LifetimeLoser

yes. yes. and did I say yes? I love the "weigh" exercising makes me feel. My goal is to be fit and healthy. Will it coincide with a certain goal number on the scale? I don't know, but I do know that I exercise 6 days a week and really push myself. Will I stop exercising to see the scale drop? Absolutely not! It brings me joy.

I hit my first and only stall so far when I was about 6 days post op and I freaked out! I was on this site reading for months before I had surgery so I knew what to expect. It does not change how you react to a stall though. I think for the first couple months our bodies are going through so many things it is really hard not to get emotional about things especially weight. Fast forward 7 months, I have wrapped my mind around the numbers on the scale and why all the fluctuations. I weigh myself every morning and sometimes a couple times a day. The difference is that it is just a gauge for me. I don't take it to heart if I weigh one pound heavier one morning. I have seen myself gain a pound by exercising more intensely or eating something salty. Stalls suck for sure, but no one weighs herself as much as we do so any other person would never even notice the stall. Your intelligence will eventually win over the emotions.

I agree, even though I'll be kicked out because I am only 7 months , but I don't feel I am anywhere near vet status. I still feel like a newbie sometimes and don't think I should be considered a vet at 7 months out. A year definitely sounds like a more reasonable place to be. I mean, for most of us, our weight loss is usually pretty easy during the first 6 months. I don't think the real struggles and obstacles come until you are further out and your weight loss slows down, or you are more back to every day life.

You look great at your 90% excess weight loss. The south beach phase 1 also works really well for me. I have done tons of diets and the south beach is usually the one that works for me. Staying accountable! That is a great tip. Thank you. I have also seen many people on this site lose a lot of weight. It is strange because the people that are part of my support groups and weight loss community seem to lose slower. I don't know if being on this site all the time is a form of motivation or accountability, but I think sites like this help with the weight loss process for sure.

Size 8/10 is a perfect size! My goal has always been a size 7/8. The lowest weight I have been able to get down to myself has been 160 pounds, but that was a LONG time ago. I just got out of high school. Even at 160 pounds I was still a size 12/14 pants...because of my nice, large hips. During the years of countless attempts to lose weight, I have always gotten down to 180 pounds and then just kind of lingered there. I was pretty comfortable at that weight. I guess I figure in my head that if I can get down to 180 pounds on my own, then I should be able to do much more with the help of my sleeve. Great advice about emotional failure. I can see how that might happen. I will keep that in mind 6 months from now when I am closer to my goal. We do have similar stats and you look wonderful!

Wow! That is a dream for me to be 135 pounds! I know you earned it. Did you always eat non-fat dairy, low fat meat etc? Or did you change that part of eating when you got closer to goal? I don't really watch the fat on my meat too much and I drink 1% milk. If I drink non fat or really low fat meats my calories become too low.

First of all, you look awesome! I have read of many people losing tons of weight without doing much or any exercise. I have read that one sleeve patient actually refuses to exercise until she reaches her goal weight because of some of the things exercise can do. There is a belief out there that exercise can actually slow weight loss on the scale. It can increase hunger which causes you to eat more calories in a day. It can also cause inflammation within the body which causes Water retention and causes the scale to stall. I am one of the few that LOVE to exercise so I will never cut it out, but I do understand mentally that it is very, very possible to lose weight purely by adjusting eating. I don't know what my surgeon was referring to either. I will have to ask him at my 1 yr. appointment.

awesome!!!

thanks. I wasn't quite sure what to put in the search box to bring the results I was looking for.

I just had my 6 month post op check up appointment with my surgeon on Monday. I am actually 7 months, but my appointment was late. My dr. was very excited about my weight loss and said I was doing "fantastic." He said I could expect to lose another 30 pounds and then start to level off. Losing another 30 pounds would put me at about 180lbs which is still heavy for a female at 5'6". I told him my goal weight was 140 pounds and he said that my goal was "very aggressive". Hew made it very clear that it was possible, but would take "other" things to reach my very aggressive goal. I am assuming the other things are eating healthy and exercising. I have read that sleeved patients lose between 70 and 80% of his or her excess weight. For those who have reached 100% of excess weight loss...what did it take? How difficult was it? How often did you have to exercise? How many calories were you consuming? Please tell me your story as to what worked for you and how I can reach my goal. I want to show up at my 1 yr. post op appointment being under my projected weight of 180 pounds. It is definitely a motivating factor when someone tells me it is highly unlikely I can accomplish said goal because I am more determined to reach that goal.

I know I just reached vet status last month (6 months post op), but I definitely do not feel like a veteran. I am now 7 months post op and I feel like I still have a lot to learn. I think being a veteran comes with knowledge, acceptance, and understanding with everything involved with a vertical sleeve gastrectomy.

