nekaneek

The dizzy spells could be due to dehydration or hypotension. I've been experiencing this for several months but found that once I up my Water and sodium intake, I'm ok.

I can concur with Miistamunk. It is a great decision and though you ladies may fear Hair loss it's a tiny price to pay for a healthier body and more confidence. I am losing some hair, and I'm natural. It did freak me out a bit to see my hair shed like it was but its starting to stop and luckily I had a nice full hair to begin with. So though it's a little thinner it's still a nice length and I'm grateful it started easing up before I really started to panic, lol. I was sleeved 1/8/13 @ 335 lbs. Today I'm 270 so that's 65 lbs in 5 months. It could've been more but I let my relocation mess up my exercise and eating habits. Going all day not eating (easy to do post sleeve), not leaving time to exercise. But do it! Don't delay the best decision of your lives. It's completely worth it. Good luck to you all and God bless!

Well ladies I took a test just now and it's POSITIVE!!

My hips are going no where. I have only lost 4 inches off of them in 20 weeks. My stomach is the first to go. It is funny how we all lose so differently. I agree with the rest. I just started working abs and I am 5 months out.

Hello fellow sleevers,
So I just finished my first week post-op. My doctor only required 1 week liquids post-op then moving to blended foods then to soft foods.
We're allowed egg beaters/egg whites, grits, crackers in Soup, tuna, lean deli meat, low fat cheeses among other things in this stage.
Today was the first day tasting something that wasn't liquid and I'm kind of freaking out!
Breakfast was 2 oz egg beaters w 1/4 c grits
lunch was 2 oz lean deli meat (chicken and roast beef as allowed) and less than 1 oz string cheese
dinner has not been determined yet.
I'm scared of the options, I'm scared to eat the wrong things and the surgery not be successful for me. I've messed up so many times in the past that this eating (though not nearly like it was before the surgery) is totally messing with me.
The calories are still really low, carbs really low, fat next to none, but still... *sigh*
Did anyone else go through this? Am I going to be ok? HELP!!

I wouldn't worry about your abs this early out after surgery, you have plenty of time to tackle them. I really didn't start working my abs until 6-8 weeks out to be safe.
For now, while you're walking you can just focus on tightening your abs and butt for 15-20 seconds at a time, release, and repeat. It goes further than you realize! I learned this from a personal trainer. If you've ever seen one of those jump rope, stretchy bands with the handles at the end - get one and use it around a strong pole or something like it (stair railing?) and do some simple push/pull exercises (Google for visual references) with some ab twisting motion like band trunk rotation and side bends - but go EASY, it does more than you realize and too much will leave you sore. Swimming is a great core workout as well!!

I knew that having the sleeve would help to loose weight but at 3 weeks out labs I am SHOCKED!!! From the first day my blood sugars have been between 70 and 80. (Very normal) I was boarder line diabetic at 140 before surgery. My blood pressure from day one has been 117 over 70 so I stopped my bp Meds until I saw the dr again. My cholesterol before surgery was 270 (high) but I had stop taking Meds 3 months before surgery b/c I ran out.
I went in for my 3week labs and was shocked in a great amazing way! I have lost 20# with 80# more to go. Dr said no Meds needed for high blood pressure or cholesterol. And I am no longer borderline diabetic. All my labs were NORMAL. I haven't seen normal labs in years! I wanted to loose weight with the sleeve but my main goal was to get my health back normal. I knew it would happen but instantly after surgery was a shock. I am so happy and feel so blessed right now! I just had to share.

I have always wondered, are they made from real Girl Scouts or do the Cookies have artificial fillers?

This is the thread that never ends,
It just goes on and on my friend,
Somebody started writing it not knowing what it was,
And they'll continue writing on it just because
This is the thread that never ends!

I have same feeling you guys described, my surgery was 1/16. When I sneeze or cough it's the worst. But was told by md that it is healing inside. The largest incision where the stomach was taken out is the one that hurts. I still wear my abdominal binder all day to help, and once in a while, Tylenol for pain. But for the most part, it's tolerable. I went back to work this week, and I did okay. Just hang in there!

In the initial stages Protein is king. You need it more than anything at this stage and through the rest of your life, but especially at this stage.
If you stick to the plan, you will lose the fat. Many of us have failed diets so much that it is hard to believe that it will work this time. The ghost of failed diets past haunts us. This time you have REAL science on your side.
I was a guy that most everyone, even my surgeon, didn't think would make goal. I guess they thought I was too light-hearted about it all. What they didn't see was the mean, stubborn guy inside of me that loves a good fight.

Congratulation!!! I just had my surgery last Tuesday, Jan. 8th. Good luck and I hope all goes well :-)

Well, I'm not AA but I'm mixed Mexican/Filipina - so maybe I can help out some folks that might read this. IMO I really did great with my curves. I was able to do some toning workouts that scultped my body along during weight loss mode. I don't know about anyone else, but this was a really big deal to me. I NEVER wanted to get too thin. I'm not saying its bad, I just don't think for my frame I look good like that. I look my best on the little bit bigger side (not fat, just 'thicker' ya know?).

The only problems I ended up with is I lost a WHOLE LOT of weight up top but while I still needed to lose some on bottom. My boobs totally shriveled up! I was a 42D before surgery and ended up a 34B/C. Trust me, the boobs were flattened pancakes, so even the B/C looked wrinkly and bad. I got a straight up breast augmentation to "re-fill" them. I did it for me, because I felt really self conscious about my boobs. I loved my boobs before they shriveled up! Well, thank goodness for PS because I once again feel much more proportionate and sexy!!

I do still feel like my thighs are too big, but to avoid much more weight loss on top right now, I'm just going to have my thighs lipo'd. Once that's over and done with (next month) I'm going to 100% completely finish product! And still with all the lovely curves of a sexy woman!

My skin held up really great too. I know ethnicity plays some role in this, so I think most here will end up ok. Be blessed and enjoy the journey! It's really all worth it in the end, no matter what the outcome is. Because #1 your health will improve drastically and #2, well if there are any imperfections, there's nothing a little proper clothing or PS won't fix.