NewSetOfCurves

Hey, I'm one of those girly pink stiffs! However, I truly wanted to congratulate you on the rediscovery of yourself. It's so easy to get lost, and many of us lose our way--especially when we don't have some type of foundational support system that keeps us grounded or encourages us to stay true to who we are as individuals. I hope you continue on your journey of rediscovery, as well as new discoveries.

Mine started after week 2. I'm almost 4 1/2 weeks out and I'm still stalled.

H: 5' 6.5" Highest weight: 247 SW: 228 (6/18/2013) CW: 207 4 weeks, 3 days out; 2 week stall; seems like I'm going to be a slow loser if I continue with these stalls. I am exercising and I've been able to increase my calories. Doing good with Protein and fluids. Only time will tell....

Lol! I needed a laugh! And I'm sorry, I have no idea, but I wanted to thank you for the laugh-out- loud

I average about 500 calories as well, however Protein is extremely hard to get in. It's easier to get it in via the liquid Proteins (don't really have problems getting that in like others). I know my body is adjusting, but I know the math will catch up and I'll lose. I've been exercising as well: 3 miles a day and I just started weight training. I work hard to get extra calories in on those days. Good luck to everyone!

Height: 5'6.5" My original weight: 247 Surgery weight: 228 One Week Post-Op: 214 Two Weeks Post-Op: 208 Three Weeks Post-Op: 210 Four Weeks Post-Op: 208 I have hit a two week stall, and I know I'm a slow loser, but I am very happy with my 20 pound weight loss in one month. I could have NEVER done that on my own. eDespite my stall, I must say that inches continue to come off. I attribute the stall to my body storing Fluid once again into itself, and other body "fluids" (lol!). #lovingmysleeve

I based it on posts I've read, asked my doctor and he approved. I'm also going to add MSM to my regimen. Another thing I made sure to do was get my potassium and sodium in. It helps with the weak feelings (according to my doc). Add a mashed banana and some Gatorade. The banana in the AM and Gatorade I have added into my diet have helped me feel 100% again. Hope this helps and I hope you feel like yourself again.

I know everybody is different and different things work for different people. I'm on my 4th week and my calories are between 400-500 calories a day. I work really hard to get them in, as well as getting in all my liquids. What has really helped me conquer the dizziness, aside from protein and liquids, is getting in all my vitamins. Aside from my multi vitamin, I have added in chewable fish oil, vitamin c, calcium, iron, biotin, and fiber. When I added those I noticed a decrease in the "blacking out" when I got up too quickly. I even started walking/running straight aways for three miles this week. Last week I just walked because the fatigue and blacking out was still pretty bad. Again: liquid, liquid, liquid; protein, protein, protein; and your vitamins. Good luck.

I just completed my 3rd week today and I struggle to get my 400-500 calories a day. I work it ALL day and its a full time job between getting the calories AND fluid in. I too hit that 3 week slump, and I actually gained 2 pounds at my weekly weigh in. HOWEVER, despite the weight gain, I lost inches. I don't really dwell on the weight, but concentrate on the inches lost. I weigh myself weekly as part of my documentation, but inches are more important. Good luck to everyone!

I'm sorry, but when fitness and muscle building come into the picture, I don't believe in BMI or (not so much) a goal weight (I'll explain the "not so much" momentarily). BMI, especially for men, goes out the window when fitness and muscle building are involved. I'm pretty sure that people like body builder Ronnie Coleman and actor Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) are way above their BMI, but they are not fat or considered overweight. Their weight comes from lean muscle; which, as I've mentioned in previous posts, is a lot denser than fat (meaning: one pound takes up less space than one pound of fat; so, even though someone with the same body frame and height might weigh the same, the person with the greater amount of muscle will look much thinner and have a much smaller waist size.) I'm a firm believer in having a goal size or physique. Concentrate on the inches not the pounds, because weight looks different in everybody. So many factors come into play (i.e. height, bone density, body frame, muscle mass, etc.) Some people who were once upon a time thin and in shape have an idea of what their weight was and how they look. So, in a situation like this, setting a goal weight (within a range, because our bodies change) is okay. For those who have been overweight all their life, I think having a goal weight is okay too--to have something to work towards, but at the end of the day you can't get caught up in the numbers on the scale when you've turned a new leaf and have incorporated exercise into your life (for the reasons stated above). You always have to re-evaluate and push for that physique and that size. Getting obsessed with the scale can be discouraging.

