deedadumble

What a wonderful NSV!

It's made with non-fat milk. One serving of non-fat milk (1cup) has 12.3g of sugar.

So happy to hit 29.8 BMI today. I am officially not "obese" any more!

I like Tijuana Flats. I order one chicken taco and I dump the stuff out if the shell and eat it (like a mini salad).

I've had huge NSVs the past 3 months (no longer pre-diabetic, 104/64 BP, great labs, fitting into my husbands jeans!), but today is all about celebrating numbers. Some FAQs before the numbers... I track everything weekly on Thursday (my surgery day) including weight and all measurements. I also weigh on Monday to get an overall feel for how I'm doing that week to see if I need to have a few strict days. For me, I tend to obsess and think more about food if I'm tracking, so I don't track what I'm eating. I estimate my Protein amounts and drink at least 60 ounces of Fluid (at least 40 ou water) I do follow a plan of eating that has worked for me though. I eat from a selection of meals for all 3 meals of the day. If I have a higher % carb meal (like oatmeal), I balance it with higher % protein meal for the other 2. I eat 1 or 2 Snacks per day. If I'm losing slower I add a Protein shake (weird to add when weight loss slows, but it's worked for me) and another cup of Water or a smooth move tea at night (sometimes I'm just full of s&%#... literally . I choose from the following meals: cottage cheese, Colby-jack cheese snack and 4 multigrain crackers, Premier Protein shake, advantagEDGE shake, oatmeal (3/4 McD's or Chickfla usually), chicken Soup, chili, shrimp, Greek yogurt. My favorite meal out is at Tijuana Flats. I order one chicken taco and I eat the stuff inside the shell. I have a piece of cheese pizza once a month. I eat out with family and friends regularly. My favorite things to order are soup or a salad with chicken on it. I usually eat some of the chicken and a little bit of the other ingredients and share the rest with my husband. I think because I look at this as my new way of life, I don't feel deprived. I always felt like a failure on diets before, but haven't had that feeling since I started. Here are the numbers: Height: 5'11" HW: 273 Pre surgery diet W: 265 (1/3/13) SW: 255 (1/17/13) S BMI: 38 (Drumroll please!) CW: 215 C BMI: 30 (1 pound more to get out of obese category!) Loss since PreDiet: 50 pounds! Gone forever, never to return! Woohoo! Measurements (pre-surgery diet/now) Neck: 15.75 / 14 Waist: 43 / 36.5 Hips: 51.5 / 44.25 Arms: 18 / 14.25 Breast: 49 / 44 Ribs: 40.5 / 37.5 Thigh: 30.75 / 25 Calf: 19 / 16 Clothing size before: 20-22, 2x Clothing size now: 16W, XL Exercise: I started couch to 5k (I use Run 5K by Louis Kwok on iPhone) about 4 weeks ago. I run 3 times a week, but usually walk for about 15 min after, for a total of 45 min. Because I have felt so good, I've skipped a few days, so I'm on week 6 day 2. I sign up for 5Ks to keep me on a steady program of exercise. I'm thinking about starting crossfit when it gets too hot to run outside (I live in Florida and it's 85 even at 6am in the summer). My right knee is pretty bad (2 surgeries plus arthritis and chondromalacia), but Orthovisc injections in February really helped as well as taking Krill Oil /hylauric acid (Costco) every day.

I think it's going to be an individual determination. I've been drinking Lifewater 2-3 times a week without stalling, but I may try switching to Propel for a week to see if there's any difference. I usually drink water plain or add 1/2 a packet of Crystal Light Mojito to it. I think it's just so important to get the water down, that anything you can add to make it easier add it.

Here's a visual for you! From http://www.core-condition.com/quick-tips/how-to-properly-track-weight-loss-progress-without-the-scale/

I've been on some form of it (Synthroid, generic, and Armour thyroid) for 30 years. I'm on 137mcg 6 days a week. I finally figured out that the non-generic Synthroid works best for me. There are fillers in the generics that made it difficult to manage my levels, plus I could not guarantee that I was getting the same generic manufacturer every month. I was on Armour for many years because I was reading tons of articles that said that the natural hormone was better. It worked pretty well the first year I was on it, but the formulation changed and it was no longer relieving my symptoms. I had an appt with my endocrinologist last week and she was thrilled with my weight loss. She also said I'll need to get my TSH checked more often until I get to my goal weight. As you lose weight, the amount of Synthroid you need may decrease. I was ok the last time I was checked (1 mth after surgery), but she wants me checked again every 3 months. The great thing is that once I get to goal weight she'll release me to my PCP because she was also monitoring me for pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome, which I no longer have!

I've had Hashimoto's for 30 years. I just had a checkup with my endo last week and she said she wants to monitor my TSH levels every 3 months until I get to goal. The amount of synthroid I need will probably decrease. When I reach goal she will release me back to my PCP for yearly check ups. She no longer will need to see me because I'm no longer pre-diabetic (woohoo!). If you are on thyroid meds, please see your endo to make sure your levels are ok! I have lost 47 pounds and am losing 1-3 pounds every week. My surgery was 1/17.

Way to go Vicki! That's awesome!

I went to the endocrinologist today and my a1c is 5.3, so I am no longer pre-diabetic!! My health was the main reason I had the surgery. Both of my parents were diabetics and my dad died of kidney failure from it at 62. My mom died of a heart attack at 57. I want to live to see my son grow up, go to college and get married. My endo said that once I reach my goal weight she will release me to my PCP for yearly thyroid monitoring (I have Hashimoto's), so that's another NSV. My blood pressure was 104/64, which is awesome! Even though I'm a slow loser, the scale is always moving in the right direction. I love my sleeve! HW 270 SW 255 CW 220

I would just call him to get clarification. He may have a good reason for it. do you have Hashimoto's?

