ElyQuint

I had many food funerals. I feel a little silly now as each of those foods makes its way into my diet on a regular basis but in tiny portions. But damn I enjoyed my food funerals.

I had many food funerals. I feel a little silly now as each of those foods makes its way into my diet on a regular basis but in tiny portions. But damn I enjoyed my food funerals.

I had many food funerals. I feel a little silly now as each of those foods makes its way into my diet on a regular basis but in tiny portions. But damn I enjoyed my food funerals.

Curious what is up with the picture you have chosen?? It is totally scary?

I started a new job after my sleeve. Also cut my hair and started going by my nickname at work. I just wanted to feel like a fresh start. It's been nice.

Today is my last day at the job I had when I had my surgery. When I started there I weighed 288. As I leave I am 195. I've never hidden my surgery. This was a personal decision which is oft debated on this site. As I approach my new job on Monday, I am contemplative of the new relationships I will be building. My new colleagues will not have any awareness of me as the "fat girl". I know I still have a ways to go but the mental fat girl has mostly fallen away. These new folks will see me eat healthy, exercise and lose weight fairly gradually. They won't even require an explanation. I wonder if I will feel compelled to tell them. I am happy with my decision to tell folks about my surgery and I won't debate the choice as its been done here already. But I wonder how long the former fat chick will be my chosen identity? Anyone have any thoughts?

So... This week made 9 months post op VSG-- LOVE my little sleeve (Mikey). Getting enough Protein but slacking a little on the Water intake (which I'm paying for this week w/ heart palpitations). I'm exercising most days a week, which I'm really enjoying.
I've been getting random complements from strangers-- that's cool. And I love walking in heels all day long. Lol.
I still don't (and won't) eat any breads, Pasta, rice, or potatoes. I've only lost 1 lb in the past month-- but as long as the scale is moving downward, I'm happy.
Oh, and I ate crawfish for the first time since surgery-- yum. I managed to get through King Cake season w/o giving in & I'm finding Lent a little easier on the diet. lol
New goals:
- increase Water intake from 40 oz to 60 oz
- lose 2 lbs by the 1st week of May (my next follow up appointment)
- save $$ for plastic surgery

Call your surgeon - My NUT freaked out when I hit 5 days with no bowel movement.
I had difficulty right after surgery - Metamucil and good quality pro biotic usually helped.

My mother was the same way. For her food is care so she really felt helpless. I made her my accomplice. She came to support groups and seminars and Dr appointments. She helped me with recovery and generally navigating this process. I gave her another way to care. Now, 9 months post op, she feels a part of all my successes. Its really cute actually.

My poop today was soft solid... Amazing what a little farina will do.

Back in the beginning someone suggested adding Decaf instant espresso to the shakes to change it up. Helped incredibly until I could get to Soups.< /p>

I can't quite believe that one year ago today, I was waiting to go into hospital for surgery...
I had lost 16lbs pre-op, but still had over 70lbs to go at only 5'2". I had type 2 diabetes, was taking a serious combination of chemo and injections to control my arthritis and I was being urged to take medication for my high blood pressure. On the outside, I was professionally successful and didn't appear to care about my weight and its effects.
Inside? Oh I cared. I was lethargic, miserable and probably depressed. I could barely go up a flight of stairs, wouldn't/couldn't walk any distance and my eating was out of control, although I would never have admitted it. I hated me and punished myself with food.< /p>
But it was also my self-medication. It numbed the pain related to the rest of my life but was also the biggest cause of many of my problems. I ate when I was happy. I ate when I was sad. I ate when I was angry, in fact I ate in response to every emotion I experienced.
Having become single after a 30 year relationship, I thought no one would ever look at me again... So a year ago today, I wasn't in a good or happy place. I was quietly desperate for a new life. I was hanging on by my fingernails because I couldn't see how I could ever lose weight.
Looking back, it really is like looking at someone else. It's still me - but not me. The year has been ostensibly about losing weight but it has also been about the parallel changes going on inside my head. The lighter I've become, the happier I have become. It has been like a rebirth as the real me has re-emerged from where I have been buried for most of my adult life.
It hasn't all been easy. But I stuck to what my surgeon asked of me at every stage, didn't deviate but that worked for me. It took discipline and patience but my sleeve has given me that. What a partnership! Every time I have struggled, it has stood firm. Yes, there have been occasions I have made bad choices. But with my better health (no HBP, no diabetes and my meds for arthritis now down to one injection per fortnight), my normal sized body and my positive outlook, those now consist of momentary lapses - I don't dwell or beat myself up, I forgive myself and move on.
So life one year on, do I have regrets? None, not one. I am the person I want to be, I look how I want to look and I have so much hope for the future. Have been on some dates, go dancing, walking, travelling and have started running. I laugh all the time and have had such fun with friends old and new. Who would have guessed it! I have spent this year saying "yes" to invitations I would never dreamed of accepting before - and probably wouldn't have been invited to when I was miserable and angry with myself.
I am living a life transformed, excited to be alive and looking forward to the many happy and healthy years that I believe now lie ahead of me. I will be eternally grateful to have been sleeved.
I can't go back and comfort and console the girl who was waiting nervously for surgery a year ago and tell her it will all work out for the best. But her determination and courage is why I am here today, living life out loud. So I say to all of you starting out on the journey or who are coming behind me - I wish you well and if it works out half as well for you as it has for me, hold tight for a fantastic new life. And to those of you who have supported and believed in me over the last year, a heartfelt thank you.
Jacqui x