I love mud runs! I participated in the Dirty Girl Mud Run this past December. Sooooo much fun with all my girlfriends! I did the Graffiti Run and Foam Run this past spring as well. Good luck to you and I hope you have a blast!

Wow! You look awesome!!! Congrats on all your success, and I wish you continued success.

That's why size/inches should be the focus vs. weight, especially those who work out and are packing on the muscle.

Congrats! I hope to follow you there soon...10 pounds to go! Keep it up!!!

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Practice, practice, practice. You need to find your inner goddess. Steps to finding your inner goddess: Step 1: look in front of the mirror after you've dolled yourself up, and say things--out loud--to yourself like, "I'm hot." "I'm beautiful." "I'm sexy." I'm SERIOUS!!! It works to build more confidence, and confidence is key. Do it EVERYDAY! I promise this works (I work with young girls with self esteem issues, however I don't use the hot or sexy lines with them) Step 2: pretend your an actress with impromptu lines. Go up to a random guy at an outing (grocery store, restaurant, sports bar, etc.) and say, "Hi, I'm ____. What's your name?" Make sure to force yourself to make eye contact. (Women who make eye contact and hold it or maintain it throughout a conversation make a showmanship of their confidence. ) Continue to make small talk, "I'm new to the area and I'm trying to branch out and make new acquaintances. Are you from here? What social clubs/restaurants do you suggest?" You have to practice. Write down questions and or possible conversation starters. Stick to topics you can converse about well. And despite being or feeling uncomfortable, make continual eye contact. Practice. Step 3: make small gestures. Gestures can be made with your eyes, hands, and body. A touch of the arm or shoulder when something is funny or shocking. When he says something flirty use a side glance that is slightly hooded with small smile to acknowledge the gesture. Lean in towards him with your body. Practice. Step 4: walk in, no matter where you go, like you're the sh*t. Back straight, chin up, confident stride. Even if you don't feel like you are, you have to psyche yourself out. Again, pretend your an actress playing a role. When you practice this over and over, you begin to believe it and feel it, and before you know it, you are confident women ready to conquer anything. Sorry for the long post, but I'm all about women empowering themselves with confidence. Good luck!

There are so many factors that play into the scale: 1) bowl movements: we can literally be full of sh*t and can weigh up to 15-20 pounds. So, if you haven't had a bowl movement or if you are not regular, you will weigh more on those retention days. 2) going to the gym: when you work out you tear muscle...you know that sore feeling you get? That's a torn muscle. The muscle tears and then rebuilds itself, hence you begin to build muscle. During this rebuilding process, your body retains more Fluid to help the muscles repair themselves. Hence, those ounces of weight you were noticing after your gym workouts. 3) building muscles, shedding fat: there are a bunch of threads that explain the mechanics, but simply stated, muscle is denser than fat and It takes up less space. The more muscle you have the more fat you burn, but the numbers on the scale don't move as fast because of its density. You'll see it in inches. Don't worry about the numbers, concentrate on the inches. Good luck to you and I hope you continued success.

My doc said it was a full liquid. I eat it too...well I chew it up, drink the juice, and spit out the tiny bit of watermelon particle that's left. Goes down great and it REALLY helps get my liquid down. I'm only 12 days post-op.

I just want to say...I really love your posts!

Hey fellow June sleevers! Just updating here. I'm 12 days post op. Down 15 pounds since day of surgery, and 11 pounds away from onederland! I haven't been there in about 10 years and I'm looking forward to it. Best of luck to all my June peeps! #lovingmysleeve

Lmao!!! At first I thought, "Hmmmm... maybe this should be in the powder room." Thanks for the laugh, I needed it this morning!

I think there is too much focus on weight. You should aim for a certain size, because those who do a balanced exercise regimen of cardio and weight training will build muscle. And, as mentioned by several other posters, muscle is denser than fat and you will weigh more. BUT, your frame WILL be thinner despite the added weight. When I was thin and fit, I weighed 140 and fit into a size 2/4. I'm a little over 5'6" (not too tall). Most girls that were my height and whom wore the same size weighed a lot less, but they were not packing any muscle.

I'm just going by my doctor's guidelines, which--by the way--are available online in printable PDF files. http://www.lonestarsurgical.com/nutrition/