deedeemuffin

May I ask your beginning weight?

Of course. It's actually right on my ticker underneath my signature if you look. My starting weight was 418. I am now at 313. I can't wait to get into the 200's. I'm not going to even worry about the 100's yet! There is people of all different starting weights here, though. You know when I look in the mirror I feel like I don't look any different now, but when I put the pictures side be side it was eye opening!

Hey DeeDee

I remember starting this journey close together when we were 'newbies' Congrats on your amazing loss! You are looking fan.tas.tic!!!! Keep up the great work! I still feel like a newbie sometimes getting fluids and Protein in, but its slowly over time becoming a lifestyle change!

Best of Luck!

-Cassie

Congratulations to you too! You're doing a great job yourself!! I hear you when it comes to still feeling like a newbie. I feel like I make rookie mistakes all the time...lol. I'm SO glad to see that you're doing so well too.

Nice Job! Hope I do as well!

I'm sure you will. The guys on here generally lose more quickly than the gals! Just stick to your plan & you will do great.

Hey, DeeDee. I am a patient of Dr Weiss also. Sleeve date: 5-18-12. SW: 338

CW: 180

You are doing great!!

Kristie

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You have done amazing! I can't believe how well you have done in 1 year. Congratulations. I would love to be down 140 in my first year too. I'll tell you Dr. Weiss knows his stuff. He might not be warm & fuzzy, but he's great at what he does & I love the team at Tristate!

Sleeved on 9/11/12

Starting weight: 294

Current weight: 191

Just saw that you are a Patient of Dr. Weiss also. You have done amazing! I am down 105 with 100+ still to go. I am also 5'10" so your pictures are awesome inspiration for me to get to my goal. Thanks!

Awesome! Hard work pays off!

That it does! Don't let the smile fool you. Living with the sleeve IS hard work, but worth it in the long run!

U look great Hun!!

Any advice!

Sent from my iPhone using VST

It doesn't look like you need any advice from me. You seem to be doing an awesome job yourself! Congratulations. I am not even half way through my journey yet. The only advice I can give to anyone is just stick with it. None of us are perfect. We all make mistakes, but just get back on plan asap. I don't beat myself up when I have a slow month. I just follow my orders...get in my Protein, Water & activity. Everyone has different preferences as far as what works for them. I think consistency is key. Have faith in yourself & the process. It may not go exactly as we plan, but it does work. Keep up your awesome work!

Thank you everyone! I'm feeling good & ready to keep being a loser! LOL

YOU & your family are just beautiful! Great work on the 105 lbs lost!

Thanks, but those cute kiddos are my nieces & nephew. Hoping they'll have a cousin within a few years.

You look awesome DeeDee! May I ask what brought you to the hospital last night?

Absolutely! There's a long post floating around from earlier today detailing my epic night last night. So, You get the abbreviated version Believe it or not at 7 months out I'm still learning. I went this whole time without any problems or complications. Worked too hard outside, got massively dehydrated, had to be taken by ambulance to the ER. Lots of fluids & meds later I was released. Also, found out that I MIGHT be pregnant despite using bc pills. Positive urine test, inconclusive blood test. So, I wait a week & go to my obgyn for a retest. Quite a night. Still learning...

7 months - 105 lbs (only 5 lbs this month, but that's okay!) And OF COURSE the pics! It's working. I'm working, We're all working! What a difference 105 lbs makes...not just in appearance, but how I feel! Aside from my trip to the hospital last night, I've been feeling awesome!

Wow!! Are you going to be a first time Mommy????? WOw, how exciting!!! Congrats!!! And glad you feel better!!!!!! <3

It will be a first time for me IF the 2nd round of tests come back positive. So, still another anxious week of waiting!

Well they say that the pill isn't as effective while you're still losing after VSG, so maybe the test is right

I'm not sure I'm ready for that. It wasn't in the plan yet, but what will be will be I guess. (I have been with my guys 7 years & we were going to get married September 2014 & THEN baby!) lol...nervously awaiting my appointment next week.

Well, I am 7 months out & I spent 10 hours in the ER last night & this morning. I will be 7 months out on the 27th. I thought that I had this sleeved life under control! Well, I know we never stop learning and this definitely applies to the sleeve.

I have been very good about getting in my required Protein & Water with a few missteps here & there. Yesterday I went to help my grandmother with her massive garden. I made myself a Protein shake worth 30g of protein & drank that before I left knowing the rigorous physical work that was ahead. I drank water before I got there. Water after about 2 hours of work & water another 2 hours later. That was not enough water!

We can't chug down a 16 oz bottle like we used to. I wasn't feeling well, but decided to drive home. Within 5 minutes I had to pull over to vomit. I had to pull over 4 more times in a very short period of time. I think I had a guardian angel though. I was out in FARM country. Throwing up on a deserted stretch of road with only fields late on a Sunday night. A young man showed up within minutes. Thank God, because at that point I couldn't get off the ground.

The whole experience was terrifying. I was disoriented, week & was just hard vomiting bile. I spent the night in the ER. Three IV bags of fluids & many drugs later I was released. I am on strict orders for physical rest, extra hydration & follow up with a couple Dr.s (PCP, Neuroligist, Obgyn) within the week.

The ER Dr. wanted to do a cat scan, but we ran into a hiccup. My urine test came pack positive for pregnancy. My blood work was not definitive. So, no cat scan & I need to follow up in a week with my obgyn for a second urine & blood pregnancy screening. Now to any finger waggers, I am on the pill, take it every day at the same time, don't miss doses & haven't taken any antibiotics. So, every precaution has been taken.

So, my lessons for today...drink more water than you think you need. The sleeve requires vigilant proactiveness in this area. Reaction is limited & too little too late. Also, for the women, even if you are back on the pill you might want to consider being a little more proactive in this area too. If my trip to the ER & story prevents even one person from exoeriencing what I did then it will be worth it. I will certainly be taking better EVEN BETTER care of myself now than I was. Stay well my fellow sleevers!

I am almost 7 months post-op & I think I might have developed a problem with dairy. I've only noticed over the past couple of weeks. I am a vegetarian so I use dairy a lot towards my Protein. I eat A LOT of cheese sticks. I haven't needed the antacids that they give you post-surgery for months. I use almond milk in my coffee and smoothies. I don't think that it is an acid problem as I have no upset with coffee, Tomato sauce, oranges, etc. I had 2 string cheeses for lunch & I have been in horrible pain for the past couple of hours...acid reflux up to my throat, a lot of burping & gas. (Gross, I know. Sorry.) I'm just wondering if anyone else has developed problems with dairy. I'm also wondering what I am going to do for protein of I cut out my cheese & yogurt. My NUT is very supportive of a vegetarian diet, but not so much a vegan diet. Any experience or recommendations?

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!

That's actually a lot faster than most people lose!

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.

Thanks all! The article made great sense and has me mentally calmed. Thanks for all the encouragement and support- I think I am in my old pattern of thinking - that nothing ever works! This time I have to believe it will and be Patient!!!

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!