NewSetOfCurves

I remember looking at all the before and after pics less than a year ago and wondering the same thing. I couldn't fathom looking like some of the vet posters. But I'm near goal now, and even though I always felt fabulous and beautiful, I feel even better...like my insides match the outer part. Most of all I love the mobility and the ability to be active with my kids on a much greater scale. Thank you so much for the compliments and good luck on your journey!

Thank you! You're super kind!

Ya, the calories need to get up there ASAP. Your body is in starvation mode and it's eating your muscle to make up for that deficit. I'm up to 1,200 cals a day, 1,400 on hard core lifting days. Egg whites with feta, oatmeal with some unflavored protein powder, protein shakes, low sugar protein bars (those are actually sliders for me) all aid on getting that protein in. I love the unflavored protein powder, because you can add to foods you cook. Also, a slow release protein powder is great at night. I was super weak post op. I could barely curl a 20, but I'm up to the 35's.

Yes, you're suppose to sip your water all day. What the other poster was saying, was that if you add something like crystal lite or one of those sugar free flavored squirt liquids (like the Mio), it reduces the density of the water and makes it easier to drink. My life savor for getting "liquid" in post op was those sugar free Popsicles. Now I drink water without a problem. I can't chug it down without getting that tight feeling in the chest or burpiness, but I can drink it fast and satisfy my thirst. I drink between 64-88 ounces a day.

Ya...I gained 10 pounds to get approved. I wore heavier clothing, made sure not to clear my bladder...did everything I could to hit that 40 BMI. Needed 100 pounds to lose and I only have 15 more to go.

Lol!!! I know what you mean! Love it!!!

Thank you! Yes, I exercise regularly, ranging from running, biking, elliptical, abdominal work and being active with my kids. I wish I had more time to hit the weights, but there is only so much one can do with a full time job, 4 kids ranging from 2-10, and home to run. Elastic it depends on various factors: age, amount of time being over weight and your size, motherhood. 20 something's have great results with their tummies. Older women, those who suffered for obesity for decades and mothers...well, not so much. My lower stomach from the belly button down is shot. I have a flap of skin with tons of stretch marks. I will eventually get the abdomnioplasty or tummy tuck. But, on the bright side you can't tell with clothes--at all! I've dropped, from my highest weight, 85 pounds. I had a 100 to lose...almost there!!!

If I could teach through this screen, I'd kiss you! You are 60 years young and you look absolutely fantastic! You've lost a lot and have come so far and you know get to enjoy a better quality of life because of it. And let me tell you something else...you hit the nail on the head...my skin, our skin, all of us with the extra skin should wear it like a badge if honor. It tells our story of defeat, struggle, overcoming and victory. I love how you worded that. Beautiful. Just like your compliments and no doubt your character. Thank you again Mark! Muah!!!

WOW, WOW, WOW girl!!!!! You look absolutely FABULOUS!!!!!!!! Talk about an A-MAZING TRANSFORMATION!!!!!!!! What an accomplishment! I bet you feel absolutely great! Congrats to you girl, you deserve every inch of the fabulousness you've got going on

I'm 7 moths post op too, but my doctor made it very clear that as we near our normal BMI, the weight loss will slow down significantly. I tend to stall out when I cut back on my water intake. Keep those fluids going. Are you exercising? Getting your protein? Have started to increase your calories? At one of my stalls my doc suggested upping my calories. It worked. I started losing again. I eat about 1000-1200 calories a day. 1200 on work out days. You've done absolute fabulous this far. Congrats on so much success in such a short amount if time. You'll get there. Just keep doing what you're supposed to be doing.

7 months post op

Ooh aroundhky! I'm loving that muscle! It's super sexy on you! Good for you, you look GREAT!!!

Looking FABULOUS girl!!!! Keep it up and congrats!

WOW! What a compliment!! Thank you VERY much!!! I really, really, REALLY appreciate that. You brought the biggest smile to my face. However, I'll be honest, my lower stomach is not tight at all. I have loose, saggy skin and stretch marks. You can't tell--at all--with clothes on. Nobody knows the difference. I'll pay off the loan I took out to pay for this surgery by next spring and I'll renew it to have a tummy tuck at that time. But even if I couldn't have one, I'd still be satisfied. It feels AWESOME to be healthy, to cross my legs (even though I have that extra skin, it isn't obtrusive), to wear dresses or shorts without being embarrassed by big lumpy legs, to wear long boots that zip over my calves... Most of all, I'm beyond content that I can be active with my kids. To run with them, jump, ride bikes. Nothing--and I mean NOTHING--beats that. Again thank you for lighting up my life today. I hope you have the utmost success in your journey to a new and healthier you! Edit: I just saw your profile...you're almost to goal! Congrats! You look absolutely terrific!!! ;D

Thank you!

