NewSetOfCurves

I agree with so many people on this thread that have already stated that you have to find an eating lifestyle that works for you. Everyone's goal is different. Personally, I've found a new addiction: exercising with cardio and weights. With that addition my goal has morphed from losing weight and becoming a normal and healthy weight, to being fit and lean with a higher muscle mass content. I don't count calories anymore, but I do keep track of my Protein since it's vital to muscle growth and recovery. I make sure I get in at least 64 oz of Water. I also make it a point to get down some quality carbs to ensure that I have the energy I need to make it through my workout sessions. However, no matter what, I truly believe that the sleeve (or whatever WLS one chooses) gives us QUANTITY control, but we have to choose QUALITY. I'm not saying don't ever enjoy a cookie, slice of cake, or any other "bad" food out there--because I do--but we have to make good QUALITY decisions 90% of the time. Our bodies, mind and overall health is so much better off for it. I've found that I no longer crave a lot of the "bad" stuff. In fact, when I allow myself the freedom of having a little bit, it often makes me feel sick or leads me to the other end of the spectrum, and it makes me feel hungrier. There's my two cents! Lol! Good luck to you! I hope you find what works for you on your journey!

I do CrossFit and weight training. I eat more carbs on those days (gasp!)...Lol! I eat good carbs, like oatmeal and sweet potato. I up my calories too, because if I don't I get dizzy and have blackouts. I also take supplements for pre and post workouts. I take NO-Xplode pre-workout, and Cell Mass post-workout. Along with the Cell Mass, I drink a Protein shake because--in the most simplistic version of explanation--your muscles absorb it better if consumed within the first 1/2 hour of your post-workout to aid in growth and recovery. I try to get in 1 gram of protein per pound of my body weight (which is really hard, but I try) to aid in muscle growth. My body has TRANSFORMED because of it!!! I suggest upping your calories. Nuts, Protein Bars and Protein shakes in between meals really helps in getting those extra calories. Hope this helps! Good luck

Quads are finally playing peek-a-boo!!!

This made me smile Congrats!

This is very common. Your stomach is swollen from the trauma of your recent surgery, making it that much more difficult to fill your new tummy. My doctor told me to do my best to stay hydrated and to sip, sip, sip all day long. Water is hard to get in because of it's density, but if you add in a sugar free flavor enhancer, it should be easier. Frozen sugar free Popsicles were my life line first week post op. It's all I could really get down. Once I moved onto full liquids, I'd eat Greek yogurt (was included in my full liquids) and add unflavored whey Protein powder to my sugar free Jello, both upping my protein in take. Don't beat yourself over protein yet. Try--by all means, but don't let it get you down. You'll get there. It gets better. It gets easier. Just take it one day at a time and before you know it, it'll be a walk in the park. Good luck!

You look GREAT Amanda!!! Congrats!!!!

Right on gmanbat!

I used Dr. Morris too! I'll pm you.

My advice is to look at exercise as a job. Average people have to work. They have no choice. Don't make exercise an option, make it a necessity that you can't live without. Do what works for you. My day is long. I teach at the high school level, I tutor after school and I coach a dance team after that. Then I go home to a house filled with 4 kids. My days are never ending and exhausting. But I get up at 4 in the morning and get my one hour in. It is what works for me because I'm too tired and still too busy after work to get it in, in the evening. On my days off I concentrate on lifting, because now that school is back in session, lifting doesn't fit into my afternoons. Point is...I make and find the time. Tired or not, it is a must and necessity to live a longer and healthier life style. Not to mention that I love what it has done for my physique. Hope you find an exercise and time that works for you!

When you're daughter say's, "Who's that lady in the picture with me, Mommy?" And you quickly reply, "It's me!" and she totally disagrees, "No it's not."

I live an hour north of Laredo. Did you get your surgery there, in Laredo?

Congrats on your milestone!!! It's a great feeling, isn't it? As far as coloring your hair, I think it is a personal decision. But, I too was told by my surgeon and stylist that coloring my hair would weaken my hair further and increase hair loss due to the harshness of the chemicals. I rocked my grays for almost a year! I thought, in the long-term-scheme-of-things, a year isn't bad because by then I can rock my new hair and body even more ! Good Luck!

That's awesome Isu!!!

Just to reiterate what others have said: With all that calorie burning, you are eating way too few calories!!!! Your body IS in starvation mode and it's holding on to every calorie it can to sustain itself. I tried to up my calories to 1,200 a day as soon as I could to get my body out of that starvation mode. I too worked out everyday. You have done awesome! And 9 pound in one month?! Those are dream numbers for people wanting to lose weight. You've got this! You're doing GREAT, you're going to continue to do great, and you're going to succeed! Keep one foot in front of the other and keep on trekking all those valleys and mountains!

I'm sorry you're feeling this way! But first of all, you are only one week out! As a previous poster stated, your body has just endured a traumatic surgery. You are swollen and most likely still retaining fluids. Worry about healing and staying hydrated, not the scale. Week one was "hell week" for me. I had NO energy what-so-ever! In week two, I tried to Water my planting bed (this was towards the end of June in south Texas, so you can imagine the heat!) and I nearly fainted. You're body is experiencing extreme loss of enegy, not only because of the traumatic surgery, but because of the extreme loss of calories it's used to sustaining itself with. Your body is in starvation mode right now and you are hardly consuming any carbs for it to process as energy. The time frame of healing and getting your "mojo" back is different for everybody. However, once your food stages start to progress and you're able to consume more foods, you should be able to see a differnce in your energy levels. Yogurt, cream Soups, soft or creamed cheeses, smashed beans/and or cauliflower are all examples of foods that will help you get some of that mojo back. Hope you feel better soon! Hang in there, the best part of your journey is yet to come!

I've been taken for almost 16 years, but I think this could be a great site for WLS patients who share the same experiences, goals, struggles, and even insecurities. So, I'm posting to keep this thread fresh! Good luck!!!

That is awesome!!! What a great success story! You look fabulous

When someone calls you skinny and you turn around to see who they're talking about, but you realize they're talking to you!

One week post-op that is VERY normal! Just work on staying hydrated. As your tummy heals and the swelling subsides, you'll be able to get more calories and concentrate on protein and calories. Right now you just need to work on staying hydrated...sip, sip, sip all day! Feeling weak is normal and expected, especially given the dramatic decrease in calories and carbs. Just remember, this phase of difficulty is temporary. It will pass and before you know it you're going to be a skinny minney!!!

Yes!!!! So bitter that I had to get rid if all my shoes!!! I love shoes! I wore anything from a 10 to an 11; now, I wear anything from a 9 to a 10. The tens I did have were too wide, so I had to chunk then too . But, I'll take it because it symbolizes that I'm not that big girl anymore!

A slider food is any food that sits well with your sleeved tummy (or passes through the band easily). Not only can you eat it, but you can eat a lot of it in comparison to other foods that struggle to make there way down.

It's a great place to be! You look GREAT! Congrats!!!

Thank you for posting all those pics!!! I'm getting tummy tuck, augmentation, and thigh lipo this December and your AWESOME transformation has me SOOOO EXCITED!!!! You look absolutely fabulous and beautiful...a girls dream figure!

Wow! What a wonderful transformation! You look incredible

At 5 months post op you are a green light for ALL activity.