vsjb

Was sleeved June 14th at Abington Hospital in PA w/Dr G. I started out at 5'3" weighing 229 lbs & am currently 167.2. I'm feeling great! I had about a 3 week stall due to sickness/acid issues/starvation mode but I saw the scale start to move a little more!! Can't wait! So, according to my starting weight I am down approx 62 lbs in a little less than 3 months! =) Super excited! How are YOU ALL doing?? What are you eating?? Are you exercising? I've been very active BUT not exercising due to lack of time! Really wish I could/would....that's my new goal!

I also ride. I am pre-op and can't wait to be lighter and not have to worry if I am hurting my mares back! How many weeks post-op did you have to wait before you could ride?

I waited 4 weeks. Best wishes!!

U guys inspire me to ride again! I was in an accident three years ago and broke my back in three places. I always felt that my weight contributed to the severity of the injury. I see my horses from my kitchen window, but a part of me is still very hesitant. I'm afraid of falling again, and I'm worried about how my bones would tolerate a fall. However, I'm not quite ready to sell them yet. I don't know, maybe some day I'll actually take the plunge and ride again.

Happy Trails!

The same thing happened to me! I was in a riding accident in December & had an L1 fx. I think my weight had a lot to do w/the fracture & I've been VERY hesitant about getting on another horse for that reason.

I used to ride when I was lighter. Last time i wanted to get on a horse I was surrounded by PETA and the humane society and ejected from the property.

(JK) But seriously, I could not torture an animal that way. Who knows though, in 50 more pounds, I may take it up again!!

Haha! You should ride again! It's unbelievable how much more enjoyable it is now!!

Oh I am sooooo excited to hear about your guys journey and success. I currently own four horses and they keep me very busy, as they are all green. I can't wait to loose this extra weight, as I know my riding will improve. I hated being the "heavy-girl" on the horse!

I'm quite content to be down to 1 pony & 2 minis =) (closer to the ground haha).

i also am a rider and i feel like my horse is also loving the 120lb weight loss! i never wanted to ride when i was heavier because i felt so awful and felt bad for him, even though he is abelgian draft horse lol were both enjoying our time together a lot more now!

That's awesome!! When I was at my heaviest I considered selling my Warmblood to get a heavier draft horse but I knew then I wouldn't lose the weight & it still wasn't fair to the horse to have so much weight on its back. I rescued a 14.1h pony from a slaughter pen last September. I had no plans to keep her but I ended up keeping her & am making it my goal to keep riding her I'm down to 192....still heavy for a pony but I'm not doing anything excessive & shes not complaining =)

I rode horses as a teenager and recently told my daughter when I get near my goal I want to ride a horse again. that is actually the only thing I want

I missed riding a lot...I felt my weight was interfering w/my position & I was so uncomfortable riding started to be a chore...I ended up stopping for a while but I'm do excited now to be cleared to ride & to be losing weight making it so much easier!! Best of luck to you in your journey!

Well, I must say that riding now is like a whole different experience. I am out there galloping around, having a grand time as opposed to carefully walking when I was so much heavier.

Side note, yesterday my horse and I were out alone, waiting on a friend when we encountered a mama black bear and her cubs! It was scary, but also very very cool. My horse was nervous, but didn't freak - he is a good boy! It was a reminder of how much better it is now, if we had taken off at a mad gallop, I can ride it out fine these days so it makes me feel so much more confident!

My saddle is way big for me now, but that is okay. That saddle fits my horse so well so I am just going to buy one of those fleece seat cushions to take up some of the extra space.

My riding horse is 21, and he is a really fine horse. i like alot of tough trail riding, mountain riding etc so I am looking for a younger horse to bring along as my next partner for that kind of riding. (The old man has a forever home with me!). That is my gift to myself, now that I am more capable of riding well, I feel in a much better position to find myself a younger horse.

That's so exciting! I can't wait to lose more weight & boost my confidence even more. I was a pretty confident rider before I gained all the weight & then my confidence took a huge hit. It was a big step for me to get on my green pony & she took good care of me =)

Hi! I'm a horseback rider as well! One of my main goals with all of this, was to help my riding skills improve! Congratulations on your recent ride! I'm hoping to schedule my surgery at my doctors appointment the 31st!

