LilMissDiva Irene

The number one ingredient to losing weight with the sleeve: Diligence. The second: Forgiveness (of the self). Every day you wake up is a new opportunity to get it right. Never give up! Perfection isn't going to happen unless you're Super Human. That... I never was.

Thanks everyone!!! It is true, GOD IS SO GOOD!!! I won't know for a very long time, but that's a good thing. It gives me a lot of time to plan and to show that I'm very serious about it.

Actually yes, my job DOES have tuition reimbursement. I am blessed, truly! I have a fabulous employer.

So... it's almost with a heavy heart that I make this announcement. BUT I don't want to get ahead of myself, so I'll suppress those feelings for awhile. Let me cut to the chase here. Ever since I've been working for my current employer and I've discovered a certain position, I've had my keen eye on it. Always hoping, praying that when the day it comes available, I would stand half a chance of it. It turns out that day has come. I've found out through the grapevine that as of September the person who holds the position will be retiring. Anyhow, here's how the Lord really works in mysterious ways... I was curious to find out if this rumor was true. I didn't want to be rude about it so I went to ask someone if they knew of this, someone I talk to often. He responded "Yes!! She's retiring in September!!" Don't get it twisted, that's just his demeanor and not out of the ordinary for him to speak this way. So, I was immediately excited! Then he says, "She works for me, I'm her boss". I immediately felt a little embarrassed... I really had no idea!! So, I guess I had no other choice so I just blurted out that I would definitely be interested in that position if / when she does retire. He just looked at me and nodded. Mmmhmmmm he says... now before I go on from here, know this... this man is a true character. I would never mind having him as my Supervisor. He's so crass and funny, very down to Earth. After this, he just smirked and said, well they really want someone with a background in Education. I immediately felt so let down!! I really didn't realize they wanted someone with that many credentials as I certainly don't have that. However I didn't let that stop me. I knew her classification and I know we are the same exact classification. It would be a simple lateral transfer, I wouldn't even have to apply for this job. So I told him, hey! I can take the position and GET those credentials at the same time. I can go back to school and get an BA in ECE. Okay so there! What's four years worth of education for a position I'd retire with? I still will work another 20 (maybe more) years... I can do that!! This is my absolute dream job!! I would be traveling all over the State of California speaking to K-12 Teachers and educating THEM on materials regarding Forestry and Trees. I would provide them with fun facts and materials they would then pass on to their students. O...M...G... you know, I've always been called to do something like this. I've wanted to be a teacher since I was a child. It just never came to fruition. I think this might be where my path has lead to all these years. Teaching Teachers about the beauty of Gods Creations. Of course I can't say it exactly like that, I work for the Government. That's okay though. Back to the conversation with my co-worker: He seemed pleased that I really spoke up for myself. He seemed interested and impressed. I did tell him I was very interested and I asked him exactly what she does, and he explained it all to me. He also said she does a lot of telecommuting, also know as working from home. She travels a lot and makes a lot of contacts. She also sets her own schedule, pretty much is free to come and go as she pleases so long as the program is always up and running efficiently. I can so do this!! He suggested I speak with the nice lady who runs the program, I said I would. She came in later that day and he told her to come talk to me about it... WOW!!! That's awesome right there! He was thinking about me in regards to filling her position. He did say she wanted to hand pick her replacement (of course she will never truly be replaced...) and she came right over to talk to me. Then later while I went out for a break and came back to a stack of materials on the program.. What does this mean? I don't know, I won't count my chickens just yet, but I surely won't back down until the bitter end!! So, why is this my best NSV to date? Because if it weren't for my sleeve and my diligence in losing all my excess weight, and keeping it off I NEVER would have had it in me to go after this job. I never would have put myself out there to the extent I did with such courage and confidence to go get what I wanted. I don't know if I'll get the job or not, but I sure want it and I'd say right now it's looking good!! Be blessed everyone. Dreams do come true.

Good! You do not have to tell them any more than they need to know... which is your surgeon is giving you X amount of time for recovery for surgery. Period. Bring documentation with you to prove you know what you're talking about though. Good luck to you!

