Kris

Dragonsloard, I totally agree with you about not getting the surgery done sooner. I wish I had done more research in alternatives to gastric bypass years ago. But, better late than never!

Hey Seattle neighbor! Best of luck to you in your sleeve journey! I truly feel getting the sleeve was one of the best things I ever did for myself, and hope you find that to be the case as well.

Sorry, not sure why the link didn't work! Here is a link to the homepage and it should be the first entry you see. http://curvygirlwellness.blogspot.com/ That makes sense about the bowel prep. I would never have agreed to converting a sleeve to a gastric bypass so glad my surgeon didn't leave that option on the table. I didn't really have many problems with gas after surgery, or a problem with constipation. I guess I'm fortunate in that regard!

Hi all, I was sleeved by Dr. Aceves in Mexicali, Mexico in 2011. My best friend was just sleeved last week at a hospital in Seattle, WA (VIrginia Mason) and I was there with her from the time she checked in for surgery to the time she was discharged (I did go home for 8 hours to sleep at night, but the rest of the time I was at the hospital with her). I noticed a lot of differences between what it's like to have surgery here vs. Mexico. I'm not here to flog my blog, but it is a pretty LONG post, so I put it up on my blog rather than here. Here's a link if you're interested. http://curvygirlwellness.blogspot.com/2013/03/weight-loss-surgery-in-mexico-vs-usa.htm If you need to self-pay for surgery and are debating whether to have it here or in Mexico, the post might help you see the differences. I don't know how Virginia Mason compares to other US hospitals but I'm guessing there aren't too many differences. I hope this helps!

Oh, my fellow Costco-lovers: I was there today and a couple of my fave products are on sale. Currently costco has a special on the Pure Protein Protein Bars (18 ct variety pack; 6 chocolate Deluxe; 6 Chocolate Peanut Butter; and 6 Chewy Chocolate Chip). The regular price is $17.49 and there is a $4.50 instant mfr's coupon off. I stocked up and bought 3 of them today, since they are our fave protein bars (20g protein, 180-200 calories per bar). I prefer the Pure Protein bars to the Premier Protein bars, which, although they have more protein (30g vs. 20g) they are just too honkin big for my sleeve and I never finish them ... always get about 2/3 or 3/4 done and then can't stand the thought of another bite, so the rest always gets thrown out. I can always finish a Pure Protein Bar, though. It's just the right size for my sleeve. Also, there's a sale on the Stacy's Pita chips (another of my fave Costco buys). I believe it's a $2 or $2.50 mfr. instant coupon per bag (I think the regular price is $5.79 or something, so that's a big savings). I also stocked up on those. They have a pretty long shelf life. I heart Costco!!!

I just had the Costco salmon with herb butter at a party a couple of weeks ago and was blown away at how delish it was (I'm sure a lot of the flavor comes from the butter, but the salmon was very fresh and tasty). I never bought it before because it's such a large size, but the idea to freeze some is brilliant! Must get some on my next trip there! Great tip!

The steak strips I was referring to are the costco version of beef Jerky (I believe the actual title is Kirkland Signature Steak Strips). They're sold with the beef jerky in the Snacks section of the store (in my store that's right up front near the cash registers). They are way better than the other beef jerky brands Costco sells. Oh, btw, Trader Joe's sells jerky too, and their flavors are pretty good, but not as good (IMHO) as the Costco steak strips.

Costco: Aidell's chicken teriyaki meatballs -- YUMBO! (I cook a few with some hoisin sauce drizzled on top and it is a great easy meal) New to my costco -- Legal Seafood Gumbo (OMG DELISH! Only 160 calories per cup! Very filling and tasty meal!) Chicken Tortilla Soup Can't imagine life w/o Stacy's Pita chips as "croutons" for soup As already mentioned, I'm a big fan of the Steak Strips too (totally addicted to them) And may I just say I luurrve the Costco Buffet on the weekends? By the time I'm done shopping and taking samples I'm usually stuffed! Trader Joe's: Baked Joe's O's (when I need a crunchy snack) Sunflower seed butter is an awesome PB substitute Frozen brown rice. Super easy and fast to nuke and use in stir fries!

I'm not sure if all costco stores do, but I'm guessing they would have it.

Wow, this looks tasty! Thanks for sharing!

