Bridget312001

Weight before surgery - 214 lbs, current weight 156lbs and feeling fantastic.

I still get cold at 12 weeks out, especially at night. Not as bad as it was just after surgery. I believe its due to multiple factors such as anesthesia (initially), then metabolism as your body tries to regulate itself.

I found using a ridiculously tiny pickle fork at meal times helped slow me down a bit.

On the day you know you are having an ice cream social bring in some sugar free fudge pops. At 45 calories a serving you can have one and still feel like you are partaking in the festivities.

After looking into the chemical process of HOW our bodies loose weight I can tell you its a complicated series of events. Your body needs time to adjust between dropping pounds. It's all very normal and very much needed. Track your intake, begin exercising when you doc gives you the all clear and you will loose. Stair steps of loss is what you want.

My GP confessed to having Lap Band Surgery when I first saw her after my VSG. As for Vitamin and mineral deficits after having a VSG, I had low vitamin B, D and severe anemia BEFORE I had my sleeve surgery. I was so tired all the time, I thought I had a serious underlying illness that hadnt been diagnosed.. Feeling so much better now that im taking Iron and vitamin supplements and these levels are being monitored by my VSG nutritionist and doc. I believe there are a hell of a lot of the general public who have severe deficiencies in their vitamin/minerals who are never checked by their regular doctor. Apparently checking for vitamin deficiencies in blood isnt standard (at least at my regular doctors office). Ironically now that I am a "risk" for deficiencies I have been able to regulate and correct deficiencies I have had for many many years.

It's funny how I used to avoid the weight scale at all costs, now I can't stay off it. Sleeved April 8 2013, down 53 lbs. A fellow bariatric surgery friend bought me a pair of size 10 jeans for my birthday and they bloody well fit me. What a fantastic birthday gift!

Cindy, try using a small pickle fork when you eat. I found it works great for keeping your bite sizes small.

Keep moving, keep drinking 60+ oz water a day and keep track of your caloric intake. Your body is going through some highly complex changes and you need to be patient.

My hair has been falling out too. Doc said not to panic, it would grow back.I'd be a happy bunny if I only the grey ones fell out, oh, and my leg hair can go too. :-)

Tylenol was recommended by my doc for general aches and pains. No more ibuprofen, it can make your stomach bleed.

There are sooo many factors involved in how much weight you loose. Big losers are generally larger and burn more calories to maintain body functions, metabolism, age..the list goes on and on in how fast we all loose weight. If you keep your calories at 1000 or a little less a day, and EXERCISE you WILL loose weight.

It was like someone flipped a switch and I went from never hungry to hungry all the time the last couple of weeks. I don't suffer from reflux, but I may try taking some Prilosec just to see if I'm misinterpreting these gurgling hungry feelings.

I was also sleeved on April 8th and have lost about the same amount as you (if I include my pre-op diet). 45lbs in 11 weeks is pretty awesome if I do say so myself.

This is the first month I've felt SO incredibly hungry a few days before and during my period. It does help to exercise, but Fiber One 90 calorie chocolate chip cookies help too.

JProx is right, we were all there. I was thinking my last "what if" as they gave me the anesthesia before surgery.. Now I am 9 weeks out and couldn't be happier with how I feel and look.

. I did look around at new equipment, but there are always people selling these things used for really cheap. I tried a couple of stores that specialize in used exercise equipment but they were almost as expensive as new.

I bought my Nordik Track from Craigslist. Make sure you have plenty of programs available to change it up.

I went on Craigslist and found a good quality elliptical machine to put in the garage. No expensive gym membership, no hassle of taking time out of my day to get ready and go to and from the gym, and no one cares if I wear my jammies or no bra when i exercise.

My NUT (love calling her that) said that my weight loss would look like stair steps on a chart. From what you have described this is happening to you as well. I eat between 600-800 calories a day and exercise about four times a week (elliptical, mowing grass, cleaning house, walking etc). You may need to experiment by eating a few more calories to give you extra energy to be able to workout more. I found that changing (not necessarily making it harder, just changing) my exercise routine helped when I felt stuck. Our bodies are very adapt at wanting to store energy and by changing your exercise routine you can jump start your weight loss. Drinking more water will help, as well. Good luck!

I love chicken too and find it very hard to eat at eight weeks out. My boss was sleeved a year and a half ago and still has a hard time eating it. I have found that if the rotisserie chicken from Costco is a little easier to digest and also very slow cooked chicken casserole with lots of liquid in small portions is tolerable. Its so weird because I can eat steak, fish, pork, shrimp and crab with absolutely no problem.Fingers crossed it gets better as we progress!

Just remember that this trainer is an ignoramus that has no clue about what she is talking about. She would better serve her customers at the gym by focusing on their training than talking trash. You are one of the few brave souls that has taken the huge, conscious step to feel and look better. You have not taken the path of sitting in the shadows feeling ashamed and defeated. You my dear are a powerful woman. Just remember that.

Sleeved 04/08/13 and down 39lbs (including pre-surgery diet - I count this because its valid weight loss and was achieved through sheer willpower). I bought myself a spanky new pair of size 12 jeans last weekend and felt so happy that i could not only get them up my legs but buttoned up too without effort. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have been given the gift of this amazing sleeve. This is the best I have felt in a very long time. Is there homework to do? Of course! I track my calories, exercise and drink water till i feel like Im floating. Hunger comes and goes. Sometimes I feel like a bottomless pit and don't seem to be able to fill the void (head hunger??), sometimes I completely forget about eating if I am busy. Bottom line is I honor my sleeve and at the end of the day appreciate that it will not let me stray too far from striving to my goal.

I bought a matching cardigan and capri pants in a size thats fits now and and identical pair of pants in a smaller size that will fit as I loose more weight.

Unflavored Unjury protien is good to add to just about any drink, soup or sauce under 140 degrees. Their chicken soup is pretty awesome too.