BZButterfly79

Amazing!!!! But you know what I noticed first? The expression on your face, TOTALLY changed, there is not way to measure that, you look fabulous and HAPPY!

Yes I have a HUGE regret, not doing it sooner!

OMG that's too funny, I personally smell like Victoria's Secret but I know plenty of non-sleevers who smell funky so I can't say the sleeve has anything to do with it, I smell a lot better than when I was on Atkins ketosing myself to death! LOL I think I smell better than ever...less sugar less you know what-just keeping it real!

Stalls have become a part of my life much like protein and calcium citrate-LOL

DisneyAddict, I am very passionate about this topic, why you ask, well I was a closet eater I never allowed my children or for that matter my husband to see what I ate when they went to sleep or when they were not around. Also I never allowed them to see the quantities either if you looked into my pantry or fridge you'd see nuts, whole grains, sugar free this and that, quinoa, veggies...etc. An example yesterday my children came off the trampolin and a big bowl of edaname beans was waiting for them they ate it like some eat skittles. When I was pregnant with my first son I swore I would never ever pass this nasty addiction to them so I did what addicts manage to do, I ate crap while going to work at work after work, late at night. If all we have in the fridge is salad I have taught them we must eat what we have sort of like in third world countries, you eat what is available. I love my children in every way other than with food this is part of the twisted psychology I learned from as a child, where whenever I cried or threw a fit someone stuffed my face. I talk about everything while at the table, "we eat tomatoes because they help fight cancer, "we eat brocolli because of the iron and vitamins", "we eat carrots because it keeps our eyes and skin healthy" stuff like that, if there is one thing in my life I take pride in is that my three boys are the picture of health, meanwhile I have doctors in the family who feed their kids pizza and hot dogs everyday...I do think the earlier the better, once they develop a REAL like or a REAL dislike for something God only knows how tough that can be. If this has not been a habit in your home and life you have to take charge and slowly begin to introduce things at the table, talk about why those things are important in the body get them interested. My kids are not heavy bread eaters, I took a piece of french bread once and put it into a glass of water and showed them how it swells inside and hardly has anything useful. They eat whole grain breads nothing organic cause #1 I think the point is getting them to like the taste first. Everything I eat post- op I offer them a bite, as parents it is our DUTY to show them the high road to health, I am sure as they watch you get healthy they will also pick up a few things. Also, potato chips, cookies, ice cream, these are things that they do get when we go out on the weekend not every weekend but we treat it as the once in a blue moon items so that there is no thinking that it's like eggs and milk gotta have it all the time. But the interesting thing about my kids is they look at the labels and ask each other and myself "mom is this full of fat"? "Is this too much sugar?" I am just sharing with you how my house runs everybody is different and parenting has no manuals but we do the best we can.

I forgot to share about the lending money thing, ok...Houston...we got a problem, if it were my husband I'd start charging for sex then we'd see who would have to pay who back, that's ridiculous even if he was working at Taco Bell that's just annoying I would have a fit, put a piggy bank next to the nightstand;)

Why do we women complicate everything, we spend so much time and energy thinking about the what ifs the this and the that, we don't ever get to have fun this way. Your husband is an MD and usually these guys are not trained to get too excited over things, it's the nature of the business they are in, rational, calm, collected. It sounds to me like you are wanting support from your family, the support you need must come from you not outside sources as you can see they are causing you to stress. As for your husband wanting sex you should listen to that instead of getting mad have fun, be intimate this is how man connect...maybe afterwards he'll come to the moon with you if you ask. I am sure he gets plenty of attention at work so make sure you are giving it to him at home-just a little pearl of wisdom. You have a great husband, stop activating so much cortisol, life is wonderful after the sleeve whether you have support or no support. Oh and let your sister be angry that's HER problem to deal with not YOURS.See you over the rainbow!

Tingling has a neurologic patho so definitely see MD and request B12 panel.

I originally got the Wiii Zumba and decided to trade it for the xbox kinetic Zumba, well...all I can say is that the reviews on Amazon were right, the sensor does not really follow you, like I'll walk off and go get a glass of water and the thing is still saying: "Looking hot! You got it!" LOL seriously if i didn't love the latin beats I would go crazy, cause even if I don't follow her moves I still do my own and I am still burning calories. Dance Central is by far the best when it comes to accuracy and making you wanna reach those levels, BUT nothing beats my Zumba at the Y! Live is best!

Really interesting read on how your day goes, also it appears that you have a good grasp on your schedule, vitamins, workout. I believe that with most things in life being organized pays and you have an organized system. Thanks for sharing and also I really admire your AM and PM workouts...that's not something everyone can get their brains to agree to, awesome to see how far you've come!

Interestingly enough barbecue is one thing I used to love and have to be careful with, no matter how well I chew...things tend to become stationary in my throat and for some reason it hurts, this has happened with chicken and beef, shrimp seems to be the most enjoyable for me. Even an ahi tuna fillet is kind of rough going down. Another one that likes to swell and get stuck is anything with flour, crackers, bread etc so needless to say I don't go there I think they pump that stuff with hormones or something horrible feeling.

