makemyownluck

I glanced at my ticker and realized that I started at BMI 64 and today, I'm exactly BMI 54. I still got plenty of road til the finish line, but that was still nice to see.

How have I never seen these before??? SOOO CUTE!!!! hahah

I just buy what I prefer taste-wise. I don't like full fat yogurt or cottage cheese because it's too thick/heavy. So I use low fat cottage cheese and fat free yogurt, but only out of taste preference... I agree that using less of a more natural product is better for us overall, it's just a matter of what someone prefers. I knew a girl who would spray butter flavored Pam cooking spray on her toast instead of using butter or margarine. I thought that was the ultimate in ridiculous! But, to each their own I suppose...

There's lots of hospitals who put their informational booklets online. Here's one that I found very helpful: https://www.hsc.missouri.edu/documents/bariatric/Bariatric%20Booklet%20VSG.pdf I know Kaiser put together a good one too, but I can't find it... maybe someone else has the link... As far as beer, I didn't drink it pre-op so I didn't ask or pay attention to the specifics on that. I know carbonated drinks can give you painful gas after surgery, but that eventually it's tolerable (after a few months). My surgeon said absolutely no alcohol for the first 6 months minimum. Most surgeons say no alcohol for a year... so you don't replace a food addiction with an alcohol addiction and also because it's empty calories/carbs. I do plan to enjoy a glass of wine again one day, but I've never been much of a drinker so these restrictions don't bother me at all. Good luck!

I hope you're doing well!

My surgeon hasn't mentioned doing blood work, but my PCP said he wanted to see me "a couple of months after surgery". I'm going to see him about 2 1/2 months after surgery and request my blood work to be done (if he doesn't order it himself). If you want to know what's going on, just call and ask the MD to write the order, they wouldn't likely say no to that request. Good luck, hope your insides are good!

I'll start with the update. I'm currently 389, which is 70lbs GONE FOREVER from my highest weight at the end of 2012. It's so exciting... it somehow seems less daunting to lose the weight since I got out of the 400s. I'm so happy and grateful for my progress so far! My weight loss isn't really showing IMO, and by that, I mean I don't think others are noticing it. I certainly am, but all my usual clothes still fit, there are some that are bigger than others, but some that were snug before and now just fit like they are supposed to. I can see that the clothes are looser, though - just not quite enough that it's time to start looking for smaller clothes. That will come soon enough, and I'm not looking forward to it! I don't have many clothes in smaller sizes, so that means I'm gonna have to start shopping! My NSV is: I HAVE BONES, Y'ALL. Bones in my hands! Collarbones! Bones in my feet! I saw my reflection when I was walking to the parking garage at work today, and I happened to see my bones in my feet as I was walking. I was shocked! It's been so long since I saw those bones!! Soon enough I'LL HAVE ANKLES! *gasp* As I write this, I have a ring on my finger that I used to wear as a left hand pinky ring and it's now fitting on my right hand ring finger. Whaaaat??? I can't remember what size this ring is, but I think it's a size 7 - I used to wear a 9 on my right hand ring finger (well 8 1/2 would probably fit, but 9 just felt better). I can see the change in my body and I know that with all this fat sliding off in those places that it's just a matter of time before it starts coming off my belly/hip/thighs. I'm starting to feel like a lady again, and it's wonderful!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone. The encouragement is so appreciated!! I wanted to add this: another NSV for me is that I am healthy. I'm off my bp meds (well, I have been since the week before surgery, but it's due to the weight loss!) and haven't had any complications. I see so many posts from recent sleevers that are having issues, or having weakness with their food, and I really just can't help but be so glad it's not me. I realize that may sound selfish, but my journey is about me after all! What I've learned through this process is that my body - it's an amazing thing. The fact that I've lived this long being super obese and ONLY had high blood pressure for the past year is a miracle in and of itself. Add in that I just had major surgery less than a month ago and you'd never know it from looking at me, I realize I'm blessed. My body is healing well. My body is getting stronger. As much abuse as I've put this body through, it keeps on going... for me, this journey, even though I'm not at the end, has really taught me to LOVE MYSELF in a way I never did before. To love this perfectly imperfect body - and not just because it's the only one I'll ever have - because IT IS RESILIENT! It really brings a happy tear to my eye to know that I have more respect for myself now, and I'm not even close to the finish line. I'll get there... I'll (try to) be patient... but for now - this feels pretty great, too. Thanks again everyone! <3

