thebionicbroad

My doc stapled the incisions. By the time I got in to see him, some of the staples had scabbed over. It did sting when those came out. The rest, it felt like scratching an itch having them out. The overgrown ones did hurt a bit, though.

My vintage Liz Claiborne (NOT the modern line 'o' garbage) dresses, sized 12 - 14. That woman had style. Maybe this summer? *sigh*

Studies have shown that certain foods "light up" the pleasure centers of the brain, just like cocaine. Those certain foods are common "trigger" foods. I didn't get 80 pounds overweight by eating green veg and cottage cheese. Hello! My name is Pat, and I'm a foodaholic. Thank God for the sleeve!

Sugar-free Wintergreen Lifesavers have been just that...lifesavers. Over Christmas, my Best Half bought me one sugar-free raspberry truffle from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Company. I nibbled at it for a few days, then gave the bulk of it to my youngest son. My tolerance for sweets has really decreased since being sleeved.

Oh, Amanda, what a great post. I used to murmur terrible things to myself every morning. Now, when I wake up, I see someone different in the mirror. I've skipped party invitations from people I haven't seen in awhile, because I was so ashamed of all the weight I'd gained. I hated to see any of my husband's co-workers, thinking that they'd judge him by how I looked. Now, that doesn't cross my mind. Even though I have quite a bit to go, I can feel hipbones, and ribs, and I can't sit as long as I used to. Yes, my friend, I guess that it's hope!

God bless!

Congratulations for hitting goal! This process is fascinating to me. It's like peeling off layers to see what's really beneath. I've been fat for so long that I don't know what I really look like under all this blubber. Good luck on your next goal!

Ah, well. My surgery was performed by a Chinese doctor, in an American facility, in a Latino part of L.A. When I got up for a walk in the hallway, I was side-by-side with a retired NFL player, who was African-American. Gotta love it.

Don, My DH and I slept on a sleep Number bed for about 7 years, and for the past 1 1/2 years, we've been on a Tempur-pedic. ​We are not affiliated with Tempur-pedic in any way. Sleep Number: Is nothing but an airbed with a pillow-top for 10X the price. The sides eventually buckle, and nothing will shore them up. The pump will eventually fail, and it costs hundreds of dollars for a new one. We got to where we were tossing and turning all night, waking up with sore shoulders and hips. Tempur-pedic: Odd at first. Sleeps a bit warm in summer, fabulous in winter. Can't feel the movements of the other person, truly. Wonderful support. No tossing and turning. No joint pain. Deeper sleep, so many more dreams. Wake up refreshed. When material starts to soften, we can turn the bed 180 degrees. Expensive, but we found a sale for 12 months same as cash. Worth. Every. Penny. We bought their softest model, and are as happy as (well rested) clams.

I'm seeing it the most in my face, boobs, and calves. Figures.

I guess that I've been on a diet all of my life. Low-carbing on and off since the mid-70s, 6 years with an over-filled Lap-band that kept me from eating most healthy things, and now three weeks post-op with the sleeve. I'm having to re-think what I've been saying all these years, "I want to be thin. I hate being fat." Do I really? If I resent not being able to eat certain foods, I obviously love the food more than I love being thinner. So I have been lying to myself? Right now, my healing stomach is a good preventative against eating what I shouldn't. When I'm healed, I hope that I can figure out which one I love more: Myself (eating healthily) or the food.

I didn't get any of those kind of instructions. I was told to clean out my bellybutton the morning of the surgery, because that was going to be the port of entry. Ummm...no. I have incisions all around, but my bellybutton is still in pristine condition.

I had 5, counting the drain. The biggest one is 2" above right of my bellybutton.

5DogMa, I'm almost 55. I posted somewhere where someone had asked about sagging chins, and I was honest about my droopage in my reply. Humbling.

5DogMa, my energy level stair-steps. I'll be fine, and then I "run out of gas." I'm trying something different today. Isopure with 2% milk for Breakfast, then 1/2 c. of Fage, 1/2 c. of Ricotta Bake, then Isopure with Water for dinner. That's about 600 cals, 15 gms. of fat, 33 gms. of carb, and 75 gms. of Protein. Let's see how it goes. Indymom and grannyk, you are 100% right. I don't want to be a skinny, anemic, and osteoporotic person. I have to remember that this is for life. Thank you for the reminder.

CC, you were on some pretty strong meds, and your body has to adjust. I gained weight in the hospital, and almost cried when I got home. Once your body adjusts fluid and electrolyte levels, you're going to see a change. Your meds may make stalls more common. You will still be losing fat. Maybe a tape measure would be better at this stage than a scale?

Mary, I'm a Band-to-sleeve revision. The restricted eating with the Band helped me get used to the requirements of the sleeve. I'm still struggling to get in enough water. But, for me, the main difference is the vitamin/mineral/protein requirement that wasn't as much of an issue with the Band. The parts of the stomach that made it possible to absorb B-12 and calcium are mostly gone. Almost three weeks out, and I'm just about to a workable routine. It can be a bit tricky. But I'm losing weight at a much faster clip than with the Band. I, too, wish that I had done the revision years ago.

My wattle wags. My bat-wings pop against my rib cage when I change clothes. My inner thighs are as crepey as my eye-lids. My panda-bear tattoo is now a giraffe. But I've lost almost 30 pounds, and by golly, I'd rather sag than bulge.

Day 8 was the "turn-around" day for me. Walking really helps get the energy level moving up. Take it easy at work, and no lifting.

I agree with the good points made here. He was comfortable with life as it was. Now, with your continuing weight loss, his equilibrium has been upset, and there's bound to be some natural resentment. Strange as it might sound, it's not personal. He's scared.

And I want to chime in, since I'm too much of a mama type, if you feel that you are dehydrated (dark urine), go to an urgent care.

Aussiegirl, you are obviously a very strong person. I will follow your example (ahem...walk, not run...) when the head tries to take over. You are obviously going to be a smashing success. Happy New Year!

When I had to give up soda after my Lap-band, I found out that, when I tasted it again, all I could taste were chemical salts. I could care less now.

In the course of my 54 years, I had to quit smoking and quit drinking. Now, I've had to give up much of the food that I used to self-medicate. I wonder about another replacement, too. Maybe it will be exercise. That would be wonderful.

My thanks to all of you who took the time to respond. ​I'm taking your advice to heart, because I think that I'm in starvation mode, too. I'm walking half an hour a day, so add that to the mix. I'll split my Isopure into morning and evening, add the Greek yogurt (Fage 0% fat), mix the Isopure with lowfat milk (can't handle non-fat), and just try harder, I guess. Soforreal, I'm glad that I'm not the only one struggling with this. Cowgirl, I have at least one egg (poached) a day. Love 'em. Thanks again, everyone, and have a Happy New Year!