LilMissDiva Irene

The trick with the unjury unflavored is instead of putting it in your food (yuck!!!), find a shake you really love to drink. Such as the Atkins drinks or whatever else powder you might use. Add one packet (or one half for now since you can't consume much). It will add 20g Protein to whatever you are already getting in the RTD or powder mix. Especially since you say you only finish half at a time. Anyway doing that is what I call my Super Power Protein shakes... LOL it always makes me feel great after. With all the sweetners and chocolatey or whatever flavor you can't really sense the unflavored. It's really just meant to boost up whatever with extra protein. It works really well this way. You might just want to be sipping on protein shakes at least one more time per day (preferrably 2 - but you also need to focus on water). The beginning is VERY tough! Just do the best you can. You're probably going to be feeling a little weak until you can tolerate more intake, and/or getting to solids and more natural Proteins.

HAHAAA!! So bright I gotta wear shades now! Thanks everyone!! Yes I'm feeling much MUCH better!! Thanks to my awesome sleeve sisters and brothers. You make the ups and the downs so worth it. Muy muy mucho!!

Fantastic!!!! Congratulations you really have done outstanding!!! You are VERY teeny tiny!

Hi there USMC Wife, What you are feeling right now is VERY common. Don't feel bad at all about your feelings. This was a HUGE operation... I'll tell you what, I think I had a little bit of that "WTH did I do to myself" feelings a lot for the first few days. It sucked!! I didn't know what was wrong with me because all the posts here were about how awesome everyone felt after surgery... like they could run a marathon or something... My experience wasn't as pleasant to say the least. I was in pain, the drain was miserable and when they pulled it out it was the grossest feeling ever, I had to have a catheter installed while awake, I vomited dried blood... I was a wreck!!! The first whole six weeks I felt like I was in a fog, tired - didn't want to do anything. I was quite possibly the laziest person on Earth during those weeks. Here's the difference though, that person and who I am today are two COMPLETELY different individuals. I am full of energy, I'm losing weight, I'm fitting sizes I haven't seen since being a teenager, I weigh lighter than I have in 20 years, I'm MUCH more outgoing than ever now, and I'm on top of the world!! I no way no longer second guess my decision to do this. It WAS DEFINITELY the best thing I have ever done for myself. You just have to give it some time. I know it's feeling like you will feel this way forever. I felt that way too! But you won't. Soon you will be writing posts like this to other new sleevers who are feeling like they made a epic fail. You didn't though... just trust in the program.

Erin WOWWW!!! What an amazing turn around from the last post!!! I am so relieved to hear you got the help you needed (so far). The Dr. who treated you sounds like an Angel... bless him!!! I pray you will continue to mend. Stay hydrated and keep up with your nutrients (yes I know you know... lol) I'm just worried about you. I'm just SOOO happy for you right now!!! Thank you so much for checking in.

Some lose more with less and some lose less with more - and some lose more with more and some lose less with less. Everyone just has to find what works for each of us... as we are individuals - just like everyone else.

This is excellent news Steven. We all make mistakes, I know I've made a good issue of my own. I'm not here to judge. I only want to state that if anyone else read this thread, please contact your Surgeon before trying to move on to the next stage before going off what was recommended on your plan. Most of the time your Nutritionist or Surgeon will allow this and give proper directions on how to go about it. As Steven mentioned, his Surgeon made certain suggestions, such as only 2 Tbsp at a time... Otherwise, I'm glad everything turned out ok. We have our tummies to protect!! Pushing the limits can really cause serious physical problems to the likes of being hospitalized for months, in serious pain and can lead to the "d" word. Please all, take this very seriously.

Hello all, Please keep to the subject matter at hand. Personal conversations, please take them to Personal Messages (PM). Thank you.

All that sounds sooo delicious Sarah!!! You have inspired me to make me some Greek yogurt w/Fiber One... lol I love Granola though, I haven't had any in a long time. I need to go buy some.

