Celaine47

You guys were right... I went to Target today and bought some new jeans, two sizes smaller than I was pre surgery. I could definitely see a difference when I was wearing them, and it cheered me up a little. It's crazy how wearing the same clothes will keep you from seeing the changes! I didn't want to buy any new stuff until absolutely necessary, because I really don't have much money. That was great though

I echo all of the other posts here, as I have experienced much the same as you all. One other option besides buying new clothes is to have your pants altered in the butt and waist. It helps to reduce the bulk around the middle and let some of your new shape show.
One more thing, beautiful is not having a perfect body. Weight loss does not equal perfect. It is mental and physical health that is beautiful.
Try to stay focused!

Thanks for all the encouragement! You guys are awesome... This is really helpful to hear.

You are doing wonderful. We all go through the not being able to see it part. You definitely need to buy at least one new pair of pants and one shirt (even from Goodwill) to let yourself and others see what you have lost. It took me 50 pounds to see any real difference in myself and about that for others to see it, but only after I wore a more form fitting outfit. The first real compliment I got was "Your arms are so tiny". Not even close, but that was the beginning. Now people who haven't seen me in months or years are really noticing everything. Just hold on a little longer. Suddenly you'll see collar bones, your rings will fall off, and you'll walk straight out of your pants. Plus, you are just DAYS away from ONDERLAND

I feel the same you do at times. For the amount of work and sacrifice I should be a skinny person by now lol!! But the reality is, it took time to look the way I do, so it's gonna take time to look slimmer. I feel like I gave up a lot ( EATING, FAVORITE FOODS, BAKED GOODS, FRIED FOOD, SODA) so the Skinny gods should have been a little more generous in return
Take pictures! that will help you see the change. My face looks completely different now. My body is not quiet there, but it is happening slowly.
And I know this weight loss is going to damage my body, but I have to believe that I am beautiful. Money for plastics is out of the picture for me as well. So We have to believe that at the end we are and will be healthy and beautiful ((HUGS))

I agree with Alliemm. 43 pounds is a big weight loss! If you are like many (myself included), you were squeezing yourself into your clothes prior to this journey. Clothes and seams stretch to accomodate our expanding girth. Also, clothing in plus sizes tends to be more generous, so when we start to loose weight, it seems like a long time to drop a whole size. One thing I do know for sure, as you loose weight it is difficult to see in your old clothes. I love the idea of going to try on some new clothes, even if you are not ready to buy yet. As for what your body will look like once you reach goal....there are all kinds of things out there to hold things in, lift things up etc. etc. Spanx and a good bra are two examples. Also, even many pants come with tummy control panels and things like that. So I am sending you a hug and a smile. It is all going to be alright. Do something nice for yourself today and keep up your great work! You and others are going to start to see a difference and it will floor you!

Go buy yourself a new, flattering outfit. Maybe even the next size down so you can watch yourself melt away and one week you will put it on and be excited you can fit in it. Or, go shopping and try new clothes on and take pictures of yourself and compare them to your before pics. Wearing the same clothes makes it harder to see the loss. Don't get discouraged! You have lost a good chunk of weight and should be proud !! Congrats on making it this far. We all have our downer days, it's how you pull yourself out of it that makes a differene. Which is hard to do, but if you find a way you will feel much better. Good luck to you!!

Ughhhh.... Relationships can be so stressful. First as women I know we can tend to bare the brunt or responsibility and stress, without even being told. So I'd say don't automatically assume any additional stresses. Because your bf took a big paycut don't pick up any additional financial responsibilities. Trust me I've done this with my husband and it just gets worse. This is one reason me my husband have separate finances. I can easily graze all day if I allow myself. Maybe you can up your exercise to supplement your extra calorie intake? Or find some other activity to occupy your mind. However I feel the best option for you is to be honest let your bf know that his insecurities are really stressing you out and potentially ruining the relationship. This is something you should be very vocal about, don't do it durning a heated (argument) moment. I've noticed that a lot of time I expected my husband to know how i felt or why I was mad, this is unfair on my part. So I now am very detailed with my husband I tell him what bothers me, why it bothers me, and what I think can be done to aliviate my frustrations. Best of luck to you!!!

I have been there for many years, I think that is why I ended up needing the sleeve to start with its way to easy to say leave him, so i won't bother, I am still with mine too. I am only a month out post -op too but i do know I could eat ALOt more than I do and I still find myself wanting to comfort with food.. but I did change the law in my home and kitchen and I don't ever plan on breaking it. Buy yourself healthy snacking options .. you know your gonna graze and snack so do NOT buy the things you used to use like lays and ice cream or brownies or what ever. I have several bags of bean chips.. high Protein chips , they are pretty yummy.. I am basicly living on cottage cheese. I feel for you hunny and all I can say is if it isnt there you cant eat it.. and prepare for those moments while your shopping maybe?
much love sister good luck

It's still going well.. as of day 7 I was down 18 pounds.

