deedeemuffin

Cheri, Thanks for posting this. What you said makes perfect sense. I think what makes it hard sometimes is that more people post about their successes than their struggling. OF COURSE! Honestly, though, people who drop like 150 or 200 lbs in a year (or if they have less to lose and made goal in 6 months) their posts get a lot of attention. They keep getting bumped up to the top because people look at & respond to those posts. I'm bot saying that we shouldn't recognize accomplishments like that, but we should give equal time to those people who are "normal" or "slow" losers. Yes, I will continue to post good or bad, but I have decided to change my mind set. I will not be perfect all the time. I know that I will have genuine stalls. I refuse to compare myself to others, though. This is my body & it is not going to work exactly the same as someone else. I will stay on my program & the weight will follow.

Just look at the very bottom of my post. There's any area that is like a signature line. It shows that I was sleeved on 11/27. Below that is like a little picture of a woman running. On there is shows my starting & current weight & BMI. I haven't updated it yet this week, because my "official" weigh in day is Tuesday.

I wish you an excellent recovery. Just follow your dr.'s orders to the T & you should be okay. As far as being 50 lbs lighter it really is amazing. As you can see by my ticker in my signature I started out at a much higher weight & still have a lot left to go. Somewhere on this board I wrote a post about my perspective changing. I was visiting with my family & found out that my 7 year old nephew is now 46 lbs. I picked him up & was shocked at how much 46 lbs. weighs! Although I still have a long way to go, I am already helping my body a great deal with the weight that is gone already. I don't even know how I've been able to function at such a high weight. I would caution you, though, to not compare yourself to others. Most people would say "54 lbs. in 2 months is awesome", but I found myself looking at other peoples success stories here and they have lost 70 lbs or more in the same amount of time. Our journeys are as unique as our bodies. If you ever feel that you are getting discouraged please contact me. My family was not supportive of my decision, but I am lucky that my boyfriend who I live with has been wonderfully supportive. It's all about support & perspective. This WILL work & you will be happier & healthier. That is a wonderful feeling.

If you are in the Hamlet of Wallkill we are indeed practically neighbors. I am on Route 300 very close to Wallkill. As for your questions...I have had absolutely no complications whatsoever. I think that I am an example of textbook easy recovery. When I moved onto soft foods I thought maybe the sleeve wasn't working because I tolerated everything easily. As of today I am down 54 lbs. I am not the fastest loser, but not super slow either. I don't have any regrets. I feel like I definitely made the right decision. I can say that now being 2 months out. I am not going to lie, though. The beginning is ROUGH. I had many days where I cried & thought that I made a horrible mistake. This surgery impacts you very much emotionally. As much as you think that you are prepared, you are not. This website is great when you are looking for answers especially in the first weeks after surgery. My surgical group has meetings at their main offices...Middletown & Fishkill. I think that they also offer them in Monroe & Port Jervis. As for the shakes, I wouldn't stockpile anything before surgery. I had a couple side effects (not complications). First I have developed a super keen sense of smell. Secondly my tastes have changed. I do not know how your after care program works. After surgery I was one week on Water and then 2 weeks on Protein Shakes & water. Tristate also has very specific nutritional guidelines for their patients protein shakes so, my variety is limited. I ended up using the Pure Protein Ready to drink shakes. They come in different sizes and calorie content. I used the ones that have about 110 calories, 2 grams of carbs & 23 grams of protein. I used the vanilla, chocolate & Cookies and cream flavors. I liked them all. Now I only use them in a pinch because I am so tired of them. LOL. Anyway, I hope that this has been helpful to you. I am here for any questions you may have.

I actually started this book as well. I haven't finished it yet, but it already has been eye opening. I would strongly recommend it!

Lol. So maybe I won't be light enough for the wind to blow me around, but a girl can dream!

22 lbs is my 2 year old niece. Awesome! Keep up the great work. No amount of loss is little & it adds up. Congrats!

Awesome! I love Tristate & was also sleeved by Dr. Weiss. I was so desperate that I was going to do bypass. 2 months before my surgery he let me know that my insurance now covered the sleeve & he thought it would be better for me. I think that he & the team at Tristate are awesome. I hope that your surgery & healing go as well as mine did! Keep me updated & feel free to message me. Who knows. Maybe some day we might be at the same support group! I was sleeved on November 27th. So, if you have any questions along the way I would be happy to help if I can. Best of luck to you.

Putnam Hospital is nice my SIL had all three of her kids there. She lives in cold spring & I am in Fishkill regularly at my surgeons satellite office!

I live in the Hudson Valley! I technically live in the Town of Newburgh, but I have a Wallkill address. That is really interesting. I've never thought to see who else might be on the board in the area. It will be interesting to see how many posts you get. I had my surgery done through TriState Bariatrics. Out of curiosity, who are you using & what is your process looking like (insurance, diet plan, etc.), if you are using a different office in the are.

