NewSetOfCurves

I am 22 months out and I am at goal. I do weights 5 days a week with a 10 minute treadmill or elliptical warm-up: Monday: Shoulders Tuesday: biceps and Triceps Wednesday: back Thursday: chest Friday: legs and gluteus On weekends (my "off" days) I'll choose a day to run or do a CrossFit type of workout. However, my first year post-op was cardio intensive, 4-6 days a week. Now that I'm a clean eater (90-95% of the time) and because I burn plenty of calories during my weightlifting sessions, cardio isn't a must for me anymore.

Sorry, I know it was long! But I hope to help someone who is on the fence or struggling in the beginning of their sleeve journey! Posts like these inspired me when I first started researching.

Female Height: 5’ 6” Starting Weight: 250 Starting Clothing Size: 20 Surgery Weight: 228 Surgery Clothing Size: 18 Current Weight: 140 Current Clothing Size: 4/6 In the beginning: • I had a lot of restriction due to (I am assuming) increased swelling from the additional procedure of the hiatal hernia repair. I am comparing myself to 4 other family members who had the surgery with the same doctor and described their post-op experience as feeling sore and having the ability to drink 2-4 ounces of Fluid without difficulty. It was difficult to even consume 1 ounce. Week 1 post-op was what I called “hell week.” I was very weak due to the lack of ability to consume fluids/calories and remain properly hydrated. • The 6 week post-op diet was difficult, but I reminded myself that I ate whatever I wanted (and in copious amounts), whenever I wanted for many years. • Once I was released to a full diet, foods did not taste the same. Some of the things I use to think of as delicious, were now bland and without flavor. I read a study that links your sense of taste to your stomach lining. However, this “lack of tasting” does go away and food eventually does taste great again (uh-oh!). • I monitored my calorie intake. I did, however, have my ups and downs. I slipped and fell into crappy eating habits. Despite the food restriction, I found that I could slowly graze on things and that the “bad” foods tend to be the “sliders”. • However, I constantly caught myself falling back into consuming these bad foods and I would work on redirecting my behavior. I was constantly “checking and balancing” my eating habits; trying to change my way of living. • Exercise started with walking (1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles, and as my endurance and ability increased, 4 miles in one hour). As the weight began to melt off, along with my increased endurance, I upgraded to intervals of jogging (I would jog the straight-a-ways and walk the curves at the local school track). I would also use my elliptical trainer at home and by the time I reached my 6 months post-op point, I could complete a one hour, high intensity cardio session on my trainer. Feeling great! 6 Months Out: • As the weight began to melt off (I was weighing 167 pounds at this point!), I did have that “fallen” face look. My skin was saggy and loose. So, I decided I wanted to fill up my loose skin with muscle. Weight lifting slowly trickled its way into my weekly workouts and—at first—it was about a twice-a-week affair. I also upped my Water intake and made hydrating my face, neck and body with creams and lotions a daily and nightly ritual (as hydration helps to increase elasticity in skin; my face doesn't look fallen anymore...it takes time, but it does retract!!!). • My ability to consume fluids and food had greatly improved by this point. I seemed to be able to consume fluid the best after a good workout. I could drink water faster and in greater quantities! I continued to monitor my calorie intake and tried by my best to refrain from eating bad foods. Even when I did succumb to eating unhealthy foods (which happened on a weekly basis), I stayed within my calorie range. • My Protein intake was still around 60-80 grams per day. I really like the Premier Protein shakes. They come in ready to drink 11oz containers, they are only 160 calories and pack 30 grams of protein. About 12 Months Out: • 153 pounds; size 10 • By this time I was lifting about 3x per week at home. I began to notice my skin firming up around the muscles I was developing. At this time I began taking pre-workout supplements (NO-Xplode), post workout supplements (Cell Mass) and I upped my protein (100-120 grams per day). My goal with the supplements was to create longer workout endurance, quicker muscle recovery repair. I knew that the more muscle I had, the more my calories my body would burn due, as well as a better a metabolism. Even though I wasn’t really dropping that much weight at this time, my waist size started to go down with the increased muscle mass. • A little after the 12 month mark, I went down another 3 pounds, but I also went down an entire size! Typically, before the weight lifting, I would see a size drop about every 20 pounds. So, this was awesome! • Still working on eating clean at this point. I probably ate clean about 80-85% of the time. Weekends were a killer for me! It was hard with the weekends off, kids at home, and being out and about. No routine! Now, 22 Months Out: • 140 pounds • Size 4-6 misses • I eat clean foods 90-95% of the time. “Dirty” foods tend to make me sick now. • I have one cheat day, and I still limit myself and stay within my calorie range • I consume 150-170 grams of protein (still drinking the Premier Protein) • 1800-2000 calories on my cardio days (twice a week) • 2200-2500 on my weight lifting days (5 days out of the week). YES…I do more weight lifting than cardio! And carbs (good carbs, not dirty carbs) are your friend!!! Key for energy retention/endurance and muscle building! I consume more on my weight lifting days. Key intake is about an hour/hour-and-a-half prior to workout. • I still have really good restriction • My skin around my face has firmed up! It doesn’t look fallen. I’m a high school teacher and I get mistaken for a student all the time! • I do have some extra skin (and very little) in my upper arm area, upper thigh/groin; however, it isn’t that much! The muscle I have built really helps! The belly area has a little “apron” and—of course—the stretch marks from weight gain and 4 pregnancies make it look like a very wrinkly old grandma; but other than that, my stomach is flat! I do plan to have a tummy tuck this summer… so bikini here you come! All in all, I LOVE my SLEEVE!!! I would do it all over again! They key thing—and most doctors tell you this from the get-go—you HAVE TO CHANGE LIFESTYLE for LONG-TERM SUCCESS! The weight will come off that first year, but once you’re in that maintenance mode you can easily put weight back on. Especially eating dirty foods that are higher in calories/sugars/fats. They slide through your restriction, they are full of empty calories (no nutritional value), and they will be your downfall. Does that mean you cannot enjoy a piece of cake, chips or some other dirty food? No, but you have to teach yourself to say “no” most of the time; and when you do say “yes,” limit yourself and eat in small quantities. Don’t make it a daily thing, make it a once-a-week kind-of-thing. EXERCISE! You don’t have to turn into a gym rat…in fact, you don’t have to go to a gym at all, but find some kind of active activity that you can engage in at least 3 days a weeks, for a MINIMUM of 30 minutes. It can be hard at first (grueling even), but before you know it—with consistency—your body will crave it! YES!!! Literally, your body will crave the activity! I wish all of your sleevers and soon-to-be sleevers the best of luck! I hope you find your success in this life changing journey!