I totally believe and agree with this, I've read about becoming becoming depressed when they don't run also the lady who replied saying she feels like she is "floating" pretty amazing.

Like the others have suggested, baby spoon, small bowl or plate, and when it goes in treat it like gum, sometimes I grab something to read so that I can be busy while chewing that way I am not starring at the walls.

Honestly, I would let hubby hold the fork and do what's right for you and the entire family after all the sooner you do this the sooner your family gets to enjoy the you that you deserve. Life will always get in the way there are always commitments, sick children, last minute problems there is always something, more importantly I think you should ask yourself how much longer are you willing to spend being overweight and unhealthy? Some things in life just can't wait-like happiness. Good Luck;)

Brielle, stalls are present for all of us, there is nothing you are doing wrong, I stalled at week 3 for 2 weeks straight, matter of fact I came on here share the despair, with this surgery the only way is down but your body is adjusting be kind and patient to it, a lot of it is also mental, seriously, don't beat yourself up I wanna hear from you a year down the road I bet you are going to feel better than you ever did, being young you have lots of advantages too so something to smile about, again we have all stalled and for myself I know there are stalls ahead it's part of the journey. Don't get caught up also in losing fast, too much too fast is not good either.

What has your Doc or NUT recommended, mine pretty much said eat what you can tolerate, so at five weeks I was on soft foods and meats in the food processor. Soups are great too.

Hi, so far I have had a couple of boiled eggs, a truck load of supplements and my lemonade crystal light. L-Watercress salad with either chicken or shrimp shake in between lunch and dinner D-Probably black Beans with salad *I might have a desert somewhere around 7pm probably a SF Creme Brulle

My labs were perfect too, I don't know yet where they are as I stated before but I'd like to hear an MD explain why the surgery is the root cause of Vitamin D deficiency, it's produced when the sun hits our skin, has to be absorbed in through skin and has to be activated by liver and kidneys, as far I can tell I still have my liver and kidneys so what is the rationale? Dietary deficiency does not seem to be a good cause because even a normal stomach cannot really get in all the requirements without the sunlight.

This morning, as I was reading different forum posts I was going: "That's me! Haha, that's so me!" Basically I was relating to what other post-opers were saying in regards to changes after surgery whatever they may be. I could not think of ten but I came up with seven, these are the things I have noticed the most so far in this journey, I would love to hear yours whatever they may be and how many! Here are BZ's *7*: 1)I have never been colder in my entire life, I used to despise socks, now I cannot live without them because my feet are always cold(yes I have the heater on and a blanket at night). One night I had to check my temp to see if I was still alive! 2)My period has regulated from what I can tell so far which is a God sent! 3)I am not 100% not hungry, my hunger now if I don't eat for a long time is different it kind of has a voice that says:"Hey can you put something in there I need something to work with". That something is usually <3oz! That's opposed to the "let's attack the fridge and pantry" voice. 4)Sugar tastes completely different, I had a sip of a sprite yesterday and it tasted like medicine! It tasted worse than my grape Isopure...and that's hard to beat. 5)I have loved eggs all my life but the smell of them after they are cooked post-op gets me a little nauseous. 6)I have energy spurts and crashes, like I am either looking like I am on something or ready for a nap...this comes and goes throughout the day. 7)I really cannot stand my calcium citrate wafers I feel like I am eating classroom chalk like the lady who was that strange addictions show. Welllllll...after reading so many more things popped up! 8) Without all the fat serving as road block sex is even more amazing! 9)According to my husband I used to snore(I still don't believe it-lol) but according to him I don't anymore! 10)Like Diva I used to not like peanuts and I love them now specialty the salted kind, great to carry in your purse in case of emergencies. 11)I am not hiding in pictures anymore in fact I am trying to be the focal point!!!!LOL 12)The sleeve has calmed me in that I think my diet is so healthy now that my neurotransmitters are firing at the right rate!

