LilMissDiva Irene

@Pam, you rock too sistah! This whole house rocks!!! @DJackson, thank you - I'm glad I found this place!! Everyone here is amazing and super supportive!! @Tiffy, thank you too amazing woman! You're blazing the trails here and are so helpful to those of us just starting out!! (((hugs)))

Congratulations lady!!! You look happy and very lovely!!

Hugs Mini! That plain stinks right there! I honestly have no clue why that's happening to you. Are you stressing over something? Stress can do crazy stuff to us. I honestly think you need to not weigh for at least a week. Try a new workout that includes some kind of meditation. Have you tried Yoga? I do a little of this on my Wii, but when I get to goal that is going to be my new workout of choice, going to real Yoga classes. Other than that, what Tiff mentioned is probably the case. When you're at goal you tend to fluctuate up and down depending on the week. It will be a good idea to not weigh every day anymore. It just adds more stress. :'( Anyway I wouldn't know a darn thing about that... I'm nowhere NEAR goal! I hope this helps!! Don't be upset - it's probably nothing.

Hey SS'ers!! Hang in there y'all!! It was a very slow week for me - but I'm just going to have to kick it up a notch. No big thing!! M2, that sounded like you had a great time!!!

When I hit goal, I'm going to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming... Then, I'll go on a super huge shopping spree!!! I'm literally going to shop till I drop. I'm already saving $$$ in my mad money account, and collecting lots of gift cards, and they will wait right along with me. Good luck with the Latino man. They are very special... I know that for a fact. Haaa!!!

I felt the gas pains mostly in my upper back. That lasted from day 2 through about a weeks time. It really didn't last too long. I didn't really feel "bloated" from what I can remember for more than a few days. Walking as much as you can helps with most of that, so anytime you can - get up and move about. It will help a lot. I didn't really take any type of heavy medication. It was more like a sublingual ibuprofen. That seemed to help a good deal. Then, when I got home I took Rapid Blast Tylenol and that seemed to do the trick. I did pretty much need the pain medications up to about week 2 constantly, because I can be a big baby when I'm in pain or sore... LOL

CONGRATULATIONS LILA!! Wow, you're already up and bouncing around - posting!! That is fabulous, I'm so glad to hear everything went well. Get some rest lady, take care of yourself and be sure to sip sip sip!!! Post here when you're tired of laying in bed. Hugs!!! WELCOME TO THE LOSERS BENCH!!

Heya Sleeve!! You are absolutely right! And you know, I did feel some guilt for enjoying that cake. Not to mention my stomach felt sick to my stomach... LOL, though that's another story! Still, I had to sit with myself, take a time out and realize that hey -- if I'm in this for the rest of my life, I've got to lighten up! I decided then and there, no guilt - just take it good and bad. The important thing is that I not allow that to derail me and flush me down that black hole. I just have to wake up the next day, own it and get right. Anyway, so far so good. It's been 2 days since I've been doing my get back on track regimen and It's going great! Thanks lady!! I needed that.

Hmmm... I think then maybe your problem is that you're allowing yourself to eat with too much time. Maybe you should set a timer or clock watch while you're eating. Say, if whatever you haven't finished in 30 minutes gets tossed. I do understand that is a really hard habit to break. We get to thinking about wasting food or the millions of kids starving in China. But, you have to overcome that. I know I sure can eat a lot more if I didn't stop at my pre-measured tiny portions. I do follow the 30 minute rule too. I learned this while being banded so I really don't even think about it anymore, but should be a standard for anyone with WLS. Also, set mini goals for yourself. Sometimes its easier to see the forest for the trees, know what I mean? I do about 20-25 Lbs goals and watching my little shark swim quickly accross the Water really helps to keep me motivated. Also once I get into Onederland I'll shorten up those goals into 10-15 Lbs. All the best to you, and I *know* you can pull it together and start up the weight loss again.

Anytime Sister!! We'll get through this all together! *blush*

Get Him to the Greek is a good one Step Brothers The Hangover Those types are my favorites. I'm a Comedy type person, and those are really good.

Hi Nicki, Well, firstly if you discover how to lose 20 Lbs in 2 weeks, please definitely share it here!! I just want to lose 10... LOL Don't worry too much though, seriously. So, you're a slow loser... nothing wrong with that. You lost 40 LBS WOW!!! That's really great!! Only thing I can suggest to you is perhaps, start over. Go super low carbs for a few days and flush that Fluid out. You will lose fast that way. It will also curb that awful head hunger and urge to snack all the time. Hang in there, and definitely remain positive and appreciative to the pounds you have lost. The weight loss will return once you do those things. Include the workouts to add to the losses!! Good luck!

