sara-seeking-sleeve

Awesome Sara! You look great.

Thank you;)...so much father to go, but haven't felt this healthy in 12 years!!!

Sara- you look awesome & so adorable in that dress/cardigan!!! When you have zoomed past fitting into it will gladly take that outfit off your hands! :0) Sleeve date 8/10/13 yay!

Thank you! Congrats on your date!!! So exciting;)

You look GREAT!!!!!! Good job =)

Thank you!

Total apple here! Very frustrating to see other less fat body parts shrinking and my big belly still ever present. I have to keep in mind that no matter what I'm healthier than I was and that I'll never have a small tummy... But I will be able to rock cute clothes and live longer!!!

Sleeved- 2/27/13

Highest weight pre-op- 273.5

Current weight- 205.5

Oh what a difference this year has made. 1st pic ~250 2nd pic ~ 193. DOS 2/20/13. Loving my sleeve and life is good

Whoohooo!!! Look amazing!

My hair is thinning at the top 7.5 weeks out. Today I'm in a 12/14 top 16/18 pant great! I was a 3x but my arms are still big.

Me too! I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon! Bummed, but happy about the 55lbs I've lost since pre-op.

I'm 9 weeks post op and although its not clumps, it is significant and not close to normal. I'm scared, but knew this was likely to happen

May be a silly question--- should I try to chew the seeds as I'm drinking or eating them (using the gel form)? Trying chia for BM reasons.

Read as much as you can...the good and the bad. It's life changing in almost every possible way--- but for me it's all been for the better. I thought I was totally ready for the surgery because I read everything I could find about it-- but it's all sooo much more "mental/psychological" than I ever expected. Best wishes on your journey

Is cereal pretty much off limits forever because it's eaten with milk?

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Are you not allowed to have milk? Or you mean the whole drinking/eating at the same time. My doc said ago is choice cereal is fine. Special K? Look for Protein and fiber;)

You'll both be fine! Just start very slow as this is a big change and you poor stomachs are still actively healing (and will be for some months to come). Eat VERY slowly' date=' put your utensil down between bites and assess how you feel.

Your capacity for solid food is very very small in the beginning and you need to give your brain time to catch up with your stomach while you eat. Since you don't have stretch receptors to convey the "full" message to the brain anymore, you need to "listen" for other signals telling you you've had enough. Some people hiccup, others yawn, the signs and symptoms are as varied as us sleevers! I measure my food (have since the beginning) to avoid overeating, especially since my eyes and brain STILL think I can eat more than my stomach can hold. That way I know I've put "x" oz. of food on my plate and that should be enough to fill me, but not too much! I've overeaten a few times and it results in pain, slimies and big discomfort. Luckily I've never gone so far as to have to vomit!

Make sure you follow the "no liquids" 30 min before, during or 30 after a meal. Very important, especially in the early stages. Go slow and find out what works for you and be prepared for that to change quite rapidly (possibly from one day to the next), especially in the beginning. You may not tolerate certain types of food (eggs and dairy are somethings a problem, especially early on), and you may find you don't even like foods you LOVED before. Take things in stride. Things will change and "normalize" over time.

Good luck and let us know how it goes! Lots of great people here on VST to help you.[/quote']

Thank you so much--- that really helps me feel better!!!

Webchickadee -I'm 6 weeks post op. female last i checked... I'm still doing soft foods even though starting today is supposed to be my beginning of regular foods stage. I'm just a little nervous about that.

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I was about to post the same thing! I was sleeved 2/27, and the thought of eating real food scares me . Let me know when your adventurous and give it a go!

I think your post is helping me. I can't imagine still being on liquids for the most part and not losing something. But if this is the only time that the scale won't move for me then I will take it. It has just gone too long' date=' IMO, in the earliest of stages.

I have 3 more weeks before I can even start puréed foods (week 9). I have walked as much as I could since being cleared to exercise. Where my clothes were loose, I'm thinking they are starting to just fit again. But that would simply be impossible! SMH!

I just don't want to go to my 2 mo. follow up and the scale not have moved from my 1 mo. follow up! ARGH![/quote']

I can't imagine how hard it must be being on liquids so long. I actually started losing a bit more once I was able to move on to puréed foods. I'm hoping that will be the ticket for you

Update - I'm home from the hospital thank God no surgery required. I was severely de hydrated I stopped drinking fluids on Monday I would take little sips here and there but not enough. The reason I wasn't taming down fluids is because it would give me that gurguling sound not good when you are at work. The doctor did a contrast ct and a stomach X-ray everything looks good. He put me back on phase 1 until I feel well enough to eat again. I just can't eat or drink I need to figure something out. He also said as my stomach heals it gets tighter so that is part of what I'm going through he also said try to eat a little piece of something every hour to see if that helps. Ugg this sucks! I was doing great now this. Hope its a temporary thing. I that k God it was not worse.