Here is how I feel about the depression, Vitamin, and minerals deal post-op. Due to the PCOS & weight gain my body felt like a living hell, I had no periods then all of a sudden 3 months later I would bleed to the point I felt anemic, I had to stay home several times not even medical pads could hold, then there was the SUPER elevated testosterone levels and you want to talk about anxiety...the sex drive of a horse...breakouts...unsatiable appetite-THAT was depressing. If you were to ask a general family practice physician what obese patients have in common i can assure you they will point to labs, one thing being low B12 and D, they don't know why but EVEN before any procedure there is already that issue lurking the waters. On to the subject of depression, if you have a history of depression I don't think the surgery will mask it or take it away, if you are new to depression post-op you have to look at the root cause, I think blaming the surgery is a cop-out, if I thought of all the negative things being overweight brought into my life that would be depression enough to make me want to go into a cave but it's a mind set that's how you see happy fat people and nobody can understand it. Sure my hormones are changing, I know that through many things on my day to day life and as I look back at life pre-op I cannot understand HOW I wasn't medicated because what I see through the rear view mirror was someone completely out of control. Most people in this country who are not obese have vitamim deficiencies mostly due to the crap that is being called "food" out there sponsored by all the hormones and chemicals they've managed to give lab rats and turned out to be a success and they decided to feed us the same way, the obese have more than one issue at hand, you don't see a lot of obese people going to tanning beds or even direct sunlight for too long that's my observation it could be a lot of reasons, but obviously the obese also don't get all the Vitamins and minerals they need because they don't spend all day eating the way they should, I know I wasn't is I had been I would not have needed the operation. If my stored estrogen is being released I am glad because I don't need all these fat cells hanging around, if you take a look at what the fat cells are actually doing then you will see they release a toxin which is why overweight people have an increased chance in developing cancer and other things. Though I never took meds for anxiety I know I had it and post-op I feel calmer, maybe too calm but I like it because when it's time to open the fridge and choose, I am clear headed. By no means am I saying here my life is perfect or that there is nothing that irritates me, what I am saying is that it's not due to the surgery. I'l' have my labs drawn in April and will let you guys know if anything is off meanwhile I am going to take a good book out to the backyard for a little sun time. Can't cry over spilled milk or cut out stomach gotta keep eye on what I can control and make the best of my new life everyday. The video below though about the MGB talks about the estrogen drop which applies to us too: 1 2

I have never met personally anyone who had the sleeve and gained it all back, I have heard of people who did and this goes for every procedure out there. I am excited for you, this is the greatest tool I have ever had in my life to help me control what goes into my mouth. People who gain or do not lose have probably not been addressing the psychological aspect between them and food, so why does this matter? Well, if you don't forgive yourself and except that you are a food addict, that food is or was your drug of choice and that you are vulnerable to it being used the wrong way any procedure that you do I don't care how "mal-absorbative" or "restrictive" will not help. The surgery does not erase your psychological cravings, your old habits can creep up even at only 3oz at a time. The important thing to do is to be aware of these so that post-op when they try creeping back you can say: "Stay back! You are no longer welcomed into my life". You have to develop a respect for food because that allows you to be conscious and knowing it has the power to nourish you or eventually kill you. Post-op a long way down the road you'll be able to eat the very same things that got you to the weight you are at now, people who gain back find ways to slide foods the example I see the most are with "milkshakes". Pre-op you have to begin changing your relationship with food, you have to become strong and develop healthier habits as soon as you can. For example if you hated exercising find something that you do love to do even if it's dusting your home, this surgery without a total lifestyle makeover can have a lesser affect. Some people have journals, blogs, videos, etc that allows them to find a therapeutic outlet that helps them and others as well, find what works for you. Once you have this surgery you will go out to a restaurant and look around you at how and how much people are eating and for the first time in your life you will have an epiphany as I did and realize that as a society something is very very wrong, people are literally stuffing their emotions with food. This will help make you stronger, and remember one thing, this is YOUR OWN personal project, post-op you might have help but you are the manager of this project and you alone determines your success. No matter how supportive other people are of your surgery they cannot fully understand unless they've been there so be ready to develop a thick skin, to make new choices, to take responsibility for what goes in. You will succeed and do great and achieve all of your goals-if you want it bad enough, if you need a visual of what's in my pantry I have pictures up and also some of the meals I eat now. Good luck to you and see you over the rainbow!

kkkkkk you have a great point!

I take the Gummy Vites for adults, I recently heard Oprah saying she can't stop eating them, well they are good you don't get that medicine taste. I was tempted to buy the BA ones but I was waiting until mine ran out some people tell me I must take the bariatric specialized ones because they are better. My post-op diet was not nearly as strict as yours I mean I was on soft foods/mushy week 3. It's good that you are getting your cardio in I am a fan of Zumba if you have a Y near you check it out also I enjoy Dance Central on the Xbox. My kids have taken over the Wii not a chance I can get near it! The hardest thing for me to take is the calcium citrate wafers, those are going to require that I get botox soon due to the crazy facial expressions I make while attempting to get it down. But I wouldn't change a thing this has been the best thing I ever did for myself!

I just looked up what you mentioned above, I don't know anyone who has had this, from the literature however I did not like it much, so they use a non-absorbable suture line and keep the stomach, what is that part of the stomach doing on the other side? It reminded me a bit of the lap band in a way. I am super happy with my sleeve.

Dillards has nice inserts so does VS, make sure you try it on before you leave and ask them to teach you how to place them in the bra(there is a technique to it). They are light brown and feel like implants, there are also bras that already have them inside the cup, you can get them a Kohls inexpensive and to be honest I like not having to fuss with inserts, another thing is inserts can be lost especially in the heat of the moment.