Thank you & best of luck with your surgery!!! It was the best decision I ever made =)

Hi all,

I was sleeved on June 14th. Prior to surgery riding had become a chore & I couldn't do much under saddle! And trying to find a dressage saddle to fit ALL my curves was quite a challenge. I'm happy to report I rode my pony for the 2nd time ever & first time post op & it was fabulous!!! I had so much fun & did not get out of breath at all!! I can't wait to see how I feel when I get closer to my goal...I've decided a new saddle will be my present to myself. Very excited. I'll post pics when I'm on my laptop. I'd love to connect w/any vsg horseback riders out there & hear your stories!

Great idea! I was sleeved June 14th & heading into 2nd week of purée. Had a hard time getting in my Protein yesterday---was running around until 10:00pm & had forgotten to bring my shake mix so having a shake for Breakfast as I type this! I'm feeling pretty good....trying to keep up on fluids especially in this HOTTTT 100+ degree weather we're having! Just got on the scale today & I'm down from 229 to 200.2 =). I wish everyone success! This forum has been very helpful/encouraging on some cloudy days!

Hello all,

I start the purée phase tomorrow *cant wait* and am looking for some low carb recipes or suggestions.

Thanks!

Great idea!! While the full liquid phase is limiting for me I can't wait to " try" some recipes for the purée phase! Will def help to have everything in one spot. Thanks!

You are allowed to eat all of that in the first week ? I had revision on the 14th as well and has been on clear liquid alone. my doctor said clear liquid for 14 days. I have lost 8 lbs since monday as I gained alot of weight from the IV Fluid after surgery. I was 198 lbs the morning of the surgery and was still 198 lbs by monday morning. I'm sure the weight will come out just be patient.

I was sleeved Thursday and by Sunday i started full liquids for 12 days as ordered. Like I said, was just having an emotional morning . Good luck with your journey!

Thank you so much for the Soup advice . What Protein are you using I am having a hard time finding one I can handle ( they taste gross ) .

I use Nu-Tek Pro 5 chocolate. I like it.

I was sleeved last Thursday 6/14 I am really having a hard time knowing what to eat .

ImGodsent,

My surgeon has me on a full liquid diet for the first 2 weeks. Ive been eating...

**creamed Soups (I like to eat as organic as possible & I found pacific natural foods has a yummy cream of chicken Soup & a cream of celery I'm going to try today

**plain Greek yogurt w/coconut milk added

**plain Campbell's Tomato soup...any of the cream of tomato soups irritate my sleeve...& have more fat than I liked

**cream of wheat w/coconut milk added...stevia for a little sweetness

**pro 5 Protein shakes-2/day at 32g protein each

Hope this helps a little...good luck! There's lots of great suggestions/topics on this forum!

Thank you all. I think I'm just going through an emotional morning.

I was sleeved last Thursday and had been enjoying the daily weight loss until yesterday when I didn't lose anything and am UP a pound today! (now i realize it might not be a big deal to some but it is to me.....i didnt go throigh this to gain weight back!). Not sure if it's my body going into starvation mode or what it is.....I've been trying to eat properly but I have a hard time getting in ENOUGH calories. My Protein has been sufficient....2 Protein Shakes (40g/per) plus food. Breakfast I usually have half cup if lucky of cream

Of wheat w/coconut milk, snack Protein Drink, 1/4 cream Soup 1/4 coconut milk for lunch, protein drink for dinner & plain Greek yogurt/coconut milk for dinner....feeling really discouraged today. I realize I'm just a week out and HAVE lost weight but why the GAIN? My calories are barely 500/day if that depending what I eat! Any suggestions appreciated. Im going to try & walk more but it's going to be 100 degrees today so might not get too far today!

Thank you for the responses, ladies! Trust me....it wasn't a conscious decision! Lol!

Hi all, I have surgery scheduled for tomorrow & I mis-read my paperwork thinking I was able to thin down applesauce for a full liquid diet..,,I just re-read the paperwork and feel like the biggest idiot ever!!!! Anyone have experience with this??? Surgery is scheduled for 10:15 tomorrow morning. Will they have to postpone surgery???