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I'm going to setup a message thread to see how much interest there would be in a Bariatric Pal Ragnar team. I think Vegas would probably be the best bet because tickets are cheap to there from everywhere. It's also in November so if you're just starting out you could train in that amount of time. Or if we could get a group together quickly, I would LOVE to do Zion Trail in April.

I did Miami to Key West. Hoping to do it again and maybe get on a team for Las Vegas, Colorado, or one of the trail runs. It would be super cool to put together a team from BP!

Love running and it does get easier if you stop challenging yourself. I was sleeved 3.12 and since then I've completed lots of half marathons, and 7 full marathons. I'm currently training for a 50 miler. I was never a runner. I tried several times prior to sleeve surgery and I'd always end up with injuries. After losing lots of weight, my body no longer comes up lame. Lol. Give it a fair shot. You have to get past the sucky part. You'll get there in time. If you still don't like it- don't do it. There's too many neat ways to get your cardio in!

50 miles! That's awesome! You were very inspirational to me when I first started running after surgery. I've done 3 halfs and a Ragnar relay. Just started training for a marathon this week. Hoping to be ready for the OKC Memorial Marathon in late April.

A butt flap implant is where they take the fat that is removed during the lower body lift and they form it and fit it into the butt to make it more rounded. It's not as painful as a silicone butt implant, but it doesn't cover as much area. I really like mine.

105....wowzer!

Yep, crazy high! I think the highest it's ever been is in the 20s. I'm hoping it's just a lab mistake. Should have new test results on Monday.

I'm in menopause, so no cycles. Many others have posted that theirs returned to normal though.

Double-whammy of PCOS and Hashimotos for me. I lost slowly but very steady. I only had 1 or 2 stalls.

HW 273

SW 265

CW 179

Surgery 1/17/13

Maintaining at 185 for the last year, but recently decided to try to make it to 173.

Have they done a swallow study? It sounds like esophageal spasms.

Congratulations CGJ! You are such a wonderful inspiration. I also went back to basics 10 days ago and a combination of that and a stomach virus has me 9 lbs down already. I'm doing Protein first and four medium meals, but one is usually a premier Protein shake.

I'm sorry you're not able to exercise as much. I think even a little bit helps. Can you do yoga or walk? I go back to yoga when I get injured and it usually helps me stabilize.

Great job on the weight loss!! I would agree that the fibro fog seems worse after the sleeve. But I still think everything will improve over time.

Mine got so bad that I finally went to the psych and did a trial of Strattera (ADD meds). It really seem to be helping and it's not a stimulant like Adderal.

I have fibromyalgia, PCOS, and Hashimotos. I'm almost two years out from surgery and 5 months out from plastics and I've lost over 90 lbs from my highest weight. I went to see my rheumatologist today and he kept looking at me and smiling. Finally, he said "you look amazing!" So nice to hear that from my doc. I had no pressure point pain at all for the first time in such a long time. I'm running 4 times a week up to 4 miles and I just feel amazing.

The only negative was my CRP lab came back at 105!! Doc said to get it redone at a different lab (he has a deep dislike of Labcorp), so we'll see. It just doesn't make any sense. My weight is normal, I don't drink, I'm not in pain (or as much pain), and I'm staying away from foods that produce inflammation.

@@BeagleLover , what is included in the comprehensive metabolic panel? I had surgery in Mexico and this is what my surgeon recommended.....

CBC, platelets

Electrolytes

Glucose

Iron studies/Ferritin

Vitamin B12

Liver and Kidney Function

Lipid Profile

25-Hydroxy Vitamin D

Zinc

Folic acid

Just want to make sure I'm not missing out on something important.

I believe that a metabolic panel is nearly the same as liver and kidney function tests.

Good point.. I also belong to soulcysters, and if you have PCOS, you really do need to follow a lower carb diet to maintain it.

I was on soulcysters for a long time. It's a great resource for those with PCOS.

I'm almost 2 years out from surgery and hit my first goal of 185 a year ago. I've been bouncing around 185 for a year and trying everything I could to get in the 170s to my final goal of 173. I thought my body just wanted to be 185 and there was nothing I could do to change that (I'm 5'10"ish). Even with plastic surgery, I didn't lose anything... well, I lost 4 pounds of skin and tissue, but got breast implants and a butt flap implant, so I think the difference was about 0.

Well... the scale is finally moving!! I've gone back to the basics of what I was eating about a month or so out of surgery and doing high intensity interval training 3 times a week. I also had a stomach virus that helped take off the first few pounds. Today I'm 179!!! Going to push really hard to try to make it to 175 by Christmas.

I'm also losing out of all my size 12 jeans and large tops are looking kinda baggy. I love my sleeve!

Good luck! I had a LBL, BL/BA, arm lift and neck lift this summer and I am so enjoying it now. I have a better body than I had in my 20s (I'm 49)! Just remember to increase your Protein for the extra you'll need for healing and take things slow!

