LilMissDiva Irene

[quote name=Lisa ' timestamp='1317502127' post='214154] My surgeon asked me what my goal weight was and I told her I refuse to have one!!! I told her that I just wanted to be healthy and to feel comfortable in my body. I have spent too many years of my life allowing the number on the scale to define how I felt about myself. Now it's more about doing the things I want to do...and being around for my kids and my partner!!! But if I had to use numbers then I would definitely use body fat %, not BMI and not weight. ^ ^ ^ This post is exactly right for me. As a matter of fact, I want to get down to 29% Body Fat (I'm about 34% right now). I DO NOT want to lose one more inch on top! I lost so much weight up there I had to have plastic surgery just to feel more proportionate. I am not actively trying to lose anymore weight what so ever. Here's the thing... I'm 5'7 and weigh 179 Lbs. I believe my BMI scale puts me at around 28.5. Are you kidding me? So I still need to lose another 30 Lbs? Just to be in the high end of the BMI scale even??? Um, no - not now not ever. I did not sign up to look like a bag of bones!! I love my curves and have zero desire to lose them (more than I already have) I am able to get size 4's on for goodness sake!!! I'm having liposuction to remove the rest of the fat I have on my body in the areas of my choice. Once I do that, I'll be able to fit those Size 4's perfectly (they are always tight in the thighs). I'm good from here. So... picking a "weight" goal is great - but IMO go up instead of picking a goal that is far below. Keep in mind too that majority of us will end up with some kind of residual fat (we lose weight, but never lose fat cells - they simply shrink). We will also end up with excess skin. All this weighs quite a bit. Good luck!!!

This is an excellent post. Thank you for reminding all of us that it is OKAY to lose a little bit slower... though in my personal opinion you really aren't losing that much slow at all. Stay the course and you will get to goal. There is no way you won't!

Wear a sports bra (not the minimizer type or super support- just normal support) with the cutlet inside, then size yourself to find out what bra size you are after. :-) Maidenform also makes great lifting bras, I'm not kidding. I had the wrinkly boobs too before I got mine fixed. They will pump them up at least 2 sizes and you can't even tell.

It doesn't hurt to do spot toning! I do it too, but I think a lot of it has to do with luck. I do a lot of arm exercises and my arms came out really good. I also do spot workouts on my thighs but no luck there... So, keep doing what you're doing, it just may help some or enough that you will be good to go without the extra surgery. *hugs*

Great news!! Its totally normal to get excited and nervous... I know I was. It has certainly all been worth it though!

Hi Christina and :welcome: !! Good luck on your pre op diet! Those are so tough, but remember, and weight you lose now are Lbs you won't have to battle after surgery. That is fabulous regarding your father, I bet you are so proud of his success! Congrats to you BOTH for doing what needed to be done to battle the obesity. I wish all of us that CAN do it, WOULD do it! Please do always chime in, ask questions and keep us updated on how you're progressing. Let us know when you get a date set in stone!!

Hello Felicia! To be honest this is really the first time I've ever heard of anyone getting an air bubble trapped in her sleeve. I've been around a long time too - and in the lap band community as well. I'm definitely NOT saying it can't happen, all I'm saying is it doesn't appear to be very common. I use a straw every single day, in fact was given use of them during my hospital stay after my sleeve surgery. I never once had an issue of any kind with them. That said, this seems to be a big debate for all types of WLS. Always follow your surgeons advice when doing anything, of course. The very best way to eat, and especially close after surgery is to take minute bites or sips. You won't know how your new sleeve will react the first time you try anything. In fact, you can sometimes try something one day and your sleeve won't like it the next. Every single meal is a new challenge. Also on the flip side, if your sleeve doesn't agree with something the first time, give it another week and try it again. Chances are good you will be fine the next time around. It is an excellent idea to start learning how to eat like a sleever and practice. Never hurts... One last thing, as with any major surgery you might want to expect some pain to some degree. You will likely feel tired and it will be a bit difficult to sip your fluids, and it will also be tough to transition to solid foods. Just take your time and make the most of it. The first three months will be the time where you will lose the most weight, so the struggling is a great trade off! All the best to you!!!

Hello tee, welcome to VST!! I am a past revision from over a year ago now. I am so blessed to have this second chance!!! You will be as well, I'm very sure of that. To answer your questions, yes - it is very possible you may need to have two surgeries. It is for your best interest and safest to do so if needed. I didn't need to do two seperate surgeries, and I'm very glad for that. However, if i did, I certainly would do it. I don't believe they can see scar tissue during a barium swallow, though I'm not exactly sure. I would imagine that there could be some tell tale signs of it but to actually see it I believe they would need to do a scope, or to simply find it upon surgery. Good luck to you!!! Keep us updated on how you're doing.

I totally agree with this! That is why I've chosen to start the lipo route. I know I don't want to lose much more anywhere else as I feel excessively thin in some areas, so on the ones I'd like to lose more, I'm having them removed. I really don't feel the need to lose more weight for myself. Good luck to all! I wish there was a perfect way to lose weight! It's especially difficult the more we have to lose.

You are too sweet!!!