When you use to be a size 20 and your size 8's are falling off!!!

You look gorgeous!

When the small towels (the ones I used for my hair because they didn't fit my body) wraps around you with room to spare!!!

Thank you anewme2015! I think my success was due to following what my doctor said I had to do: change my lifestyle. I changed the foods I ate, I became active--daily--and I've made it my life style. It's not a "diet" but my new way of living and eating. Yes, I have the not so good foods. I enjoy them at parties, bar-b-ques, dinners, movie night; but for the most part, I make clean choices. And when I do cheat, it's a very small quantity; literally, just a taste. I make healthy, clean choices 90-95% of the time and I work out, both cardio and weights. Some people have the misconception that the surgery eliminates having to do the above, but it's truly what you have to do to have long-term success (in my humble opinion with the knowledge that I've gained from my own research). Most doctors tell you up front: "You have to be willing to make a lifestyle change, permanently...weight loss surgery is only a tool..." That's what I've done. My "tool" helped me get there. Couldn't have kick started this change without it. I 100% love my sleeve. It gave me control over quantity, and I decided to control the quality...the quality of foods, the quality of the way I live my life. Good luck to you on your journey! Keep us posted!

Thank you everyone!

Hit goal today! Finally!!! 1 year, 3 months and 4 days is what it took to hit 145. I'm extremely happy with my weight. Don't want to lose any more. I really LOVE my size, but I want to continue to build muscle and tone up my body. To be honest, I think I finally met goal because I'm losing muscle mass due to not having the time I had before school started (teacher) to lift consistently. I'm a size 8 (6 is fitted, but I can squeeze in! Lol!) and I know once I get my little apron removed when I get my tummy tuck in December, I'll fit perfectly into the 6. This has been a life changing journey, I've completely changed my life style and don't miss my old, bad habits. Thanks for reading my post! For those of you just beginning or thinking of beginning this journey, I wish you the best of luck and I want you to know that every trial and tribulation that you face when you start this, is so worth it in the end!!! My dance girls practiced on the field today, hence the track in the background.

