LilMissDiva Irene

Hi yecats.. I like ya!! So I'll answer your quest for information. Here's what you do: Get more fluids in (water!!! 64 oz minimum) Up your protein Throw your scale away, either that or only weigh in 1-2x per week (less if it drives you that nuts) That's it. I can't see anything else that might be affecting your scale. The 3rd week stall will hit 99% of us... you just have to keep doing all the right things and keep it moving. STAY POSITIVE!!!

I would love to see more activity in this particular forum! Buddies and mentors are exactly what each of us need to get through this tough journey. This is the best thought-of forum here, and more of us need to become familiar with its benefits, be it PRE or POST op. Believe you me this journey IS TOUGH!! I still struggle, every single day... even at a year and a half post op. But for *myself* my greatest reward in all of this is my being able to assist and guide the countless new oppers that visit our site every month. Anyone looking for that one question answered, is all great and nice... but some folks out there may need a little more. That is perfectly okay, and THAT friends is what this little corner of our website is geared toward. ANYONE needing a little one on one. I'm opening this new thread to invite this prospect to all of you - some to become a surgery angel and others in search of one. What is a "Surgery Angel"? This person is going to be kind of like your tour guide to all things Vertical Sleeve Surgery. Someone you can turn to for any of your pre op or post op needs. Someone you can count on 100% when it seems no one is quite answering your individual question, or perhaps someone is a little too shy to post questions out in the open and would rather keep them more personal. If someone is interested in opening themselves to being such a one on one mentor to someone else, be prepared to give your personal information such as email addresses and perhaps your cell number so they may text you. (Be sure to have your texts set properly on your phone plan!! LOL) If you live close enough, perhaps you can meet in person for any number of reasons, even to check on the person while they are recovering in the hospital. This Surgery Angel will also have the awesome responsibility of notifying the rest of the community here how the patient is doing in the hospital, as sometimes its hard for them to whip on the internet that same day... trust me - I know!! My Surgery Angel did an excellent job checking up on me, then relaying the message. If someone is interested in finding another who will be their Surgery Angel, here are a few things to consider: Surgeon, City of Surgery, Likeness in age, sex, amount of weight to lose (height and starting weight matches), body shape or type, even ethnicity might be a good match for some. Good luck to everyone pre and post op. Finding someone to really rely upon and that is open to guide you in any way on a one to one level is a true blessing. Xoxo

Thank you again friends, taking the time out to wish me well. I truly appreciate it! I'm trying my best to stick to my normal routine and I've even gotten a really good workout in this morning. My how it helps with the mood lifting. It's going to take a lot of time I know - it does help a lot knowing there's so many out there who care. This truly is the best support website I've ever come across!!!

I did! Just don't over do it at all, your body will want to eat more which it's hard enough as it is. Perhaps 30 minutes a few times per week. Going into surgery as healthy as possible is always the better choice. Hugs lady!! Your day is close!!

What an incredibly detailed few days, thanks for sharing! It brough back a lot of memories... LOL Dr. Aceves, Dr. Campos, Yolanda and Nina are truly Mexico's finest. Never regretted getting my sleeve nor having it done in Mexico by Dr. Aceves for one second!!

Yep Wishing you the best in the upcoming week! You will do fantastic.

Thank you dear friends, I appreciate all your kind words, well wishes and condolences. Xoxo

My Mother in Law has been extremely ill for the last month, and finally yesterday the LORD has called her home at around 3 am. It has been a very very stressful time for me and my husband and his family. She always called me her favorite Daughter in Law.. (LOL) and I am truly grieving at this time. Forgive me but I just haven't felt much like posting lately. Not only that I was told I have a heart murmur (confirmed as I'd been told this before) just last week and my PCP is running tests on me to find out how serious this might be. So, I do have that additional stress upon me too. I have fought for so long to get my health in check, and becoming very serious when I was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure at 31 years old. Today I am 38... and going through a failed first WLS it took all my mental strength to believe the Sleeve could ever help me. It did... and today I am forever grateful. I do feel very sad however, because there is a possibility that I may have damaged my body in a way that I desperately tried to avoid. I ask for your prayers right now in hopes that it is nothing more than just a simple heart murmur. I may not be on much for awhile, I'm going through a lot. I may check in and answer a few posts, but I find that more than a few and I simply feel I want to move on to something else. In the mean time I'm doing my best to maintain my mental fortitude and continue my workouts and eating healthy. Eating healthy has not been easy lately. I have to keep in my mind though that if my heart does need special care, the best thing I can do is continue with treating it with TLC. Hugs and Blessings to all of you. Keep fighting to change your life!! YOU ARE WORTH IT!!! Absolutely.