Those of us that go to Mexico typically don't have followup visits and support groups. I'm almost two years out and met my first goal of 185 and trying now for my stretch goal of 173. I got support from BP. My surgery sister and I also checked in with each other once a week and supported each other through stalls. I go to my PCP regularly to check my Vitamin and mineral levels.

I feel the same way! Yesterday I walked past a Weight Watchers meeting that had just finished. I am so thankful that I never have to set foot in that place again or pay another dime for a temporary solution. I'm two years out from surgery and maintaining a 90 pound loss by eating Protein first.

Loose skin is all about genetics, age, and amount you have to lose. A person in their 20s with 70 pounds to lose is going to have fewer skin problems than someone in their 40s with the same amount. At 5'4" and almost 300 you have at least 150lbs to get to a normal BMI. If you're in your 20s with good genetics you're still going to have some loose skin, but not as much as someone in their 50s that's been carrying that weight for 30 years.

The loose skin is not the end of the world though. Clothing does a really good job of hiding it. Without clothes it's going to be there, but you'll be so much more mobile and flexible that I'll bet your husband enjoys things a lot more!

I also had PCOS. It took 1 year of severe low carb dieting in my 30s to get pregnant, and even when I did the docs considered it a miracle. I was able to lose weight with PCOS, but only with keeping carbs under 25g. PCOS is first and foremost an insulin problem. Because I could never stay at a severely restricted calorie level or a restricted carb level, I gained it all back. My surgery was 1/13 and I've been maintaining for a year. I don't have as much restriction now. I maintain by eating Protein first always and exercising 3-4 times a week for 60min. Since I've reached goal I've been able to do so many things on my bucket list. Ran 3 half marathons and a relay from Miami to Key West, learned to scuba dive, and I'm able to be active with my son every single day which sets a good example for him.

My only regret is that the sleeve wasn't available to me 25 years ago when I was in my 20s. What a life changing experience it has been. Good luck with your decision. It's definitely not something you want to take lightly as it is a permanent solution.

I don't have any experience with what you're describing, but I wondered if you're taking a probiotic? I started on one because my surgical nutritionist told us studies showed patients taking a probiotic had better weight loss (no idea why, but I figured it couldn't hurt!). I still take a daily probiotic, and I haven't had even a case of the sniffles in years (I'm sure now that I've said that I'll come down with a cold tomorrow). But if you're prone to stomach issues, a probiotic might be worth a try. I try to switch to a different brand every few months.

(And on a mostly unrelated note, I still love my Protein shake in the morning (it's actually more of a Protein hot mocha.)

Hope you're feeling better!

Thanks! That's an excellent idea.

I'm feeling better, but still don't have an appetite. I'm sort of enjoying that part of it. I think I may finally get to my goal weight and have a bounce range of a few pounds. My therapist was not happy that I lost 8 pounds this week, but I had gained a few over thanksgiving and she thinks my goal weight is too low (even though it's at the top range of normal BMI). I'm also right between sizes and I'd like to be closer to a 10 than a 12.

If you want to continue running, I would recommend you start slower. Don't focus on speed at least for the first year. Use a Couch to 5K app to go through a gradual training plan. Most of them start at running for about 45 sec walking 2 min and than repeating for about 30 min, not 1 mile!

Run slow enough so that you can still talk while running. Don't run every day; your body needs time to rest. Check out YouTube videos for Chi running form. It will put less stress on your joints. Also get fitted for good running shoes. If you have knee pain, I would recommend a zero drop or low heal shoe.

Set a goal, for example, you can probably run a 5k after training for 10-12 Weeks, so sign up for a race. Don't worry if you can't run the whole thing. There will be many people that will interval run or even walk most of the race. Running feels great when you're in shape and have trained. I do my best creative thinking on my runs.

Finally, I always look at three things when I'm running. If I'm having trouble breathing, I slow down. If my legs are hurting, I give them a good roller massage after I'm done and a hot soak in Epsom salts. If I'm fatigued, I analyze what I ate and drank before running. You shouldnt need any additional food for a 30 min run, but I need to fuel up for weekend long runs.

I started running a month after surgery when I was about 70lb to goal. Ran my first 5k using intervals after 3 months. Ran my first 10K after 9 months and ran my first half marathon after 11 months at 48 yrs old. I'm back training for a 10K after having plastics in July. I started back using the Couch to 5K app and ran a 5K this weekend.

One year after you've reached your goal weight. Your skin is still shrinking.

Yep, still have it. I'm hoping the doctor will decide to check it out. Great side effect.. I've lost 7 lbs since it started. I didn't lose this fast after I had surgery! My former goal weight was 175, but I settled at 185, so not unhappy about the loss.

Feeling much better today! Thanks for the ideas. I think it's a stomach virus. I'm still not hungry, but forcing Protein Shakes.< /p>

Sorry, everything has been given away. I'm going to do another closet clean out soon.

Oh my word, this is hysterical! I don't remember getting that good of drugs for my VSG! I love reading my texts and posts on Facebook after plastics though. I was so freaking happy, had no filter, and in no pain.

Love the part about the midget and the overall lack of periods!

Hope you're doing better today!