shewolf143

We had a plastic surgeon come speak to our support group & he said that nothing really helps it. You can only tone so much but not enough to make a difference. Removing the excess skin seems to be the only answer & many Dr's won't do it until you have stabilized your weight for 1 year.

Whatever-I try to work out at least 3 times a week but I don't kill myself doing it. I do about 30 min. My food has stayed about the same...I do not eat any bread, rice, pasta, junk food or fried foods. One day a month I splurge & have something I normally wouldn't eat like fried clam strips or Thai food. I will have a small piece of dark chocolate a couple of times a month but that is it. I still have my protein shake in the mornings. I still eat about 1/4 c of food & I always have a morning snack (usually nuts) & an afternoon snack (cheese or pepperoni chips) & an evening snack-maybe nuts again. So I am getting 3 meals & 3 snacks throughout the day.

Whatever-why have you lost muscle mass? Exercise is very important as it will help you burn calories. I was sleeved 9/12 also & have consistently lost every single month-I haven't had one month that I didn't lose. I have lost 107.8 lbs so far!! I have been on 3 cruises since I was sleeved & I did allow myself to indulge. It shook up my metabolism & I lost a lot those months. Keep your goal in sight & do NOT give up!!

You've lost a lot of weight in a very short time. Your body needs time to catch up. It will come off so please be patient.

I was concerned I wasn't eating enough although I have lost weight every single week since the surgery Sept. 12, 2012. I met with my Dr last week & told him I eat about 900 calories & was that enough. He said to keep doing what I am doing as it is working. I have 22 lbs to go to get to my goal & he said the last 20 are hard. My NUT recommended that I get about 1000-1100 calories on days that I exercise & then 800-900 on the other days. I eat both reduced fat cheese & regular, stay away from anything white (rice, bread, pasta, sugar). I feel awesome!!!!! Keep up the good work everyone & we WILL get there!

You are doing the right thing. Mine happened fairly quickly also but I was glad. I am very pleased with my results so far. I feel like I finally have a handle on my binge eating disorder for the 1st time. I just got back from a cruise & actually lost 4 lbs! I feel better mentally, emotionally & physically. It was the best choice I have ever made in my entire life! I wasn't scared or worried at all about the surgery. You will have this feeling too.

I generally eat about every 3 hours or so. I usually have a protein shake for breakfast, 1 oz of nuts for a snack, some sort of protein for lunch (around 4 oz.), 1 oz of cheese for a snack & then protein for dinner. Sometimes I will have another oz of nuts or maybe turkey pepperoni chips that I make.

I agree with what joatsaint said. I am 10 months post-op & I use a straw for my protein shakes as they come in a little carton & I can't drink out of the stupid little hole, lol. It doesn't seem to bother me any.

My Nut told me not to worry so much about calories but to stay 40 grams of carbs & under, 70-90 grams of protein & under 50 grams of fat.

Your body isn't used to it yet & it thinks it is starving. It will adjust-you have to be patient & give it time. If you are doing everything you are supposed to be doing-it WILL come off.

I went on a cruise when I was 2 months post-op (Dec 2012) & I just got back from another one this past Saturday. The 1st one I didn't gain any weight & this one I actually lost 4 lbs. I took the stairs whenever I could, I walked the track & I worked out once in the gym. I watched what I ate but did indulge in dessert every night at dinner. You just have to make up your mind beforehand that you will NOT let the food rule you. I really thought I would have a hard time when I went on one 2 months post-op but I didn't. You can do this!

I have a question-has anyone experienced leg cramps? I am 9 months postop & just started having leg cramps at night. I am sure I am not getting enough potassium-if anyone else has had this-what did you do?

Wallman-do you track your calories at all? I go to the gym 3 days a week. I have a protein shake for breakfast, usually a chicken sausage for lunch & protein for dinner plus nuts as a snack. Must be that guys burn it quicker :-(

Wallman-how did you lose 100 lbs so quickly? I got sleeved the same day & I have only lost 71.4 lbs? Any tips?

Jordan-there are places you can go for a sliding scale fee. One place is Catholic Family Services. I used them once before & it only cost me $5 a visit. That is a positive attitude going into May-new month, new plan!!! Again, YOU can do this-you are worth it! Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels!!! Good luck & we are here if you need us.

