MoreganK

YES!! I can totally relate.... It was 11 days after surgery before I finally "went".... I had to start drinking "smooth move" tea each evening to get regular again.. I definitely don't go as often as I did before surgery but the tea really helped. You may want to add some stool softeners to your diet as well. I highly recommend the tea though! You should be able to buy it in your grocery store... Where all the herbal teas are located.
Good Luck!

Would love to know the answer to this one as well.

I should add that quite poignantly, that fortune was from my "last meal" at my favorite Vietnamese restaurant right before I started my liquid diet. It was like a little extra nudge that I made the right decision.

This has been true with me too! Nothing or little weight loss, and then boom! 3-5 pounds fall away....
I just keep going forward. As my fortune cookie I got (presurgery) told me, "Always remember where you are going and never forget where you've been."

Moregan, Isn't it telling that we cannot take a complement at any weight! It's as though we cannot be comfortable in our skin period. I think that your fiance was very sweet last night. Take him at his word and trust that he is being honest with you.
And, for all of us dealing with weight issues, please don't hate that girl that was once you. That person was just as worthy of his love as you are at your new weight. She is, and was, you! I am preop and it hurts me to see so many people talk badly about "that person" they were before weight loss. I hope that I can still embrace that women because she was brave. She was willing to sign up for this surgery even though it was scary. When she leaves the house she does so with her head high, even if there is pointing or snickers. When you feel unsure of yourself get in touch with that women because she has learned to look for other ways of coping. Some of them were not good (food) but she didn't quit!
Good luck to you!

I concur on the boots, I love your whole outfit!
I am really glad to hear that you are putting you first. It can be such a challenging thing for us. I hope you keep shining in 2013!

The purpose of the liquid diet is to shrink your liver some to make it easier for the surgeon to get around during surgery. Most doctors will want you to do at least a one day liquid diet, but all are different. I had to do a one week liquid diet.
When in doubt, always ask your surgeon what he/she would like for you to do to prepare for surgery. Congratulations and good luck on your journey!!

The purpose of the liquid diet is to shrink your liver some to make it easier for the surgeon to get around during surgery. Most doctors will want you to do at least a one day liquid diet, but all are different. I had to do a one week liquid diet.
When in doubt, always ask your surgeon what he/she would like for you to do to prepare for surgery. Congratulations and good luck on your journey!!

Oh... I really liked the Chike shakes, they have a great taste.

Don't feel bad. I read on this site from loads of people how bored they got with chocolate protien, but you know I never did. And its the one thing I still actually look forward to drinking from the dreaded 6 weeks of healing where I had to rely on protien shakes alone. My favorite is still the Chocolate Splendor from Unjury as well. I never tried the strawberry, because well... I like chocolate flavor so much more. I have a huge tub of Roadside Lemonaide, a bag of cookies and cream, and vanilla protien that I can't seem to bring myself to want to drink.

Oh... I really liked the Chike shakes, they have a great taste.

Don't feel bad. I read on this site from loads of people how bored they got with chocolate protien, but you know I never did. And its the one thing I still actually look forward to drinking from the dreaded 6 weeks of healing where I had to rely on protien shakes alone. My favorite is still the Chocolate Splendor from Unjury as well. I never tried the strawberry, because well... I like chocolate flavor so much more. I have a huge tub of Roadside Lemonaide, a bag of cookies and cream, and vanilla protien that I can't seem to bring myself to want to drink.

Good job on the loss. I'm down 4 lbs this week. I really had to get back to basics with only protein, fruits, and veggies. It's hard but I'm only 32 lbs away from goal. I'm actually wearing a size 16 denim slacks at work today, they are very fitting, but hey I got my booty in them
It is true that working your legs burns more calories. They are bigger muscles and require more energy to move them, plus they are supporting your whole body weight, hence more calories burned. I really need to get back into doing squats and lunges. I don't want to lose my booty. As far as protein powders, I was never a fan of vanilla either, unless I mixed fruit or peanut butter (or oreo cookies) in it. I just ordered a sample pack of Chike shakes last week. They are meal replacement shakes so they have some carbs, but also vitamins and minerals. Just from what I've read about them here and on Obesity Help, they taste just like a milkshake and have no grit or after taste. They also have an iced protein coffee. I'm not a coffee fan but I'm still going to try it. The other flavors are chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, banana, and orange (I've heard it tastes like a creamsicle). I will let you know how they are after I try them. They have excellent customer service too. They shipped a few hours after I ordered them and they called me to see how I heard about them and if I like them. It's 28 g of protein/serving and that's if it's mixed with water. I plan on mixing mine with milk.

