deedeemuffin

You are really doing amazing! Congratulations!

I would like to join, but I haven't shared that I have had surgery with anyone outside my immediate family. Even though no one outside the group can see what is posted they can still see it as a group that you belong to when you join, correct?

Everyone seems to have a different program. I was on water only for the first 7 days. Then 3 protein shakes a day & water for another 14 days. It was a full 3 weeks before I was allowed soft/purees foods like yogurt. The beginning can be a bit rough. Just stick to your plan & you'll be fine.

Thoughts: Eat very slowly & start with your protein. Odds are you won't get through even all your protein. If you do, eat a little veggie. Yes, eventually you will be able to eat all that at once. I am 6 months out & a vegetarian. So, my meal plan varies a little from yours. Your listed breakfast is something I would eat & I don't think that I could handle that much until just recently.

Just having the attitude of "I'm ready" is a huge step. I started out at 418 lbs. For years I thought about wls. I was even scheduled to get the lap band twice & canceled both times. Four years after starting the process I finally was able to say, "I'm ready" as well. The truth is no matter what tool you have, if you're not ready to make drastic lifestyle changes then it's going to be a rough road. Don't get me wrong. Being sleeved can be pretty rough too LOL. What I can tell you is, although I have at least another 140 lbs to go, focusing on the present is a life saver. You are going to be so amazed at how much your life is going to change with every pound that you lose. After 6 months & 101 lbs I can do so much more than I was able to before. The same will be true for you. You have started out on a great road to a healthier you. Congrats & I wish you all the best!

You are right. 51 lbs in 9 weeks was pretty quick. I am now 6 months out & down 101 lbs. I recently saw a post from a woman who has the same amount of weight to lose as I do & she lost her first 100 lbs in 4 months. I felt jealous for a brief second. I realized that I was being ridiculous, though. Before being sleeved I would lose & regain the same 30 lbs over & over again. Here I am 6 months out & down 101 lbs & still moving in the right direction. Yes, some people are losing more quickly than I am, but some are losing more slowly. I have learned the healthiest thing is not to compare myself to others. Everyone's journey, even though we're all sleeved, is very unique. I have decided to just do what I need to do to stick to my eating & exercise plan. I will never again say, "I've ONLY lost X amount of weight" again. Whether people consider me a slow loser or a fast loser makes no difference to me. All that matters to me is that I am a loser. LOL

I don't know what your protein guidelines are, but my NUT says 60-70 is a good number to shoot for. This is what I do for a breakfast shake: 1 scoop Designer Whey Double Chocolate Protein Powder, 1 cup almond milk, 1/2 banana & 2tbsp of PB2...that starts my day with a total of 25g of protein. 2 pieces of l-f string cheese is another 16g of protein. A greek yogurt 18g of protein. Just look for high quality foods with a good amount of protein. Just those 3 small portions of food add up to 59g of protein. It takes awhile to find what works for you, but it is definitely doable.

I will just tell you from personal experience that I drank once at almost 5 months out & I don't ever want to drink again. Whiskey neat was my drink of the night. I am no light weight drinker. I got VERY drunk VERY quickly. In the past I would have had a liter of water & 2 Tylenol before bed. With the sleeve I just couldn't get anywhere near that quantity of water in. I had one of the worst hangovers of my life the day after. The alcohol tore my whole intestinal system up. It was horrible. I can tell you that I have absolutely no interest in ever drinking again. So, I won't preach about calories or addictions, but I'll tell you that it straight up sucked. Big time. So, proceed with caution.

I'm glad that you are feeling better. I have had a hard time getting around my own "old pattern of thinking". Before surgery I had lost & regained the same 30 lbs over & over again for years. Well, wouldn't you know my first stall came right around that 30 lb mark. I was convinced for the 3 weeks that followed that I had had surgery for no reason. That my body wasn't going to let me lose anymore. As you can see on my signature I am far past 30 lbs now. Just keep that positive attitude. It really helps.

I know it's hard, but try not to be discouraged. Your body is going through a ton of changes right now. Being sleeved is a big shock to the system. You also are contending with issues like internal swelling. My liquid phase was 3 weeks. As soon as I went on soft foods I gained 4 lbs. in 4 days. I was totally freaking out! I then didn't lose anything for 2 weeks & then dropped 10 lbs. the week after that. Being sleeved doesn't mean that you lose weight consistently every week. Sometimes you lose inches & sometimes it's just a matter of powering through. Make sure that you get in your Protein, Water & activity & you will be just fine. Hang in there & you'll see!