I did not read the other replies, so I apologize ahead of time if this is repetitive. They did not invent the light bulb in one try and you're not going to get this eating thing in your first, second, or however many tries it takes for you to get this right. For many of us, this is why we opted for the surgery: we needed a tool to help us get our eating into control. I too was a binge eater. I would do great all week or all day, and then I would bing on the weekends or at night. The sleeve surgery definitely help me get through the binging part. It cut it out, period. Couldn't bing even if I tried. In my past, before marriage and kids, I was an emotional eater. The above description of my binge eating is very accurate of how my life went. However, once I was a wife and a mother, I got over all those insecurities and issues; but, I liked to eat and so I did...a lot. Your pre-op diet is difficult. It is like an addict of cigarettes or alcohol going "cold turkey". Your body and mind crave what is comforting to you. I cheated on my pre-op diet. I cheated in my one-year post-op, but yet here I am at goal (reached it today!). I do not advocate, by any means, cheating. But, realistically, it happens. I had to teach myself to eat right. I had to "detox" my body from the bad carbs and foods. My first 10 months post-op, I was really good at planning my cheats. I am 15 months post-op now, and I no longer track because I make healthy choices 90-95% of the time. I still eat small quantities and I do eat "cheat" foods if I am at a party without healthier options or on my cheat day (Saturday). However, I will say that on my cheat day I do not binge. It is just a taste and I work out harder and longer on Sunday's. Getting to where I am was a process. It did NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT! We cannot dwell on our failures, we have to dwell on solutions: how are we going to fix the problem; what is the resolution; what can I do better the next time; what do I have to do to avoid this? My soloution to many of my problems was not to have those foods in the house! The bad foods, the finger foods, the snacking foods...ELIMINATE them! You need to wipe off the dirt from your knees, Honey. Get back up. We all fail. We CANNOT SUCCEED WITHOUT FAILURE. But to find success from failure, we try and try again until we get it right. It took Thomas Edison 10,000 tries to bring us light; it's going to take several tries to get the "eating right" correct as well (hopefully not 10,000 tries, though--LOL!). Don't be so hard on yourself! Just do what you have to do to get it right! Good luck to you!!!

Muscle, hydration and time all help with loose skin, but EVERYBODY is different. Genetic factors--as far as skin elasticity, as well as age, size, period of time being a certain size...all play into loose skin. I'm in my mid 30's and have had 4 kids. No matter how much muscle mass I've built and how much I've dropped in body fat %, I still need a tummy tuck. I'll get mine in December (hopefully, no later than the beginning of summer) because I have an apron that will not go away. Surgeon confirmed that it was all skin and that there was nothing else I could do but have it removed.

I was really weak initially post-op, it took me about four weeks to up the intensity. Don't plan on getting back into it immediately. It'll be something you ease back into until your body adjusts. But, everybody is different. Just read/listen your body.

Awe...what a bitter-sweet moment. Had a similar one with my daughter, except she said I wasn't comfy and soft anymore, that it hurt to lay on me and she missed that. She felt she'd lost a part of her mommy that had brought her so much comfort ????. But she also said she'd rather see me healthy and happy any day and that she'll just put a pillow in between us when we snuggle! Lol!

Wow, wow, W-O-O-W!!!! Awesome transformation!!!

Awe...my ego was just deflated! Lol!!! But, you ladies are right, I remember being a size 12 at my current weight when I was a teenage girl; however, I'm wearing a size 8 now ???? Oh well, I'd rather be where I am than where I was over a year ago!!!????

Welcome to onederland! It's a great place to be!!!

Lol! Love what "Comeflywithme" said!!! She is absolutely right, too! I think everybody's experience immediately post-op is different. My aunt and I were sleeved one month apart. She had high energy, I had low energy. During the immediate food stages post-op, she mourned the loss of food. I didn't. I do want to add that she got over her period of mourning, especially once the food stages advanced, but she struggled with it initially. However, as we both look back and reflect on whatever struggles we both endured immediately post-op, it was 1000 times over worth it! Those struggles were just minute moments in time compared to a lifetime (hopefully) of health and happiness. She went from weighing 340 pounds to weighing 165 pounds. I've gone from 250 to 145. We are confidant, more energetic and happier than we have ever been in a long time. Each one of your concerns are valid, but if you experience any of them they will only be temporary, because the long term benefits out weigh the small struggles you'll experience for just a short period of time. Good luck to you, whatever you decide!

600 calories is a pretty typical intake amount at your stage post-op (typical in the sense of what people post on this forum). I too was at the 500-600 calorie range at 6 weeks post-op, and getting Fluid in was still very difficult for me at that time. In fact, considering that I am 15 months out, I still struggle with getting all of my Water intake. I drink most of my Protein (i know most people resent the protein shakes and get rid of them as soon as they can, but I like them and I try to get 1 gram of protein per body weight...so the shakes are the only way I can meet that goal), and due to that I tend to struggle to get the right amount of water into my system. Calorie count depends on your stage and activity level. I started to exercise as much as I could and at an intensity as high as I could, as soon as possible. My goal was to get out of starvation mode (because your body will start to hold onto every calorie that it can if it is in starvation mode) and get my body to burn fat and build lean mass. That meant I needed a lot more calories. Now, that is hard to do when you have a tiny stomach. So, I started to consume high calorie foods in between meals (nuts/peanut butter were the easiest for me!). Most people (again, I'm referring to the posts I've read on this forum for the past 17 months) with moderate activity seem to strive for 1,100-1,200 calories per day, as soon as their tummy allows such intake. Protein shakes tend to count as meals in the beginning or immediately post-op. However, they eventually become snacks--that is what they are for me at this point in time. As far as fluid intake affecting your weight loss...I am not sure, but I do know calories can affect your weight loss. In the beginning the loss of calories aides in your weight loss, but--once your body adjusts to the lack of calories--your weight loss will slow and it will be time for you to" up" them. Hope this helps. Good luck to you!