(((((mini))))) Don't worry at all... it is only Water retention. Perhaps you ate something with more sodium than you realized. Flush it out, you will be back to normal for sure. You are an incredible inspiration here!! I know I always look to see your progress and how you're doing. Well, your scale is wearing the pants this week. Show him who's boss though!! Put him away for a week, flush flush flush - go low carbs for a few days and *bam* You will be wearing the pants again!! Hang in there lady! We still have 15 days to hit goal.

I think you might want to get your Surgeon's advice on this one. The only thing that concerns me is that bananas do have tiny little seeds in it. If you can hold off on this until you hit your mushies stage, you might be better off. It does sound delicious though!!

chilo, I have to tell you lady - that of many here I really do appreciate your always positive outlook! You always stay the course and though (to some - not me!!) you might be considered a slow loser... but you're losing, darn-it!! Your ticker still moves and still gets a bit closer all the time. I have much to gain from you, so thank you sooo much! coops, my dear I think you are rockin and rollin! Don't feel down at all, you are doing fabulously. There are going to be some weeks that our scale is gonna be a stubborn guy, but I have a lot of experience with stubborn guys -- so bring it on!! From my Dear old Dad to my Hubby, and now the scale. NBD!! There are so many hidden treasure in our journey, we only need to be keen to notice! I get way more jazzed about the little things... though I hate considering them "little" because to me they are monumental. For instance, last night I actually ran (well, jogged anyway) on my treadmill for 20 minutes!! No way could I do that even last month! My knees are shot from all the damage and wear and tear from being morbidly obese for so long, but here I am taking that treadmill for a ride! S4M, yes stalls are the pitts!! But, IMO I only consider a true stall as staying at the same weight for 3 weeks or more. I have yet to do that since being sleeved. I know many here have, but only thing I can suggest is perhaps not weighing so much. Our bodies are going to go through it. I don't doubt I may have a bit of a stall like that sometime down the road. It may even be right now - but I do know that as long as I'm being honest with myself and doing all the right things, it really shouldn't happen. I have always lost like this in the past. I'm on a cycle and some times of the month I won't lose, some weeks will have big drops and some will be but a pound or two. That's fine too!! If one is enduring a true stall, go back and try on your largest pants... wow!! I'm sure that's what you'll be saying after... or perhaps list all the things you CAN do now versus what you couldn't pre-surgery. We have SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE!!!

Hi lara, welcome to the site!! I am a revision from band to sleeve. Best thing I've ever done for myself!! I had trouble with the whole insurance thing, and since I had gained back all of the weight I'd lost post band I didn't want to waste anymore time fighting it. I did self pay with Dr. Aceves on Sept. 15th. Again, BEST THING EVER! I didn't have much issue - my recovery wasn't that bad. I think I struggled more with fatigue than anything else. I think I still deal with that to an extent, but it's nothing as bad as it was for the first month. However, the results of the sleeve are pretty darn amazing. It has been for me everything that the band was promised, but never was. Good luck with your revision! Let us know how you're doing.

It is really hard to keep up with the Water, that's no lie. I had a great deal of difficulty with this for the first month. I think I still do, to this very day - and I'm 3 months out now. During the phase you are in I actually had to come up with new habits to remember to drink. Like, I'm sure there is a split second in between the calls - so when the new call is ringing, take a quick sip. That is how I do it here at work. I'm actually better now about getting all and more of my fluids in at work than anywhere else. Now I just have certain water bottles, that I must finish at certain times. Every morning while I'm getting ready for work, I drink up 20oz of water. It's like a part of my wardrobe. I really am not into flavored drinks, but I did find water extremely unappealing for the first few weeks after surgery. I really liked propel, it had a very light, sweet taste for me and was easier to get it down. HTH.

Awww I somehow missed this post, so sorry about that! You look so awesome!!! Congratulations on the great boots - and new figure!! Also congrats on making the halfway mark! You are doing a super job lady!!!!

((((Sarah)))) I've battled eating disorders in the past too. Even bingeing is an eating disorder, so I've pretty much been on both sides of the spectrum. Vomiting is very dangerous for the sleeve, so I beg you to seek help ASAP. We are all here for you regardless, so please let us know how it goes when you tell her. Yes, getting professional help for eating disorders is a great idea too. I'm sure everything will turn out fine. You know there is a problem, that is the first step to recovery.