I am a vegetarian & am working on weaning out dairy & eggs to be vegan. You will get a lot of differing opinions on this topic, but ultimately you need to make the decision that's right for you. It is actually very easy to be a vegetarian with the sleeve. You can get in your Protein in a variety of ways: cheese, tofu, dried edemame (this has been a life saver at 14g of protein for only 1/4 cup), yogurt, meat alternatives (I like Gardein products), Beans...I'm sure you get the picture. I have tried meat twice since being sleeved 6 months ago. It was moist & I chewed very well & vomited both times. My sleeve doesn't seem to like meat at all. So, I make it a point to just eat as healthfully as I can using mostly plant based whole foods. I can not get in the quantity that I did before being sleeved. I keep track of my food intake on My Fitness Pal so that I make sure to get in enough protein. Different doctors & nutritionists will have differing opinions too. My nutritionist says that my diet is a little carb heavy, and that I would lose weight more quickly if I ate less fruit, rice & beans, tofu & rice, etc. You know what, I've lost 101 lbs. in 6 months so i'm not really that concerned. I eat what feels right & healthy. I drink my Water. I exercise. That seems to work out just fine. So, don't let anyone discourage you from being vegetarian or even vegan. It is possible to get in all your protein without any animal products. It is also not the end of the world if you eat 2 pieces of fruit a day instead of the half a piece recommended. You can also eat healthy grains in moderation too. Quinoa is a great one. So, listen to your body's intuition. Sometimes it's the smartest thing that we can do.

Hi VST family & friends. I haven't been on the boards here in quite awhile. I took a break to concentrate on my schoolwork which turned into a schoolwork/ we're buying a house start packing break! So, yes, I am moving. My bf & I close on our first owned home in about 4 weeks. On 5/27 was my 6 month surgiversary & I am proud to say that I am down 101 lbs! Woohoo! I can't believe what a difference 6 months can make. I'll have to get new pics up at some point. I know how everyone here loves pics! LOL I have gone through so many changes mentally & physically that I can't even believe it. So many wonderful things. Obviously the 101 lbs gone is nice, but so many more NSV that I'll need a whole other thread. I'm afraid it will be manifesto like in length! I just wanted to say, "Hi. I'm back & better than ever!". I look forward to catching up with some old timers & making new connections. New pics & manifesto to come...probably within a week.

A sleep study will be beneficial if you do indeed have sleep apnea. It gives you one more reason for your insurance company to approve your surgery. I have sleep apnea & I wasn't allowed to use my machine for a full week after surgery, though. The surgeon didn't want to risk air getting into my sleeve.

Wow! Some of you are really putting me to shame. I can do 2 miles now, but I'm 6 months post-op. My surgeon was also very insistent on only walking for the 1st 8 weeks. Now I do an hour of yoga 4 days a week and walk 2 miles 5 days a week. My surgeon & nutritionist said that they are very happy that I get that amount of exercising. So, I guess it's different for everyone. Don't push yourself too hard so soon after surgery though. You could really cause yourself some injury & it's easy to dehydrate. So, be careful.

I totally did. I was actually at a bar in Manhattan for a friends wedding reception. My bf was already up the stairs ahead of me, but an attractive bouncer at the bottom of the stairs got me shoe & held it out for me to slip back on! LOL. It was great. When we were leaving he said, "Goodnight Cinderella". Maybe my bf isn't my Prince Charming after all.

Yup. They sure do. I hadn't worn my dress shoes until almost 2 months after I was sleeved. I got dressed, put on my shoes (Yes, I only have 1 pair of dress shoes lol) and they were flopping on my feet. It was too late to stop & try to find a new pair. I was walking up the stairs at the event I went to & I literally stepped right out of my shoe!

I'm 6 months post-op. I am experiencing feeling hungry again & being able to eat more. I notice that there seem to be a lot of variables though. For example, if I start my day with food instead of Fluid I can eat more at Breakfast (a whole NY bagel as opposed to a half). Nobody needs to tell me that I shouldn't be eating bagels. I know. I think Laura is right. This seems to be where some hard work begins. I am happy with my results 6 months out, but I have to make better choices. This week I have been dealing with the return of PMS cravings. It's been hard because I haven't really had cravings before now, but I have been wanting ice cream all week! I haven't had any & am feeling cranky as a result. Just keep hanging on & try to find what works best for you. I am in the same situation. Like I said, I notice that when I drink more regularly I have less capacity for food. I still follow the rule of no drinking 30 minutes before or after meals. I avoid foods that easily slide through my sleeve (like Cheetos). Sometimes I just serve myself 6 oz of tofu, vegetables & rice but don't eat anymore even if I think that I'm still hungry. It's trial & error. The sleeve is a tool & I guess this is kind of like we just got our training wheels taken off. You're not alone & we can all do this!

Stalls are VERY common. You are losing more quickly than I did. It's taken me 6 months to lose 101 lbs, and I have had to learn to live with stalls. My longest stall was 3 weeks. I didn't gain or lose even 1 lb. I have had 3 stalls over the past 6 months. They are usually followed by a dramatic loss week on the scale. Once I lost a clothing size during a stall but no weight. Just keep doing your program...get in your protein, avoid simple carbs, drink your water, exercise & the scale will eventually catch up. Keep up the awesome work!

