cegull

i had a NSV today!
i bought this reeeally cute dressy trench coat like 6+yrs ago. when i bought it, it was really snug but it still "fit". i figured id lose more weight & itll fit good. then i gained weight & literally couldnt put an arm in the sleeve. well, i just tried it on & it FITS!!! like its even a lil big but asize smaller would be snug. im like so shocked right now. it feels good to know that im doing what i set out to do!

Mashed potatoes boiled in chicken broth and mashed with Greek yogurt and a little milk.
Ground sautéed turkey seasoned with broth and onion and garlic powder. After cooking, chop super fine.
Gravy: Low fat cream of chicken Soup mixed with Greek yogurt and chicken broth.
Layer and eat...Delish and went down well and stayed down!

And I sat there, eating my ham slice and cheese stick, while my coworker ate one across from me. I had no feelings of envy, temptation, or mourning. I didn't even realize until I got home that I'd gone up against my major trigger food and won! It's a great NSV and a big step forward to getting a healthy relationship with food.

I get it from my naturopath. I can give you her info; she ships if you're interested. She's a firm believer that not all supplements are good and she only orders high quality stuff. The name of it is Nordic Naturals ProEPA xtra It's says it's Ultra Concentrated Superior Triglyceride Form Pharmaceuticla Grade Molecularly Distilled Omega-3 Fish Oil
Hope that helps!

After you enter your food into my fitness pal, hit the "home" bottom at the bottom, then hit "daily" at the top. It will give you a break down of all your nutritional info for the day. Also, when you are looking at your food diary, touch any food you entered and it will show you the same break down of that food.
This assuming you're looking at the mobile app. You can do the same online but the approach is slightly different.

Friday. Weigh in day.
When I started this Quest I was 441lb, BMI was 56, waist was also a 56. Bodyfat? High at 52%. Work scrubs size 5XL
I climbed on the scale an looked down. After a few seconds it stopped and landed on 299lb. I yelled so loud my neighbor from downstairs knocked on my door. She asked if anything was wrong. "Everything was right" I told her. For the first time since I was 20 years old, I was under 300lb. I know I'm not at my goal but hot damn I can sure see it from here!!
299lb
36% BF
38 BMI
42" Waist
2XL Work scrubs
About 20lb lost was LBM. I never thought that 10.5 months from the date of surgery I'd be here. At just under 3.5lb/wk weight loss average, I feel pretty good. I still can't believe that I'm 299lb and still losing! There are weeks (sometimes 2-3 in a row) where I don't lose a single ounce. Sometimes I actually gained. One week I gained six pounds and thought I screwed something up. I'm now thinking about skin surgery. I look at myself and guesstimate that I have about 5-9lb of hanging skin. When I roll down past 20% BF then I'll get more serious about that.
You all here are so very wonderful. I don't post much now with work and school going on but I read about all the people here. Each of you inspired me, motivated me and gave me hope. I was assured that I didn't mess up my body with this surgery. Y'all are terrific!! Bless every last one of you!

The first number on my scale this morning was a 1, yay!!!! It has not been a 1 in five years so I'm super happy today! My weight loss hasn't been as quick as some others but I am so happy with the progress I have made. I love my sleeve!
I weighed 260lbs 1 week before my surgery, 251 on the day of surgery, and 199 today. My weight loss slowed after the 2nd month, I now lose about 8 pounds a month (which I will gladly take!!!)
I did have a ton of hairloss but it has stopped or at least slowed greatly. I do take my Vitamins everyday along with Biotin and Iron. I feel like my weight loss is coming off differently than in the past when I've slimmed down before having kids. I am holding a ton of weight in my belly still. I don't really notice a ton of sagging skin but my eyes have more wrinkles from where my face has lost fat. Oh well!
I try to get my fluids and Protein in, it's getting harder since I get more food than Protein drinks, but I try for at least one Protein Drink per day. I really like EAS myoplex, Adkins, and Slim Fast protein. I hate the juice protein drinks. I hope to lose another 60 pounds by next March. Good luck all!!! Happy losing!

I am going to try this, hopefully it works! I had my sleeve surgery November 29th, 2010. The first pictures are at my highest when I got married (I love my husband, he has loved me no matter what size!), around 260ish lbs. The second are the day of my surgery, 220ish lbs. The last pictures are at my current weight, 135-137lbs (I LOVE my hormones, I LOVE my hormones). There are 2 standing in my old jeans and I fit in 1 leg (1 is me AND my daughter in my jeans). There is also a picture of my biggest jeans (size 22), and my new jeans (size 4..I wear a size 4-6). I never dreamed I would ever be this size or weigh in the 130's. I honestly never thought I would even reach goal because I had tried and failed so many times in my life. I hope these pictures are inspiration that, if you let it, the sleeve is an amazing tool! And I hope it inspires the slower losers too! It took me 18 months to reach my goal weight of 140lbs, and I have even lost a few more pounds in the last couple of months. So don't get discouraged if you don't lose all your weight in the first 6 months. If you make the changes you need to make to have a healthy life, it will happen!

