Momonanomo

Outstanding! Your hard work is obviously paying off!

Woo HOO!! Today marks one year since surgery!! Wowser! I am down 106 lbs since the beginning of the 2 week pre-op diet, and 96 lbs since surgery itself. I am 100000% glad that I did it. No regrets whatsoever! I still would like to at least lose another 15 lbs to put me at a “healthy weight” for my height. I’d really looove to reach an ultimate goal weight of minus another 34 lbs…..but I dunno if I can, or if I could, would I be too thin. I have been stalled for a couple of months now, but I will admit I have not done anything yet to shake things up and stop the stall. I think there was this combination of factors – late December, I got a depo shot (to cover me between taking an old iud out and putting a new one in), and I really think that triggered some serious appetite increase with the hormones. But I will NOT blame it all on external forces; I take responsibility for my actions. At that point I was a good 7 or 8 months out from surgery, so my stomach had become completely healed. Being completely healed meant I was reaching for a wider variety of food. I’m not saying I was pigging out, just that I had begun more going to the crackers & bread whereas prior to that, I did not. And is is SO true that those types of carbs just increase the desire for more. Protein First is the only way to really work this sleeve tool. THEN, Life happened – as it has its way of doing. Not going to go into details, but it involved a family member, and it involved cancer. There such a short time between diagnosis and amputation, during which I ate whatever the hell I wanted. Granted, it was a noticeably different kind of pigging out than what I used to do back in the day. It wasn’t even really bingeing, but I certainly wasn’t even trying to eat mindfully. I did notice that not only did eating poorly not make me feel better, I physically felt like crap because of the sugar & carbs. You live you learn, you pay the price. So I gained 8 lbs. Surgery 6 days ago went well, and my loved one is doing well, and we think this will be it and the cancer is gone. This past weekend I woke up to what I had been doing with my eating, and I’ve been doing Boot Camp diet (Protein First, veggie juicing, protein shakes, no bread/rice/pasta/ carbs, lots n lots of water), and I am happy to report 4 lbs are gone already. And I am ready to make a run for those last 15 lbs…or more, if can. I’ve wondered what I would tell pre-surgery me if I had the chance to talk to her. Obviously I’d say – "do it!! It will be worth it!!" I’d also say "Good for you for doing this, it is scary, but you are brave. And it is what you want and need." …... I’ve never shared this with anyone: I have a very clear memory of the morning of surgery thinking “stomach, I hate you, you have caused me so much sorrow, and now I am going to have you mostly surgically removed. Thanks for nothing.” I liken it to the cancer that my loved one recently had amputated. The feeling was “get rid of it!” But my stomach surgery was voluntary, it was not emergency. I’m sad to say my feelings toward my stomach the morning of surgery, the stomach which I felt had betrayed me all my life by constantly torturing me with insatiable hunger, those were feelings of hate. Not the most positive thing in the world, eh? But it’s what I felt. I got over that, although I am still glad that the majority of that buggah is gone. I love my new tiny tummy. It suits me just fine. I just think it's kind of sad that I had to hate a part of my own body so much that I was willing to surgically remove the majority of it. I just need to remember to use this tool I have given myself, and to practice gratefulness, and to remember where I came from a year ago. So! Today being my 1 year surgiversary, is a little bittersweet. I am SO incredibly happy to have lost 100+ lbs. I am a bit sad that I went backwards recently. But I’ve just got to dust myself off and go forward again! And, because I am SUCH a Look-On-The-Bright-Side kind of gal, my contemplations have led me to believe that in a way, this little stall has actually been a good thing. I say this because I lost 100+ lbs with never really a stall. I had the week 3 thing we like to call a stall, but it was like for a single day – when you’ve lost so much every day after surgery and then you go a day or two without losing, you can get melodramatic. But my week after week trend has ALWAYS been down. I think I’ve been lucky. So my time finally came for a stall. Also, having lost so much in less than a year, I was getting a lot of unwanted attention. I’ve kept my surgery to myself outside of a couple of close family members and my boss & 1 office mate. Other people at work started going all ga-ga on me when I finally started buying new clothes and they realized how much smaller I’ve gotten. I have been quite uncomfortable with all the attention. So I think slowing down a bit for a while will allow these people time to get over the novelty and get me out of the hot seat as far as answering questions. Similarly, I think having this stall is a good way for my mind to (maybe? Hopefully?) catch up with my new body. Being body dysmorphic from losing a lot of weight quickly is very real, and a very weird thing to go through. I don’t even know how to describe it, except for that the general feeling is that I am still big. The specific feelings are like looking in a funhouse mirror or something at times. Or not being able to believe that I weighed 100 lbs more at one time. Pick up 100 lb weight. It’s heavy! Carrying that around 24/7 was hard. I am glad the weight is gone! So anyways, I am thinking that perhaps I need to be at this weight for a while to re-learn how I feel about my body. It’s been a few months, and I think the consensus between me, myself, and I is that I would like to lose at least another 15 lbs. So that is exactly what I’m going to do! Onward!

