300PoundsDown

I would suggest two things. One--a personal trainer. Someone who has certification and experience. You could discuss with them the areas you want to work on and see if they can design a program for you that would help. On the other hand, it could be that this is something you will either have to live with or get plastic surgery. I know a great many people decide to have plastic surgery once they have taken their body as far as they can take it with toning. Good luck!!

I remember having a lot of the same issues leading up to my surgery. You have the right idea about surgery. You look it as an addition to other things you're doing. That is the right mindset! It is not just a magic pill but it will make a huge difference in the battle. I'm sorry your friend had such a hard time pain wise. Honestly for me, it was not that big of a deal in the pain department. I think it does depend on your pain threshold and if you've had surgery before. The people I have talked with who have had surgery before feel in general this is not that painful. I mean of course there is pain but not like it could be. So don't worry too much about that. I know you will do great! www.300poundsdown.com

Yes! this happened to me . It really worried me and gave me a lot of anxiety. I hav this fatalist attitude sometimes that if something is wrong it will be that way forever. So on that day I remember thinking "Well that's it! I'll never pee again!!' But trust me....you will! As the poster above said your body is full of drugs, anesthesia etc. . It takes awhile for things to get running back to normal again. The best thing you can do is keep drinking fluids, relax and don't stress about it. It will happen when it happens. But I promise you it WILL be ok. This is totally normal and it has happened to lots of people after surgery. You're not alone. I did end up having a catheter put in and it wasn't a big deal either. So even if that happens don't worry too much about it . It just took my body a little longer to wake up! It was like my bladder needed a big cup of coffee!!

Thank you!!

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This is what it's all about. I love reading this. I believe this is what matters more than even looking good. Because this is where memories are made and where LIVING begins. I am so overjoyed for you!!!!

I had the sleeve end of June and I'm 7 months out. I've lost 130 lbs so far and it was the best decision I ever made. I totally agree with the others it's one of the safest surgeries for those at the high end and as others have said can be part one of a DS if someone chooses to keep going. For me, it has been a life saving miracle!!!

Awesome!!!!

It sounds like you are doing everything right. It is my understanding that our body is always trying to achieve homeostasis. A balance or leveled out and stable weight. It wants to just stay put! In order to break out of this, you have to shake things up. This is what I was told. You have to almost trick your body by doing something totally different. It could be different form of exercise that your body hasn't adjusted to. These are the things I was told and I've found that when my body is sitting on a number and I know I'm not doing anything wrong like eating too much etc. then I try to shock it out of that number. But you look great and I admire your dedication!

Yeah!! I'm so happy for you! you look totally gorgeous. Thank you so much for sharing these pictures with us. It is so inspiring!

My surgeon was Dr. Cavazos at Texas Center for Medical and Surgical Weight Loss. I believe my surgery was 14,000 for the whole thing including hospital stay etc. I have also heard good things about Dr.Nicholson who I think is in Dallas and his is around 12,000 or so for the VSG

It is so hard for our mind to catch up with our stomach. I have struggled with this as well especially at first. My brain thinks I can still eat a huge amount but my stomach gives it the smack down and I regret it. As time goes on your mind and brain will get on the same page!

Wow that is awesome!!! I laughed when I read the part of you ordering the 2 meatballs. One for now, one for later. How awesome is that?? When else in life could we ever do a thing like that. A dream come true! Well I'll admit I feel the need to blend in even though I shouldn't. One day hopefully I'll be like you and just order my 2 meatballs! If I'm out with other people, I order a regular meal but I eat my tiny portion and take the rest home. I get comments still and I've found that waiters and waitresses often ask me if something was wrong with the food. Twice I've had them refuse to let me pay for it b/c they assumed something had to be wrong with it for me not to eat it. I tried to tell them it was fine but they insisted. I can't complain about getting a free lunch but I probably should have just told them I had the surgery. Sometimes I don't feel like having to bring that up unless I'm in the mood! lol....When I go out to eat with my teenage daughter, we always split a meal. We eat virtually the same amount so it works out perfectly. But I admire your resilence with all that eating out. Great job!!!

This is awesome. Thank you so much for sharing all of this. You look terrific!! I am so happy for all the great changes in your life!!

