as a tool that I had to work with -- not a miracle "cure". Post-surgery, I have had relatively few complications, but here are just a few things I wish I had known: I wish I would have known I was going to be nauseous the whole drive home and part of the following day so I could have had the anti-nausea meds on hand rather than having to ask my hubby to make a call to the surgeon and then make a pharmacy run. I wish I would have realized my body would be constipated for the first time in my life. At four months out, I find I must take stool softners to keep this from being a problem. I wish I would have known that all the "taste testing" I did with the Isopure pre-surgery was for naught. My taste buds changed drastically, and what I liked pre-op was horrible post-op. Other than those very minor issues, I am thankful each and every day for making this decision. I am also incredibly grateful for this forum as it has given me the inspiration, motivation and support I have needed throughout the process.

Found this image on Pinterest and thought it summed up the benefits of weight loss quite nicely. I know most of us have faced some of these problems (sleep apnea and fatty liver for me) and it is truly wonderful that we have this tool -- The Sleeve -- to help us make our percentages better.

I had a bit of a learning curve -- distinguishing head hunger from the desire to chew/taste from thirst, etc. It took me a good 3 months before I had it wired. Sometimes I do still "feel" hunger when it is the appropriate time to eat but it is no where near what it had been in the past. Most days, however, I have to remind myself to get my proteins in and drink because I just don't get the hunger signal.

Thanks for the recipe. I have recently become a Pinterest fan and have "pinned" numerous low carb, sleeve-friendly recipes and websites.

I stayed true to the doctor's orders until the mushie stage (week #4) which I started 2 days early with the most wonderful spoonful of black refried beans.. I worked too hard to get to the point of having this sleeve that I didn't want to jeopardize the healing process. Now, at 4 months out, I am still good about getting my proteins and liquids in daily, and I don't feel deprived of anything. I can eat what I want without difficulties and have enjoyed many times out with friends and family to restaurants, movies, etc. I do keep a protein bar (Premier) in my purse for emergencies.

I am at 17 weeks and have not lost this week -- as a matter of fact I gained a pound. I just reviewed my FatSecret.com (similar to My Fitness Pal) and noticed that, although my fitness activities and liquid intake have remained the same, I have not been getting in as many calories this week -- around 650-680 down from 850-900. Also, my typical 80+ grams of Protein has been in the 60 range. So, my solution will be to up my proteins/calories a bit -- perhaps with a mid-afternoon snack and hopefully this will get me back on the "losing" train!