NewSetOfCurves

The "after" picture was taken 12 days shy of my 2 year surgiversary. As of yesterday, I am 2 years, 7 months out. In the "before" pic, I was a size 20; in the "after" pic, I am in a size 4 dress!!! Love my sleeve!

Shrimp Cocktail (combine diced tomato, onion, cilantro, avocado and jalapeno [optional] in a bowl; add in V8 juice, lime or lemon juice, and a bit of Tabasco sauce; then fold in your shrimp with salt and pepper to taste) Pasta salad (cook those swirly, whole grain colored pasta; while the pasta is cooking, cut a mozzarella block of cheese into cubes, cube some ham and cucumber, and then dice up some tomato, red onion and black olives; once the pasta is cooked and strained, mix the cubed and diced foods with the pasta; top it with a light vinaigrette or Italian dressing (I like the one with basil) These two are a a crowd favorite! I personally just eat a couple of pieces of pasta and munch on the cheese, meat and cucumbers. I will add corn tortilla chips with lime flavoring as a side for the cocktail.

It is very difficult (well, my experience) initially post-op, because my sleeve was so tight (or swollen). Even though it got boring really fast, for those first couple of months breakfast consisted of Greek yogurt, eggs--I know you're tired of them, but nevertheless--with cheese (choose high Protein cheeses), Babybel or Laughing Cow soft cheeses, watered down cream of chicken, thinned oatmeal or malt-o-meal with unflavored Protein powder, and/or Protein shakes. Again, it was redundant and boring, but those are what worked for me and what gave the calories I needed just to get through the day without passing out.

What a great testimonial Congrats!!!

Just tried it...LOVED IT!!!

YES!!! The EXACT same experience. I am 5' 6" and I was around 250 pounds at my highest, 230 pounds at the time of surgery. People always said, "You carry your weight well. You do not look that big." Then I received a lot of negativity for wanting this surgery. People would say, "You're not that big. You can do it on your own." Ummm, I have been obese for 10 years, and despite the fact that I exercise (via step aerobics and running--3 miles), I have not been able to do it on my own. Well, I did not listen to anyone who was a nay-sayer, I did the sleeve and I LOVE my sleeve. Gaining control of the portions of food that I consumed made it so much easier to transition to a diet that weeded out bad foods (90% of the time!), and teach myself to consume quality-body-mind-loving food. Exercise became easier without all the excess weight, and I was able to take my fitness to a whole different level. So, don't give power to the negative Nancy's!!! You know yourself and your body, and if this is what you want, you've got tons of people on here who've got your back!

Happy Belated Birthday!!! I've always loved you and your constant contribution to this site! You are so positive and encouraging! Hope your birthday--and everyday--is as wonderful as you are!

"Loving myself doesn't have to be accepting myself the way I am. It can also mean loving myself enough to be everything I imagine in my head." @@LilMissDiva Irene, Thank you for this post. This statement, that I quoted above, just resonates with me in such a powerful way. I had plastics done. A part of me--or maybe some of the social stigmatisms that are ingrained in my brain--feels partially guilty. I sort of feel like my vanity drove me to spend that money on myself, versus using it towards our home or kids, or any other area of our lives. But that part, when you said that "loving" ourselves...honoring our self worth...includes doing everything we can to become what we "imagine" ourselves to be...it hit the nail on the head. I worked VERY hard--from changing our eating life style at home, making our family an active family, to my extremely hard work in the gym--to become the person that I imagined. However, I fell short. Despite my 5' 6" frame and being a size 4/6 with barely any belly fat, my stomach still flapped when I ran and jumped. And no matter how many push-ups or how much weight I put on that bench press, my breast still looked like large & flappy dried prunes. And not matter how many lunges, squats, box jumps or leg presses I did, my upper thighs remained a jiggling mess. I wanted my hard work to reflect on my body. And it did. With my clothes on. With a pair of spanks on. Thank you. I feel validated in my decision. Any whispers of regret or guilt have just floated away.

Shrimp cocktail! Dice up that avocado into cubes, along with tomato, onion, cilantro, and fresh jalapeno (optional, if you like a bit of a spicy kick!). Combine in a bowl and add a splash of lime and Tabasco, salt to taste, and V8 juice. Add your shrimp and you've got yourself a tasty and healthy meal or snack!

@@Amelia Mahone You should really go with your dietitian's advice. The opinions and methods of everyone here, will vary vastly. However, a consistent consensus on this forum is this: while in the loosing phase, stick to low carb consumption (the goal is for your body to use its fat as fuel vs. the carbs you consume); and that those carbs are of quality (i.e. *complex carbs vs. simple carbs). So, the questions you should ask yourself are these: 1) What are your calorie goals post-op? Now, mind you, immediately post-op you are on survival mode. Those first few weeks, all I cared about was getting enough Fluid and calories in not to pass out or faint. But, there will come a point when your tummy is healing, swelling is subsiding and there is more room for food. You will notice that your intake is increasing. Is it at this point that the game for learning new eating habits begins and you need to figure our your calorie goals. 2) Of those calories, how many are for Protein, carbs and fats? For example, if your dietitian says that you need 60 grams of protein (minimum) a day, 20 grams of carbs and 20 grams of fat; then you are looking at a 500 calorie intake. Mind you, this low calorie intake is typical for the first month due to the swelling in your tummy. It is really hard to consume more than that. Calorie intake increases with progression and healing. Again, you and your dietitian should set goals. Now, carbs and Proteins are worth 4 calories per gram, and fat is worth 9 calories per gram (that is where the 500 calorie calculation came from). Hope this helps!