Thanks everyone for the nice comments I just really wanted to show everyone, mostly myself that even when the brain is having a down moment the reality is something quite different. *I* was even in shock by seeing that picture. Especially with the one with my EX-Goal pants laying on top of my biggest size ever. Wow... it's really hard to imagine I used to have to wear those pants. It is also a reminder to myself on where I never want to be again too. I started to make my way back there, then I finally decided to get my sleeve. THANK GOODNESS FOR MY SLEEVE AND I THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO MANAGE TO GET ONE!!! My life has changed so much. Today I am the woman I always wanted to be. Fit, healthy, happy, able to RUN A 5K... soon to be much much more, and my dream of being a skinny Bride is in the works too now. My Husband and I have often discussed renewing our vows, but I believe I am truly ready to make a commitment for it. I think by the time #20 rolls around, which will be December 9, 2015 I will be ready. Actually it would have to be Saturday 12/12/15, my Birthday. I doubt anyone can make a Wednesday Wedding. LOL My Sister in Law (my brothers Wife) has already proclaimed herself my Maid of Honor and will work with me on all the decisions. She did excellent on her own Wedding, so I don't doubt her abilities at all. So I have a bit over 3 years to get to goal and to undergo all my post goal plastic surgeries... I'M READY!!! PS, Sarah - YOU BETCHA!! That would SOOO Rock!!! :Banane25:

Hey Shanny, doesn't sound like much of a bad day at all! Outstanding on the inches lost!!! Regarding the longer shirts/plus size - I totally get you on that. I have recently begun to notice a little quirk I've been doing. I will constantly pull my tops down too, and I couldn't understand why. I guess you summed it all up for me, so thanks! I always say, you learn something new everyday. Here's the strangest thing tho, I purposely go out of my way to NOT buy tops that cover too much of my booty up. Like I wanna show it off or something...

A healthy rate of weight loss is 1-2 Lbs per week - but keep in mind this is an AVERAGE. This does not mean a STEADY weight loss. I tend to more lose a bunch for 2 weeks straight then I'll bounce around for the next few weeks. Am I ok with this? Most of the time, but not always... Seriously though, 12 Lbs for the first 2 weeks post op is good, I think. I lost about that and we are nearly the same stats beginning and how much we'd like to lose. At least in my opinion, I was good with it!! Hang in there, time will pass and pounds will melt away.

Haaa Cludgie!!! How dare he??? At least yours didn't try though, since I passed up my hubby he has decided all of a sudden he wants to drop a few pounds!!! He hasn't weighed in in awhile (he's got nerves of steel... lol) but I bet once he does he'll have me chasing him once again!!! I know for a fact though because his stomach is already nearly gone. *sheesh*

Health O Meter is the worst!! I've had several different types and they are notorious for misreadings! I agree you will weight one thing, next thing you step right back on and it says sometimes 10 Lbs different. That's just insane. Since then I bought a Taylor scale. It hasn't let me down once and I measured it against my Dr.s scale - the balance beam type and it's always spot on or very close, which is fine. Due to paranoia from my HoM scale at first I would check it several times and it never lets up on the last reading. It will stay exactly the same. Sometimes I still double check it just to make sure it's not going on the fritz and it hasn't yet. I've had this scale for at least a year and a half now. I think it was under 30 bucks and I bought it at Target. I've heard excellent reviews from the Weight Watchers scale and Detecto scales as well. Good luck!!!

Yes I did! It didn't last too long though, only a week but in comparison to others this was short lived. Most 3rd week stalls last 2-3 weeks. However now that I'm closer to goal I'm noticing I'm hitting more stalls and they are lasting longer. Good idea on hiding the scale!

