NancyJerry

15 months later I wouldn't change a thing!

Can bake it with some Panko crumbs to give it the crunch of fried fish?

Hard to say, but I lost a little over 70 pounds and I'm shocked at all the places my body has changed. I'm sure in the end you'll feel so good it won't matter if George looks a little different.

Hang in there! Even the people that are "there" for you go through a lot of changes after YOUR surgery and the support you had can waiver. Lots of changes ahead, but like someone ahead of me said, remember who you are doing this for in the first place!

Do you recommend any good Protein shakes?

Premier Protein Shakes are pretty good and give you 30grams of Protein.< /p>

An amazing story, from an amazing person! Keep up the awesome work!!

Fabulous! I wish I had taken pictures like this that would show this type of progress! Congratulations on all of your hard work!

You look so happy! Congrats!

Wow! Nice loss in 6.5 weeks (I'm down 59 in 4 months)! I still have some reflux issues. Doc says for me to try weaning myself off the Nexium, but I'm not ready yet. I didn't have sweating issues, I had/have freezing issues. My poor husband is really wishing I would wear a snowsuit in the car when he has the AC on!! LOL

Water tasted very very VERY funny to me up until about a month ago. Someone said it was due to a PH imbalance and I can believe that.

Good luck to you, but a word of caution - if you are struggling with reflux you may want to watch how much lemonade you drink - it's highly acidic and can worsen your reflux.

I was lucky to find that I quite enjoy the Premier Protein shakes (my fav is chocolate). 30 grams of Protein really helps me get it all in!

I guess I'll be in the minority here. I tend to wake up slowly from anesthesia in the first place (just slow and groggy) but I was SUPER SUPER nauseous and they gave me anti-nausea meds which knock me out. So the first day I was groggy, nauseous and the gas pain was really awful, but due to my sedated-ness, couldn't get up and walk. The first night I slept in one hour increments then had to get up and pee. - every hour! My nurses were spectacular at giving me pain and anti-nausea meds as soon as the last dose wore off. By morning, I was feeling much better.

Then I went down for the x-ray where they give you the clear stuff to drink (can't remember what it's called) and I threw that up!! That sent me back down the anti-nausea med/knock me on my butt groggy path. By noon on the second day, I was up out of bed every hour on the hour WALKING. That is when the the gas finally got out of town and everything else felt better. If I could have walked sooner I would have - and if you can you should!

Once home, I took my pain meds as needed. It was more like I felt really good and would "over-do it" so I'd take a pill and go to bed for a little while. By the 3rd or 4th day home I don't think I took any.

THE COMPRESSION PILLOW IS KEY!! My hospital gave me one. Good luck to you! And like everyone else said, it's very individual. You will be going through MAJOR surgery. If you need meds take them. You don't need to be a hero. Walk when you can and sip on that Water. You'll do great!

I had my surgery on March 27 with a BMI of 35. Four and one-half months later I'm 14 pounds from goal (according to what my doctor says he'd be happy to see) and more like 20 pounds from what I'd like to see.

I feel great and most people are shocked to find out that I'm not at goal yet as they say "I look like I should be" and "I better not be going for the anorexic look."

I have stalls (like most people) that last anywhere from 1-2 weeks but I don't freak out, I watch what I eat very carefully and keep a food diary (My Fitness Pal). I work out regularly and started running (will be doing my first ever 5K in just over a week - YIKES!). And I get my Protein in -come hell or high Water.

If I don't lose another pound I'd feel like a complete success!! I hope this finds you well. Keep your eye on the prize and you'll be a success story too!

You're doing great. Good anaolgy of going through the jungle with a machete! Here's something to think about....When it's all said and done you will barely remember! It will feel like a fuzzy dream; you'll remember it was frustrating but the finer detail will fade. THEN you'll be in the new jungle of pre-op, move into the jungle of surgery and hospital stay, on to the jungle of the first 2 weeks post op, on to the "can't wait to be able to eat something that I have to chew jungle" and so on. The beauty of this journey is the outcome, not the day-to-day jungles.

Keep your eye on the prize and hang in there!! It'll all be worth it!!

What a "funny" question. If I hadn't gone through this myself, I may not even understand it! At first I lost my face, boobs and feet (yes, feet), but still had a giant hind end. I swear the last 20 pounds came off from my butt! LOL. I'm sure "how long it takes" will vary from person to person. My loss started evening out around 3-4 months post op (just within this past month).