Congrats on the surgery date!! I'll answer what I can: How do u keep the weight off? ( I've always been able to lose weight, but then slowing regaining) The surgery is permanent and you will never be able to eat as much as you are eating now. You could find ways to eat enough to regain, it will be up to you to make healthy choices. So far, I've stayed on track by using My Fitness Pal app to track everything. I hope that eventually it will become second nature to eat healthy. How will my body look? ( the extra weight in my body is well distributed) No one can answer that for you! Will my cellulite get worse or better? No one can answer that for you! I've never really exercised will I be more motivated to do it? You'll have to push yourself to do it in the beginning. It does get easier, even with a small amount of weight loss. Once you get stronger, it won't seem as difficult so you won't be as likely to avoid it. Is there anything I can do before surgery? Yes! Start doing a low-carb/high Protein diet now. Start reducing your calories now. Start exercising now. Start living your post-op life as much as you can RIGHT NOW. It will make the transition much, much easier!! Will I have lots of loose skin? No one can answer this for you! As far as how you will look, how your skin will react - there is no way to know. If you have cellulite now, that's not going to completely vanish. Even skinny people have cellulite. You skin and how it functions is determined by age, genetic factors, environmental factors and the shape it's in now. If you have lots of stretch marks and cellulite, those will probably be there when you lose weight. Anyone with 100lbs or more to lose (I have over 200lbs to lose, so I'm not trying to sound like a B when I say this) is more than likely going to have cosmetic issues to deal with when the weight comes off. The severity of those issues is really impossible to predict. The best you can do is keep it moisturized, use high quality skin products and exercise to tone the muscles underneath. And drink LOTS of Water and take your vitamins! I wish you luck!

I was in for 2 days. The doc said that's what I should expect and that's what it was... I'm surprised your insurance would pay for all of that.

I second that vote - FIDDLEMAN!! my 2nd vote: Butterthebean!

Me too... I gave away closets FULL of clothes in recent years because I was down sizing to a new home with less closet space. I WISH I had those cute clothes back - but they are gone. I held on to a select few things and I don't know how long they will last me. Can't wait til it's all too big!!

looks like bruising to me - and since you have the glued incisions, sometimes the iodine they clean you with during surgery is stuck under it as well. As long as it's not red or draining pus, you're good.

It seems to me that lately being on this board is a waste of my time... sad to say because this used to be such a great place to meet people, talk about issues and feel like I was with "my people". It's a lot of negativity lately - people dissatisfied with their weight loss - ANY loss should be a point of pride for us!!! And if it's not negativity about some aspect of this surgery, it's newbies who really don't seem to know what they are getting/have gotten themselves into. I seem to just answer the same questions over and over again, get no support for myself, and then come back in a couple of days only to see the exact same questions posted by different newbies. I mean, can't you READ the forum so you're not just repeating the same stuff over and over? And it honestly shocks me how little research people have done on this for themselves. That said, I keep coming back, hoping to see something that will help me or at least entertain.

I'm 3 1/2 wks out and still can't sleep on my side - haven't even tried sleeping on my belly yet because it's so uncomfortable on my side. I'm a side sleeper and sleeping flat on my back hurts my lower back, so I'm still sleeping at an incline! I'm getting used to it now, and maybe that is what keeps me from having reflux issues? Not sure... but like Will said above, everyone is different. For me, I have a big gut, and with as much as it moves when I do anything, I think that's what keeps me from feeling healed 100% at this point. I can do anything, but I do get some dull aches and soreness when I do too much for too long, As far as shakes - those gave me gas quite a bit in the beginning. I took gas-x strips to help with that, it helped it settle down better. Nothing gave me gas like the Protein shakes. I've adapted to them now and don't need the gas-x anymore. Since shakes are so dense in protein even tho they are liquid, you should really take your time when drinking them - smaller sips and take more time to get through it. I don't have issues with the size of the bites/swallows I take with anything, but the shakes do still require some patience! Good luck!

