LilMissDiva Irene

You all are simply the best!! You're ALL MY INSPIRATIONS!!! Feelin' the love here!! :D

Wow!!! I'm just in heaven right now!!! :-D ____________________________________________ SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal LilMissDiva.....221.8...............214.8.........199.8.........15

Hello Weight Loss Friends! It has been asked what my daily routine looks like and what is helping me achieve some good success right now. There is a lot so I hope you are prepared for a long read. Also, please remember that everyone will lose weight at different rates, and those dreaded stalls just happen sometimes. Ugh!! I know, I hate them... LOL :-) My Eating: Carbohydrates: Veggies (Green), Complex Carbohydrates, Whole Grain anything (yes even bread), and anything high in fiber. Remember poo weighs a few pounds too!! I don't like ANY kind of extra weight hanging on and I go every single day! :-P And of course fruit. I don't spend a lot of time caring about high sugar fruits or whatever. I already know which ones are and which ones aren't. If say I'm having an orange, it is a higher sugar fruit. I eat half serving instead of a whole serving. However, strawberries I'll eat quite a few because I know it's not that high in sugar. My daily total of carbs is usually from 60g to 100g per day. Protein: I eat Seafood including many types of fish unless its a bottom feeder fish , and Poultry. I also eat eggs. Everything I eat I will prepare it with normally chicken or turkey if it is normally made with beef or pork. I do not eat beef or pork right now while I'm in my weight loss stage. I've never been much of a beef eater anyway so I don't really miss it, but I do miss my pork!! It's funny, the reason I started doing this is because I read a little weight loss plan that mentioned my metabolism is the type that beef and pork will slow down my weight loss. At first I didn't believe it, but since I've stopped eating these meats I've been dropping weight in masses. I won't stop now!! I also drink high quality medical grade protein supplements, especially right after my morning workout. It gets my day started right! In total I'm getting around 80g to 100g protein a day. Fats: I typically make lean meat choices, and choose anything that is lower in fats. That being said, I don't NOT eat fats entirely. I know my body needs this and really when you're doing a low(er) carb type diet, some fats are essential for weight loss. I really honestly have not tallied one time how much fat I'm getting, and right now since I'm losing so well I don't intend to. Now, if I go on a stall of 3 weeks long or more I will probably give it more thought. I normally choose the healthier fats too, if cooking its Extra Virgin Olive Oil and I do take an Omega 3-6-9 horse pill every day. I will indulge in some butter once in awhile. I do not eat margarines or fake butters... ever. Firstly they taste nothing like butter, and second they are filled with some ungodly ingredients. Yeah, I'm thinking a little butter will actually do less damage to my body than synthetic fats. A typical meal for me: I normally will eat around 2-3 oz of meat (protein), about the equivalent of 2 broccoli heads and what turns out to be about 3-4 bites of my carbs. That's pretty much the extent of what my lil tummy can hold right now. It does get bigger as time goes on. At first starting eating solids, I could barely get 1oz of meat and maybe a bite or two of my veggies. I never had room for carbs. Also, since I've put my healthy good carbs back on my plate I've been losing quite well again. I rarely drink while I'm eating. Once in awhile I do to wet my mouth usually but that's the extent of it. However, I will drink fluids all the way up until my mealtime. I have never found this makes me any hungrier any faster. In fact, I'm never even hungry!! Thanks to my sleeve. Meal Schedules: If I workout, I will have one of my protein shakes, and sometimes a half banana with it. For breakfast I normally have a Quaker High Fiber oatmeal packet. Wow!! This stuff really works good I don't typically eat again until lunch. I'll usually have 1-2 oz of protein, some kind of green veggie and a little bit of good carbs. Then again, do no eat until dinner, which is like that mentioned above in the A typical meal for me section. For a nightly snack, I'll sometimes have a serving of Peanuts. I've been loving these since my surgery! Other than that I might have some fruit or maybe a Fiber One bar if I have a chocolate craving. Those things are good! On average I intake about 800 calories on days I don't workout and anywhere from 1200-1400 calories per day on days I do workout. My supplements: I use Unjury or Isopure for my medical grade quality proteins. I also will use some Atkins RTD shakes or EAS Carb Advantage as a baseline for the drinks and add the powders for additional protein. I take Alive! Multi Vitamins and Minerals and one Iron Chew along with a Sublingual B-12 first thing in the morning. 2 hours later, I take 500mg of Calcium citrate, 3mg of Potassium and 5,000 IU of Dry Vitamin D. After lunch I will take 500 mg of Calcium Citrate and my Omega 3-6-9 horse pill. Before bed I take another 500mg of Calcium Citrate, Biotin 2,500mcg and if I don't think I've had enough fiber during the day I'll take 2 Fiber Choice tablets. My workouts: I have a pretty hefty workout schedule. My schedule was once put into question as if I don't really burn the amount of calories I say I do. Well I'm no liar I know that, so what else can it be? LOL Anyway, here is how it goes. I workout 5x per week, morning and night - and my days off are Mondays and Fridays. My early morning workout is ALWAYS done on an empty stomach. This is because the first 15-20 minutes of any workout is always going to be spent burning off the sugar in your blood if you eat anything before hand. This is always my most vigorous workout too! All fat burn baby!! So I start with a 15 minute warm up on my spinner machine, starting of resistance 2 and going up to 6. Immediately after I get on my treadmill for the next 45 Minutes. I am currently doing the C25K plan. I find it very easy going, especially since I have arthritis in both my knees. The last thing I want to do is blow them out before I even have a chance to actually run my 5K!! I have to work on not using my side rails during my running/walking. So far I can do the first 35 minutes before needing to use it. I'm getting better every day. Once my 45 minutes is up, I do a 2 minute cool down (total 47 minutes), then I will do a 10 minute stretch session. This is so important! Anyway I do this all 5 workout days... For my evening workouts: On Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday I'll do a 30 Minute session on my spinner and a 30 Minute session on my elliptical. On Sundays and Thursdays I'll do 30 minutes of calisthenics and about 45 Minutes of resistance band muscle toning. In Closing: So that's all there is to it Anyway I just have my mind really focused right now. I'd love to make my ultimate goal by Sept 15th of this year which will be my one year Sleeversary. My ultimate goal is 154 Lbs which will place me at the highest for a normal BMI. Today I am 216 Lbs and at 34.9 BMI... so just 10 BMI points to go! Not bad when I started with a 53.3 BMI, huh??? Good luck everyone! If you have questions, ask! I'm happy to answer any. xoxo Irene