Here's a pretty good guide to understanding the TSH test: http://labtestinterpreter.about.com/od/Diagnoses/tsh.htm

Nadou, do you have a resource where I can read about managing a low TSH by increasing Synthroid? I've had Hashimoto's for 30 years and I'm always looking for new information. I've always been told by my endo that a TSH less than .3 means that I need to decrease my meds. Too low a TSH can cause heart palpitations and insomnia and for some, exhaustion and fatigue. I'm on 137mcg.

I have a friend that models for catalog shoots. He makes $65 an hour.

I don't understand why your doc increased your Synthroid. A low TSH means that you are getting too high of a dose.

Costco.com has the 2 pack of Reviva liquid vitamin on sale until 4/21/13. http://t.costco.com/LIQUID-reViva®-Multivitamin-Twin-Pack.product.11677911.html

Here's my experience from Puerto Vallarta. I felt like I was on vacation! http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/70076-my-experience-dr-lopez-puerto-vallarta/#entry698418

I appreciated the postings with detailed experiences the most before I had surgery, so here's my take on things. Overall, I had a really good and easy experience. I have had 5 surgeries in the past: an extremely painful C-section, a low pain hysterectomy, a very low pain laproscopy/uterine ablation, and 2 knee surgeries. I'm pretty tolerant of pain, but I don't ever try to push it. If I need pain pills/shots I get them. I would rank this very close to the laparoscopy/ablation for pain. All my pain levels except right after surgery were less than a 3, but I kept on top of getting pain meds. Right after surgery, when I woke up I had some pain and just asked for pain meds and they were there in a second giving me something. It was about a 5, but could tell it was progressing. It didn't last more than a few minutes after the pain meds. Before arrival: Check with your cell phone company to see if they have a Mexico plan. Check with your bank to see if you can use ATM in Mexico (most can't), if not, bring cash. You can exchange for pesos at the hotel desk. Everywhere I went accepted dollars, so no real need to exchange. Arrival: Heading out of the airport keep tunnel vision and don't pay attention to the people there trying to get you to try tequila or give you a ride. Your ride will be in the next room towards the right side. There will be people there that insist that you are on their list. Keep walking and look for sign with your name on it. They will take you to a small room where you will wait a minute or two for the driver. Ana Karen will probably not be there to meet you, but she will be staying at the hotel, so if you want to see her, just give her a call. She is very sweet and will help you with anything that you need. Dr. Lopez also stays at the hotel. Hotel: The hotel is pretty nice. The pool is heated and there is a hot tub. You won't be able to get in it after surgery, so take advantage before. Getting around: Taxi service is cheap, but the roads are very bumpy. I took a ride downtown after surgery and it did me in for the rest of the day. A shorter ride to the pier would have been better. Food: The broth at the hotel is good. One version I got was amazing, but couldn't figure out how to get it again. You can order from room service or at Champions. You could probably order from the restaurant by the pool, but I didn't try because I wasn't hungry. They don't have popsicles or Jello (or any that we could find), so I did without. We did get a wonderful orange juice and mango smoothie (ice and orange and mango juice) from the bar the last day. It was a nice change. Hospital: The hospital was the nicest hospital I've ever been in. There is a couch in the room that your guest can sleep on. It's ok on the comfort scale. It was new and all the equipment was new. All the nurses are new and pretty young. They aren't the best at starting IVs, but I have really hard veins to find. My sister (ER nurse for 30 years) helped the nurse find a good vein after I bent the first one while sleeping. There is an odd mix of new technology and new hospital, but some older practices. They have alcohol in a metal container with cotton balls instead of individual alcohol wipes. They used ace bandages as leg compression instead of the automated inflated leg compressors that our hospitals use. I didn't see anything like that though that would increase risk in the operation. After surgery: The best advice I got was to walk, walk, walk. Every time I woke up after surgery I would get up and walk. The first time just a little bit down the hallway, and a little bit further every time. Even throughout the night. I woke up every hour or two and got up and walked. I had very little gas pain. I would also advise burping as much as you can to get rid of it. I took a heating pad, but never needed it. I would still take it if I had to do it over, because you never know. I had a bit of nausea the second time I woke up after surgery. I could feel it starting and immediately rang for the nurse to get some meds. It didn't come back. Dr. Lopez gives you the option the day after surgery to stay another night or go to the hotel. I asked Karen if most people go to the hotel after one night and she said yes. I planned for 2 nights in the hospital so I didn't have enough clothes to wear, but I just wore stuff twice... no biggie! I had a pair of loose pajama shorts that I wore in the hospital under my gown. The drain and tube is cumbersome, but bearable. The doctor will leave it in until you're at the hotel. It didn't hurt to take it out, just felt weird. Things I'm glad I brought: carmex!, pajama shorts, Water flavors (mio, crystal light, etc) Things I brought but didn't need: Heating pad, ear plugs (the hospital was quiet), sleep mask, sore throat drops Things I wish I brought: Tylenol (sometimes needed a little bit of pain relief, but took the prescription from the hospital), more

I've had shingles twice. After you get over it, I would recommend getting the shingles vaccine.

Bought the plane tickets for my sister and I today. We're flying through Dallas and getting in at 3:05pm. I wish it were happening tomorrow!

Dr. Lopez. We'll flip a coin to see who goes first!

I am scheduled for PV on Jan 17th! My sister (an ER nurse) is going with me. I can't wait!