NewSetOfCurves

Wow! What an awesome start to your weight loss journey...60 pounds pre-op!!! That is so awesome. Congrats to you and wishing you the best as you continue your journey

Woohoo!!! Looking fabulous, girlie! Congrats!!!

To the original poster, I'm sorry you had to endure that. People judge and criticize things that they don't understand. It seems easy and simple for them because they've never struggled or battled it, but they have no idea the reality of the situation. However, I do agree with RJ. Weight loss surgery is not a miracle surgery that will end obesity for the rest of our lives. It is a means to an end. It will help us with QUANTITY control for a time being, but we have to retrain ourselves to only consume foods of QUALITY. We have to teach ourselves to implement activity into our lives (i.e. walking, biking, jogging, hiking). We have to change our life style for long term success. The sleeve is a small part of your overall success. It's just an instrument to help transition you from point A to point B. Before the sleeve, as much as I liked healthy foods , I loved my junk food too. Especially chips and dips, and anything sweet. I literally made myself throw everything out of the pantry and throw it all away before surgery. I refuse to buy any of the junk, because if I do I know I will eat it. The biggest battle is against ourselves. It's a mental battle. You can do this. It's not easy, but it can be done and the sleeve is a great tool to have at your side as you make these mental changes. Good luck to you.

Looking good! Keep it up!

You're welcome Kathy! Anytime! Good luck!!!

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers...praying that you find the strength and courage to put one foot in front of the other and trek on.

Thank you Mrs. V.V.V.!!!

I appreciate the compliment! To tone up my arms I lift weights. I'll lift weight that is heavy enough to where I'll fail after 8-12 reps. I'll complete 3-4 sets of the same exercise. For example, on bicep and tricep days, I'll complete 3-4 sets of the following: -Alternating bicep curls -preacher curls -hammer curls -21's with curl bat (7 half curls from sides to 90 degree angle; 7 half curls from 90 degree angle to chest; 7 full curls) -overhead extensions -skull crushers -tricep kickbacks -dips

Thank you! I'm glad to keep you hopeful. I loved going through all the pics pre-op and even post-op to keep myself motivated, inspired, and hopeful to be successful with my own journey. To answer your question, initially, post-op--when your going through the phases and slowly adding foods back into your diet--yes, I did miss things like raw veggies and fresh fruits and tender steaks. As I phased out of the liquids and mushy foods and reinstated the solids, it was extremely hard to consume those things initially. Luckily, bit-by-bite, I was able to slowly reincorporate them into my diet. I lost interest in heavy/greasy foods, they stopped appealing to me, but my biggest vice gas been my all time trigger food: chips. Early on I learned that not only could I eat them, but that they were sliders and I could eat a whole small bag. I don't bring them to the house and I try to steer clear of them during outings. To be completely honest, now that I am a year out, I can eat anything...in small quantities, but still, pretty much anything and everything. The key is committing to a life style change. I do my best to eat clean foods. High Protein. Good, quality carbs, especially on heavy lifting days. My surgeon warned me that the sleeve wasn't a permanent solution, but rather a tool to aide in my commitment to change my life style. I think I've done very well in changing and breaking old habits. Sorry, didn't mean to go on-and-on!!! I'll stop now! Good luck to you!!!

I'm 5'6", medium frame, weighed about 250 at the beginning of pre-op phase, 228 day of surgery, 13 months later I now weigh 153. I've added a lot of muscle and some of the supplements I take add water weight. I'd like to get down to 145/140. I'd like to maintain some curves and not get too thin.

I agree with "newu68". I had bad left shoulder pain as well from the left over air. Heating pads really helped with the gas, as well as the walking. The constant pressure lasted almost a good two weeks for me, and I would feel a slight pressure when I would workout (and ONLY when I worked out) about 4-5 weeks after that.

I did not dare try cantaloupe 2 weeks post-op, but I did eat watermelon. I would chew it up, drink the juice, and spit out the little bit of tissue. Loved it cold and fresh.

Wow! What a great transformation! You look beautiful...congrats and keep it up!!!

Congrats to you! Keep it up girl!

Almost 100 pound down...

That is an awesome fact...11 years, 100 pounds lost and maintained! What an accomplishment and feat for you! I think Isereno said most of what I wanted to say, but I must reiterate...thank you for this place. It was so helpful in my pre-op phase. I was able to prepare myself mentally for what was to come post-op. I literally had NO surprises post-op. Post-op I found support and inspiration. And now in maintenance mode, I continue to find support, reassurance and affirmation that I'm continuing on the right path. This forum has been invaluable for me and my entire journey. So, again, THANK YOU and CONGRATULATIONS!!!

The hardest parts for me was that first week post op. I had so much swelling ( I'm assuming from the additional surgery of the hiatal hernia) that it was hard to consume anything, so I was extremely weak. I could only really get down the sugar free Popsicles, and they saved me from being hospitalized for dehydration. The gas pain was the second pain in my rear. The air seemed to move from my left side to my back, then to my left shoulder. But heating pads really aided in that discomfort. But, if I had to do this all over again, I would! I love my sleeve, I love my transformation, I love that I'm healthy, I love that I can wear almost anything I want, I love that I'm not embarrassed of myself and that I'm confidant. The benefits and outcomes so outweigh any bumps in the road that you may experience initially with the sleeve. Good luck to you and your own personal journey.

Yes! Healthy carbs are essential before a workout! My doctor cleared me to workout (within reason) as soon as my body felt up to it. I started walking at the track at two weeks post op. By 6 weeks post op I was completing four miles, walking the curves and lightly jogging the straight aways. I would eat a banana about an hour before, if not I would get dizzy spells and feel very week. I also tried my best to stay hydrated. It seemed that I was able to drink water so much better during physical activity, so I would carry my bottle of water with me and sip, sip, sip during the walking portion of my exercise. Good luck! Oh, and consuming your protein within the hour following your workout, is essential to aide in muscle recovery and building.

Love what weight lifting has done to my body...

Here's my flex pic!

Thank you!

You're arms look awesome Mrs.RRn!!! Hey, @@aroundhky, you can show off your guns here...and your abs! Lol

You said it perfectly Jane! I couldn't agree more!!!

70 pounds in 4 months?!?!?! That is AWESOME!!!! You look gorgeous...congrats!!!

Woohoo! You're looking great!!! What an amazing transformation in such a short amount of time! Keep it up!