Hard rock/classic rock are not my thing. I am totally into pop/dance with a fast happy beat. Here's my current top 5: Call Me Maybe (C. Jepsen) Moves Like Jagger (Maroon 5) Domino (Jessie J.) We Are Never Getting Back Together (T. Swift) Get Outta My Way (K. Minogue)

I have a tile floor in the master bathroom and so depending on where I put the scale I will get a different reading. So, I moved the scale to our guest bathroom, which has vinyl flooring, and the scale sez the same no matter where I put it. But, DH is now dieting with me and doesn't want to weigh in the guest bathroom, so today I moved the scale back to the master bathroom and tried to find the part of the floor where the scale read nearest to what the scale said on the guest bathroom floor. I swear, I tried 3 different spots on my master bathroom floor and got a 2 lb. difference depending on where I put it! One spot, let's call it the "sweet spot," LOL, said I weighed 1 lb. less than the scale said in the guest bathroom, and I was soooo tempted to Celebrate my "weight loss" by writing that down in my weight tracking log. But no ... I didn't do that. Seriously tempted to do that, though! Re laxatives, I personally never take any unless I am really constipated. I find that when I take laxatives they seem to take effect at the MOST inopportune times/places, which usually involves me frantically rushing around trying to find the closest toilet and hoping nobody else is in the next stall ... LOL...

I came close ... 12 lbs. over my lowest post-op weight before I slapped myself upside the head and stopped the stupidity of eating junk and grazing. You can definitely "eat around" and "drink around" your sleeve if you want to. A sleeve is NOT foolproof. But fortunately, if you start eating right again, and exercising, the weight will come off easier than pre-sleeve, due to the restriction you get. Take advice from someone who tested the limits of her sleeve and is now paying the price (dieting again) ... don't buy/eat junk food (and junk drinks, like booze/milkshakes/frappucinos) and don't graze. Just following those two rules will definitely help you avoid weight re-gain.

Ah, laxatives. Hadn't thought of that. Usually I don't have a problem in that area, though. I sure did the first several weeks after surgery, though! Glad that passes soon (sorry, no pun intended!).

I've had a sip or two of diet sodas over the past year and a half, but honestly, after you go a few months without drinking any, you will likely find the taste is nothing like what you remembered. Before my surgery I was a Diet Coke fiend, and would have 6-8 cans every day w/o fail. One day about six months after surgery I was on a flight and beverage service came around, and I decided to try Diet Coke. OMG it was horrendous! I swear it tasted like poison. I took one sip, almost gagged, thought something surely was wrong, and tried another sip -- ugh!!!! I couldn't finish it. I've tried Sprite Zero and Fresca, and those aren't quite as awful, but I just really hate carbonated drinks now. Crystal Light is my beverage of choice. I make up a pitcher, pour some in those double insulated tumblers with the plastic straws and carry it around with me everywhere I go. Oh, and the great news is, if you are a soda-holic, you will be saving $$$ over time once you get sleeved. I used to spend at least $40 a month on diet soda. Now one container of Crystal Light lasts as long as a case of Diet Coke, and at 1/4 the cost. Seriously, I think I've saved at least $500 on soda expenses since I've been sleeved. (Another thing I love about my sleeve!)

Hey Alanah, I suggest you check with your patient coordinator; she is sure to know several places to go within a reasonable distance from where you'll be staying. I don't remember seeing a big grocery store near the hotel/hospital, but I didn't venture out very far, either. Congrats on your upcoming surgery, btw!

OK my fellow slow losers, confession time! What tricks do you do to get the scale to show a number you like? Here's some of mine: 1. Use Saturdays as my official weigh in day, because I get to sleep in and always seem to weigh less on days I sleep in. 2. Move the scale around the floor multiple times to find the spot that gives me a low number (and memorize that spot!). 3. If I have a specific goal for a specific date, the day before my final weigh in I'll drink extra fluids and hope to flush out a few more oz. 4. Record my weight on my ticker when it goes down, but not up (my weight fluctuates a few oz to a lb or more depending on hormones and such). What do you do? Always looking for good ideas, LOL!

Woo hoo, glad to see people are in on the challenge! It's been a long time since I participated in a challenge. I never met my goals in previous challenges (they were always slightly too ambitious) but I found just the fact of having a goal helped keep me focused, and it sure was fun to see the difference after a few weeks. It reminded me that progress is good, even if it's not as fast as I would have liked. Current Weight: 152.0 Goal Weight: 145.0 Lbs. to Go: 7.0

Good tip! And a lot cheaper than StriVectin!