I'm so happy to hear your on the road to feeling better!!!

I have to agree with the past few posts... We need to give it time to work for us. I've also been thinking that maybe some of us are slower to losing because we weren't the excessive over eaters to begin with. I always tried to eat reasonably healthy. I did have months here or there when I didn't care, but overall I was morbidly obese while constantly dieting and watching my intake. So, maybe I'm just over thinking it all, but maybe just maybe this is why the my scale isn't moving as quickly as others.

IS there a program u followed or certain foods u ate?

Yes, inquiring minds want to know! Tell us about your food caloric intake and any exercise regime you incorporated on your journey

Hello February sleevers. I had my 7 week checkup today (missed my 6 wk because I was in the ER). I am down 35 lbs so far. Not too bad. I was doing absolutely GREAT until last Wednesday. I woke up at 3 am in horrible pain that I knew was a kidney fine. I went to the ER and it was confirmed to be a kidney stone. Of course I let them know I was sleeved and was freaking out my pains could be sleeve related. A CT showed my sleeve was fine. Thank goodness. The stone passed and I thought all was ok.. Until Sunday. Yep I was back in the ER with another kidney stone! Ultrasound revealed I have 3 more stones in my left kidney and 1 in my right. I am not looking forward to passing those. I have been so nauseous for a week now. I have not been able to eat' date=' take my Vitamins, get my Protein in, or drink my Water. I am existing on SF Popsicles. I literally feel like I have just gone back 5 weeks. I hope this passes and things will get back to where they were.[/quote']

I'm sooo sorry your going through this! Keeping you in my thoughts--- hang in there.

Well I was sleeved on feb 6 .. sometimes its gets rough if I eat to fast but other than that I feel great. I started before surgery at 277' date=' I'm now at 228.[/quote']

That's A LOT of weight you've lost since surgery!!! Congrats!!!

I stopped drinking coffee before my surgery. I've got a bad cold & have been taking NyQuil at night & DayQuil in the daytime.

I screwed up this morning & woke up & took NyQuil. I had to drive' date=' so I had a couple of cups of regular coffee. I hope it's not going to hurt me. I was thinking that the reason they don't want us drinking coffee was because it depleted your Iron levels. I'm thinking that a couple of cups won't hurt me today.

Any thoughts?[/quote']

Just drink LOTS of Water today. I was told the issue with caffeine is it dehydrates you-- you have to drink 2-3 times the amount of h20 just to make up for the amount of caffeine you drink. Especially right now, when our intake is limited. So drink, drink, drink that water today and I'm sure you'll be good;)

Wow!!! Awesome success!!!

I need to stay off this website for a while... Surgery 2/18 and only down 20...ive not been able to exercise the last few weeks because I've been sick' date=' but still![/quote']

You am me both! Since surgery I'm only down like 17.5! I lost 26 lbs the month I was on pre-op. I know I should be pleased overall, and I'm trying to keep perspective. I just feel like I should be losing more. But, I'm shrinking and definitely wearing smaller clothes. Hang in there M_mama...our day will come

I haven't tried these yet' date=' but heard they are super yummy!!! Do you eat it by itself???[/quote']

Yes, just spooned it up a little bit at a time and let it melt away. Someone mentioned they used it in an omelet as well. I think I just get really excited when I eat things that are flavorful and not sweet

Ok, this has probably already old news, but if you have NOT tried these, you MUST!!! Made me soooooooo HAPPY today!!! (Yes, I know.... I have serious issues with food making me happy...but at least this is a good choice!)

Mine was in my bird legs! I am super apple shaped... My face is now showing at about 4 weeks

Ughhh, totally me too!!!

What stage are you in? I am in Stage 2 Pureed' date=' it is on my menu list. I just wondered it we had to puree it or if it is soft and gooey enough to go down. My guidelines say cottage cheese consistency or pureed. Can't wait to try it , it sounds great.[/quote']

See some posts evening of March 18th. Sounds like consistency would be like cottage cheese...CHEW CHEW CHEW!

Thanks;)