Congratulations! I was one month out on the 27th. I had some rough patches, but am finally getting comfortable with things and starting like my sleevie!

It is your choice, but in your shoes I would have still chosen the sleeve. Based on its success rate, and its complication risks. Its a tool, just like a bypass would be. How successful that tool is to you depends on how well you use it, and how well you make the necessary changes in your life to make that tool do its job.

It is your choice, but in your shoes I would have still chosen the sleeve. Based on its success rate, and its complication risks. Its a tool, just like a bypass would be. How successful that tool is to you depends on how well you use it, and how well you make the necessary changes in your life to make that tool do its job.

It is your choice, but in your shoes I would have still chosen the sleeve. Based on its success rate, and its complication risks. Its a tool, just like a bypass would be. How successful that tool is to you depends on how well you use it, and how well you make the necessary changes in your life to make that tool do its job.

I believe you can lose as much weight as you need to ... but with a twist.
It really is up to you, how compliant with the rules you are willing to be and the exercise regimen you are committed to. I am 15 months out and been at goal since last March. I have lost 120 pounds and still have excellent restriction. I know that if I wanted to, I could lose more, but at this point, I am afraid that would mostly be muscle.
If you read the boards, you will see posts from many folks who will complain about not losing weight, but will also say that they are not exercising or they are not eating the right foods. As far as the foods go, I think we all probably started out with a poor relationship with food and the sleeve doesn't really address that. So, unless you are willing to confront and correct that, this may be an issue for you, too.
Exercise can also be a challenge for us as it may have never been a part of our lives and starting it now is difficult.
Bottom line is, you will get out of the sleeve exactly what you put into it. If you can be compliant and do the right thing, I don't believe there is any limit to the amount of weight a sleever can lose.

i wrote you a message and it did not send...bummer.
Try to have your shake nearby...even a little that you can sip. I just put some cinnamon in a vanilla one, and it transformed it! I hope I'm allowed to do that...I think I'm not, come to think of it. If you are far enough out, you can try that...it tastes like rice pudding, kind of.
I made my children lots of frozen meals....like a gallon of cooked meatballs that could be gotten out and put into sauce in the crock pot, and precooked noodles that could be heated up...and wala. No cooking for me. They do the clean up, too.
I wonder if something like that would help you.

hi there
i think you are doing great
your NUT did put pressure on you, telling you could lose 58 lbs by the end of the year, go at your own pace, and don't feel pressured - do how you are doing - which is terrific
i can eat bread, i also love sandwiches, - had one slice once - just didn't feel it was worth it - so i don't have bread anymore
you've been around the block enough to know we all have our stalls - we gotta ride them out
its hard to see a before and after picture - and really see a difference with yourself - but trust me i see the difference and you look great
in my case - i just watched as the numbers on the scale were going down - i never took my measurements, boo hoo - one day i looked in the full mirror after my shower - i stared and said "wheres my stomach?"
as far as being able to eat anything - as long as your doing your protein, measuring your calories and carbs - you know when to stop eating - you can't ask for me
your pictures are great
take care

I'm with you. I tried to look up online nutrional certification or degrees, and really had no luck. I'm not having much luck finding a school period. I know its out there somewhere!
Good luck with whatever you decide to do! I think that both of the things you mentioned sound like awesome ideas. And following our passons only adds to our new happy healthy lives!

Fantastic!!

I have been doing my major cooking once a week. freezing in individual portions and I have lots of options. also have been buying a whole cooked chicken from sams club, taking it off the bone and throwing it in a tupperware conatiner. so many options with chicken breast. I also have been planning my meals and packaging them up twice a week for the next few days. I never have to think what I am going to have and I also wont grab the unhealthy stuff because I am too tired to think or cook