BeccaDawn, where do you buy your wraps? Do tell! And please let us know how well they work. Thanks!

Oh ladies thank goodness for you! I have a goal to be at at 25- 26 BMI, and it will be a struggle to stay there (got very close briefly, then backslid a bit and now trying to get back). In my 20s I lost a lot of weight (70 lbs.) and got down to a 25 BMI (132 lbs) -- size 8P. I felt like I looked really good and was very healthy. I tried, but never could get below 130 lbs. So, when I had the surgery I set the goal to be at my lowest weight when I was in my 20s, even though it had me at the very top end of "normal BMI" range. I figured if I could just get back to that point -- some 20 years later -- I would be a great personal success. However, when I see so many sleevers setting goals (and many achieving them) of a BMI in the low 20s I wonder am I doing something wrong by setting a BMI goal that's higher than that? So when I see other sleevers set a target for a slightly higher BMI -- thank you, thank you! Makes me feel not so much like I'm doing something wrong! PLUS -- holy smokes girls your pictures are AMAZING!!!! You look fit and gorgeous!!!

Well, good news is I lost 1.4 lbs. this week but man it was HARD -- I was like, "woot?! ONLY 1.4 lbs. after all that deprivation? It should have at least been 2 lbs!" I hate fighting hunger. I get hungry like clockwork every 3 hours, and even trying tips like drinking water or doing something to distract myself doesn't help much. I am so envious of sleevers who don't ever feel hungry ... that is so not me!

Hi all, I saw this piece on yahoo! today and thought it was very interesting. Apparently sleeping on your left side helps reduce or eliminate nighttime acid reflux (as a right-side sleeper I guess I was never doing myself any favors!). Plus there's lots of other cool tips, like how to stop crying an an inopportune time, how to quickly get rid of brain freeze (I've had that a time or two sipping on Protein shakes made with ice), how to quickly stop hiccups, and a technique to reduce stress. If you try any of these and they work (or don't work) please let us know! http://health.yahoo.net/articles/healthcare/photos/human-bodys-talents

Try the kettlebell swing. Not only does it work the inner thighs, it works pretty much your entire body. When I stop using it for a few weeks and use it again, the next day I *always* feel it in my inner thighs and butt more than anywhere else. The higher weight you use, the more and faster you will tone. I have a 10, 15, and 20 lb kettlebell. The 10 lb kettlebell is what I do on my longer workouts; 15 is my standard for a good 30 minute workout (I alternate about 4 minutes or one fast song worth of kettlebell swing with 4 minutes of low impact aerobics). When I only have 15-20 minutes to work out, I use the 20 lb. kettlebell. After a few sets of 50 I am completely out of breath and every muscle in my body has been worked. Here's a link to an article about using the kettlebell to get fit and a video tutorial on how to do the kettlebell swing. http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2011/01/08/kettlebell-swing/ Having said that, I have terrible, terrible granny thighs. Unless you are young and have elastic skin, NO exercise is going to tighten up loose skin.

I agree, I really need to track my food, and I do track my food, but it can be really hard to pinpoint the calories -- and like you mentioned, oh so easy to forget to track the little bites here and there. I like to cook a lot, and many recipes do not have any nutritional information. For example, on Sunday I made a pot of Taco Soup. It's a great slow carb meal (lean ground beef, chili Beans, tomatoes, a can of kernel corn, and spices). However, trying to figure out the calories per serving is a colossal pain. I would basically have to find out the calories of each ingredient, tally them together, and divide by the number of servings. Seriously, I do not have time for that! So I guesstimate. If I guesstimate on the high end, all is well, but if I'm wrong then I just added 2-3 extra days of dieting to lose one lb. What I have cut out since getting back on track is all empty carbs (my weakness). No chips, crisps, crackers, pretzels, etc. I really developed a bad habit of eating baked Snacks and telling myself they're not so bad as fried ... NOT! They chew down to nothing, and it is truly astonishing and scary how many Trader Joe's baked O rings (snacky onion rings like Funyuns) one can consume without realizing. No Desserts, no chocolate, no candy. Really almost no sugar at all. No bread. I have had some Pasta but only a small amount (1/4 - 1/3 cup) to go with meat sauce (homemade, again hard to know the calorie count exactly) and I'm going to get rid of the pasta. Gosh I wish I had gotten serious about losing weight when the scale crept up 3 lbs. instead of 10. Now I have a couple months' slog to get back down to where I was ... and then a couple months beyond that to get to my ultimate goal.