onelessfatgirl

I've hit that week 3 change in weight loss. I had lost close to 30 lbs but gained a few back. I was really bummed at first. But, I'm not worried I read up on it and understand my body is trying to preserve it's stores of fat and water. I am exercising more and more. I take the stairs at work about 8-12 times a day. My goal is to do 20-40 mins cardio 3 times a week and alternate days with 3 days light free weights and yoga/pilates exercises. I'm feeling good - normal. I've come down 2 pants sizes and can tell my body is changing shape. So, I'm just hopeful that things will start moving before too long. My family has been so supportive! My husband takes pleasure in shopping and concocting new drinks and dishes for me (and him about 50% of the time) to eat. We've taken several family walks/bike rides which my kids are loving. And, on Easter my Aunt hugged me and told me she could see a big difference, the weight was falling off, and she was proud of me. Both my mom and husband see me daily and have commented on how my face is changing and my pants seem or look too baggy like they may fall off. The one down side is that I can tell I'm more hormonal. I can cry at the simplest things. SMH. But despite the freeze on the scale and t he occasional tears, I'm doing well. I'm thanking God every day for seeing me through this, for helping me stay positive, and for giving me supporters.

My procedure was conducted with the Da Vinci robotic assist. You can see it here:

I learned I'm highly allergic to them! Itchy, itchy, itchy still! The doc took them off of me at my one week follow up but even though it's been a few days and I'm treating it as Rx'ed I'm still bugged and want to scratch. My doc said as long as the incision sites were scabbed over it's ok to gently pull them off.

I bought powdered Idahoan potatoes. Cooked it in the micro with water. Then I blended 2 tbsp potatoes, 1 tbsp ricotta, and 4 tbsp skim milk.

Hey all! I've lurked and liked a lot but haven't posted in a while. I was successfully sleeved Tues 3/12. I went home the next day. I have been doing great! The first few days was pretty routine : wake up, use my "breathing game" as my boys call it, walk around my house at least 15 minutes (I worked in loads more to include light chores and lifting 3lb weights), sip on my Water the whole while, take more psin meds, sleep for a few hours, repete. By the weekend I was awake more, moving more, and drinking more including my Protein. Yesterday I went a full day with out pain meds. And today I drove! I took myself to the store so I could buy some things for the pureed stage. I also met my friend for "lunch" and got a few things for Easter. I'm having my one week follow up now (in the waiting room). And boy am I glad because the incision sites are getting itchy! No other symptoms though so I think I may be allergic to the strips. Anyhow, I know there's a lot of anxiety and excitement that goes along with this surgery. Especially in light of the tragic passing of lifesaveremt. But let me just say this, we all know there are risks. Shoot one could die from a blood clot that broke free while flying. Everyday we live there is risk. Everyday we are dying. For me, it's a matter of how can I live the fullest life possible in whatever time I have. Despite my best efforts there were lots of things that my "fat self" prohibited me from doing. I have been on a mission to break away from the chains that hold/held me back. I started my pre op liquid diet at 258.6. Today I weigh 235.1. This will take work and it involves risks but to have much you must risk much...nothing ventured nothing gained. There so much I want to gain.... My health back The ability to run, jump, bend, etc without knee pain Confidence in myself and so I mo longer feel ashamed for looking this way The ability and desire to go dancing, shopping, traveling, etc with my friends and family What's in it for you? What are you going to gain?

I've read plenty of threads by post op sleevers who got pregnant using any and all forms of hormonal bc (ring, patch, pill, iud, shot). You can't be too careful when losing lots of weight!

In my jome I have stairs to get in the front door. And stairs either up or down to get to one of the bathrooms. The stairs haven't been problematic for me but I have been taking a bit slower so I don't get run over by one of my dogs.

Hi Brandy, sorry I didn't see your reply post earlier. How are you feeling?

I'm not to the eating stage yet but I do have a few baby spoons and small snapware I'm planning on using.

Sorry for the typos. Guess I'm blurry eyed at 4am.

Brandy, tomorrow will be the beginning of a much healthier and lighter life for your, me, and a few others. I like you am dropping my kids off tonight (to stay with my parents) and I'll be off to the hospital at 5am pst. What part of the country are you in? As you planning to use the ewaiting room on here? Just asking so we can support each other.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'll be on the losers bench tomorrow afternoon.