Congrats on your 75 pound loss!

I haven't seen it until today... I apparently still have fat googles on (similar to beer googles)... My clothes don't fit right, I had to buy new bras (smaller band size, larger cup size- seriously ridiculous!)... Everyone knows about my surgery and every one says the see it, mind games tell me they are just being nice...

I swear I OWN this game. I think if they say something they are just being nice, and oddly enough if they say nothing it confirms that there is no difference. - DUMB, I know!

Congratulations on your promotion!! You look fabulous!

I try to stay as close to 1000 calories as possible but I'm hearing from others that we need more..some say less. My nut said 1000 is fine for now' date=' with time it would increase. Every office advises different for various reasons so it might be best to call your nut and ask what you should have.[/quote']

I agree. My NUT said if you are getting the right amounts in you could be between 600-800. I've always stayed 600-1000.

Yup. I agree. Probably in Ketosis (which is a good sign). I used to carry around the little disposable toothbrushes, you know...the kind that has a little drop of toothpaste already on it. I know Colgate makes them...Anyway...it does get better!

LaurenBob - right on!

Just try to be mindful of WHAT you are eating. You'll have "DAYS" but its the big picture that really counts. Sometimes I think of what I eat like money. I want the best bang for my 800-1000 -calorie -buck! That usually keeps me mindful!

Hang in there!

I love just eating an appetizer for dinner! Sounds like you're having fun!!

What I had been looking forward to and have now received!

Sitting next to someone without holding my breath to try and take up less space (I don't think it ever really helped, though).

Buying something off the rack and having it fit when I got home.

Being PAIN FREE - Well I am at about 90% and thrilled! My biggest fear was giving up Motrin (I took 800mg 2-3 times per day and was still in pain!!-feet, ankles, calves, knees, back, neck - literally in pain from head to toe). I haven't taken any pain meds since my surgery.

Being able to run - I'm signed up for my first ever 5K!!

And OH YEAH! Leaving the LIGHTS ON!!

So much more. This sleeve has changed my life!! Fun Fun Topic - Thanks UT Gal!!

I lost some starting at 3.5 months out. It was traumatizing at the time. But I look normal and always did. It's just hard to see so much hair in the drain and brush. It will be ok! You will not go bald and if you lose hair it does grow back!

Thanks for the inspiration! I'll hold on to any glimmer that I can at this point!! :-D

It really bites! I've been reassured so many times that the loss will slow down soon, but every day I get sick to my stomach watching so much of it fall out!

BTW - I love your new avatar picture!

I am so tired of my doctor's telling me I am overweight. Today I lost it in the car- I just started crying, and I usually don't cry. I saw my Lady Doctor for Lady stuff and I heard it again. I got used to hearing it from the NUT, so much that I expected it, but from my lady doctor?

I will never stop this lifestyle. I signed up for my first 5K on Sept 2nd. )

Ugh! Find new doctors. Even before I had surgery my doctors sounded more supportive than that! Sorry they made you feel that way!!!!

CONGRATS and good luck on your first 5K! I'm doing m first one on Aug 18th! Excited and scared all at the same time!

Lacie,

Before I had my surgery I followed a woman's 2 year video log on YouTube and one of the last posts I watched was when she said, "Don't set a goal number!" She was speaking from experience. She said to make a list of what would "make" this surgery be a success (off meds, happy, etc.). She said this way no scale and no number gets to dictate if you are a success or failure.

Last month, my WLS support group coordinator brought in a plastic surgeon and he spent a great deal of time talking about the stupid BMI calculator. He said, after about a year post surgery re-evaluate yourself to determine if you FEEL like you've met your goal.

I'm "19" pounds from my "goal" weight, but I'm just waiting to see what my body is going to do. I'm personally choosing to follow the advice of these sources. It sounds to me like you need permission to trust yourself - so (tongue in cheek) I'll grant it for you! You look fantastic! You'll know when you are at goal!!

Good luck to you!

Congratulations on your informed decision! Wishing you the very best!!

Suzanne! What a great and inspirational story! 4 years post op!!! That is the topic that's been on my mind a lot lately, that is; will this STILL work in a year? two? or even four? Thanks for reading my mind! Congratulations to you and your success!

Ha! That's fun. I put in my starting weight then my goal weight. Cool toy - Then I noticed that the girl representing my starting weight doesn't have her thighs touching - LOL - mine definitely did at my starting weight! LOL!

Thanks for sharing!