I have PPO with bcbs IL and was approved in 2 days. Call and ask EVERYDAY! I knew before my doctors office did!

ricotta bake - basically lasagna w/o noodles. I also enjoyed mini-quiche - I started with just cheese in them, but now I make them with deli meat, cheese, avocado, whatever is soft that I like. I made sugar free pudding with Protein powder also. I also had lots of yogurt, cottage cheese and hummus. bananas mashed w Peanut Butter... use your imagination!

That's where I'm at. I've lost a lot more than 15 and no one has really noticed. A friend of mine said she did, but she's one of the few who know about the surgery so I don't know if she would have noticed without that knowledge. I'm 3 1/2 wks post op and I'm supposed to participate in a food day on Thursday at work to Celebrate some birthdays. I was all worked up about how I'd survive it because my coworkers don't know why I was off work when I had surgery. I just remembered that I have to go to traffic court that day, so I'm gonna miss the luncheon anyway. It's a relief! I don't think I'm ready to eat in front of people who don't know about my surgery yet. Not just yet.... I've never been so glad to have to go to traffic court!

I'm 3 1/2 wks post op, and I don't feel that way at all... what else is going on in your life? Were you depressed pre-op? Is it just depression about food? It might be helpful to be on a mild anti-depressant or see a therapist, or both.

I feel FANTASTIC. I haven't felt hungry, I have no nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.. I did get constipated a couple of times, but I have Colace now and I've been fine. I don't have any issues with gas or how I eat. I make sure I chew more than I did before, but the size of my bites and size of my sips feels pretty close to pre-op. I know some people have gas issues and have to sip/eat in much smaller portions, but since about day 3, I've been pretty close to normal. The only things that bug me is that I still get some soreness from the incisions if I try to do to much. It's not so bad that I can't keep doing what I'm doing, but it's there. Also, I'm a side sleeper and it's still not comfortable for me to roll to my side yet. I've been sleeping upright because laying flat on my back all night makes my back ache. Other than that, I'm feeling really good. I'm down 25lbs in 3 1/2 wks... maybe a lil more, haven't weight myself in a few days. I'm still amazed at lunch when a little 4 oz container of cottage cheese fills me up! I think this has really gone as good as can be expected, and I'm so grateful for it!

google "ketosis breath" there are lots of remedies it usually passes on its own after a few weeks.

Hi! I'm out in aurora - 3 1/2 wks post op. I had surgery at Rush University, where are you having surgery?

I just wanted to add - to anyone who may need to hear it - chewing food and spitting it back out is NOT a solution to an eating disorder. It IS an eating disorder. Anorexics and Bulimics do this allll the time, it's part of their illness, and I would not encourage anyone to ever try this tactic, even in your most desperate hour. I understand that we are all food addicts, to varying degrees. But please, don't start any new behaviors that are unhealthy in attempt to rid yourself of other unhealthy behaviors. We all need to get better - not find new ways to 'cheat'. I've realize from reading posts like this that been fortunate - VERY fortunate - that so far, nothing has tempted me like that. I'm 3 wks post op and right on track with my diet and feeling satisfied. I attribute that to being single and living alone, so I don't have to sit at the table and watch the family eat something delicious. I also attribute this to being proactive and finding ways to make these stages more delicious! Ricotta bake, mini quiches, Protein pudding... I have lots of delicious options available, so I'm not feeling deprived. That said, UPDATE US, Jeffie! Is all well?

I think it has to do with your body shape sometimes too. I have a high pain tolerance as well, but my gut is where a lot of my weight is hanging around, so it moves when I move. It's not "solid" if you know what I mean... so when I laid down I was okay, but I stood up and it felt like everything was pulling... anyway, the abdominal binder helps A LOT with that, and it does eventually go away. Overall, the pain wasn't THAT bad. I used meds regularly the first day home, then only a couple of days after that. I was on my hydrocodone for about 3 days total when I was home. I took it at night so I wouldn't wake up in pain.

Awesome!! You should post some pics, I'd love to see the transformation.