Getting back to your normal routine will be a little bit strange. At least it was for me. I took 3 weeks off which I was so thankful for. It at least got me through my liquids phase. It was hard enough getting them in as best I could being home all day, much less the stress of being at work with timelines and demands. Know this though, I came through just fine. I did have to go easy on myself too and recognize my limitations. If you didn't tell anyone about your surgery just tell them you aren't feeling all that well and do the best you can. You just had major surgery, so be very careful! But I do know all of us had to get back to work eventually, and I don't think anyone's posted they couldn't survive. You will be just fine.

" *I* AM WORTH IT!!! " Until you believe this with all your heart, there will be no victory.

Jswilbur, if it's RTD you might want to switch to powder as majority of sleevers do end up lactose intolerant post op. I've found the Lactaid Milk tastes exactly like milk ( I love milk!!! ) and mixing that with protein powders helped a lot. Good luck to you! So to answer your question, yes it is likely the protein drink you are using.

Sounds like a fantastic outfit!! I agree, I think some pics are in order here. Wishing you the very best on your interview today, but so far it sounds like you're going to rock it!! Check in and let us know how it goes. *hugs*

Here is a link where you will find tons: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/51-powder-room-ladies-gone-wild/ You can also do a search for some key words and I'm sure you will come back with a lot of results.

That is a completely and totally fabulous NSV!!!! Congrats!!

Get to feeling better soon! Also, you don't have to rush it if you're not ready. Take your time, I did. I moved very slowly through the stages and usually only did one meal a day on the next stage and kept the rest Protein shakes and mushies. *hugs*

I would say PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE start making jeans for women with real figures!! Tighter waist, bigger booty room and a little more slack in the thigh area... tysm. What is your worst pet peeve?

Wow, that was like looking at an old photo of me...

Aww Kathy! I'm sorry you had to go through that. Keep plugging along with your liquids as best you can. It's a must do situation. Big hugs!!!!

Adding a few new entries: DON'T expect the scale to post a loss every single day. As a matter of fact, don't expect it to move that much even weekly! Just keep doing all the right things and the scale will move in the right direction when it needs to. DO expect to see fluctuations on the scale, both down AND up. DON'T lose your head over it either. This isn't a miracle cure and the weight isn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks. You have to keep pushing with healthy eating, some type of workout and getting plenty of Fluid. DON'T let the scale define your journey when there are so many pieces to that puzzle!!!

I'd like to mention that I too had a slew of aches and pains all over my body when I was larger. They are all gone now... so I just wanted to put it out there that YES it can be due to being overweight/obese. I think it is helpful to try to reconcile with what our health professionals are trying to tell us rather than constantly pushing them away simply because they are telling us something we don't want to hear. For me, it has turned out to all be denial. I'm NOT saying it CAN'T be something else... rather it IS a possibility it is, and it serves no purpose to deny it simply because it's not what we wanted to hear.

Ok... here I'll hold the window up for you... No crying. This is going to be a long process. I do hope you didn't expect to reach goal by now or even in a few months. Be happy that you have your sleeve and you are on your way to healthier you. Many would be glad to switch spots with you right now! Take a moment to smell the roses on your way to "goal", but be careful not to get stuck by the thorns!!

We were the same way too... always saying this # is enough... then you start collecting 2 at a time. LOL We have 6 now, and we surely are maxed out! But, as I say that we have 4 additional outdoor kitties that have adopted us as well. So I guess that's 10 now.

What an awesome gift!!! And I'm not talkin about your Nae-Nae either. Though, your new sleeve is pretty cool itself. Take care of yourself though it sounds like you're doing fantastic!! Congrats and welcome to the losers bench!!!

Sounds like a little rough start, but thankfully no leaks !!! Welcome to the losers bench!

Yes, it's very easy to feel full so soon after surgery. Perhaps make your portions smaller. Our stomach can get a little fickle sometimes. One day I can eat more than others... and it be the same food. I just stop eating when I'm done, but in the early stages it's better to measure before eating. You will eventually get used to portion sizes and volume. HTH