Hey great job 2b!! Congrats!! Chilo - it can be done, good luck!!! Myself, I'm going to work extremely hard to make my goal. I know I can do it if I'm super duper good - and that's exactly what the plan is. Super low carbs and doing my treadmill/elliptical mostly will knock it out. I can do this!!! Or I'll at least give it 100% and get close!! ;o)

a.walker - I used to get in the self doubt mode too many times for me to hash over. It did nothing for me except swallow me up in a deep dark hole. Once I crawled my way back out, I was already back up so much it just felt impossible to lose it again. I do not want to go there anymore!! I'm so thankful for my sleeve that it's like a little safety net. So when I do go through a week of not being in weight loss mode, I'm not stuck with having to lose 10 Lbs all over again. I can now just pick back up where I left off. It's fabulous!!! Thanks for the kind words!! Eureka, I'm glad that I was able to reach out. I really wrote that because I've been there SO MANY TIMES!! This time is different, and only because I choose for it to be so. Hugs. -----------------------------------

Hi determined, thanks for sharing your story with us!! It's always interesting to know where we have all been in our individual lives. You however, have come a very long way and I am super proud of you!! Keep up the good work and enjoy your successes so far!

Welcome Mona! I have no doubt at all that you will make your goal! The sleeve has worked some kind of miracle for me. I just keep losing and losing... I'm absolutely jazzed about it!!! All the best in the coming month!! Ask lots of questions and read read read! You will learn a great deal here.

That is a GREAT compliment!!! You may not think that is a lot, but whatever the case it must be working great for you -- CONGRATS!!!

Hello Friends! Today I am exactly 3 months out from surgery. I thought I’d write a little blurb (or maybe more… lol) to update how I’m doing. The numbers are, I am down 35 Lbs since surgery and I’m down 44 since starting my pre-operative diet. I am averaging 2.92 Lbs per week right now. Not nearly as fast as most here, but guess what? I am absolutely happy where I am today, and I haven’t felt this thin and energetic in many years!! I just want to get into a few things at this time, because it is something that means a great deal to me. That is the inner peace I feel for myself, and I want everyone to feel this way about themselves as well. This past week has been a big struggle for me. My husband and I celebrated our 15th Wedding Anniversary on the 9th and my 37th Birthday was on the 12th. I had some confections during this time and as a result (along with it being TOM) I did not lose any weight this whole week. However, this is nothing different that what I’ve experienced every TOM since having surgery. I find that I’m much weaker to giving in to temptations during this particular week, and of course I wasn’t able to again. How do I feel about this? Well, considering I have been excellent all day so far today, I still feel really good about myself. I CANNOT nor will I beat myself up over this. What I will do though, is do what I can. That being, I will do 5 days of super low carb to fight that demon and work myself back to weight loss form. The ONLY thing beating myself up over it will do is put me down a spiral of self hatred, and once again on the path to being the old FAT me. I never want to be there again, EVER!!! I refuse to allow myself to dredge over living my life! So I had some cake on my birthday and enjoyed some sweet treats during my favorite week. So the heck what? So I didn’t lose a single ounce last week… oh well. I’ll tell you WHY I will not let that make me feel like a failure. Simply because the very week before, I lost 6 POUNDS!!! Because, the few months before this I lost almost 30 Lbs too!! I will now and ALWAYS Celebrate every single pound that I lose. I don’t care how long it takes me, so long as I’m doing it. I am not in a race with anyone here, and as far as I know we are all jogging along side one another and patting each other on the back for all our accomplishments. Time will pass and the weight will drop. So long as I’m doing the right thing majority of the time. Especially recognizing when I am allowing too many bad foods in my diet and correcting it, the weight WILL COME OFF!! Besides, I do find that I lose much more quickly when I break up the monotony. If I eat the same exact amount of calories day in and day out, my body WILL start burning those calories accordingly. I’m absolutely positive that I will have an amazing drop this week. My body has no clue what’s coming. *wink* Anyway, call me “Pollyanna” or whatever you want. But, you will NEVER hear me say I “ONLY” lost this much or I STILL need to lose that much. My glass is ever half full, and one day it will runneth over (though I consider it to already!!). You will never hear me ask someone what I’m doing wrong, because as long as the scale is going down, I’m NOT doing a darn thing wrong. I won’t let my self worth be associated to what my scale says (or rather what it doesn’t say, IMO). I started at 330 Lbs for crying out loud!! Granted this was many years ago, but so what? I was STILL 330 Lbs, Size 28W and 3X tops, and I did lose every single one of those pounds. I’m also down to size 16M and Size L tops. Some pounds and sizes were gained and lost over and over again, but now – thanks to my sleeve and my new found love for myself, it will be down FOREVER!!! Onward and forward I go. I will get to goal… someday. When? I have not a clue, but now that I know WHAT I know, it will surely be sooner rather than later. I do enjoy a challenge however, so I will definitely still work with them. But… whether I make them or not is no matter. What DOES matter is that I continue to celebrate EVERY SINGLE POUND LOST as a pure success. I will never discount any of them or treat them poorly because they didn’t fall away as quickly as I thought would or should – or because someone else lost theirs faster than I did. That is THEIR journey, not mine.