@@VSGAnn2014, I think you hit the nail-on-the-head with this. In the loosing phase I tried (and sometimes failed) to avoid those over processed, sugary/starchy carbs like the plague. They were (and still are) my trigger foods. However, now that I have been in maintenance mode for almost 2 years, and incorporate fitness into my life style 5-6 days of the week, I follow this rule of thumb: 1) On days that I have intense workouts, 40% of calorie intake comes from carbs (oatmeal and fruits in the morning; non starchy veggies--other than sweet potato--for lunch, and strictly non starchy veggies in the evening). 2) On days that my workouts are moderate, my carb intake is at 30% 3) Sunday Funday is my off day, but I am still active. My carb intake is at 20%. On these days my kids and I ride our bikes, scooters, or we play baseball or soccer; or just enjoy the outdoors: swings, trampoline, hide-and-seek, tag, etc. I really need those good carbs for energy. My days are long. They are non-stop. I wake up early and usually get to bed late. So, I REALLY need the energy from those carbs. But that is just it: carbs are for fuel. Its like the gas in a car, and if your car isn't going any where, then you don't need the extra gas because that extra gas turns into that nasty visceral fat that is so hard to get rid of! Lol. I think carbs have their place. If used correctly, they are great for you. If you have those "bad" carbs in moderation and you can handle that without triggering any negative behaviors, then power to you! I agree that it is different for every person. However, every person should educate themselves and learn what works and what doesn't work for them.

@@Sharon1964 You literally made me LOL!

@@rachelr28, this is NOT what the rest of your life is going to be like! It is rough the first few months...even up to the first year. It takes a long time for your tummy to heal and to stretch back out (not that it stretches back out all the way, but it will stretch). I am over 2 1/2 years out and, in the beginning, to keep myself from getting depressed or going crazy , I tried to remember that I spent my whole life eating what I wanted, in very large quantities. So, a few months--or even a year--of a super restricted diet wasn't that long in comparison to my years of face stuffing . You've got this. It is not always going to be easy, but you can and you will do it. Work at it by incorporating healthy habits: getting rid of starchy sugary foods (which for the most part will become your "sliders" later on), eating healthy foods, and adding in some physical exercise a few days a week. If you stick with this, it will become habit and part of your new, healthy lifestyle. When I look back now, I would re-do even the toughest parts of this journey because the results are so worth it! You've got this Rachel!

@@AvaFern, You know, you are absolutely right about that. Since my first spa experience, to the many there after, I too have never thought one negative thing about any of the women who go fully nude. I wish I could have had their confidence when I was bigger. I should not have ever allowed myself to become so negative towards my body, but we live in a society that fosters that negativity. They make women feel ashamed if they are not the right shape of size, if they breast feed in public, if they show too much skin if they're too masculine. We are conditioned to think certain ways. Some of us are mentally strong enough, or perhaps encouraged or taught to think otherwise; but, for the most part, we are conditioned to think certain ways. It makes my heart smile when I hear that people like you and @@Inner Surfer Girl never let such social conditions hold you back. That is definitely something to be proud of! @@rking, go get it girl! Before marriage, kids and obesity hit me, I was an aerobic instructor and weight trainer. I forgot how much I loved and missed it. I bet after a couple of weeks, you'll be hooked. Once the results become visible, you'll be addicted! Thank you ladies for you responses and encouragement!