Hi first of all, congrats on your new surgery!!! Lots of folks go through turbulent times in the very beginning. Though I don't hear about as violent nausea as you had, I am thankful to know you were in the hospital at the time. Also, it sounds like as Rev suggested, you're having some acid issues. You might want to ask your surgeon about this. You can find lots of choices over the counter to help with this. The acid will mask itself into hunger. I believe once this is corrected your hunger will subside for the most part. But first, please consult your Dr. first!! One last thing, I'm 8 months out and my sleeve still gurgles. It was doing it yesterday while talking to some co-workers. I just had to point it out because I knew they could hear it... it was actually pretty funny. :-D

Hey Stacy, sounds like the classic 3 weeks stall to me. Most of us will lose really well for the first and second week combined. Majority of the weight lost is Water however. From the 3rd week on, our bodies start adjusting to what we are feeding it (in this case, what we aren't). It also starts to hold on to everything we put in, including water. It makes perfect sense that we stall out for a few weeks at this time. You will probably just have to wait it out. You seem to be doing really well from what I've read. I'd only add maybe an extra 16 oz water bottle to your day to help start things flushing out again. Also, are you doing any type of physical activity? You're still fresh out of surgery so I wouldn't suggest anything demanding at all, but a light walking routine daily might help. Perhaps a few sessions of 15 minutes per day (you might tire easily this early out, I did!!!). Walking and now running are my #1 workouts because when I'm doing this and pushing myself, I'm losing! You also have to keep positive as you can! Look at the glass half full... and I know everyone's heard this a million times. Weight loss is such a roller coaster ride, but just as we're taking care of our outside, we have to take care of the inside too. How much have you lost? Are you down any sizes yet? Try to find little gems to keep you on the bright side... I know personally it's not always easy. Wishing you the very best! Hang in there. Your stall will pass!!!

Reminder: Monthly Sleevers have support group sections. Thank you!

Last night for some reason I was feeling a bit down... I've said this many times to many folks - when this happens dig deep in your tool box and pull something out that will *fix* that mood. These are a few pics of me I took last night. This was my original size pants in the black (of course... lol) size 28W... I used to fit these at my heaviest, 330+ Lbs. They were even tight!! I refused to cross over into the 30's. My tops were a 3X, even sometimes a 4X (not as much) but still... They are matched up against my "goal" jeans, size 8M. How did I not realize how large I really was? I've never been able to really recognize the true me, I still don't now. I might never, though I hope to someday. Anyway I have redirected my new goal to a size 4M with those same style/cut jeans. After that I'm done... finish... even if I weigh 180 Lbs. In a few years when I have the excess skin removed, whatever doesn't fix itself in that time I'm sure that will be a few more pounds off anyway. This is for all those who are pre-op, on the fence, not sure, just searching, or even feeling low due to stalling or whatever reason... it can and will happen for you! I have endured many stalls in my journey. I have gone weeks with little or no losses. My weight is coming of slow... but you know what (I've lost 75 Lbs in 8 months)? Something about me, I NEVER GIVE UP AND I NEVER GIVE IN!!! I am very close to goal and I FEEL LIKE I'M THERE ALREADY!!! Just a little fine tuning away. Lotsa hugs and smiles, Irene. Before/The Beginning: Currently:

:boink:

Hey Gloucester!! I'm very glad to hear you're feeling better today!! Congratulations on your new sleeved stomach and for having your band removed. Those will be the first 3 Lbs of many more quickly to pass. Hugs!!!!!!!!

Same as Shanny here, as a bigger girl I still looked younger but folks would guess about -5 to -7 years younger. Now folks are thinking I'm in my mid Twenties and I'm 37 (and a half... lol) It's just luck of the draw really, no way of knowing how each individual will turn up until you get there.

LOL Hmm... I used to say, "I'm going on a diet starting (Monday, New Year's Day, whatever day)... I'm really gonna do it this time" Now, I really DID it this time!!!

Yayyyyy Sarah!!!!! You just keep rocking that sleeve!!! :bathbaby:

For me it was definitely the nausea... which sux because I hate feeling like that and I especially hate vomiting. The pain for me wasn't too bad. I was able to get away with just pain pills here and there, non narcotic.