Ya know rickster, I can sure empathize with you on the knee and back pain. Minus the 60 year old guy aspect. My knees began to ache occasionally and within a matter of months constantly. When I would use them to stand or sit or bend in any way they'd feel almost as if they were balloons about to pop. As a 29 year old mother of two active boys (5 and 7) the moment hit me like a ton of bricks when I couldn't bend down to look my son in the face as he spoke to me. In the next few days I began to realize more and more things I wasn't able to really do (or was doing with modifications) due to my knees. It a was heart breaking realization. I have to lose over 100 lbs. I have been battling weight issues since puberty and once I had children the weight loss barrier became even more resistant to my diligent tactics of diet and exercise. I'd stick to a plan X (you choose, I've probably done it) for 3-4 months religiously and only loose about 10-15 lbs. The one time I did manage to lose 30 was when I was basically starving myself on less than 1000 calories a day and working out 2-3 hours a day 6-7 days a week. Each and every time I have gained it all back and then some. I gotta make changes. My husband keeps asking me if I am sure (because he is scared) and I AM. I am the one in constant pain (and embarrassment in most cases). I just can't live like this any longer. Not for me nor for my family. My surgery is Tuesday and I am ready for this very drastic but much needed change to my (our) lifestyle. And I think my husband is too, honestly. Not because of anything to do with me but because he's at his highest weight ever and knows we both would benefit from healthier habits and routines and it would be a much better example for our children and all those around us. God bless you sir and cheers on your decision!

Fantastic!

Day 4 of liquid diet ... this morning I was down 11.5 lbs. Just 3 more days to go.

I can also have ice and sf popsicles... those *could* be chewed I suppose

Just a suggestion to the pre op liquid dieters... my nut told me I could chew sugar free gum (no swallowing).

I too will be getting sleeved Tuesday the 12th. And ya know, I was also having doubts. My doubts were mostly in regard to my own ability to make the right choices. It's day 4 of my liquid diet. I am down 11 lbs and I haven't cheated. I am learning about my own strength and will power. If I can be so strong now, I know things will be even better when I have my super tool the vertical sleeve! Like other posters have said, this is YOUR journey. The path you take is up to you and the choices you make. Don't let the lab lady get in your head. You don't know her relative or their medical/mental history. You don't know when it is she supposedly died or who her surgeon was. Things have changed and drs are much better these days as is aftercare. Bottom line, in that small transaction there was not enough info to make an educated decision about whether its good info to take in. It sounds pretty obvious that the lab lady has different values than you (how do you mistake 55lbs on a person? And since when is 300 lbs not obesity?). My suggestion is to make a list of all the reasons that brought you to this decision. I'd imagine you have had heartache, struggle, negative self talk, worry about your long term health, maybe even embarrassment due to your weight. Many of us here have. Add all those things up and compare them to a list of the potential benefits. What are you hoping to get out of this surgery long term? Just one last thing... life itself involves risk. Each day you eat food grown, boxed, and/or prepared by someone else there's risk. You don't know if its been contaminated in any way. Each day you walk, bicycle, or drive there is risk. You don't know if there will be an accident caused by you or sometime else. Each day you enter shared space or handle shared objects with others, even loved ones, there is risk. You don't know what germs you are coming In contract with. And yet, in each of these situations (and many others) you and all of us as humans seem to innately trust (to varying degrees). We are trusting strangers on the road, in the office building, at the farms and food processing plants, etc. with at least part of our health and safety. I'd imagine by now you've met your doc and his/her team. You know them better than many others who impact your life without you even knowing it. Your surgeon is a professional with standards to meet; someone who has done many, many wls procedures (I hope and I'm assuming). So, sure, there are risks but for me those slight risks are with my long term health and wellness, worth it for my personal perception of myself to improve; worth it to be able to be active with my kids; worth it to be able to make love to my husband with out physical (knees) and psychological (self deprication) pain; worth it to finally be in control of food/eating instead of it being in control of me; worth it to be a good example to my loved ones of how to eat and be healthy. Only you can decide what's right and worth it for you. Good luck!

Well, it's the first day of my pre op liquid diet. So far today I've resisted... 1) a fluffy, chocolate cupcake my coworkers just left in front of me during a meeting 2) getting starbucks at lunch 3) a chocolate covered doughnut my son only ate half of and then left next to me I have done SO GOOD today! It's only the first day so I know it'll get worse before it gets better. But, one of my mantras is 'one day at a time.' So, what are you proud of today?

Neither do I.

Hey all you grad students, just wanted to say congratulations on your journey - academically and weight-loss wise. I finished up grad school in Dec 2012. I'm a mom of 2 so the sleeve really wasn't something I could fit onto my plate at the time but I seriously give you all props for taking on both! Both of these major life changes are going to feel great when you reap the rewards.

I'm 5am Pacific Standard Time so though I'm the first of the day for my surgeon it's likely you all will be ahead of me.

March 12th (first of the day) St. Francis Bariatric Center Federal Way, WA Dr. Houseworth

Congrats mrati2d, we are sleeve buddies! Do you have a pre op diet? I have a week looking liquid pre op diet I start march 5th. How are you feeling about it?