Everyone has different opinions & experiences with this. Some swear by fat-free everything. Some more natural. I am 6 months out & have found that my sleeve has an aversion to a lot of things. Particularly processed foods. Even at this point, every time that I try a food that I haven't had post-sleeve I treat as if I have never had it before. It's really like learning to eat all over again. Personally, the more ingredients on a label the sicker it made me. I'm talking afraid to be 3 feet from the bathroom sick. It was awful. I have also found that my sleeve doesn't tolerate meat...not even moist & overly chewed. So, I stick to mostly very basic whole food ingredients now. Luckily I have a share in our local CSA. So, I eat a lot of Beans, rice, vegetable stir fries, vegetables with home made hummus, fruit & nuts. I depend on Protein Shakes to make sure that I do get in enough Protein. I have had to learn to be very creative so as not to get tired of them! My Dr.'s office transitioned slowly too...1 week on just Water, followed by 2 weeks of just shakes & water. Then some food so mushy I didn't want it...lol. I thought that I was going to lose my mind, but it gets easier in time. All I can say is don't let others dictate your diet, not even your NUT. Mine tells me that I eat too many carbs, but I get also get in all my protein, water & exercise. I'm down 101 lbs in 6 months so I'm not complaining! Take advantage of this time to learn how to really eat healthfully. Listen to your body (not your head hunger talk) & you will make the right choices. It looks like you're already off to a great start!

Congratulations! You are doing an amazing job & you must feel so good about yourself! Keep up the awesome work!

I absolutely believe it is possible. The sleeve is an amazing tool when utilized correctly. Before my sleeve I would lose & regain the same 30 pounds over & over. After I got sleeved I dropped that 30 pounds fairly quickly & then hit a stall for 3 weeks. I was terrified that I was doomed to never lose any more. Well, I am now 6 months post op and down 101 pounds! I still have well over 130 more to lose, but I know that I can do it if I just keep on my plan. If I get in my Protein,drink my Water & get in regular exercise I keep taking off weight. None of us who have been sleeved are perfect, but if you can get into some healthy habits it will definitely come off. Everyone is different, but I have learned a couple things that have helped me. The first is don't compare yourself to others. There are people who are on the boards who have lost 100 pounds in 3 or 4 months. It took me 6 & others have taken longer than 6 months. This is YOUR journey & will be different from anyone elses. I weigh myself once, maybe twice per week. I was weighing every day & making myself crazy with the daily fluctuations. Realize that you will have stalls. Everyone does. It is just part of the process so, don't lose hope. Ask questions & connect to other people. This can be a very difficult process at times & the more support that you have the better. The most important thing for me has been learning to accept my journey & learning to be kind to myself. I don't know about you, but it has been very hard for me to learn to put myself first. There are many people like you and me who have a longer journey ahead of us than others. We absolutely CAN do this though!

I am only a week post-op, but I had given up meat long before surgery. I had been seriously considering giving up milk products too. Are there any successful sleeved veggies out there? What is your food approach?

Some of you were able to see my pics yesterday, but someone gave me a tip about using picmonkey to do a side by side comparison. I still have a LONG way to go. I don't see it when I look in the mirror, but when I look at these pics side by side I can definitely tell the difference. I would really recommend this to anyone, but especially to those like myself who have a really large amount of weight to lose. Trust me, I would have never complained about losing ONLY 76 lbs. in 4 months in the past, but when you get sleeved you want it all to melt away quickly. It still holds true that we did not gain this weight overnight & we won't lose it overnight. I will be keeping a pic log from now on so that I can see the results more clearly for myself & stay motivated! The before pics are me at 418 which was my highest weight and also my weight on the day of my VSG. The after pics are from yesterday...4 months & 4 days out at 342.

My sleeve journey is going great. I am down 76 lbs. & feeling great. Tomorrow I am going to start exercising 6 days a week with my boyfriend's sister who lost 110 lbs. all by sheer willpower. I love her because she does not judge me being sleeved at all. Here's the stinker. I have 3 1/2 weeks left of my college semester. My last day is April 28th & I leave for vacation on April 29th. I am abstaining from any social media or time drainers. Although I love this site & the supportive people here, I have to take a mini break. So, you won't hear from me again probably until when my vacation starts or some time after April 29th. I know you all are so sad! LOL....Seriously, I know you will all be here when I come back on. My plan for the next 26 days is go to the gym, get in my protein & water, do infinite piles of homework, cook & clean. It will be worth it when I am feeling relieved & healthy on my vacation. I can't wait to see what my updated story will look like by then. So, I'll see you on the flip side. Keep working those sleeves!

Just go to www.picmonkey.com On the main page click on collage. On the next page click layouts on the left. Then select "ducks in a row" It allows you to do anywhere from 2-5 pictures side by side. Simply upload the pics that you want then click and drag them into the boxes. I am not computer savvy at all & it was really easy. Good Luck!