I started biotin a little bit before surgery. A week before surgery I had to go off all vitamins & minerals. I started the biotin as soon as I thought I could swallow the pill at home.
If you drink any pop (diet or regular) or coffee quit now! Quit before you have to go on the pre-op diet.
I can only tell you things that made things easier on me. I brought one of those soft cuddly comfy throw blankets from Target (mine was brown, one side was soft and comfy and the other side was fluffy). I had it freshly washed and it smelled like home (Downy). It was my comfort in the hospital, I cuddled with it in the chair and it made me happy.
I went into the surgery smiling and humming. Made my nurses hum, even hummed my favorite little theme song to my doctor and anesthesiologists and nurses. It made everyone smile and lighten up and I was told I was one of the most positive people going into surgery and I woke up positive.
I found a decaff tea that was refreshing to bring to the hospital plus I bought my own artificial sweetener (truvia). I tried several decaff teas (after quitting coffee). Bigelow Peppermint Tea fit the bill with truvia. It literally calmed my tummy and felt better than water at first and even though it went from warm to cold, it tasted good cold. Hospitals normally serve hot tea with generic artificial sweetener in a coffee cup. It's not appetizing it smells like coffee though it's hot water. I probably have mentioned this 100 times since surgery in posts. This was my saving grace.
Bring Cottonelle or Charmaigne Box of wet wipes. After surgery your privates feel nasty (after getting the catheter out). It's a little harder to urinate on your own. Wiping yourself is a little hard because your tummy is swollen, but getting some of the orange stuff off you makes you feel cleaner. I also kept a brush on my table, because it was such a comfort to brush my hair because it became a birds nest.
When you go for your walk around the ward, bring along one of those mouth stick wipes because if you talk while you walk, your mouth will dry up on you so fast, especially if you are given the anti-nausea patch and anti-nausea shots.
You will be most likely be receiving shots in your belly every so often for blood clots. I wasn't prepared for this, nor was I prepared for a drain. Ask the doctor if you are getting one. The ted hose they use and compression thing I was afraid of but it actually didn't hurt and was comforting, I was nervous about those. If the ted hose starts rolling down and hurting, makes sure you get someone to fix it.
I made sure I kept my mouth sticks, water and peppermint tea and spirometer and I brought my own Kleenex (Vicks) type to the hospital. Those I made sure were close to me. When I would wake up during the night I would make sure I used the spirometer. I am prone to pneumonia and I used it OFTEN. I would take my big brown blanket and ball it up with a pillow and then cough. I still use it and it's 19 days out.
My hardest part of surgery (I was in the hospital 5 days) was the leak test. I had an allergic reaction to the Gastrique used and it was really hard on me. My face, neck and chest turned a bright red and I got dizzy and sick. Most people just feel sick from their first drink being something like that.
Things I did not use. I didn't use my kindle, didn't change clothes once (all the iv's getting any real pj's on there is no way.) I did have a pair crocs that I used to walk in, which was more stable to me than wearing their socks.
When I came home getting in and out of bed was not easy for me, and I spent a lot of time sleeping in the lazy boy. I walked as much as I could and I started spacing it out 20 minutes walking through the kitchen, living room and dining room 3 times a day.
I had the drain for 9 days and the last few days it started bugging me. Getting it out, was not comfortable but there was HUGE relief getting it out. I could finally actually breathe again.
Realize that no two people heal alike. There are people that sound as though they have surgery and go home and are out walking miles in the first week. You may have had previous abdominal surgeries and have more scar tissue, you may have never had one and aren't used to it and take it harder. Everyone recovers differently and don't compare your experience to others because it's unneeded frustration. Try to remain positive, even when the going gets tough. I had only questioned my decision when I had the reaction to the gastrique, and then when my drain got infected (I have lupus), they were fleeting.
I have tried to stay positive otherwise and it's done me well. I have a brain tumor, and I suffer from Lupus, I had diabetes and sleep apnea, and I suffer from raynauds and severe migraines and I have a lot of things that could contribute to me not staying positive. I had complications during my surgery which were pretty severe and still I would do it all over again. I will be 49 in August, which is how old my Great Grandmother Died due to obesity, and I am built just like her.
Good Luck to you and stay positive, keep a fun song in your head that day, be it a theme song - like Brick House, or whatever current music you like. Mine was the Theme from Sanford & Son and old TV show that I loved as a little girl. The music is happy & funky and to remember the look on my surgeons face or remember the nurses trying to hum it or my husband and son humming it as I was being wheeled out still makes me giggle

I have PCOS, too. Over the years I've joined WW with friends and watched them go down to a size 10, while I got all the way down to a size 18. Woohoo. I am beyond hopeful that this will be our solution to years of struggle. I often wondered if I was lying to myself about my eating, because surely I should be losing weight on less than 1600 calories a day. I was affirmed by the nutritionist who said that the only way for me to lose weight was through surgery. I wish it was not the case, but 20 years of doing the same thing (different types of diets) over and over again has not delivered a different result. It's time to stop the insanity! (I think that was Susan Powter... I did her program, too.)
All the best to you on your journey!