I was one that never really supported plastics, but I too have decided to go under the knife to remove the apron of skin I have hanging from my belly. I have a little bit of skin under my biceps too, but I've been trying very hard to build the muscle necessary to fill up that extra skin. However, it's really hard to get in all the Protein necessary to build all that mass. I strive for a gram of protein per body weight, equating to about 147 grams. Good luck to you...hope you win that lottery!

Premier protein & muscle milk (both chocolate) are my favs!!!!

So much of what CGJ said resonates with me. Insulting ones body image, especially to children, is detrimental. While I was never called a particular name, I was teased. One memory my mind clings to was when I was in the 1st or 2nd grade. One girl that loved to taunt me, told the boy that I liked, "Kathy, the BIG FAT PIG likes you!" I was mortified. Devastated. Obviously, because I still remember it. I endured things like kids saying, "Boom-baba-boom" as I walked past. And I wasn't even that big. As a child I wore 14/16 from the husky sizes. As a teen I ranged from a 7 to a 14. I was always chubby and overweight, but never obese. But the taunting and acts of my loved ones taking my plate away and telling me that she (my mother) couldn't take me shopping at 5-7-9 (a store that sold only those sizes) because I ate too much, really affected my body image. It lead me to bulimia as a teenager. By the time I got to college and became obsessed with exercising and eating right, I would still continue with the vomiting. I would fall into my cravings, gorge myself, feel guilty, vomit, and then run for an hour. Even though I was a size 4 and confidant to wear shorts and little dresses, I'd still have episodes where I would find myself repulsive. I'd sit in front of a mirror in my underclothing and cry because I was so disgusting. My boyfriend (now husband) wasn't even allowed to touch my stomach, even though it was flat. All the taunting led to self loathing. It was weird. I was extremely confidant at times and completely insecure and hateful towards myself at other times. Mercurial, I know. I'm happy to report that all that self loathing is a thing of the past. I gained confidence as a mother. I'm blessed with a husband that loved me thin and obese. Never made me feel obese or commented that I needed to lose weight. We have four children, two of which whom seem to have inherited my appetite and are a little over weight. However, my husband and I never make them feel inferior, use "endearments" that insult their body image, or make comments about their weight. Since my surgery we have tried to teach them about healthy choices. We only have healthy options at home now and we try to make their journey here at home a healthy one.

I 100% AGREE with the above poster! Sweets are one of my trigger foods. For almost the entirety of my first year, I avoided them like the plague. I taught myself to eat right, clean, and in a way that FUELS my body. Now that I'm in a comfortable place in which I can TRUST myself, I'll eat them at a party or social gathering, but I try my best (depending on the selection) to eat my Protein or better choices first, then I'll have a just s taste or two. I'm usually too full for more. Although things like Cookies are sliders and don't fill me up, so I'll rarely have them. But, I'll also say this: their appeal to me has definitely changed. I don't crave them anymore. It's like I've weeded them out of my system. (Except one week before "Aunty Flow" comes in, I always have a day that I crave sweets, but I try to satisfy it with fresh fruits, or sugar free pudding, or something to the like!) So, like the above poster mentioned, don't even worry about that right now. Concentrate on retraining your brain with good habits. Good luck!

The sex of the baby solely depends on the male. More specifically, it depends on the little swimmer that makes it into the egg (that the father releases into the female) and if it is carrying the X or Y chromosome.

You need to start adding some good carbs into your diet. Good carbs give you the energy you need to make it through the day. I usually get my dose from oatmeal and fresh fruits in the morning. At 10 weeks out, fresh fruits like bananas, seedless grapes, watermelon, pears...or any soft fruit that you can chew well should work. I remember feeling the same way at that point post op. It'll get better once you vary your diet and get those complex carbs in.

I know agility training can be gruesome. But, as you said in your post, everyone starts somewhere. When I first started I could barley get 4 lounges at a time in, 2 up downs, or complete things like plié jacks and mountain climbers...I could barely even complete 1 modified push-up! However, despite despising those workouts, I kept trying and pushing myself 2-3 times a week. Now, they are a part of my weekly cardio sessions. I had already been lifting and doing cardio, like you, but let me share with you that it definitely transformed my physique even more. It took it to the next level. In June of this year I couldn't complete the above mentioned exercises, but today I can not only do them, but I can do them fast. And modified push-ups? Pssshhh. I do full, regular push-ups! You can do this! One day at a time, one session at a time, one exercise at a time. You'll get there, I promise, if you stick with it! Good luck!!!!