Disney

That is hilarious! I had to laugh at you jogging through your house!!! Too funny

Tiff, thank you for being such an inspiration and voice of reason on this board. And thank you for this update and the wonderful pics. It seems like looking at 'family' pics to see your progress. It is so nice of you to share this most personal journey with us. I still love looking at your before and after pics even though I have seen them before, they just make it all worthwhile to look at them each time. BTW, my favorite is the one with the gun in the background. I freakin' love it. And you make the cutest pregnant lady ever!!

WOW! 10 mm?!? So sorry about that, but you are right, better to find it now than right after VSG surgery. Recovery is tough enough without the pain and fever, etc. that go along with a kidney stone. I hope you have a quick recovery and they can get you in for your VSG very soon. Keep us updated when you feel like it

From what I have read, in addition to age, genetics and all that, a lot has to do with how long you were overweight. Which makes me sad because I have been for a very long time. We will see, though. Tiff gives me hope. I think patience is the key. I need to start working out, I have been very slack in that department.

My mother also got her lap band in May of 2008 and she got it removed in March and will be getting sleeved the first of September. She feels so much better getting it out, but the weight is already creeping back on. She is unsure if her insurance will pay for the sleeve, but hopefully they will since the band failed her miserably. Her stomach herniated up above the band. Her Dr. said he had never had to remove a band before. I find that hard to believe, but even if it's true it's not that no one else had problems and got it removed, they just had problems and the Dr. fixed it or put in a new band. I have yet to find one person who did not have complaints about the band. She's getting sleeved whether or not her insurance pays. If they don't she's just going to go to Dr. Aceves like I did. She was that impressed with him, his work and his staff. Good luck to you and I hope you have a quick recovery for school.

AMEN, we own them ALL!!! Sadly, my high weight was my pre-op weight, then I went on a low carb diet for a week and lost 10 pounds. For the life of me, I can't remember how much I lost the first couple weeks, so I can't help you there Meggie! sorry. I wish I would have documented better. This is very interesting!

Yes, maybe he can work you in before someone else. Maybe someone who hasn't waited as long or been through as much as you. I hope so. OR, maybe he will still be able to do the surgery. You just never know. Good luck to you

Sorry! Double post!

<div><br></div><div> Here's a little info:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><h2 style="text-align: center; ">The Atkins Diet and Caffeine are Incompatible</h2><h3><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><p>The <i>Atkins Diet and caffeine </i>consumption are incompatible, according to Dr. Atkins’ guidelines for successful weight loss. This was one of the most troubling aspects of the diet when I first considered trying it. I was used to having several cups of coffee during the earlier part of my day, then switching to iced tea for the afternoon and evening. I especially dreaded giving up caffeine during the hot summer months – nothing was more refreshing for me.</p><p></p><h3>Coffee and the Atkins Diet</h3><p></p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">The <a href="http://www.atkins-diet-advisor.com/atkins-diet-foods.html">Atkins diet food list</a> made it clear, however, that caffeine wasn’t a good thing. After reading up on why, I had to agree. You see, the caffeine in coffee causes unstable blood sugar levels, which is one of the things the diet is trying to avoid. After drinking or eating something with caffeine many people have a hypoglycemic reaction. Their blood sugar level temporarily drops, triggering cravings for sugary foods</span> or carbohydrates. And Dr. Atkins also noted that caffeine simply wasn't healthy.</span></h3><h3><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; "><br></span></h3><h3><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; ">I never had to worry about it when I was on Atkins (sooooo many years ago) because I only drank Coke, so I had to cut that out completely anyway. I just don't drink coffee. Of course Atkins is not the end all of low carb diets, but this is their explanation of why low carb doesn't mix with caffeine. </span></h3></span></div>

So glad you are feeling better! Those first few weeks are the toughest but they will be a faint memory in no time. Just hang in there and remember that it's gonna get easier week by week.

Good luck to all of you having your surgery Monday. You will do GREAT!

We went to WDW last November (at my heaviest) and I can NOT wait to go back thinner. It is going to be heaven! I knew I was having this surgery when we went, so I did buy ONE thing in a smaller size, a Mickey jacket and it fits now!!! WOW! Can you believe you are going to be HALF the person you were??? Amazing!

Toradol (ketorolac) is the American version of Supradol. It is really just a very strong anti-inflammatory. That's why I love it. No dizzy, loopy, sleepy side effects. I would much rather take that than narcotics. I feel more like myself when taking it, and it does take the edge off. You could ask your Dr to prescribe some toradol for you but the tylenol will do practically the same thing since it is an anti-inflammatory also. Just not as strong. And I would suggest the chewables as RevMeUp stated as the liquid is sooo super strong. Way too strong for me right after surgery. Like drinking Nyquil on steroids.

I didn't for this surgery, but I had to inject 2X a day for 6 months after I got a blood clot after having my daughter. Not fun, but 14 days? You got this! It doesn't hurt much at all, might burn for just a minute, and it is a tiny needle because it needs to go in your fat, not muscle. Just rotate your injection sites! Good luck

I didn't even know to check in!! Anyway, here is my super late check in START of challenge: Disney........... SW-253...............CW-226...............July 4th goal-185.................Lbs to goal-41. CURRENT: Disney........... SW-253...............CW-207...............July 4th goal-185.................Lbs to goal-22. Down 19 pounds since start of challenge. I better get my booty in gear if I am going to lose the rest by the 4th!!! Hey Irene, share some of that losing mojo you got going on over there.

Wow! That is a lot of weight to lose. 75 pounds in just over 4 months?!?! You are doing a fantastic job! Just think how thin you are going to look this Christmas as compared to last Christmas. I always think about how I will look then, because there are always so many pics taken. And I won't be running from the camera this time! Good luck to your 'second half' of weight loss.

Girlfriend! Where did your tummy go? It's so flat!! Great job!

That's a great idea about the shaved ice. Funny thing is, when I was immediately post-op I could only drink room temperature or warm liquids. Cold ones made my new tummy spasm. But, I could eat popsicles, 2 or 3 in a row! Crazy, right? It worked for me, though.

I would find another Dr to do my follow-ups. There is no way I would put up with a Dr getting "mad" at me and telling me I am doing something wrong by not losing a pound a day. That is absurd. And even if it was common to do that, he has no business chastising you like a child. We are all different and will lose at different rates. If he can't figure that into the equation, then he is the one doing something wrong, not YOU.

Thanks for posting this. I hope the man makes a full recovery. Scary stuff

You look amazing! Job well done!! Hey, has anyone ever told you that you look like Sara Evans? I think you do.

I think it's just that dreaded 3 week stall (or thereabouts) and no matter what you eat or don't eat is not gonna stop it till it's ready to stop. The good thing is, those stalls always break, and you will be losing again in no time. Good luck to you

That is too funny. Who in the world would have guessed that 5 chips would make us full? I mean, before surgery, that lunch box bag of chips would be gone in like 12 seconds. What a trip this sleeve is! I love it!!!

Different surgeons use different drains. Some don't have them at all. I think those that don't have them are rare, though. It is one way to do a leak test after surgery, too. And it didn't hurt to have mine removed. I barely even felt it. Just an odd feeling, no pain. Although it was very annoying while in.

Awesome job! You look like a new man!