decamom

I definitely had that period of "witchy-ness" It seemed that I didn't want anyone to tell me anything!! As you come into your own and realize that you are more than just your weight issues, it seems to take a toll on your emotions. Anyone who is in your line of fire needs to learn to duck. You are learning to deal with life with out the drug of food and I think that makes us angry on a subconscious level. I just tried to roll with it and did alot of apologizing for my uncontrolled emotions to my hubby for a while. Fortunately he was very understanding and just backed off! As time has passed and I feel more confident with my self, I have had fewer and fewer witchy moments. Exercise seems to help for me as well. Hang in there. This is a great trip but can be a bumpy ride along the way! Living the dream, Laura

Got myself to the gym yesterday and did a walk at home dvd today. Life is much sunnier and the day looks bright....guess I know the answer to my original question! YES...I need to exercise every day! Living the dream!, Laura

I am finding that if I don't do some sort of aerobic exercise every day, I am getting depressed. I already take antidepressants. Can't I have a day off?? There is a ton of stuff going on in my life under the surface and the exercise helps to keep me balanced but gee whiz...every single day???? My weight loss has been slowed alot but my clothes are fitting well. I am surprised when I look in the mirror that the reflection I see is me. Happily surprised. But this dark cloud that shows up when I don't go to the gym on Sunday...yuck! Laura

Paul11011, I cannot tell you how much I respect what you have done! Almost 270 pounds in 1 year???!!! You are my hero! I am just amazed! Good on you!!!! Living the dream, Laura

Thanks Rootman. The vagus nerve thing is very interesting. I have a hard time imagining it getting much worse! I am near goal so hopefully this is as bad as it will get. Over all I am totally thrilled with my sleeve! Wish I had done it sooner! Would not go back and undo it ever! But I wish I wasn't so darned cold! Living the dream, Laura

Just had the blood work done and my iron levels were normal. It would be nice if it was just a deficiency that I could fix.

I know it is not uncommon for sleevers to be cold alot. But does anyone know why? There is the obvious answer that I give to every one...we have lost our polar layer. But I feel this deep down bone chilled cold. It's like it comes from the inside. I wear long johns EVERY DAY. I live in Seattle and so it doesn't really get that cold here. Not like Nebraska where I came from. My hands and my nose (OMG, my nose is always freezing cold) are cold almost all the time. I get into bed, curl up in a ball (how awesome to be able to do that now!) and shiver while I hug a heating pad. Any information would be so totally appreciated. Living the dream!!!, Laura

Yesterday I went to an NFL game with hubby. When I walked through the turnstile...I didn't have to turn sideways! I just walked straight through and didn't bump into anything!!! So love my sleeve!!! Living the dream, Laura

My therapist, who I have seen every week for almost 2 years,looked at me and walked right past me in the waiting room. I was looking at him and he finally recognized me! He said I looked so different that he didn't realize it was me. I see him EVERY week!! I guess I must have done some big changing over that one week..... Living the dream!!, Laura

I am 6 months out and I gulp gulp gulp when I am in my Zumba class. I used to like my Water room temp but now I drink it ice cold. It quenches and goes down easy....just as long as I haven't eaten for a half hour before... Living the dream, Laura

I was sleeved the same day as well....I am down 68 lbs and went from a size 20 to an 8! Your weight loss isn't slow. 10 pounds a month is nothing to sneeze at! Keep up the good work. Glad you will be able to see your doctor again. We sleevers are tough in many ways but we need our medical check ups to make sure everything is on track. Living the dream!!, Laura

I am cold too...almost all the time. I am 6 months out. Hair loss seems to be slowing down. I go to bed hugging a heating pad. Sometimes I put it under the covers and then go brush my teeth to warm it up in there!. If hubby goes to bed before me, he will lay on my side to warm it up! Sweet man! I just wear cuddle duds long underwear every day and that helps. I also have had that cold from the inside out feeling. Also my nose gets cold and when that happens...I am COLD for a long time. I also use those little hotties hand warmer things when I will be outside for a long time like at a sporting event. I will hold them against my nose , drop them in my bra and keep them in my pockets! They are wonderful!!! I just attribute it to the fact that I have lost my polar layer....I would rather be cold! Living the dream!! Laura

I think I figured it out.....