Do you realize what progress we are making with each & every pound we lose? It is easy to lose perspective. I am down 52 pounds in 2 months & all I have been able to think is 190 or so more to go. At a family dinner tonight I was informed by my 7 year old nephew that he now weighs 46 pounds. He is proud of this as he is growing tall & strong! I picked him up & he was HEAVY. It made my back & shoulders hurt to hold him. He thought that I was being awfully silly since I really only pick up & carry around his youngest sister who is 2. All the kids got a good laugh. I just thought, "Dear Lord, I've lost 6 more pounds than this 7 year old child weighs". It was really eye opening to realize that this "small" amount of weight really effected my body. When I get to my goal weight I wonder if I'll feel like a feather...lol. Just some food for thought.

This past week my nutritionist gave me an awesome tip on how to get protein in. I have been having trouble meeting the minimum requirement AND getting in all my water. She suggested that I try dried edamame (soy beans). She said salted was fine or even one serving a day can be with dried fruit. Just 1/4 of a cup gives you 14 grams of protein & only 2 grams of net carbs. It is the easiest protein to bring out & about too. 1/4 cup in a ziploc bag fits in even a tiny purse. It is also great if you are missing foods that are salty and crunchy. It really helped me to meet my nutritional goals for the week. Just thought that I would pass it along!

Fage 0% fat. I mix it with a s-f sweetener & 2 tbsp. of powdered PB2, It makes it like a peanut butter dessert. So good!

Totally normal. I am 2 months out & I just recently started being able to lay flat in bed without being propped up by 6 pillows. Don't worry. It gets better.

I am 8 weeks post-op & I can eat quite a bit depending on the consistency. For instance I can eat a whole 6 oz. container of greek yogurt no problem at all. I can also eat a whole cup of home made egg salad or egg beaters very easily. Solid protein I can eat about 3 oz. & a little bit of vegetables too. I weigh everything on my food scale. Everyone is different. I thought that I was able to eat too much. I just stuck to my protein & carb guidelines & the weight is coming off. Just stick to your program & you will be just fine.

I spent a lot of time talking to my therapist pre-surgery and also had my psychiatrist up my Xanax dosage temporarily. I also took melatonin in order to sleep. Anxiety continued post-op. Well, more than my usual anxiety. I have dealt with having severe anxiety & panic attacks for about 4 years now. My best advice would be to consult your professionals & come up with a care plan. It's the only way that I have been able to make it through. Best of luck to you!

Thanks for sharing this. I am down 51 lbs in 9 weeks. I'm not complaining, but I know other people have lost a lot more. I have been really bad about getting my water and protein in. I haven't been eating poorly, but I have found it easy to skip meals & liquid. This is good motivation for me to start getting in my protein & water!

I know that feeling all too well. I have struggled with hunger starting at about 2 weeks out. Veggies have been my lifesaver...cooked well during soft food & now snacking on crunchy, raw vegetables. Good luck to you!

I had my surgery on November 27th. It has been a struggle to say the least. I know many of you have read my posts & given me support throughout these first steps of my journey, So, I wanted to share my success so far with you. I am down 51 pounds. My BMI is 7 points lower. My shirt size has gone from a 34 to a 26/28. My pants have gone from a tight 32 to a comfortable 26. Even at my dress shoes are too big. The shoes are a funny story. I hardly ever wear dress shoes so I only have 1 pair. I needed them for a wedding reception last weekend. As I was walking up the stairs at the reception & my foot came up & my shoe stayed on the stair. I stepped right out of it. There was a man standing at the bottom of the stairs & he got my shoe & held it out for me to put on. He said,"You're just like Cinderella". LOL. My boyfriend didn't find it as funny. So, that's about it for now. It has been a really hard road, but I am starting to have some hope. I'll have to post a new pic since I have lost weight in my face.

My nutritionist said 60-70 grams of protein. Excess protein can be stored as fat & is also hard on your kidneys.

I really appreciate the feedback from everyone. I know a lot of people have been wondering how I have been doing. I am sorry that I haven't followed up. I actually have not even been on the website for over a week. I got a call last Tuesday morning that my grandfather had a major stroke & would not survive the night. I spent the better part of the next 6 days at the hospital even staying overnight some nights. Finally on Sunday (6 days later than the Dr. predicted & on his 83rd birthday) my grandfather passed away. On Sunday family stood around his bed & sang Happy Birthday. About 5 minutes later he took his last breath. Yesterday I did absolutely nothing all day. I was so exhausted. I have not been taking care of myself at all. I have not been getting in my protein or my water. I didn't eat poorly. I just didn't eat or drink much at all. I am physically weak & definitely retaining fluid from not hydrating & getting my TOM 2 days ago. Today starts a new school semester for me. I am going back to school for the first time in a long time. Right now I am just so sad & very overwhelmed. I know that I need to take better care of myself. I wish that I had some better news for everyone who has been so encouraging. As soon as I do, I will certainly post it on the boards. This week I need to concentrate on getting back into learning mode for school & getting on a regular eating & drinking schedule. My weight is down this week, but I feel like I would have lost more if I took care of myself. Tomorrow is a new day & I live to keep on pressing on.