Here's a link to the Vanity Fair article http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/2014/01/nuvaring-lethal-contraceptive-trial

I use mirena (iud); they last for 5 years. Around last December was the 5 year mark for my old one to come out, then you're supposed to wait like a month or so before putting a new one in (or at least that's what my dr wanted to do). So, in the meantime, i took one depo shot. Could have just been coincidence, or poor timing -- because that was when I hit the 7 month post - sleeve mark---- but my appetite increased tremendously. I've been stalled for a couple of months now. I'm sure it was a combination of factors that my appetite just happened to increase at that time, but I do believe, for me, the depo is somewhat to blame. It's apparently known to do that. My endocrinologist, when he heard my plans to have a depo shot, begged me to find an alternative, but I had my mind made up. Kinda wish I'd listened to him now. . . yeah he actually said "I beg you to consider something else" About the nuvaring --- there was an article in Vanity fair several months ago about a college girl who died from a blood clot associated with nuvaring, so that's why I didn't go that route. I'll see if I can find a link to the article. But to answer your question -- my preferred method is neither depo or nuvaring, it's mirena iud---very VERY low hormone. I now have my new one and am just waiting for the depo to get out of my system.....

I do find that I get hungry now adays, but the difference with having the sleeve (im almost a year out) is that if I eat my protein first, I get full after just a couple of ounces and stay full longer. I have to stay away from breads, rice, pasta, chips & sweets, because those things dont make me feel full & only make me want more. So IMO you sound like a good candidate for the sleeve, because the paleo (and paleo-esque) eating is the BEST way to allow the sleeve to work the way it is supposed to. The rule is: protein first. Good luck to you!

Gorgeous!

I add Protein powder to my juices -- have been doing it since I'd say about week 4 (I'd need to go back in my blog to see exactly when but week 4 sounds about right). I felt so much more balanced after I started juicing. My tiny tummy only seemed to have room for protein at meals, and I was missing my veggies. ANYways. I have tried adding unflavored, but then I found myself wanting to add splenda as well. So mostly now I like to use the Syntrax nectar protein powders (fussy navel and strawberry kiwi are my faves). Then I don't find myself wanting added sweetness. If you are already juicing and don't need the extra flavoring then by all means add unflavored -- the protein is great for you! Love to do kale with peaches, half a small avocado, a couple of almonds and half a serving of fuzzy navel Syntrax Nectar. My other staple is spinach with blueberries & raspberries, half a small avocado, a couple of almonds and half a serving of kiwi strawberry syntrax nectar. (If you're early out though make sure your NUT/ surgeon has cleared you to have seeds if you do the berries cuz sometimes they leave little seeds in the juice.)

I weaned myself slowly off coffee several weeks before surgery so that I wouldnt have caffein withdrawal headaches while recovering from surgery. Dr. Said I had to give it up for recovery because it irritates the lining of the stomach, and when your stomach has just been cut....well lets just say further irritating it is not the best idea 6 weeks after surgery I started drinking it again and had no problems. Every morning I have a cup of coffee with a vanilla premier shake (i like cold coffee). Then every afternoon I have a Chike coffee Protein shake. Those are SO frikkin good!

My favorite:http://beforeandafterfatlosspics.tumblr.com People add to it every day! Not all through WLS but some are. Regardless, it is so fun to see before and afters!

There were actually some big arguments on the boards in the past about this....http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/292939-how-to-guide-for-chewing-and-spitting/ The argument was so bad people left the boards it seems. In my opinion, it is kinda dangerous in that it could lead to doing it compulsively, aka a sort of eating disorder. I believe physiologically it is not good either in that it makes your body/metabolism think it is getting the food that you dont end up giving it. Can throw the system out of whack so to speak. I dontbthink it is a good practice...lBut this is iust my opinion....maybe ask your NUT

I'll chime in with my experience : I've had some sips of carbonated beverages here and there since surgery with no discomfort. I loved beer and sodas (and champagne!) before surgery. It honestly no longer appeals to me, and I'm cool with that. Actually, I'm very happy about that! Carbonation just doesn't do for me what I now believe a beverage is meant to do: quench my thirst and keep me hydrated. I sure wish I had similarly lost the desire for sugar and mexican food :/ drat

My favorites are the apple pie and the Cookies n cream. omg I thought I found heaven when I tried the apple pie....and then the cookies n cream came out and now that's my fave. I don't have them every day. But when I do --- I'm a happy camper. Worth the price for an occasional treat!