I'm no expert on hair, but I don't think it will matter to your hair whether you are eating or drinking your protein. It happens to a lot of patients, but to different degrees. Lack of protein will make it worse they say. But solid or liquid protein won't matter. Of course I shave my head so I don't know much about hair.

How long have you been "stuck" at this weight? Stalls are completely normal. Do you know your daily caloric intake? Chances are that your body is just adjustng to the weight already lost, and you will start losing again soon.
BTW, be careful with the Chike, it is good, but it is not a Protein supplement. It is a high protien Meal Replacement. It has more calories than your protien supplements do.

This was good for ne too...I guess I need to pull the positive out of it ippose to looking at the fact the scale is not moving...I have resistance training 3x a week...so from that perspective maybe thats why the scale is not moving...idk!!!! Gonna keep working hard and try maintaining a positive perspective....

I drink 2-3 carbonated waters a day and made goal in less than 9 months. Didn't stretch my sleeve. My surgeon says that's bull and so do I.

My surgeon also said by two months your stomach is completely healed. He said things like drinking by straws can't really hurt you but can cause gas. I drink from a straw all the time because its easier for me to take in smaller amounts. Even things like alcohol my doc said they are empty calories and in excess can do damage but a glass of wine isn't going to kill you.

It seems a majority of people are saying that carbon and gum will stretch out the sleeve .... I specifically asked my surgeon about those and he told me if I can handle carbon then I can drink it. He told me that our stomachs are like rubber bands and if we eat too much we will throw up. Does your surgeons tell u specifically to stay away from these things?

Yes I do...she is the one having me track everything now....as I did when I first came outta surgery. Im certain she orob would say something about the sparkling ice....but I had not seen her since starting it. I been drinking it for the past week...but im cutting it before she has the upportunity to tell me to cut it...lol!!!!!

My pounds loss isn't great either i was sleeved on 2-29-12 but i have lost a ton of inches. My doc says because i don't have as much weight to lose I'm not going to lose as fast. My NUT has me eating 1/4 cup of food 5 times per day. My protein should be at 80 but I haven't mastered that yet. I'm also required to do 60 minutes of exercise 6 days per week. I started off walking but have since joined the YMCA. Now I have much better variety and love water exercises. My doc says if I'm not drenched in sweat at the end of a workout i didn't work hard enough. So maybe, you just need to change some things. Good luck just got off a three week stall so i understand. i also love to compare pictures don't let the scale discourage you

Hi Celaine,
I received a reply advising me to go back to a full liquid diet for 3 to 4 days which should include Protein shakes. What do you think? I am going to try it for a while and see what happens.

You avoid fast food as much as you can, but if you're in a pinch you can order:
Burger w/o the bun(In&Out calls this "protien style")
Grilled chicken sandwich w/o bun
Chili (Wendy's)
Fruit& yogurt parfait
Steak or chicken burrito w/o rice (taco bell) eat the filling, discard the tortilla
Pintos & cheese (Taco Bell)
LJS has a grilled fish plate
Most fast food places have something you can eat.
But a recovering food addict going to fast food joints is tantamount to a crack fiend hanging out at a drug dealers house.
Just not a good idea.

Suggestions...
In N Out Burger has a "Protein style" burger. Hamburger patty wrapped in lettuce. I had part of one for lunch today while we were out school shopping.
Taco Bueno, Taco bell, Taco casa, etc... order a bowl of Beans and a scoop of taco meat or chicken meat.
Chick Fil A ... kids meal with grilled chicken tenders and a fruit cup.
Grilled chicken breast from just about any fast food sandwich place.
Chipotle (you can even go to their website and plan your meal ahead of time!)
Chinese food... Pei Wei String Bean chicken or Mushroom Chicken

We eat out way too often but I'm learning to eat right when I go out!

What drives me crazy is my scale. It is a decent digital scale. And for the last 4 days I have weighed the exact same thing to the 1/10th of a pond. The odds of that are astronomical. A few weeks ago it gave me identical readings for three days - ten boom, I lost like 3 pounds in 2 days. Hopefully, I am on the edge of another 3 pound drop.
Bottomline - The scales are in a wicked conspiracy to keep us unhappy. They somehow know when we are vulnerable and then they just give us the same weight day after day.... and they laugh about it. The fact that your scale has maliciously added 2 pounds means you have an especially evil scale. Probably a conspiracy ring leader. I say we round them up and throw them in a dumpster tobe free from their evil tyranny. (although mine cost $75, maybe I will just have a talk with it) .....Sushhhh, I hear the black helicopters, they must be reading my e-mail.
Good luck. I am sure you will be losing again in no time.

I agree with everyone else, 18 lbs in 2 weeks is ahead of the pace! The important thing to remember is to do your best NOT to compare to others. Everyone's bodies are different and everyone loses at different rates. Some will lose slower, some will lose faster...there are just too many variables to look at when looking at the rate of weight loss. If you start comparing, you are only setting yourself up to be depressed, frustrated, and down on yourself. There will always be someone that loses faster, and it is not worth the heartache.