Jordan-you have to look at the big picture-the reason why you did this in the 1st place. Keep your eye on the prize, so to speak. It sounds like you may have some issues that you haven't dealt with yet-what about seeing a therapist? Whatever you do, don't give up. YOU are worth this & you have to BELIEVE that. YOU are stronger than any craving you could possibly have!!!!

Jordan-don't give up. First, have you contacted your surgeon or your NUT? Secondly, be honest with yourself-are you eating what you are supposed to be? Are you exercising? Are you writing down what you eat & calculating the protein, carbs, fat & sodium? Do NOT give up-there is a logical reason why you aren't losing. Talk to us, that is what we are here for!

Congrats to you & your husband-that is awesome! I know what you mean-I am deathly afraid to increase calories. I started at 276 & I am averaging about 10 lbs a month. I also have been on one cruise since the surgery & didn't gain. I was finally able to zip-line & horseback ride since I was under the weight limit for it. I am going on another cruise in June. Unfortunately, I can't do hiking or climbing as I have rheumatoid arthritis & it is especially bad in my ankles. I have had an ankle fusion on one & an ankle scope on the other. But, I do a lot more walking than I ever have & it feels good. Again congrats to you!!!!

Thanks Tamara-I'm not sure why some experience hunger unless it isn't actual hunger but "head" hunger. Scorpion-I haven't lost my hair either. I still drink one protein shake a day & I take a very good multi-vitamin called Fusion, which is for Bariatric patients. I rarely eat any veggies & almost no fruit. CONGRATS suepeeps-I can't wait to get there...how does it feel?

scorpion-NSV-duh-I should have figured that one out, lol. I was doing Zumba 2-3 times a week & then I twisted my knee, which was already bad so beginning of March, I joined a gym & I go 3 times a week. I usually do 30 min of cardio (bike, treadmill) & 30-45 min of weights. I know muscle weighs more than fat & I meant to take my measurements before the surgery but didn't so I haven't been able to monitor inches lost. Even before I joined the gym, my weight loss has been sort of slow. I eat between 700-1000 calories a day but usually average around 850-900. Once a month I allow myself something I normally wouldn't have like fried clam strips or fried shrimp. Otherwise, I stay away from any kind of bread, pasta, rice & sweets. I weigh once a month & I have lost every time but it seems slow compared to others in my weight range. Don't get me wrong, I am ecstatic that it is coming off but I am so ready to be at goal weight & it seems like it is taking forever. Thanks for listening.

This is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. I am down 68 lbs...not sure why it is so slow as I have not "cheated" at all & I exercise but, hey, it is still better than nothing. I am 7 lbs away from onederland! I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world. What blows me away is I have absolutely NO cravings & I am NEVER hungry. I have to force myself to eat-nothing tastes awesome to me so I eat what I need to get my protein in. Ummm....not to sound stupid but what is NSV? Anyone have any ideas how to speed up the weight loss? Good luck & congrats to all of you!

I'm a September sleever & I am down 68 lbs. Congrats to you! I was hoping it would be much more by now but I am still thrilled. I wish there was something I could do to speed it up. Any suggestions?

Tekara-Actually, Jan 26th I decided that once a month, I would allow myself something I wouldn't normally have. That day I had 1/2 of a belgian waffle with whipped butter & pecan syrup from IHOP-I couldn't even eat the entire 1/2. Then I had 1/2 rack of ribs that evening. My carbs that day ended up being 104 as opposed to 40 of less. So, from Jan 15th (my weigh in for Jan.)-Feb 9, I only lost 3.2 lbs. My NUT said not to worry about calories but I haven't talked to her in quite awhile. I have an appt with the surgeon for another follow-up on Feb 28th. but I would hate to wait until then to find out how to get the weight loss moving again. I appreciate your response & maybe it will work. Anyone else have any suggestions?

I am 18 lbs from onederland. My weight loss seems to have slowed as I have only lost 3.2 lbs in 3 1/2 weeks. I am 5 months post-op. Any suggestions on what I can do? I am doing Zumba twice a week for 45 min. & Fit Club once a week for 45 min & then I use my exercise bike at home for 30 min twice a week. I am still eating 70 g or more of protein & less than 40 g of carbs & 64 oz or more of water per day. Any tips or hints would be appreciated!

I thought it was a piece of cake, no pun intended, lol! Good luck-it will be worth it!