Agreed, if it's on the list and you're cleared to eat it, then by all means eat it. I was advising caution because the OP sounded like she was progressing faster than her dr's intentions. Each dr has different guidelines; I recommend following the instructions of the surgeon who did your operation. When in doubt, call your NUT or surgeon.

Please stick with what your surgeon has suggested....you've JUST had an internal organ operated on, and at this point it's not just "being bad" to eat more solid foods if you haven't been cleared by the doctor -- it's dangerous. Internally, your stomach has an incision, and they want you on the progression of liquids, then soft foods because it is safer while this incision is healing. Right now, it's not so much about weight loss as it is about healing fromsurgery. Please be careful. You don't want to risk getting somethig stuck in the staple line or possibly causing a leak, all for progressing too quickly on your diet before the dr says it's ok. Stick with the greek yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. It won't be too long before you work up to the tuna, etc. You'll be there before you know it! take care & good luck!

I was in the same boat. I had no co-morbidities, and I needed to gain 8 lbs to get to the required BMI of 40. I ended up gaining 20 lbs However! For me, in the long run, it was worth it. I would have eventually gained those 20 lbs anyways, the path that I was on. Hell I'm sure I would have gained more than that eventually. And my thinking was, let's get this done while I'm still fairly healthy and will probably tolerate the surgery better. I'm not advocating anyone deliberately gain weight. For me though, it was the answer. I had thoroughly researched the surgery and examined my history and I really thought the sleeve was the best answer for me. I believe with all my being that I was right. I have heard of people sewing weights into their clothing, and slouching when they measure your height. Losing an inch in height can increase your BMI. I also made sure I ate something really salty the day before weigh in. Good luck!

Hi~ I don't expect to reach my goal within a year, but I'm ok with it. A friend of mine took 2 years-- she lost 50 the first year and 50 the second, and has maintained her loss for several years now. I figure it's not a race, it's a lifetime thing. Though I do get impatient sometimes! And the acid reflux is the side effect I am having. Never had it before surgery, and it's not all the time now. I just pop an over the counter medicine (zantac is my fave) and it's better within 5 minutes. It's no big deal, and definitely a small price to pay for having lost 110 lbs! I didn't have hair loss and my skin is ~meh~ ...ok. I figure I'm 42 so it's not going to be stellar. I have no problem wearing a bikini to the local beach though. Another thing about not reaching goal within a year -- I set my goal where some would consider pretty ambitious -- 150 and I'm 5'9". I'm at 179 now. Really I only have another 10 lbs to go to be considered a "healthy" BMI. I will see how I feel when I get to 169 and may or may not make a run for the 150. Nothing's concrete. My surgeon basically let me set my own goal. A lot of people set their goal still in the "overweight" category, because getting there is still SO much more healthy than being in the "obese" category.

Ya know, seems to me, given that this chick chose to put something like this out there on fb, that it's really not about her getting disappointed. It would be more about her having an oppotunity to make a public dig at you. If she was really disappointed she should have discussed it with you privately. So imo she has just made herself look like an ass. Your reply to her was beautiful. If it were me, I would now pretend she no longer exists. Who needs friends like that? Smh. Can't tolerate catty girls

Bahahahahahaha!

What Ive heard is that the surface tension of plain Water is what makes it sometimes uncomfortable to drink. I often add some lime or lemon juice, but any little something changes the water enough to make it more comfortable for our tiny tummies. After 6 weeks I could generally drink exactly the same as I had pre surgery (i have always been a big water drinker). Some days - randomly & with no explanation - my sleeve will be tighter and it is slightly uncomfortable. So I always start small to test it out.

Yes, keep meeting your protein & hydration goals.....and allow time to pass. It's not a race, it just takes time. I remember feeling very impatient right after surgery because I wanted the weight to be gone, like, immediately. But the reality is, it just takes taking good care of yourself and allowing some time to pass. You will lose weight.

completely, totally, absolutely normal. I remember thinking : how can I possibly be feeling all of these feelings at once?!?!?! So, here you are! Today is the first day of the rest of your life. I love your screen name --- go get 'em, tiger!

I lost about 5 lbs the first week.....but honestly, for the first week I was only concerning myself with staying hydrated. And doing my walking. And sleeping The body can react strangely to surgery, and I was only concerning myself with recovering from that! My big loss was week 2 -- that week I lost 9 lbs

I'll chime in: I got waxed for many many years -- the full Brazilian. Then, I realized for the amount of money I was spending every couple of months, over several years...well laser just made more financial sense! It is expensive but when you do the math on what you spend on waxing... I had 6 laser treatments, and now I'll never never have to do it again! The hair is gone forever! I absolutely LOVE it!