9 months out 179 pounds down
I had a hard time in the beginning but over time it's all good now

Here's the link I was talking about, hope it helps you or others in the same stage: http://twosleevers.com/2013/12/tired-of-protein-shakes-nauseated-by-them-try-this/

Try adding G2 Gatorade to your Water. coffee, tea they are diuretics. You may find that if you drink 1/2 Gatorade with 1/2 water every day it will help with hydration. BUT call the surgeon just to be on the safe side.....

Are you getting enough Water? Dehydration can make you feel dizzy and nauseous. But do call your Dr.!

What a question! I've always been an emotional eater and the first few months were an emotional roller coaster. I still have the occasional "binge" but its pathetic and doesn't "satiate" me. I have no choice but to practice yoga and meditate daily now and acknowledge (avoid) my triggers. Daily Journalling, MFP, Yoga, Meditation and total honesty keep me aware.

I've seen so many of these posts and could have been the author a year ago. The pre-op experience has little to do with the post op reality. It is not indicative of your likely success or failure. Statistically speaking, when it comes to weight loss, we are used to failing. We all think we are the worst offender and the weakest link. You are about to commit to an incredible journey of self love and kindness. I encourage you to concentrate on what your mind is saying about you and how that has impacted the decisions you have made on your own behalf. Then embrace your decision and refuse to listen to any part of your inner dialogue that undermines you. You will find that the negative voices get louder when your stomach starts growling. Its panic. It has been a successful method of self sabotage and its time to show that bastard in your brain that tantrums are not going to be rewarded with french fries any longer!

diagnosed with PCOS about 12 yrs ago and metformin since then. one IVF baby and one adopted.
I have talked with my surgeon extensively- in fact just yesterday was my final apt- and he told me that although my PCOS should be fairly resolved from surgery, it may not disappear completely. he also stated, as somebody else here said, that the PCOS shouldn't be a HUGE barrier to my losing with surgery, and that in the long term I need to focus on becoming VERY dedicated to a regular exercise regimen to ensure that my PCOS stay controlled...
I DO have multiple comorbids, and i'm just looking SO forward to being off all my meds...

I have PCOS that was only diagnosed when going through infertility treatment, prior to having my PCOS diagnosed I was banded lost over 6 stone fell pregnant had a lovely little boy but band slipped during pregnancy so band removed all my weights back and I'm having VSG in 3 days time!!!!!!
My surgeons say I had the odds stacked against me with family history & PCOS to loose significant weight alone but that I will be over the moon with my VSG results ! Here's hoping!!!! Xxx I'll let you know how I get on x

Honestly, you look great to me. You are not fat. You've accomplished a great feat, and I know sometimes when we lose a lot of weight, in our minds we still look fat. That happened to me 10 years ago when I lost a significant amount of weight. I looked in the mirror and saw fat, even though I was in a size 6-8, my BMI was still in the overweight range. Everyone told me I wasn't fat, but I refused to believe it, because I wanted to believe the mirror, and my BMI, and the mirror said I was fat. I realized looking back after I gained all the weight back that I actually did not look fat at all, it was all the body dysmorphia. So, believe me when I say, you're looking wonderful and healthy!

Its tough for me to say. I got pubic hair in third grade and went from underweight to overweight over summer break. Got pregnant as a teen and after that my weight went crazy. Started the depo shot and my period never came back. I had an endocrinologist tell me if I lose weight I won't have PCOS anymore but my sister has it also and she averaged 115 pounds. Hell if I know. Its different for all. The hair is so tedious. Its an obsession and it really messes with your self esteem.

Thanks! I'm not a chef but this sounds like something I would put together. The carb content is fairly low. thanks for the tip. I like the taste of a little feta with greek yogurt....yummers.

I think my arms are longer.

I miss the restriction i had early on, too. I do notice that some days i have more restriction than others. Also, I find that when i cut way back, the restriction is better. I agree it's a good idea to weigh and measure food.