I completely agree with this!!! Really when I feel I'm done I'll stop trying to lose weight. Of course with the sleeve that's not always as easy as it sounds, by hearing your progresses when you were losing weight. I would love to have the water test done someday too. I do like using the BMI charts as a means for celebration and a "kind of" weight related goal - however, I know that my size goals will mean much more than any BMI chart goal.

LOL Coops when I read that first part I thought I was having deja vu until you mentioned you copied and pasted that!!! I know the stalls are the worst. I always feel like I'm doing something wrong - but then I'll drop and drop big. Our bodies are ever crazy wonders... I wish I had advice, only that just keep doing what you are doing. If you feel like you can push yourself more on your workouts, try that. Maybe also try bumping up your Protein or calories for a few days too. Good luck! We have awhile to work on this, so who knows you will get some good drops in there for sure. No worries!!

Thank YOUUUU!!! I feel so fantastic - it's everything I've ever dreamed it could be AND MORE!!! Rock ON!!!

Taking everything my scale is giving me right now, because I know it can change at a moments notice... ____________________________________________ SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal LilMissDiva.....221.8...............216.2.........199.8..........16.4

HELLO!!! My scale has been SO kind to me lately - and so has my closet... This morning I finally got myself out of the MORBIDLY OBESE category and just into OBESE!! So, the cheese stands alone. WHOOOOHOOOOO!!! Ya know, looking back 5 months I just never dreamed it could really be this fantastic. I'm so very very happy and I LOVE MY SLEEVE!!! Also, I fit into my first pair of Size 12's a few days ago!!!!!! What an amazing feeling that was! I'm also not able to fit ANY of my 18's anymore as they are way too big. If I wanted to swim in something, I'd jump in the pool. Hey skinny Irene, I'm knockin at your door!!!!! :D :D Cheers to all us sleevers out there, living our dream!!

Wow great job so far Myrori!!!! You look so great!!

Hello and welcome! You have come to the right place for info and support regarding the VSG. That is really great you have a friend who is also having WLS, it will be nice for you two to discuss what's going on with each other and offer each other support. I think ANYONE can adjust to the changes in the lifestyle. I'm not going to lie, its not super easy, but when you start having so many wonderful things happen because of your weight loss you forget all the rough things about it. You will not look deformed. If anything with the sleeve, all the photos of other sleevers and even myself look like normal BUT THIN people. No one I've seen looks weird, strange or out of the ordinary. I'm sure you can get through your pre-op requirements. If you want something bad enough, I believe you can push through things that may seem difficult to do. Hang in there!! You will be SO glad you did!! It's hard to say how much you will lose, however those with higher BMI do tend to lose faster in the beginning than those who do not. However, everyone is different and just be happy for all weight lost, because those individual pounds will be lost FOREVER!! Good luck and best wishes on your new journey. Get ready, its gonna be a WILD RIDE!!!