Ever since the format of this forum changed, I cannot update my ticker. I used to just click on it in my profile and it took me right to the tickerfactory.com and I signed in and changed it. Now I just get the page where I can choose a new ticker. Tickerfactory has a graph of my weight loss journey and I would like to keep that. I don't want to have to start anew with a new ticker...can anyone help me out here. I am not the most computer savvy person on the planet....but I am down 83 pounds in 1 year!!!! Thanks, Laura

I am 6 months out and my scale hasn't moved significantly for about 3 weeks+. However, when I went to Zumba class yesterday, one of my classmates said that I looked smaller every time she saw me! Yesterday I tried on a pair of size 8 pants that were too tight a month ago and they fit just nicely. So I guess there is something to be said about losing inches when the scale is stuck. I have gained alot of muscle from working out and I keep telling myself that the # on the scale is not what I should be focusing on. How I feel and how my clothes fit and how I look when I see myself in the mirror...those are the real indicators of my weight loss/health improving journey. Although...that elusive 130 on the scale is still so important to me....Wish I could break that habit! Living the dream, Laura

Al I can say is ....AWESOME!!! So happy for you and your new life! Living the dream, Laura

I am with you...I stay away from all dairy. Switched to soy milk and don't eat cheese anymore. The gas is not worth it. Living the dream, Laura

So I am 6 months out and down 64 lbs. I have been sitting her for over three weeks... Am I done? I would like to lose 15-20 more but the scale is stuck. I admit I had a bad two weeks with not much exercise and eating lots of sweets but I have reigned in that monster and am back on track. Over those weeks I actually GAINED 2 pounds! I am mortified. Even though I have lost 64 lbs in 6 months, I feel fat and defeated. Even though I went from a tight size 20 to a loose 10 , I feel fat and defeated. I hate that my emotional well being is so tied up in that darn scale but it is what it is. Can anyone please give me some words of encouragement or advice. I have lost about 1/2 my hair. I don't want it to be in vain.... Living the dream but a bit down just now.... Laura

I had my surgery on May 2 and was back in the hospital on May 11 to have the gallbladder out.... My pre op ultrasound showed nothing but right after surgery, I had sludge in there. I had turned yellow and had pain and nausea.... Every one is different. That is just how it happened with me. Living the dream, Laura

When I was newly sleeved and eating solids, I often gave my self terrible chest pain from eating too fast. I went to a game store and bought a two minute egg timer. Hourglass type thing. I think it was$2.50. Then, I would take a bite and turn the timer over. When the sand had all gone to the bottom...time for another bite. This was a huge help and relief to me. Sometimes I took a bite, went and did something else and then came back to see if the sand was down yet! No more worries that I was eating too fast. Living the dream! Laura

I was sleeved in May 2011. I am down 65+ pounds and very happy with my sleeve. It is my best friend in the weight loss world! My liver numbers were just fine before I had surgery. Afterwards, they were off the charts. Over the last 6 months I have been getting my blood checked almost monthly to check on the downward progress. They have come down but are still elevated. My GI doc is concerned and I am having another ultrasound next week. Looking for sludge or stones or something. He said that if my numbers get to 120, he will want a biopsy. I am around 50-90 now . 20-40 is normal. The numbers have gone up in the past month Anyone else have any experience with this? I had my sleeve surgery and then 9 days later had to go back and have my gall bladder out. We think my issues may stem from medication injury as the anesthesia (twice) and then alot of vicodin (that didn't help my pain) may have overloaded my poor liver. I dont' drink now and never have been much of a drinker. Just curious if anyone else has had any issues similar to mine. Thanks my sleevie friends!! Living the dream, Laura

Went into my Zumba class this morning. I had been gone for a week due to minor toe surgery. One gal who is always there told me I looked fantastic and how did my stomach get so flat! I was thrilled!!! Now granted, my stomach is not flat. After 11 babies, it will never be flat without surgery. But when I started Zumba earlier this year, I looked like I was 6 months pregnant. I was so flattered that this woman would comment to me about my tummy!! I told her it was Zumba. That is pretty much the only exercise I do. 3-5 times a week. I love it! Living the dream!!!, Laura

I LOVE ME SOME ZUMBA!!!! It is fast paced, fun and the time goes by so fast. I take classes at my local YMCA 3-5 times a week. I love to dance and once I got the routines down...it was the most enjoyable exercise class I ever took! Different teachers lead different "flavored" classes but they have all been fun. Variety keeps me interested. Zumba has been a major part of my weight loss and I plan to continue as long as I am able!! Living the dream, Laura

AWESOME!!!!! SO happy for you. Ain't life with the sleeve grand??!! Living the dream, Laura

I was beginning to wonder if I was going to end up being one of those amazingly lucky people who can eat what ever and not gain weight. What a thrilling added bonus to my wonderful sleeve!! I guess time will tell. I was married to a man like that for 25 years and boy was I ever jealous!