Awww that is so sweet of your daughters! The support will be priceless, this is a tough journey. You will truly appreciate everyone who is there for you. Just my personal opinion but Vitamin Shoppe has WAY more varieties than GNC (though I'm not sure if they have the Atkins shakes, I get mine from Wally World). Talk to the clerks in the store and don't be shy to explain your situation. I did and the clerk didn't bat a lash. She helped me right away and gave lots of good suggestions. I go there for all of my nutritional needs, except I do get some vitamins/minerals from GNC when they're having a sale and I'm needing something. Funny thing though, all the GNC's I've ever gone to never had the Calcium CITRATE. I get huge tubs of them from Vitamin Shoppe... but they are quite large and couldn't take them until about 3 months out. I had to take the lozenges from Bariatric Advantage, and yuck... those get old quick and I still have a ton of them left!!! Vitamin Shoppe seems to have the Buy one Get one half off deals on their brand name vitamins/etc. quite often, and that's when I really stock up.

Wow!!! You're doing sooo fantastic!!! You will definitely be in ONEderland very very soon! *hugs*

It's almost here!!! I know I've been watching ya and waiting... whoohooo!! For me, on the clear liquid phase I drank Isopure. I bought them in the bottles and watered them down, the flavor can be over powering post surgery. My favorite flavors are the grape and orange. Not a big fan of the punch or pineapple. I also had some in the powder form and it was pretty gross, so I don't personally recommend that. For me the best tasting RTD Protein drinks are the Atkins varieties. They are thick and satisfying for me and geesh I even drink them when I have a sweet tooth. It really hits the spot. WalMart sells the 4 packs for about 5 bucks in my area. If you look around for a good deal you might find them for less. If you'd like something thinner, I also like the EAS Carb Advantage drinks too. I get the cases from Sams Club, they have chocolate and vanilla. I'm sure you're going to get tons of suggestions. Good luck! It's sometimes hard to find something you'll like. Do your very best to get your protein in during your healing phase. It will help alleviate the fatigue you might get.

How exciting - CONGRATS!!!

Ohh ok! Actually I've been wanting to do that for a long time. That will be fun. I'm thinking around next summer.

THANKS EVERYONE!!! :wub: New update... and big UUGGGHHHH!!! I just bought some new bras this weekend - size 36F (DDD). They fitted the other day, however this morning I wake up and am happy to wear a new one for the first time... and I had to hook it on the last hook already! Wow... I guess I'm back down into the 34's. I admit I did notice I looked smaller in the mirror to me too yesterday, but geesh - needing a smaller size overnight? That's a bit much right there. Oh well, these are gonna have to last awhile. It's still supports really well, and for now that's the most important thing. So, good news out of all of this, my swelling is completely gone now!

Meg, I'm a workout fa-REAK!! I've got a personal challenge going on right now. I'm doing 10 Miles per day (combined, walking, jogging, spinner, elliptical) and 6 days per week. Maybe you can do a self challenge?

Welcome Ladies!!! Hang in there! The last 30 Lbs can be tough but really are doable. I believe in all of us. I'm positive you all will be there much sooner rather than later.

You look great cludgie!! WOWWWW!!! Skinny!!

Hi Krissy, I guess I'm not sure how to answer your poll. Both are risky IMO, being that RnY is far more complicated than the VS. Then again, an operation being performed by someone who is not that experienced in it is rather risky as well. I wouldn't give you my opinion on either. I always go for experience in anything regarding my health and my life. That said, all good surgeons start somewhere. If I were you I'd ask lots of questions and ask him if you could talk to any of his VS patients and see how they are faring. If he has performed a great deal of RnY, then likely he's a good surgeon. Do a background check on him and find out. This surgery does take a little bit of technique. All sleeves are not created equal. Wishing you much success as you sort this out. Remember too, you're the one who has to live with the surgery, so you should ultimately go for what you really want, whatever that may be.

That is really an amazing accomplishment!! I'm so happy for you!!

THANKS LADIES!!! @Cass - It's one of the best things I've done for myself! This last few years it's been all about me... and since then I've just been so happy!!! Wishing you much success! @Ruby - Oh yes my hubby loves em!! Heehee!! I did say to myself that if I stayed at least a C I'd just live with em. Sadly, mine did not... I was starting to get into the B's and well, I was just not used to it. I didn't feel good and I felt lopsided. I was so small on top and still felt huge on bottom. I do feel more proportionate now, and looking forward to making myself even more proportionate!! GOOD LUCK TO BOTH OF YOU!

Thank you sooo much!!! Well when if/when you do, you'll be so glad you did!!!

LOL thanks! These tatas set us back some, but dangit I feel like they were more than worth it. I'd never given the corset any thought but now Im intrigued how that would look! I didn't get the whole cheesecake comment though... :omg_smile:

I've actually done nothing for mine. I now have 10 incisions strewn about my belly - I guess it just doesn't bother me all that much. For my BA, my surgeon is having me take Vitamin E pills every day to help with the incision healing and to prevent some kind of issues. That coupled with some Neosporin ointment after showering. My incisions on that are really healing quite well. Better than any incisions I've ever had! I wish I'd known about it before... Good luck to ya!