The sleeve is defintely one of the BEST things I've ever done. I'd do it again over and over again! Awww thank you!!! I FEEL AWESOME!!! :D

Hey I don't know, not really a Gap person (more like Goodwill right now!! LOL) but dang extra small and size 6?? You go girl!!! You're so tiny!!!

Hey Anna, I'm SOOOO glad to see you're back!! Wow those are some awesome pics and you're soooo tiny! Look at you girlie!! Please don't leave again, WE and I need all you guys. CONGRATS TO YOU!!!!!

Hope that is a really wonderful NSV!! Congrats lady you are doing so great!!!

:bananahuge: WHOOT!!! That is Fab-U-Less!!!

My highest BMI ever was an amazing 53. It's hard for me to even think it. Right now I'm just breaking into 34.9 which will get me to be only obese and not the dreaded MORBIDLY obese. I would like to get down to a "normal" BMI which is 24.9 - and from there I really don't know. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it, I suppose.

LOL Shanny!! That is GREAT!! It's always the little things... keep up the good work~

WOWWWW!!! When I first started this thread, I had such a long journey ahead. I needed to lose a massive 78 Lbs to Onederland. Today I have 17.6!!!!!!!! I SOOOOOO CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!!!!!!!!! Are you still on the fence about this surgery? Jump off NOW and make all your dreams come true!!!!!!! YESSSS!!!!!!!

Wow my body is dropping that fat right now! I am .2 Lbs shy from losing 3 Lbs overnight!! Funny how it works huh? LOL I'll take it though, who knows once a stall hits how long it will last... Whooootttt!!!! ____________________________________________ SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal LilMissDiva.....221.8...............217.4...........199.8........17.6

Hello there Cindy!! The one bit of advice I can give you right now is to stay sane!! You're going to feel highs and lows and you being all over the map is VERY common, normal, to be expected... Have patience with yourself, your day will be here before you know it. Concentrate on what you need, and come visit here for support and information and it will help the time fly by. Just get prepared for what you will need during your hospital stay and sample many Protein drinks. Don't buy the big tubs, what you like now is going to be a far cry from what you will post op. Many of us experience funny tastebuds post op... not sure why but it's a big difference. Here is the hospital stay list, hope this helps!! http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/10081-the-official-what-you-will-need-for-your-surgery-thread/

No problem, I'm always happy to help! Well if this helps you, I WAS banded - and the sleeve WAY ROCKS!!! The sleeve runs circles around the band... I just don't have any confidence in the band at all. There just is way too much negative with the band, and even with folks who were successful with it. Keep in mind that IMPO the band should never be thought of as a permanent solution. Many chances are you will have to have it removed someday. If it helps you at all, check out the Band to Sleeve Revisions Subforum here. Maybe it will help you with making a decision. All the best to you and your journey. Hugs!!!

Hey Brielle, For me, keeping my body guessing keeps my body losing at really good rates. I will fluctuate from 800 calories on days that I do not workout, and from 1200 to 1400 calories on days that I do workout. Keep in mind I'm 5 months out. Eating that many calories is pretty difficult straight out of surgery. If I eat the same amount of calories constantly day in day out, my weight will stall because my metabolism gets accustomed to what I'm feeding it. Anyway, you'll just have to get a feel on what works best for your body. Some lose better with less calories, some lose better eating more calories. I fall toward the higher calorie content. A lot has to do with WHAT your eating as well. Good luck!!

Hi OilSooner, My previous banding experience was with an inexperienced surgeon. He was young, and I believe I was his 22nd band placement. I don't think he did it right to be honest. My whole experience was miserable and it failed big time. So, when I decided to get revised I went out of my way to choose a Dr. who was very experienced, especially with my revision circumstances. My personal opinion based on my experiences is that I preferred to have an experienced surgeon this time around. My sleeve is perfect and my choice turned out in my best interest. That being said, just because a Surgeon is new doesn't mean they are not worthy. Everyone starts somewhere, that including my Surgeon. Someone was his first patient... know what I mean? Just have 110% confidence in your choice and decision. Good luck!!

There is also a surgery where the surgeon folds the stomach into itself and sews it into place. It is very new and to my knowledge has only been being performed for the last 2 years or so. It's still in the trial stages... It's called the Gastric Plication, which doesn't sound like what you had done. Much success on your journey!!

Um insult? Noooo!!! Wow, that is an incredible, great, fantastic and hugely ego boosting COMPLIMENT!! Have you seriously considered doing this before? You're right it will take a huge chunk of your time. Some body builders do workout 5-6 hours per day... I say if you are truly interested, give it a shot. What's to lose? If you don't like it, just stop - but at least you won't be wondering "what if" ya know? Let us know!!!