I appreciate the compliments! You all validate what I've been able to accomplish with the sleeve and I appreciate it VERY much! Thank you!!!

I love your enthusiasm! I'm happy and excited for you...good luck and congrats to taking the BIG step to a smaller and healthier you!!!

I had my sleeve on a Tuesday, and I weigh myself every Tuesday. Everybody is different. I don't mind seeing the fluctuations. I'm aware when my body is retaining water due to my auntie's monthly visit. I always see a stall at that time. But it helps me keep myself on track. The stalls don't really bother me. I have yet to have one that lasts too long and I know to expect them. I'm happy as long as I see small fluctuations and an overall viewing of my weight dropping.

Thanks ladies! I feel soooooo good! Lol!!! Especially since I recently just bought my first size 8!

Whoop! Whoop! I just bought my first size 8... My goal is a 6! Congrats to you...you look FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!

At this time last year I was two pounds shy of 250 pounds. I had spent 10+ years trying countless diets and dedicated myself to these little spurts of "exercise dedication". The diets never lasted and I never remained dedicated. Healthy foods were not a problem, I love all healthy foods; exercise wasn't a problem, I used to be certified as an aerobic instructor and weight trainer. The problem was that I loved ALL foods and I loved them in COPIOUS quantities. Another problem was time. Between a full time job as a high school English teacher, grading papers (115 students multiplied by x amount of assignments/ essays...yikes!); sponsoring the dance team (taking up 3 evenings of my week, including Friday football travels and arriving home after midnight); and being a mother of 4 kids (ranging from 2 to 10)...my life was pretty stressful. I struggled to manage my time to take the time to make healthy meals and exercise. Fast food was the quickest and easiest. No cooking time required and--even better--no clean up! Every year the weight crept up, reaching 200, 210, 220, 235. I couldn't stop it. In April, after I found out my aunt was getting the surgery, I decided I wanted to get it too. I thought, "Why wait until this gets even more out of control?" I did the research. At first I was adamant that I was going to get the lap band, but after extensive research and discovering so many horror stories, I decided to go for the sleeve--especially seeing that the bypass required supplementation for life (I have 4 kids for a reason folks!). My doctor agreed and on June 18th of 2013 I had the sleeve. I made changes at home. I spent my weekends preparing food for the week (like dicing fresh fruits and freezing them for homemade smoothies the whole family enjoyed for breakfast). I bought the kids bikes, baseball gear, volleyballs, and everything in between and my husband and I decided to make our weekends active ones at the park. I stopped buying junk food. Period. Including chips, sodas, juices, and any starchy and heavily carbed foods with no nutritional value. My whole family has benefited. Exercising has become a part of our weekly tradition, like going to church or going to work. It is a must and a priority. This surgery has not only changed my life, but the lives of my family as a whole. And I feel good that my kids will have a better foundation of healthier living because of it. It was worth every penny. Now, I have 15 to 20 pounds to go! I want to keep some of my curves, so I haven't decided how low I want to go in weight until I see how I look!

Wow! 18 months in the new and fit Fiddle! Congrats in all of your success. I love to read about all the great stuff your doing and learning about, and I love that you share it with the rest of us. Hope your wife is doing great too!

Haha! No butter, I studied it too!

I really think it's jealousy. I have a childhood best friend--my kids call her Auntie, she spends holidays with us, we vacation together and she's practically my sister. Anyway, she's gained weight over the years but has always been smaller than me and she cannot STAND that I'm smaller than her. She almost didn't come down for Christmas because of it. I told her that she was beautiful and that we loved her for her, and she needed to stop be silly and come down for the holiday. She said, "I'm not use to looking like this. I'm embarrassed. You've been fat most of your life and you were used to it, but I'm not." Ya...no words. Just a gaping mouth. Needless to say, she didn't get a gift for the holiday. And I didn't remove the cold shoulder until some major a$$ kissing and groveling occurred.

That sounds about right. I had one last month and they took a lot of vials. I haven't been on here in a while. I hope you're doing well.