I had never gone to a spa until about one week before my sleeve surgery, a little over 2 1/2 years ago. My friend and I were on a girls weekend in Vegas and she wanted to treat me to a massage. I was absolutely against it. Embarrassed and ashamed of my body. She told me it would be one of the best pleasures I would ever know. "Besides," she said, "nobody knows you, they will never see you again." So, reluctantly, I agreed. When we first arrived and they took us into the back to change, they told me I could go full nude if I wanted to, but--at the most--I had to strip down to my underwear and bra. I think I turned beet red. As they gave us a tour of the facility and its amenities, so many women were in the nude! Sitting in the sauna, steam room and hot tubs. Ugh! The movies were not so far off. I was so uncomfortable and I felt like I did not belong. I was surrounded by women who were comfortable in their bodies. I was not. But alas, there I was, so I stripped down to my underwear and bra, put on my robe, wrapped it around me and held onto it for dear life. I was offered some wine...which I gladly accepted to calm my nerves, and when I was called back into my massage room to meet my masseuse, I was MORTIFIED! The masseuse was a GUY, and I wanted to die. He told me he was going to step out of the room and allow me to take off my robe and get onto the massage table, under the sheets. When he shut the door, I seriously contemplated leaving. However, my friends words echoed in my head: I would never see this person again. I did as I was told and got under the sheets (and trust me when I say that I wrapped them tight, like a human burrito). He came in and talked to me in a very soothing voice. However, he noticed that I was fidgety and avoiding eye contact. He asked me if I was nervous. I admitted that I was, and I even confessed that it was my first time and that I was very insecure about my weight. He graciously told me, "Sweetie, every woman is beautiful. No matter her shape or size. This is going to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience, and I do not want you ruining it with such nonsense." Oh my goodness! What a wonderful and beautiful thing to say. I loved him from that moment on. My nerves and reluctance melted away and I REALLY enjoyed the experience! My-oh-my, that 80 minutes felt like 20 minutes! I wished it lasted longer (actually, I think he added on an extra 10 minutes; tipped him big too!). So, here I am. 30 months post-op. Learned to work my sleeve, eat right, religiously spending 8-10 hours in the gym a week, lost all of my excess weight, completed plastics, and loving my body. So, the girls and I had a spa day over the holidays and I decided to go fully nude in the hot tub, in the steam room and on the massage table. I wasn't uncomfortable. Totally owned it. I even had one of the girls who joined us (mind you, she is 10 years younger than me) say, "Jeez...what I would do for your body." [Mind you, yes I had the sleeve. Yes, I had plastics; but, I work my butt off in the gym lifting weights and sticking to an eating regime that is healthy 90-95% of the time. Some people love to say that I cheated to get this body, but I say all the sleeve did was give me QUANTITY control. The sleeve does not control QUALITY and it does not dictate my fitness. After 4 kids, major weight gain, rapid weight loss, there was no way that my skin was going to put itself back together. I am not ashamed of my plastics and praise my doctor for helping complete my weight loss journey.] Okay, mini rant over. So, anyway, I felt AWESOME. I have never, EVER, had the confidence that I do now. And my ability to confidently lounge around in the nude was my biggest NSV yet. For the first time I realized I was just like those women in that Vegas spa.

@@jane13, that is great suggestion. Those fill my need when I crave chips. They are high in Protein and have no carbs, they are salty and crunchy, and they hit the spot! Love them!

@@Andrew0929, I love a small gala apple with some peanut butter (I buy the "natural" peanut butter that you have to mix and has no added sugars). That hits the spot for my sweet tooth.

@@MIMISAN, the spiral thigh lift is when they cut aliong the line where your thighs meet your groin. Most of my saggy skin was in my upper thigh area, so I was a good candidate. This avoids the long scar that runs down the inner part of your thighs. LOL! Yup, that's what my breast and belly looked like. Unfortunately, my insurance did not cover it because the hanging skin was not causing irritation or any other abnormalities. I used up my savings and got a loan to finance the plastics, but it was well worth it !!! I work very hard and I am dedicated to my gym time--and since I made the investment in myself, I better keep up with it .

@@sylvi, the sleeve was the BEST decision I ever made. Life right after surgery was a little difficult, but I had mentally prepared myself for those struggles because I researched-and-researched and knew what to expect. My doctor also gave me the best advice: he said, "If you are not ready to change your lifestyle (i.e. eating healthy and incorporating exercise), then you are not a good candidate for weight loss surgery." I asked him why and his response was that the sleeve is a tool. A tool that controls QUANTITY, but I have to learn to control the QUALITY of the food I intake. So, my answer to your question is this: the risks of obesity, the illnesses that are associated with it, and the utter unhappiness of being obese, FAR outweigh the little risk and the hardships of life immediately post-op. I am almost 3 years out, and I can eat ALMOST anything, but in that first year I taught myself to eat and live healthy. I DO NOT MISS ANYTHING ABOUT MY LIFE PRE-SURGERY AND I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT MY LIFE POST-OP (well, except those first few months post-op)! Hope everything work out for you. Good luck!

@@MIMISAN, I actually did my sleeve in Laredo with Dr. Morris. However, my LBL, spiral thigh lift and augmentation were done in San Antonio with Dr. Peter Fisher.

@@MIMISAN, we are almost neighbors! I live just south of San Antonio

@@MIMISAN, LOL!!!

What about calcium citrate chewables? Those are easy to take. I tolerate them well and there are all sorts out there in the market to choose from.

@CowgirlJane: squats, lunges, plie squats, courtesy lunges, jumping in-and-out squats, hip thrusts...I know a plethora of butt building exercises. Hit me up when you are ready! @@mark1733, glad to hear it. You know, I was really cardio intensive my first year out. However, I hardly do a lick of it now, but I must say that my weightlifting sessions are pretty intense, lasting anywhere from one to two hours (leg days are 2 hours..Ugh!). That being said, the great thing about muscle, the more you have, the more calories your body burns. Literally. Your metabolic rate increases because it takes your body that much more work to maintain all that muscle mass. Good luck to you.

This is my favorite type of NSV! CONGRATS!! WHOOP-WHOOP!!!