It seems there is always an excuse not to go to the gym. I'm tired, I don't have clothes, I forgot my shoes, I have to cook dinner, I have to go to the store etc. I have been fairly successful at being consistent with my gym goings. I didn't plan all the things I do...I sort of just fell into it, but these are my tips for making sure the gym (exercise) is part of my day. 1. I practically live in gym clothes. I know it isn't feasible for everyone, but I can wear it to work. The gym I go to is across of my job. I live about a 20 minute drive from my job and gym. Every morning I wake up I put on my gym clothes that way I am ready! I sometimes go before work and sometimes after. 2. I plan my exercises for the morning time before I have anything going on. It leaves less excuses if I can do it and get it out of the way. I still have the "I'm tired" excuse, but I push through it. 3. My car is like a tank. I could survive in there! I have my workout shoes, extra pairs of socks, bottles of water, vitamins, protein bars, workout towels. I never "forget" anything because it is already stock piled in my car. 4. Goals! I am a very goal oriented individual. Each day I am at the gym I envision myself doing something faster, better, longer the next time I hit that machine.

I LOVE to exercise...especially running! I never understood when someone told me she didn't like to exercise. I have never been into sports because I was always obese and shy when I was younger. Once I found the gym, it was a whole new world. I love stepping off the treadmill and feeling that "high". If I don't sweat profusely or feel like I am going to fall over, then I feel as if I didn't do enough. It is extremely hard for me to find a workout partner because he or she always flakes out. I think I am addicted and I am totally okay with that. Fiddle: If I don't workout, then I have massive amounts of chaotic energy that usually gets funneled into cleaning something...usually the car or kitchen or bathroom. mmmmm, but I'd rather workout than clean.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. It is a good idea to be logging your food intake through this process because things do add up quickly...if you aren't already logging. I personally like myfitnesspal. I am 7 months post op and my day varies quite a bit. There are days that I barely manage to get 800 calories and I feel overly full and other days that I've eaten 1300 calories and I am still hungry. As a female, my time of month affects it. Other factors that affect my calories/fullness/hungry-ness is how much cardio I have done in the day, time of day I wake up and go to bed, what types of food I have been eating (Protein vs. carbs etc.). I wouldn't let it scare you just yet. Log your food and watch how hungry you are for about two weeks. If you are still scared, then there are lots of people on here that would love to help you because they have gone through the same thing.

Yes, it is essential that you get your protein and water in daily. You can eat too little. The reason you want to eat is because you want to maintain the muscle mass you have. If your body doesn't get the protein it needs, then it will start to break down the muscles in your body. Through this weight loss process mostly everyone will lose muscle, but getting enough protein and calories in will help to minimize this. It is extremely difficult for someone not to lose any muscle...especially if you are a female, but you want to do what you can. You also want to get those things in to try and prevent hair loss as much as possible. Another concern is slowing of the metabolism. I wasn't very hungry the first few months after my surgery either. My surgeon said he thought it was because I was in ketosis. I had to really work hard to get my calories anywhere above 600 calories. I worked very had to get my calories to 1000 by the time I was 4 months and it worked for me. I hit one stall in the very beginning. Try as much as you can to get your protein in.

I was someone who used a straw every day for everything pre-op. I followed my NUT instructions after I had surgery and now I don't even want one anymore. But back to the original question. It seems most programs ask patients to refrain from using a straw in the beginning and then if it doesn't bother you, then you can use one. I think the gas is the only problem straws cause so if it doesn't affect you and will help you get what you need, then maybe you should try it. I have seen other people post on the forums about using a straw from the very beginning because it was the only way they could get liquids down and his dr./NUT was okay with that.

I forgot to mention that our gives me acid reflux. I don't take it at night for that reason. BUT, I am one of the few that didn't have reflux before surgery and now suffer from it occasionally.

Nope. You are not the only weirdo! *shyly raises hand and looks around* I can't wait until I get my first pair. I've wanted a pair of vibrams for awhile now. After I started reading up on how they affect the foot, I was intrigued. When I find something I like to do...I naturally try to know and get better at every aspect of it. I liken it to your term "natural obsessiveness". I think I may be like that also. When did you get your first pair? Did you still have a lot of weight to lose? Did your feet shrink? and if they did...was the fit affected much by your shrinking feet?

Yes! Sugar free products can cause upset stomach and diarrhea if eaten/drunk in excess. I think you are on the right track. Maybe just cut down on some of it and see what happens.

Yes constipation was a problem for me. I took a stool softener. It still can be a problem and I am 7 months out. I started taking fiber gummies and I love them! I didn't join a gym until I lost my first 20 pounds. I just didn't feel comfortable yet. As far as walking goes, do as much as you can as soon as possible. Movement will help in many, many areas.

just keep on following the rules...the weight loss will come.

I am a true believer in listening to my body. It might take some time to figure out what your body is saying. If you are hungry, then I think you should eat. I am supposed to eat 5-6 meals a day. That breaks down to 2 snacks and 3 meals, but my meals/snacks tend to be the same caloric amount anyways. I think you will find a difference when you move on from soft foods and onto dense foods. I don't think you will feel as hungry, but if you do there is probably someone on this site who went through the same thing and can give you helpful words.

yes, yes, yes!

Don't forget your water and your protein shakes. I think that will help get you through. You can probably always find soup or chili while you are there though.