3-4 Days per week for working out is a great start. However... if you notice you're not sweating or breathing heavy during your cardio sessions then it's definitely time to bump it up. Longer, stronger, more often... on the flipside, if you are hurting too much or can't handle it then take it down a notch. Don't let this discourage you! Getting fit takes time and lots of patience. Rule #1 for all workouts though is to stay hydrated! Rule #2 is take breaks in between if you have to. Good things can't be rushed. Rule #3 is to go at a pace where your pulse is raised and you're sweating, but not in pain. I workout 6x per week and it seems to be around 2+ hours per day. I love it though! I do not advise this for anyone who is just starting out. I've been working out my whole life. I can also do far more intense workouts now that I'm not so heavy too. It's awesome!!

Thank you for your support!! My journey has been rough! Many years of ups and downs but one thing remains constant, and that is my diligence. I will never never never NEVER quit!!! Always remember that your HEART is your engine here, and as long as you've got a lot of that, you're going to succeed. Start slow, I did, you don't want to get burnt out on workouts. Build up to that moment where P90X is tough, but doable. Listen to your body. If you hurt too much, take it down a notch. If you are working out and not breathing heavy or sweating then you definitely can push it to the next level. (Longer, stronger) and yes get clearance first! YOU!!! KNOW!!! YOU CAN!!! DO!!! IT!!!

Woot Rootman!! I have white coat syndrome too, so I get that. LOL Cheers on another year of excellent health and many many more to come!!

Today is day 3... Truth #1: I didn't think I could get up and do it today, but due to some great advice last night, I got my big butt up and powered through it!! So, I'm saying support is such an important component to anything you're doing!!! Truth #2: Again, this $h!zzz IS TOUGH!!! It had me sweating today. When I say sweating, I mean literally through 3 layers of workout tops!! One of them is super thick too. Heck, even my hands were sweating! And here I thought that was reserved for nervousness. Truth #3: I can already feel a huge difference in my muscle tone. Here I am in this photo workin it out! Heyyy!! LOL This is going to give me EXACTLY what I've been trying to find, serious tone to complete my package I worked my butt off for almost 2 years to get. Truth #4: If I'm going to get through this, I'm going to really have to buckle down and eat healthy 99% of the time. I want to feel excellent during my workouts. Truth #5: I will be getting up tomorrow to get my Day 4 on. Woot!!! This is actually a very fun, yet incredibly intense workout, but it's impossible to get bored. You don't even have time to breath much less think about anything besides getting the task done!!

Why would anyone (myself included) try to fix a permanent problem with a temporary fix. The lap band will need to be removed someday. It's not a forever, permanent fixture. I had my lap band for almost 3 years, and right now is twice as long as I've had my sleeve, yet the band didn't do half for me what my sleeve helped me accomplish. The ultimate decision is yours, you just need to help educate your Wife on the Sleeve more and help her to understand the pros and cons of either. One surgery is far safer than 2, no matter how you slice it.

Awww Candace you look amazing and lovely!!! Has it been a year already? LOL time sure flies. Congrats on having such a successful first year, and trust me the sleeve will keep on working which is why I love mine so much. Hugs n Blessings!!

Right on CONGRATS!!! Welcome to the losers bench! Don't skimp on the breathing treatments for that cough. It's really important. All the best and heal quickly!

Oh dang!! :-( Hope that clears up soon, which it should. However, CONGRATS on the 40 Lbs lost, that's great!!

Firstly congrats on your good losses!! Now, as luck would have it not everyone is blessed straight out of surgery to be free from physical hunger. Question, are you on any type of acid reducers or PPI's? What can happen is our stomachs will still produce the same amount of acid it always did, which with only 15% of our stomach left this is far too much. It can mimic physical hunger pains. If you're not, try something to help with the acid - or seek help from your physician. Next, it can also be that you won't start feeling satiety or fullness until you get on more solid food. This also happens to a lot of sleevers. Hang in there!!! Hugs, you got a lot of support here - whether it be just to vent or seek advice.

Its probably the sausage and or hot dogs. They are very high in fat, and some young sleeves are very intolerant with that. Try liquids for a day and shy away from the fat. See if that helps?