You mention eating applesauce. As far as I know there is barely any Protein in that at all. If I were you, I would not eat or drink anything that was not a protein source in the beginning especially when you have such limited capacity. But I also wouldn't stress out if you can't hit the exact number they want. For me personally, I could not get anywhere close to what they wanted me to get protein wise if I ate too much actual food. So I lived off of protein shakes. Atkins shakes mosty. Caramel Cafe and chocolate. They have 15 grams of protein in each shake. If you attempted to drink 4 of them in one day that would be 60. In reality, I could not even do that but I tried. I was constantly sipping . Sipping Water and sipping shakes. Still at 7 months out, I drink a ton of shakes to meet my protein requirements. Do what works for you and don't worry too much. As time goes on you will have an easier time getting it in! Oh about the hair loss... it happens to some people . Do your best getting in your protein and taking your Vitamins to avoid it but at the end of the day you may find it happens anyway. I did. It really freaked me out initially. However it was like shedding. I always had hair on my clothes. I would find a few clumps in my bra lol that had fallen out during the day. I would take a shower and it would come out in my hands. Yes it bugged me a lot but to be honest nothing I did made a difference in stopping it . I will say that it stopped. I never lost my hair to the point that anyone but me noticed it. And it seemed to start around 4 months out and stop around 6 months out. But even if it does, it will grow back.!

My initial thought is no. I wouldn't imagine it was dehydration. It does sound like carb withdrawal. You are eating under 40 grams of carbs a day and when I started doing that I initially felt very sick. All the symptoms you described. But then you said you are 26 days out so I would not think you'd still be feeling that way from carb withdrawal at this point. I will say that anytime I cut out sugar and white flour and carbs drastically I get very sick like this. But if you've been doing the same thing for 26 days and this is a new symptom then that's probably not it. So in that case I would just say to call the doctor. I'm one to err on the side of caution. Also can you come back and let us know how you're doing? I am thinking of you!!

I LOVE THIS POST!!!!!!!!! I really really love it. Lately my 16 year old daughter has been wanting to go in Victoria's Secret to buy her bras etc. (This should probably concern me deeply as a Mom but denial is wonderful hahha)) Anyway, I had not been in a Victoria's Secret in years. And when I walked in one it smelled wonderful and it looked like a rainbow threw up everyhwere. It was so colorful. Really really pretty. Suddenly I remembered...oh yeah...i used to shop here...decades ago. I was thinking maybe one day...And now here you are posting this awesome awesome post. I just love it so much. And I love your friend for pulling you in and saying try it. Isn't it so weird how others see us as we do not see ourselves! They see us shrinking but we still see the big girl. Wow this makes me want to cry. Thank you so much for sharing it!!

Yeah!! Amen!! Thank you for posting this!!

Hi there, I occasionally do this by accident or without thinking. Whenever I do, it causes my food to get stuck in my throat . Or at least that is the feeling . Kind of like a traffic jam is going on . However it is extremely uncomfortable. For me it is the similar sensation to having something not going down and then you fear you might choke. It always does go down but only after I have a panic attack! For the reason alone, I avoid doing it. Now as to the technical reason. It is my understanding that whatever you drink liquifies the food making it easier to eat a lot more of it. I've also read that it ccan cause the food to travel through a lot faster leaving you less satisfied and then naturally eating more.

I have a similar problem with my vitamins making me nauseous. I really hate it!! I take Bariatric Advantage chewable vitamins and a B12 sublingual. I can pretty much guarantee I will feel awful when I take them for about 20 minutes. Then I get over it. I am not sure why this happens even after taking them with food. So gee that was helpful, right? I look forward to hearing from others on this one. I am going to try switching to a different one . maybe that will help!

YEAH!!! This is so awesome. I am soooo happy for you!! I can't even tell you how great this is to read. I know one day I will be there too. It is so inspirational for everyone to share these things b/c it gives us all hope. Yippee!!!! time for you to celebrate!

Thanks for this reminder that God in control!! I appreciate it and really love your saying of 'spiritual vitamin'. what a great way to see it! www.300poundsdown.com

What she said!! Yes this is normal as far as my experience. With the liquid diet it is inevitable. Stay close to the bathroom! Congratulations also on your surgery and all the great things coming your way!!

Welcome!! Congratulations on getting your sleeve., I had to pay for mine too but it was worth every penny. Hang in there on the liquid diet. You'll get more variety soon!

I can totally relate! I'm a single mom too. There is no doubt that this is an emotional journey. For me, food has been my best friend, comforter and there for me whenever I needed a shoulder to cry on . Being a single mom, it has been like a partner to me. Honestly, giving up food was frightening. Really scary. I had a lot of panic attack level anxiety. I was so afraid I would not be able to cope without it. I can promise you that even with all of that it's been worth it. More than worth it . . This is just the beginning of what will be an incredibly awesome life changing experience for you! If you can, you might want to find a good therapist who specializes in working with bariatric patients b/c that way you have someone to work with you as you go through all those changes. this has helped me a lot. I look forward to hearing more about your journey!