I saw an advertisement for "slimpressions" that have arm spandex-looked really good!

Hi Everyone,
I received a print out of various recipes from my doctor's office this week and thought I would share them. See attached.
Recipes.pdf

Day 6....and I will give an update on my progress....On day 2, I would have been willing to eat the slop my mother served to us growing up called hamburger casserole..yuck. Day three....I would have eaten the dog food. Day 4....the dog started looking good. Day 5....turned things around, I don't feel as hungry all the time. I haven't cheated, but I have eaten a river of popicles and an ocean of Jello. If I never see Jello again..it would make me the happiest woman on the planet.

I'm almost 9 months out and I have no regrets. IMO, the sleeve saved my life. I'm happier, healthier and fitter than EVER before. This is the best thing I've ever done for myself.

Thanks, you too!!! And happy early birthday! We definitely need to stay in touch. So when is your surgery scheduled with Dr. Kim?
I had the endoscopy yesterday at Forest Park Medical and met a lady there that was having surgery by Dr. Kim on the same day as me. It was pretty cool!
My 2 week liquid diet starts Monday...ugh.

Yes it is, we will definitely have to stay in touch.

Aww thanks cegull for asking. Actually I am impressed/surprised/and worried that the liquid diet is actually moving very smoothly. I've had no problems other than the extra potty breaks from all the extra fluids. I am now day 3 into it, staying satisfied with the shakes (pre-made ones for now) I do find that I am easily tempered or my fuse is wired very short at times. My boys just give me hugs when I get that way, Tell me it will pass, suggest maybe a nap, etc. I've had no headaches, no food cravings, nothing. Thats whats worrying me. I expected this to be very difficult and hard, and since it is going so well, I find myself thinking on the what ifs.
Even though I started my diet earlier than was requested there is an upside of things. I have been staying within the limits of the 800-1000 calorie diet, sometimes finding it hard to hit those numbers, but staying well hydrated , I have managed to drop a few pounds. I was not requested to lose weight for the surgery, but I would secretly hope to lose 20 lbs. If I can lose 17 more lbs I will go into surgery under 300. That would be awesome for me.

That's me on the right

Surgery date 2/20/12 down 65 lbs do far yay!!!!

I will probably be getting this same list at my last BEND class. Dr. Kim is my surgeon also
Good luck with your surgery!!! (August 7 is my birthday - good choice in dates! LOL!)

Hi Everyone,
I received a print out of various recipes from my doctor's office this week and thought I would share them. See attached.
Recipes.pdf

Hi Everyone,
I received a print out of various recipes from my doctor's office this week and thought I would share them. See attached.
Recipes.pdf

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Hi Everyone,
I received a print out of various recipes from my doctor's office this week and thought I would share them. See attached.
Recipes.pdf

Hi Everyone,
I received a print out of various recipes from my doctor's office this week and thought I would share them. See attached.
Recipes.pdf

Hi Everyone,
I received a print out of various recipes from my doctor's office this week and thought I would share them. See attached.
Recipes.pdf

Like others have indicated, this journey is defintely not easy especially when it comes to this liquid diet. But it's all good, I've already been taken off 4 pills per day that I had been on for years. I did lose some weight leading up to the diet so I'm sure that helped. We just have to keep focusing on the goal and don't give up, because we are all worth it. One more thing, I never would have thought that sugar free jello and chicken broth could taste so darn good. :-)

I think the sleeve helps because it reduces our hunger and gives us a fighting chance at making the lifestyle changes that are necessary for long-term weight loss. In the beginning, it definitely seems like a magic spell has been cast upon our bodies because the weight just falls off. As we get further out from surgery, the responsibility transfers back to us, though. The key, IMO, is to make those changes and commit to keeping the changes for life. The sleeve's restriction helps, but it doesn't do all the work. WE have to do the head work to recognize and resolve whatever the underlying problem is that made us overeat or we're at risk for a crossover addiction or two.
As for preparing, read everything you can. Learn what your post op diet will be, including specific instructions for early post-op, right down to what foods are allowed and not allowed. Start now to adopt the habits of successful sleevers: 64 oz of Water and 70 grams of Protein daily, detox from caffeine and sugar, quit drinking with meals, start chewing your food 30 times before you swallow it, slow down while eating and start some kind of exercise program, even if it's only walking. All of these habits will stand you in good stead post-op.
Take your measurements pre-op, keep using MFP to track your food and exercise (I'm Lissa912 there if you want to add me), and enjoy the success you will have!
As for the naysaysers, screw them. They aren't living in your body or living your life. You know what you've tried before and you know that it didn't work or you wouldn't be contemplating surgery. Thank them for their advice and keep right on trucking!
Most of all, enjoy the journey. This isn't a race. It's a nice steady walk to get to your goal and there are lots of changes to notice and appreciate as you get there.