Agreed with PDX... I'm dealing with something quite similar right now and I'm nearly 19 Months out. Things like this usually are resolved by sticking to very soft foods, and if that still doesn't work, I'll do all liquids for a few days. It usually gets better after that. Your stomach might be rebelling to something you're eating, and being earlier out it can be all sorts of foods. Again, the usual suspects are anything high in lactose, high in fat or even high in Sugar in some sleevers. Yes, some of us are very sensitive to high doses of sugar.

Oh thank you! So, this is the scientific truth to why men lose faster yes... But venting is still necessary!! Anyhoo, to the OP - I so feel you on this! My Hubby isn't even sleeved and he can lose faster than me. He will just say to me one day (which was even recently may I add!) Oh... I need to lose a few... and the next week he can get back to eating anything he wants because he's already looking thin. Bah.

^^^ Well said... I don't think having a little fun is necessarily a bad thing... but all be warned if you are less than 6 months out you can fart and lose weight. It gets increasingly more difficult at a certain point and one will need to ACTUALLY work to lose the rest of the weight. If that's not true then you are in the minority and consider yourself lucky! That said and speaking for me here, I have needed to actually deal with my food issues. I didn't need to do this right away, but today I really do have to. There's absolutely NO WAY I will keep this weight off if I don't watch myself every single day. The sleeve is not a miracle, finding it in myself to control what I'm eating as well as how much IS. Also note as time goes on, one will discover that the bad food has no limit. It will then become Man Vs. Food once again. Will one tiny piece of chocolate really satisfy then? I've learned for me the answer is usually no. I have to STILL fight these demons, just like I did pre-surgery. I'm only saying all of this because for me it's the truth. I've also learned in speaking with others who are out of surgery for more than 6 months, it's their truths as well. Good luck to everyone! This journey will never end, as far as I'm concerned.

Aww :-( Get well soon!! Hopefully this will be it for a very long time!

Oh Em Gee. Daily Truth #1: Insanity is exactly that... Insane. Truth #2: I had to FF through the last 5 minutes because I simply couldn't hang. That said, I do NOT feel bad about that as I seen several of his sidekicks falling on the floor dying. Truth #3: I am glad I didn't start this any sooner, because it's seriously for already very fit people. Truth #4: I FEEL F'N INCREDIBLE RIGHT NOW!!! Truth #5: I am officially giving up running. Walking is enough. Have a fantastic and blessed day WL World!!!

Thanks Joseph! Don't worry about your English, I understood perfectly. It was a lot of hard work and patience, but I got here - and so will you. Blessings!!

TOM is Time of the Month.. or your period.

Sure, I used to mix my powders with Lactaid milk for a long time as my tummy was intolerant. It tasted exactly like as if I made it with milk. And yes to the fruit. The only fruits to be wary of for the first few weeks are ones with tiny seeds, or ones that are very fibrous. In fact, I'd wait for at least 3 weeks before adding fruit, but once you're over your initial healing they should be fine.

As I am at goal and have been here for about 10 months I'd like to push the point that there are far more reasons *I* was overweight than I thought. Quantity? Absolutely. However, WHAT I ate also had a lot to do with me being obese too. Perhaps I didn't think so before, but the sad fact is, it does. I cannot eat a lot, but based on WHAT I'm eating it certainly can fluctuate on the scale on a daily basis. When I'm eating super clean, I can drop weight quick. When I'm not (perhaps a Taco Bell Taco for example) I can see that pound pick right back up where it left off. I'd hate for anyone to get any misconceptions here, as the sad fact is junk food can and absolutely will slow down your weight loss, and perhaps even stall someone more than they'd like. It will always be my suggestion to eat as clean and healthy as one can during weight loss mode. Protein, protein, protein, and lots of Water. A little exercise never hurts either. Good luck to all, and with that - no one is here anyone else's food police! I'm just sharing my personal experiences, anyone can either accept it or deny it. Tis' up to anyone individually.

Cheers, prayers and get well wishes!! Check in when you're feeling up to it. Walk, sip, rest and repeat!!